that he should have suffered death? And this day the villain knave was not ashamed to stand openly in the street, looking the prince in the face. Mine own men saw him. I would counsil you to look him up, and that there be diligent search made for him this night in the city, as you wil answer afore the council. Al this shal be don, and it like your honour; and I trust there shal be no fault found in me. Away then, said the bishop, about your business.

"Then came there one that was secretary unto the knight marshal, who willed me with speed to depart out of the city. For this night, saith he, shal the city be searched for you: and if you be taken, surely ye dy for it. Thus fare you wel. God deliver you out of their hands, if it be his wil. Then went I over into Southwark, and there lay al night. In the morning I rose early, took a boat, and went to Limehouse; and so from thence to Colchester; and there took shipping, thinking to have gon into Zealand, and so up to the High Country: but we were so weatherbeaten, that of force we were glad to return back again. And this voyage was thrice attempted, and always put back. And, at the last time, we were cast aland at St. Osith's: wheras I durst not long tary, because of my lord Darcy, who lay there, having a strait commission sent to him from q. Mary, to make diligent search for one, called, Trudge over the World, and for all such like as he was. So that I was fain to fly to a little parish called Hemsted, thinking there for to have had some rest; but the search was so strait, that at midnight, I having almost too short warning, was fain with great speed to fly unto Dedham Heath, and to take my coat in my neck, having an honest man with me, who had a forest bil on his back; and with the same he cut down a great sort of brakes, and that was my bed for a time. And whensoever I might get into an hayloft, I thought my self happy, and wel to be lodged.

"At the last I was housed, I thank God, with an honest man; but having a wicked servant, not loving the gospel, the said servant went and complained of his master to the bailif and constables; saying unto them, that there was an heretic in his master's parlor. How know you that, said they? Take heed of what thou sayst: thy master is an honest man; and thou seest how troublesome a time it is; and if we, upon thy report, should go search his house, and not find it so, what art thou worthy to have for slaundering thy master? Tush, saith he, I am sure it is so;

for the house is never without one or other; and most chiefly when there is a fire in the parlor. And therefore I know by the smoak, that there is one indeed. So the officers willed him to go about his business. For, said they, we wil prove it at night. In the mean time, they did his master to understand what his man had said unto them, and friendly bad him take heed, for they would search his house that night and so they did indeed, but the birds were flown. The next day the officers took his man, and set him in the stocks, to teach him to speak good of his master, and not to accuse him, and bring the smoke for a witness against him.

"Now while I was seeking a corner to hide my head in, justice Brown, that dwelleth beside Burntwood, cometh me down to Colchester, and there played the devil, by the counsil of one Mr. Tyrrel and Mr. Colson, inholder of the same town, and Gylbert the lawyer: who caused divers honest men to be sent for before the said justice, and sworn upon a book, to bring in the names of al those that were suspected of heresy, as he termed it and also gave unto the officers a great charge, that from time to time diligent search should be made in every house for al strangers, and

Suspected of heresy.] The queen had issued a commission (Westm. Feb. 8. 3 & 4 Phil. and Mary,) to the bishop of London and Ely, the lord North, secretary Bourne, sir Thos. Pope, Cole, dean of St. Paul's, with seve ral more, civilians, alleging that divers false rumours, seditious slanders, and divers heresies, and heretical opinions were very rife, &c., "that therefore they, the commissioners, or any three of them, were to enquire into those, either by presentments, by witnesses, or any other politic way they could devise. And to search after all heresies; the bringers in, the sellers, or readers of all heretical books. They were to examine and punish, all misbehaviours, or negligences, in any church or chapel; and to try all priests that did not preach of the sacrament of the altar; all persons that did not hear mass, or come to their parish-church to service, that would not go in procession, or did not take holy bread, or holy water. And if they found any that did obstinately persist in such heresies, they were to put them in the hands of their ordinaries, to be proceeded against according to the laws: giving them full power to proceed, as their discretions and consciences should direct them; and to use all such means as they could invent, for the searching of the premises: empowering them also to call before them such witnesses as they pleased, and to force them to make oath of such things as might discover what they sought after."-This commission I have put in the collection. It will shew how high they intended to raise the persecution, when a power of such a nature was put in the hands of any three of a number so selected. Burnet's Hist. of Reformation, vol. ii. p. 323. edit. 1715. Compare Fox, vol. iii. p. 781. edit. 1640.

to take them and bring them before a justice. For this town, said he, is an harbourer of all heretics, and ever was. So when he had bound them all in recognisances, he willed them to depart every man home to his house.

