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ther would be very hot, when Underbill did overlay him

with texts of Scripture concerning the natural presence of

Christ in the sacrament ; and would swear great oaths, spe-

cially by the Lord's foot, that after the words spoken by the

priest, there remained no bread, but the natural body that

Mary bare. Nay, then it must needs be so, would Under-

bill say, if you prove it with such oaths. Whereat the Earl

would laugh heartily, saying, Brother, give him over ; Un-

derbill is too hard for you. Wherewith he would be very

angry. He took the greatest hold of the third chapter of

St. John, upon those words, And no man ascendeth up to

heaven, but he that came down from heaven, that is to say,

the Sou of man which is in heaven. He drew Hastings

from the sixth of St. John, and all other places which he

could allege; but from this he would not be removed; af-6l

firming, that those words proved his natural body to be in

heaven, and in the sacrament also. Underhill told him,

he as grossly understood Christ, as Nicodemus did in the

same place of being born again ; and that, in his opinion,

any man that was not given up of God, might be satisfied

concerning the natural presence in the supper of the Lord,

by the Gospel of St. John, reading from the first chapter

unto the end of the seventeenth, with the witness of the first

of the Acts of the Apostles, of Christ's ascension and com-

94 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, ing again (if ever he will be satisfied) without the help of

any doctors.

Anno 1503. The grudge that Sir Edward Hastings took at these for-

fore the 6 " mer discourses stuck so close to him, that Underhill did
Council conclude this was the cause of his apprehension. The ballad
above mentioned was brought to the hands of Secretary
Bourn, as it seems, by the said Sir Edward. The Secretary
immediately sent the Sheriff of Middlesex, with a company
of bills and gleves, to fetch him, and to bring him before
the Council at the Tower. Being brought before them the
next day, there were sitting the Earl of Bedford, who sat
chiefest, the Earl of Sussex next him, the Earl of Arundel,
the Lord Paget, Sir Richard Southwell : by them stood Sir
John Gage, constable of the Tower, the Earl of Bath, Sir
John Mason ; and at the table's end stood Sergeant Morgan,
(that a little after died mad,) and Secretary Bourn.
His ex- The examination of, and discourse with, Underhill, was
animation ^ ag j extract [ t f rom yg own narration thereof. " Come
before the 7
Lords. " hither, Sirrah, saith the Earl of Bedford. Did not you set

Foxii mss. „ forth a baUad of ]ate in prmt? i kneeled down, saying,

" Yes, truly, my Lord. Is that the cause I am called be-

" fore your Honours? Yea, marry, said Secretary Bourn:

" you have one about you, I am sure. Nay, truly have I

" not, said I. Then took he one out of his bosom, and read

" it over distinctly, the Council giving diligent ear. When

" he had ended, I trust, my Lords, said I, I have not of-

" fended the Queen's Majesty in this ballad, nor spoken

" against her title, but maintained it. No ! Have, Sir ? said

" Morgan. Yes, I can divide your ballad, and make all

" distinction in it, and so prove, at the least, sedition in it.

" Yea, Sir, said I, you men of law will make of a matter

" what ye list. Lo ! said Sir Richard South wel, how he

" can give a taunt ! You maintain the Queen's title with

" the help of an arrand heretic, Tyndal. You speak of

" Papists there, Sir, said Mr. Mason. I pray you, how de-

" fine you a Papist? I looked upon him, turning towards

" him, for he stood on the side of me. Why, Sir, said I,

" it is not long since you could define a Papist better than

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 95

" I. With that, some of them secretly smiled, as the Lord CHAP.
VI
" of Bedford, Arundel, Sussex, and Paget. In great haste, '

" Sir John Gage took the matter in hand. Thou callest Anno 1553 «

" men Papists there, said he. Who be they that thou
" judgest to be Papists? Sir, said I, I do name no man;
" nor I come not hither to accuse any ; nor none I will ac-
" cuse. But your Honour doth know, that in this contro-
" versy that hath been, some be called Papists, and some
" Protestants. But we will know whom thou judgest to be
" Papists; and that we command thee, upon thine alle-
" giance, to declare. Sir, said I, if you look among the
" Priests in Paul's, ye shall find some old Mumpsimus's
" there. Mumpsimus's ! knave ? said he ; Mumpsimus's !
" thou art an heretic-knave, by God's blood. Yea, by the
" mass, says the Earl of Bath, I warrant him an heretic-
" knave, indeed. I beseech your Honours, said I, speaking 62
" to the Lords that sat at the table, (for those others stood
" by, and were not of the Council,) be my good Lords ; I
" have offended no laws ; and I have served the Queen's
" Majesty's father and her brother long time : and in their
" service have spent and consumed part of my living, never
" having, as yet, any preferment or recompence, and the
" rest of my fellows likewise, to our utter undoings, unless
" the Queen's Highness be good unto us. And, for my
" part, I went not forth against her Majesty, notwithstand-
" ing I was commanded; nor liked those doings. No: but
" with your writings you would set us together by the ears,
" saith the Earl of Arundel. He hath spent his living wan-
" tonly, saith Bourn, and now saith, he hath spent it in the
" King's service : which I am sorry for. He is come of a
" worshipful house in Worcestershire. It is untruly said of
" you, said I, that I have spent my living wantonly. For
" I never consumed no part thereof, until I came into the
" King's service; which I do not repent, nor doubted of
" recompence, if either of my two masters had lived. I per-
" ceive you are Bourn's son, of Worcester, who was be-
" holden unto my uncle Wynter ; and therefore you have
" no cause to be my enemy. Nor you never knew me, nor

