the History of the two thousand five hundred fifty two years and a half and the Children of Israel mourned for Moses as they had done for Aaron thirty dayes in the Land of Moab The Lord was with Ioshua And now Joshua succeeding Moses the Lord Promised Joshua to be with him and to Assist him and the Lord was with him until he had Conquered all the Enemies of the Israelites and now when God was about to give the Israelites rest round about them so that they might dwell there securely it was requisite also that a place should be appointed which himself should chuse to place his Name there wherefore coming together at Shilo they there fixed the Tabernacle of the Congregation after the whole Land was subdued unto them Now Shilo both by the signification of the Name and also by the situation of the place seemeth to be the same with Salem both which words signifieth Peace or Rest Joshua built the City of Timnah-Sera in Mount Ephraim year of the world 2561 in which he dwelt many years after God had given rest to Israel and having lived a hundred and ten Years he there died and was buried After the decease of Joshua and the Elders who out lived him year of the world 2591 the Wonders which God had wrote for the Children of Israel Joshua being dead the Israelites began to backslide from the time of their first bringing out of Egypt began to be forgotten by the Young men every man now doing what seemed good in his own Eyes all those disorders were committed which are reported in the five last Chapters of the Book of Judges to wit the Idolatry of Micah and the Children of Dan and the War of the Benjaminites and the cause thereof and there succeeded a Generation of men which forgot God And Idolarty crept in and mingled themselves with the Canaanites by marriage and worshipped their Idols and God hereby was provoked to Wrath and gave them up to Cushan King of Mesapotania They were brought into Bondage which first calamity of theirs held them eighty years until Othoniel Son-in-law to Joshua being stirred up by God as a Judge and Avenger of his People defeated Cushan Delivered by Othoniel and delivered the Israelites out of their Bondage and the Land had rest forty years after the rest which Joshua procured them After the decease of Othoniel year of the world 2661 the Israelites falling again to sin against God Brought into Bondage again were again given over into the hands of Eglon King of Moab who joyning with the Ammonites and Amalekites overthrew the Israelites and took Jerico and this second Oppression of theirs continued for the space of eighteen years Instrumentally delivered by Ehud Then the Lord raised up Ehud to be an Avenger of his People who slew Eglon and ten thousand of the Valiant men of Moah and then the Land of Israel had rest forty years But when Ehud was dead they returned to their old Sin They return again to sin and are brought into Bondage wherefore they were brought again into Thraldom for twenty years until Jabins Army was routed and Sisera Captain of his Army was killed by Jael the Wife of Heber in her own Tent with a Nail struck into the Temples of his Head whereupon Debora Are delivered again a Prophetess who at that time judged Israel made a Song thereof for a memorial of that Victory and the Land rested forty years The Israelites sinning again and doing evil in the sight of the Lord year of the world 2752 the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years They sin again the Israelites falling into this fourth Thraldom cryed unto the Lord for help A Prophet sent of God to reprove them and the Lord sent a Prophet unto them who reproved them and shewed them what great things the Lord had done for them and encouraged them that they should not fear the Gods of the Amorites and the Lord raised up Gideon Gideon raised up to deliver them again being stirred up by an Angel sent from God to deliver them and first by Command from God he overturned the Altar of Baal and burnt his Grove and now the Midianites and Amorites pitching their Camp against him the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and out of thirty two thousand men he chose only three hundred according to Gods Commandment to fight against them By a small number which he chose and why That so the Victory of Salvation might appear to be of the Arm of the Lord that Israel might not Vaunt themselves against him After he had obtained the Victory when the Israelites offered to settle the Kingdom on his Posterity he refused it saying The Lord shall rule over you but receiving their Golden Earings he made thereof an Ephad whereof they afterward took an occasion to fall into Idolatry but the Midianites being vanquished the Land had rest forty years They fall into Idolatry again So soon as Gideon was dead the Israelites falling back to Idolatry worshipped Baal-Berith for their God and Abimelech the Son of Gideon begotten upon a Concubine purpossing to get unto himself the Kingdom which his Father had refused slew seventy of his Brethren all upon one Stone when Abimelech had goten the Kingdom and had reigned three years Gaal a man of Sichem conspired against him which being discovered to Abimelech the City of Sichem was utterly Destroyed and the Inhabitants put to the Sword and from thence Abimelech going to besiege Thebez was knocked on the head with a piece of a Milstone cast upon him by a Woman and then killed out-right by his own Armour-Bearer Now the Israelites forsaking again the true God and falling to Worship the Gods of several Nations year 2799 were given up into the hands of the Philistines Were delivered into Bondage Sampson the Nazarite was born at Zora who avenged the Israelites twenty years in the time of the Philistines who slew a thousand of of them at one time with the Jawbone of an Ass in which place called Lehi from that Jawbone God at the prayer of Sampson clave an hollow place that was in the Jaw and there came water there-out Sampson avenged their cause and when he had drunk he was revived wherefore he called the name thereof Enâ—hackore that is The Fountain of him which called upon God Sampson betrayed by Dalila with what followed Sampson being betrayed by Dalila and spoiled of the Hair of his Nazariteship is delivered to the Philistines who plucking out his Eyes carried him away Prisoner to Gaza and put him there in Prison fast bound in Chains where his strength renewing again he pulled down the Temple of the great Dagon killing the Princes of the Philistines with a very great multitude of People which were therein more men being killed at the fall thereof with himself for Company then he had slain in all his life
give them in that Quarrel then was he thrice put to the Pin-bank and Tormented most miserably to utter his Setters on then they past sentence against him and this was executed First he was drawn from the Castle of Dornick to the Market place having a ball of Iron put in his mouth then he was set upon a Stage where his Right hand was Crusht and prest between two hot Irons with sharp Iron edges fiery red in the like manner they served his right foot which Torments he endured with marvelous constancy that done they took the ball of Iron out of his mouth and cut out his Tongue notwithstanding his Tongue was cut out he still called upon God as well as he could whereby the hearts of the people were greatly moved whereupon the Tormentors thrust the Iron ball into his mouth again from thence they brought him down to a lower Stage where his legs and hands were bound behind him with an Iron Chain going about his body and so he was let down flat upon the Fire the Governer standing by caused him to be plucked up again and so down and up again till at last the whole body was consumed to Ashes James Faber and three others Martyrs James Faber and three others suffered at Valens James Faber being an old man said that though he could not answer nor saisfie them in Reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the Truth of the Gospel Godfry Hamell Martyr Godfry Hamell a Taylor taken and condemned at Dornick when they had condemned him by the Name of an Heretick nay said he not an Heretick but a Servant of Jesus Christ when the Hangman went about to Strangle him to diminish his punishment he refused saying that he would abide the Sentence that the Judges had given Besides these that suffered in Germany before mentioned a great number there was both in the Higher and Lower Countries of Germany which were put to death for Religion many of them were burnt some buryed alive some secretly drowned many of their Names are mentioned in the Acts and Monuments but little of the circumstances of their Tryal and Execution being mentioned I have omitted them for brevities sake Sufferers in France for bearing the like Witness to the Gospel Dennis Renix Martyr Denis Renix at Melde in the year 1558. Was burnt for testifying against the Mass he was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the Words of Christ He that denyeth me before men him wiâ—â— I also deny before my Father he was burnt in a slow Fire and did abide much Torments Note upon a complaint made to the Council called Le Chamber Ardante that the Judges suffered Hereticks to have their Tongues Immediately thereupon a Decree was made that all which were to be burned unless they recanted at the fire should have their Tongues cut off which Law afterwards was diligently observed Stephen Polliard Martyr Stephen Polliard coming out of Normandy in the year 1546. where he was born unto Meux tarried there not long but he was compelled to flee and went to a Town called Fera where he was apprehended and brought to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark Prison in which Prison he was kept in Bonds and Fetters a long time where he saw almost no Light at length being called for before the Senate and his sentence given to have his Tongue cut out and to be burnt alive his Satchell of Books hanging about his neck O Lord said he is the World in blindness and darkness still for he thought being in Prison so long that the World had been altered from its old darkness to better knowledge at last with his Books about his neck he was burnt to death Florent Venote Martyr Florent Venote remained a Prisoner in Paris four years during which time he was put to divers Torments one kind of Torment was he was put in a narrow place so straight that he could neither stand nor lie which they called the Hose or Boots because it was strait below and wide above in this he remained seven weeks where the Tormentors affirm that no Thief or Murtherer could ever endure 15 days but were in danger of Life or Madness and at last on the 9th of the Moneth called July he was burnt to death with divers other Martyrs who were burnt as a Spectacle