Extract from the Voyages and work by Fox, mentioned page Travels of Marco Polo, page 220; in the valuable library of 135. In Pinkerton's Collection Dr. Williams. It is in one folio of Voyages. volume. The following is an exact copy of the title page, which may be acceptable to some of your readers. "The money of the great Khan, is not made of gold or silver, or other metal, but they take the middle bark from the mulberry Rerum in Ecclesia gestarum, tree, and this they make firm and quæ postremis et periculosis his temcut into divers round pieces, great poribus evenerunt, maximarum que and little, and imprint the king's per Europam persecutionum, ac mark thereon: Of this paper-mo- sanctorum Dei Martyrum, cætera. ney therefore the Emperor causeth rumque rerum si quæ insignioris an huge mass to be made, in the exempli sint, digesti per Regna city of Cambalu, which sufficeth & nationes Commentarii. Pars Prifor the whole empire, and no man ma. In qua primùm de rebus per under pain of death, may coin any Angliam et Scotiam gestis, atque other or spend any other money, in primis de horrenda, sub Maria or refuse it in all his kingdoms and nuper Regina, persecutione, narracountries, nor any coming from tio continetur. Autore Joanne another kingdom, dare spend any Foxo Anglo. Bailée. 1559. It apother money in the empire of the pears from Fox's Life in Biog. Brit. great Khan. (iii. 2022) that the 1st Book of his Commentarii was published at Strasburgh in 8vo. in 1554, while the author was an exile during the persecution under Mary. From the folio volume I quote the 1st page, of which I gave Mr. Peirce's very correct translation (P.220). Quod ni fecisset, sunt qui putant episcopos ultimum ei supplicium molituros. Nam ita audivi a famulo ipsius, Ducem Suffolcia clam Hoperum, qui eorum conatus non ignorabat, præmonuisse. The Duke of Suffolk was likely enough to be well informed, being uncle to the king, by his marriage to Mary, the sister of Henry, and Queen Dow. ager of France. Fox afterwards refers to Edward's protection of Hooper, against the bishop, in the following terms, Eum nec regis voluntas nec causæ equitas tueri possit. There is also preserved, the authority given to Ridley by the King in council to consecrate Hooper, without incurring a Pre "Hence it follows that merchants after coming from remote coun. tries unto the city of Cambalu, bring with them gold, silver, pearl, and precious stones, and receive the king's money for them; and because this money is not received in their country, they change it again in the Empire of the great Khan, for merchandise, which they carry away with them. He also payeth stipends to his officers and army, in the above mentioned money; and lastly, whatever thing he needs in his court, he buyeth with this money. Wherefore there is not a king to be found in the world who exceedeth him in treasure, not expended on the mint as elsewhere." Sketch of English Protestant SIR, April 29, 1812. munire, should he "omit and let godlye historye throughout. But that which was not than perfourm. ed in hope of theyr amendement, maye by chaunce lyght upon them herafter, whan no gentyll warnynge will seme to be regarded." This priest of the reformation, who had been a protege of Lord Cromwell, on whose fall he retired into the Low Countries, appears to anticipate a Hecatomb, if I may be allowed the expression, of popish victims, as a burnt-offering to protestant ascendancy, on the accession of Edward. By those who really governed, in the name of that Prince, Bale was recalled, beneficed in England, and at length made Bishop of Ossery in Ireland; where, according to Dr. Leland, pass certain rites and ceremonies offensive to his conscience." (Ridley's Life, p. 312.) In justice to the memory of Ridley, who appeared prominent in this persecution of Hooper, it should be mentioned that they afterwards became intimate friends as hinted by Fox, before they were united by the sufferings of martyrdom. The author of Ridley's Life (1763,) quotes the following passage from his letters to Hooper, when they were both in prison. "My dear Brother, I understand by your works that we thoroughly agree, and wholly consent together, in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our religion, howsoever in time past, in smaller the historian, he became "a viomatters and circumstances of reli- lent and acrimonious impugner of gion, your wisdom and my simpli- popery." The advancement of city made us to think differently." such an avowed fierce polemic, (p. 324). At page 220, I ven- shews what the papists would protured to describe the Reformers, bably have suffered from protesas wanting nothing but a safe op- tant persecutors, had time and opportunity to burn popish idola- portunity matured their purpose. tors as well as idols. As this is And now, before I return to the a hard saying for Protestants, sufferers under the commission, an even now, to hear, I beg leave account of which concluded my to sustain my opinion, with a last letter, I shall mention some passage which I have since met earlier instances of protestant perwith in Bale's account of Lord secution, which then