"And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord." "The eternal Word, perfect God with his Father, of equal power in all things, of the same substance, of like glory, by whom all things were made, and have life, and without whom nothing liveth: he was made also perfect man, and so being very God and very man in one person, is the only Saviour, Redeemer, and Ransomer of them who were lost in Adam, our forefather. He is the only means of our deliverance, the hope of our health, the surety of our salvation."

"Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary."

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According to the Father's most merciful promise, this eternal Son of God, forsaking the heavenly glory, humbled himself to take flesh of a virgin, according to the scriptures, uniting the substance of the Godhead to the substance of the manhood, which he took of the substance of that blessed Virgin Mary in one person, to become therein the very Messiah, the anointed King and Priest, for ever appointed to pacify the Father's wrath, which was justly gone out against us all for our sin." "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, and descended into hell."

"He was arraigned before Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea, and unjustly accused of many crimes, of which the ruler judged him innocent, and sought means to deliver him; but contrary to known justice, he did let go Barabbas, who had deserved death, and delivered Christ to be crucified, who deserved no death; who doth declare unto us manifestly, that he suffered for our sins, and was buffeted for our offences, as the prophets do witness, thereby to have it manifested to all men, that he is that Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Therefore suffering for our sins, he received and did bear our deserved condemnation, the pains of death, the state of abjection, the very terror of hell, yielding his spirit to his Father, his body to be buried in earth."

"The third day he rose again from death to life."

To make full and perfect the whole work of our re demption and justification, the same crucified body which was laid in the grave, was raised up again the third day from death, by the power of his Father, and glory of his Godhead: he became the first fruits of the resurrection, and got the victory of death, that all by him might be raised up from death. Through whom all true penitent sinners may now boldly come unto the Father, and have remission of their sins."

"He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty."

"After that in his death and resurrection he had conquered sin, death, and the devil, and had been conversant forty days in the earth, being seen of the apestles, and more than five hundred brethren at once, in the same body in which he wrought the work of our salvation, he ascended into heaven with eternal triumph, for the victory over death, sin, hell, leaving the passage open, by which all true believers may and shall enter into his kingdom, where he now sitteth at his Father's right hand, that is to say, in power and glory equal, in majesty co-eternal."

"From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

"He shall appear again in great glory to receive his elect unto himself, and to put his enemies under his feet, changing all living men in a moment, and raising up all that are dead, that all may be brought to his judgment. Then shall he give to each man according to his deeds. They who have followed him in regeneration, who have their sins washed away in his blood, and are clothed with his righteousness, shall receive the everlasting kingdom, and reign with him for ever; and they, who after the race of the corrupt generation of Adam have followed flesh and blood, shall receive everlasting damnation with the devil and his angels."

"I believe in the Holy Ghost."

"I do believe that the Holy Ghost is God, the third person in the Trinity; in unity of the Godhead equal with the Father and the Son, given through Christ to inhabit our spirits, by which we are made to feel and un

derstand the great power, virtue, and loving kindness of Christ our Lord. For he illuminateth, quickeneth, and certifieth our spirit, that by him we are sealed up until the day of redemption, by whom we are regenerate and made new creatures, so that by him and through him we do receive all the abundant goodness promised us in Jesus Christ."

"The holy catholic church."

"This is an holy number of Adam's posterity, elected, gathered, washed, and purified by the blood of the Lamb from the beginning of the world, and is dispersed through the same by the tyranny of Gog and Magog; that is to say, the Turk and his tyranny, and antichrist, otherwise named the bishop of Rome, and his angels, as this day also doth teach."

"The Communion of Saints."

"Which most holy congregation (being, as St. Paul teacheth, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the head corner-stone), though it is by the tyranny of Satan and his ministers persecuted, some by imprisonment, some by death, and some by other afflictions and painful torments; yet doth it remain in one perfect unity, both in faith and fellowship: which unity is knit in an unspeakable knot, as well of them who are departed from this mortal life, as of them who now are living, and hereafter shall be in the same, and so shall continue until they all do meet in the kingdom, where the head, Jesus Christ, with all his holy members, of which number, through Christ, I assuredly believe I am one, shall be fully complete, knit, and united together for evermore."

