17. Bartlett Green
17. BARTLETT GREEN
The story of Master Bartlett Green, gentleman and lawyer, martyr.
After the martyrdom of Thomas Whittle,* next followeth in order to speak of Bartlett Green, who the next day after the foresaid Whittle, was likewise condemned. This Green was of a good house, and having such parents, as both favoured learning, and were also willing to bring up this their child in the same. Who after some entrance in other inferior schools, was by them sent unto the University of Oxford: where through exercise and diligent study, he so profited, that within short time he attained, as well to the knowledge of sundry profane sciences, and also now in his last years, unto the godly understanding of Divinity. Whereunto through ignorance (in which he was trained up from his youth) he was at the first an utter enemy, until such time as God of his mercy had opened his eyes, by his often repairing unto the common lectures of Peter
Martyr, reader of the Divinity lecture in the same University: so that thereby (as by God's instrument) he saw the true light of Christ's gospel.
The story of Master Bartlett Green gentleman and martyr.
January 27.
Bartlett Green, student at Oxford.
Master Green converted by the lecture of Peter Martyr.
Whereof when he had once tasted, it became unto him as the fountain of lively water, that our saviour Christ spake of unto the woman of Samaria,* so as he never thirsted any more, but had a well springing unto everlasting life. Insomuch as when he was called by his friends from the university, and was placed in the Temple at London, there to attain to the knowledge of the common laws of the realm, he yet continued still in his former study, and earnest profession of the gospel: wherein also he did not a little profit. Howbeit (such is the frailty of our corrupt nature, without the special assistance of God's holy spirit) through the continual accompanying, and fellowship of such worldly (I will not say too much youthful) young gentlemen as are commonly in that and the like houses, he became by little and little, a compartner* of their fond follies, and youthful vanities, as well in his apparel, as also in banquetings,
John 4.
Master Green student in the Temple at London.
Bartlett Green
and other superfluous excesses, which he afterward (being again called by God's merciful correction) did sore lament and bewail: as appeareth by his one testimony,* notified and left in a book of a certain friend of his, a little before his death, written with his own hand, in manner as followeth.
This did Master Bartlett Green write in Master Bartram Calthrop's book Two things have very much troubled me whilst I was in the Temple, pride, and gluttony, which under the colour of glory and good fellowship, drew me almost from God. Against both there is one remedy, by prayer earnest, and without ceasing.
And forasmuch as vainglory is so subtle an adversary, that almost it woundeth deadly, ere ever a man can perceive himself to be smitten, therefore we ought so much the rather by continual prayer, to labour for humbleness of mind. Truly gluttony beginneth under a charitable pretence, of mutual love and society, and hath in it most uncharitableness. When we seek to refresh our bodies, that they may be the more apt to serve God, and perform our duties towards our neighbours, then stealeth it in as a privy thief, and murdereth both body and soul, that now it is not apt to pray, or serve God, nor apt to study, or labour for our neighbours. Let us therefore watch and be sober: for our adversary* the devil walketh about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.* And remember what
Solomon saith: . . . A patient man is better than a strong warrior, and he that conquereth his own stomach, is better than he that conquereth towns and cities.* A good note or lesson for young lawyers to mark and follow.
What lewd company doeth.
Bartlett Green . . .
Thus we see the fatherly kindness of our most gracious and merciful God, who never suffereth his elect children so to fall, that they lie still in security of sin, but oftentimes quickeneth them up by some such means, as perhaps they think least of, as he did here this his strayed sheep. And now therefore to return to our history: for the better maintenance of himself in these his studies, and other his affairs he had a large exhibition of his grandfather Master Doctor Bartlett, who during the time of Green's imprisonment made unto him
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large offers of great livings, if he would recant, and (forsake the truth, and gospel of Christ) come home again to the church and synagogue of Rome.* But these his persuasions (the Lord be therefore praised) took small effect in this faithful heart, as the sequel did declare. He was a man beloved of all men (except of the papists, who love none that love the truth) and so he well deserved: for he was of a meek, humble, discreet, and most gentle behaviour to all. Injurious he was to none, beneficial to many, especially those that were of the household of faith: as appeared (amongst other) by his friendly dealing with Master
Christopher Goodman,* being at that present a poor exile beyond the seas. With whom this Bartlett Green (as well for his toward learning, as also for his sober and godly behaviour) had often society in Oxford, in the days of good King Edward: which now, notwithstanding his friend's misery and banishment, he did not lightly forget, and that turned, as it chanced
(not without the providence of almighty God) to the great grief of both, the one of heart for the loss of his friend, and the other of body in suffering the cruel and murdering rage of papists.
