Master Phylpot , shew your self a wyse man . And be not stubburne in your owne opinion , but be conformable to the Quenes procedinges , and lyue , and you shal be well assured of greate fauoure and reputacion .

I shal do , as yt becommeth a Christian man to doo .

This man is the rankest heretike : that hath ben in al my Lorde chauncelers diocese , & hath done more hurt , than any man elles there . Therfore hys pleasure is , that he should haue the lawe to procede agaynst hym . And I haue spoken with my lorde herein . And he wylleth hym to be committed to the bishop of London . And he there to recant , or elles burne . He howled & wept in the conuocacion howse , and made suche a do , as neuer man dyd . As al the heretiks do , when they lacke learning to answere . He shal go after hys felowes . Howe sayst thou ? wilt thou recant .

I knowe nothing I haue done , that I owght to recant .

Well than I praye you , let vs commit him , to the lollardes tower , & there remayne , vntyll he be further examined before the bishop of London . For he is to fyne fedde in the kynges Benche , & he hath to muche fauour ther. For his keper sayd at the doore yesterdaye , that he was the fynest felowe , and one of the best learned in England . And with this he rose vp , and went his waye .

This man hath most stoutly mayntayned heresies , synce the Quenes comming in , as any that I haue heard of . Therfore it is most mete , he should be adiudged by the bishop of London , for the heresies he hath mayntayned .

I haue mayntayned no heresies .

No haue ? Dyd ye not openly speake agaynst the sacrament of the altar , in the conuocacion house ? cal you that no heresie ? wilt thou recant that or not ?

It was the Quenes Maiesties pleasure , that we should reason therof , not by my sekyng , but by other mens procuryng , in the hearing of the counsel .

Dyd the Quene gyue you leaue to be an heretyke ? you maye be sure , No Cook . But ye take leaue to be a trayter . her grace wyl not so do . Wel , we wyl not dispute the matter with you . My lorde of London shall procede , by inquisicion vpon thee , and yf thou wilt not recant , thou shalt be burned .

My lorde of London is not myne ordinarie in this behalfe : and I haue alreadye answered vnto myne ordinarie in this matter . And therfore as I haue sayd before , you shall do me great wrong , to vexe me twyse for one matter : synce I haue susteined this long inprisonment , besydes the losse of my lyuyng .

You were a very vnmete man to be an Archdeacon .

I knowe I was as mete a man , as he that hath it now .

A mete man ꝙ a ? he troubled master Roper , and the hole countrey .

Ther was neuer poore Archdeacon so handled at your handes , as I am : and that without any iuste cause ye be hable to laye vnto me .

Thou art no Archedeacon .

I am Archedeacon stil , although an other be in possession of my lyuyng : for I was neuer depriued by any lawe .

No syr , that nedeth not : for a notorious heretyke shoulde haue no ordinarie proceding about his depriuacion : but the Bishop may at knowlege therof , procede to depriuacion .

Master doctour , you knowe , that the common lawe is otherwyse . And besydes this , the statutes of this realme be otherwyse , which geueth this benefyte to euery persone , though he be an heretyke , to enioye his lyuyng , vntyl he be put to death for the same .

No , ther thou arte deceyued .

Vpon the lyuyng I passe not .

But the vniust dealyng greueth me , that I should be thus troubled for my conscience , contrary to al lawe .

Why , wyll you not agree , that the Quenes maiestie maye cause you to be examined of your fayth ?

Aske you of master D. Cooke , and he wyll tel you , that the temporal magistrates haue nothyng to doo with maters of fayth , for determinacion therof . And S. Ambrose sayth , Diuina imperatoriae maiestati non sunt subiecta . That the thinges of God are not subiect to the power and authoritie of princes .

No ? may not the temporal power commit you to be examined of your fayth to the bishop ? That is an other mater .

Yea syr I denie not that , but you will not graunt , that the same maye examine any of theyr owne authoritie .

A sure solucion . Let hym be had away .

Your mastership promised me , the last tyme I was before you , I should see your commission , by what autoritie you do cal me , and whether I ( by the same ) be bounde to answere to so muche as you demaunde .

Let hym see the commission ,

What ? than he exhybited it to master Roper , and was about to open the same .

No , what wil you do ? he shal not see yt .

Than do you me wrong , to call me and vexe me , not shewing your autoritie in this behalfe .

Yf we do you wrong , complayne on vs : and in the meane whyle thou shalt lye in the lollardes tower .

Syr , I am a poore gētelman : therfore I trust of your gentlenes you will not committe me to so vyle and strayte a place , being founde no haynous trespacer .

Thou art no gentilman .

Yeas that I am .

An heretyke is no gentilman , for he is a gentelman , that hath gentil condicions .

The offence can not take away the state of a gentilman , as long as he lyueth , although he were a traytour , But I meane not to boast of my gentlemanship , but wil put it vnder my foote , synce you do no more esteme it .

