27. Edwin Sandys

27. EDWIN SANDYS

A brief discourse concerning the troubles and happy deliverance of the Reverend Father in God,

Doctor Sandys, ﬁ rst Bishop of Worcester, next of London, and now Archbishop of York.

King Edward died, the world being unworthy of him, the Duke of Northumberland* came down to Cambridge with an army of men, having commission to proclaim Lady Jane* queen, and by power to suppress Lady Mary, who took upon her that dignity, and was proclaimed queen in Norfolk. The duke sent for Doctor Sandys* being Vice Chancellor, for Doctor Parker,* for Doctor Bill, and Master Lever, to sup with him. Amongst other speeches he said: 'Masters, pray for us that we speed well, if not, you shall be made bishops, and we deacons.' And even so it came to pass, Doctor Parker, and Doctor Sandys were made bishops, and he and Sir John Gates, who was then at the table, were made deacons ere it was long after, on the Tower Hill. Doctor Sandys being Vice Chancellor, was required to preach on the morrow.

The warning was short for such an auditory, and to speak of such a matter: yet he refused not the thing, but went into his chamber, and so to bed. He rose at three of the clock in the morning, took his Bible in his hand, and after that he had prayed a good space, he shut his eyes, and holding his Bible before him, earnestly prayed to God that it might fall open where a most ﬁ t text should be for him to entreat of. The Bible as God would have it, fell open upon the ﬁ rst chapter of Joshua, where he found so convenient a piece of scripture* for that time, that the like he could not have chosen in all the Bible. . . . And as God gave the text, so gave he him such order and utterance, as pulled many tears out of the eye of the biggest of them.

In the time of his sermon one of the guard lift up to him into the pulpit a Mass book and a grail, which Sir George Haward with certain of the guard had taken that night in Master

Hurleston's house where Lady Mary had been a little before, and there had Mass. The duke with the rest of the nobility, required

Edwin Sandys

Doctor Sandys to put his sermon in writing, and appointed Master Lever to go to London with it, and to put it in print.

Doctor Sandys required one day and a half for writing of it. At the time appointed he had made it ready, and Master Lever was ready booted* to receive it at his hands, and carry it to London.

As he was delivering of it, one of the beadles named Master Adams, came weeping to him, and prayed him to shift for himself, for the duke was retired, and Queen Mary proclaimed.

Doctor Sandys was not troubled here withal, but gave the sermon written to Master Layﬁ eld. Master Lever departed home, and he went to dinner to one Master More's a beadle, his great friend. At the dinner, Mistress More's seeing him merry and pleasant (for he had ever a man's courage, and could not be terriﬁ ed) drank unto him, saying: 'Master Vice Chancellor,

I drink unto you, for this is the last time that ever I shall see you.'

And so it was, for she was dead before Doctor Sandys returned out of Germany. The duke that night retired to Cambridge, and sent for Doctor Sandys to go with him to the market place to proclaim Queen Mary. The duke cast up his cap with others, and so laughed that the tears ran down his cheeks for grief. He told Doctor Sandys that Queen Mary was a merciful woman, and that he doubted not thereof: declaring, that he had sent unto her to know her pleasure, and looked for a general pardon.

Doctor Sandys answered, 'My life is not dear unto me, neither have I done or said anything that urgeth my conscience. For that which I spake of the state, I have instructions warranted by the subscription of sixteen councillors. Neither can speech be treason, neither yet have I spoken further than the word of God, and laws of this realm doth warrant me, come of me what God will.

But be you assured, you shall never escape death: for if she would save you, those that now shall rule, will kill you.'