"The forgiveness of sins."

"I do believe that my sins, and all their sins who do rightly believe the Holy Scriptures, are forgiven only through Jesus Christ, of whom only I do profess that I have my whole and full salvation and redemption, which St. Paul saith, cometh not through our works and deservings, but freely by grace, lest any man should boast. Through the blood of the cross all things in heaven and earth are reconciled, and set at peace with the Father; without him no heavenly life is given, nor sin forgiven."

"The resurrection of the body."

"I do believe, that by the same my Saviour Christ, I and all men shall rise again from the dead; for 'He,' as St. Paul saith, is risen from the dead, and is become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.' This man is Christ, through the power of whose resurrection I believe that we all shall rise again in these our bodies; the elect clothed with immortality to live with Christ for ever; the reprobate also shall rise immortal to live with the devil and his angels in death everlasting."

"And the life everlasting."

"Through the same Jesus, and by none other, I am sure to have life everlasting. He only is the way and entrance into the kingdom of heaven. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Which life I am sure to possess as soon as I am dissolved, and departed out of this tabernacle, and in the last day both my body and soul shall possess the same for ever, to which God grant that all men may

come.

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"I believe that the sacraments, that is to say, of baptism and of the Lord's Supper, are seals of God's most merciful promises towards mankind. In baptism, as by the outward creature of water I am washed from the filthiness which hangeth on my flesh; so do I assuredly believe, that I am by Christ's blood washed clean from my sins, through which I have sure confidence of my salvation. In the partaking of the Lord's Supper, as I receive the substance of bread and wine, the nature of which is to strengthen the body, so do I by faith receive the redemption wrought in Christ's body broken on the cross, life by his death, resurrection by his resurrection, and in fine, all that ever Christ in his body suffered for my salvation, to the strengthening of my faith in the same. And I believe, that God hath appointed the eat

ing and drinking of the creatures of bread and wine in his holy supper according to his word, to move and to stir up my mind to believe these articles above written.

"This is my faith; this do I believe; and I am content by God's grace to confirm and seal the truth of the same with my blood. "JOHN WARNE."

The History of John Ardeley and John Simson. Upon the same day, and in the same company, and for the same cause, John Ardeley and John Simson were also condemned. But before we come to their history, we shall give a letter of the king and queen, directed from the court the same day, and sent to the bishop by a post, early in the morning, in tenor and form as follows:

"To the right reverend father in God, our right trusty and well-beloved, the bishop of London. "Right reverend father in God, right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And where of late we addressed our letters to the justices of the peace within every of the counties of this our realm; whereby, amongst other instructions given therein for the good order and quiet government of the country round about them, they are directed to have a special regard to such disorderly persons as (forgetting their duties towards God and us) do lean to any erroneous and heretical opinions, refusing to shew themselves conformable to the catholic religion of Christ's church; whom if they cannot by good admo. nitions and fair means reform them, they are directed to deliver them to the ordinary, to be by him charitably dealt withal, and removed, if it may be, from their naughty opinions; or else if they continue obstinate, to be ordered according to the laws provided in that behalf understanding now, to our no little marvel, that many of the said disorderly persons, being by the justices of peace, for their contempt and obstinacy, brought to the ordinaries to be used as is aforesaid, are either refused to be received at their hands, or if they be received, are neither so dealt with, as christian charity requireth, nor yet proceeded withal according to the order of justice, but are suffered to continue in their errors, to the dishonour of Almighty God, and dangerous example of others; like as we find this matter very strange, so have we thought convenient both to signify our knowledge, and therewith also to admonish you to have in this behalf such regard henceforth to the office of a good pastor and bishop, as when any such offenders shall be by the said officers or justices of peace brought unto you, you use your good wisdom and discretion in procuring to remove them from their errors, if it may be, or else in proceeding against them, if they shall continue obstinate, according to the order of the laws; so as through your good furtherance, both God's glory may be better advanced, and the commonwealth the more quietly governed. "Given under our signet at Hampton Court, the 24th of May, in the first and second years of our reigns." This letter thus coming from the Court to the bishop, made him the more earnest and hasty to the condemnation, as well of others as of these men, of whom now we have presently to treat, namely, John Simson and John Ardeley; who being both husbandmen in the town of Wigborough in Essex, and also almost both of one age, for Simson was of the age of thirty-four, and Ardeley thirty, were brought up both together by the under-sheriff of Essex, to Bonner, bishop of London, upon the accusation of heresy.

