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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51699	A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M., M.A.; Cloud of witnesses. Part 1	Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30.; Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.	1665 (1665)	Wing M329; ESTC R21709	379,698	602

unless the reading of the New Testament which is common to all men be an offence More then this I know not The Bishop of Winchester asking him What helpers he had in setting forth his Concordance None my Lord said he None said the ●ishop how can that be It is not possible that thou shouldst do it without help Truly my Lord said he I did it without the help of any man save God alone Nay said the Bishop I do not discommend thy diligence but what shouldst thou meddle with the thing which pertaineth not to thee And then speaking to one of his Chapl●ins said This Fellow hath taken upon him to set out the Concordance in English which Book when it was set out in Latine was not done without the help and diligence of a dozen learned men at least and yet he will bear me in hand that he hath done it alone The Bishop of Salisbury asking him How he could invent such a Book or know what a Concordance meant without an Instructer I will tell your Lordship said he what Instructer I had to begin it When Thomas Matthews Bible came first out in Print being not able to buy one I borrowed one and intended to have writ it out and was gone as far as I●shua which when Mr. Turner understood he told me it would be a more profitable work to set out a Concordance in English A Concordance said I what is that He told me it was a Book to find out any word in the whole Bible by the letter and that there was such an one in Latine already and that it required not so much learning as diligence This is all the instruction that ever I had before or after of any man Being asked How he could with this instruction bring it to this order and form as it is He answered I borrowed 〈◊〉 Latine Concordance and began to practise my wit and at last with great labour and diligence brought it into this order But I marvel greatly why I should be so much examined about this Book Have I committed any offence in doing it or no If I have I am loth any other should be molested or punished for my fault Therefore to clear all men in this matter this is my request That ye will try me in the rest of the Book that is undone You see I have onely done with letter L. Now take what word you will of M. and so in every letter following and give me the words in a piece of Paper and let me be any where alone with Pen Ink and Paper the Latine Concordance and the English Bible and if I bring you not those words written in the same order and form as the rest be then it was not I did it but some other This is honestly spoken said the Bishop of Ely and then shalt thou bring many out of suspition Accordingly he writ in a dayes time in the same order and form as he had done the rest all the words they gave him which contained three sheets of Paper and more Being threatned if he did not discover what he knew his fingers should be made to tell If you do tear said he the whole body in pieces I trust in God you shall never make me accuse any man wrongfully If thou art stubborn said Dr. Oking thou wilt die for it Die for it said Marbeck wherefore should I die You told me the last day before the Bishops that as soon as I had made an end of that piece of the Concordance they took me I should be delivered and shall I now die This is a sudden mutation You seemed then to be my Friend but I know the cause you have read the Ballad I made of Moses Chair and that hath set you against me but whensoever ye shall put me to death I doubt not but I shall die Gods true man and the Kings This worthy Confessor was of so sweet and amiable nature That all good men did love and few bad men did hate him yet was he condemned in the year 1544. to be burnt at Windsor which his Pardon prevented of which divers causes were assigned 1 That Bishop Gardner bare him a special affection for his skil in the Mystery of Musick 2 That such who condemned him procured his Pardon out of remorse of conscience because of the slender evidence against him 3 That it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his Party and if so their plot failed them for being as true as Steel whereof his Fetters were made which he wore in Prison for a good time he could not be frighted or flattered to make any detection Marcus v. Arethusius Part. 1. Marcus of Arethuse being hung up in a Basket anointed with honey and so exposed to the stinging of Wasps and Bees said to his Persecutors that stood and beheld him How am I advanced despising you that are below on Earth Marlorate Mr. Augustine Marlorate Minister of Roan when in the Civil Wars of France that City was taken by storm was taken also and brought before Mon●orency the Constable of France who said unto him Thou art he who hast seduced the people If I have seduced them said he it is God that hath done it rather then I for I have preached nothing to them but his divine Truth You are a seditious person said the Constable and the cause of the ruine of this City As for that imputation said he I refer my self to all that have heard me preach be they Papists or Protestants whether I ever medled with matters of the Politick State or no. The Constable told him swearing a great Oath we shall see within a few dayes whether thy God can deliver thee out of my hands or no. It is observable how speedily Gods Judgements found out his Persecutors The Captain that apprehended him was slain within three weeks by one of the basest Sou●diers in all his Company The Constables Son was shortly after slain in the Battel of Dreux Two of his Iudges also died very strangely soon after viz. The President of the Parliament by a Flux of Blood which could be by no means stanched The other being a Councellor voiding his Urine by his Fundament with such an intolerable stink that none could come near him Villeben that switched him with a Wand as he was carried on the Hurdle to Execution● a while after escaped death by the loss of his hand wherewith he had so basely smitten this Servant of the Lord. Marsake Sir L●wis Marsake was so glad of the Sentence of Condemnation that he went out praising God and singing of Psalms To a Souldier that would have hindred him from stepping aside to call upon God What said he will you not let us pray in that little time which we have When Halters were put about the necks of his two Fellow-sufferers he seeing himself to be spared because of his Order and Degree called to the Lieutenant

