found the Saxons had the Land possest And turn'd out all the Christian Divines So done they did in the usurp'd confines The Heptarchy erect These Kings did smother All peace fell out and warr'd with one another Till disempowr'd they could not well defend Themselves much less with enemies contend King Lncius was the first that did receive The Gospel and in Jesus Christ believe From which time as 't in Chronicles appears It staid in Britain full four hundred years One hundred fourty and three years Gods word Grew cold but Austins comming it restor'd Some English children being brought to Rome There to be sold Gregory chanc'd to come Into the market-place when his fix'd sight Saw in their lovely cheeks pure red and white Contend for Mastership he much admir'd At their so sweet complexions and enquir'd What country they were of then being told That they were English heathens to be sold For slaves here 's choice enough if any wat 's Said he 't is pity such inhabitants So fair and so Angelical should dwell As subjects to the story Prince of hell Inform'd their Province Deira was said he Could wish them Manu-miss'd De ira Dei And further being given to understand That one nam'd Alle rul'd the British land There there saith he ought Praises to be given And Allelujab's to the King of heaven He also had a great desire to go To England and there preach but Rome said no. Pelagius dy'd he in his room assign'd Romes Bishop calling his intent to minde Austin and forty more Divines he sent To undertake this work they land in Kent At Thanets fertile Isle King Ethelbert In Canterbury City they convert And did baptize by whose example many Dayly came in the King enforc'd not any But much respected and affected those Who willingly with Christ would make a close Austin sends Greg'ry word how God did bless And crown their labours with desir'd success The joyful Bishop sendeth more Divines Over for to effect those great designs Were now on foot a letter of advise He writes to Austin not to be too wise In his own eyes not be puft up at all By those great miracles which did befall The English Church For why for this intent God onely us'd him as an instrument Ascribe all Austin to God's pow'r Divine His be the glory and the praise not thine And when thy heart t'ebulluate begins O think upon thy God-offending sins And that will humble thee all Gods elect Have of themselves no power to effect A miracle like this and yet heav'ns book Contains their names O do not do not look So much on thine own works be this thy strife To have thy name writ in the book of life What ever miracle the Lord hath brought To pass by thee know this it was not wrought For thy sake no 't was wrought for the salvation Of the seduc'd misguided English nation If I might be so worthy to advise The Temples built for heath'nish sacrifice I would not have demolish'd but th' abuse Remov'd converted to another use God go along with you and lest you stumble Through pride and glory keep you alwayes humble c. He an Epistle also did direct Unto the King which was to this effect He first prais'd God then did the King commend Wishing he might prove constant to the end In his professed faith and to his power Convert his Subjects to a Saviour Who holds forth life to those that will receive It freely and in 's promises believe And lastly he intreats his gifts may finde Acceptance coming from a willing minde Miletus by his preaching did convert Th' east Angles and the then-King Sigebert Who with his Unckle Ethelbert did found St. Paul his Church and built it from the ground Austin a Synod gath'red in this nation Of Bishops to consult of Reformation But nothing's done therein King Ethelbert Having a mighty force went to evert The Chestrian City where the Monks of Bangor Assembling pray'd God to divert his anger From their friends heads and turn it on their foes To shield the English from approaching woes When the King saw them so intent in pray'r Demand he did what sort of men they were And being credibly inform'd they pray'd For those that were his enemies he said Although unarm'd they fight against us do And with their prayers persecute us too My hearts fall bluntly on them upon pain Of our displeasure let them all be slain Eleven hundred Monks had their blood spill'd Which God reveng'd the bloody Tyrant's kill'd In fight by Christian Edwin who obtain'd The crown and