escaped my Cobham, first published 1544, of notice. which I have a reprint in 1729. During the first year of Ed. At the conclusyon (P. 109) he com- ward's reign, there appear to have pliments"Kynge Henrye the been expectations of Gardiner's VIII. now lyvyng," who "after eventual conformity to the new the most godlye example of Kyng faith, which had been established Josias, vysyted the temples of his by a new Head of the church. He realme," and "utterlye, amonge was now joined with Ridley, in a other, destroyed the synnefull protestant crusade against the Anashryne of Becket." Bale adds, baptists. Strype is my authority "If he had upon that and soche for this rather curious fact, in his other abhomynable shrynes brent Eccles. Mem. (ii. 68,) where he those ydolatrouse prestes, which observes, at the end of the year were, (and are yet,) theyr chefe 1547, At this time Gardiner maynteners, he had fulfylled that and Ridley, were appointed to deal with two Anabaptists of Kent.- votion and honour, and affirmed So at the same time that Ridley that in it there was truly and verily exhorted Gardiner to receive the the body and blood of Christ, effec true doctrine of justification, a- tually by grace and spirit." Ridgainst which he was very refrac- ley's biographer, the Rev. Glocestory, he prayed him to be very ter Ridley, even writing so lately diligent in confounding the Ana- as 1763, commends the bishop baptists in his diocese ; and that he (P. 664,) for having "always be would be steady in the defence lieved and maintained a real preof the sacrament against them." sence by grace to faith, and not a Thus Pilate and Herod were made mere figure only: although there friends, that Jesus might be effec. were some English fanaticks, such tually persecuted. This coalition as John Webb, George Roper, and of papist and protestant, was surely Gregory Paske, who believed that nothing better than an union of the sacrament was only a bare sign guides, alike blind to the rights of of Christ's body, and nothing more conscience and the requirements than a remembrance of it" the of religion. These scrupulous, and very doctrine maintained with great probably conscientious churchmen, ability, but I know not with what could warmly differ, in expound- consistency, by a late successor of ing a conundrum of the schools, Ridley's colleague, in the see of and yet cordially agree to perse- Winchester. I refer to Bishop cute-strain out a gnat and swal. Hoadley's Plain Account of the Na low a camel; violate mercy, one of ture and Design of the Lord's Sup the weightier matters of the law, per. It will here be not uninter and yet pay tithe of mint and an- esting to add, that these three Enise and cummin. glish fanatics, as to whom bigotry and superstition may still account their lives madness, and their end without honour, after escaping the fire of protestant persecution, were burned together at Canterbury, in the reign of Mary. Clarke, in his Martyrologie, (P. 159,) having mentioned the burning of Ridley The Anabaptists who were thus subjected to the ecclesiastical censures of Gardiner and Ridley, ap. pear to have professed more ra. tional and truly scriptural views of that religious usage, unhappily entitled the sacrament, than even the latter prelate entertained. Ridley had, in 1544, been converted and Latimer, in 1555; says, from a belief in transubstantiation, "About the same time, John chiefly by meeting with "the Book Webb, was brought before the of Bertram, or Ratramnus, priest Bishop of Dover, Doctor Harpsand monk of Corbey, concerning field, and some others, where such the body and blood of the Lord;" common articles were objected to written in latin, about 840, a trans- him as against others, to which he lation of which, by Ridley, or un- answered, that he did believe that der his direction, was printed in the sacrament of the Lord's Sup1549. Thus, as Strype remarks, per, was left in commemora though Ridley were not for that tion of his death, and not that it gross corporal presence in the sa- was transubstantiated into his bocrament, yet he approved of treat- dy. After which he, with George ing that holy mystery with all de- Roper and Gregory Paske and two other godly men, were all protestant council, who, as Luther brought forth together; who all said of himself, should be always constantly adhering to the truth, learners," to put an end to all were condemned, and carried to controversies in religion." to the place of their martyrdom. By the way they said divers psalms. Roper, at the stake, putting off his gown, fetched a great leap. And so they all three were consumed in the flames, at Canterbury, abiding their torments most patiently, and rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's gospel sake." These were probably Anabaptists, and two of them might be those with whom Gardiner and Ridley were appointed to deal, in 1547. There was, about the same time, one Robert Cook, expressly called an Anabaptist, by Strype, who" denied original sin, and concerning the Lord's Supper dispersed divers odd things," by which he created trouble to Parkhurst and Coverdale." We presently find a goodly