I doubt not to ●a●ment your wickedness that so contemned the voic●● of God for your own lusts for your cruelty for your covetousness that the Name of God was by your vanities evil spoken of in other Nations God grant you all repentant hearts for no order or state did any part of his duty in those dayes B●● to speak of the best whereof you use to boast your Religion was but an English Mattins patch'd forth of the Popes portess Many things were in your great Book superstitious and foolish all were driven to a present service like the Papists that they should think their duties discharged if the number were said of Psalms and Chapters Finally there could no Discipline be brought into the Church nor correction of manners To what contempt was Gods Word and the admonition of his Prophets come in all estates before God did strike some men are not ignorant The Preachers themselves for the most part could find no fault in Religion but that the Church was poor and lacked living Sure many things should have been reformed before that the Kitchin had been better provided for our Prelates in England It was most evident that many of you under the cloak of Religion served your own bellies some where so busie to heap benefice upon benefice some to labour in Parliament for purchasing of Lands that the time was small which could be found for the Reformation of abuses and every little that was spent upon the feeding of your flocks In a word the Go●●spel was so lightly esteemed that the most part of men thought rather that God should bow and stoop to their appetites then that they should be subject to his holy Commandments Even the Nobility and Council would suffer no rebukes of Gods Messengers though their offences were never so manifest let those that preached in the Court the Lent before King Edward deceased speak their conscience and accuse me if I lie yea let a writing of Northumberland's to Mr. Harlow be brought to light and it shall testifie that he was not ashamed to say That the liberty of the Preachers tongues would cause the Council and Nobility to rise up against them for they could not suffer so to be entreated These were the fruits in the time of Harvest a little before the Winter came and of the time of Mary what should I write It hath cast off the Truth known and confessed and followeth lies and errours which once it detested It buildeth the building which once it destroyed it raiseth up the idols which once were there confounded They persecute they banish they burn Christ the Son of God in his members But to be short this onely remaineth for both these Nations that they repent and return into the Vineyard with the first Son and bring forth the fruits of Repentance The fruits of Repentance I call not onely to know your sins and to lament them but to amend your lives and to make strait the Lords paths by resisting Satan and Sin and obeying God in doing the works of righteousness and executing Gods Precepts and Judgements so long amongst you contemned for even now is the Axe put to the root of the tree c. Th● Lord hath now his Fan in his hand and will purge his floor c. Repent therefore whilst you have time before you be ●anned hewn down and fired Here have we to lament the miserable state of mankind which i● so seduced by the subtile Serpent that he canno● know his misery when he is admonished nor perceive his perdition when it draweth so near Whe● the Servants of God set forth his Truth they are charged to trouble Realms and Countreys as wa● Elias when they warn men to joyn hands with wicked Kings and Princes they are counted Traytors as was Isaiah and Ieremiah such is mans malice Wherefore I do admonish and exhort you both in the Name of the living God that howsoever yo● have hitherto shewed your selves the Servants o● men to bear and flatter with the world that no● ye learn in Gods cause to despise the faces of men to bend your selves against this wicked world neither regarding the Visors of Honours vain Titles nor dignities any farther then they seek Gods onely Glory for his Glory will he not suffer to be contemned for any cause no he will pour contemp● on those Princes that strive against his Truth b●● those that glorifie him will he glorifie Behold your onely remedy remaining is to repen● your time of ignorance of stubbornness of cruelty of idolatry wherein ye have so long continued Mourn for your ignorance and now with all diligence seek for knowledge of the World of God and openly profess the Gospel which is the powe● of God whereof ye ought not to be ashamed Cease at the last from your old stubbornness and labour in the Vineyard with all meekness Cease from your cruelty against Christs Members and learn t● suffer for Christs sake if ye will be true Christians Banish all Idolatry and Popish Superstitio● from amongst you else can ye have no part i● Christs Kingdome no more then Christ can be partaker with Antichrist Pray to the Lord of Hosts and Armies to give you the courage strength and means The Lords Arm is not shortened now no more then of old Be strong therefore in the Lord for the defence of the Truth though all the World rise against it Now when the battel is fierce against the living God for dead idols against the Gospel of Christ for the inventions of Antichrist against Christ members for Popish ceremonies can any of you that will be accounted Gods Children still halt of both hands If you will maintain Gods truth in the Earth he will receive you as his Children into the Heavens if you confess his Christ before this wicked Generation Christ shall confess you before his Father in the Heavens in the presence of his Angels But if you persist stubbornly to banish Gods Word and his Son Christ in his Members forth of your Earthly Kingdomes how can ye look for any part in his Heavenly Kingdome Lo here is the choice of life and death of misery and wealth offered to you by Gods mercies and the means how you may win Gods favour opened whereby onely ye may prevail against your enemies God grant you hearts to answer as the people did to Ioshua offering the like choice God forbid say they that we should forsake God we will serve the Lord our God and obey his voice for he is our God And we your ban●shed Brethren by the Power of God to provoke you forwards will thus pronounce with Ioshua That we and our F●milies will serve the Lord God though all Nations run to Idols though all people do persecute us We know that Satan hath but a short time to rage and that Christ our Captain right speedily will crown his Souldiers to whom as he is the eternal God with his Father

Testament saith Exod. 20. Deut. 6. Thou shalt make no Image The New saith that Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it Matth. 5. Christ therefore hath left the commandments of the old Law unto the Church in which he saith Thou shalt not make any Image Of late years Images were in the Temple and honoured with pater noster heart and mind leg and knee Now they be applyed to another use to teach the people to be Lay-mens Books as Damascene c. saith O blasphemous and devillish Doctrine The most perfect Churches of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles used no such mean and we ought to follow them and the Word of God writ by the Prophets and Apostles The words of Gregory ad Seren. Episcop M●ssil part 10. Ep. 4. should move no man though he say Quod legentibus Scriptura hoc ideotis pictura praestat cernentibus This is but Gregory's opinion Epiphanius was not of his mind He willed the occasion of ill to be taken out of the Church as Paul commandeth 1 Thes. 5. This Doctor was as all men know of singular learning and vertue Again against the Authority of Gregory the Great I set the Authority of Athanasius the Great who denieth in express words the Images to be the Books of the Lay people Lactantius Firmianus crieth so out against Images that he saith there can be no true Religion where they be Tertullian judgeth the same Loved we God we would be content with the Scripture Shall not the Patriarks Prophets Christ and his Apostles suffice