the Christ-builded faith maintain'd The Idols and the Altars he destroy'd Making all ancient ceremonies voyd He caused brazen dishes to be tide By ev'ry fountain in the High-wayes side That so each passenger without controul Might be refreshed with a liberal boul He alwayes carried himself propitious Unto the good but rig'rous to the vitious So that a woman charg'd with gold might pass From Sea to Sea unquestion'd who she was At last by Penda and Cadwalla's might Subdu'd Josiah like he dy'd in fight His Christian Subjects felt the worst of woes Nay eruelst deaths by those insulting foes The Queen her daughter and Paulinus went To save their lives by water into Kent Oswald was crowned next whose pray'rs did gain A glorious Victory Cadwalla slain His love to piety his fervent zeal To spread the Gospel in his common-weal Was known to all From Scotland he procur'd Aidanus Bishop and the King inur'd To Scoth himself interpreted the words Aidanus preach'd unto his noble Lords And Subjects in their mother tongue more known To them then the exotique Scotish tone He to the poor was so compassionate That when on Easter-day at meat they sate And serv'd in silver he was told the poor Stood flocking thick and threefold at the door He caused them for to be serv'd in state With his own food taking a silver place And straight-way breaking it in pieces small Distribute it he did amongst them all Aidanus seeing this admir'd and got Him by the hand O may this never rot That to the poor so beneficial was Said he as Authors say it came to pass This Oswald also was a means to bring Kinigilsus of the West-Saxons King And Quicelinus King of Dorsetshire With many of their Subjects to the clear Knowledge of Christ under the Minist'ry Of Berinus famous for piety Thus Oswald having reigned nine years space Mercian Penda did his life uncase Oswic succeeded him Oswic as glorious A Prince as pious and no less Victorious He rais'd an army fought and overthrew A greater force and impious Penda slew And now the Bishops and the Ministers Sequester'd from the World and its affairs Preach'd freely to the people until they About the celebrating Easter-day Which bone amongst them Satan cast contended A Synod's call'd nor was the diff'rence ended Wolferus now a license having gain'd Converted the south-Saxons then there
could not be found To fit their instruments to till the ground The land was so enslav'd they rather chose Then starve to be behoiding to their foes VVith his keen javelin spirit-haunted Saul Assay'd to stick up David ' gainst the wall Prophetick David with a patient ear Did Shimei's railing accusations bear Egyptian Shishak prov'd Jerus'lems rod And took the treasures from the house of God And which is strange good Asa's spirit risen Against Gods Prophet casts him into prison Ahab hates Micah In Jehosaphat His reign the Church of God was stormed at Elijah was despis'd by Jezabel By whom so many holy Prophets fell Elisha suffers in Jehor ams reign Judak's oppress'd Good Zechariah's slain By Joash for 's reproof Israel's King Thousands of Judah slew did thousands bring Into captivity Poor Judah pines By th' Edomites Assyrians Philistines The Prophet Esay by Manasses Law Was sawn in sunder with a wooden saw And Jeremiah after slandrous mocks VVas beaten sore and put into the stocks Then was he liberty deny'd him flung Into the myry dungeon where he clung At last drag'd thence into th' Egyptian land He needs must go the Captains him command And his Thren-odes those pious Elegies Lament the falling Churches miseries Nebuchanezzar in a rage doth throw Shadrach and Meshech and Abednego Into the furnace hot By wicked men Daniel is cast into the Lyons Den. Proud Haman persecutes poor Mordecay And a decree procures that in one day Gods people should be killed murth ' rously The Jews returning from captivity Judah's disturb'd and opposition's found When they would raise Gods Temple from the ground Build it they do though men and devils conjoyne They 'r Powers they cannot frustrate Gods designe SECT II. The Persecution of the Church from Nehemiah to Antiochus his time and also under Antiochus Epiphanes before the nativity of Christ about 168 years ELiashib the High-Priest being dead Judas his son succeeded in his stead And John the next who in the Temple slew Jesus which sought to wrong him of his due No sooner had Bagoses heard