the followers of Gods law shall haue to bee deliuered from this woe The sixt Seale tellâ—th the state of the Church in Antichrists limmes the Angels that stood in the foure corners of the earth to hold the foure windes from blowing are the Diuels Ministers the foure windes are the foure Gospels they shall let the preaching thereof and the breath of the Holy Ghost to fall vpon men after this commeth the mysterie of the seuen Seales that Antichrist is come in his owne person whom Iesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth hee and his seruants shall show their vttermost persecution against Christ and his subiects I said in my second principle that it was to be knowne before what Iudge wee must reckon the Iudge is God himselfe that seeth all our deeds and thoughts and euery mans deeds and the secrets of their hearts shall be opened to all the world as Saint Iohn saith the dead men great and small stood about the Throne and bookes were opened and the Booke of Life was opened and the dead were iudged according to their deed written in that Booke this Booke is mens consciences that now are closed but then shall be open to all men the Booke of Life is Christs Gospel which is now hid from the damned through their owne malice in the first book is written all that is done in the second all that should be done therefore look in the Booke of the Conscience whilest thou art heere if thou findest any thing contrarie to Christs example and Doctrine scrape it out with the knife of repentance and write it better I said it were good to know what reward the good shall haue and what reward the wicked shall haue it is written Christ shall come with the same body that was crucified all that shall be saued shall cleaue to him and be rauished meeting him in the ayre they that shall be damned lying vpon the earth Then Christ shall aske account of deeds of mercy reproouing false Christians for leauing them vndone rehearsing the paines that his true seruants haue suffered then the wicked with the Diuell shall goe into euerlasting fire and the righteous into â—uerlasting life then that which is written shall be fulfilled Woe wo to them that dwel on the earth wo to the Paynim that worshipped Idols and other creatures woe to the Iew that trusted too much in the Old Law and despised Christ woe to the false Christian that knew the will of God and did it not and hath not contemplated his mercies and waies and been thankefull for his benefits and hast made thy hart a house of swine a den of theeues by vncleane thoughts and delights thou hast shut God out of thy heart and hee shall shut thée out of heauen thou hast harboured the fiend and thou shalt euer dwell with him in hell thou shouldest haue sung holy holy holy Lord but thou shalt cry woe woe woe to mee but they that bee saued shall ioy in God Ioy all amongst themselues and one of an others saluation how happie bee they that their trauels bee finished and brought to so gracious an end especially that they haue escapt the paines O how happie are they for the endlesse blisse which they haue in the sight of God In this yeare began the Councell of Constance called by Sigismond the Emperour and Pope Iohn the 23. for pacifying a Schisme betwixt three Popes all striuing for the Pope-dome which continued nine and thirty yeares the Italians set vp this Iohn the Frenchmen set vp Gregory the Spaniard set vp Benedict and euery Nation defended his Pope to the great disturbance of Christian Nations this Councell indured foure yéeres wherein all matters were decided most by foure Nations the English Germans French and Italians out of euery Nation was a president there names were Iohn the Patriarch of Antioch for France Anthony Archbishop of Rigen for Italy Nicholas Archbishop of Genesâ—ensis for Germanie and Richard Bishop of Bathe for England the aforesaid Pope Iohn resigned his Pope-dome for which the Emperour thanked him and kissed his féete but after he repented himselfe 〈◊〉 being disguised fled but was taken by the Emperour and put in prison this Pope was deposed by the Decree of the Councell more then fortie most hainous crimes prooued against him as for hiring a Physition to poison Alexander his predecessor and that he was an Heretick a Symoniack a Lier an Hypocrite a Murderer an Inchanter a Dice-player an Adulterer a Sodomite and many others he held a Councell at Rome about foure yeares before and euer when they assembled there was a huge Owle in the place or somewhat else in the shape of an Owle which did alwaies looke so earnestly vpon the Pope which made him still breake vp the Sessions and at length to dissolue the Councell some said it was the Spirit of God in the shape of an Owle indeed there Spirit is better figured in the shape of an Owle then of a Doue The Councell said the way to reforme the Church was to begin a minoritis the Emperour said non a minoritis sed a maioritis there was fiue and forty Sessions in this Councell there was three seuerall Popes deposed in this Councell In the eighth Session was the condemnation of Iohn Wickliffe and his fiue and fortie