Large gifts offered to Master Green by Doctor Bartlett to return to the Church of Rome.
Friendship between Christopher Goodman and Master Green.
The cause hereof was a letter which Green did write unto the said Goodman, containing as well the report of certain demands or questions, which were cast abroad in London (as appeareth hereafter in a letter of his own penning, which he meant to have sent unto Master Philpot, wherein he declareth his full usage before the Bishop of London and others) as also an answer to a question made by the said Christopher
Goodman, in a letter written unto him, in which he required to have the certainty of the report, which was spread amongst them on the other side of the seas, that the queen was dead.
Whereunto Master Green answered simply, and as the truth then was, that she was not dead.
These letters with many other, written to diverse of the godly exiles, by their friends here in England, being delivered to a messenger to carry over, came by the apprehension of the said bearer, unto the hands of the King and Queen's Council, who at their convenient leisure, (which in those days by some of them was quickly found out for such matters) perused the whole number of the said letters, and amongst them espied this letter of Master Green's, written unto his friend Christopher
Occasion of apprehending of Master Green, came by letters intercepted.
Bartlett Green
Goodman, in the contents whereof (amongst other news and private matters) they found these words: the queen is not yet dead.* Which words were only written as an answer, to certify
Master Goodman of the truth of his former demand. Howbeit (to some of the council) they seemed very heinous words, yea, treason they would have made them, if the law would have suffered. Which when they could not do (and being yet very loath to let any such depart freely, whom they suspected to be a favourer of the gospel) they then examined him upon his faith in religion, but upon what points, it is not certainly known.
Master Green examined by the counsel of his faith.
Nevertheless (as it seemeth) his answers were such, as little pleased them (especially the anointed sort*) and therefore after they had long detained him in prison, as well in the Tower of London, as elsewhere, they sent him at last unto
Bonner Bishop of London, to be ordered according to his ecclesiastical law: as appeareth by their letters sent unto the bishop, with the said prisoner also: wherein it may appear that Sir John Bourne* (then secretary to the queen) was a chief stirrer in such cases, yea, and an enticer of others of the council: who otherwise (if for fear they durst) would have been content to have let such matters alone. The Lord forgive them their weakness (if it be his good pleasure) and give them true repentance. Amen. . . .
John Bourne a stirrer of persecution.
The last examination and condemnation of Master Green.
Thus (as it seemeth) for this time they left off. But not long after the bishop perceiving Green's learning, and constancy to be such, as neither he, nor any of his doctors and chaplains, could by the scriptures refel, began then to object and put in practice his chief, and strongest argument against him: which was the rigour of the law, and cruelty of execution: an argument I ensure you, which without the special grace of our God, to flesh is importable.* And therefore using law as a cloak of his tyranny, the twenty-eighth day of November, the said bishop examined him upon certain points of Christian religion.
Whereunto, when he had answered, the bishop appointed the register (as their most common manner is) to draw there out an The last examination of Master Green.
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order of confession. Which being afterwards read unto Green, was also subscribed by him, as a confirmation of his former assertions: the tenor whereof here ensueth.
The confession and saying of Bartlett Green.
Bartlett Green born in the City of London, in the parish of Bassingshall of the diocese of London, and of the age of twenty-five years, being examined in the bishop's palace, the twenty-eighth day of November, anno 1555, upon certain articles answered as followeth. Videlicet, that neither in the time of King Edward, after that the Mass by him was put down, neither in the time of Queen Mary after that the Mass was restored again, he hath heard any Mass at all: but he saith that in the reign of the said queen's majesty he the said Bartlett two times, to wit, at two Eastertides or days, in the chamber of John
Pullain, one of the preachers in King Edward's time, within the parish of Saint Michael's in Cornhill, of the diocese of London, did receive the communion with the said Pullain and Christopher Goodman, sometime reader of the Divinity
Lecture in Oxford, now gone beyond the sea, and the second time with the said Polline with one Runneger, Master of Art of Magdalen College in Oxford and this examinate also saith, that at both the said communions he, and the other before named did take, and receive bread and wine, which bread and wine he called sacramental bread, and sacramental wine, which he saith were used there by them, Pullain only reading the words of the institution, expressed in the book of communion.
A draught of Master Greeen's confession, gathered by the Bishop's Register.
Ex Regist.