the News But with a potent force he kept the Jews The Jews inclos'd within Jerus ' lems walls Till sev'n years ended under slavish thralls Compelling them to lay down fifty Drachmes For ev'ry Lamb that fed their dayly flames Jaddus John dead succeeded who b'ing told Of Alexander's acts and how he would Come shortly he in 's Priestly robes aray'd For Gods direction and protection pray'd The King fell down the Jews did in a ring Encircle him and said God save the King He check'd reply'd I do not that were odd Adore the High-Priest but the High-Priests God Then leave to live after their Ancient orders He grants the Hebrews and deserts their borders Antiochus Epiphanes did go Unto Jerusalem nor friend nor foe Escap'd his fury he the Temple spoil'd Of all her Ornaments and it defil'd Yea he inhibited the godly Jews Those daily sacrifices they did use And having made their goodly structures void He led some captive many he destroy'd Forc'd others to forsake God and adore Those Idols he himself fell down before But they that minded not his menacings VVere whip'd and maim'd had cruel torturings Some crucifi'd they hang'd the female sex And hung young Children at their parents necks VVhat books of Sacred VVrit they found the same VVere cast into the all-devouring flame Upon a Sabbath day these merc'less slaves Did stifle thousands hid in unclos'd caves And now Mathias pious and devout Led forth the Christians ' gainst this impious rout Destroy'd their Altars Providence did bless All his endeavours with desir'd success His sons Mathias Judas and the rest Did scowre their country and their foes supprest SECT III. The Martyrdom of the Maccabees under the same Antiochus ONias acts with a religious care His High-priests office and may therefore fear Degrading nay Antiochus is bent To turn him out the moving Argument Drawn from the Justness of Onias cause Subjects Onias to th' Imperious Laws Of wilfull Tyranny by whose compunction This good man leaves his Sacerdotal function For one that least deserved it no other Might take it up but his false-hearted brother VVho now but Jason Jason is the man Must drive on the design Jason began To force the people to renounce the true And old Religion to embrace a new T' abjure their Temples to extruct them baths To quit their beaten and accustom'd pathes For prosecution of more choice delights And abrogate their ceremonial Rites To drink in Greekish customes and betimes Train up their striplings to unlawful cimes But mark th' event a sin-provoked God Doth flame in fury making them a rod Whose Laws were studiously observ'd to scourge Those Mimick emulators who would urge So good a God their friends become their foes T' inflict on them innumerable woes For an edict is forthwith by the King Set forth and sealed with his Royal Ring The sence is this Whoever of the Jews Or Hierosolymitanes refuse To offer up a Sacrifice unto The gods he without any more ado Besides those beatings he was like to feel Should have his members Racked on a wheel Antiochus perceiving this Edict VVas little prevalent although so strict So rigorous but that a many chose Rather to die then their Religion lose He took th' advantage of an em'nent place And summoning the Jews his graceless Grace Caus'd sacrific'd swines flesh be given about To ev'ry man Amongst the mixed rout Stood Eleazar honor'd for his age Reverend Pious Vertuous and sage In whom the graces all in one combin'd Indeed he had an heaven-enamel'd mind To whom Antiochus doth break the chains Of silence thus Old man avoid those pains VVait on the obstinate for once b'advis'd By me and eat what here is sacrific'd Cherish thy rev'rend age and do not scorne The benefit of life what though th' art born A Jew yet eat no wise man will refuse That meat which nature hath ordain'd for use VVhy should this beast be more abominable Then other beasts canst tell sure th' art not able VVhy was it made if not to be injoy'd And gifts unus'd what are those gifts but voy'd Admit your Laws are just yet may coaction Excuse thee 't is no voluntary action To whom this Nestor whose undaunted brest VVas flam'd with zeal an answer thus exprest We O Antiochus love not vain shows But true Religion nor Racks nor blows chains Nor brest all gor'd with darts hands worn with Nor ease exchanged for a thousand pains Famine nor sword nor all should make us smother Our lov'd Religion to embrace another Know then Proud King I nothing weigh thy threats As to profane my lips with profane meats I le joy to suffer for a righteous cause Rather then violate those Heav'n-made Laws 'T is but a death at most if I fulfil not Thy will and disobey my God