Articles of his memory and bones to be burned as it is before recited and in the thirtéenth Session was decréed that no Priest vnder paine of excommunication shall communicate vnto the people vnder both kindes of Bread and Wine In the fifteenth Sessions silence was commanded vnder paine of the great curse and that none should make any noise of hand foote or voice and then the condemnation of Iohn Hus was read In the seuenteenth Session the Emperour tooke vpon him a iourney to the King of Arragon to intreat with Pope Benedictus about the resignation of the papacy and an excommunication was denounced against al that should goe about to hinder the Emperours iourney and that the Councell should euery Sunday make prayers and processions for him and an hundred daies of pardon giuen to them that would be present at the said prayers and processions and that all Prelates should then weare their Pontificalibus granting besides to euery Priest that said one Masse for the same an hundred daies pardon and to all other that once a day should say one Pater-noster and one Aue-Mary for the safety of the Emperour forty dayes pardon In the nineteenth Session Ierome of Prage was accused of Heresie cast into prison and forced to abiure In the two and twentieth Session Letters were made and set vpon all Church doores admonishing Duke Frederick to restore George Bishop of Austridge such Lands Kents and Reuenues as hee detayned vnder paine of interdiction suspention and excommunication In the one and twentith Session the Bishop of Londy made a Sermon which being ended Ierome of Prage which had abiured stood vpon a Bench replying against his Sermon
taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
made the Emperor Hen. 4. his wife and his child to wait three daies and three nights bare-foot in winter at his gates to sue to him for his fauor and gaue away his Empire in the meane time This prophecie of Antichrists exaltation aboue Princes is verified in none but the Pope Touching the breadth of his kingdom it is not said he shall exalt himselfe aboue one or two but aboue all that are called God w ch are all Christian rulers spiritual temporal to whom God vouchsafeth this name because hee ruleth and instructeth by them and dwelleth in them if they be good this declareth the large limits of his kingdome And as he is said heere to exalt himselfe aboue all Kings so Reu. 17. 3. he is said to haue ten horns and in ver 12. they are interpreted to be ten Kings which shal giue their power and authority vnto the beast that is to say the beastly Pope and fight with the Lambe that is they shal be the Popes Butchers to destroy Gods children and as the prophecies foretell such an Antichrist as shall raigne ouer all Christian Princes so this storie shall shew thee the true fulfilling of this prophesie in the Pope Touching the length of his Kingdome it is prophecied Antichrist shall raigne three yeares and a halfe and in Reuel 12. three times and a halfe these times and these yeares are all one so is the fortie two moneths Reuel 13. 5. for there be so many moneths in three years and a halfe the same likewise is the 1260. dayes in Reuel 12. 6. for there be iust so many daies in three yeares a halfe at 360. daies to the yeare which was the number of the dayes of the Iewes yeare And it is common with the prophets to set downe a day for a year so by these prophecies Antichrist must raign 1260. yeares which is iust so many yeares as Christ preached daies and Gregory the first sheweth that Antichrist began when one Bishop exalted himselfe aboue all others And though there were manie Popes before him which did exalt themselues aboue all other Bishops yet he would not but haue himself called Seruus seruoruÌ„ Dei Wherefore Sabinianus which succeeded him in the popedom was a malitious detractor of his works as thou maist see in this book Antichrist was not at his height vntill Hildebrand had gotten aboue the Emperor for then he was aboue all that was called God yet Antichrist began when the Bishop of Rome being the least of all the foure Patriarchs exalted himselfe aboue all other Bishops which was about the yeare of Christ 400. for then began pride and superstition to creep into the Church and Anno 666. according to the number of the name of the beast in Reu. 13. 18. Latin seruice was set vp in England and all other places and massâ—s ceremonies letanies and other Romish ware which was long before Hildebrands time And if we account the aforesaid 1260. yeares of Antichrists raigne from thence there remaineth but about 46. yeares to come vntil God shal call together the kings of the earth to destroy Rome Touching the fall of his kingdom Mat. 24. 22. If God should not shorten his kingdom none of Gods children could be saued from his cruelty but for the elects sake Reu. 11. 13. God first destroyed the tenth part of his Kingdom thou mayest note in this book when this prophecie was fulfilled and Reu. 8. at the blowing of the foure first Trumpets the third part of all his kingdom is destroyed which prophecie we see fulfilled at this day for the third part of his kingdom are wholly become Protestants yet Reuel 11. 