What ? wil you suffer this heretyke to prate with you al this daye .

He sayth he is a gentilman .

A gentilman ꝙ A ? he is a vyle heretike knaue . Naye , he wil not take your name from you . For an heretyke ys no gentilman : Let the Keper of lollardes tower comme in , and haue hym awaye .

Here syr .

Take this man with you to the lollardes tower , or els to the bishops Cole howse .

Syr , yf I were a dogge , you could not appoint me a worse and more vyle place . But I must be content with what so euer iniurie you do offer me , God gyue you a more merciful hart , you are verye cruel vpon one , that hath neuer offended you . I praye you ( master cholmeley ) shewe me some frendship , that I be not caried to so vyle a place . And he called me asyde , and said .

I am not skylfull of theyr doyng , neyther of theyr lawes : I can not tel what they meane , I would I could do you good .

I am content to go whither you will haue me . Ther was neuer man more cruelly handled , than I am at your handes that without any iust cause knowen , should thus be intreated .

God forgyue you , and gyue you more merciful hartes , & shew you more mercy in the tyme of nede . Et quod facis , fac citius . So quickly that you haue in hande .

Do you not heare , howe he maketh vs Iudases ?

That is after your owne understanding .

After thys I with .iiij. other moo , were brought to the kepers howse , where we supped in pater noster rowe , and after supper I was called vp to a chamber by the archdeacon of Londons seruaunt , and that in his masters name he offred me a bedd for that night .

To whome I gaue thankes , sayeng : that yt should be a greffe to me to lye wel one night , & the next worse . Wherfore I would begynne , as I am like to continue , to take suche part , as my felowes doo . And with that , we were brought through paternoster rowe , to my lord of Londons colehowse . Vnto the which is ioyned a lytle blind howse , with a great payre of stockes , apoynted both for hand and foote . But thankes be to God , we haue not played of those orgaynes yet , although som befor vs had tried them . And ther we founde a Minister of Estsex , a maried priest , a man of godly zeale , with one other pore man . And this minister ( at my comming ) desyred to speake with me , and did greatly lament hys owne infirmitie for that through extremitie of imprisonment , he was constrayned by wryting to yeld to the bishop of London . Wherupon he was once set at libertie : And afterward felt suche a hel in his conscience , that he could scarce refrayne from destroyeng hymselfe , and neuer could be at quiet , vntyl he had gone to the bishopes regester , desyring to see hys byl agayne , the which as sone as he had receyued , he tare yt in peaces . And afterward he was as Ioyful as any man might be . Of the which when my lorde of London had vnderstanding , he sent for hym , and fell vpon hym like a lyon , and like a manly bishop buffeted him wel , and plucte awaye a great pece of his beard . But now thankes be to God , he is as Ioyful vnder the crosse , as any of vs , and verye sorye of his former infirmitie . I write thys , because I would all men to take heede , howe they doo contrary to theyr conscience : which is to fal into the paynes of hell .

My lorde would know the cause of your sendyng hyther , for he knoweth nothyng therof : and wondreth , that he should be troubled with prisoners of other dioceses , then hys owne . And I declared vnto hym the hole cause . After the which he sayed , my lords wyll was , that I should haue anye frendshyp that I wold desyre , and so departed .

Within a litle after one of my lords gentlemen commeth for me . And I was brought into hys presence , wheare he sate at a table alone , with thre or fower of hys chaplaynes wayting vpon hym : and hys regester .

Master Phylpot you are welcome , giue me your hand .

With that , because he so gentlye put furth hys hand , I to rendre curtesye for curtesye , kyssed my hande , and gaue hym the same .

I am ryght sorye for your trouble . And I promise you , before yt was within these two howres , I knewe not of your being here . I praie you tel me what was the cause of your sending hyther : for I promise you , I know nothyng therof as yet : neyther I would you should not thynke , that I was the cause therof . And I maruayl that other men will trouble me with theyr maters . But I must be obedient to my betters . And ywis , men speake otherwyse of me than I deserue .

I shewed hym the summe of the matter : that yt was for the disputacion in the conuocasion howse : for the which I was agaynst alryght molested .

I maruayl that you should be troubled therfore , yf ther wer none other cause but thys . But parauenture you haue mayntayned the same synce . And some of your frendes of late haue asked , whether you do stand to the same , and you haue sayd yea , and for this you might be committed to prison .

And yt shall please your lordship , I am burdened non otherwyse , than I haue told you , by the commissioners , who haue sent me hither , bycause I wil not recant the same .

A man may speake in the parliament house ( though yt be a place of fre speche ) as he may be imprisoned for . As in case he speake wordes of hygh treason , against the Kyng or Quene . And so it might be , that you spake otherwyse then it became you , of the church of Christ .