neer and he condemn'd begins To God not you will I confess my sins O Lord make hast to help do not despise Thine-handy work My brethren I advise You that are Scholars to improve your youth In learning of the everlasting truth Labour to know what is Jehovahs will And fear not them that can the body kill Not hurt the soul my flesh too weak withstands My spir't which Lord I give into thine hands With that he strangled was his body burn'd His soul until the day of Doom adjourn'd One Bribard to a Card'nal Secretary And William Hussou an Apothecary Had for their seattering good books about And cleaving to the truth their tongues cut out Then with a pully pulled up and down Into the fire they dy'd but gain'd a crown James Cobard having prov'd the Mass a fable Unto the quick nor dead not profitable Was at St. Michael burnt Stephen Polliot Suffred at Paris Michael Michelet Was put unto his choice either to turn And lose his head or persevere and burn He answer'd God who caus'd him not to tire Would give him patience to abide the fire Blondel a Merchant that profess'd Christs name Condemn'd at Paris yeilded to the flame One Hubert a young man who did rely on Christ Jesus merits suffered at Dyion Anus Audeburt drag'd forth said thus This rope My wedding-girdly is wherewith I hope To be conjon'd to Christ I was first marri'd Upon a Saturday and now have tarri'd Until another Saturday wherein I shall glad day be married agin She in the dung-Cart sang and in the fire Her constancy Spectators did admire One Florent Venote that had four years lain In Paris prison where all kinds of pain He felt and overcome for seven weeks space Was close confin'd to such a narrow place That he could neither stand with ease nor ly At last distongu'd he in the fire did die One Thomas a young man was rack'd so long The hangman grew a weary one among Th'Ir quis'tors wept They bare him to be burn'd And asked him if he would yet be turn'd To whom he said Friends I am in my way To God O do not hinder me I pray One Mathew Dimonel Simon Laloe And Peter Serre did torments undergo Two men at Nivern had their tongues pull'd out Yet God was pleas'd to bring it so about That they spake plain We bid the world flesh sin And devil farewel never to meet agin Of brimstoue and gunpowder bring a fresh Supply salt on salt on this stinking flesh And so persisting constant till the last Their souls to heaven their earth to ashes past One Philbert Hamlin fed the cruel flame One Nicholas of Jenvil did the same At Paris did a Christian congregation Run through much sorrow by the Mediation Of the Palat'nate Prince and Switzers some Of them hardly escaped Martyrdome In Danphin Provence multitudes were kill'd In many other place blood was spill'd And yet the Church the more it was supprest Like to a Palm still more and more encreast SECT XXVIII The Persecution in the time of the Civil Warrs which began Anno 1562. THe Duke de Guise as he upon a day Tow'rds Paris past took Vassy in his way His ears informing him there was a Bell That rang to service in a Barn he fell Thereon with all his troops his widened throat Bawl'd out Kill death of God each Huguenote Some then with bullets some with swords were slain Some hang'd the heads of others cleft in twain Some lost their arms and hands some shred for To feed upon above twelve hundred souls fowles Of all degrees and ranks were kill'd so don The Duke to Paris march'd and seiz'd upon The King himself and filled with abuses The places set apart for pious uses Roan taken by him was for three dayes sack'd The Citizens thereof disliv'd and rack'd Then menacing to ruinate Orleance A young man shot him to deliver France From his great violence Peace was procur'd A happy peace but it not long endur'd The Popish party banishing all pity Kill'd all spar'd none in the Lutetian City At Amiens the slain were thrown in brooks All Bibles burned and Divin'cy books At Meaux Sens Mans they drag'd some on the stones And dash'd against the walls the little ones Some had their houses level'd with the ground Hundreds were massacred starv'd hang'd or drown'd Many were