at the Kings coming into Paris The next that suffered was a poor Taylor in Paris who for working upon Holy-days so called and denying to observe them A poor Taylor in Paris Martyred was clapt in Prison the King hearing of it sent for him before him and some of his Peeres being before the King he answered with great boldness wit and memory defending the cause of Christ neither flattering their Persons nor fearing their threats which struck the King in a great damp in museing in his mind which the Bishops seeing committed the poor Taylor again to the hands of the Officer saying he was a stubborn Fellow and fitter to be punisht then to be marvelled at within few days after he was condemned to be burnt alive The next year two men for friendly admonishing a certain Priest which in his Sermon had abused the Name of God were both burned another young man of the Age of eighteen years for rebuking a man in Paris for Swearing being suspected to be a Lutheran was apprehended and brought before the Council at Paris who committed him to Prison where he was so cruelly Racked and Tormented that one of the Persecutors seeing it could not but turn his back and weep when he was brought and put in the Fire he was pluckt up again upon the Gibbet and asked whether he would turn to whom he said that he was in his way towards God and therefore desired them to let him go John Joyer and his Servant being a young man in the year 1552. coming from Geneva to their Country with certain Books John Joyer and his Servant and his Servant Martyrs were apprehended by the way and had to Tholouse where the Master was first condemned the Servant being young was not so prompt to answer but directed them to his Master to answer them when they were brought to the Stake the young man first going up began to weep the Master fearing lest he should recant ran to him and he was comforted as they were in the Fire the Master standing upright to the Stake shifted the Fire from him to his Servant being more carfull for him then for himself and when he saw him dead he bowed down himself in the flame and so expired Mathias Dimonetus Merchant at Lyons in the year 1553. having been a man of a Vicious and detestable life Mathias Dimonetus Martyr was notwithstanding through the Grace of God brought to the knowledge and Savour of his Truth for a Testimony to which he was soon after Imprisoned being in Prison he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own Flesh but especially with the temptation
laughed and so departed About this time about thirty Men and Women were taken at a Religious Assembly in Bow-yard in Cheapside and were Committed to Prison their Preacher one Rose was had before the Bishop of VVinchester S. Gardner and by him Committed to the Tower Cranmer Ridley and Latimer apprehended Shortly after Cranmer Ridley and Latimer three Bishops were sent to the Tower and from thence Conveyed to Oxford there to Dispute with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion but especially of the Eucharist the Oxford men were Cole Chadsey Pye Harpsfield Smith and Weston Prolocutor the Cambridge men were Young Seaton Watson Fecknam Atkinson and Sedgwick the matter was so carried by these twelve men that it went against the Prisoners and after the Disputation was ended the Prisoners were brought again upon the Stage and demanded whether they would persist in their Opinion or recant They affirming they would persist they were all three adjudged Hereticks and Condemned to the Fire but their Execution was not till a year or two after John Rogers Martyr In the mean time we have an account of John Rogers who was the first Martyr in this Queens time who was burnt in London after a long and fore suffering by Imprisonment Soon after him was burnt Lawrence Saunders Lawrence Saunders Martyr who was by order kept straitly in Prison and none suffered to speak with him not so much as his Wife suffered to visit him in his Examination the Chancellor threatning him that he should not live many dayes Saunders said Welcom shall the Will of God be either Life or Death for I have learned to die but I Exhort you to beware of shedding Innocent blood Truly it will Cry As the Officers were leading him away from his Examination he exhorted the People to Repentance warning them to defie Anti-christ Sin Death and the Devil that they might receive blessing and favour from the Lord being Condemned he was carried down to Coventry to be burnt where he was put into the common Goal where he slept little but spent the Night in Prayer and instructing others and the next day was burnt during the time of his Imprisonment he wrote several good Epistles to comfort and strengthen such as were under the like Suffering with him I shall only insert the Substance of one to his Wife by which may be perceived the seriousness and Zeal that was stirred up in him against his Adversaries forbidding his Wife to seek any way for his delivery Lawrence Saunders his Letter to his Wife Grace Mercy and Peace in Christ our Lord entirely beloved Wife even as unto mine own Soul and Body so do I daily in my Prayer wish unto you daily remembring you And I do not doubt dear Wife but that both I and you as we be written in the Book of Life so we shall together enjoy the same Everlastingly through the Grace and Mercy of God our dear Father in his Son Christ and for this present life letâ— us wholy appoint our selves to the Will of our God to glorifie him either by Life or by Death the Lord make us worthy to Honour him either way as pleaseth him I am cheerful I thank God in Christ in whom and through whom I know I shall be able to fight a good fight and finish a good Course and then receive the Crown which is laid up in Store for me and all the true Souldiers of Christ wherefore Wife let us in the Name of our God fight to overcome the Flesh the Devil and the World what Weapons are used in this fight look in the sixth Chap. of the Ephesians and pray c. I would that you make no suit for me in any wise thank you know whom for her most sweet and comfortable putting me in remembrance of my Journey whither I am passing I have too few such Friends to further me in that Journey which is indeed the greatest friendship the blessing of God be with you all Amen A Prisoner in the Lord Lawrence Saunders John Hooper and Rowland Taylor Martyr Shortly after were burnt for Religion John Hooper and one Rowland Taylor the one at Gloucester and the other at Hadley The time of Rowland Taylor 's Execution drawing nigh his Wife and Son coming to see him and one John Hâ—â—â— that had been his Servant after he had supt he turned to his Son saying Thomas my dear Son God Almighty bless thee see that thou fear God always and flee from Sin and wicked living be vertuous and apply thy self to thy Book and in any wise see thou be obedient to thy Mother love her serve her be ruled by her in thy Youth and follow her good Counsel in all things Beware of Lewd Company of Young men that fear not God but follow their lewd lusts flee from Whoredom and hate all filthy living and when thy Mother is old forsake her not but provide for her to thy power and see that she lack nothing then will God bless thee and give thee long Life upon Earth and Prosperity To his Wife he said my dear Wife continue stedfast in the fear and Love of God keep your self undefiled from Poposh Idolatries and Superstitions I have been unto you a faithful Yoke-fellow and so have you been to me for which I doubt not dear Wife but God will reward you Now the time is come that I shall be taken from you The Lord gave you unto me and the Lord will take me from you Blessed be the Name of the Lord I believe they are blessed which die in the Lord The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom then shall I fear God is he that justifieth who is he that can condemn In thee O Lord I have trusted let we never be confounded On the next day by two of the Clock in the Morning he was taken out of the Compter by Officers and had to Chelmsford and there was he delivered to the Sheriff of Suffolk who was commanded to see him burnt The suffering of Hailes About this time One St. James Hailes on of the Justices of the Common-Pleas at an Assizes in Kent giving charge upon the Statutes of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth in derogation of the primacy of Rome when he was before the Chancellor in Westminster Hall being there among other Judges to take his Oath the Chancellor said Chancellor I am informed you have Indicted certain Priests in Kent for saying Mass Hailes I Indicted none but certain Indictments of that Nature were brought before me at the Assizes in Kent and I did according to Law therein and according to Conscience and if it were to do again I could do no less then I did Chancellor Your Conscience is known well enough Hailes You may do well to search your own Conscience for mine is better known to my self then to you This and other talk at that time so displeased the Bishop that not many dayes after this discourse in
THE Spirit of the Martyrs REVIVED In a Brief COMPENDIOUS COLLECTION Of the Most Remarkable PASSAGES and Living Testimonies OF THE True Church Seed of God AND FAITHFUL MARTYRS In All AGES Contained in several Ecclesiastical Histories Chronological Accounts of the Succession of the TRUE CHURCH from the Creation the Times of the Fathers Patriarchs Prophets CHRIST and the Apostles Call to Remembrance what Acts our Fathers did in their time so shall ye receive great Honour and an everlasting Name 1 Mac. 2.51 Their Seed shall remain forever and their Glory shall not be blotted out but their Name liveth forevermore the People will tell of their Wisdom Eccles 44.13 14 15. Thy Testimonies are my Delight and Councellor Psal 1 19. Go write it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for the time to come TO THE READER Reader I Have hear Collected and brought together that which hath been scattered in divers great Vollums writ by several Authors judging these my Labours may prove more profitable to such who have a desire to be informed in these things those great Books being too Voluminous and costly for the generality to read or buy I have therefore for the sake of such who have but little leisure and cannot read much brought the History of these things into a nearer compass that so the meanest capacity may easily comprehend the Lords dealings with the Sons of men in all Generations and my chief aim in this work is for the good and information of all People that they may see how the Lord preserved his Church in all times and what great things he hath done for them who led the Ancient Fathers Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles by his mighty Power in which they served and worshipped him