I spake nothing , which were out of the articles , which were called in question , and agreed vpon to be disputed by the holl house , & by the Quenes permission and her counsell .

Why , maye we dispute of our fayth ?

Yea that we maye .

Naye I trowe not , by the lawe .

In dede by the cyuile lawe I knowe it is not lawful , but by Goddes lawe we maye reason therof : for S. Peter sayeth , be ye ready to rendre accompt vnto all men of that hope which is in you , that demaunde you of the same .

In dede S. Peter sayeth so .

Why then I aske of you , what your iudgement is of the sacrament of the altar ?

My lorde , S. Ambrose sayeth , that the disputacion of fayth ought to be in the congregation , in the hearing of the people . And that I am not bounde to rendre accompt therof to euery man priuatly , onles it be to edifie . But nowe I can not shewe you my mynde , but I must runne vpon the pikes in daunger of my lyfe therfore . Wherfore as the said doctour sayd vnto Valentiniane th emperour , so saye I to your lordship . Tolle legem & fet certamen . Take away the lawe , and I shall reason with you . And yet yf I come in open iudgement , where I am bounde by the lawe to answere , I trust I shal vtter my conscience as frely , as any that hath come before you .

I perceyue you are learned . I would haue suche as you are about me , but you must come and be of the churche , for ther is but one Churche .

God forbyd I should be out of the churche . I am sure , I am within the same : for I knowe as I am taught by the scripture , that there is but one catholyke churche , Vna columba , vna sponsa , vna dilecta . One doue , one spouse , one beloued congregacion : out of the which ther is no saluacion .

Howe chaunceth it then that you go out of the same , and walke not with vs ?

My lorde , I am sure , I am with in the boundes of the churche , wherupon she is buylded , which is the worde of God .

What age are you of ?

You are not now of the same fayth your Godfathers and Godmothers promised for you , in the whiche you were baptised .

Yes that I thanke God I am .

For I was baptised into the faythe of Christ , which I now holde .

How can that be ? ther is but one fayth .

I am assured of that , by S. Paul , sayeng : that ther is but one God , one fayth , and one baptisme of the which I am .

You were .xx. yere ago of an other faythe , then you be nowe .

In dede ( my lorde ) to tell you plaine , I was then nullu fidei , of no fayth , a neuter , a wycked lyuer , neyther hote nor colde .

Why , do you not thynke , that we haue nowe the true fayth ?

I desire your lordship to holde me excused , for answering at this tyme . I am sure that Goddes worde throughly with the primatiue churche , and all the auncient wryters do agre with this faith I am of .

Wel , I promise you , I meane you nomore hurte , than to myne owne person . I will not therfore burthen you with your conscience as now . I maruayle that you are so mery in prison , as you be synging , and reioysing ( as the Prophete sayeth ) Exultanies in rebus pessimis , reioysing in your naughtines . Me thinke you do not wel herin , you should rather lament and be sory .

My lorde , the myrth that we make is but in singing certayne Psalmes , according as we are commaunded by S. Paule , wyllyng vs to be mery in the Lorde , synging together in Hymnes & Psalmes : and I trust your lordship can not be displeased with that .

We maye saye vnto you , My lorde is we louersene in the gospel . as Christ sayd in the gospel . Tibijs cecinimus vobis , & non planxistis . And ther my lorde stumbled , and could not bring furth the texte , and required his chaplaynes to helpe , and put him in remembraunce of the texte better : but they were mumme .

And I recited out the texte vnto hym , which made nothing to his purpose , onlesse he would haue vs to mourne , because they yf they laugh , syng styll sorowfull thinges vnto vs , threatning fagottes and fyre .

We are ( my lorde ) in a darke confortles place : and therfore it behoueth vs to be mery , lest ( as Salomon sayeth ) sorowfulnes eat vp our heart . Therfore I trust your lordship wil not be angry for our singing of Psalmes : sence S. Paule sayth , yf any man be of an vpryght mynde , let him syng . And we therfore to testifie that we are of an vpright minde to God ( though we be in miserie ) do syng .

I wil trouble you no further as nowe . Yf I can do you any good , I wil be glad to do it for you . God be with you , good master Philpot , & gyue you good nyght . Haue him to the cellar , & let him drinke a cuppe of wyne . Thus I departed , & by my lordes regester I was brought to his cellar dore , where I dranke a good cuppe of wine , & my lordes chaplain master Cosyn folowed me , taking acquaintaunce , sayeng , that I was welcome , & wished that I would not be singular .

I am wel taught the contrarie by Salomon , sayeng : Vae soli . Wo be vnto him that is alone . After that I was caried to my lordes cole house againe , where I with my sixe felowes do rowse together in the strawe , as chearfully ( we thanke God ) as other do in their beddes of downe .

Thus for the thyrde fitte .