188 Wolsey and Pigot On the 16th of October, WILLIAM WOLSEY and ROBERT PIGOT were burned at Ely. Wolsey was a constable of Wells, and incurred the displeasure of a persecuting Justice of that district. Not desiring to suffer persecution unnecessarily, he removed to Wisbeach; but being " a marked man" was observed, and at length committed to prison for heresy. The Romish clergy visited him in prison, exhorting him "to meddle no further with the Scriptures than it became a layman to do." From the writings and speeches of the Romanists, even at the present day, we know that they do not consider reference to the Scriptures" becoming" in a layman. Wolsey heard them patiently; and instead of attempting to enter into learned arguments to which he was not competent, he said, "Good Master Doctor, what did our Saviour Christ mean, when he spoke these words: "Woe be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, ye hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men; ye yourseves go not in, neither suffer ye them that come to enter in." The histories of the Martyrs of this reign continually shew, that a simple scriptural answer more effectually stopped the sophistries of the Romanists, than the most learned argument. They urged Wolsey to read a book written by the Bishop of Lincoln; he did so. Knowing that it was not a time to trifle, he drew his pen through such passages as were contrary to Scripture: the Chancellor of the Diocese to whom it belonged, applied for his book; but seeing the treatment it had received, "Oh!" exclaimed he, "this is an obstinate heretic, and has spoiled my book." This Chancellor does not seem to have been so bitter against the followers of the truth, as some of his companions; he urged Wolsey to escape, saying that he would endeavour not to notice him. But Wolsey knew the position in which he stood; that many waited for his halting; also that even if the Chancellor winked at him, others would not rest satisfied till they had seen him burned, and would take occasion, third, property which has been unlawfully obtained is allowed to be kept, if the right owners cannot be found. The fourth is not for the living, but the dead! The name of any deceased person is stated by the purchaser, and entered on the Bull; a plenary indulgence is thereby believed to be conveyed to his soul, if suffering in purgatory! These Bulls are often buried with the corpses of those they are intended to benefit, at the present day, as in former times.-Such is Modern Romanism. 1555.] burned at Ely. 189 from his weakness, to speak ill of the cause he professed. -He therefore determined to wait the regular course of the laws then in force. Pigot was prosecuted by the Inquisitors of his parish, and committed to gaol; the prisoners were visited by Peter Valentine, a foreigner, and Chaplain to the Bishop, at that time officiating in the gaol. Singular to relate, he was a follower of the truth. 66 My brethren," said he, "I have been almoner (chaplain) here twenty years, and I promise not to pull you from your faith. But I require and desire, in the name of Jesus Christ, that you stand to the truth of the Gospel and the word; and I beseech Almighty God, for his Son, Jesus Christ's sake, to preserve both you and me unto the end; for I know not how soon I may be in the same case as yourselves." They were condemned on the 9th of October, and burned on the 16th. A Romish Priest preached on this occasion, misrepresenting their opinions in the usual manner. When they were bound to the stake, a Priest, named Collinson, came and told them what the preacher had said, desiring to know their real sentiments. Wolsey called the Almighty to witness, that he refused no doctrine set forth in the Scriptures; but firmly believed, that all things necessary for salvation were contained in that blessed book; and intreated that his enemies might be forgiven for having belied him. A quantity of Testaments were then brought, and thrown upon the pile. The Martyrs each snatched one; and clasping it to their breasts, the fire was kindled, and they, repeating the 106th Psalm," received the fire most thankfully." A Student of Cambridge confirmed the above particulars, as related to Fox by eye-witnesses; and added many things respecting the faithful boldness of Wolsey, and his watchful care over his weaker fellow-sufferer, lest he should be persuaded to forsake the truth. One Hodilo visited Wolsey in prison, and by him he sent a noble (6s. 8d.) to a smith named Denton, with a message, rebuking him for turning to the Romish faith, reminding him that he had first given him the Bible; he now repeated to the smith that it contained truth, and desired him to make haste after him. To avoid the personal danger of delivering such a message, Hodilo sent it by a minister, named Lawrence, who went about secretly encouraging the followers of the gospel. He delivered the 190 Assertions of modern Romanists money and the message; Denton's reply was, "I confess it is true, but, alas! I cannot burn." Singular to relate, this man, who would not expose himself to be burned for the sake of the Gospel, suffered that fate a few years afterwards for this world's goods. In the year 1564, his house caught fire, and while endeavouring to save his property, he lost his life in the flames; thus perishing by that very manner of death he had so earnestly sought to avoid! Before we proceed to the details respecting Latimer and Ridley, who also suffered on the 16th of October, we may briefly refer to the narratives just related. They shew us plainly that neither age, sex, nor station in life, was spared, in those who differed from the Church of Rome. Not only persons highly respected as ecclesiastics, who had stood forward themselves as able opponents of Popery; but women, apprentices, artificers, and husbandmen, were also committed to the flames. Modern Romanists have endeavoured to lessen the number of these Martyrs, by representing many of them as suffering for other doctrines, such as Arianism, &c.