whereby they left a sweet Savour behind them as the Reader may see at large in the ensuing Treatise which containeth a Cloud of Witnesses to the Lords Work and Power And though these Testimonies may be slighted and dis-esteemed by the sensual wisdom which is from below yet I know it will be acceptable and a confirming and strengthening to the Faith of some who are Innocent and Upright to the Lord and have a delight in reading and meditating upon his Wayes and of his tender dealings with his Church and People who in all Ages preserved his little Remnant whom he raised up as righteous Branches to bring forth Fruits of Holiness in the middest of a perverse Generation And on the other hand the Reader many see in this ensuing Tract Satan's cruelty the great Enemy to mans good who hath in all Ages used all his Power to stop the increase and growth of this holy Seed by Persecuting Murdering and Destroying their Bodies and using his utmost indeavours by Cruelties to stop the least good Inclination that might at any time stir in any and this hath been the work of the Evil one ever since he got footing in mens hearts he hath alwayes sought to extinguish the Work of God and hath deceived Nations and all the World wondered after the Beast and John in his time saw a Terrible Day was to come on the Inhabitants of the Earth for the Devil was come down having great Wrath and when the Dragon saw that he was cast into the Earth he Persecuted the Woman which brought forth the Man Child the Woman fled into the Wilderness for a time and times and half a time and the Earth helped the Woman and the Earth opened her Mouth and swollowed up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth and the Dragon was Wrath with the Woman and went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed which kept the Commandments of God and have the Testimonies of Jesus Christ but they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and the Lord still preserv'd a Remnant that bow'd not their knees to Baal And the Lord said David shall never want'a man to sit upon the Thrown of the House of Israel and this hath been fulfilled in that the Lord hath from time to time raised up his Living Witnesses both to testifie to and suffer for his Name and Truth as will appear in this Book to which I refer the Reader for satisfaction and remain a Lover of all the Upright in Heart Ellis Hookes The Author to the Book it self GO forth O Book and let the World reveiw The Blood-shed by a Persecuting Crew Let Popish Bishops and the Prelates see The dying Martyrs Words revived be Who though their Bodies for the Truth were slain Their Living Testimonies still remain Their Souls under the Altar still do Cry How long O Lord most just that rules on High Ere thou avenge our Cause who for thy sake Foyfully imbrace the Fire and the Stake Fear not O Book the Frowns of Mortal Foes Who alwayes did the blessed Truth oppose Though Foes enough thou shalt be sure to find 'Mong Priests that have the Souls of many pin'd And scornful Prelates too who will not preach Nor suffer those that carefully would teach Gods Truth and give Christs Sheep their wholesom Food All such Restrainers make the sinful Brood And of that Rank not one of them is found That feeds the Flock in wholsome Pasture Ground The Food they give they Poyson give withall Which proveth worse then Wormwood mixt with Gall They suffer not the Milk of Gods Word pure To work upon the Souls of men a Cure Though sincere Milk the same is it Which wakes for God the Soul of each man sit It made the Martyrs witnessing the same Rejoyce when that they suffered in the Flame Part I. The year of the World Sheweth how God under the several Dispensations of himself to Mankind alwayes led and guided his Church and Seed by his Spirit and Power to Worship and Serve him and to bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness which was acceptable to him And how the Serpent and Evil-One hath from the beginning made it his work to deceive and lead man from God to Sin and work wickedness which alwayes brought the Wrath and Judgments of God upon Man AFter that God had Created Heaven and Earth Man at first created in Innocency and all things in them at last he created Man in his own Image that is to say pure holy and innocent giving him Power to Govern and Rule the Creation to God's Glory and God said It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an Help Meet for him and he caused a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam and he took one of his Ribs Woman made to be a help meet for man and closed up the Flesh thereof and of the Rib he made Woman and brought her unto the man and Adam said This is now Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh she shall be called Woman And the Lord placed them in the Garden of Eden there to live in a blessed
sin against the Child and ye would not hear They confess the evil they had done against Ioseph therefore behold his blood is required and they knew not that Joseph understood them for he speak unto them by an Interpreter and he turned himself about from them and wept and returned to them again and communed with them and took from them Simeon the chiefest of them who consented to sell him and cast him into Prison and now being dismissed they carried away their Corn and with it the Money that they had payed for it being conveyed into their Sacks by the secret appointment of Joseph they tell their Father Jacob all that happened unto them They tell their Father what happened and withal declared unto him the necessity that laid upon them of carrying there Younger Brother Benjamin into Aegypt perswading him by all means to let him go but Jacob their Father said unto them He was loath to part with Benjamin but being press with Famine let him go Me have ye bereaved of my Children Joseph is not and Simeon is not and you will take away Benjamin all these things are against me but Jacob pressed with Famine sent again his Sons and with them his Son Benjamin furnished with double Money and other Presents to Joseph to buy more Corn and they at their return were courteously entertained year of the world 2298 for when Joseph saw Benjamin with them he said to the Ruler of his House Bring these men home and slay and make ready for these men shall dine with me at Noon And the man did as Joseph bad Ioseph Entertains them and the man brought the men into Josephs House and the men were affraid because they were brought into Josephs House and they said Because of the Money that was returned in our Sacks the first time are we brought in that he may seek Occasion against us but the Steward comforted them saying Peace be unto you fear not your God and the God of your Fathers hath given you Treasure in your Sacks I had your Money and he brought Simeon out unto them And Joseph asked them of their welfare saying Is your Father well the old man of whom you spake is he yet alive and they answered Thy Servant our Father is in good health he is yet alive When he saw his Benjamin his Mothers Son he made haste for his Bowels did yern upon his Brother and he sought where to weep and he entered into his Chamber and wept there and after they had eaten he commanded the Steward of his House to fill their Sacks with Food and to put a silver Cup in the Sacks mouth of the youngest His Contrivance to stay his Brethren and when they were gone Joseph sent after them and caused them to be stopt for taking away his Cup which Crime they endeavoured to put of by shewing how truly they ment by bringing again the Money which they found in their Sacks when they came home offering themselves to die or to be his Bondslaves if any such thing could be proved against them but in the end the Cup being found with Benjamin and they brought back to Joseph they all yeilded themselves to him for his bondslaves which when he refused Judâ—h humbly supplicates Joseph saying He would have none but him with whom the Cup was found Judah then humbly offered himself to serve him in Benjamins stead saying When I come to thy Servant my Father and the Lad be not with us seeing that his life is bound up in the Lads life it shall come to pass that when he seeth that the Lad is not with us that he will die and thy Servants shall bring down the gray Hairs of thy Servant our Father with Sorrow to the Grave Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him and he cryed Cause every man to go out from me Joseph maker himself known 〈◊〉 his Brethren and there stood no man with them while Joseph made himself known unto his Brethren and he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the House of Pharaoh heard and Joseph said unto his Brethren I am Joseph doth my Father yet live And his Brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his Presence and Joseph said unto his Brethren Come neer to me I pray you and they came neer and he said I am Joseph your Brother whom ye sold into Egypt and seeing them troubled he comforted them by shewing how that act of theirs was by the Providence of God And he said unto them â—â—er he and commâ—â—ed chaâ—â— he sends for his Father Haste ye and go up to my Father and say unto him Thus saith thy son Joseph God hath made me Lord of all Eygpt Come down unto me tarry not and thou shalt dwell in the Land of Goshen and thou shalt be neer unto me thou and thy Children and thy Childrens Children and thy Flocks and thy Herds and all that thou hast and there will I nourish thee for there are yet five years of Famine and he fell upon his Brother Benjamin's Neck and Benjamin wept upon his Neck moreover he kissed all his Brethren and wept upon them so he sent his Brethren away and they told Jacob all the words of Joseph and when he saw the Waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him the Spirit of Jacob their Father revived When the news was bought to Jacob be revived and Israel said it is enough Joseph my Son is yet alive I will go and see him before I die and God spake unto Israel saying I am God the God of thy Father fear not to down into Egypt for I will there make of thee a great Nation I will go down with thee into Egypt and I will surely bring thee up again and Jacob was one hundred and thirty years old when he went down into Egypt Joseph letting Pharaoh know of the arrival of his Kindred in Egypt Joseph brings five of his Brethren and Father before Pharaoh brought his Father and five of his Brethren into his presence and having communed with him assigned them a fitting place in the Land of Goshen where they were provided of all necessaries by Joseph The Book of Genesis end with the death of Joseph containing the the Story of Two thousand three hundred sixty nine years space which Book that it was written by Moses himself is the opinion of the Talmudists in their Baba-bathra Lib. I. At this time lived Job year of the world 2369 a man of whom it is recorded that he was a man of a perfect and upright heart and one that feared God and eschewed evil and imbraced the Knowledge fo the true God The time when Job lived and all righteousness rich in Substance and the more noted for that neither the enjoyment of those riches corrupted nor the loss of them depraved him in his way for whenas first being spoiled of his Goods by Satan he was