22. the Church of Antichrist is not heerewith moued to repent of her murders sorceries fornications and thefts but Reu. 18. 7. glorieth her selfe that she is a Queene and shall be no widdow that is shee shall neuer lose her Spouse the Pope therfore shall her plagues come at one day death sorrow and famine and shee shall be burned with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemne her The meanes of her destruction is set forth Reu. 17. 16 the ten kingdomes that first tooke her part against Gods children shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and eate her flesh and burne her with fire for God doth put into their hearts to fulfill his will The manner of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome is declared Reu. 19. 17. as fowles gather together to a dead carkasse so God shall gather all Nations together to warre against Rome and shall take her and the Pope the false Prophet that worketh miracles wherby he deceiued all that receiued his marke and worshipped his Image and they shall not only be destroyed in this world but they shall bee cast aliue into a lake burning with fire and brimstone to wit into eternall damnation and Reu. 18. 20. the Angells and all Gods children are exhorted to reioyce at her destruction and vers 21. Rome shall be destroyed with such violence as a Mill-stone falleth into the Sea and there shall neuer any more Mill grinde any light corne or anie be married in Rome but it shall euer after be a desolate wildernesse as Babylon was They that cannot behold Antichrist in this Glasse 2. Cor. 4. 3. it is a signe the Diuell the God of this world hath blinded their eyes but as Salomon when hee dedicated the Temple prayed God to heare euery one that prayed therein so I beseech God with his holy spirit to illuminate all that shall reade this book that they may plainly see the pope to be Antichrist and to flie from him lest they be partakers of his punishment in this world and in the world to come AN ABSTRACT OF ALL THE HISTORIES OF THE CHVRCH from CHRIST to this day 1614. THE FIRST BOOKE IN describing the whole State of the Primâ—tiue and latter times of the Church First shall be declared the suffering time of the Church 300. yeares after Christ secondly the flourishing time of the Church 300. yeares more then the declining of true Religion 300. yeares more sourthly of the raigne of Antichrist since Sathan was loosed Lastly of the reforming of the Church in this last thrée hundred yeares In the tractation of all which things the Christian Reader may by experience obserue two special points First the Nature of the World Secondly the condition of the Kingdome of Christ By the World is meant all that by ignorance know not Christ and that will not beléeue him or that persecute him The Kingdome of Christ are the beléeuers in Christ and take his part against the World and though they be much fewer then the other and alwaies lightly hatâ—d and molested of the world yet they are they whom the Lord doth blesse and euer will and Christs Subiects which we call the Uiâ—â—bâ—e Church theâ—e are of two sorts first of such as onely outwardly professe Christ secondly of such as by eâ—ection inwardly are ioyned to Christ
the Priest and would 〈◊〉 no â—euerence He said he did well therein Item that he said he doubted whether in the Sacrament of the Altar were the very body of Christ or no. This Article he confessed to be true Item that he beleeued that a man ought not to confesse his sinnes to a Priest This Article he also confessed After he was conuicted and enioyned for penance three whippings about the Cloyster of the Cathedrall Church of Norwich before a solemne Procession barefooted and bare headed as the aforesaid ponitentiaries and to be kept in prison vntill the Bishop came into the Dioces least he should enuenoms the flocke Thus you haue the troubles which in the aforesaid foure yeares hapned in Norfolke and Suffolke hauing shewed certaine notable examples sufficient to declare the rest for their opinions neither their penance did differ otherwise then by these examples may bee seene Thomas Bagley Priest Uicar of Malden being a valiant Disciple and adherent of Wickliffe was condemned by the Bishops of Heresie at London about the middest of Lent and was disgeaded and burned in Smithfâ—eld The same years was Paul Craws a Bohemian taken at Saint Andrewes by the Bishop and deliuered to the Seculer power to be burned for holding contrary opinions touching the Sacrament of the Altar the worshipping of Saints auriculer confession with other of Wickliffes opinions Thomas Rhedon a Frenchman a Carmelits Frier which take their name of Mount Carmelus came with the Uenitian Embassadors into Italy trusting that hee should finde there some by whose good life hee might bée edified but the successe of the matter did frustrate his hope for hee found nothing but hypocritie and golde and siluer in stead of heauenly gifts pompe and pride raigned in place of godlinesse in stéed of learning and studie floâ—hâ—ulnesse and