company of Protestant persecutors, among whom were Cranmer, Latimer and Sir Thomas Smith, sitting in judgment, April 27, 1548, "in the chapel of the blessed Mary in St. Paul's," upon one John Champnies, of Stratford on the Bow, in the county of Middlesex. This clergyman appears, by Strype's narration of his opinions, to have refined upon the doctrines of grace, as the harsh and exclusive dogmas of Calvin are improperly called, till he published a book in favour of the system called Antinomian. He was, however, now brought "utterly to abjure the said errors, and all other heresies, false doctrines, and damned opinions contained in his book, and all other Anabaptists' errors, and all other heresies in general, contrary to the faith of Christ." Jortin has remarked (Eccl. Hist. Pref.), as quoted by Wakefield (Mem. 1. 123), "Men By the assistance of the same industrious enquirer, Strype, I find that in the next year, 1548, an attempt was made to engage the growing mind of the young king, now eleven years of age, on the will compel others, not to think side of persecution. William with them, for that is impossible, Thomas, Esq. (afterwards execu- but to say they do, upon which ted for treason in the reign of they obtain full leave not to think Mary)" drew up for the special use or reason at all; and this is called of Edward, a large collection of Unity." thoughts, on civil and ecclesiasti- With such unity, persecutors of cal government, entitled "Ques- every age and description have tions of State Policy." Of these, been obliged to be content, though the following is the tenth. "Whe- no doubt, they have often regretted ther religion, beside the honour of the imperfection of "human laws," God, be not also the greatest stay that, as Young well expresses it, of civil order, and whether the they cannot take vengeance on unity thereof be not to be preserved the mind." Cranmer and his aswith the sword and rigour ?" (Id. sociates accepted the submission ii. 101.) This useful hint was of their prisoner, imposing the folsoon followed by a proclamation lowing sentence. First, a prohi set forth, most consistently by a bition to preach these errors. unfeeling passage in Latimer's 4th sermon, preached before King Edward VI. it may be inferred that even the executions were not few. Secondarily, that the said Champ- damps and putrefaction; pale, nees with all speed convenient, torpid, spiritless and helpless; and with all his diligence, procure and were at last whelmed in pits, as many of his books as are past without notice and without re Yet from a very forth in his name, to be called in membrance. again and utterly destroyed, as much as in him shall lie." Next appears their Christian method of restoring a brother in the spirit of meekness. "Thirdly, that the said Champnees, on Sunday next, shall attend at Paul's cross upon the preacher, all the time of the sermon, and there penitently stand before the preacher aforesaid with a faggot on his shoulder." (Con. cil. Mag. Brit. iv. 39). He says, "the Anabaptists that were burnt here, in many towns in England, as I heard of credible men, I saw them not myself, went to their death, as we will say, without any fear in the world, cheerfully. Well, let them go." Latimer then compares them to We are now arrived again at the "another kind of poisoned heretics, year 1549, where I find contem- called Donatists," who "went to porary with the commission for their execution, as though they Protestant persecution, a session should have gone to some jolly reof Parliament ending with "an creation or banquet, to some belly act of grace and general pardon," cheer, or to a play." Latimer's excepting those who said "that Sermons, 1758, ii. 140. infants were not to be baptized, The records preserved of proseand if they were baptized, that cutions and sentences under this they ought to be rebaptized when commission are, however, very they come to lawful age-that scanty, yet considering the im Christ took no bodily substance of pending fate of the principal comour blessed lady." Strype, from missioners themselves, and their whom I quote this passage (Ec. zeal for God, though not accord. Mem. ii. 189) adds, "Those ing to knowledge, we may consiwho held these tenets were those der them as strikingly exhibiting, called Anabaptists, whereof seve- according to Shakespeare, ral were now in prison." These prisoners must have been confined to await the sentence of the so often mentioned commission. The names and stories of very few of them have been preserved, though they were probably numerous. For the well-known passage of Johnson on war may, with a slight alteration of terms, be applied to persecution. "Of the thousands and tens of thousands that perished, a very small part ever felt the The stroke of an executioner. Man! proud man, I have pursued a more circuitous course than I expected, and must again propose in another letter to conclude the sketch of Protestant persecution in England during the reign of Edward. R. G. S. Unitarians in Transylvania. I lament that the inquiries of rest languished in dungeons, amidst Senex (p. 32) have not called forth VOS. VII. 2 R |