Cavendish good will, and loving heart. Let the table be standing still, 1557 and we will go down and meet him, and bring him up; and

then he shall see how far forth we be at our dinner.' With that he put the table from him and rose up; going down, he encountered the Earl upon the midst of the stairs, coming up, with all his men about him. nd as soon as my lord espied the Earl, he put off his cap, and said to him: 'My lord, ye be most heartily welcome,' and therewith they embraced each other. Although, my lord,' quoth he, that I have often desired and wished in my heart to see you in my house, yet if ye had loved me as I do you, ye would have sent me word before of your coming, to the intent that I might have received you according to your honour and mine. Notwithstanding, ye shall have such cheer as I am able to make you, with a right good will; trusting that ye will accept the same of me as of your very old and loving friend, hoping hereafter to see you oftener, when I shall be more able, and better provided to receive you with better fare.' And then my lord took the Earl of Northumberland by the hand, and led him up into the chamber; whom followed all the Earl's servants; where the table stood in the state that my lord left it when he rose, saying unto the Earl: 'Sir, now ye may perceive how far forth we were at our dinner.' Then my lord led the Earl to the fire, saying: 'My lord, ye shall go into my bedchamber, where is a good fire made for you, and there ye may shift your apparel until your chamber be made ready. Therefore, let your male be brought up: and or ever I go, I pray you give me leave to take these gentlemen, your servants, by the hands.' And when he had taken them all by the hands, he returned to the Earl, and said : 'Ah! my lord, I perceive well that ye have observed my old precepts and instructions which I gave you, when you were abiding with me in your youth, which was, to cherish your father's old servants, whereof I see here present with you a great number. Surely, my lord, ye do therein very well and

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nobly, and like a wise gentleman; for these be they that Cavendish will not only serve and love you, but they will also live and die with you, and be true and faithful servants to you, and glad to see you prosper in honour; the which I beseech God to send you, with long life.' This said, he took the Earl by the hand, and led him into his bedchamber. And they being there all alone, save only I, that kept the door, according to my duty, being gentleman usher, these two lords standing at a window by the chimney, in my lord's bedchamber, the Earl trembling said, with a very faint and soft voice, unto my lord (laying his hand upon his arm): 'My lord, I arrest you of high treason.' With which words my lord was marvellously astonied, standing both still a long space without any further words. But at the last, quoth my lord: 'What moveth you, or by what authority do you this?' 'Forsooth, my lord,' quoth the Earl, 'I have a commission to warrant me and my doings.' 'Where is your commission?' quoth my lord, 'let me see it.' 'Nay, sir, that you may not,' quoth the Earl. Well, then,' quoth my lord, 'I will not obey your arrest; for there hath been between some of your predecessors and mine great contentions and debate grown upon an ancient grudge, which may succeed in you, with like inconvenience, as it hath done heretofore. Therefore, unless I see your authority and commission, I will not obey you.' Even as they were debating this matter between them in the chamber, so busily was Master Walshe arresting of Doctor Augustine, the physician, at the door within the portal, whom I heard say unto him: 'Go in then, traitor, or I shall make thee'; and with that, I opened the portal door, and the same being opened, Master Walshe thrust Doctor Augustine in before him with violence. These matters on both the sides astonied me very sore, musing what all this should mean; until at the last, Master Walshe, being entered the chamber, began to pluck off his hood, the which he had made him with a coat of the same

