Biography of Adrian Fortescue 1476-1539

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 10th July 1539 ... which Foskew (age 63) and Dingley wer the tenth daye of July behedded. In thys parliament was an act made whiche bare this title: An act for abholyshynge of diversitie of opinions, in certayne artycles concernynge Christen religion, this act establyshed chiefly sixe articles, wherof among the common people it was called the act of syxe artycles, and of some it was named the whyp wyth syxe strynges, and of some other and that of the moste part, it was named the bloudy statute, for of truthe it so in shorte tyme after skourged a great nomber in the citie of London, wher the first quest for the inquirie of the offenders of the sayd statute sat at a church called Beckets house, now named the Mercers Chappel, that the said quest beyng of purpose selected and picked out emong all the rest of the inhabitauntes of the citie, that none might thereof be admitted which either had red any part of the holy scripture in English, or in any wyse favoured such as either had red it, or loved the preachers of it: insomuch as this quest was so zelous and fervent in the execucion of this statute, that they among them selves thought it not only sufficient to inquire of the offenders of the saied statute, but also by ther fine wittes and wyllyng mindes, thei invented to inquire of certayn braunches of the same statute as they termed it, which was not only to inquire who spake again masses, but who thei were that seldome came unto them: and also not only who denyed the Sacramente to be Christes very naturall body, but also who helde not up their handes at sacryng tyme, and knocked not on there brestes: And thei not only inquired who offended in the sixe articles, but also who came seldome to the churche, who toke no holy bread nor holy water, who red the Bible in the churche, or in communicacion contemned priestes, or Images in the Churches, etc. with a grat nombre of suche braunches: this appoincted quest so sped them selves wyth the sixe Articles, and ther awne braunches, that in fourtene daies space there was not a preacher nor other persone in the citie of name, whiche had spoken against the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome, but he was wrapped in the sixe articles, insomuche as thei indited and presented of suspicion to the nombre of five hundred persones and above: so that yf the kynges majestic had not graunted his pardon, for that by the good lorde Awdeley lord Chauncelor his grace was truly infourmed that thei were indited of malice: a greate many of them whych all ready was in prison, had bene shortly after skourged in Smithfelde wyth firy fagottes, that would have made the best bloud in ther bodies to have sprong but most graciously at that time his grace remitted all: although in the tyme that these sixe Articles indured whiche was eight yeres and more, thei brought many an honest and simple persone to there deathes, for suche was the rigour of that lawe, that yf two witnesses false or true, had accused any and avouched that thei had spoken agaynst the sacrament, ther was then no way but death, for it boted not to confesse that hys faith was contrarie, or that he saied not as the accusers reported: for thei would beleve the witnesses, ye and sometime certain of the clergie, when thei had no witnesses would procure some, or elles thei wer slaundered.