In which receiving and using, this examinate saith, that the other aforenamed, did receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and that they received material bread, and material wine, no substance thereof changed and so no real presence of the body and blood of Christ there being, but only grace added thereto.* And further this examinate saith, that he had heretofore, during the reign of the queen's majesty aforesaid, refused, and so now doth refuse to come and hear Mass, and to receive the sacrament of the altar, as they are now used and ministered in this Church, of England, because he saith that concerning the Mass, he cannot be persuaded, in his conscience, that the Transubstantiation denied.
Master Green refusing to hear Mass.
Bartlett Green
sacrifice pretended to be in the same, is agreeable to God's word, or maintainable by the same: or that without deadly offence, he cannot worship the body and blood of Christ, that is pretended to be there. And as concerning the sacrament of the altar, this examinate saith, that he heretofore during the said reign hath refused, and now doth refuse to receive the same, as is now used in this Church of England, because it is not used, according to the institution of Christ but both in a strange tongue, and also not ministered in both kinds,* and besides that, contrary to God's word it is there taught, that the thing there ministered is to be adored, as the real and true body of Christ. And furthermore this examinate saith, that during the said reign, he hath not been confessed to the priest, nor received absolution at his hands, because he is not bound by God's word, to make auricular confession.
Sacrifice of the Mass not maintainable by God's word.
Master Green against the sacrament of the altar.
Auricular confession refused.
Bartlett Green.
Many other sundry conferences, and public examinations they brought him unto. But in the end, seeing his steadfastness of faith to be such, as against the which, neither the threatenings, nor yet their flattering promises could prevail, the fifteenth day of January, the bishop caused him with the rest above named,* to be brought into the consistory in Paul's: where, being set in his judgement seat, accompanied with Feckenham, then Dean of the same church, and other his chaplains, after he had condemned the other six he then called for Bartlett Green [and] began with these or the like words.
Master Green with the other six martyrs brought to the consistory.
'Honourable audience, I think it best to open unto you, the conversation of this man, called Bartlett Green. And because you shall not charge me, that I go about to seek any man's blood, here you shall hear the council's letters, which they sent with him unto me. The effect whereof is: that where he had been of long time in the Tower of London for heresy, they have now sent him unto me to be ordered, according to the laws therefore provided. . . .'
Bishop Bonner's words to the audience.
[Green then underwent interrogation concerning his understanding of patristic commentary on Eucharistic theology and whether he accepted the Church of Rome as the universal Christian church.]
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Feckenham. At last Feckenham demanded of him, how long he had been of his opinion? 'For Master Green,' (said he), 'you confessed once to me, that when you were at Oxford at school, you were called the rankest papist in that house, and being compelled to go to the lecture of Peter Martyr, you were converted from your old doctrine.'
Master Green first a rank Green. And Green confessed the same.
Feckenham. Then again he said, that Green told him that the said Peter Martyr was a papist in his first coming to Oxford.
Whereupon he made an exclamation, and praised the people to consider, how vain his doctrine that he professed was, which was grounded upon one man and that upon so unconstant a man as Peter Martyr, which perceiving the wicked intent of the Council, was content to please them, and forsake the true and Catholic faith. papist.
Untrue report of Peter Martyr.
Green. Green said that he grounded not his faith upon Martyr, nor any other, nor did believe so because Martyr believed the same, but because that he had heard the scriptures, and the doctors of the church truly and wholesomely expounded by him: neither had he any regard of the man, but of the word which he spake. And further he said, that he heard the said Master Peter say often, that he had not as yet, while he was a papist, read Chrysostom* upon the tenth chapter to the Corinthians, nor many other places of the doctors: but when he had read them, and well considered them, he was content to yield to the doctors having first humbled himself in prayer, desiring God to illuminate him, and bring him to the true understanding of the scripture. 'Which thing,' (said Green), 'if you my Lord would do, I do not doubt, but God would open your eyes, and show you his truth, no more than I do doubt his words be true: that saith: "Ask, and it shall be given to you, knock, and it shall be opened unto you." '* Et cetera. . . .
Peter Martyr first turned from popery to the truth, by prayer and reading the doctors.
Feckenham. Then Feckenham desired him that he would not so wilfully cast himself away, but to be rather conformable to reason, and that my Lord bishop there present, would be good unto him, and would grant him respite (if he would demand it) for a fortnight, or three weeks and that he should choose any learned man whom he would and should go with him home to his house and that he whom he would choose, would willingly
Bartlett Green
take the pains to read and confer the doctors with him, and open the doctors' minds and meanings unto him.
