Hall's Chronicle 1538. May 1538. In May there was a Friar, called Friar Forest, one of the Observant Friars, but he might have bene more truly named as after shall appear, an Obstinate Friar, this obstinate friar had secretly in confessions declared to many of the King’s subjects that the King was not Supreme Head, and being hereof accused and apprehended, he was examined how he could say that the King was not Supreme Head of the Church, when he himself had sworn to the contrary, he answered that he took his oath with his outward man, but his inward man never consented thereunto: At this answer the lords who examined him looked very strangely at the dissimulation of the Friar, but being farther accused of diverse heretical and damnable articles, that he held contrary to the scripture of god, he was after sundry examinations convinced and confuted, and gladly submitted himself to abide the punishment of the church. But upon this his submission, having more liberty than before he had, as well to talk with whom he would, as also, who that he would to talk with him, certain such outward men as he was so talked with him and so incensed him, that the outward Freer was as far from his open submission as ever he was, and when his abjuration was sent him to read, and loke upon, he utterly refused it, and obstinately stood in all his heresies and treasons before conspired, al gentle meanes that was possible to be sought for his reconciliation was had, but the more gentler that the magistrates were to him, the more obstinate was the friar, and would neither argue nor answer wherefore justly he was condemned, and after for him was prepared in Smithfeld [Map] in London a gallows on the which he was hanged in chains by the middle and armholes all quick, and under the gallows was made a fire, and he so consumed and burned to death. At his coming to the place of execution, there was prepared a great scaffold, on which sat the nobles of the realm, and the King’s Majesty’s most honourable counsel only to have granted pardon to that wretched creature, if any spark of repentance would have happened in him there was also prepared a pulpit where a right reverend father in God and a renowned and famous Clerck the bishop of Worcester called Hugh Latimer (age 51), declared to him his errors, and openly and manifestly by the scripture of God confuted them, and with many and godly exhortations moved him to repentance, but such was his forwardness that he neither would hear nor speak. And a little before the execution, a huge and great image was brought to the gallows, which image was brought out of Wales, and of the Welshmen much sought and worshipped. This image was called Darvel Gatheren, and the Welshmen had a prophesy that this image should set a whole forest on fire, which prophesy now took effect, for he set this friar Forest on fire and consumed him to nothing. This Friar when he saw the fire come, and that present death was at hand, caught hold upon the ladder, which he would not let go, but so unpatiently took his death, that no man that ever put his trust in God never so unquietly nor so ungodly ended his life. If men might judge him by his outward man, he appeared to have little knowledge of God and his sincere truth, and less trust in him at his ending.

Upon the gallows that he died on, was set with great letters these verses following.

David Darvel Gatheren

As sayth the Welshmen

Fetched Outlawes out of Hell.

Now is he come, with spere and shild

In harnes to burne in Smithfeld

For in Wales he may not dwel

And Foreest the Freer

That obstinate Iyer

That wylfully shalbe dead.

In his contumacie

The Gospel doeth deny

The King to be supreme heade.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1538. 22 May 1538. Also the 22^th daie of Maie, being Wednesdaie this same yeare, the said Friar Forrest was drawen from Newgate to the place of execution in Smythfielde, where was a noble sermon made by the Bishopp of Worcestre (age 51), afore writton, to have drawen the said Friar Forrest from his opinions; but he, obstinatlie standing still and stiffe in his opininons, and beinge asked by the said bishopp in what state he would die, he openlie declaring their with a lowde voyce to the Bishopp as followeth: That if an angell should come downe from heaven and shew him any other thing then that he had beleeved all his liffe tyme past he would not beleeve him, and that if his bodie should be cutt joynt after joynt or membre after membre, brent, hanged, or what paine soever might de donne to his bodie, he wold neaver turne from his old sect of this Bishopp of Rome; and also seaven yeare agone he^a durst not have made such a sermon for his lief. And then after this, being a false traitor to his Praynce, an hereticke, and a seditious person to the Kinges leighe people, was had to the place of execution^b and their hanged about the middle in chains of iron on a paire of gallowes alive, a great fire made under him and about him, and so was burned for his said heresie and treason.

Also their was brent with him an idoll^c that was brought out of Gidarne was North Wales, which idoll was of woode like a man of armes in his armes in his harneies having a litle speare in his hande and a caskett of iron about his necke hanging with a ribond, the which people of North Walles honored as a sainct. The name of the idoll was called in Walch Darvell Gadarn.^d Present at this execution were the Duke of Norfolke (age 65), the Duke of Suffolke (age 54), the Erle of Sussex (age 31), the Earle of Hartford (age 38) being Vicount Beawchampe, the Bishoppe of London, with other of the Kinges Counsell, the Major (age 53)^e of London, with the most part of the aldermen and shrives, and, as I thinke, tenne thousand persons and more; also the place of execution where the gallowes and fire was made was railed round about; and their was a skaffold made to sett the pulpitt on where the preacher stoode, and an other against itt where the friar stoode all the sermon tyme, and a long skaffold next to Sainct Bartholomewes spittell gate, where the Lordes of the Privie Counsell sate with the major and aldermen and other gentlemen and commons of the cittie.

Note a. Bishop Latimer (age 51).

Note b. Compare this with the account of the burning of Friar Forest in Harleian MS. 530, f. 120.

Note c. The Welshmen had a prophesy that this image should set a whole forest a fire, which prophesie now toke effect, for it set this Frier Forest on fyre, and consumed him to nothing. Hall, p 826.

Note d. Usually written Darvell or David Gatheren.

Note e. Sir Richard Gresham (age 53).