96 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP. "I you, before now; which is too soon. I have heard
" enough of you, said he. So have I of you, said I ; how
Anno 1553." that Mr. Sheldon drave you out of Worcestershire for
" your behaviour.

Ordered to " With that came Sir Edward Hastings from the Queen

Newgate.

" apart, and come forthwith to the Queen. Then said the

" Earl of Sussex, Have this gentleman unto the Fleet, until

" we may talk further with him : although I was knave be-

" fore of Mr. Gage. To the Fleet ? saith Mr. Southwel :

" have him to the Marshalsea. Have the heretic-knave to

" Newgate, saith Mr. Gage again. Call a couple of the

" guard here. Yea, saith Bourn, and there shall be a letter

" sent to the keeper, how he shall use him : for we have

" other manner of matters [to lay] to him than these. So

" had ye need, said I, or else I care not for you. Deliver

" him to Mr. Garret, the sheriff, said he, and bid him send

" him to Newgate. My Lord, said I unto my Lord of

" Arundel, for that he was next to me, as they were rising,

" I trust you will not see me thus used, to be sent to New-

" gate. I am nother thief nor traitor. You are a naughty

" fellow, said he : you were always tooting in the Duke of

" Northumberland's ears, that you were. I would he had

" given better ear unto me, said I ; it had not been with

" him then as it is now. Mr. Hastings passing by me, I

" thought good to prove him, although he threatened be-

" fore now. Sir, said I, I pray you speak for me, that I be

*' not sent unto Newgate, but rather unto the Fleet, which

" was first named. I have not offended. I am a gentleman,

" as you know, and one of your fellows when you were of

" that band of the pensioners. Very quietly he said unto

" me, I was not at the talk, Mr. Underbill, and therefore I

" can say nothing to it. But I think he was well content

" with the place I was appointed to.

Conveyed " So went I forth with my two fellows of the guard, who

*° th( L " were glad they had the leading of me, for they were great

" Papists. Where is that knave, the printer? said Mr.

" Gage. I know not, said I. When we came to the Tower-

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 97

" gate, whereof Sir John A Bridges had the charge, and his C HAP.

" brother Mr. Thomas, with whom I was well acquainted, '

" but not with Sir John, who seeing then two of the guard ^ nno IS9a

" leading me without their halberts, his brother said unto "^
" me, I am sorry you should be an offender, Mr. Underhill.
" I am none, Sir, said I ; nor I went not against the Queen.
" I am glad of that, said he. And so forth we went at the
" gate : where was a great throng of people to hear and
" see what persons were committed : amongst whom stood
" my friend Mr. Ive, the high constable, my next neigh-
" hour. One of the guard went forth at the wicket before
" me, to take me by the arm, the other held me by the
" other arm ; fearing, belike, I would have shifted from
" them amongst the people. When my friend saw me thus
" led, who had watched at the gate all the forenoon, he fol-
" lowed afar off, as Peter did Christ, to see what should
" become of me. Many also followed ; some that knew me;
" some to learn what I was : for that I was in a gown
" of satin. Thus passed we through the streets, well ac-
" companied, unto Mr. Gai-ret, the sheriffs house in the
" Stocks-market. My friend, Mr. Ive, tarried at the gate.
" These two officers of the guard declared unto Mr. Sheriff,
" that they were commanded by the Council to deliver me
" unto him, and he to send me unto Newgate ; saying, Sir,
" if it please you, we will carry him thither. With that I
" stepped up unto Mr. Sheriff, and taking him a little aside,
" requested him, that forasmuch as their commission was
" but to deliver me unto him, and he to send me unto
" Newgate, that he would send me by his officers : for
" their request was of mere malice. With a good will, said
" Mr. Sheriff. Masters, said he, you may depart : I will
" send my officers with this gentleman anon, when they be
" come in. We will see him carried, Sir, said they, for our
" discharge. Then the Sheriff said sharply unto them,
" What, do you think that I will not do the Council's com-
" mandment ? You are discharged by delivering him unto
" me. With that they departed."
But to take up the rest of this narration more concisely. I^i^o 116
VOL. III. H Newgate.

98 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP. The Sheriff was very courteous to him at his house, and

. appointed two of his officers to convey him to Newgate ;

Anno 1553. ]j Ut to go a pretty distance behind him, without halberts in

their hands, that the less notice might be taken of him.

The Lord Russel, the Earl of Bedford's son and heir, was

now a prisoner at the Sheriffs house : who, through a win-

dow that looked into the hall, seeing Underhill, was very

sorry for him, and sent twenty shillings after him to New-

gate ; and every week sent him as much, while he remained

there. For there had been a great familiarity between them

formerly, in matters of religion, as well on the other side

the sea as at home. And Underhill once saved his life, being

by some chance cast into the Thames, in a cold season of

the year, near Limehurst, where the said Underhill dwelt ;

carrying him to his house, and getting him to bed, being in

Sends for great peril of his life. Being thus in Newgate, he sent for
ancS? nis g own > nis BiW e ? and nis lute '•> and was tlle first P erson
committed to that prison for religion. One, at his first

coming to prison, who knew him, and had been a soldier

beyond sea, told him, that he must conceal his being a Pro-

testant from the keeper, whose name was Alexander, and

his wife ; for that they would use such very hardly. He

told him, that he had sent for his Bible, and, by God's

64 grace, therein should be his daily exercise, and that he

would not hide it from them. Then the other told him, that

they loved music very well. Therefore advised him, that he

with his lute, and the other playing with him on his rebyke,

would please them greatly. For they loved to be merry,

and drank wine. And that if he would but give them every

dinner and supper a quart of wine and some music, he

should be their white son. Whose counsel he took, and

had their favour.

Falls sick. After having been here a fortnight, he fell sick of a burn-

ins ague : and such favour he obtained at the hands of the

keeper and his wife, that they allowed him to change his

lodgings several times, because of the noise of the prisoners,

and the evil savours. And at last she offered him her store-

chamber, (where none ever lay,) though there were plate

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 99

and money there in abundance: so much friendship did he CHAP,

find at their hands, notwithstanding they were spoke unto '

by divers Papists to be severe with him; and particularly Anno 1553 -

the Woodmongers of London, with whom he had had a

great conflict, presenting them (as before was said) for false

making of billets. They bade the keeper lay irons upon him;

for that he was the greatest heretic in London. One Re- Dr. Record

cord, a doctor in physic, and very learned, ventured to V1S ' s

come several times to visit him in prison, to his great peril,

if it had been known ; who was at charges and pains with

him gratis. By whose means, and God's providence, he re-

covered his health.

His wife now, during his sickness, put up a supplication Delivered

to the Council for his deliverance, putting in sureties for his °^ n

forth-coming, to answer further, when he should be called.

Which was obtained by the means of Mr. John Throgmor-

ton, being master of the quests, and his countryman and

kinsman. He took a time when his enemies were absent,

and obtained a letter to the keeper subscribed by the Earl

of Bedford, Earl of Sussex, Winchester, Rochester, and

Walgrave. So they got an horse-litter, and brought him

home to Limehurst : but he was reduced to that weakness,

that he was not able to bear the going of the horse. So they

were fain to go very softly, and stand still oftentimes. His

wife and friends lamented, thinking he could not live till he

came home. But he was so beloved, that it was two hours

before he got from Newgate to Aldgate, by reason of the

pressing of friends and acquaintance that resorted to him by

the way.
It was near two months before he recovered his health Removes to

again. And then, for prevention of the trouble that evil s " a ^ 1 for

neighbours might again bring him into, removed from his safety.

Limehurst ; there having been placed a notable spy there

in that parish of Stepney, to take notice of such as came not

to church, or otherwise in all things complied not with the

superstitions of the Roman Church: as there were also several

such in other parts of the city and kingdom. Thence he re-

moved to Wood-street : where there being a diligent search
h 2

100 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, made for all suspicious books, he sent for a bricklayer, and

, built up a wall in his chamber against the place where the

sinners.

Anno 1553. books were, and so inclosed them, securing them from the

danger of being taken, and preserving them for himself

against better times. Thence, after a year or two, he re-

moved again into the country, and dwelt by a wood side

near Coventry.

65 But all this hard reign, by the providence of God, he
struck out continued in his place at the Court, and had his pension
of the band . . * . . . ,.
of the pen- paid him : though his being so eminent and active a man in

the former reign made him well known now, and often

heaved at. When, upon Wyat's coming to Southwark, the

pensioners were commanded to watch in armour that night

at Court ; hearing of it, he thought it his best course to be

there, lest by his absence he might have some quarrel

picked with him ; at least be struck out of the book for re-

ceiving any more wages. Therefore he was with the rest

upon duty at the Court. One Norrys, who was gentleman

usher of the outer chamber to King Henry and King Ed-

ward, always a rank Papist, was now preferred, because he

was so, to be chief usher of Queen Mary's privy chamber.

He was appointed to call the watch, to see if any were lack-

ing. Unto whom the clerk of the check delivered the book

of their names ; which Norrys perused before he would call

them. And seeing Underbill's name, he said to the clerk,

What doth he here ? He answered, He is here ready to serve,

as the rest be. Nay, by God's body, saith he, that heretic

shall not be called to watch here ; and so calling for a pen,

struck out his name out of the book. The clerk of the check

telling him this, Underhill, taking his man and a link, went

home, being glad thereof; being not yet recovered of his

sickness caught in prison.

Upon guard When Wyat was come about, Underhill, notwithstanding

haiMn te ms discharge by Norrys, put on his armour, and repaired to

Wyat's re- the Court, where he found all his fellows in armour in the

hall, which they were appointed to keep that day. After

this service was over, when the gentlemen pensioners did

notably guard the Queen's person, when other for fear fled

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 101

away, he went home to his house, keeping himself close, and CHAP.
coming seldom to the Court, until the marriage was con- '
eluded with King Philip. Anno 1553.
Then was there preparing to go with the Queen to Win- Karl of

chester: and all the books of the ordinaries were perused tempts" to"

by the Bishop of Winchester and the Earl of Arundel, two flis c»arge

great Papists, to consider or every man. And one would band.

think Underbill should have hardly escaped now. Sir

Humphry Radcliff, lieutenant of the band, brought unto

them the book of the pensioners. Which, when they over-

looked, and came unto UnderhuTs name, What doth he

here ? said the Earl of Arundel. I know no cause why he

should not be here, said Radcliff, who also was, secretly, a

favourer of the Gospel. He is an honest man, and hath

served from the beginning of the band, and was as forward

as any to serve the Queen in the time of Wyat's rebellion.

Let him pass then, said the Bishop. Well, said the Earl,

you may do so ; but I assure your Lordship he is an arch-

heretic. Thus he passed the brunt.

Being in Winchester, in the chamber of presence with And so

his fellows, Mr. Norrys came forth of the Queen's privy JJ^jSjto-

chamber, unto whom they did reverence, as his place re- man usher.

quired. " Seeing Underhill, he asked him, what he did

" there ? Marry, Sir, said he, what do you do here ? Nor-

" rys told him, he was very short with him. I must and

" will forbear, said Underhill, for the place you be in. But

" if you were in the place you were in, of the utter cham-

" ber, I would be short with you. You were then the door- QQ

" keeper, when we waited at the table. Your office is not

" to find fault at my being here. I am, at this time, ap-

" pointed to serve her Majesty by those that be in au-

" thority, who know me as well as you do. They shall

" know you better, said he : the Queen also. With that

" said Mr. John Calvely, one of his fellows, brother unto

" Sir John Calvely of Cheshire, who served at the journey

" to Laundresey in the same band that Underhill did ; In

" good faith, Mr. Norrys, methinks you do not well. This

" gentleman, our fellow, hath served of long time, and was
h 3

102 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP. " ready to venture his life in defence of the Queen's Ma-

" jesty at the last service, and as forward as any was there ;

Anno 1553. « an( j a l so being appointed and ready to serve her again

" now, to his great charges, as it is unto us all. Methinks

" you do more than the part of a gentleman, to seek to dis-

" charge him. What, said he, I perceive you will hold to-

" eether. Else were we worse than beasts, said he, if we

" would not in all lawful causes so hold together, that he

" that toucheth one of us shall touch us all. So he went

" away into his privy chamber : and from that time never

" meddled more with Underbill." And indeed this band

were almost all favourers of the Gospel.
He retires Biit after a year or two's tarriance in London, divers
safety out reasons persuaded him to remove away into more obscurity.
of London p ar tly it grieved his heart to see daily so much innocent
into the J
country, blood shed : he feared also, that some of the promoters

should at last take him ; having been threatened by John

A vales and Beard, as he understood by Luke, his friend,

who was great with some that kept them company, and yet

were honest men. But Underhill was of a bold and un-

daunted spirit, and took order, that this word should be

conveyed to those catchpoles, that if they should attempt to

take him, except they had a warrant signed with four or

five of the Counsellors' hands, he would go further with

them than Peter did ; who struck off but the ear of Mat-

ch us, but he would surely strike off head and all. Which

message was carried to them : and it put them in such fear,

that when Underhill had often met them, they would not

meddle with him. So mightily did God defend him. But

yet he thought it convenient to retire out of the city, and

went and dwelt, as was aforesaid, near Coventry. And thus

he, throughout all this dangerous time, was preserved,

being never present at the blasphemous mass ; and enjoyed

his place and pension. And was never called more before

the Privy Council, to answer for that for which he was, in