83

33

Item he did asmoche as in laye when he was curate of leneham to persuade the parishe to have taken down all the ymages in the Churche, and said that thei were dyrectly againste goddes commandement Witnes John parkehurste / Stephen ffryer /

Anno 1539

fastynge dayes

Item he hath caused divers to breake thair faste, that were disposed to kepe it, and saieth all daies be lyke / Witnes John Parkehurst John a down

Item he said suche a daye you shall have our laday, as for the even you may faste that listeth. Witnes John Parkehurste, Stephen ffryer / and Robert Williamson

Anno 1542

offensive

Item he wolde never say deprofundis to our knowledge, and saieth that the service in the churche is but baggage, and alwaies he rebellid againste theym that used to say thair service, and suche as bere any portis about theym / Witnes Sir John Abbey / John Parkehurste, Stephen ffryer / Robert Williamson William Alen

Anno 1540

seditious

vi articles

Item he callid the Chrismatorye a Juglyngbox and a preistes crowne balames marke

Item he asked an honeste man, why he made reverence when he cam before the sacrament, Witnes John Parkehurste Stephen ffryer / Robert Packnam

ceremonies

Item in the Rogacion daies he wolde neither syng nor say any gospell in the laten tong / nor have any halywater caried with hym, nor wolde syng nor saye any parte of the lateny, that is to say to call apon any saincte, nor wolde at any tyme whiles he was curate of Leneham. whiche was the space of one yere and more Witnes Robert Pratte, John Parkehurste / Stephen ffrier John Dyve, Christofer Stoners, Thomas Hendman

Images

Item he said at Sittyngbourne the iiii daye of Auguste in the xxxiiii yere of king henry the viii to one Alexander Plott, the said Alexander saying unto hym, you did suffer Images stande in our churche, your Curate said the parson is more knave / Why do thei stande in Cranebroke then said Alexander plotte, seing that there dwellith wurshipfull men the kinges Justices, and as

n

I thinke some of theym be of the kinges counsaile, and by that thei ar now bilding of a goodlie rode lofte, thei ar said the parson pope holie knaves, and I wold that the rode lofte were money in my purse

n

sclaunderous to the kynge

Item the said Alexander asked hym whither we should pay tythe for podeware that is to say of pees and tares or no: saying that our horses eatith all in Wynter, The parson said ye shoulde pay none / the king hath made a law that ye shall pay, but it is contrary to godes lawe, that ye should pay any tyth for theym

He did his best when curate of Leneham to persuade the parish to have taken down all the images in the church, and said they were directly against God's commandment. He caused divers to break their fast that were disposed to keep it, saying all days were alike (1539). He said "Such a day, you shall have Our Lady, as for the Even you may fast that listeth." He would never say De profundis (1542), declaring that the service in the church is but baggage, "and always he rebelled against them that used to say their service and such as bere any portis about them." He called the chrismatory a juggling box and a priest's crown Balaam's mark (1540). He asked an honest man why he made reverence when he came before the Sacrament. In the Rogation days he would neither sing nor say any Gospel in Latin, nor have any holy water carried with him, nor would sing nor say any part of the litany or call on any Saint while he was curate, which was for one year and more. He said at Sittingborne, 4 August 34 Hen. VIII., to one Alex. Plott who had observed to him "Images stand in our church," "Your curate is more knave." "Why do they stand in Cranebroke, then? said Alexander Plotte, seeing that there dwelleth worshipful men, the King's justices, and, as I think, some of them be of the King's Council? And by that they are now building of a goodly roodloft." "They are," said the parson, "pope-holy knaves and I would that the roodloft were money in my purse." The said Alexander also asked him whether we should pay tithes for "podeware," i.e. pease and tares, saying "Our horses eateth all in winter." He replied "Ye should pay none. The King hath made a law that ye shall pay, but it is contrary to God's law that ye should pay any tithe for them."