hal'd to Mass and some re-wedded Babes re-baptized others were beheaded At Bar they rip'd up many brests and draw'd Mens hearts thereout with their teeth them gnaw'd VVhen Malicorn Montargis town had got He slew the towns-men and with Cannon-shot Threatned the Lady Rhene to batter down Her Castle if she did the Christians own Not give them up to him the Princess stout Bravely reply'd Look what you go about I charge you for there 's no man in this Realm The King excepted that can overwhelm My pinace with the waves of a command And if your battery go on I 'll stand I' th' breach to try whether or no you dare Thus kill the daughter of a King I fear Your threats not I I want nor means nor power T' avenge me on your boldness and devour Your murtherous heart and utterly deface The infants of your most rebellious race When Malicorn thus heard the Lady say He pulled in his horn and sneak'd away At Anger 's into rivers some were thrown Some executed a gilt Bible shown Upon an halbard was and this they sang Behold how well the Hug'nots truth doth hang Hark what the everlasting God will tell Behold the truth of all the devils in hell They throw 't i' th' river and renew'd their sound Behold the truth of all the devils drown'd At Ablevilly Anger 's Foix Auxerre At Troys Crant Nevers Chastillon and Bar In Bloys Tholouse as also Careasson Many outragious villainies were don At Sens and Tours hundreds were put to slaughter Some hang'd up by one foot and in the water Their heads and breasts the bowels are pluck'd out Their rip'd-up bellies and are thrown about The mi'ry streets they torture ev'ry joynt And stick their hearts upon their daggers point A Counsellor was hang'd at the request Of his own father O unnat'ral brest By the Parisian Senators decree The bells are sounded and the Christians be Destroy'd in ev'ry place all their estates Seiz'd on by Catholicks and runagates In Ligneul some they hang'd The village Aze They set one fire and joy'd to see it blaze Augustine Marlorate was hang'd at Rhone Where streetswith slaughter'd carkasses were strown In Gaillac from a steep precipice Many were flung down headlong in a trice Caught break-neck falls In Souraze some were cram'd VVith lime and down their throats had Urine ram'd One Peter Roch they buried alive VVithin his self-made grave They did deprive Many of all they had others were crown'd VVith thorns and others in a well were drown'd One Captain Durre a godly widdow told Ualess she
found a Bible and to reading fell In came a Sommoner who thus did say VVhat dost thou meddling with the Bible Ha Know'st thou well what thou read'st canst thou unfold The Sacred VVrit I dare not be so bold Said Hunter then Nor Scriptures to expound Take I upon me now but having found The Bible here that joy might me betide I read in it The Sommoner reply'd T was never merry world since in our tongue The Bible first came forth would it were hung Said Hunter Oh! for Godsake say not so 'T is Gods Book by it ev'ry soul may know That hath one sparke of grace the way which leads To lasting bliss 't is this true comfort breeds God grant that we may still amongst us have The blessed Bible as a means to save O now I know your minde y' are one of them That slight the Queen and her decrees contemn But you and others must a new leaf turn Or else I fear me you 'l go neer to burn Pray God I build my faith on his word still And his great name confess come what come will Confess his name No no you 'l in a mess All to the Devil go and him confess Then step't the Somm'ner forth and fetch'd a Priest The Vicar of that place a drunken beast VVho finding William Hunter at his Book Rebuk'd him for 't and ask'd if he could brook The Doctrine well of Transubstantiation Hunter made answer it had no relation Unto the truth reveal'd he understood Those words of Christ touching his flesh and blood Carnal Capernait-like who thought to feed On Christ his flesh and drink his blood indeed VVherefore to them he said The words I speak Are spirit and life and not as flesh so weak Ah! quoth the Viear have I found you out Thou art an Her'tick now without all doubt c. VVhereas you of my faith do question make I would we two were fastned to the stake To prove whether of us should closest stick Unto our faith and which was Heretick c. The Vicar to complain of him did threat Flung out of doors departing in a heat Hunter