superstition and for Apostlolike simplicity tyranny and hautinesse they did so passe all measure and patiencs that hee could by no meanes refraine his tongue in so great corruption of the Church and by continual preaching got great enuie and hatred The Rulers began to consult together by what meanes they might circumuent this mans life for it is a continuall custome amongst the Prelates that if any man displease them and speake any thing which is hurtfull so their lucre by and by they frame Articles of some heresie against him ouerwhelme him with suspition seeke to intangle him with questions and so condemne him and destroy him This is their godlâ—nesse and peaceable order they gathered these Articles against him That the Church lacketh reformation That it shall be punished and reformed That 〈◊〉 Iewes Turkes and Moores shall be conuerted vnto Christ in the latter daies And that abhominations are vsed at Rome That the vniust excommunication of the Pope is not to be feared and those which doe not obserue the same doe not sinne Eugenius was Pope then this good man Thomas Rheden was taken and brought before him and from thence to prison and after sundry greeuous torments was brought before the Iudges and was condemned to be burned foure yeares after he came to Rome In this yeare the maruellous inuention of Printing was first found out by one Iohn Guttenbergh in Strawsborrow and afterwards by him made perfect in Ments our dayes declare how profitable this hath beene vnto all the world if wee consider that thereby ignorance is vtterly banished the truth declared and the Pope and Antichrist vtterly subuerted which could neuer haue been if this most worthy Science had not been found out for before Bookes were so scarce and at such excesse price that few could thereby attaine to knowledge heerein the prophesie of the Sybils is fulfilled that Flaxe and Lime should ouerthrow Antichrist Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester was for his godlinesse and profession of the Gospell afflicted and tormented and made to recant and after put to death in prison he was brought before Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth in which Conuocation the Duke of Buckingham was present whereas besides many other Articles the presence of bread in the Sacrament was laid vnto Pecock insomuch that the Sacrament the knot of amitie ordained by Christ to the great comfort of the Church through the enuy of Sathan it turned into a matter of most greeuous discord that no matter hath continued so many yeares more pernitious to mans saluation Hee declared many things worthy of a good Diuine they laboured for their dignitie and gaine and so much the more earnestly because they had gotten an Aduersarie whose authoritie the higher it was in the Church iâ— would bring the greater ruine of their tyranny and estimation among the people First the matter was attempted by priuate Coloquies after by a terrible Iudgement threatning present death with threatning exhortations mingled with flattering promises granting him further time to consult that the delay of death might make his life the sweeter They gaue him hope of his life and Dignitie if hee would recant till at length his minde began to quaile by and by a recantation was made by the Bishoppes the effect whereof followeth Which when he declared vnto the people hee did so pronounce that hee was carried againe to prison from whence hee could not bee deliuered but by death The Articles that were mentioned in the Recantation to bee recanted were that first it is not necessarie to beleeue that CHRIST after his death descended into Hell that it is not necessarie to Saluation to beleeue in the Catholicke Church nor to beleeue the Communion of Saints neither the body materiall in the Sacrament and that the vniuersall Church may eâ—re in matters pertaining vnto Faith and that it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the generall Councell Wee shewed before in the latter end of the Councell of Basil how Eugenius was deposed and Foelix Duke of Sauoy elected Pope Wherevpon arose great discords Eugenius sent his Orators into Germany to perswade them to infringe the Councell of Basil and the Dolphin of France set on by the said Eugenius led an armie of fiue and twenty thousand men into Alsatia and laide siege vnto Basil to disturbe the Councell hauing there a great conflict with the Germaines with great slaughter whereby the Councell could not bee kept any longer in Germany but in France through the pragmaticall sanction of the French King After Eugenius brought to passe by the Emperour and his Orators of which Aeneas Siluius was one that they were content to giue ouer the Councell of Basil. Frederick of Austridge not beeing yet Emperour but labouring for the Empire brought to passe that Foelix which was chosen Pope in the Councell of Basil was content to resigne his papacie vnto Nicholas the eight successor to Eugenius of the which Nicholas the said Frederick was confirmed Emperour at Rome and there crowned in the yeere one thousand foure hundred fifty and one This Pope to gather great summes of Mony appointed a Iubile in the yeare of our Lord 1450. there