* They would also have us believe, that many suffered for political offences, although such sufferers are carefully excluded from the list of Martyrs. They also try to diminish the number, by falsely representing many of them as at variance among themselves; and that others were idiots or madmen! The attempt is bold; and even the warmest advocate of Romanism would be puzzled to say how the charges of cruel persecution, urged against Mary and her Ministers, would be removed, even if these excuses were admitted. It is however by such reasonings, dressed up with jesuitical and specious sophistries, that multitudes are misled. Humanly speaking, if the Romish laity in England and Ireland would search the Scriptures," and examine history for themselves, they would no longer submit to the fetters by which they now allow their minds to be enthralled. We live at a period when these details have been too much forgotten by Protestants, and it is now difficult to obtain credit for matters, which at that period, the most bigoted Romanist did not venture to deny. * See the Key to the Roman Catholic Office; Whitby, 1823; and several other Romish works, lately published in England. . 1555.] respecting the Martyrs. 191 Father Persons, or Parsons, the Jesuit, who lived and wrote at that period, attacked Fox's voluminous work, but he did not dare to assume the ground now taken by Romanists, and too commonly admitted by Protestants, as a mere matter of course. He pursued a different line of argument, and adopted that scoffing unfeeling strain, which we even now often see, when Romish advocates for awhile lay aside the tone of mock humanity, which they frequently assume. These sufferers, who, though poor as to this world's goods, were rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of heaven, are by him denominated" a contemptible and pitiful rabblement, obscure and unlearned fellows, fond (foolish) and obstinate women," &c. &c. The conduct of the Romish Prelates is praised by him in the highest terms; he even pities them, for having been forced to punish these poor Martyrs! adding," But what would our Saviour have said of such Pastors, if they had suffered such noisome wilful beasts to live among their flock, without restraint or punishment!" Surely "a babe in Christ" can answer ten thousand such sophistries as these. If we examine the records of these Martyrs, we shall see that they were watched, and sought for with the utmost eagerness; and so far from needlessly obtruding their sentiments, they in almost every case, abstained from the public * *The story of Justice Drainer, of Kent, commonly called Justice Nine-holes, shews the eagerness with which these persecutors sought for heretics. Dods, the Curate of his parish, had reproved him for some evil conduct, upon which Drainer, desiring to be revenged, invited him to breakfast; and having a man concealed as a witness, endeavoured to induce him to speak against the proceedings then going forward. He failed in this object, but did not rest till he had caused Dods to be banished from the country. Another plan of this Drainer is recorded. He made nine holes in the screen of the Rood-loft, so that he could look about during Mass time, unperceived; and see who did not fully reverence the breaden God, when it was held on high; and all whose conduct was at all suspicious, were sure to suffer. For this he was called Justice Nine-holes! In the later editions of Fox, a circumstance is related, which confirms this narrative, and shows how differently the Romanists were treated when Protestantism prevailed. Drainer went to the printer, and requiring to see Fox, complained bitterly that they had printed falsehoods respecting him, declaring that he had only made five holes, the Priest having made the other four! And that they were not made to see who refused to bow to the Host. He also denied the account respecting Dods. The 192 Transubstantiation. profession of the Gospel, till they could not avoid it, without departing from their duty; they then stood forward with strength given them from above. Their accusations, in no instance, implied even a surmise of a political nature; the main question always related to the Sacrament of the Altar, upon which sandy foundation of error the Church of Rome seems, during the latter ages, to have mainly rested its fabric of superstition and ecclesiastical power. It was a searching question; and as Fuller well remarks: "This point of the real presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament, the self-same body that was crucified, was such downright falsehood, that it was incapable of any palliation, and was the easiest way to discover those of the contrary opinion. This neck question the most dull and duncicall Commissioner was able to ask; and, thanks be to God, the simplest Protestant soul brought before them was able to answer, first by denying, and then by dying in defence of his denial." We may also quote the words of Baxter: "If you are sure you know bread and wine when you see, and feel, and smell, and taste them, then you are at the end of controversy with the Papists." Or, as Jewel states, "If the Romish doctrine is admitted, then, Being is not being, Remaining is not remaining, Changing is not changing, and the same thing is not the same. With such pretty constructions would they teach us to expound the ancient Fathers." printer told him that this letter was confirmed by Mathews, the man whom he had concealed, to take down the Curate's words. As to the holes, the printer told him that he knew the excuse, with which he now tried to pass over the matter; as he had openly declared, that he did it to gaze upon the congregation! This extract may appear trifling, but it strongly shews the vile characters employed under this inquisitorial system; and the faithful manner in which many of the minutest circumstances are recorded by Fox; it also presents a specimen of the evasive quibbles, often brought forward by Romanists, and styled refutations! |