Christian World as before is related And Pope Alexander the third being informed that divers persons in Lyons questioned his Soveraign Authority over the whole Church cursed Valdo and his Adherents commanding the Arch-Bishop to proceed against them by Ecclesiastical censures to their utter extirpation whereupon they were wholly chased out of Lyons Valdo and his followers were called Waldenses who afterwards spread themselves into divers Countries and Companies and for their Religion many of them were Burnt to death and fleeing into Germany and other Countries many of them were put to death Pope Alexander 〈◊〉 de a Decree that these Gospellers and all their Favourers should 〈◊〉 comunicated and that none should sell them any thing or buy 〈◊〉 â—hing of them 〈◊〉 the Waldenses notwithstanding all the Popes Curses continued publishing that the Pope was Antichrist the Mass an Abomination the Host an Idol and Purgatory a Fable whereupon Pope Innocent the third Anno 1198. seeing that the other remedies were not sufficient to suppress these Hereticks as he called them authorized certain Monks Inquisitors who by process should apprehend and deliver them to the secular power by a far shorter but much more cruel way then was used formerly for by this means they were by thousands delivered into the Magistrates hands and by them to the Executioners whereby in a few years all Christendom was moved with compassion to see so many burnt and hanged that did trust only in Christ for Salvation And from the year 1170. to the year 1470. many noble Witnesses were raised up in England and elsewhere to write against the Popes pride calling him Antichrist c. and to bear a publick Testimony in these dark times against the corruption and abominable Idolatry which was crept into the Church with the hazard of their Lives and Liberties amongst which were the Lollards of the increase of whom the Pope had often complained in Richard the second 's time but could not prevail and King Henry the fourth coming to the Crown by Usurpation to ingratiate himself with the Clergy made a Law that Lollards should be burnt at the discretion of the Bishops whereupon divers suffered Martyrdom as followeth William Sawtery of London in the year 1400. William Sawtery Suffered was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury VVilliam Sawtry desired his cause might be heard by the Parliament then sitting for the commodity of the whole Realm but the Bishops would not allow it but caused him to be brought before them who examined him upon eight Articles the last whereof was about Transubstantiation to which he answered that after the words of Consecration there remained very bread the same bread which it was before the words were spoken whereupon he was condemned by Robert Hall the Bishops Chancellour after which they got a warrant from the King directed to the Mayor and Sheriff of London for his burning William Thorp for the same cause was examined and imprisoned and after a long examination before the Arch-Bishop was committed to another foul bad Prison where he never was before of which place he writeth as followeth After I was brought to Prison when all men were gone forth from me the Prison doors fast being by my self I began to Think on God and to thank him for his goodness and I was then greatly comforted not only for that I was then delivered for a time from the presence of the Scorning and from the Menacing of my Enemies but much more I rejoyced in the Lord because that through his Grace he kept me so both among the flattering especially and among the menacing of mine Adversaries that without heaviness and anguish of my Conscience I passed away from them In his examination the Bishop told him that it was certified against him that he preached openly and boldly in Shrewsoury that Priests have no title to Tythes the substance of his Answer was There was one came to Prison to me and asked what I said of Tythes to whom I said ask the Priests and Clerks of the Town the man replyed our Prelates say they are cursed that withdraw their Tythes I said I wonder any Priest say men are cursed without the ground of Gods Word and put the man to enquire of the Priest of that Town where the sentence of cursing them that Tythed not was written in Gods Law and I said further in the old Law which ending not fully till Christ rose up from death to life God commanded Tythes to be given to the Levites but the Priests were to have but the tenth part of those Tythes given to the Levites now said I in the new Law neither Christ nor any of his Apostles took Tythes of the People nor commanded the People to pay Tythes but Christ taught the People to shew works of mercy and I said not of Tythes but of pure Almes of the People Christ and the Apostles lived when they were so busie in preaching the word to the People that they could not otherwise work to get their livelihood Then the Bishop said thou preachedst openly at Shrowsbury that it is not lawful to swear in any case Thorp said by the Authority of the Epistle of James and by witness of divers others The Martyr against swearing oâ— a Book I have preached openly in one place or other that it is not lawful for any to swear in any case by any Creature Then the Clerk asked him whether it were not lawful for a Subject at the command of his Prelate to kneel down and touch the holy Gospel book and kiss it saying so help me God and this holy Dome Thorp said Ye speak full largly what if a Prelate command his Subject to do an unlawful thing should he obey Arch-Bishop a Subject ought not to suppose that his Prelate will bid him do an unlawful thing Thorp But to our purpose related the Opinion of a master in Divinity in the matter of Swearing who said it was not lawful either to give or take any such charge upon a Book for every Book is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made of Therefore to sware upon a Book is to swear by Creatures and this swearing is ever unlawful this Sentence saith Thorp witnesseth Chrysostom plainly blaming them greatly that bring forth a book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any Body to sware whether they think a man to sware true or false Then the Arch-Bishop scorned me and threatened me with sharp and great Punishment except I left this Opinion of swearing Thorp said It is not only my opinion but the opinion of Christ James and Chrysostom and divers others The Clerk said Wilt thou tarry my Lord longer submit thee here meekly to the Ordinance of holy Church and lay thy hand upon a Book touching the holy Gospel of God promising not only with thy Mouth but also with thine Heart to stand to my Lords ordinance Thorp said have I not told you here how that I
heard a Master of Divinity say That in such case it is all one to touch a Book as to swear by a Book Bishop There is no Master of Divinity in England but if he hold this opinion before me I shall punish him as I shall do thee except thou sware as I shall charge thee Thorp Is not Chrysostom and ententive Doctor Bishop Yea. Thorp If Chrysostom proveth him worthy of great blame that bringeth forth a Book to sware upon it must needs follow that he is more to blame that sweareth on that Book The Clark said lay thine Hand upon the Book touching the holy Gospel of God and take thy charge Thorp I understand that the holy Gospel of God may not be touched with mans Hand It was mentioned before that he was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and it is recorded that he was by the said Bishop at last secretly put to death in the year 1407. John Purvey was imprisoned by Henry Chicheley Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 1421. John Purvey Mâ—rty he writ a Book against the Pope wherein he calls him Antichrist and that his censures was like the blast of Lucifer He the said Purvey complained that many before him who had impugned the Romish errorrs had been imprisoned killed and their Books burnt and that none were suffered to preach but such as would swear obedience to the Pope For which he was imprisoned and secretly made away by the aforesaid Bishop In the year 1413. Roger Acton and other Persecuted Roger Acton John Brown John Beverly were persecuted and put to death for their Testimony to the Truth in Giles's in the field together with divers others to the number of thirty six all which were hanged with Fire made under them These godly persons in these dangerous times used to meet in the night in Giles's in the Fields to pray and preach which the Bishops having notice of they informed the King as if they intended to rebel whereupon the King going with many armed men at Midnight took these thirty six and caused them to be executed the number that were assembled was greater but they fled amongst whom was Wil. Murle of Dunstable Maultster who being afterwards apprehended was drawn hanged and burnt within few daies after their Execution Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop was so stricken by God in his tongue that he could neither swallow any food nor speak for diverse daies before his death A Judgment on a Persecutor whereby he died in much misery And this was thought to come upon him for that he so bound the Word of the Lord that it should not be preached in his daies About this time there began to spring forth some light in Bohemia the Bohemians having received some of Wickliffs Books began first to taste and savour Christs Gospel till at length by the preaching of John Hus they encreased more and more in knowledge insomuch that Pope Alexander the fifth hearing thereof began to stir Coals and directed his Bull to the Arch-bishop of Swinco requiring him to look to the matter that no persons should maintain that Doctrine and not long after this John Hus and Jerome of Prague were both condemned and burnt at Constance by the Council held there and yet their blood did not satisfie their Adversaries but they took further counsel for the destruction of these People in the whole Nation for when fifty eight of the cheif Nobles of Bohemia in the Name of all the Commons Anno 1416. had sent letters from Prague to the Council complaining that John Hus their Paster an innocent and holy man and faithful Teacher of the Truth was unjustly condemned the Council instead of answering