History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century Volume V Part 34

Silent on the threshold of his door, Dalaber followed both with eyes and ears his friend's retreating footsteps. Having heard him reach the bottom of the stairs, he returned to his room, locked the door, took out his New Testament, and placing it before him, read on his knees the tenth chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, breathing many a heavy sigh: .... _Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake ... but fear them not; the very hairs of your head are all numbered_.

This reading having revived his courage, Anthony, still on his knees, prayed fervently for the fugitive and for all his brethren: "O G.o.d, by thy Holy Spirit endue with heavenly strength this tender and new-born little flock in Oxford.[610] Christ's heavy cross is about to be laid on the weak shoulders of thy poor sheep. Grant that they may bear it with G.o.dly patience and unflinching zeal!"

[610] Ibid.

Rising from his knees, Dalaber put away his book, folded up Garret's hood and frock, placed them among his own clothes, locked his room door, and proceeded to the Cardinal's College, (now Christ Church,) to tell Clark and the other brethren what had happened.[611] They were in chapel: the evening service had begun; the dean and canons, in full costume, were chanting in the choir. Dalaber stopped at the door listening to the majestic sounds of the organ at which Taverner presided, and to the harmonious strains of the choristers. They were singing the _Magnificat: My soul doth magnify the Lord.... He hath holpen his servant Israel_. It seemed to Dalaber that they were singing Garret's deliverance. But his voice could not join in their song of praise. "Alas!" he exclaimed, "all my singing and music is turned into sighing and musing."[612]

[611] Ibid.

[612] Ibid.

[Sidenote: RAGE OF THE THREE DOCTORS.]

As he listened, leaning against the entrance into the choir, Dr.

Cottisford, the university commissary, arrived with hasty step, "bare headed, and as pale as ashes." He pa.s.sed Anthony without noticing him, and going straight to the dean appeared to announce some important and unpleasant news. "I know well the cause of his sorrow," thought Dalaber as he watched every gesture. The commissary had scarcely finished his report when the dean arose, and both left the choir with undisguised confusion. They had only reached the middle of the anti-chapel when Dr. London ran in, puffing and chafing and stamping, "like a hungry and greedy lion seeking his prey."[613] All three stopped, questioned each other, and deplored their misfortune. Their rapid and eager movements indicated the liveliest emotion; London above all could not restrain himself. He attacked the commissary, and blamed him for his negligence, so that at last Cottisford burst into tears. "Deeds, not tears," said the fanatical London; and forthwith they despatched officers and spies along every road.

[613] Foxe, v. p. 424.

Anthony having left the chapel hurried to Clark's to tell him of the escape of his friend. "We are walking in the midst of wolves and tigers," replied Clark; "prepare for persecution. _Prudentia serpentina et simplicitas columbina_ (the wisdom of serpents and the harmlessness of doves) must be our motto. O G.o.d, give us the courage these evil times require." All in the little flock were delighted at Garret's deliverance. Sumner and Betts, who had come in, ran off to tell it to the other brethren in the College,[614] and Dalaber hastened to Corpus Christi. All these pious young men felt themselves to be soldiers in the same army, travellers in the same company, brothers in the same family. Fraternal love nowhere shone so brightly in the days of the Reformation as among the Christians of Great Britain. This is a feature worthy of notice.

[614] To tell unto our other brethren; (for there were divers else in that college.) Ibid.

Fitzjames, Udal, and Diet were met together in the rooms of the latter, at Corpus Christi college, when Dalaber arrived. They ate their frugal meal, with downcast eyes and broken voices, conversing of Oxford, of England, and of the perils hanging over them.[615] Then rising from table they fell on their knees, called upon G.o.d for aid, and separated, Fitzjames taking Dalaber with him to St. Alban's Hall.

They were afraid that the servant of Gloucester College had betrayed him.

[615] Considering our state and peril at hand. Ibid.

[Sidenote: DALABER'S ALARM.]

The disciples of the gospel at Oxford pa.s.sed the night in great anxiety. Garret's flight, the rage of the priests, the dangers of the rising church, the roaring of a storm that filled the air and re-echoed through the long cloisters--all impressed them with terror.

On Sunday the 11th of February, Dalaber, who was stirring at five in the morning, set out for his room in Gloucester College. Finding the gates shut, he walked up and down beneath the walls in the mud, for it had rained all night. As he paced to and fro along the solitary street in the obscure dawn, a thousand thoughts alarmed his mind. It was known, he said to himself, that he had taken part in Garret's flight; he would be arrested, and his friend's escape would be revenged on him.[616] He was weighed down by sorrow and alarm; he sighed heavily;[617] he imagined he saw Wolsey's commissioners demanding the names of his accomplices, and pretending to draw up a proscription list at his dictation; he recollected that on more than one occasion cruel priests had extorted from the Lollards the names of their brethren, and terrified at the possibility of such a crime, he exclaimed; "O G.o.d, I swear to thee that I will accuse no man, ... I will tell nothing but what is perfectly well known."[618]

[616] My musing head being full of forecasting cares. Foxe, v. p. 423.

