out of his house. And after this came D. Lee, & he pulled this examinate out of his house, and the monkes also out of the Charterhouse, so as this examinate was driuen to go abrode to get his liuing of good people, & when he could get any worke to get a peny, to take it. Howbeit, he kept his habite still. Then he went to London, and there was amongest his frendes, that had seen him at Mount grace. And thence he went to Lincolneshyre, thinking to haue the Anchorites house at Stanford, but it woulde not be as then. He was counselled by sir Iohn Harington then sherife, to chaunge his habite, from graye, which he then ware, to black, and so wandred from place to place, in a black habite like a priest. And at length about ix. yeres past, he came into Shropshire to Bridgenorth, and there by chaunce fel in acquaintaūce with one Elisabeth, which was wife to one Williā Romney a Tynker, that died there. And for so much as he had in these dayes both punishmēt and trouble, for declaring him selfe a professed man to the order of authoritie, & was plainlye shewed that it was against Gods cōmaundement, that any mā shold make any such vowe: he therfore in that point partly perswaded and crediting the same, was the rather moued to desire the said Elisabeth Romney to be his wife. And she thereunto agreing, they were maried together about vi. yeares past, in the chappell, within the Castell of Bridgenorth, by one syr William Malpas, that is nowe dead. And so they dwelled together in the lower towne of Bridgenorth, this examinate vsing the tailors craft, and went abrode into the coūtrey to get his liuing and his wiues, and came not home sometime a moneth together.
[Back to Top]Being asked what moued him to marye, he sayed that he was foule troubled with vermin and had no helpe of washing & tēding, as was requisite, nor had any house to bee in. And so made his mone to this woman, and then shee being troubled (as she sayd) with ceten vnruly children of hers, and could not be quiet for thē, was content to go with this examinate, and to be his wyfe. Being asked if he knewe her not carnally, as men do their wyues, vtterly denyeth the same, and sayeth: that it was not ment of any of them. Being asked howe he chaunced to come to this towne, sayeth that he was moued in conscience to the obseruance of his former profession, nowe sithens the Queenes reign, & the hiring of this house here at Stow, where an Anchorite hadde been before, made meanes to my lady Gifford of his entent, not declaring any thing that he was maried. And the said lady Gyfford wrate to sir T. Fitzherbert, to moue the lord bishop in his fauor. And so the sayde syr Thomas did, & gat my Lordes fauour in that behalfe.
[Back to Top]Being asked if my Lord did of newe professe him into the religion, sayeth nay, but did put
hym into the house, and restored him to his former religion and profession.
Beyng asked where his wyfe was when he came hether to be closed vp, sayde, she was at Brydgenorth, and knew nothing of his mind, that he purposed to returne to his religion. Howbeit he shewed her that he woulde goe to Litchefield. And then about Whytsontyde last, she came hether to herken for this examinate. And he sayde that it was commoned betwene hym and her, that she shoulde goe to Worcester, and be an Anchores there, but that she fell sicke, and was not able to go.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe cruell and vile inquisitiō of Papistes set forth.Again, being asked when she was last with hym, sayde that she was with him vpon Palm sondaye last, and had nothyng to doe or saye to hym, but aske him howe he dyd.
They asked moreouer, what moued her to come to towne that daye: to whome she sayde, that she came for her clothes that were in the towne here.
Furthermore, they asked hym, whether he shewed syr Thomas Fitzherbert, that he was maried. he sayde nay, but shewed hym that he had a syster, whiche was a poore woman, and was desyrous that she shoulde attende hym, whiche was the sayde Elisabeth that he maried at Brydgenorth.
For this cause the Papistes suspecting the poore Heremit to haue a wyfe (as he hadde in dede) therfore after other molestations, MarginaliaTrue and godly matrimony punished.inioyned hym penaūce to goe before the crosse barefote and barelegged, in the cathedral church of Lychefield, with a taper, & I can not tel what, in his hande. &c. And at Easter cast him into a close cabyne, there to remayne tyll he heard more of the byshops pleasure.
[Back to Top]IF oure story should proceade here soo wyde and large, as dyd the troubles of those days, we should compile here, I thynke, an endles proces. For what countrie almoste in Englād did not fele some sorowe then of that persecution. And as I haue spoken of other countries, so also cōming to Stamfort, I might haue iust occasion somewhat to saye of W. Cooke, who not only susteined trouble, but was also cōmitted to vile pryson, for that he suffered this oure printer to print þe boke of Wint. De vera obed.
[Back to Top]Also at Oundel, T. Hensen a worthy mainteiner of the Preachers of the Gospell was so assaulted, that he neuer durst com to his house, but died in Q. Maries time. And one Warde felt the like crueltie.
Not far from these dwelt Maister Grene of Swynsted, and maister Armstrong in Lorby, of whom the last was caused to beare a fagot, who for the sorow therof liued not long after.
And to returne to Norfolke againe, what should I speak of Ienings Hasset, the Pepsies with diuers mo, tossed frō post to piller by the meanes of Cantrel, & one How. father Moore