That night the guard apprehended the duke, and certain grooms of the stable were as busy with Doctor Sandys as if they would take a prisoner. But Sir John Gates* who lay then in Doctor Sandys his house, sharply rebuked them, and drove them away. Doctor Sandys by the advice of Sir John Gates, walked into the ﬁ elds. In the mean time, the University contrary to all order, had met together in consultation, and ordered, that Doctor Mouse and Doctor Hatcher, should repair to

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Doctor Sandys's lodging, and fet* away the statute book of the University, the keys, and such other things that were in his keeping, and so they did, for Doctor Mouse being an earnest

Protestant the day before, and one whom Doctor Sandys had done much for, now was he become a papist, and his great enemy. Certain of the University had appointed a congregation at after noon. As the bell rang to it, Doctor Sandys commeth out of the ﬁ elds, and sending for the beadles, asketh what the matter meaneth, and requireth them to wait upon him to the Schools, according to their duty. So they did, and so soon as Doctor Sandys, the beadles going before him, came into the Regent House* and took his chair, one Master Mitch with a rabble of unlearned papists, went into a by-school, and conspired together to pull him out of his chair, and to use violence unto him. Doctor Sandys began his oration, expostulating with the University, charging them with great ingratitude, declaring that he had said nothing in his sermon, but that he was ready to justify, and that their case was all one with his: for they had not only concealed, but consented to that which he had spoken.

And thus while he remembered unto them how beneﬁ cial he had been to the University, and their unthankfulness to him again, in cometh Master Mitch with his conspirators about twenty in number. One layeth hand upon the chair to pull it from him, another told him that that was not his place, and another called him 'traitor.' Whereat he perceiving how they used violence, and being of great courage, groped to his dagger, and had dispatched some of them as God's enemies, if Doctor Bill and Doctor Blith had not fallen upon him, and prayed him for God's sake to hold his hands and be quiet, and patiently to bear that great offered wrong. He was persuaded by them, and after that tumult was ceased, he ended his oration, and having some money of the University's in his hands, he there delivered the same every farthing. He gave up the books, reckonings and keys, pertaining to the University, and withal, yielded up his ofﬁ ce, praying God to give to the University a better ofﬁ cer, and to give them better and more thankful hearts, and so repaired home to his own College.

On the morrow after, there came unto him one Master Jerningham, and one Master Thomas Mildmay. Jerningham

Edwin Sandys

told him, that it was the queen's pleasure that two of the guard should attend upon him, and that he must be carried prisoner to the Tower of London with the duke. . . .

Upon this, his stable was robbed of four notable good geldings, the best of them Master Huddlestone took for his own saddle, and rode on him to London in his sight. An inventory was taken of all his goods by Master More beadle for the University.

He was set upon a lame horse that halted to the ground, which thing a friend of his perceiving, prayed that he might lend him a nag. The yeomen of the guard were content. As he departed forth at the town's end, some papists resorted thither to jeer at him, some of his friends to mourn for him. He came into the rank to London, the people being full of outcries. And as he came in at Bishopsgate, one like a milk wife hurled a stone at him, and hit him on the breast with such a blow, that he was like to fall off his horse. To whom he mildly said: 'Woman, God forgive it thee.'

Truth is, that journey and evil entreating so mortiﬁ ed him, that he was more ready to die, than to live.

As he came through Tower Hill street, one woman standing in her door, cried: 'Fie on thee thou knave, thou knave, thou traitor, thou heretic.' Whereat he smiled. 'Look, the desperate heretic,' (sayeth she), 'laugheth at this gear.' A woman on the other side of the street, answered, saying: 'Fie on thee neighbour, thou art not worthy to be called a woman, railing upon this gentleman whom thou knowest not, neither yet the cause why he is thus entreated.' Then she said, 'good gentleman, God be thy comfort, and give thee strength to stand in God's cause even to the end.' And thus he passed through ﬁ re and water into the Tower, the ﬁ rst prisoner that entered in that day, which was

Saint James's day. The yeomen of the guard took from him his borrowed nag, and what else so ever he had. His man one

Quinting Swainton brought after him a Bible, and some shirts and such like things. The Bible was sent in to him, but the shirts and such like, served the yeomen of the Guard.

After he had been in the Tower three weeks in a bad prison, he was lift up into Nun's Bower,* a better prison, where was put to him Master John Bradford.

At the day of Queen Mary's coronation, their prison door was set open, ever shut before. One Master Mitchell his old

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acquaintance, and had been prisoner before in the same place, came in to him and said: 'Master Sandys, there is such a stir in the Tower, that neither gates, doors, nor prisoners, are looked to this day. Take my cloak, my hat, and my rapier, and get you gone, you may go out of the gates without questioning, save yourself, and let me do as I may.' A rare friendship: but he refused the offer, saying: 'I know no just cause why I should be in prison. And thus to do were to make myself guilty. I will expect God's good will, yet must I think myself most bound unto you,' and so Master Mitchell departed.