[617] My sorrowful heart flowing with doleful sighs. Ibid.

[618] I fully determined in my conscience before G.o.d that I would accuse no man. Ibid.

At last, after an hour of anguish, he was able to enter the college.

He hastened in, but when he tried to open his door, he found that the lock had been picked. The door gave way to a strong push, and what a sight met his eyes! his bedstead overturned, the blankets scattered on the floor, his clothes all confusion in his wardrobe, his study broken into and left open. He doubted not that Garret's dress had betrayed him; and he was gazing at this sad spectacle in alarm, when a monk who occupied the adjoining rooms came and told him what had taken place: "The commissary and two proctors, armed with swords and bills, broke open your door in the middle of the night. They pierced your bed-straw through and through to make sure Garret was not hidden there;[619]

they carefully searched every nook and corner, but were not able to discover any traces of the fugitive." At these words Dalaber breathed again ... but the monk had not ended. "I have orders," he added, "to send you to the prior." Anthony Dunstan, the prior, was a fanatical and avaricious monk; and the confusion into which this message threw Dalaber was so great, that he went just as he was, all bespattered with mud, to the rooms of his superior.

[619] With bills and swords thrusted through my bed-straw. Ibid. p.

425

[Sidenote: DALABER INTERROGATED.]

The prior, who was standing with his face towards the door, looked at Dalaber from head to foot as he came in. "Where did you pa.s.s the night?" he asked. "At St. Alban's Hall with Fitzjames." The prior with a gesture of incredulity continued: "Was not Master Garret with you yesterday?"--"Yes."--"Where is he now?"--"I do not know." During this examination, the prior had remarked a large double gilt silver ring on Anthony's finger, with the initials A. D.[620] "Show me that," said the prior. Dalaber gave him the ring, and the prior believing it to be of solid gold, put it on his own finger, adding with a cunning leer: "This ring is mine: it bears my name. A is for _Anthony_, and D for _Dunstan_." "Would to G.o.d," thought Dalaber, "that I were as well delivered from his company, as I am sure of being delivered of my ring."

[620] Then had he spied on my fore-finger a big ring of silver, very well double-gilted. Foxe. v. p. 425.

At this moment the chief beadle, with two or three of the commissary's men, entered and conducted Dalaber to the chapel of Lincoln college, where three ill-omened figures were standing beside the altar: they were Cottisford, London, and Higdon. "Where is Garret?" asked London; and pointing to his disordered dress, he continued: "Your shoes and garments covered with mud prove that you have been out all night with him. If you do not say where you have taken him, you will be sent to the Tower."--"Yes," added Higdon, "to _Little-ease_ [one of the most horrible dungeons in the prison,] and you will be put to the torture, do you hear?" Then the three doctors spent two hours attempting to shake the young man by flattering promises and frightful threats; but all was useless. The commissary then gave a sign, the officers stepped forward, and the judges ascended a narrow staircase leading to a large room situated above the commissary's chamber. Here Dalaber was deprived of his purse and girdle, and his legs were placed in the stocks, so that his feet were almost as high as his head.[621] When that was done, the three doctors devoutly went to ma.s.s.

[621] Ibid. p. 426.

Poor Anthony, left alone in this frightful position, recollected the warning Clark had given him two years before. He groaned heavily and cried to G.o.d:[622] "O Father! that my suffering may be for thy glory, and for the consolation of my brethren! Happen what may, I will never accuse one of them." After this n.o.ble protest, Anthony felt an increase of peace in his heart; but a new sorrow was reserved for him.

[622] Ibid. p. 427.

[Sidenote: GARRET AND OTHERS IMPRISONED.]

Garret, who had directed his course westwards, with the intention of going to Wales, had been caught at Hinksey, a short distance from Oxford. He was brought back, and thrown into the dungeon in which Dalaber had been placed after the torture. Their gloomy presentiments were to be more than fulfilled.

In fact Wolsey was deeply irritated at seeing the college [Christ Church], which he had intended should be "the most glorious in the world," made the haunt of heresy, and the young men, whom he had so carefully chosen, become distributors of the New Testament. By favouring literature, he had had in view the triumph of the clergy, and literature had on the contrary served to the triumph of the Gospel. He issued his orders without delay, and the university was filled with terror. John Clark, John Fryth, Henry Sumner, William Betts, Richard Taverner, Richard c.o.x, Michael Drumm, G.o.dfrey Harman, Thomas Lawney, Radley, and others besides of Cardinal's College; Udal, Diet, and others of Corpus Christi; Eden and several of his friends of Magdalene; Goodman, William Bayley, Robert Ferrar, John Salisbury of Gloucester, Barnard, and St. Mary's Colleges; were seized and thrown into prison. Wolsey had promised them glory; he gave them a dungeon, hoping in this manner to save the power of the priests, and to repress that awakening of truth and liberty which was spreading from the continent to England.