As the order and manner of their examinations before the bishop, as well as the articles laid against them, were much alike, so their answers were not much discrepant in manner and form; as we find them in the bishop's own registers as follows:

Articles objected against John Simson and John Ardeley.

"First, that thou John Simson (or John Ardeley,) husbandman, of the age of thirty-four years or thereabout, wast and art of the parish of Great Wigborough,

within the diocese of London, and thou hast not believed nor dost believe, that there is here in earth one catholic and universal whole church, which doth hold and be lieve all the faith and religion of Christ, and all the necessary articles and sacraments of the same.

"2. That thou hast not believed, nor dost believe, that thou art necessarily bounden, under the pain of damnation of thy soul, to give full faith and credence unto the said catholic and universal church, and to the religion of the same, in all necessary points of the said faith and religion, without wavering or doubting in the said faith or religion or in any part thereof.

3. That thou hast not believed, nor dost believe, that that faith and religion, which both the churches of Rome, Italy, Spain, England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and all other churches in Europe, being the members and parts of the said catholic and universal church, do believe and teach, is both agreeing with the said catholic and universal church, and the faith and religion of Christ, and also is the very true faith and religion which all christian people ought to believe, observe, follow, and keep: but contrariwise thou hast believed, and dost believe, that that faith and religion which the said church of Rome, and all the other churches aforesaid have heretofore believed, and do now believe, is false, errroneous, and naught, and in nowise ought to be believed, observed, kept, and followed by any christian man.

"4. That although it be true, that in the sacrament of the altar there is in substance the very body and blood of Christ under the forms of bread and wine, and although that it be so believed, taught, and preached, undoubtedly in the said church of Rome, and all other the churches aforesaid, yet thou hast not so believed, nor dost so believe; but contrariwise thou hast and dost believe firmly and stedfastly, that there is not in the said sacrament of the altar, under the said forms of bread and wine, the very substance of Christ's body and blood, but that there is only the substance of material and common bread and wine, with the forms thereof; and that the said material and common bread and wine, are only the signs and tokens of Christ's body and blood, and by faith to be received, only for a remembrance of Christ's passion and death, without any such substance of Christ's body and blood at all.

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5. That thou hast believed and taught, and thou hast openly spoken, and to thy power maintained and defended, and so dost believe, think, maintain, and defend, that the very true receiving and eating of Christ's body and blood, is only to make material and common bread, and to break it, and to distribute it amongst the people, remembering thereby the passsion and death of Christ only.

"6. That thou hast likewise believed, taught, and spoken, that the mass now used in this realm of England, and in the other churches aforesaid, is abominable and naught, and full of idolatry, and is of the ordinance of the pope, and not of the institution of Christ, and hath no goodness in it, saving the Gloria in Excelsis, and the epistle and the gospel; and that therefore thou hast not, nor will come to be present at the mass, nor receive the sacrament of the altar, or any other sacrament of the church, as they are now used in this realm of England, and other the churches aforesaid.

"7. That thou hast in times past believed precisely, and obstinately affirmed and said, and so dost now be lieve and think, that auricular confession is not needful to be made unto the priest, but that it is a thing superfluous and vain, and ought only to be made to God, and to none other person: and likewise thou hast condemned as superfluous, vain, and unprofitable, all the ceremo nies of the church and the service of the same, and hast said, that no service in the church ought to be said but in the English tongue, and if it be otherwise said, it is unlawful and naught."