the Church of God What although many learned men have approved Images should their wisdome maintain any contrary to the Word of God Such as defend them have nothing but sophistical arguments to blind the people with The Scripture nor Apostles Church used none Had all Asia Africa and Europe and Gabriel the Archangel descended from Heaven approved the use of Images forasmuch as the Apostles never taught nor wrote any such thing their Authority should have no place the Word of God solely and onely is to be prefer'd which forbiddeth Images ch 10. The Office of Christ to sanctifie us according to Iohn 17.1 sanctifie my self that they may be sanctified doth abrogate all other things that mans constitutions attribute any holiness unto as bewitched water c. for onely Christ sanctifieth and all holiness we must attribute unto him Sacraments must be used holily yet not have this Office of Christ added to them ch 11. In the later dayes when Christ as King was to be born the Angel declared the Power and Puissance of his Kingdome He shall reign over the house of Jacob and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Luke 1. Although the Commonwealth of the Church hath no certain place appointed where it shall remain as it was appointed in the old Law yet certain we be that this Kingdome of Christ remaineth upon the Earth and shall do till the Earth be burned Matth. 16.28 1 Cor. 15. Howbeit as Christ wan and obtained this Kingdome in the later dayes without shield or spear so doth he preserve it with his holy Spirit and not with carnal weapons My Kingdome is not of this world John 18. Meaning he would not reign in this world as a Prince of this world in pomp and pride but defend his people with his holy Spirit that the Devil and the World should not break their patience though many afflictions and sorrows should fight against them for the Truth 's sake Christ doth not deny to be King of the world but he meant not to reign worldlily to the hinderance and defacing of the Emperours Dignity and Title as the Jews falsly accused him as Cyrillus l. 12. c. 10. in Iohannem saith This Kingdome shall be ever persecuted till the worlds end Isaiah the Prophet described the Church of this present life saying He will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction but he will not remove thy teachers chap. 30.20 Thus the Church shall alwayes remain but in affliction I know such as favour not the Truth will interpret my words that I condemn all Princes and Kings as enemies of the Gospel because they peaceably enjoy their Kingdomes whereas I wish them alwayes so to do to the glory of God but of the one thing I will assure every Prince of world The more sincere he is in the Cause of God the more shall be his Cross. God indeed preserveth above humane reason his Ministers as he did Iacob from the hands of Esau David from Saul Daniel from the Lions and Paul in the Ship when there was no humane hope of salvation Likewise he governeth his Church with his onely Laws The onely Law whereunto this Congregation is bound is the Gospel as Christ saith Iohn 4. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said unto you Here Christ bindeth the Apostles and all the Church unto the things that he had taught them Such as teach the people to know the Commonwealth of the true Church by these signs the traditions of men and the succession of Bishops teach wrong Those two false opinions have given unto the succession of Bishops power to interpret the Scripture and power to make such Laws in the Church as it pleased them God hath given the Civil Magistrates power and authority to make such Laws for the Commonwealth as shall be agreeable with reason and not against Gods Law and likewise power to interpret the same Laws but this is not to be admitted in the Church unto whom God hath given the Gospel and interpreted the same by his onely Son taught the meaning and contents thereof himself The adversaries of the Truth defend many an errour under the name of the holy Church when the Church therefore is named diligently consider when the Articles they would defend were accepted of the Church by whom and who was the Author of them Leave not till the matter be brought unto the first original and most perfect Church of the Apostles If thou find by their writings that their Church used the thing that the Preacher would prove then accept it or else not Be not amazed though they speak of never so many years nor name never so many Doctors If either the Authority of Bishops or the greater part should have power to interpret the Scripture the sentence of the Pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of Zachary Simion Elizabeth or the blessed Virgin Consider the true Church is many time but a small Congregation as Isaiah saith Unless God had left us a remnant we had been as Sodom Therefore the interpretation of the Scripture is not obligated to ordinary power nor the most part Beware of deceit when thou hearest the name of the Church The verity is then assaulted They call the Church of the Devil the holy Church many time Remember Christian Reader that the gift of interpreting the Scripture is

and have neglected my time and have unhappily provoked both my self and others to anger by that Play Wherefore besides other my innumerable faults for this I desire you to invocate the mercy of the Lord that he will pardon me This Letter to this Minister was not to be opened by him before he was sure of Mr. Hus his death In a Treatise De Sacerdotum c. before mentioned he hath these words In writing these things and what else I have written before nothing else hath moved me hereunto but onely the love of our Lord Jesus crucified whose prints and stripes according to the measure of my weakness and vileness I covet to bear in my self beseeching him to give me grace that I never seek to glory in my self or in any thing else but onely in his Cross and in the inestimable ignominy of his Passion I do not therefore doubt but these things will like all such as unfeignedly love the Lord Christ crucified and will not mislike not a little all such as be of Antichrist durst not have so written unless the Lord Jesus Christ crucified by his inward motion had so commanded me Hyperius O what a difference is there said Martin Hyperius betwixt this and eternal fire Who would shun this to leap into that FINIS A CLOUD OF VVITNESSES OR THE Sufferers Mirrour Made up of The SWANLIKE-SONGS and other CHOICE PASSAGES of several MARTYRS and CONFESSORS to the end of the Sixteenth Century in their Treatises Speeches Letters Prayers c. in their Prisons or Exiles at the Bar or Stake c. Collected out of The Ecclesiastical Histories of Eusebius Fox Fuller Clark Petrie Scotland And Mr. Samuel Ward 's Life of Faith in Death c. and Alphabetically disposed By T. M. M.A. The second Part. Deut. 32.7 Remember the dayes of old consider the years of many generations ask thy Father and he will shew thee thy Elders and they will tell thee Psal. 44.22 For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as Sheep to the slaughter Phil. 1.28 In nothing be terrified by your adversaries c. Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Robert Boulter 1665. A brief account of what may be expected in this Collection by a friend to the Author READER IT is a comfort Thetis gives her brave Son in Homer that though he should be short liv'd yet he should continue himself in the admiration of posterity Though these blessed Martyrs and Saints departed sought not glory to themselves yet they all obtained a good report and their memory is blessed whilst the memory of the wicked rots or which is far worse stinks I grant many of them went in a siery Chariot to Heaven yet those Mantles that fell from them may through the concurs of God so spirit oth●rs that they may do worthily in Ephrat● though they never arrive to the glory of the ●irst Worthies I d●ubt not but many of them might by their staying l●nger in their houses of Booths have been very beneficial to the World yet Sampson's violent death was not without profit to the Church of God in pulling down the House of the Philistines And therefore I cannot but commend the Essay and elaborate Collections of this Author in reviving the Memories of these Ancient Christians It was well observed by Sir Francis Bacon That old Wood is best to burn and old Friends best to trust and old Books best to read Hence Scholars set a great price upon an ancient Manuscript Here are old things men of ancient dayes and old Books in a new Edition for thy benefit Here you will not find the fault that Historians are commonly guilty of who like flattering Limners draw too favourably or shadow over a wrinckle and slily forge in some secret grace Here is an honest Pen modestly but yet faithfully giving thee an account of Believers who through much faith patience and tribulation entred into the King●ome of Heaven Here are worthy Patterns for you to follow glorious Copies for you who are but Beginners in the World to write after They all call upon you so to follow them as they followed Christ. Here is a Cloud of Witnesses which if you have with Iesus in your eye you will be the better prepared to lay aside every weight and to run with patience the race that is set before you Man is led by nothing better then by example and examples of great Ones are most effectual Such are these I know abundantly how this lazy formal Age is ready to look on Scripture-Worthies as men unimitable as Giants to whose stature they despair ever to arrive But h●re you may be tolled on in your active and passive obedience as lazy Travellers will h●ld out with good Company which beat the Path before them Here is no excuse left of frailty which we are ready to make against obedience for th●se presidents in all Ages abudantly testifie that we frail men by the power of the same grace of God may reach to the same perfections We are too apt in these dayes to think our selves good enough if we find any worse then our selves but we should not content our selves to run with the Foot-men but to excell the best I have of late thought it a very high way to growth and perfection to collect some of the choicest frames of the best Christians and alwayes set them before us Blessed be the Lord this is done to thy hand and mayest thou reap the advantage of this labour Here thou mayest read thy defects in these holy mens excesses and amend thy self without any diminution to their glory Here thou mayest receive light from that which dazleth thee and lustre from that which at present ecclipseth thee When thou considerest what a dastardly cowardly Spirit is within thee what an Enemy of the Cross of Christ thou art here is that which will promote thy shame that these under the dawnings of Gospel-glory and grace should be as bold as Lions whil●t thou art as timerous as an Hare How do we shrink and tremble whilst these were as Rocks in the midst of the Floods standing unmoveable when the Winds blew and the Seas made a noise I heartily wish that the dew of Heaven may fall upon these holy Reliques that such a Spirit may attend the Reader as did these when called before Kings and Rulers for the Name of Christ. I heartily wish that these experiments of Gods presence with his suffering and witnessing Saints may help thee to trust in God I kn●w you ought to trust God upon his single Bond without a Pawn or Pledge of his Power and Faithfulness but certainly Faith is wonderfully holpen by former experiences in all Ages and therefore let this Epitome of the Bo●k of Martyrs as to the Martyrs sayings strengthen thy confidence and make thee r●ly on God as a constant tried Friend Th●se are all great instanc●s that God is seen in the Mount that he hath good

age and by the same Spirit he did so evidently foreshew and prophesie of all those plagues which a●terward ensued that if England ever had a Prophet he was one As touching himself he ever affirmed That the preaching of the Gospel would cost him his li●e to the which he no less chearfully prepared himself then certainly was perswaded that Winch●ster was kept in the Tower for that purpose as the event did too truly prove the same It may be queried Seeing that Latimer was outed of his Bishoprick in the dayes of King Henry the Eighth on the account of the sixth Article why was he not restored to the same under King Edward the Sixth especiall seeing Heath his Successour was legally deprived and the place actually void whereas on the contrary Hugh Latimer continued Hugh Latimer without any addition of preferment A late Ecclesiastical Historian answers It was not for want of any favour from the King c. nor because his down-right Sermons disobliged the Courtiers who generally delight in soft Preaching as in soft Clothing nor out of sullenness because he would not be bedded again with that wife which though unwillingly had in his absence embraced another c. But we impute it either to his conscience oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men because he would not be built on the ruines of another especially knowing Heath one of a meek and moderate nature or to his age who Barzillai like was superannuated for earthly honour c. Or because he found himself not fit for Government better for Preaching then Ordering Ecclesi●stical Affairs Or lastly because he prophetically foresaw that the ingratitude of the English Nation would shorten their happiness and King Edward's life and he was loth to come into a place onely to go out thereof Sure I am it was a loud lye which Parsons tells That Latimer was kept bare He kept himself bare living not in the want but neglect yea contempt of all worldly wealth though he was the Corban or Treasury into which restored-ill-gotten-goods were cast to be bestowed on the poor according to his discretion At the coming of Queen Mary by the means no doubt of Winchester a Pursevant was sent down to cite him to appear at London of which Iohn Carles gave him notice six hours before yet he would not escape but prepared himself for his journey before the said Messenger came to his house at which the Pursevant wondred thereupon he said unto him My Friend you be a welcome Messenger to me And be it known unto you and to all the world that I go as willingly to London at this present being called by my Prince to render an account of my Doctrine as ever I was at any place in the world I doubt not but that God as he hath made me worthy to preach his Word before two excellent Princes so will he enable me to witness the same unto the third either to her comfort or discomfort eternally c. As he came up to London through Smithfield without the Pursevant for he having delivered his Letters departed affirming that he had command not to tarry for him