went home and having farewel took Of his dear friends his fathers house forsook Brown call'd old Hunter ask'd if he could tell VVhere his son was who said He knew not well Brown told him Either your miss'd-son produce Or go to prison bring me no excuse The old man strides his horse and rides to look him And after two dayes journey overtook him Telling him all what happ'ned yet said he Go on I 'll say I cannot light on thee No no said William home with you I will And save you harmless me they can but kill At his return a Constable him caught And brought before this Mr. Brown who thought VVith arguments to win him and enrag'd At his judicious answers he engag'd No more to hold on the dispute but streight Sent him to Bonner Bonner to the Grate VVhere he for two dayes lay allowed just A dish of water and a brown-bread crust At two dayes end the Bishop coming found The slender fare he bids he be unbound And break his fast with them but he 's revil'd Call'd Heretick worthy to be exil'd Their company said Hunter I decline Their company as much as they do mine The Bishop sent for him and thus did rant And wilt thou not thou Heretick recant Recant said he the faith I have profest So publikely I will not I protest No no I will not what shall I be whirl'd By errours wheels I would not for a world Then take him Jailor mand him to the stocks Be sure you load him well with bolts and locks Till I shall burn him VVhereupon he said Great God! O let thy all-sufficient aid Corroborate my soul He 's born away The Bishop to a half-penny a day Stinted his lively-hood thus nine months space Imprison'd he before the Bishop's face Was six times brought to th'question still propounded Hunter a pertinacious No rebounded The Bishop read his charge and him return'd To Newgate so to Burnt-wood to be burn'd His parents see him and petitions send To God to make him constant till the end His mother added this that she was blest In bearing such a child as could devest His life for Christ's sweet sake William reply'd For the small pain which I shall here abide But a short time my Christ a joyful crown Hath promis'd me His mother kneeling down Said thus I pray God strengthen thee my son To run the race thou hast so well begun I think thee now as well bestow'd my dear As any child that ever I did bear VVhilst he remain'd at Burnt-wood many friends Came to him to whom he the truth commends Three dayes expir'd all things were ready made The Sheriffs son hugg'd him in his arms and said William don't fear these men with Bills Bowes That bring you to the place death as he showes Is not so grim I 've cast up mine accounts Said he and know t'how much the cost amounts With that the young man while he went about To speak could not his tears so fast burst out So Hunter his way cheerfully went on His father meeting with him said My son God be with thee God be with you likewise Good father answer'd William Let your eyes Smile on your son O be not so so sad For we shall meet and have our hearts made glad Come neer the stake he kneeled down and read The one and fiftieth Psalm The Sheriff said Here is a pardon if thou wilt be turn'd Thou shalt live otherwise thou must be burn'd No I 'll not turn quoth William and did go To th'stake and so was fast'ned thereunto Then spake he to the throng Good people strive By pray'r for me while I remain alive And I 'll for you Not I I 'll make my boon Said surly Brown there standing by assoon For a cur-dog as thee Sir you have got What you desir'd I pray God it be not Laid to your charge but I forgiv'n you have Said Brown That 's more then at your hands I crave If God forgive you not I tell you true This blood of mine shall be requir'd of you O Son of God shine on me from a cloud The Sun brake out till then thick shades did shroud The face of day his eyes he turn'd aside Too weak such radiant glory to abide A Priest brought him a book to look upon To whom he thus False Prophet thou be gon Good folk beware of them for Jesus sake Who of their fins shall of their plagues partake Marke what I say as thou burn'st in this fire So shalt thou burn in hell Hu. Thou art a lyar False Prophet hence from me away be gon Fire made he pray'd and breath'd his last Anon Higbid and Causton Gentlemen as good As great in Essex with their own hearts blood Sealed their faith unto Gods glory then And the rejoycing of all Godly men At