They answered to these articles with constancy and christian boldness, and then the bishop endeavoured to induce them to recant. as follows:-"My lord, neither you, nor any other of John Ardeley answered Bonner

your religion, is of the catholic church; for you are of a false faith and I doubt not but you shall be deceived at length. Ye will shed the innocent blood, and you have killed many, and yet go about to kill more," &c.

And added further, saying, "If every hair of my head were a man, I would suffer death in the opinion and faith that I am now in." These, with many other words, he spoke. Then the bishop yet demanded if he would relinquish his erroneous opinions (as he called them) and be reduced again to the unity of the church. He answered, "No, God forbid that I should so do, for then I should lose my soul."

After this, the said bishop asked John Ardeley if he knew any cause why he should not have sentence condemnatory against him; and then read the condemnation; as he also did against John Simson, who stood with the same constancy as John Ardeley: they both were committed to the secular power; that is, to the hands of the sheriffs, to be conveyed to the place where they should be executed.

At the time of the examination of this Simson and John Ardeley, it happened that the bishop, being in a heat with the stout and bold answers of the two prisoners, burst out his loud and angry voice, and said, "Have him away, have him away!"

The people in the church, who were assembled in great numbers, hearing these words, and thinking that the prisoners had received judgment, being desirous to see the prisoners, severed themselves, some running one way, others another way, which caused such a noise in the church, that they in the consistory were all amazed: and the bishop being afraid of this sudden stir, asked what it was. The standers-by answering, said, that there was likely to be some tumult. When the bishop heard this, his heart failed him, and leaving his seat, he, with the rest of the court, took to their legs, hastening with all speed possible to recover the door that went into the bishop's house: but the rest being somewhat lighter of foot than my lord, sooner reached the door, and thronging hastily to get in, kept the bishop out, and cried, "Save my lord, save my lord!" but meaning yet first to save themselves, by which they gave the standersby good matter to laugh at.

John Simson and John Ardeley being delivered to the sheriffs, were shortly after sent down from London to Essex, where they were both in one day (June 10, 1555) put to death. John Simson suffered at Rochford, John Ardeley at Railey.

The ridiculous handling and proceeding of Bishop Bonner and his fellows against John Tooly.

In the same month that the two godly men, above mentioned, were burned, a solemn process was made about the pope's spiritualty against John Tooly, in a case of heresy. The history is this: There was, about the time that the Spaniards began first to make a stir in England, one John Tooly, a citizen and poulterer in London, who conspired with certain others of his society, to rob a Spaniard at St. James's: and although the deed was heinous and wicked of itself, yet it was aggravated and made greater than it was, by being committed against such a person, and against such a country, which both the queen and her whole court did highly favour. The robbery being known, and brought into judgment, this Tooly was found guilty, and judged to be hanged.

Tooly being led to the gallows, a little before he died, standing upon the cart, read a certain prayer in a printed book, and two other prayers written in two papers: then having the halter about his neck, he desired the people present to pray for him, and to bear him witness that he died a true christian man, and that he trusted to be saved only by the merits of Christ's passion, and shedding of his precious blood, and not by any masses, or trentals, images, or saints, which were (as he said) mere idolatry and superstition, devised by the bishop of Rome: and that as Tooly and his fellows, who were there hanged with him, did steal and rob for covetousness, so the bishop of Rome did sell his masses

and trentals, with such other peltry, for covetousness' and he spoke with a loud voice these words: "From the tyranny of the bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enormities; from false doctrine and heresy, and from the contempt of thy word and commandment, good Lord deliver us!" He then spake to the people; "All you that are true christian men, say with me, Amen." And immediately about three hundred persons or more, to the judgment and estimation of those that were there present, answered and said, "Amen," three times.