whereby it is evident they would have had him fled out of the Realm he said merrily That Smithfield had long groaned for him In the Tower being kept without fire in the frosty weather he bade the Lieutenant's man tell his Master That if he did not look better to him perhaps he would deceive him The Lieutenant charging him with these words His Answer was I did indeed say so for you look I think that I should burn but except you let me have some fire I am like to deceive your expectation for I am like here to starve for cold From the Tower he was transported to Oxford with Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridley to dispute with the learned Men of both Universities about the Presence Substance and Sacrifice of the Sacrament When he was brought before the Commissioners and appointed to dispute he alledged age sickness disuse and lack of Books saying That he was almost as meet to dispute as to be a Captain of Calice but he would he said declare his mind either by writing or word and would stand to all that they could lay upon his back complaining That he was permitted to have neither Pen nor Ink nor any Book but onely the New Testament then in his hand which he said he had read over seven times deliberately and yet could not find the Mass in it neither the Marrow-bones nor the sinewes of the same When he was brought to dispute in the Close of his Protestation which he delivered to Dr. Weston in writing saying Let me here protest my Faith for I am not able to dispute and afterwards do your pleasure with me He hath these words O Sir you may chance to live till you come to this age and weakness that I am of I have spoken in my time before two Kings more then once two or three hours together without interruption but now I could not be suffered to declare my mind before you no not by the space of a Quarter of an hour without snatchings revilings checks rebukes and taunts I pray God give you grace ever well to use your gifts and ever to remember That he that dwelleth on High looketh on the low things on the earth and that there is no counsel against the Lord and also that this World hath been and yet is a tottering World and that though we must obey Princes yet in the Lord for who so doth obey them against the Lord they be most pernicious to them and the greatest adversaries that they have for they so procure Gods vengeance on them if God be onely the Ruler of things I would as fain obey my Sovereign as any in this Realm but in these things I can never do it with an upright conscience God be mercifull to us Amen Then said West●n you refuse to dispute will you here then subscribe No good Master said Mr. Latimer I pray be good to an old man you may if it please God be once as old as I am you may come to this age and to this debility Dr. Cartwright telling him That he was of his opinion but he was sorry for it and desired he might repent also Will you give me leave said Mr. Latimer to tell what hath caused Mr. Doctor here to recant It is Poena Legis the Pain of the Law hath brought you back and converted you and many more the which letteth many to confess God And this is a great Argument There are few here that can dissolve it Smith telling him He was not of Chrysostome's and St. Austine's Faith I am said he of their Faith when they say well and bring Scripture for them and farther Austine requireth not to be believed Weston telling him He could not have found his Doctrine forty years agone The more cause said he have we to thank God that hath now sent the

said of them for their preaching sake but he exhorteth them to take patiently such persecution by his own example saying It becomes not the Servant to ●e above the Master c. Read also the fourteeth Chapter and there your Grace shall see that he promised to the true Preachers no worldly promotion or dignity but persecution and that they should be betrayed even by their own Brethren and Children In Iohn also he saith In the world you shall have oppression and the w●rld shall hate you but in me you shall have peace And elsewhere Lo I send you as Sheep among Wolves The true Preachers go like Sheep harmless and be persecuted and yet they revenge not their wrong but remit all to God So far is it off that they will persecute any other but with the Word of God onely which is their weapon This is the most evident token that Christ would that his Gospel and the Preachers of it should be known by that it should be despised among worldly wise men and be reputed foolishness by them and deceivable Doctrine and the true Preachers should be persecu●ed and driven from Town to Town and at last lose both Goods and Life and yet they that persecuted them should think they did well and a great pleasure to God Where the Word of God is truly preached there is persecution as well of the Hearers as of the Teachers He that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution It is not onely given you to believe in the Lord but to suffer perse●ution for his sake Where is quietness and rest in worldly pleasure there is not the Truth for the world loveth all that are of the world and hateth all things that are contrary to it St. Paul calleth the Gospel The Word of the Cross. May it please your Grace to return to the golden Rule of your Saviour By their fruits you shall know them Where you see persecution there is the Gospel and there is the Truth and they that do persecute be without the Truth They whose works be naught dare not come to the Light but go about to hinder it letting as much as they may that the holy Scriptures should not be read in our Mother Tongue saying That it would cause Heresie and Insurrections and so perswade or fain would perswade your Grace to keep it back But here mark their shameless boldness which be not ashamed to gather Grapes of Thorns c. and to call Light Darkness c. and to say That that which teacheth all Obedience should cause Dissention and Strife Therefore good King seeing the right David our Saviour Christ hath sent his Servants his true Preachers and his Word to comfort our weak and sick souls let not worldly wise men make your Grace believe that they will cause Insurrections and Heresies and such Mischiefs as they imagine of their own mad brains lest that he be avenged upon you and upon your Realm as was David upon the Ammonites and as he hath ever been avenged upon them which have obstinately withstood and gainsaid his Word But peradventure they will say experience shews How that such men as call themselves Followers of the Gospel regard not your Graces Command neither set by your Proclamation as appears by those that were punished in London for keeping such Books as your Grace had prohibited by Proclamation and so like as they regarded not this so they will not regard other your Laws Statutes and Ordinances But this is but a crafty perswasion The very cause of your last Proclamation and the chief Councellors as men say and of likelyhood it should be were they whose evil living and cloked hypocrisie those Books uttered and disclosed And so it might be that these men did not take this Proclamation as yours but as theirs set forth in your Name as they have done many times more c. There is no man I hear say that can lay any word or deed to their charge that should sound to the breaking of your Graces Laws this onely excepted If it be yours and not theirs There be some