condemned him of heresie and iudged him to the fire because he had preached since his abiuration and because he taught Saints should not be worshipped nor called vpon as Mediators He would many times proue the paine of the fire by holding his finger neere the Candle but the night before he suffered martyrdome hee held his finger so long that he burnt off the first ioynt Hee was burned in Lollards yit in Norwich with great ioy falling downe before the stake and rising kist it bound himselfe with the Chaine confessing his Faith and animating the people to stand fast in the truth of Gods Word and to suffer for it Sir Thomas Moore beeing Chancellor of England when those should burne Bilney required of him a Letter of his hand whereby they might â—ee discharged after his death He said goe too fellowes burne him first then come to me after for a Bill of my hand The Story of the valiant Martyr Maister BAYFIELD THis Bayfield was a Monk of Bury and for his Religion he was 〈◊〉 in the prison of his house and whipped with a gagge in his mouth and then â—â—ocked and continued in the same torments thrée quarters of a yeere and then hee was committed to Doctor Barnes to goâ— to Cambridge with him when he had been theâ—e a whole yeare he tasted good learning so well that he neuer returned vnto his Abbey againe but went to London to Maxwell and Stacy they kept him secret a while and conuayed him beyond Sea Doctor Barnes being in the Fléete for Gods Word This Bayfield mightily prospered in the knowledge of God and was veneficiall to Maister Tindall and Frith for he brought substance with him and sould their works for them And at last comming to London to M. Smithes house in â—â—cklers Bury he was betrayed and dogged to his Book-â—inders house in Marke Lane there taken carried vnto Lolards Tower from thence taken carried to the Cole-house because one Patmore Parson of Much-Haddam in Essex then liuing in Lolards tower was confirmed in the Doctrine of Christ by him there hee was tyed by the neck middle and legges standing vpâ—ight by the walles diuers times manacled to accuse others that had bought his Bookes but he accused none but stood in his Faith vnto the end He was in the Consistory of Paules put to his tryall whether he would abiure or no he said he would dispute for his Faith and so did to their great shame Stokesley being their Iudge with others hee was condemned for bringing ouer and selling hereticall Bookes and because before time he was accused to the Bishop of London for affirming certaine Articles contrarie to the Church and especially that all land should be giuen to God and not to Saints or Creatures and that euery Priest might preach the Word of God by the authoritie of the Gospell and néed not to runne to the Pope or Cardinals for licence and that hee abâ—ured and hath since preached the like Doctrines When they asked him what he had to say why he should not haue his Iudgement Hee said with a vehement spirit to the Bishop of London your liuing of the spiritualty is so euill that you be hereticks and you maintaine euill liuing and let that true liuing may not be knowne and that their liuing neither their beleefe is according to Christs Gospell Then the Bishop read the sentence against him and disgraded him hee knéeling vpon the highest step of the Altar in Paules He tooke the Crosieâ— staffe and smote him on the brest that he threw him downe backwards and brake his head and he sounded and when he came to himselfe againe he thanked God that he was deliuered from the malignant Church of Antichrist and that he was come into the true Church and that he trusted anon to bee in heauen with Iesus Christ and the triumphant Church for euer Then he was led againe to Newgate continued there in prayer an houre and thence went to the fire ioifully and was thrée quarters of an houre aliue in the fire and when the left arm was burned he rubbed it with his right hand it fell from his body and he continued in prayer to the end without mouing The History of M r Iohn Tewxbury Cittizen and Lether-Dresser of London IN all points of Religion and the point of iustification he disputed most openly in the Bishops Chappell with such prompt and expert answers that Tunstall and all his learned men were ashamed This disputation continued a senight then he was sent to my L. Chancellor Sir Thomas Moore to Chelsey and there he lay in the porters Lodge hand foote and head in the stockes six daies Then he was carried to Iesus Tree in the Garden where he was whipped and also twisted in his browes with small ropes that the bloud start out of his eyes and yet would accuse no man Then he was racked in the Tower and there promised to retant at Paules Crosse. After he came to S. Austens with a new Testament in his hand and stood vp before the people in a Pew and declared openly with teares that he had denied God and prayed the people to forgiue him and to beware of his weaknesse not to doe as he had done for if I should not turne againe to this truth