MAster Hales, ye shall vnderstand that like as the quenes highnes hath hertofore receiuid good opinion of you, especiallie, for that ye stoode both faithfullie and laufulli in hir cause of iust succession, refusing to set your hande to the booke amonge others that were against hir grace in that behalfe: so nowe through your owne late desertes: against certain hir highnes dooinges: ye stande not well in hir graces fauour. And therfor, before ye take anie othe, it shal be necessarie for you to make your purgation,
I praie you my Lorde, what is the cause?
Informatiō is geuen▪ that ye haue indicted certain pristes in Kent, for saiing of Masse.
Mi Lorde it is not so, I indicted none, but in dede certaine indictamentes of like matter wer brought before me at the laste assises there [Page] holdē, and I gaue order therein as the lawe required. For I haue professed the law, agaist which, in cases of iustice wil I neuer (god willinge) procede, nor in ani wise dissemble, but with the same shewe forth mi conscience, and if it were to do againe, I wolde doe no lesse then I did.
Yea master Hales, your cōsience is knowne wel inough. I know ye lacke no conscience.
Mi Lord, ye mai do wel to serch your owne conscience, for mine is better knowne to mie selfe then to you, and to be plaine, I did aswell vse iustice in your saide Masse case bi mi cōscience as bi the law, wherin I am fulli bent to stand in trial to the vttermost that can be obiected And if I haue therin done ani iniuri or wrōg: let me be iudged bi the lawe, for I will seeke no better defence, considering chiefli that it is mi profession.
[Page] whi master Hales, althoughe ye had the rigour of the law on your side, yet ye might haue hadde regard to the quenes highnes presēt doinges in that case. And further although ye seme to be more then precise in the lawe: yet I thinke ye wolde be veri loth to yelde to the extremitie of suche aduantage as mighte be gathered againste your procedinges in the lawe, as ye haue some time taken vppon you in place of iustice. And if it were well tried, I beleue ye shuld not be wel able to stand honestli therto.
Mi Lord i am not so perfect but i mai erre for lacke of knowledge. But both inconsience & such knoledge of the law as god hath geuē me, i wil do nothing but i wil maintain and abide in it. And if mi goodes and all that I haue be not able to counterpaise the case: mi bodie shal be redi to serue the turne, for thei be all at the quenes highnesse pleasure.
[Page] Ah sir, ye be veri quicke & stoute in your answers. But as it shoulde seme, that which ye did was more of a will, fauouring the opinion of your Religion against the Seruice nowe vsed, then for ani occasiō or zeale of iustice, seinge the quenes highnes dooth set it furthe, as yet wishinge all hir faithful subiectes to imbrace it accordingli: & where ye offer both bodie and goodes in your triall, there is no such matter required at youre handes, and yet ye shall not haue your owne will neither.
My Lord, I seke not wilful will, but to shew my self as i am bound in loue to God, and obedience to the quenes maiestie, in whose cause willīgly for iustice sake (al other respectes set apart (i did of late (as your Lordship knoeth) aduenture as much as i had. And as for my religion, i trust it to be suche as pleaseth God, wherin i am redy to aduenture aswell my life as my substaūce, if i be called therunto. And [Page] so in lacke of mine owne power ād wil, the Lordes wil be fulfilled.
Seing ye be at this point Master Hales, i wil presently make an end with you. The quenes highnes shalbe enfoutmed of youre opinion, and declaration. And as hir grace shal therupon determine, ye shall haue knoledge, vntil whiche tyme ye may depart, as ye came without your oth, for as it appeareth, ye ar scarse worthi the place appointed
I thancke your Lordship, and as for my vocation, being both a burthen and a charge, more then euer i desired to take vpon me, whensoeuer it shal please the quenes highnes to ease me therof: i shall moost humbli with due contentation obei the same.