While Doctor Sandys and Master Bradford were thus in close prison together twenty-nine weeks, one John Bowler was their keeper, a very perverse papist, yet by often persuading of him, for he would give ear, and by gentle using of him at the length he began to mislike popery and to favour the gospel, and so persuaded in true religion, that on a Sunday when they had

Mass in the chapel, he bringeth up a service book, a manchet and a glass of wine, and there Doctor Sandys ministered the communion to Bradford and to Bowler. Thus Bowler was their son begotten in bonds when Wyatt was in arms, and the old

Duke of Norfolk* sent forth with a power of men to apprehend him, that room might be made in the Tower for him and other his accomplices, Doctor Cranmer, Doctor Ridley, and Master

Bradford were cast into one prison, and Doctor Sandys with nine other preachers were sent into the Marshalsea.

The keeper of the Marshalsea appointed to every preacher, a man to lead him in the street, he caused them go far before, and he and Doctor Sandys came behind, whom he would not lead, but walked familiarly with him. Yet Doctor Sandys was known, and the people everywhere prayed to God to comfort him and to strength[en] him in the truth. By that time the people's minds were altered, popery began to be unsavoury. After they passed the Bridge, the keeper Thomas Way said to Doctor

Sandys: 'I perceive the vain people would set you forward to the ﬁ re, ye are as vain as they, if you being a young man will stand in your own conceit, and prefer your own knowledge before the judgement of so many worthy prelates, ancient, learned, and grave men as be in this realm. If you so do, you shall ﬁ nd me as strait a keeper as one that utterly misliketh your religion.'

Edwin Sandys

Doctor Sandys answered: 'I know my years young and my learning small. It is enough to know Christ cruciﬁ ed, and he hath learned nothing that seeth not the great blasphemy that is in popery. I will yield unto God and not unto man. I have read in the scriptures of many godly and courteous keepers, God may make you one. If not, I trust he will give me strength and patience to bear your hard dealing with me.' Saith Thomas

Way, 'do ye then mind to stand to your religion?': 'Yea,' saith Doctor Sandys, 'by God's grace.' 'Truly,' saith the keeper,

'I love you the better, I did but tempt you. What favour I can show you, you shall be sure of, and I shall think myself happy if I may die at the stake with you.' The said keeper showed

Doctor Sandys ever after, all friendship: he trusted him to go into the ﬁ elds alone, and there met with Master Bradford, who then was removed into the Bench, and there found like favour of his keeper. He laid him in the best chamber in the house: he would not suffer the Knight Marshal's man to lay fetters on him, as others had. And at his request he put Master Sandys into him, to be his bedfellow, and sundry times suffered his wife, who was Master Sandys's daughter of Essex, a gentlewoman, beautiful both in body and soul to resort to him. There was great resort to Doctor Sandys, and Master Saunders, they had much money offered them, but they would receive none.

They had the communion there three or four times, and a great sort of communicants. Doctor Sandys gave such exhortation to the people, for at that time being young, he was thought very eloquent, that he moved many tears and made the people abhor the Mass, and defy all popery.

When Wyatt with his army came into Southwark, he sent two gentlemen into the Marshalsea to Doctor Sandys: saying, that Master Wyatt would be glad of his company and advice, and that the gates should be set open for all the prisoners. He answered:

'Tell Master Wyatt, if this his rising be of God it will take place: if not, it will fall. For my part I was committed hither by order,

I will be discharged by like order, or I will never depart hence.'

So answered Master Saunders, and the rest of the preachers being there prisoners.

After that Doctor Sandys had been nine weeks prisoner in the Marshalsea, by the mediation of Sir Thomas Holcroft then

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Knight Marshall he was set at liberty. Sir Thomas sued earnestly to the Bishop of Winchester, Doctor Gardiner for his deliverance after many repulses, except Doctor Sandys would be one of their sect, and then he could want nothing. He wrung out of him that if the queen could like of his deliverance, he would not be against it: for that was Sir Thomas's last request.