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Cavendish cloth, of cotton, to the intent he would not be known. And 1557 after he had plucked it off, he kneeled down to my lord, to whom he spake first, commanding him to stand up, saying thus: Sir, here my Lord of Northumberland hath arrested me of treason, but by what authority or commission he showeth me not; but saith he hath one. If ye be privy thereto, or be joined with him therein, I pray you show me.' 'Indeed, my lord,' quoth Master Walshe, if it please your Grace, it is true that he hath one.' 'Well, then,' said my lord, 'I pray you let me see it.' 'Sir, I beseech your Grace hold us excused,' quoth Master Walshe, there is annexed unto our commission a schedule with certain instructions which ye may in no wise be privy unto.' 'Why,' quoth my lord, 'be your instructions such that I may not see them? Peradventure, if I might be privy to them, I could the better help you to perform them. It is not unknown unto you both, I am assured, but I have been privy and of counsel in as weighty matters as this is, for I doubt not for my part but I shall prove and clear myself to be a true man against the expectation of all my cruel enemies. I have an understanding whereupon all this matter groweth. Well, there is no more to do. I trow, gentlemen, ye be one of the King's Privy Chamber; your name, I suppose, is Walshe; I am content to yield unto you, but not to my Lord of Northumberland, without I see his commission. And also you are a sufficient commissioner yourself in that behalf, inasmuch as ye be one of the King's Privy Chamber; for the worst person there is a sufficient warrant to arrest the greatest peer of this realm, by the King's only commandment, without any commission. Therefore I am ready to be ordered and disposed at your will. Put therefore the King's commission and your authority in execution, a' God's name, and spare not, and I will obey the King's will and pleasure; for I fear more the cruelty of my unnatural enemies than I do my truth and allegiance; wherein, I take God to witness, I

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never offended the King's Majesty in word or deed; and Cavendish therein I dare stand face to face with any man alive, having indifferency without partiality.'

Then came my Lord of Northumberland unto me, standing at the portal door, and commanded me to avoid the chamber and being loth to depart from my master, I stood still, and would not remove; to whom he spake again, and said: "There is no remedy, ye must needs depart.' With that I looked upon my lord, as who sayeth, shall I go? Upon whom my lord looked very heavily, and shook at me his head. Perceiving by his countenance it booted me not to abide, and so I departed the chamber, and went into the next chamber, where abode many gentlemen of my fellows and other, to learn of me some news of the matter within; to whom I made report what I saw and heard; which was to them great heaviness to hear.

TWO BISHOPS

George Cavendish.

I

A

MONG many other worthy and sundry histories and notable acts of such as of late days have been turmoiled, murdered, and martyred for the true gospel of Christ in Queen Mary's reign, the tragical story and life of Dr. Ridley I thought good to commend to chronicle and leave to perpetual memory; beseeching thee (gentle reader) with care and study well to peruse, diligently to consider, and deeply to print the same in thy breast, seeing him to be a man beautified with such excellent qualities, so ghostly inspired and godly learned, and now written doubtless in the book of life, with the blessed saints of the Almighty, crowned and throned amongst the glorious company of martyrs. First, descending of a stock right worshipful, he was born in

Foxe 1563

Foxe Northumberlandshire, who, being a child, learned his gram1563 mar with great dexterity in Newcastle, and was removed from thence to the University of Cambridge, where he in short time became so famous, that for his singular aptness, he was called to higher functions and offices of the University, by degree attaining thereunto, and was called to be head of Pembroke Hall, and there made doctor of divinity. After this, departing from thence, he travelled to Paris, who, at his return, was made chaplain to King Henry the Eighth, and promoted afterwards by him to the bishopric of Rochester; and so from thence translated to the see and bishopric of London in King Edward's days.

In which calling and offices he so travailed and occupied himself by preaching and teaching the true and wholesome doctrine of Christ, that never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents than he of his flock and diocese. Every holiday and Sunday he lightly preached in some one place or other, except he were otherwise letted by weighty affairs and business, to whose sermons the people resorted, swarming about him like bees, and coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine, which he did not only preach, but showed the same by his life, as a glittering lanthorn to the eyes and senses of the blind, in such pure order and chastity of life (declining from all evil desires and concupiscences) that even his very enemies could not reprove him in any one jot thereof.

Besides this, he was passingly well learned, his memory was great, and he of such reading withal, that of right he deserved to be comparable to the best of this our age, as can testify as well divers his notable works, pithy sermons, and sundry his disputations in both the Universities, as also his very adversaries, all which will say no less themselves.

Besides all this, wise he was of counsel, deep of wit, and very politic in all his doings. How merciful and careful he was to reduce the obstinate papists from their erroneous