ROBERT TOMSON 



that I was so punished by the Clergies hande, as before is 

 mentioned, I will in briefe words declare the same. 



It is so, that being in Mexico at the table, among many 

 principall people at dinner, they began to inquire of me 

 being an Englishman, whether it were true, that in Eng- 

 land they had overthrowen all their Churches and houses 

 of Religion, and that all the images of the Saints of 

 heaven that were in them were throwen downe, broken, 

 and burned, and in some places high wayes stoned with 

 them, and whether the English nation denied their obedi- 

 ence to the Pope of Rome, as they had bene certified 

 out of Spaine by their friends. To whom I made answere, 

 that it was so, that in deed they had in England put 

 downe all the Religious houses of friers and monks that 

 were in England, and the images that were in their 

 Churches and other places were taken away, and used 

 there no more : for that (as they say) the making of 

 them, and putting of them where they were adored, was 

 cleane contrary to the expresse commandement of Al- 

 mighty God, Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any graven 

 image, &c. and that for that cause they thought it not 

 lawfull that they should stand in the Church, which is the 

 house of adoration. One that was at the declaring of 

 these words, who was my master Gonsalo Cereso, answered 

 and said, if it were against the commandement of God, to 

 have images in the Churches, that then he had spent a 

 great deale of money in vaine, for that two yeres past he 

 had made in the monastery of Santo Domingo, in the 

 said citie of Mexico, an image of our Lady of pure silver 

 & golde, with pearles and precious stones, which cost him 

 7000. and odde pesos, and every peso is 4.S. 8.d. of our 

 money : which indeed was true, for that I have scene it 

 many times my selfe where it stands. At the table was 

 another gentleman, who presuming to defend the cause 

 more then any other that was there, saide, that they 

 knew well ynough that they were made but of stockes 

 and stones, and that to them was no worship given, 

 but that there was a certaine veneration due unto them 



351 



A.D. 



1558. 