Under Cardinal's College there was a deep cellar sunk in the earth, in which the butler kept his salt fish. Into this hole these young men, the choice of England, were thrust. The dampness of this cave, the corrupted air they breathed, the horrible smell given out by the fish, seriously affected the prisoners, already weakened by study. Their hearts were bursting with groans, their faith was shaken, and the most mournful scenes followed each other in this foul dungeon. The wretched captives gazed on one another, wept, and prayed. This trial was destined to be a salutary one to them: "Alas!" said Fryth on a subsequent occasion, "I see that besides the word of G.o.d, there is indeed a second purgatory ... but it is not that invented by Rome; it is the cross of tribulation to which G.o.d has nailed us."[623]

[623] G.o.d naileth us to the cross to heal our infirmities. Tyndale and Fryth's Works, iii. p. 91. (ed. Russell.)

[Sidenote: CONDEMNATION AND HUMILIATION.]

At last the prisoners were taken out one by one and brought before their judges; two only were released. The first was Betts, afterwards chaplain to Anne Boleyn: they had not been able to find any prohibited books in his room, and he pleaded his cause with great talent. The other was Taverner; he had hidden Clark's books under his school-room floor, where they had been discovered; but his love for the arts saved him: "Pshaw! he is only a musician," said the cardinal.

All the rest were condemned. A great fire was kindled at the top of the market-place;[624] a long procession was marshalled, and these unfortunate men were led out, each bearing a f.a.got. When they came near the fire, they were compelled to throw into it the heretical books that had been found in their rooms, after which they were taken back to their noisome prison. There seemed to be a barbarous pleasure in treating these young and generous men so vilely. In other countries also, Rome was preparing to stifle in the flames the n.o.blest geniuses of France, Spain, and Italy. Such was the reception letters and the Gospel met with from popery in the sixteenth century.

[624] There was made a great fire upon the top of Carfax. Foxe, v. p.

428.

Every plant of G.o.d's must be beaten by the wind, even at the risk of its being uprooted; if it receives only the gentle rays of the sun, there is reason to fear that it will dry up and wither before it produces fruit. _Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone._ There was to arise one day a real church in England, for the persecution had begun.

We have to contemplate still further trials.

CHAPTER III.

Persecution at Cambridge--Barnes arrested--A grand Search--Barnes at Wolsey's Palace--Interrogated by the Cardinal--Conversation between Wolsey and Barnes--Barnes threatened with the Stake--His Fall and public Penance--Richard Bayfield--His Faith and Imprisonment--Visits Cambridge--Joins Tyndale--The Confessors in the Cellar at Oxford--Four of them die--The rest liberated.

[Sidenote: SUPREMACY OF SELF IN ROMANISM.]

Cambridge, which had produced Latimer, Bilney, Stafford, and Barnes, had at first appeared to occupy the front rank in the English reformation. Oxford by receiving the crown of persecution seemed now to have outstripped the sister university. And yet Cambridge was to have its share of suffering. The investigation had begun at Oxford on Monday the 5th of February, and on the very same day two of Wolsey's creatures, Dr. Capon, one of his chaplains, and Gibson, a sergeant-at-arms, notorious for his arrogance, left London for Cambridge. Submission, was the pa.s.s-word of popery. "Yes, submission,"

was responded from every part of Christendom by men of sincere piety and profound understanding; "submission to the legitimate authority against which Roman-catholicism has rebelled." According to their views the traditionalism and pelagianism of the Romish church had set up the supremacy of fallen reason in opposition to the divine supremacy of the word and of grace. The external and apparent sacrifice of self which Roman-catholicism imposes,--obedience to a confessor or to the pope, arbitrary penance, ascetic practices, and celibacy,--only served to create, and so to strengthen and perpetuate, a delusion as to the egotistic preservation of a sinful personality.

When the Reformation proclaimed liberty, so far as regarded ordinances of human invention, it was with the view of bringing man's heart and life into subjection to their real Sovereign. The reign of G.o.d was commencing; that of the priests must needs come to an end. No man can serve two masters. Such were the important truths which gradually dawned upon the world, and which it became necessary to extinguish without delay.

[Sidenote: SEARCH FOR THE HERETICAL BOOKS.]

On the day after their arrival in Cambridge, on Tuesday the 6th of February, Capon and Gibson went to the convocation house, where several of the doctors were talking together. Their appearance caused some anxiety among the spectators, who looked upon the strangers with distrust. On a sudden Gibson moved forward, put his hand on Barnes, and arrested him in the presence of his friends.[625] The latter were frightened, and this was what the sergeant wanted. "What!" said they, "the prior of the Augustines, the restorer of letters in Cambridge, arrested by a sergeant!" This was not all. Wolsey's agents were to seize the books come from Germany, and their owners; Bilney, Latimer, Stafford, Arthur, and their friends, were all to be imprisoned, for they possessed the New Testament. Thirty members of the university were pointed out as suspected; and some miserable wretches, who had been bribed by the inquisitors, offered to show the place in every room where the prohibited books were hidden. But while the necessary preparations were making for this search, Bilney, Latimer, and their colleagues, being warned in time, got the books removed; they were taken away not only by the doors but by the windows, even by the roofs, and anxious inquiry was made for sure places in which they could be concealed.