hauing the New Testament in his hand he said this Booke Gods Word would damne mee body and soule and he prayed euery body to doe as hee had done for hee would not feele such a hell againe as he had done not for all the worlds good and immediately hee was carried to the Bishop of London and after he was burned in Smithfield and died a glorious Martyr In his Disputations the Bishop proposed these Articles out of the Booke called the Booke of the wicked Mammon and hee affirmed them TEwxbery A man should doe good works for the loue of God onely and for no hope of reward higher or lower in heauen for if he should it were presumption being asked whether faith only iustifieth he said if he should desire heauen by works hee were greatly to blame for workes followe Faith and Christ redéemed vs by his death the diuell holdeth our hearts so hard that it is impossible for vs to consent to Gods Law and that the Law of God suffereth no merits nor any man to bee Iustified in the sight of God and that the Law of God commandeth things impossible and as the good tree bringeth forth good fruit so there is no Law to him that beleeueth and is iustified by faith and all good workes must be done without respect of any profit thereby for they deserue no reward of God and that the Diuel is not east out by the merits of fasting and prayer Item We cannot loue God except we sée first his loue and kindnes to vs whilst we are vnder the Law wee sée nothing but â—inne and damnation and the wrath of God and cannot but hate him as a tyrant and
and for his contempt and misdemeanor deposed Gardener Bishop of Winchester with Tunstall Bishop of Durham were cast into the Tower for their disobedience In this time of King Edward vnder this noble Protectoâ— this one commendation is proper vnto them that amongst all the Popish â—ort of whom some priuily stâ—le out of the Realme manie were craftie dissemblers some open aduersaries â— yet there was not one that lost his life during the whole time of the Raigne of this King for any matter of Religion Papist or Protestant except lone of Kentan English woman and one George a Dutchman who died for certaine Articles not necessarie to be rehearsed THOMAS DOBBE THis man in the beginning of King Edwards Raigne comming from S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge to London as he passed through Paules Church there was a Priest at Masse at the South side of the Church being at the eleuation this yong man repleate with godly zeale pittying the ignorance and Idolatry of the people in honouring that which the Priest lifted vp he exhorted the people not to honour that visible bread as God which was neither God nor ordained of God to be honoured wherefore he was apprehended by the Mayor and accused to the Bishop of Canterburie and was committed to the Counter in Bread-stréete where shortly falling sicke he died whose pardon was obtained of the Lord Protector if he had liued IOHN HVNNE IN the first yeare of the Kings raigâ—e one Master Lewnax of Wresell and his wife sent this Iohn Hunne their seruant vnto the Bishop of Canterbury for denying the flesh and bloud of Christ to be really in the Sacrament of the Altar and saying he would neuer vaile his Hatte to it if he should be burned for it and that if he should heare masse he should be damned But because I finde nothing done therein I leaue it When this godly yong Prince was peaceably established in his Kingdome and had a godly wise and zealous Councell about him especially the Duke of Sommerset he earnestly desired the aduancement of the true honour of God and planting of sincere Religion and the sâ—ppressing of all Idolatry Superstition and hypocrisie throughout his Dominions Following the good example of the good King Iosias and being he found most of his Lawes repugnant to his zealous enterprise He by the aduice of his wise and Honorable Councell of his own regall authoritie did prosecute his godly purpose vntill by consent of the whole estate of Parliament he might establish a more free and vniforme order and those certaine wiâ—e learned and discreet personages for Commissioners generally to visit all the Bishopricks of this Realme to vnderstand and redresse the abuses of the same and diuided them into seuerall companies and assigned them seuerall Diocesses to be visited appointing to euery company one or two godly Preachers which should preach to the people at euery Sessions the true Doctrine of the Gospell of Christ and exhort them to all loue and obedience of the same and earnestly dehort them from their old superstition and wonted Idolatry and that they might the more orderly be directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certaine iniunctions and Ecclestasticall orders drawne out by the Kings learned Councell the which they should both inquire of and also command in his Maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whom they did seuerally appertaine within their seuerall circuits the which Iniunctions if thou beest disposed for to reade I leaue thee for breuitie to the Booke at large Now during the time the Commissioners