¶But before this good woorke was agréed vpon, Abr. Fl. ex Iohan. Foxi martyrologio. there was much debating about matters touching religion, and great studie on both parties imploied, the one to reteine still, the other to impugne the doc|trine and faction which before in quéene Maries time had béene established. But speciallie here is to be noted, that though there lacked no industrie on the papists side, to hold fast that which they most cruel|lie from time to time had studied, and by all meanes practised to come by: yet notwithstanding, such was the prouidence of God at that time, that for lacke of the other bishops, whom the Lord had taken awaie by death a little before, the residue that there were left could doo the lesse: and in verie deed, God be praised therefore, did nothing at all in effect; al|though yet notwithstanding there lacked in them neither will nor labor to doo what they could, if their cruell abilitie there might haue serued. But name|lie amongst all others, not onelie the industrious courage of doctor Storie,Doctor Sto|rie impuden [...] and sawcie. but also his words in this parlement are woorthie to be knowne of posteritie, who like a stout and furious champion of the popes side, to declare himselfe how lustie he was, and what he had and would doo in his maisters quarell, sha|med not openlie in the said parlement house to burst out into such impudent sort of words, as was woon|der to all good eares to heare, and no lesse woorthie of historie.

The summe of which his shamelesse talke was vt|tered to this effect. First beginning with himselfe,The words of doctor Sto|rie in the par|lement house. he declared, that whereas he was noted commonlie abroad, and much complained of, to haue béene a great dooer, & a setter foorth of such religion, orders, & procéedings, as of his late souereigne that dead is quéene Marie were set foorth in this relme, he denied nothing the same: protesting moreouer that he had doone nothing therein, but that both his conscience did lead him therevnto, and also his commission did as well then command him, as now also dooth dis|charge him for the same: being no lesse readie now also to doo the like, and more, in case he by this queene were authorised likewise, and commanded therevn|to. Wherefore as I sée (saith he) nothing to be asha|med of; so lesse I see to be sorie for: but rather said that he was sorie for this, because he had doone no more than he did, and that in executing those lawes, they had not béene more vehement & seuere. Where|in he said, there was no default in him, but in them, whome he both oft and earnestlie had exhorted to the same; being therefore not a little gréeued with them, for that they labored onelie about the yoong and little sprigs and twigs, while they should haue stroken at the root, and cleane haue rooted it out: &c. And con|cerning his persecuting and burning them, he de|nied not, but that he was once at the burning of an earewig (for so he termed it) at Uxbridge, where he tost a fagot at his face as he was singing psalmes,This mar|tyr burnt at Uxbridge was maister Denleie. and set a wine bush of thorns vnder his féet, a little to pricke him, with manie other words of like effect. In the which words he named moreouer sir Philip Hobbie, and an other knight of Kent, with such o|ther of the richer and higher degrée, whome his coun|sell was to plucke at, & to bring them vnder Coram; wherein (said he) if they had followed my aduise, then had they doone well and wiselie. This or much like EEBO page image 1181 was the effect of the shamelesse and tyrannicall ex|cuse of himselfe, more méete to speake with the voice of a beast, than of a man. Although in this parle|ment some diuersitie there was of iudgement and opinion betwéene parties: yet notwithstanding through the mercifull goodnesse of the Lord, the true cause of the gospell had the vpper hand, the papists hope was frustrat, and their rage abated: the order and procéedings of king Edwards time concerning religion was reuiued againe, the supremasie of the pope abolished, the articles and bloudie statutes of queene Marie repealed: bréeflie, the furious fier|brands of cruell persecution, which had consumed so manie poore mens bodies, were now extinct and quenched.]

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 A motion made in the parlement house to the quéene touch|ing marriage, &c.Moreouer in the time of this parlement, a motion was made by the common house, that the queenes maiestie might be sued vnto, to grant hir graces li|cence to the speaker, knights, citizens & burgesses, to haue accesse vnto hir graces presence: to declare vnto hir matter of great importance, concerning the state of this hir graces realme. The which petiti|on being mooued to hir grace, she most honorablie a|gréed and consented therevnto, and assigned a daie of hearing. When the daie came, the speaker & common house resorted vnto hir graces palace at Westmin|ster called the White hall. And in the great gallerie there, hir grace most honorablie shewed hir selfe rea|die to heare their motion and petition. And when the speaker had solemnlie and eloquentlie set foorth the message (the principall matter wherof most speci|allie was to mooue hir grace to marriage) whereby (to all our comforts) we might inioie (as Gods plea|sure should be) the roiall issue of hir bodie to reigne ouer vs, &c. The quéenes maiestie after a little pause made this answer following, as néere as I could beare the same awaie (saith Grafton.)