As soon as the account of this fact came to the ears of the priests and mitred prelates, they were not a little mad, thinking it not tolerable that so great a reproach should be done against the holy father. At last they all agreed that the violating of the pope's holiness should be revenged with fire and fagot. And I do easily believe that cardinal Pole was no small doer in this sentence: for as Winchester and Bonner always thirsted after the blood of the living, so Pole's lightning was for the most part kindled against the dead; and he reserved this charge only to himself, I know not for what purpose, except, peradventure, being loath to be so cruel as the others; he thought, nevertheless, by this means to discharge his duty towards the pope. By the same cardinal, the bones of Martin Bucer and Paul Phagius, who had lain almost two years in their graves, were taken up and burned in Cambridge, as Tooly's dead body was here at London. And besides this, that he might shew some token of his diligence in both universities, he caused Peter Martyr's wife, a woman of worthy memory, to be digged out of the church-yard, and to be buried on the dunghill. Of these two acts we shall say more hereafter. But now to our purpose of Tooly, who, having ended his prayer, was hanged and put into his grave, out of which he was digged again, by the commandment of the bishops; and because he was so bold to derogate the authority of the bishop of Rome, at the time of his death, it pleased them to judge and condemn him as an heretic, as may further appear as follows:

The Writ or Mandate of Bonner, Bishop of London, set up at Charing Cross, on St. Paul's Church-door, and at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, for the citing and further enquiring into the case of John Tooly.

"Edmund, by the sufferance of God, bishop of London, to all and singular parsons, vicars, curates, and others, clerks and learned men, being within our diocese of London, and especially unto Richard Clonie, our sworn sumner, greeting, salutation, and benediction. Forsomuch as it is come to our hearing by common fame, and the declaration of sundry credible persons, that one John Tooly, late citizen and poulterer of London, the son of perdition and iniquity, coming to the profundity of malice in the selfsame time in which he should go to hanging, according to the laws of the realm, for the great theft lately by him committed, at which time chiefly he should have cared for the wealth of his soul, and have died in the unity of the catholic church, did utter divers and sundry damnable, blasphemous, and heretical opinions and errors, utterly contrary and repugnant to the truth of the catholic faith, and unity of the same; and did exhort, stir up, and encourage the people, there standing in great multitudes, to hold and defend the same errors and opinions. And, moreover, certain of the people there standing, as it did appear, affected with errors and heresies, as abettors and defenders of the said John, did confirm and give express consent to the aforesaid words, propositions, and affirmations, which thing we do utter with sorrow and bitterness of heart.

"We, therefore, the aforesaid Edmund and bishop, not being able, nor daring to pass over in silence, nor wink at the aforesaid heinous act, lest by our negligence and slackness the blood of them might be required at our hands at the most terrible day of judgment, desiring to be certified and informed whether the premises declared unto us, be of the truth, and lest that any scabbed sheep, lurking amongst the simple flock of our Lord, do infect them with pestiferous

Bonner.-"Will you deny that which all the whole world and your father has been contented with?"

Hawkes." What my father and the whole world have done, I have nothing to do with; but what God hath commanded me to do, to that I shall stand."

Bonner. Would not you be contented that your child should be christened after the book that was set out by King Edward ?"

Hawkes." Yes, with a good will; it is a thing that I desire."

Bonner." I thought so; you would have the same thing. The principle is in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and in the necessity it may

serve."

Bonner." Thou speakest that because I am no preacher."

Hawkes." I quote the text; I do not mean you." Bonner." Will you be content to tarry here, and your child shall be baptized?"

Hawkes." If I would so have done, I needed not to have come to you."

Bonner." You seem to be a stout young man ; you will not give your head for the washing; you will stand in the defence of it for the honour of your country. Do you think that the queen and I cannot command it to be done in spite of your teeth?"

Hawkes."What the queen and you can do I will not say, but you shall get my consent never the sooner.' Bonner." Well, you are a stubborn young man; I perceive I must work another way with you."

Hawkes."You are in the hands of God, and so

am I."

Bonner." Whatever you think, I will not have you speak such words to me.'

A Dialogue between Harpsfield and Thomas Hawkes.

Then the bishop brought Harpsfield, archdeacon of London, to talk with him.

Harpsfield." Christ used ceremonies. Did he not take clay from the ground, and took spittle, and made the blind man to see?"