were in their circuits about diligent execution of their godly and zealous orders of the King and Councell deâ—iring a further reformation as well in Ecclesiasticall as in Ciuill gouernment appointed a Parliament to be summoned on the fourth of Nouember in the first yeare of his raigne which continued vntill the twenty foure day of December then next following Whereby he caused to be enacted that all Acts of Parliaments and Statutes touching menciâ—ning or any wise concerning Religion or opinions to wit the Statute of the first yeare of Richard the second and the statute made in the second yeare of the raign of Henry the fift and the statute madâ— in the fiftéenth yeare of the raigne of Henry the eight concerning the punishments and reformation of Hereticks and Lolards and the sixe Articles made in the thirty one yeare of Henry the eight and the statute made in the thirty thrée year of Henry the eight against the bookes of the old and new Testament in English and the printing and vttering of English or bookes writings and preaching the Scriptures an another Statute in the 35. yeare of Henry the eyght touching the qualification of the Statâ—te of sixe Articles and aâ—l and euery other Act or Acts of Parliament concerning Doctrine or matters of Religion should from thenceforth bee repealed and of none effect by occasion whereof all his godly subiects abiding within the Realme had free liberâ—y to professe the gospell and those beyond Sea wer not onely licensed to retâ—rne home but incouraged bouldly and faithfully to trauell in their calling so that God was much glorified and the people edified And in this Parliament it was enacted that the Sacrament should be ministred in both kinde and letters missiue were sent frâ—m the Councell to the Bishops of the Realme concerning the communion to bee ministred in both kinds and from Bishop to Bishop as thou maist sée in the booke at large Another Parliament was assembled in the second yeare of his Raigne beginning vppon the foorth day of Nouember 1548. continuing vntill the 14. day of March wherein a booke in English intituled the Booke of Common prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other Rightes and Ceremonies of the Church after the vse of the Church of England was concluded vppon by the Clergy which his highnesse receauing with great comfort did exhibiâ—â— it vnto the Lords and Commons of the Parliament who for the honour of God and great quietnesse which by the grace of God should ensue vppon that one vniforme right and order in such Common prayer rites and externe Ceremonies to bee vsed throughout England Wales Calice and the Marches of the same authoriseâ— the sayd Booke by Act of Parliament and set great penalty vpon them that woâ—ld bee disobeâ—ient thereto as is to be seene in the booke at large Aâ—so the mariage of Priests was authorized by the sayd Parliament by these procéedings and the Iniunctions which thou maiest see in the book at large thou maiest well perceaue the great zeale of the King and the Lord Protector in reformation of tâ—ue Religion and also the lingring slacknesse on the other side of others especially of the Bishops and old Popish Curats by whose cloked contempt and wilfull winking the Booke of Common prayers was long after the publishing thereof very irreuerently vsed throughout many places of this Realme which when the King by diuers
vpon that condition They would not suffer him to speake to the people He was somewhat long a dying by reason of the â—lacknes of the â—â—re which hee bare wondrous patiently in so much as the people said he was a Martyr which caused the Bishop shortly after to make a Sermon in the Cathedrall Church wherein he affirmed that George Marsh was an hereticks burned like an hereticke and a fire-brand in hell in short time after the iust iudgement of God appeared vpon the said Bishop through his adulterous behauiour he was burned with a harlot and died thereof William Flower alias Branch THis William was borne at Snow-hill in the County of Cambridge after he owelt at Lambeth and comming ouer the water to Saint Margarets Church at Westminster where he seeing a Priest at masse being greatly offended in his conscience hee wounded him on the head whereupon hee was apprehended and layde in the Gate-house at Westminster â—and from thence beeing brought vnto Bonner and being examined he said he came of purpose to doe it and when hee saw the people to kneele downe and giue the honour of GOD vnto a piece of Bread hee could not possibly forbeare any longer but drew forth his Hanger and smote the Priest the Witnesses proued that he smote him on the head arme and hand and that he bled aboundantly and that hauing a Calice full of consecrated Hosts the Hosts were besprinkled with the bloud The Bishop offered that he should be pardoned if he would recant his opinion of the Sacrament and returne to the holy Church He answered Doe what you will I am at a point for the heauens shall assoone fall as I will forsake mine opinion He was often called before the Bishop but when neither by flatteries nor