that for fear of losing of their wordly honour will not leave off their opinion which rashly and that to please men withall by whom they had great promotion they took upon to desend by writing c. Let these men remember St. Paul and David Take heed of their worldly wisdome which is foolishness before God that you may do what God commandeth and not what seems good in your own sight without the Word that your Grace may be found acceptable in his sight and one of the Members of his Church and according to the Office he hath called your Grace unto you may be found a faithful Minister of his Gifts and not a Defender of his Faith for he will not have it defended by man or by mans power but by his Word onely by the which he hath evermore defended it and that by a way far above mans power or reason c. Wherefore Gracious King remember your self have pity upon your soul and think that the day is even at hand when you shall give an account of your Office and of the Blood that hath been shed with your Sword In the which day that your Grace may stand stedfastly and not be ashamed but be clear and ready in your reckoning and to have as they say your quietus est sealed with the blood of our Saviour Christ which only serveth at that day is my daily Prayer Decemb. 1. A. 1530. Observe in this Letter saith Mr. Fox the duty of a right Pastour to Truth that Kings are many times abused by Flatterers and wicked Councellors the subtile practises of Prelates in abusing the Name and Authority of Kings to set forth their own malignant proceedings and the great boldness and divine stoutness of this Servant of Christ who as yet being no Bishop so plainly and freely without fear of death adventuring his Life to discharge his Conscience durst so boldly to so mighty a Prince in such a dangerous case against the Kings Law and Proclamation set out in such a terrible time take upon him to write and to admonish that which no Councellor durst once speak to him in defence of Christs Gospel and yet though his wholsome counsel did not prevail God so wrought with his Servant in doing his duty that no danger no nor displeasure rose to him thereby It was not long after that the King made him Bishop of Worcester Touching the memorable acts and doings of this worthy man I cannot neglect the taking notice of one for therein he spoke notably though he said not a word viz. his bold enterprize in sending to King Henry a Present It was a custome that every year upon Ian. 1. every Bishop should send the King a New-years-gift Mr. Latimer being then Bishop of Worcester presented a New Testament for his New-years-gift with a Napkin having this Posy about it

if it may be put to your helping hand by bridling those Parasites the great Enemies of Peace whilst they pretend to be for peace None may presume that I will recant I cannot bear the imposition of any Laws for the interpreting of the Word of God which ought not to be bound c. These two things excepted there is nothing that I cannot yea will not do or suffer for peace I hate contentions I will provoke none no more will I be provoked If I be provoked I will not be without a tongue for my Master Christ. Take heed my Father of hearkning to those Syrens who make you more then a meer man even an half God so that you may command any thing These are your Enemies and seek your soul to destroy How unlike is Christ unto his Successors who yet would be his Vicars and I fear many are so too properly A Vicar is of one absent If the Pope be President Christ being absent what is he other then Christs Vicar But what then is that Church but a multitude without Christ and what is such a Vicar but Antichrist and an Idol How much better do the Apostles who call themselves the Servants of Christ present not the Vicars of Christ absent In his Appeal Nov. 17. 1520. Seeing Leo the Tent doth persevere hardned in his tyranny and hath by his Bull condemned unheard and unconvicted and moreover as an Infidel and an Apostate doth flie and find fault with Councils and most wickedly prefer his Tyranny before their Power and most impudently doth require me to deny the Faith of Christ c. and to omit nothing that may shew him to be Antichrist doth subject the Scripture to himself and with incredible blasphemy trample thereupon I Martin Luther do make it known to all that I stick to my former Appeal from him to the next Council c. In a Letter of his to Herman Tulichins before his Treatise de Captivitate Babylonica Ecclesiae Whether I will or no I am made more learned daily so many and so great Masters contending with me I have writ more then two years ago concerning Indulgences but so that I am now wonderfully sorry for the publishing of that Book for I was then very superstitiously devoted to the Roman Tyranny and therefore would not have Indulgences which I saw so generally approved altogether rejected Now O that I could perswade all Booksellers and others that read my Books to burn those concerning Indulgences and instead thereof receive this position Indulgences are the wickednesses of the Flatterers of Rome Whereas then I denied the Popes primacy to be of Divine Right I yielded it to be of Humane Right but now I know and am certain that the Papacy is the Kingdome of Babylon and the power of Nimrod that mighty Hunter and therefore instead of what I have written of that subject take this position Papacy is the mighty hunting of the Roman Bishop When the Cardinals burnt Luther's Books he burnt the Popes Decrees and his Bull lately sent out against him and gives us the following account why he did so I Martin Luther called Dr. of Divinity do notifie to all that by my will counsel and help the Books of the Pope of Rome were burnt c. and that 1 Because we have ancient examples for the burning of wicked and corrupt Books Acts 19. 2 I am a Baptised Christian and a Doctor of holy Scripture and a daily Preacher and therefore it belongs to me my Condition my Oath my Office to abolish at least to hinder perverse false seducing and wicked Doctrines And yet 3 I had not gone about this work unless I had upon experience found the Pope and Pontificians Corrupters and Seducers not onely to erre and seduce but after many admonitions by me given so hardned and bewitched that they will not onely not suffer themselves to be taught but condemn and burn the Evangelical Doctrine to confirm their Antichristian Diabolical abominations 5 Because by their burning of my Books Truth is endangered c. I have also being moved as I hope by the holy Ghost for the confirming and preserving the Christian Verity and the common people have caused their Books to be burnt having looked for their hopeless amendment Let none therefore be moved by the sublime Titles of the Books the Canon Law The Decreetals c. but first see what is taught therein and then judge whether they be burnt justly or unjustly When Luther threw the Popes Bull into the fire Decemb. 10. 1520. Because said he thou hast troubled the holy One of the Lord eternal fire shall trouble thee The same day in his Prelection on the Psalter he admonished his Hearers to take heed of Popish Institutions That this burning was but a small business it should be that the Pope that is the Papal See should be burned Unless said he with a grave countenance ye do with all your hearts depart from the Popish Kingdome your souls cannot be saved so diverse is the Kingdome of the Pope from the Kingdome of Christ and the life of a Christian that it would be safer to live in a Wilderness and see no man then to live in that Antichristian Kingdome Let every one therefore that hath any care of his own soul take heed lest he deny Christ by assenting to Popery Whoever will now be a Minister he must perish either in this World or that which is to come If he dare not contradict the working of errour in the World to come if he doth contradict in this World his life will be hazarded For my part I had rather run any danger here then expose my Conscience to give such an account for Silence as God will require Therefore having heartily dissented from the Roman madness I do now abominate that Babylonian Plague And these things I will declare to my Brethren as long as I live If I cannot withstand so great a destruction of Souls yet many of our own may be kept from running headlong to Hell Let others do what they please It is high time to repent In his Letter to Prince Frederick Duke of Saxony before his Postills The Apostle requires that a Bishop should not onely be mighty in Doctrine but able to convince gain-sayers Not that I account my self a Bishop seeing the Riches and Mitre by which a Bishop is now known are wanting but because whosoever fulfills the Office of preaching dischargeth the Office of Bishop who ought to be a two-handed Ehud and kill Eglon and I do set my self to the work of peace being through the grace of God a bold Contemner of my Adversaries though in the midst of Swords Bulls Trumpets and Papistical Alarms that cannot terrifie me And indeed what cannot I do in him who comforts me In his Letter to Iustus Ionas I fear lest whilst we fight valiantly for grace and good works we do in the mean time deprive our selves of grace and good

works Truly having beheld these terrible dayes of anger I desire nothing more then that my head were a fountain of water that I may weep for that late devastation of souls which the Kingdome of Sin and Perdition wrought The Roman Monster sits in the midst of the Church and boasts of his Deity the Pontificials flatter him the Sophisters obey him and the Hypocrites will do any thing for him In the mean time Hell enlargeth her bosome and openeth her mouth beyond measure and Satan sports in the ruining of Souls Pray to God for me that I may be delivered from wicked and unbelieving men in this Babylon and that my mouth may be opened to the praise of the glory of the grace of the Gospel of his Son Be of good courage and fear not this Baal-phogor seeing he is scarce Baal-zebub a Fly if yet we believe seeing Jesus Christ is God blessed for ever From the place of my Exile June 8. 1521. When he had safe conduct from the Emperour Charles the Fifth to come to and return from Wormes dated March 6. 1521. he took his Journey thither and though his Friends informed him in a Town near Wormes that his Books were before his coming condemned in publick Proclamations and therefore that it was dangerous for him to go notwithstanding the Emparours promise yet having heard all they could say he told them As for me since I am sent for I am resolved and certainly determined to enter the City in the name of our Lord Christ Iesus yea although I knew that there were so many Devils to resist me as there are Tiles to cover all the Houses in the whole World c. At his first appearance before the Emperour two things were demanded of him Whether those Books there present were his and whether he would recant their Contents or edhere thereunto He granted the former but as to the later Forasmuch said he as the question concerneth Faith and the salvation of Souls and because it concerns the Word of God then which nothing is of greater account as well in Heaven as on Earth and which all ought duly to rererence it will be rash and dangerous to pronounce any thing before I be well advised seeing through unadvisedness I may speak less then the business requires and more then truth both which call to mind that of Christ Whosoever shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father in Heaven I therefore humbly beseech the Imperial Majesty to grant me time to deliberate so that I may satisfie the Question without any prejudice to the Word of God and peril of my own soul. Whereupon a days time was granted him It is observable that as he was going to appear and whilst he was in that Assembly of Princes Luther was exhorted by some present to be couragious and to play the man and not to fear that onely can kill the body c. and also when thou art before Kings think not what thou shalt speak for it shall be given to you in that hour When he appeared the next time he answered thus Most Serene Emperour and your most Illustrious Princes and most merciful Lords I appear before you here at the hour prescribed unto me yesterday in obedience to your Command humbly beseeching for Gods mercy that your renowned Majesty and your most Illustrious Honours would be pleased benignly to hear this Cause which is I hope the Cause of Righteousness and Truth As for my self I can affirm nothing but this That I have taught and writ hitherto in singleness of heart what I thought tended onely to Gods glory and the sincere instruction of Christs faithful Ones As for the second Question I beseech your most Excellent Majesty and your Honours to observe that all my Books are not of one sort There be some in which I have so Sincerely and Evangelically handled the Religion that consists in Faith and Observance that my very Enemies are forced to be harmless profitable and worthy to be read of Christians If I should revoke these what shall I do Even I alone of all men repugning the unanimous confession of all shall condemn that Truth which both Friends and Foes confess Another sort of my Books inveigheth against the Papacy and the Doctrine of the Papists as those who by their Doctrines and most wicked Examples have corrupted the whole state of Christianity in soul and body for none can deny nor hide it seeing the experience and sad complaints of all are witnesses that the Consciences of the Faithful are most miserably insnared vexed and tortured by the Popes Laws and the Doctrines of men and that the substance especially of this famous Germany hath been and is yet most tyrannically and by unworthy means devoured When as they themselves by their Laws provide as in Dist. 9. 25. q. 1. 2. that the Popes Laws and Doctrines that are contrary to the Scripture and the Sentiments of the Fathers should be reprobated for erroneous If therefore I should revoke these I shall strengthen Tyranny and open not onely Windows but Doors and wide Gates to so great wickedness which is like to extend farther and with greater licentiousnesses then ever it durst heretofore and by the testimony of this my retractation their most licentious Kingdome of Wickedness and lest subject to punishment most intollerable to the miserable common people will yet be more confirmed and established especially if this be bruited that I have done this by the Authority of your most Excellent Majesty and the whole R●man Empire Good Lord What a Cloak shall I be to their Wickedness and Tyranny The third sort is of such as I have writ against some particular persons such who have laboured all that ever they could to maintain the Romish Tyranny and to demolish the Religion which I have taught I confess I have been more bitter against these then became my Religion and Profession Neither do I make my self a Saint nor do I dispute concerning my Life but concerning the D●ctrine of Christ. It is notwithstanding unsafe for me to revoke these for this Recantation will occasion Tyranny and Wickedness to reign again more ragingly over Gods people then ever Yet seeing I am a man and not God I can no otherwise defend my Books then Iesus Christ himself my Lord defended his Doctrine who being examined about his Doctrine before Annas and cufft by a Servant said If I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil If the Lord himself who knew he could not erre did not refuse to have testimony given against his Doctrine even by a most vile Servant how much more then should I that am but vile corruption and can of my self do nothing but erre desire and expect the testimony of any against my Doctrine Therefore I beseech for Gods mercy your most Excellent Majesty and your most Illustrious Honours or any other of high or low degree to give in his testimony to convict my Errours