Hawkes. I know that well; but Christ did never use it in baptism. If you will needs have it, put it to the use that Christ put it to."

Harpsfield. Suppose your child die unchristened, what heavy a case stand you in?"

Hawkes." I admit that if it do, what then?" Harpsfield." Why, then you are damned, and your child too."

Hawkes." Judge you no farther than you may by the scriptures."

Harpsfield." Do you not know that your child is born in original sin?"

Hawkes." Yes, that I do."

Harpsfield." How is original sin washed away?" Hawkes." By true faith and belief in Christ Jesus." Harpsfield."How can your child, being an infant,

believe?"

Hawkes." The deliverance of it from sin standeth in the faith of his parents."

Harpsfield." How prove you that?" Hawkes," By St. Paul; in 1 Cor. vii. 14, where he says, 'For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." Harpsfield." I will prove that they whom thou puttest thy trust in are against thee in this opinion." Hawkes." Who are those?"

Harpsfield.—“ Your great learned men in Oxford." Hawkes." If they do it by the scriptures, I will believe them."

Bonner.-"Recant, recant; do you not know that Christ said, Except ye be baptized ye cannot be saved?'"'

Hawkes." Doth christianity stand in outward cere

monies or not?"

Bonner." Partly it doth: what say you to that?" Hawkes." I say as St. Peter saith, 'Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.'"

Harpsfield." Beware of pride, brother, beware of

pride."

Hawkes." It is written, Pride serveth not for men, nor yet for the sons of men.'"

Bonner." Let us make an end here. How say you to the mass, sirrah?"

Hawkes." I say it is detestable, abominable, and profitable for nothing."

Bonner." What, nothing profitable in it! What say you to the epistle and gospel?"

Hawkes." It is good, if it be used as Christ left it to be used."

Bonner." Well, I am glad that you somewhat recant recant all, recant all."

Hawkes." I have recanted nothing, nor will I." Bonner." How say you to the confessional ?” Hawkes." I say it is abominable and detestable, yea, and a blasphemy against God and his son Christ, to call upon any, to trust to any, or to pray to any, save only to Christ Jesus."

Bonner." To trust to any, we bid you not; but to call upon them, and to pray to them, we bid you. Do you not know when you come into the court you cannot speak with the king and the queen, unless ye call to some of the privy chamber that are next to the king and queen?"

trine.

Hawkes." They that choose may receive your docYou teach me that I should not believe nor trust in any, but to call on them; and St. Paul saith, How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?" " Bonner." Will you have no body to pray for you when you be dead?"

Hawkes." No, surely, except you can prove it by the scriptures; a man's prayers, you being dead, profit nothing at all."

Bonner." Will ye grant the prayer of the righteous man to prevail?"

Hawkes-"I grant it does for the living, but not for the dead."

Bonner." Not for the dead?"

Hawkes." No; for David saith, 'None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever. Also Ezekiel saith, Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.'"

Harpsfield." What books have you?"

Hawkes." The New Testament, Solomon's Books, and the Psalter."

Harpsfield." Will you read any other books?" Hawkes." Yea, if you will give me such books as I will require."

Harpsfield." What books do you require?" Hawkes." Latimer's books, my Lord of Canterbury's book, Bradford's Sermons, Ridley's books."

Bonner." Away, away! he will have no books but such as maintain his heresies."

The next day an old bishop attended, who had a pearl in his eye, and he brought with him to my lord a dish of apples and a bottle of wine; for he had lost his living, because he had a wife. Then the bishop called me again into the orchard, and said to the old bishop, “This young man hath a child, and will not have it christened." Hawkes." I deny not baptism."

Bonner (speaking in much anger)." Thou art a fool; thou canst not tell what thou wouldst have." Hawkes." A bishop must be blameless or faultless, sober, discreet, no chider, nor given to anger."

Bonner." Thou judgest me to be angry; no, by my faith am I not. What say you to holy water?” Hawkes." I say to it as to the rest, and to all that are of his making that made them."

Bonner." The scriptures allow it."