them wrote Letters to some violent Papists who were in Authority to assist their Legate iâ— oppressing the Hereticks and thereupoâ—â—â—ey persecuted them all manner of ways useing great violence towards them insomuch that they raised Tumults and one Zisca a noble man of that Country being sore grieved for the death of John Hus and Jerome of Prague minding to revenge the Injuries which the Council had done greatly to the dishonour of the Kingdom of Behemia upon their Complices and Adherents he gathered together a number of men of War subverted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples pulling down and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols driving away the Monks and Priests which he said were kept up in their Cloisters like Swine in their Styes to be fatted when this Zisca died in remembrance of him the Bohemians ingraved over his Tomb in the Greek Language this Epitaph John Zisca a Bohemian Enemy to all wicked and Covetuout Priests but with a godly Zeal Yet still as the Popish party prevailed they exercised all manner of Cruelty upon the poor Servants of Christ till they were utterly suppressed by force many of whom fled into the hilly Country neer to Silesia to inhabit where throwing off all superstitious practices they applyed themselves to the best form that they according to the best of their understandings judged to be nearest to the primitive Christians calling themselves Brethren and Sisters They were branded with the Name of Piccards a Name by which the Waldenses in Piccardy were called The purity that was amongst them much displeased the Devil for he raised a sudden and violent Tempest against them and an Edict was proclaimed threatning death to all that should administer to the Piccards whereupon they were brought into great extremity A second Edict came forth that none of them should be suffered either to live in Bohemia or Moravia hereupon they were dispersed amongst the Woods and Mountains dwelling in Caves where yet they were scarce safe so that they were forced to make no Fire nor dress any meat but in the night time least the smoak should betray them In the cold Winter nights sitting by the Fire they applyed themselves to the reading of the Bible and holy discourses when in the Snow they went abroad to provide them necessaries they went close together and lest their foot-steps should betray them the hindermost of them did draw after him a great bough to cover the prints which their feet had made But to return again to give a futher account of Sufferers in England John Claydon of London Curryer in the year 1415. being examined before Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop of Canturbury upon suspition of Heresie he confessed that for the same cause he had been formerly impâ—â—soned by Robert Braybrock Bishop of London in Conway Prison two years and at another time three years in the Fleet and also that he had several English books that he took delight to hear read to him one of the books was entituled The Lanthorn of Light in which books were contained 1 Speaking or Treating of the Text how the Enemy did sow the Tears there is thus said That wicked Antichrist the Pope hath sowed his Popish and corrupt Decrees which are of no authority strength nor value and that the Bishops Licence for a man
lost the true Faith once delivered to the Saints and instead of being Sufferers which was once the portion of the true Christians were now became Persecutors and Destroyers of such as would not stoop to their Idolatry and to every foolish invention that the Popes from time to time did set up and commanded to be observed It is recorded that in the time of Pope Julius partly with his Wars and partly with his Cursings in the space of seven years about 200000. Christians were destroyed so addicted to Bloodshed was this Pope and as is written surpassed many other Popes in Iniquity that Wicelius wrot thus of him Marti illum quam Christo deditiorem fuisse that is that he was more given to War and Batail then to Christ which made Philip Melancton write an Epigram in Latine upon him the sence of which in English is as followeth When Julius Pope against the French determin'd to make War As fame reports he gathered up great Troops of men from far And to the Bridge of Tyber then marching as he were Wood His holy Keys he took and cast them down into the Flood And afterward into his hand he took a naked Sword And shaking it braks forth into this fierce and warlike word This Sword of Paul quoth he shall now defend us from our Foe Since that this Key of Peter doth nothing avail thereto In the year 1512. there was a fight between Lewis the French King and this Pope Julius at Ravenna upon Easter day where the Pope was vanquished and had of his Army slain to the number of Sixteen thousand and the next year this Apostolical Warriour which had resigned his Keys to the River of Tybris before made an end both of his fighting and living About this time began the reign of Henry the eighth King of England in whose reign great alterations and turns of Religion were wrought by the mighty operation of Gods Hand not only in England but in Germany and other parts of Europe such as had not been seen although much groaned for many hundred years before nevertheless many suffered great Persecutions and Martyrdom in this Kings reign both in England and elsewhere and many good men were raised up to bear witness to the Truth yet some were of opinion that it was not wholy the Kings fault that so much Blood was spilt in his time for the Bishops were the Draco to make the bloody Laws and it was the Bishops that were earnest to see the Laws put in Execution the King oftentimes scarce knowing what was done and but hearing of a Woman that was the second time put upon the Rack exceedingly condemned the party that was the cause of it for using such extreme Cruelty John Brown passing from London in a Gravesend-Barge in which Barge there was a Priest and Brown sate hard by him whereupon the Priest said dost thou know who I am Thou sittest too neer me Brown said no sir I know not who you are I tell thee said he I am a Priest What sir said Brown are you a Parson or a Viccar or a Ladies Chaplain I am said he a Soul Priest and sing for a Soul I pray you sir said Brown where find you the Soul when you go to Mass I know not said the Priest and where do you leave it when you have done Mass I cannot tell said the Priest Brown replyed if you neither know where the Soul is when you begin nor where you leave it when you have done how then do you save a soul Go thy ways said the Priest thou art an Heretick and I will be even with thee And accordingly when they came to Land the Priest taking two others with him that were present in the Boat went and complained to Arch-Bishop Warham who sent a Warrant presently to apprehend Brown and being apprehended the Messenger bound his feet under his horse belly and carried him away to the Arch-Bishop neither his wife nor friends knowing whether he went nor what they would do with him The Bishop cast him into Prison where he lay about six weeks then was carried to Ashford where he dwelt and there set in the flocks all night his wife hearing of it came and set by him all night to whom he shewed how cruelly he had been handled by the Arch-bishop telling her he could not set his feet to the ground for they had burnt them to the bones to make him deny Christ which said he I durst not do lest my Lord Christ should deny me hereafter Therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring up my Children Virtuously and in the Fear of God And so the next day this Godly Martyr was burnt calling upon God and saying into thy hands I commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth At the fire the n = ‖ Chilton by name Bailiff bid cast in his Children also for said he they will spring out of his Ashes And in Queen Maries time his son Richard Brown was sentenced to be burnt being a Prisoner at Canterbury but that the Queen dying he escaped suffering About this time many suffered very greatly for spaking against Worshipping of Saints against Pilgrimage for having Scripture books in English and a book called Wickliss wicket One of which Sufferers by name Elizabeth Stamford who being brought and examined before Fitz James Bishop of London Anno 1517. confessed that she was taught by one Thomas Beale of Henly these words Eleaven years before viz. That Christ faâ—deth and nourisheth his Church with his own pretious Body that is the Bread of Life coming down from Heaven This is said she the Worthy Word that is Worthily received and joyned unto man to be in one body with him so it is that they be both one they may not be parted This is not received by chewing of Teeth but by hearing with Ears and understanding with the Soul and wisely working thereafter and as Paul saith I fear me amongst us Brethren that many of us be feeble and sick therefore my Counsel is Brethren to rise and watch that the great day of Doom come not suddenly upon us as the Thief doth upon the Merchant And she said further that the said Thomas Beale taught her that she should confess her sins to God and that the Popes Pardons and Indulgences were nothing worth John Stillman in the year 1518. was apprehended and brought before the Bishop of London and examined for speaking against Worshipping Praying and Offering unto Images and for saying Wicklifs Wicket was a good book and that when he was apprehended he hid the same in an old oak and did not bring it out to the Bishop he was sent to the Lollards Tower and being afterwards brought openly to the Consistory at Pauls it was further objected against him that he should say the Pope was Antichrist and not the true Successor of Peter or Christs Viccar on Earth and that his Pardons and Indulgences which he granted in the Sacrament