Bonner. Then Bonner said, that he was proud and an obstinate boy, and therefore he bade Feckenham to hold his peace, and to call him no more Master Green: 'For,' (said he), 'you ought not to call an heretic, "Master." '
Bonner forbiddeth Master Green to be called, 'Master.'
. . . This talk ended, he asked Green if he would recant and return to their Romish mother. Which when he denied, the bishop pronounced the sentence definitive against him, and so committed him to the sheriffs of London, who caused him to be carried to Newgate.
Sentence given against Master Green.
And as he was going thither, there met with him two gentlemen, being both his special friends, minding belike to comfort this their persecuted brother. But at their meeting, their loving and friendly hearts (not able any longer to hide themselves) were manifested by the abundance of their pitiful tears. To whom, when Green saw them, he said in these or like words:
'Ah my friends is this your comfort you are come to give me, in this my occasion of heaviness? Must I, who needed to have comfort ministered to me, become now a comforter of you?'
And thus declaring his most quiet and peaceable mind and conscience, he cheerfully spake to them and others, until he came to the prison door, into the which he joyfully entered, and there remained always either in prayer (whereunto he much gave himself ) or else in some other godly meditations and exercises, unto the twenty-eighth day of January, when he with his other above mentioned brethren went most cheerfully unto the place of their torments often repeating, as well by the way, as also at the stake, these [verses]. . . .
The words of Master Green to his friends by the way going to Newgate.
O Christ my God, sure hope of health. besides thee have I none:
The truth I love, and falsehood hate, by thee my guide alone.
Verses of Master Green written in his friend's book.
During the time of his imprisonment in Newgate, diverse of his friends had access unto him, to whom he gave sundry godly exhortations: wherewith they were not only well contented, but for better remembrance, as well of the same his instructions, as also of his own good and godly person, they desired
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him to write somewhat in their books, which request he willingly granted, as in manner here ensueth.
These verses were written in a book of Master Hussey of the Temple.
Behold thyself by me, such one was I, as thou:
And thou in time shalt be, even dust as I am now.
Bartlett Green.
These verses were also written in a book of Master William Fleetwood, of the same house.
My resting rood is found, vain hope and hap adieu.
Love whom you list with change, death shall me rid from you.
Bartlett Green.
Among other diverse and singular good virtues of this good man, especially in him was to be noted such a modest nature, so humbly thinking of himself, as in few men is to be found, ever dejecting himself under that was in him, and ever seeming to be less than he was so that nothing less he could abide, than to hear of his praise or commendation: as well declareth not only his letter written to Master Philpot, wherein he doth earnestly expostulate with him, for slandering him with praise of his wit and learning, and other manifold virtues of great excellency, but also by his own speech and answers in his examination wherein he casteth from him all knowledge of learning and cunning, when notwithstanding he had more in him, than to any men's eyes did appear.
The singular modesty, and humble nature of Master Green.
So great and admirable was this gift of modesty grafted in the nature of him, so far abhorring from all pride and arrogancy, that as he could not abide anything that was spoken to his advancement or praise: so neither did there appear in him any show or brag in those things wherein he might justly glory, which were his punishments and sufferings for the cause and quarrel of Christ. For when he was beaten and scourged with rods by Bishop Bonner (which scarce any man would believe, nor I neither, but that I heard it of him, which heard it of his mouth) and he greatly rejoiced in the same, yet his shamefast* modesty was such, that never he would express any mention
Bartlett Green
thereof, lest he should seem to glory too much in himself, save that only he opened the same to one Master Cotton of the Temple a friend of his, a little before his death.
Moreover, to this rare and maidenly modesty in him was also adjoined the like nature of mercy and pitiful* compassion: which affection though it seemed to be little regarded of some, yet in my mind is there no other thing wrought in nature, wherein man resembleth more truly the image of the high majesty of almighty God than this. And as in this respect of merciful tenderness, man only excelleth all other beasts: so almost no less may this man seem to pass many other men, whose customable property and exercise was to visit the poor prisoners with him in prison, both with bodily relief, and also with spiritual comfort: and finding many of them (I mean such as were there for theft, and other naughty facts) very penitent and sorry for their evil demeanours, in hope of their amendment, did not only by mouth, but also by his letters require, yea, as it were of duty in love, did charge his friends, to travail for their deliverances: such was the pity and charitable mercy of this godly and most true member of Christ's church. . . .
The pitiful nature of Master Green.