The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed The fetters of my tongue do thou unbind, my mind W. WORDSWORTH. THOMAS BILNEY. THOMAS BILNEY was brought up in the universitie of Cambridge, profiting in all kind of liberall sciences, even unto the profession of both lawes. But having gotten a better schoolemaster, even the holy Spirit of Christ, enduing his heart by privie inspiration with the knowledge of better and more wholesome things, he came at the last unto this point, that forsaking the knowledge of mans lawes, he converted his studie to those things, which tend more unto godlinesse than gainfulnesse. As he himselfe was greatly inflamed with the love of true religion, even so againe was in his heart an incredible desire to allure many unto the same, desiring nothing more than that he might stir up and encourage any to the love of Christ, and sincere religion. Neither were his labours vaine, for he converted many of his fellowes unto the knowledge of the gospel; amongst which number was Thomas Arthur, and master Hugh Latimer; which Latimer at that time was crosse-keeper at Cambridge, bringing it forth upon procession daies. At the last, Bilney forsaking the universitie, went into many places, teaching and preaching, being associate with Arthur, which accompanied him from the universitie. The authoritie of Thomas Wolsey, cardinall of Yorke, at that time was great in England, but his pompe and pride much greater, which did evidently declare unto all wise men, the manifest vanitie, not only of his life, but also of all the bishops and clergie. Whereupon Bilney, with other good men', marvelling Other good men.] See what is said above (Supplem. Extracts, vol.i. p. 426, a) of the communications on this subject, between bishop Fisher and the cardinal: and it is observable that in the Latin copy, Fox notices here the at the incredible insolencie of the clergie, which they could now no longer suffer or abide, began to shake and reprove this exces sive pompe and also to plucke at the authoritie of the bishop o Rome. Then it was time for the cardinall to awake, and speedily to looke about his businesse. Neither lacked he in this point any craft or subtiltie of a serpent; for he understood well enough upon how slender a foundation their ambitious dignitie was grounded, neither was he ignorant that their proud kingdom could not long continue against the manifest word of God, espe cardinal's intentions of a reformation. "Nihil itaque cunctatus Cardinalis, cum primum hæc moveri audivit mense Decembri anno 1528, Londini frequen tissimo ecclesiasticorum collecto cœtu, promisit fore ut abusus quicunque in ecclesiam Romanam subrepsissent, sedulo repurgarentur. Interim Bilnæus," &c.—Rerum in Ecclesia Commentarii, p. 124. It may be further proper to remark, that in the Latin copy, we have no such sweeping charge as is here brought against the "vanity," &c. of all the bishops and clergy." The words there seem to apply principally, if not entirely, to the order of cardinals, and to the pope. They are as follows:"Ingens erat per idem tempus Thomæ Vulsæi, cardinalis Eboracensis, in Anglia authoritas, sed fastus, pompa atque ambitio multo major, quæ manifestam vitæ, vanitatem non modo ipsius, sed et universi ordinis, tum pontificis omnium maxime, apud cordatos quosque declarabat.” 2 This excessive pompe.] Sir Thomas More, in his Apology, made after he had given over the office of Lord Chancellor, appears to impute much of this pomp to the example of Cardinal Wolsey; but affirms, that even at the time when he wrote (A.D. 1533), the evil was much abated. "Verylye for aught that I can see, a greate part of the proud and pompous apparaile that many priestes in yeares not long paste, were by the pryde and oversight of some few ['in my lorde cardinal Wolsey's days,' appears in the margin], forced in a manner agaynst theyr own wylles to weare, was before hys" (Tindal's) "godly counsail, so by this pretty printed book privily given them in theyr eare, much more, I trowe, than the one half spent, and in a manner well worne oute. And I wote it is worne out with many, whyche entende hereafter to buy no more such agayne. And for the residue of the countenance I dare bee bolde to warrant, that I can fynde of those that most maye spende, which, were they sure that it shoulde in this matter do any good, would be well content to wythdrawe from all theyr other countenaunce the chiefe parte of theyr moveables, and of theyr yearely lyvelode too, and out of hand bestow the one, and wyth their own hand yearely bestowe the other, openlye amonge the poore. And I durst agayne be bolde to warrant, that if they so dyd, even the self same folke that nowe grudge and call theym proude for theyr countenance, woulde then fynde as great a grudge, and cal theym hypocrites for their almes: and say that they spende upon noughty beggers the good that was wonte to keepe good yeomen; and that they thereby both enfeable, and also dishonour the realme."