time but in the month called June following it was first proposed to them To put away their Ministers that were Strangers which they refusing to do it was then commanded of them in the Dukes name That they should banish from them all their Ministers that were Strangers and a New Proclamation was put out and Persecution began afresh and many of the said People were slain and many imprisoned and cruelly handled the Monks being very active in this Persecution in one place causing two Women to carry Faggots to the Fire where their Minister was burnt and to speak these words to him viz. Take this thou wicked Heretick in recompence of the Naughty Doctrine thou hast taught us to whom he said Ah! Good Women I have taught you well but you have learned ill Great was the Havock and Ruin they made upon these poor Peoples Estates and Bodies in this Persecution and not long after an Army was raised to destroy the Waldoys which they hearing their Ministers met with the cheif Rulers to advise what in such an Extremity they were best to do upon due consideration they concluded not to defend themselves by force of Armes but to flee to the Mountains and carry their goods with them others of their Ministers hearing of the resolution that they at Angrogne and Lucern had made thought it strange that they might not defend themselves against their Enemies violence in so just a cause knowing that it was the Pope and his Ministers who were the cause of their Troubles and some stood in their own defence and made great Slaughters upon their Enemies at times and when they persued their enemies they often retired to avoid shedding Blood meaning only to defend themselves and held their Adversaries so titely to it that they were at last brought to make a Peace upon Articles and conditions so that the Persecution was stopt and the Pride Malice and Rage of their Adversaries was abated Thus having given an Account in brief of the troubles and Persecutions sustained by the faithful Martyrs in Forreiâ— parts it remains to give a further Relation of such as suffered in this Nation of England in this Kings Reign After that the light of the Gospel began to Shine and encrease beyond Sea the Beams of it began to spread and grow more here in England and a great stir and alteration followed in the hearts of many so that coloured Hypocrisie and painted Holiness began to be spied more and more by such as in any measure tasted of the Truth and some there were that could distinguish Christ from Anti-christ amongst whom was one Simon Fish of Grayes-Inn who wrote a sharp Book against the Corruption of the Clergy Entituled The Supplication of Beggers which Book was wrot beyond Sea Anno 1525. he being fled thither for fear of Cardinal Woolsey who had taken distaste against him in this Book was shewed what a great Oppression the Priests and Clergy were to the Nation for that they had got into their hands more then a third part of the Realm besides their Tythes of all the enerease of Corn Hay c. The Book being read to the King after a pause he said If a man should pull down an old stone wall and begin at the lower part the upper part thereof might chance to fall on his head and took the Book and put it in his Desk and seemed to be pleased at it for he encouraged Simon Fish his Wife to send for her Husband to come before him but how much so ever he liked it he would make no show of it openly for that Book and others being thrown about London the Cardinal acquainted the King therewith and bid him beware of them and the Cardinal and Bishop of London consulted how they might stop the mischief that might acrew by that and other Books being so spread about whereupon they agreed that the Bishop of London should send forth a Proclamation to call in the New Testament Translated into English The Supplication of Beggers The Revelation of Anti-christ by Martin Luther and other Books in English This was one way they took by which they thought-to have suppressed the growth of those they accounted Hereticks but not thinking that sufficient obtained a Proclamation from the King to suppress the Sectaries Hereticks and Lollards and for abolishing divers of their Books in English the Bishops having that now they would have there was no dilligence wanting on their parts for the putting the same in execution whereupon ensued a grievous Persecution and Slaughter of the Faithfull Thomas Bilâ—ey Martyr The first that went to wrack was Thomas Bilney who after his Examination and Condemnation by Doctor Pells Chanâ—llor he was committed to the Lay Power viz. to the Sheriffs of the City of Norwich a day before his Execution some Friends being with him and comforting him that though he was to go through the Fire the Lord would refresh him in it At this he put his finger in the Candle as he used to do divers times saying I know the fire is hot and my body shall be wasted by it and it is a pain for the time but he would often reherse this Scripture for his comfort Fear not for I have redeemed thee and called thee by my name thou art mine own When thou goest through the water I will be with thee when thâ—s walkest in the Fire it shall not burn thee and the Flame shall not kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel Going to Execution he said The Marriner for a while meets with a troubled Sea and is tossed with the Waves but he is in hopes when he comes to the Haven he shall be at quiet I doubt not though I feel storms but by Gods Grace I shall attain to the Haven and being brought to the Stake he very Patiently endured the Fire till doath Richard Bayfield Martyr The next that suffered was Richard Bayfield who receiving the truth in a measure and reading the Testament in English and a book called The wicked Mamman c. He was cast into Prison and there sore whipped with a Gag in his mouth and then stocked and there continued in Prison three quarters of a year and then was set at Liberty but soon after was taken again and put in the Câ—le-house where he was tyed by the neck middle and legs standing upright by the walls this punishment was inflicted on him to make him confess who bought his books but he accused none but stood to his Religion and told them he would Dispute for his Faith at his Tryal he was accused of divers things but the chief were for bringing Books over from beyond Sea and spreading them here in England on the twentieth day of November 1532. being had into the Quire of Pauls Cathedral the Bishop of London with other Prelates being there ready to pass sentence on him and being delivered to the Sheriffs of London to carry him to
continued one and hath Sathan so prevailed but the sence of the Action reflicted so much upon his Conscience that it brake the mans heart so that in a short time after he died after he had endured twelve weeks imprisonment Sometime after his Wife was had in Examination before the Bishop what her Answers were at her Examination are not recorded but she was kept in Prison with her tender Infant till they both died the Child was sent out of the Prison but it was past remedy first being almost starved with cold and want of things necessary and the Mans Mother a woman of eighty years of Age being left in the House after their apprehension for lack of comfort there perished also About this time there were five persons famished in Canterbury Castle by the unmerciful Tyranny of the Papists as by the Coppy of this following Letter which the Prisoners threw out of the Castle Window my appear The Letter Be it known to all men that shall read or hear read these our Letters that we the poor Prisoners of the Castle of Canterbury for Gods Truth are kept and lye in cold Irons and our Keepers will not suffer any meat to be brought to us to comfort us and if any do bring any Bread Butter Cheese or other Food the Keeper will charge them to carry it back or else keep it for himself so that we have nothing thereof insomuch that there are four of us Prisoners for Gods truth famished already and thus is it his mind to famish us all and we think he is appointed thereunto of the Bishops and Priests and Justices so to famish us and not only us of the said Castle but also all other Prisoners in other Prisons for the like Cause to be also famished notwithstanding we write not these our Letters to that intent we might not aford to be famished for the Lord Jesus sake but for this cause and intent that they having no Law so to famish us in Prison should not do it privily but that the Murderers hearts should be openly known to all the World that all men may know of what Church they are and who is their Father Out of the Castle of Canterbury About this time there was a consultation held at Cambridge by the Clergy concerning Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius The digging up and burning Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius's Bones two persons dead three or four year before and after much debating they agreed altogether in this determination that they were Sectaries and famous Hereticks and a supplication should be made to the Lords Commissioners in the Name of the whole University that their dead Carcases might forthwith be digged up for that it was against the rule of of holy Canons that their Bodies should be buried in Christian burial And Cardinal Poole sent a Commission to make inquest upon Heresie now after the aforesaid Condemnation was past and the said Commission was read from the Cardinal Doctor Pern desired process might be sent out for Bucer and Phagius to appear or any other that would take upon them to plead their Cause to which the Commissioners condecended and the next day process went out to cite the Offenders which Citation was fixed up in several publick places in Cambridge and soon after Witnesses were sworn and examined against Martin Bucer and Phagius and a time was set for a Jury to bring in their Verdict and in the mean time a Commandment was given forth by the Commissioners for bringing in all Heretical Books and a day there was appointed for Judgment to be given against these Hereticks but when the day came and that neither Bucer nor Phagius would appear at their call in the Court nor that any put forth himself to defend them yet the curteous Commissioners would not proceed to Judgment which for their contumacy in absenting themselves they might have done considering how that day was peremtory but to shew their mercy and equity had rather shew some favour then to take the extent of the Law Whereupon Vincent published the second Process and stuck it up in publick places as before putting off the day of Judgment from the eighteenth to the twenty sixth day of the same Moneth which day being come the Mayor and Burgesses were warned to be present when the Sentence was published which was done by Doctor Scot Bishop of Chester in which Sentence he condemned Bucer and Phagius of Heresie after the Sentence the Bishop commanded their Bodies to be digged out of their Graves and being degraded from holy Orders delivered them into the hands of the secular Power then the Cardinal was advertised how far they had proceeded and he was desired that the Writ De Heretico Comburendo might be sent to Smith Mayor of Cambridge else the business could not be finished in the mean time while the Writ was coming and order was made that the Books before commanded to be searcht for should be thrown into the Fire with them the Writ being come and the dead Bodies being taken up they were Guarded to the Market place a great train of People following them and there Chained to a Post Fire was set to them the Books were thrown in and burnt with them and thus ends this piece of Popish folly And because one University should not mock the other the like piece of folly was acted upon the dead Body of Peter Martyrs Wife at Oxford and honest grave and sober Woman while she lived and of poor People alway a great helper she died in the year 1552. The Cardinals Visitors coming to Oxford among other things had in Commission to take up this good Woman out of her Grave and to consume her Carcass with Fire Stephen Kemp William Hay William Walterer William Prowting William Lowick and Thomas Hudson were all burnt in Kent in the Month called January 1557. Five Persons burnt in Smithfield The next that suffered were these five persons following viz. Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thirtet Margaret Hide and Agnes Stanley who were Examined upon the general Articles before Bonner's Chancellor to which they particularly answered being thereunto required before Sentence and to declare whether they would recant and what they had to say why he should not pronounce the Sentence of Condemnation Thomas Loseby first answered saying God give me strength to stand against you and your Sentence and your Law which is a devouring Law for it devoureth the Flock of Christ and I perceive there is no way with me but Death except I would consent to your devouring Law and believe in that Idol the Mass Thomas Thirtel said If you make me an Heretick then you make Christ and his Apostles Hereticks for I am in the true Faith and I will stand in it for I know full well I shall have Eternal life therefore Henry Ramsey said Will you have me to go from the Truth that I am in Margaret Hide said You have no cause to give Sentence against me for I
Then Story sent for him again and calling him into the Garden before a Chaplain and two others who said The Book had both Treason and Heresie in it and asked Thomas Green What he said of it he said He knew no evil by it The Doctor in a chafe said He would hang him up by the hands with a Rope and cut out his Tongue and out off his Ears and called him Heretick and bid Cluney lay him fast in the Cole-House where he was kept alone without Company in a place caled the Salt-house having upon his Leg a Bolt and a Fetter and his hands manackled together with Irons Q. Mray An. 1558. and there continued ten dayes having nothing to lye on but bare Stones or a board Whilest he lay there in Prison two women being brought in he was carried to the Lollards Tower and put in the Stocks and there kept night and day more then a Moneth and none suffered to come to him or speak with him but the Keeper who brought him meat shortly after he was sent for before one Hussey who threatned him he should be whipped So Thomas thanked him and went away with his Keeper to the Lollards Tower again where he remained two or three dayes and then was brought to the Gray-Friers now called Christs-Hospital where he was whipt and delivered him to the Portor who put him into a stinking Dungeon after he had remained a Prisoner a Moneth Dr. Story came to him and calling for two Beadles and Whips to Whipt him and caused him to be stripped and to be Whipt with Rods the Doctor standing by commanded to give him one hundred stripes crying If I might have my will I would cut out his Tongue But upon the intreaty of some that stood by who had more pity then the Doctor he received not so many stripes and then after they had Whipt him they bid him go his wayes About his time one William Living and John Lithal suffered deeply in the Cause of the Gospel William Living being brought before Bonner's Chancellor where after short Examination he commanded Cluny to take him to the Cole-house and took from him his Purse Girdle and New-Testament and put him in the Stocks saying Put in both your Legs and your Hands also and except you pay your Fine I will put a Collar about your Neck What is the Fine said William Forty Shillings said the Keeper I am never able to pay it said VVilliam A Kinswoman seeing him in this condition gave the Keeper forty pence to take him out of the Stocks he took her Money and let him out to eat his Supper and at seven of the clock he put him in the Stocksagain and so he remained till two of the clock the next day The Thursday following in the afternoon he was had to the Lollards Tower and there put in the Stocks having the favour to put his Legs in the same holes that John Philpots leg had been in and so lay all night no body coming to him either with meat or drink and shortly after two men were surety for him and paid his Fees and he was discharged When John Lithal was Examined before the Chancellor who asked him What Church he was of and why he came not to his Parish Church Lithal answered I am of the Church of Christ the Fountain of all goodness He was used with great extreamity and cruelly by Cluny the Keeper at Lollards Tower who hanged him in a great pair of Stocks where he lay three dayes and nights till he was so lame that he could not stir nor move In the time of his great suffering several of his Neighbours Importuned the Chancellor for his deliverance whereupon the Chancellor sent for him and spake to him to this effect will you that your Neighbours enter into Bonds for you or not Lithel By my mind they shall not wherefore I defire you that you would not bind me Q. Mary An. 1558 but let me serve God with my Conscience freely for it is written they that lead into Captivity shall go into Captivity and they that strike with a Sword shall perish with the Sword I desire you said he that be my Neighbours that you would not enter into bond for me it goeth against my Conscience that you should Chancellor I will not bind you to do any thing against your Conscience Then the Bond was made but he would not seal it wherefore the Chancellor said its pity thou hast so much favour shewed thee for these honest mens sake I will discharge thee The Examination of Elizabeth Younge before M. Hussey He Examined her of many things First Where she was born and who was her Father and Mother Elizabeth Younge Sir all this is but vain talk and very superfluous I think you have not put me in Prison to know who was my Father and Mother but I pray you go to the matter that I came hither for Hussey Wherefore wentest thou out of the Realm Elizabeth To keep my Conscience clear After some other discourse he asked her What age she was of she replyed forty and upwards Hussey Twenty of those years thou wentest to Mass Elizabeth Yea and Twenty more I may and yet come home as wise as I was at first for I understand it not Hussey Why wilt not thou go to Mass Elizabeth My Conscience will nor suffer me for I had rather all the World should accuse me then my own Conscience Hussey But why wilt not thou swear upon the Evangelist before a Judge Elizabeth Because I know not what a book Oath is Hussey Woman thou art come from beyond Sea and hast brought books with thee of Heresie and Treason and thou must confess to us who translated them and printed them and who sent them over else thou shalt be racked Inch-meal thou trayterous Whore and Heretick but thou shalt swear before a Judge before thou go yea and thou shalt be made to confess how many Books thou haft sold and to whom Elizabeth I understand not what an Oath is and therefore will take no such thing upon me Then said Docter Martin to her who had formerly delivered her being brought before him at Westminster I delivered thee said he and thy Husband and I thought thou wouldest have done otherwise then now thou doest for if thou hadest been before any Bishop in England and said the words thou didest before me thou hadst fryed a faggot and though thou didst not burn then thou art like to burn or hang now Elizabeth Q. Mary An. 1558. Sir I promised you then that I would never be fed with an unknown Tongue and no more will I yet Dr. Martin Thou shalt be fed with that which shall be smally to thine ease Elizabeth Do what God shall suffer you to do for you shall do no more Martin charged the Goalers Wife to give her one day bread and another day water Elizabeth If you take away my meat I hope God will take away my hunger and
then she was shut up under two Locks in the Clink as she was before At another Examination Doctor Martin said Wilt not thou confess and keep thee from the Rack Elizabeth Sir I can confess no more do with my Carkass what you will At another time Doctor Cook said let her head be trussed in a small Line and make her to confess Then said the Bishop Why wilt not thou swear before a Judge that was the right trade of the Anabaptists Then said she I will not swear that this hand is mine my Lord Christ saith that whatsoever is more then Yea Yea and Nay Nay it cometh of Evil. Roger Cholmly being by said It was a man in Womans Cloathes Think you so said Bonner Swear her upon a Book seeing it is but a Question Then Doctor Cook brought her a Book and commanded her to lay her hand thereon Elizabeth but she refused saying I will not swear Docter Cook said swear before us whether thou be a man or a Woman Elizabeth If you will not believe me send for Women into a secret place and I will be tryed Cholmly Thou art an Ill-favoured whore Then said Bonner How believest thou in the Sacrament of the Altar and after some other Questions they cryed Away with her And speaking of Spirit and Faith Cholmly said What nothing but Spirit and Faith Where Then was she carried into the Cole-house and searched for Books and put into the Stock-house and a Knife girdle and Apron taken from her and there both her hands were Manacled in one Iron for several dayes and afterward she was removed into the Lollards Tower and there she remained with both her feet in the Stocks and Irons till the next time of her Examination But shortly upon the request of two Women who sought for her Liberty and became surety for her appearance before the Bishop of London she was set at Liberty In the Town of Bodfeild in the County of Suffolk was an ancient Woman one Elizabeth Lawson apprehended by the Constable of the Town as an Heretick because she would not go to hear Mass for which they laid her in a Dungeon Q. Mary An. 1558. and after that she was carried to Norwich and from thence to Bury-Goal where at last she was condemned to be burnt After Sentence was past Sir John Sylliard the high Sheriff took her home to his house where she was hardly kept and wrapt in Irons till at length when by no means they could move her to Recant she was sent to Prison again with shameful revilings Thus she continued in Prison the space of two years and three quarters in the mean time there was burnt her Son and many others where by she would often say Lord what is the cause that I may not come to thee with thy Children well thy blessed will be done and not mine Through the death of Queen Mary she was preserved although she had been before