In the mean time he had procured two ladies of the Privy Chamber to move the queen in it: who was contented if the Bishop of Winchester could like of it. The next time that the bishop went into the Privy Chamber to speak with the queen,

Master Holcroft followed and had his warrant for Doctor Sandys's remission ready, and prayed the two ladies, when as the bishop should take his leave to put the queen in mind of Doctor Sandys. So they did. And the queen said, 'Winchester: what think you by Doctor Sandys, is he not sufﬁ ciently punished?' 'As it please your majesty,' sayeth Winchester. That he spake, remembering his former promise to Master Holcroft, that he would not be against Doctor Sandys, if the queen should like to discharge him. Sayeth the queen: 'Then truly, we would that he were set at liberty.' Immediately Master

Holcroft offered the queen the warrant, who subscribed the same, and called Winchester to put to his hand, and so he did.

The warrant was given to the Knight Marshal again, Sir Thomas Holcroft. As the bishop went forth of the Privy Chamber door, he called Master Holcroft to him: commanding him not to set Doctor Sandys at liberty, until he had taken sureties of two gentlemen of his country with him, every one bound in £500 that Doctor Sandys should not depart out of the realm without licence. Master Holcroft immediately after met with two gentlemen of the North, friends and cousins to Doctor

Sandys, who offered to be bound in body, goods and lands for him. . . . Doctor Sandys answered: 'I give God thanks, who hath moved your heart to mind me so well, and I think myself most bound unto you, God shall requite, and I shall never be found unthankful. But as you have dealt friendly with me,

I will also deal plainly with you. I came a free man into prison, I will not go forth a bondman. As I cannot beneﬁ t my friends, so will I not hurt them: and if I be set at liberty, I will not tarry six days in this realm if I may get out. If therefore I may not go

Edwin Sandys

free forth, send me to the Marshalsea again, and there you shall be sure of me.'

This answer much misliked Master Holcroft: he told Doctor Sandys that the time would not long continue, a change would shortly come: the star was but a cloud, and would soon shake away. And that his cousin Sir Edward Bray would gladly receive him and his wife into house, where he should never need to come at church, and how the Lady Bray was a zealous gentlewoman, who hated popery. Adding that he would not so deal with him to lose all his labour. When Doctor Sandys could not be removed from his former saying, Master Holcroft said:

'Seeing you cannot be altered, I will change my purpose, and yield unto you. Come of it what will, I will set you at liberty: and seeing you mind over sea, get you gone so quickly as you can.

One thing I require of you, that while you are there, you write nothing to come hither, for so ye may undo me.' He friendly kissed Doctor Sandys, bade him farewell, and commanded the keeper to take no fees of him: saying, 'let me answer Winchester as I may.' Doctor Sandys returned with the keeper to the Marshalsea [and] tarried all night. There on the morrow [he] gave a dinner to all the prisoners, bade his bedfellow, and sworn stake-fellow,* if it had so pleased God, Master Saunders farewell, with many tears and kissings, the one falling on the other's neck, and so departed, clearly delivered without examination or bond. From thence he went to the Bench, and there talked with Master Bradford, and Master Farrar Bishop of Saint David's, then prisoners. Then he comforted them, and they praised God for his happy deliverance. He went by Winchester's house, and there took boat, and came to a friend's house in London, called

William Banks, and tarried there one night. On the morrow at night he shifted to another friend's house, and there he learned that search was made for him.

Doctor Watson and Master Christopherson coming to the Bishop of Winchester, told him that he had set at liberty the greatest heretic in England, and one that had of all other most corrupted the University of Cambridge Doctor Sandys.

Whereupon the Bishop of Winchester being Chancellor of England, sent for all the constables of London, commanding them to watch for Doctor Sandys, who was then within the city,

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and to apprehend him, and whosoever of them should take him and bring him to him, he should have £5 for his labour. Doctor

Sandys suspecting the matter, conveyed himself by night to one Master Barty's house a stranger, who was in the Marshalsea with him prisoner a while. He was a good Protestant and dwelt in Mark Lane. There he was six days, and had one or two of his friends that repaired unto him. Then he repaired to an acquaintance of his, one Hurlestone a skinner, dwelling in Cornhill.