threatning he would not 〈◊〉 he was condemned At his burning he was most cruelly handled his right hand was hold against â—he stake and strucken off at which striking hee in no part of his body did once shrinke to his burning little wood was brought not sufficient to burne him but they were faine to strike him downe into the fire Iohn Cardmaker alias Taylour and Iohn Warne Vpholster of Saint Iohns in Walbroke in London THese two were condemned by Boner for holding that there was no transubstantiation in the Sacrament and denying the carnall reall and corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament This Cardmaker was one of the Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Welles Hee was apprehended and â—aken by the Bishop of Bathe and committed prisoner vnto the Fleete in London the lawes of King Edward being yet in force but afterward when they had restored their old popish lawes by Act of Parliament these two namely Cardmaker and Warne were brought to 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor who offered them the Queenes pardon if they would recant Wherevpon they made such an answere as the Lord Chancellor and his fellowes allowed them for Catholicke but it was but for a further aduantage and that they might haue some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the 〈◊〉 of the rest which were to bee examined and to all that after were examined they commended Cardmaker and one Barlow for sobernesse discretion and learning which Barlow was for all his good answers led to the Fleete from whence being deliuered did by exile constantly bear witnes to the truth of the Gospell Cardmaker was conuayed to the Counter in Breadstreet the Papists hauing a certaine hope that Cardmaker was become theirs diuers of them confâ—rred with him in the end he required them to put their reasons in writing and then hee would answere them in writing which was done but they neuer came vnto our handes When Warne and he were brought together to Smithfield to be burned the Sherife called Cardmaker aside and talked with him secretly so long that Warne had made his prayers and was chained to the stake and wood and â—eeds set to him The people thought sure Cardmaker would haue recanted but when they saw him put off his clothes and go boldly to the stake and kisse it and shake Warn by the hand and did him be of good comfort they cried out for ioy with so great a shoute as a greater hath not beene heard saying God be praised the Lord strengthen thée Cardmaker the Lord receiue thy spirit thus they both through the fire passed into the ioyes of heauen William Tooly Poulterer of London HEe was hanged for robbing a Spaniard at S. Iames and in his prayer at the Gallowes which was neere Charing-crosse hee prayed God to deliuer vs from the tyrannie of Rome and all the Popes detestable enormities to which all the people said Amen And being hanged and buried the Mitred Priests tooke this grieuously and after consultations what was best to be done there was a Mandate of Bonner set vp at Charing-crosse on Paules Church doore and at Saint Martins in the Fieldes for the citing of Tooly hanged a little before to appear before the said Bishop for heresie where after many witnesses examined he was suspended excommunicated condemned and committed to the secular power to wit the Sherifes of London who digged him vp layde his dead body on the fire and burned it THOMAS HAVKES HEe was sent to London to Bonner for not suffering of his childe to be christened in three weekes he tolde the Bishop the reason was because their baptizing was against the word of God there being in it so many things which haue 〈◊〉 inuented by men as Oyle Creame Salt Spittle Candle and coniuring of water c. Bonner The Catholike Church hath taught it and your fathers and the whole world haue béene conteâ—ted therewith he answered I haue nothing to doe what they haue done what God commandeth me to that stand I. One said I was too curious for ye will haue nothing said he but your little pretty Gods booke I asked if it were not sufficient for our saluation Yes said hee but not for our instruction I said GOD send me the saluation and you the instruction Bonner Would you be content to haue your childe christened after the Order set forth in K. Edwards time Haukes Yes said I that is my desire then he said you are a stubborn young man I must take another course with you I told him he was in the handes of God and so am I. Then the Bishop would haue had me to Euenâ—song with him I tolde him I would not pray in that place nor in none such One of his Chaplaines said let him goe my Lord and he shall be no pertaker with vs in our prayers I told them I thought my selfe best when I was farthest from them The Bishop sent for me and Harpsfield was with him then the Bishop said this is the man I told you of that would not haue his childe christened nor will haue no ceremonies Harps Christ vsed ceremonies when he tooke clay and spittle and made the blinde man sée Haukes Christ vsed it not in Baptisme if you
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens