CHAP. Anno 1557. son, a pri declaration. Among those that suffered for religion under Queen Mary, Richard Gibson, a gentleman, was one, who being surety for a debt, had laid long in the Poultry Counter, Ric. Gib- London. This man, upon suspicion of holding amiss in the soner, his points of the sacrament, and authority of the Church, was required by the Bishop to make a declaration of his mind in the doctrine of the sacrament, and to subscribe it, in order to his dismission. He therefore the last year, in the month of October, drew it up warily in words of Scripture, and submitted himself to the Church in general terms; viz. Fox's MSS. "EMANUEL. "Forasmuch as my long imprisonment, as also the cause "of the same, is not hyd, therefore have I thought my"self in conscience bownd, for the avoyding of offence, to "make it known, that as what I hold for an infallible and an ❝ undoubted truth, I hold it not of presumption, nor yet of "men, neyther for that men say so, and affirm it so to be, "as is supposed, but of a pure and single conscience before "God and man, as I am taught by the Word. By whose 66 power men, and all things that ever wer made, have their "being; and without whose power no man can speak the "truth: and therefore without it, must nedes be lyers. And "that it may appere that I so do, therfore thus I say: 66 "Because our Savior Jesus Christ at his last supper "took bread, and when he had geven thanks brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body, "which is geven for you: and in like maner took the cup, "and gave it to his disciples, and said, This is my bloud of 403" the new testament, which is shed for many: and sayd, "This do in remembrance of me: therfore I do believe, that "as the Church is authorized by the power of the Word to “minister it, as they are taught by the same, so do I affirm, "and believe as often, when and where I do receive it, that "I do eat the flesh and drink the blood of my Lord God "and Saviour Jesus Christ. And to this holy Catholic "Church of Christ I humbly submit myself, promising LII. "therein to lyve to the uttermost of my knowledge, by the CHAP. grace of God, as it shall become a good Christian man: "and here in this realm to lyve as it becometh a true sub- Anno 1557. "ject unto the King and Queen's Majesty; and also to be "obedient to all other their Majesties rulers and officers, "and of them sent: so far as I may lawfully be without "offence either to God or man. If I may not be permitted "so to lyve, I am fully resolved, by the grace of God, "without resistance, as I am tawght by the word, with "patience to possess my soul. "By me, Ric. Gybson, 27 of Octob. anno Dom. 1556." : Such general submissions as these the prisoners now and then would make, and sometimes they escaped by them, when they had to deal with ecclesiastical officers disposed to mercy but this declaration of Gybson would not now do. And besides, he was suspected of disliking the mass, disowning the seven sacraments, approving the English service in King Edward's days, and for not coming to his parish church, nor bearing tapers upon Candlemas-day, nor taking ashes upon Ash-Wednesday; for being against confession to a priest, and such like. Whereupon Bishop Boner sent thirteen articles to him to purge him, requiring a direct answer thereunto. Gybson was minded to subscribe for the saving of his life, but yet would have done it in a more wary style, and in expressions more qualified, for the better salving of his own conscience. So he drew up his answer to the articles in this manner following. "EMANUEL. “Psal. 55. B. In God's word will I rejoyce; in the Lord's word will I comfort me. "First of all, I openly protest, before God and man, that Another "I have both taught and believed, and do so think and confession of Gybson. "believe, that the faith, religion, and service, used now in "this realm of England, of them which are in part of the "Church of Christ, and members of his body, is good and “laudable, and not against God's holy word, but most LII. CHAP. "agreeable unto the same: and especially in the true use "of baptisme, confirmation, penance, the supper of the Anno 1557. Lord, (reverently called of the Grecians, eucharistia, and 404 "of the Latinians, gratiarum actio, and sacrificium laudis,) "order, matrimony, and unction. And do openly protest, "before God and man, that I am contented in all things "to conform myself unto the same; as trew subjects of "this realm have done, and do, without ony murmuring, grudging, or scruple thereyn. 66 "Secondly, I sai, as there is nothing done by man (as of "man) that cannot be amended, so I say, that the service set "forth in England in the time of King Edward VI. was "not, in all points, so godly and Catholic, but that, in some "things, it both ought and might have well been mended. "And I would to God, that it, which is now used within this "realm, were also faultless. Then doutless it should be "no occasion of horrible bloudshed, as it is. 66 Thirdly, I say, thoughe I am nether by the law of "God, nor yet by the law of this realme, under any penal"tie bound to ether place or tyme, to heare or learne any "thinges, whatsoever it be; thoughe it be ther and then never so well done: yet, I say, that the holy word of God "doth teache all men, not only when they are at libertie, "but also beynge prysoners, yf they may convenyently do "it, to repaire to all places, where they may do good to "others; much more where they may do good to them"selves: and chiefly, if they so can, for the avoidynge of "offences. The which is all mens part to avoid, if thei "can; wher they are most resiaunte, and continually dwellynge. 