-Works, p. 892. ially if the light of the gospel should once open the eyes of men. For otherwise he did not greatly feare the power and displeasure kings and princes: only this he feared, the voice of Christ in spell, lest it should disclose and detect their hypocrisie and its, and force them to come to an order of godly discipline: fore he thought good, speedily in time to withstand these nings. Whereupon he caused the said Bilney and Arthur ☆ be apprehended and cast into prison. After this, the seven and twentieth day of November, in the were of our Lord 1527, the said cardinall accompanied with a at number of bishops, as the archbishop of Canterburie [WilWarham], Cuthbert [Tonstall], of London, John [Fisher] f Rochester. Nicholas [West] of Ely, John [Voysey] of Exeter, a [Longland] of Lincolne, John [Clerke] of Bathe and Welles, Henrie [Standish] of Saint Asaph, with many other both Dizes and lawyers, came into the chapterhouse at Westminster, re the said master Thomas Bilney, and Thomas Arthur were rht before them; and the said cardinall there enquired of Raster Bilney, whether he had privately or publikely preached or aht to the people, the opinions of Luther or any other, contrarie to the determination of the church. Whereupon Bilney swered, that wittinglie he had not preached or taught any of Lather's opinions, or any other, contrarie to the catholike church. Then the cardinall asked him, whether he had not once made an before, that he should not preach, rehearse, or defend any "Luther's opinions, but should impugne the same every where? answered, that he had made such an oth, but not lawfully. -Which interrogatories so ministred, and answeres made, the all caused him to sweare to answere plainly to the articles derrors preached and set forth by him; as well in the citie ocesse of London, as in the diocesse of Norwich and other -; and that he should do it without any craft, qualifying or aving out any part of the truth. * But not lawfully.] “The whole process is set down at length by Fox in ts, according to Tonstall's Register, except one fault in the translation. the cardinal asked Bilney whether he had not taken an oath before, to preach or defend any of Luther's doctrines; he confessed he had done judicially (judicialiter, in the Register) This Fox translates not In all other particulars there is an exact agreement between the ter and his Acts."-Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 31. I sterrogutaries whereupon master Thomas Arthur, and master Bilney were accused and examined. I Whether they did beleeve with their hearts, that the assertions of Luther, which are impugned by the bishop of Roenester were justly and godly condemned; and that Luther with his adherents, was a wicked and a detestable heretike. Whether they did beleeve that generall counsels and eccleasdeal constitutions once received and not abrogate againe, ught so be observed of all men, even for conscience sake, and nt my fr vare. Whether they did beleeve that the popes lawes were profitquæ ani necessarie to the preferment of godlinesse, not repugut the heiy Scriptures, neither by any meanes to be abrogate, but to be reverenced of all men. lecher they did beleeve that the catholike church may ren sie inca or : and whether they thinke that catholike turq o be a sensible charch, which may be demonstrate and vamosi fur is it were with a finger; or that it is only a spirituall nures, moligbie, ani krewne ocly to God. 13 heder zier think that the images of saints are chrisza sen the churches; and ought to be worshipped of all Thurnau may beleeve without hurt to his faith or prese, the sudies of Peter and Paul, and of our Ladie, m heaven; and that there is yet no gea uwa the soules departed. The na” eiew without spot of heresie, that adremained net dövaas a v 'h the wit muus uni isting babes ordained and received tu, mat be lecken by any private man, at his will W 19 wa wami be debent to prelats, bishops This is the book of bishop Fisher Is at ntar unë very portant work. It ANJA OPA, Teques that fre editions were printed |