glory my care in my great temptations was to have the senses of my soul open to perceive the Voice of God saying Whosoever denieth me before men him will I deny before my Father and his Angels And to save the life corporal is to lose the life eternal and he that will not suffer with Christ shall not reign with him Therefore most tender Ones I have by Gods Spirit given over the flesh with the fight of my soul and the Spirit hath the victory The flesh shall now ere it be long leave off to sin the Spirit shall reign eternally I have chosen Death to confirm the Truth by me taught What can I do more Consider with your selves that I have done it for the confirmation of Gods Truth Pray that I may continue to the end The greatest part of the assault is past I praise my God I have in all my assaults felt the present aid of my God I give him most hearty thanks therefore Look not back nor be ye ashamed of Christs Gospel nor of the bonds I have suffered for the same It is no time for the loss of one man in the Battel for the Camp to turn Back Up with mens hearts blow down the dawbed Walls of Heresie Let one take the Banner and the other the Trumdet I mean not to make corporal resistance but pray and ye shall have Elias defence and Elizeus company to fight for you The Cause is the Lords My heart with pangs of death is assaulted but I am at home yet with my God alive Pray for me c. From Newgate Prison in haste the day of my Condemnation I. R. In his Letter to the Congregation two dayes before he suffered Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution for it is given unto them not onely to believe but to suffer and the Servant or Scholar cannot be greater then his Lord or Master but by the same way the Head is entred the Members must follow My dear soul is departing this Life to my great advantage I make change of morality for immortality of corruption to put on incorruption to make my body like to the Corn cast into the ground which except it die first it can bring forth no good fruit Happy are they that die in the Lord which is to die in the Faith of Christ professing and confessing the same before many Witnesses What a Journey by Gods power I have made these eight dayes is above flesh and blood to bear but as Paul saith I may do all things through him who worketh in me Iesus Christ. My course Brethren I have run I have fought a good fight the Crown of Righteousness is laid up for me my day to receive it is not long to Pray Brethren for the enemy doth yet assault Be not ashamed of the Gospel of the Cross by me preached nor of my suffering for with my blood I affirm the same I go before I suffer first the baiting of the Butchers Dogs yet I have not done what I should have done What was undone impute that to frailty and ignorance and with your love cover that which was and is naked in me God knoweth ye are all tender to me My heart bursteth for the love of you Ye are not without the great Pastour of your souls who so loveth you that if men were not to be found as God be praised there is no want of them he would cause stones to minister unto you Cast your care on that Rock the wind of temptation shall not prevail Past and pray for the dayes are evil Look up with your eyes of hope for your redemption is not far off but my wickedness hath deserved that I shall not see it and also that which is behind of the blood of our Brethren which shall also be laid under the Altar shall cry for your relief The Friday at night before Mr. Rough was taken being in his Bed he dreamed That he saw two of the Guard leading Cuthbert Sympson Deacon of the said Congregation and that he had the Book about him wherein were written the Names of all them that were of the Congregation Afterwards he awaked and having told the dream unto his Wife after some time spent in reading he fell asleep again and dreamed the same dream again and awaking told his Wife his dream and said O Brother Cuthbert is gone And whilst he was making ready for to go and see how it was with him Mr. Sympson came into Mr. Rough's House and brought the Book with him Mr. Rough having told him his dream perswaded him to carry the Book no more about with him which he was loth to promise because said he dreams are but fancies and not to be credited Then Mr. Rough straitly charged him in the Name of the Lord to do it Whereupon Mr. Sympson left the Book with Mrs. Rough. And so the Congregation was preserved The next night Mr. Rough dreamed That he himself was forcibly carried to the Bishop and that the Bishop pluckt off his beard and cast it into the fire saying these words Now I may say I have had a piece of an Heretick burned in my House And so accordingly it came to pass Rose Mr. Thomas Rose born at Exmouth in Devon when he was first taken was sorely stocked in Prison The Stocks were very high and great so that day and night he did lie with his back on the ground upon a little straw with his heels so high that by means the blood was fallen from his feet his feet were without sense for a long time His Mother might not be suffered to see him Afterwards Cranmer set him at liberty When he was brought before Gardiner being taken at Bow in London with five and thirty more Winchester told him That he would know who were his Maintainers or else he would make him a foot longer My Lord said he you shall do as much as pleaseth God and no more yet the Law is in your hand but I have God for my Maintainer and none other At his second Examination the Chancellour ask'd him What he said to the real presence in the Sacrament I wist right well said he you are made an instrument to seek innocent blood Well you may have it if God permit it is present and at hand for I came not hither to lie but to die if God see it good in defence of that which I have said Wherefore you may begin when you think good c. At his third Examination the Bishop saying Ah Sirrah you will admit nothing but Scripture I see well No truly my Lord said he I admit nothing but Scripture for the Regiment of the Soul for Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and where the Word of God is not there ought no belief to be given for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Roth. Richard Roth in his Letter to certain Brethren and Sisters condemned at Colchester