66 66 66 Fourthly, I say, as God hath geven no churche, people, or congregation, hie or low, or any rulers thereof, "leave, authorite, or power to do what seemeth them good "in ther own eyes; but hath straitly commanded, and geven them in charge, upon the payne of utter destruc❝tion, both in this world and in the world to come, to leave "undone what as is commaunded; and further, to do, if "nede so require, what as may be to the benefit, and edi 66 LII. "fying of them that are under ther charge: which to do CHAP. "it is the right God's service and his trewe honour. All "which holy ordynaunces, usages, and ceremonyes, thinges Anno 1557. "used and done by them, I knowledge myself, and all other "inferiour persons, upon the like payne of utter destruc"tion, to be bounde to observe and kepe: and in no wise "them, or any of them, stubbornly to breake or refuse. Fifthly, I say, a preste or mynister, in whose lippes is "sure knowledge, and in whose mowthe is the word of "truethe, over his charge appointed hyme by the ruler, "hath power by the word, as occasion shall serve, to bynd "and to lose. And that this charge ought, for order sake, " and for avoydynge of offences, to receave of hym what as "he ought and may lawfully mynister unto them, without any stubborne refusal of the same. 66 66 Sixthly, I say, that all men, of what degre, dignite, "estate, or calling soever they be, for an infallible trueth, "are to hold and beleve the holy Scriptures of God, geven "to us by the Holy Ghost; which is his wisedome: and "them to take as a sure rule to walk by to eternal life. "And also, that no inferior person thorow wilful boldness may be so male-pert, as to reject, or hold as frivolous, "any determinations or order made by the holy Churche, "not repugnaunt unto the same. And also, that no maner 66 man follow or believe, after his own pryvate will or con"science, contrarye to the determynation and order, and "doctryne of the same. For the Holy Ghost counteth "him as a foole that is wise in his own conceit; and saith, "that strypes are prepared for the fool's back. 66 66 Seventhly, I say, that all things do not chaunge of a pre"sise, absolute power, and mere necessite; but that all 405 men, except such, after transgression, as a just reward for "ther synnes, are geven over into a lewd mynd, according "to the knowledge they have receaved of God, have power "in mynde; in that they know to will, and not to will. "Agayne, I say, for that I am ignorant of many things "which are allowed within this realme of England; and "especially now used about the christenynge of infants, LII. 66 CHAP. "therefore in them I will use silence, till I be thereyn bet"ter instructed; lest that, in allowyng or disallowyng what Anno 1557. “I know not, I make myself to appear a foole in myne own judgment. I have not so learned with myne own heart, "to rejoyce myne enemyes. But this I say, as all the ordynances of God are very good and very holy, so I say, "that baptysme, when and wheresoever it is ministred as "the Holy Ghost doth teach it, is very good and very "holye, and cannot but be effectual. "Ninthly, For that I find them only to be sayncts, the "which, through faith, are sanctified in the bloud of Jesus "Christ, by the Holy Ghost, and none other; and that as "they are all members of one body, so have they nede of "help one of another: therfore, I say, that prayer unto, "with, and for sayncts is good; and do not thynk it con"trary to God's words, but agreeable to the same, and "nedeful to be used, bicause our necessity requireth. And “also, for that I find in other places of the holy servantes of "God what cannot be broken; as, by the example of La"zarus and Dyves, after this life, hell to be the ymmediate "place of the wicked, and heaven to be the immediate place "of the good: therefore I dare not but say, as the Holy "Ghost doth teache, that the good are in heavyn, and the "wicked in hell. This notwithstanding, this I say, if there "be a people departed which are neither good nor bad, "and so to be are allowed of God, whereof as yet I am "ignorant, I protest then, I think them to abyde till they "be allowed before God, either as good or bad, in such a place as is neither good nor bad: 'till otherwise to be, "they are allowed of God. What it is called, (if ther "be any such place,) whether it be purgatory, or not, I "know not. And if be prayer for the dead be beneficial "for any, then must be nedes profit these or none. 66 Tenthly, I say, for that no private opynion, be it true "or false, is the cause of any man's salvation or damnation, or any just cause, but only an occasion for men to be "justified or condemned therby; and though they therein dyed never so stoutly; therefore I will no more condemne |