condemned to die It is also very remarkable to read and consider the many preservations from time to time that these People persecuted so hotly received through the Lords goodness in their Meetings in the City of London for they met is private places sometimes one hundred sometimes two hundred about the latter end of Queen Mary they greatly encreased and one remarkable Passage of their preservation was as followeth one Cuthbert Simpson one of their Church usually carrying a little Book in his Pocket of the Names of such as were Members of the Congregation the which had been found about him when he was apprehended had not Rough their Minister been warned in a Dream of the danger thereof and thereupon sent to Cuthbert Simpson to leave the Book out of his Pocket which he did otherwise all their Names had been discovered At this time the Popish Party so much abhor'd these despised Peoples Preaching or strengthning one another at the time of their Suffering and Martyrdom that the Queen put forth a Proclamation which was Proclaimed at Newgate and at the Stake where seven were condemned to suffer strictly for bidding any to pray or speak to them or any wayes to comfort them but not withstanding this Proclamation one Bentham one of their Ministers in his Christian Zeal and Charity opened his Mouth and aloud said I know they are the People of God and therefore cannot chose but wish well to them and say God strengthen them which words many People standing by confirmed saying Amen Amen so that then so many appeared to speak well of them that the Officers knew not what to say nor who to Accuse The said Bentham was another time marvelously preserved for as he was passing the Streets he was taken hold on to be a Quest man upon the death of a man found drowned being loath to meddle he was very earnest with the man to be excused alledging he had little experience in such a matter and desired them to take another that might have more Skill but finding what he had said would not satisfie them to excuse him he further alledged that he was a Schollar of Oxford and thereby priviledged from being of any Inquest the Coroner demanded the sight of his priviledge he said if he would give him leave he would fetch it then said the Coroner the Queen must be served withour delay Q. Mray An. 1558 and constrained him to stay and hear the matter when the Book was offered him to swear upon Bentham opening the Book and seeing it a Popish Primmer refused to swear thereupon speaking against the superstition therein contained what said the Coroner I think we shall have an Heretick among us and after further reasoning committed him to an Officer till further examination but mark what hapned for while these matters about Heresie were in debate suddainly came the Coroner of the Admiralty and discharged the first Inquest saying it belonged to his Officer to choose a Jury and Sit there by reason of which Bantham escaped their hands and had no more said to him The Suffering and Preservation of Richard Bartie of Lincolnshire and Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk his Wife In the Reign of Queen Mary Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester surmising the Dutchess of Suffolk to be one of his Antient Enemies because he knew he had deserved no better of her began to practice some revenge upon her for former grudges and thereupon subpaened her Husband Richard Bartie to appear before him at his House at Mary-Overs when he came before him after much discourse at last he said If I may ask the question of my Lady your Wife is she as ready now to set up the Mass as she was lately to pull it down Doth she think her Lambs now safe enough who said to me when I vailed my Bonnet to her out of my Chamber Window in the Tower that it was merry with the Lambs now the Wolf were shut up Richard Bartie after he had heard him endeavoured to moderate things saying that though them words seemed at
presently for I had often thought of the Prophesie that in the Gospel our Swords should be turned into Plow-shares and our Spears into Pruning-hooks I thought it my duty to plead for Peace and Charity and Forgiveness and Permissions mutual Although we must contend earnestly for the Faith yet this contention must be with Arms sit for the Christian Warfare the Sword of the Spirit the Shield of Faith c. but not with other Arms for a Church-man must not be a Striker for the Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual I being most of all troubled that men should be persecuted and afflicted for disagreeing in such opinions which they cannot with sufficient grounds obtrude upon others necessarily because they cannot propound them infallibly Considerations are to be had to the Persons of men and to the Laws of Charity more then to the triumphing in any Opinion c. If the Persons be Christians in their life and Christians in their profession if they acknowledge the Eternal Son of God for their Master and the Lord and live in all relations as becomes Persons making such professions why then should I hate such Persons whom God loves and who love God who are pertakers of Christ and Christ hath a Title to them who dwell in Christ and Christ in them because their understandings have not been brought up like mine have not had the same Masters they have not met with the same Books have not the same Opinions that I have and do not determine their School Questions to the same sence of my Sect or Interest And whatsoever is against the Foundation of Faith or contrary to good Life or destructive to humane society is out of the limits of my Question and doth not pretend to compliance or toleration The fault I find and seek to remedy is That men are so dogmatical and resolute in their Opinions and impatient of others disagreeing in those things wherein is no sufficient means of Union and Determination but that men should let Opinions and Problems not be obtruded as Axioms nor Questions in the vast collection of the Systeme of divinity be adopted into the Family of Faith It s hard to say that he who would not have men put to death or punished corporally for such things for which no human Authority is sufficient for Cognizance or Determination or competent for infliction that he perfwades to an indifferency when he refers to another Judicatory which is competent sufficient infallible just and highly severe for God alone must be Judge of these matters who alone is Master of our Souls and hath the Dominion over humane understanding God alone is Judge of erring Persons I earnestly contend that another mans Opinion shall be no Rule to mine and that my Opinion shall be no Snare and Prejudice to my self that men use one another so charitably that no error or violence tempt men to Hypocrisie this very thing being one of the Arguments I used to perswade Permissions lest Compulsion introduce Hypocrisie and make Sincerity troublesom c. From the Dictates of holy Scriptures it is observable that this with its appendant degrees I mean restraint of Prophesying imposing upon other mens understandings being Masters of their Consciences and lording it over their Faith came in with the retinue and train of Antichrist as other abuses and corruptions of the Church did by reason of the iniquity of the times and the cooling of the first heats of Christianity and the increase of interest and the abatements of Christian simplicity when the Churches fortune grew better and her Sons grew worse and some of her Fathers worst of all For in the first three hundred Years there was no sign of persecuting any man for his Opinion though at that time there were very horrid Opinions commenced and they who used all means Christian and Spiritual for their disimprovement and conviction thought not of using corporal force and therefore I do not only urge their not doing it as an Argument of the unlawfulness of such proceeding but their defying it and speaking against such practises as unreasonable and destructive to Christianity for so Tertullina is express Humani juris naturalis potestatis uni cuique quod putaverit colere sed nec religionis est cogere religionem quae suscipi debet sponte non vi it s of humane right and natural power for every one to worship what he thinks but neither is it the part of Religion to compel Religion which ought to be undertaken of its own accord The same is the Doctrine of Cyprian Lactantius Hillary Minutius Faelix Sulpitius Severus Chrisostom Hierom Austin Damaseen Theophilact Socrates Scholasticus and Bernard All wise Princes till they were over-born with Faction and solicited by peevish persons gave Toleration to differing Sects But at first there were some heretical persons that were so impatient they were the men that first intreated the Emperor to persecute the Catholicks but till four hundred years after Christ no Catholick persons or very few did provoke the secular Arm or implore its aid against the Hereticks save only that Arrius behaved himself so seditiously and tumultuarily that the Nicene Fathers procured a temporary Decree for his relegation but it was soon taken off and God left to be his Judge But as the Ages grew worse so men grew more cruel and unchristian and in the Greek Church Atticus and Nestorius of Constantinople Theodocius of Synoda and some few others who had forgotten the mercies of their great master and their own duty grew implacable and furious and impatient of contradiction It was a bold and arrogant Speech which Nestorius made in his Sermon before Theodotius the younger Damihi O Emperator terram ab Haereticis repurgatam ego tibi vicissim coelum dabo disperde mecum Haereticos ego tecum disperdam Persas which is in English O Emperor give to me the Land purged from Hereticks and I instead thereof will give thee heaven destroy me the Hereticks and I will destroy with thee the Persians It was as groundless as unwarrantable as it was bloody and inhumane And we see the contrary events prove truer for Theodosius and Valentinian were prosperous Princes and have the reputation of great piety but they were so far from doing what Nestorius had suggested that they restrained him from his violence and immanity and Theodosius did highly commend B. Proclus for his sweetness of deportment towards erring persons far above the cruelty of his Predecessor Atticus And the experience which Christendom hath had in this last Age is Argument enough That Tole ration of differing Opinions is so far from disturbing the publick peace or destroying the Interest of Princes and Commonwealths that it doth advantage the Publick it secures the Peace because there is not so much as the Pretence of Religion left to such persons to contend for it being already indulged to them When France fought against the Hugonots the spilling of their own