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Then, upon their return, with speed was I conveyed away to Londonward forthwith. And when I came there, I went over into Southwark again; and there lay two days and two nights. And the third night, when it was somewhat dark, I entred into a ship of Antwerp, and so we went down to Gravesend. There they cast anchor, and went al a land, and left me aboard with a man and a boy. I fearing the searchers, that they would have had me to shore, and there being so wel known as I was, I knew it was the next way to bring me afore a justice to be examined, and so to be returned back again to London; and then sure I am, that I had dyed for it: I looked in my purse, and there were three pistolets. I took one of them, and gave it unto the man that was aboard with me, and desired him to go ashore to the master of the ship, and he to be a mean unto the searchers for me, when they came a shipboard to search. And truly it pleased God so to work in their hearts, that I found great favor at their hands. For when one of them had examined me, and that very straitly, he asked of me, what my name was; Thomas Mountain is my name, said I. I wil never deny it, nor never did, I praise God for it. Nay, said he, that is not your name; for I knew him wel enough. His father and I were servants to k. Harry the VIII. and also to k. Edward. And I am sure that Richard Mountain's son was burnt since this q. Mary came in. Sir, credit me, I pray you, for I am the very same man, that now talk with you. Indeed, God hath mightily dealt with me, and most mercifully hath delivered me from the cruel hands of bloudy men. And, now, And, now, behold! my life is in your hands. I may not resist you, nor wil not; but gently submitting my self unto you, desire your lawful favour, that I may pass this port, and God, I trust, that is the high searcher above, and knoweth the secrets of al mens hearts, shal one day reward you openly, according as he hath promised.

"Then began he to water his plants; saying unto me, sir, I thought once never to have seen you again: you are grown out of my knowledg. And seing that it is the will of God, that you should not dy by their cruelty, I trust, that your bloud shall never be required at my hands. I wil not molest you: but this I warn

you of in anywise, that you keep yourself as close as you can. For here is one of the promoters, that goeth in the same ship that you go in. Who is that? said I. It is one Mr. Beard, said he, dwelling in Fleetstreet, a merchant tayler. I know him well, said I, and he me. Wel, said he, God be with you, for yonder he cometh, and al the passengers with him, and so we parted, and I went into the master's cabbin; and there I lay, til that we were entred the main sea. Then came I forth to refresh my self: and Beard seeing me, began to blush, saying unto me, Sir, what make you here? Truly, said I, I am of the same mind that you are of. You know not my mind, said he. Whatsoever yours is, I mean to go to Antwerp, God willing, said I. And so do you, I trow. What will you do there? said he you are no merchant-man, as I am, and the rest that be here. Mr. Beard, what the rest are that be here, I know not; but as for your merchandize and mine, in some points I think they be much alike. But when that you and I shall meet in the English burse together, you shall see what cheer I can make you. In the mean time let us as friends be mery together, I pray you. Nay, said he, I would I had met you at Gravesend, that I might have made you some good cheer there; but it was not my fortune so to do; and I am very sory for it, believe me and you will. Sir, I thank God, it is better as it is: I know your cheer wel enough. And then away I went.

"With that he went down under the hatches, and told al the passengers what a rank heretic I was. For it is marvel, said he, that the ship doth not sink, having so wicked a man in it as he is. And therfore, good gentlemen, I pray you heartily, take heed, and beware of him. I had rather than my velvet coat, that he and I were together at Gravesend again. Then came the merchants up to me, and called for meat and wine, having good store there of their own provision. And they made me great cheer, bidding me in any wise to take heed of Beard. These were merchants of Danske, and had to do here in London with most of the aldermen, unto whom they gave a good report.

"Now I, thinking to prevent Beard of further trouble, that by him, and his procurement, might hap unto me, upon my arrival at Antwerp, whispered the master in the ear, and desired him heartily to land us at Dunkirk. For I will ride the rest by waggon, God willing and so shall I be rid of Mr. Beard's company. I am content, saith the master of the ship; I am weary

:

already, saith he, of his company. The whorson pape shall come no more in mine schepe. So to Dunkirk we came, and Beard went first a land, and bad us al welcome. For, said he, I wil be your steward, and we wil fare wel, if there be any good cheer in the town. Then came we to our hoste's house; supt al-together. That being don, we went to our lodging: and so it fel out, that Beard and I should ly together; and so did. But before he went to bed, he kneeled him down at the bedside, and made upon his body, as I think, forty crosses, saying as many Ave-Maria's, but nother creed nor pater-noster. Then he shewed us what mony he had. The which was both gold and silver, and that plenty.

"At midnight the master of the ship took his tyde, and went his way. Mr. Beard up in the morning betime, went down to the waterside to look for the ship, and when he saw it was gon, he came and told us, swearing and chafing like a madman, saying, that king Philip should know it, how he was used. Then sent he al about to know, if any went at the next tyde following. In the mean time I took my waggon, and went my ways; and that was the last time that ever I saw him. But afterwards I was informed, by credible persons, that he had spent all his mony, both his velvet coat, and also his livery coat, that he had of queen Mary and so came home poor and bare, being very sick and weak, and in Holbourn dyed most miserably full of lice. Behold his end! God grant he dyed his servant, Amen.

"Now when as I came to Antwerp, being never there afore, I was amazed, and knew not where to become that night. At last I found out the English house; and there I was received for a time. After that, I took an house in the Ox-mart of a merchant, called Adam Raner, who shewed me much favor. And there I taught a school for the space of a year and a half quietly and then comes over Mr. Hussy, being then governor of the English nation; and it was given out, that he would suddenly ship, and send away into England, al such as were come over for religion, he naming me himself for one. So with as much speed as I could make, I took waggon and went up to Germany, and there was, at a place called Duisburgh, a free city, being under the duke of Cleveland, and there remained until the death of queen Mary. And then came back again to Antwerp. And there, when I set all my doings in order, I returned home again with joy into