He caused his man Quinting to provide two geldings for him, minding on the morrow to ride into Essex to Master Sandys his father-in-law, where his wife was. . . .

[After being warned by a sympathetic constable named Benjamin, Sandys altered his original plan and ﬂ ed London by a different route.] Accordingly Doctor Sandys did, clothed like a gentleman in all respects, and looked wildly as one that had been long kept in prison out of the light. Benjamin carried him through Birching lane, and from one lane to another, till he come at Moorgate. There they went forth until they came to Bethnal

Green where the horses were ready, and Master Hurleston, to ride with him as his man. Doctor Sandys pulled on his boots, and taking leave of his friend Benjamin, with tears they kissed each other, he put his hand in his purse, and would have given

Benjamin a great part of that little he had, but Benjamin would take none. Yet since, Doctor Sandys hath remembered him thankfully. He rode that night to his father-in-law, Master

Sandys where his wife was. He had not been there two hours, but it was told Master Sandys that there was two of the guard which would that night apprehend Doctor Sandys, and so they were appointed.

That night Doctor Sandys was guided to an honest farmer near the sea, where he tarried two days and two nights in a chamber without all company. After that he shifted to one James

Mower, a shipmaster, who dwelt at Milton shore, where he expected wind for the English ﬂ eet ready into Flanders. While he was there James Mower brought to him forty or ﬁ fty mariners, to whom he gave an exhortation. They liked him so well, that they promised to die for it, or that he should be apprehended.

Edwin Sandys

The sixth of May [1558] being Sunday, the wind served. He took his leave of his host and hostess, and went towards the ship. In taking his leave of his hostess who was barren, and had been married eight years, he gave her a ﬁ ne handkerchief and an old royal of gold in it, thanking her much, and said: 'Be of good comfort, or that an whole year be past, God shall give you a child, a boy.' And it came to pass, for that day twelvemonth lacking one day, God gave her a fair son.

At the shore Doctor Sandys met with Master Isaac of Kent who had his eldest son there, who upon the liking he had to Doctor Sandys, sent his son with him, who afterward died in his father's house in Frankfort. Doctor Sandys and Doctor Cox,* were both in one ship, being one Cockrel's ship. They were within the kenning,* when two of the guard came thither to apprehend Doctor Sandys. They arrived at Antwerp, being bid to dinner to Master Locke. And at dinner time one George Gilpin being secretary to the English House, and kinsman to Doctor

Sandys, came to him and rounded him in his ear, and said: 'King Philip hath sent to make search for you, and to apprehend you.'

Hereupon they rose from their dinner in a marvellous great shower, and went out at the gate toward the land of Cleve.*

There they found a wagon and hasted away, and came safe to Augsburg in Cleveland where Doctor Sandys tarried fourteen days, and then journeyed towards Strasbourg, where after he had lived one year, his wife came unto him. He fell sore sick of a ﬂ ix,* which kept him nine months, and brought him to death's door. He had a child which fell sick of the plague and died. His wife at length fell sick of a consumption and died in his arms. No man had a more godly woman to his wife.

After this, Master Sampson went away to Emmanuel, a man skilful in the Hebrew. Master Grindal went into the country to learn the Dutch tongue. Doctor Sandys still remained in Strasbourg, whose sustentation then was chieﬂ y from one Master

Isaac, who loved him most dearly, and was ever more ready to give, than he to take. He gave him in the space above one hundreth marks, which sum the said Doctor Sandys paid him again, and by his other gifts and friendliness, showed himself to be a thankful man. When his wife was dead he went to Zurich, and there was in Peter Martyr's house for the space of ﬁ ve weeks.

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Being there, as they sat at dinner, word suddenly came that Queen Mary was dead, and Doctor Sandys was sent for by his friends at Strasbourg. That news made Master Martyr, and Master Jarret then there, very joyful, but Doctor Sandys could not rejoice, it smote into his heart that he should be called to misery.

Master Bullinger* and the ministers feasted him, and he took his leave and returned to Strasbourg where he preached, and so Master Grindal and he came towards England, and came to London the same day that Queen Elizabeth was crowned.*

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