Canterbury and to the Vicâ—châ—ncellor of Oxford Robert Riggs who was himself a fâ—vourer of Wickliff and for which he was afterwards displaced As to Wickliff himself he was fâ—in to sly and hide himself from the persecution of the Popish Prelats but God preserved him from their Malice and at last repairing to his parish of Luttâ—rworth where he was Parson he quietly and in Peace departed this Life about the beginning of the year 1384. But though they could not fully reak their malice on him whilst he lived yet when dead they shewed all the spite imaginable against his Books and Bones for at Oxford they caused all his Books they could light on to be publickly burnt They say he had wrote 200 volumes being a most painful sedulous writer as well as preacher of whom and of whose holy and godly life and Conversation the whole University of Oxford gave a publick Testimony under their hands and Seal in the Year 1406. Whose Doctrines also were publickly defended by John Hus of Bohemia who was martyred for the same But for all this the Popish Clergies inveterate malice against Wickliff appeared 41 years after he was buried for by a Decree of the Synod of Constance they caused this holy mans Bones to be dug out of his Grave and burnt and the Ashes to be flung into the River The Doctrine of Wickliff notwithstanding daily increased to the no small grief of the Popish Clergy and his Followers or those professing his Doctrines which were contrary to those of the corrupt Romish Church and many of them or most of them such as the Protestants now hold began then to be called Lollards for they had then Nick-names as well as now for such as profest the purer Light of the Gospel After Wickliff was gone they set themselves to suppress these Lollards as they called them the Pope interpreting the Word from Lollum Cocle or Darnel and one William Swinderly a Priest in 1389. was brought into great trouble by these men for holding and preaching some of Wickliff's Doctrines and was condemned by the Bishop of Hereford for an Heretick but Swinderly appealed to the King and to the Parliament and during King Richard's Reign he was protected from their Violence but it is thought he suffered Martyrdom afterwards in the days of King Hen. 4. when the Popish Clergy had got more power About the same time also they persecuted Walter Brute a Lay-Man but bred up in the Vniversity at Oxford and a graduate there accusing him of Heresie and for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was not the very Body of Christ but a sign and memorial of him and that he had avouched the Pope to be Antichrist and that the Sentence given against Swinderly was unjust For these things he is brought before the Bishop of Hereford where he learnedly maintained his Assertions against them but being put to horrible Trouble and Vexation was forced at last to make a Submission which was that he submitted to the Censure of the Gospel the Church and General Councils and to St. Augustine Jerom Ambrose and Gregory and to his Bishop as his Subject And so he escaped at that time but whether he suffered afterwards is uncertain About this time Pope Boniface the 9th made a Bull against the Lollards and sent it to King Richard 2d who by the Instigation of Courtney then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford the Popes Legat issued out his Letters against the Lollards as Hereticks so that by this means many were forced to do Pennance and to abjure many were imprisoned and evilly intreated but during his Reign none were burnt The manner of doing Pennance The Town of Leicester was interdicted and many of them forced to do Pennance which was after this manner They went about the Cross bare-footed and bare-headed and nothing on their Bodies both Men and Women but their Shifts in one Hand a Crucifix in the other a large Wax Taper lighted and from thence marched to the Cathedral where they stood after they had made a procession about the Church all the time of Mass this also to be done three times during the Market After this manner they sought to punish such as made profession of the Gospel And about the same time the Londoners favouring one Peter Pateshull an Austin-Friar who having embraced the Doctrines of Wickliff preached against the corruptions of his Order many of them were converted by him and the Doctrines of Wickliff spread very much in the City For which they were malic'd by the Bishops and complained oâ— to the King who was so incensed against the Mayor and Sheriffs that he removed them from their Office and made Sir Edward Darlington Warden of the City and then removed his Court and the Terms to York thinking thereby to dispight the Londoners But this so alienated their Hearts that by losing their Love he also not long after lost his Crown and Life to Henry Duke of Lancaster called Henry the 4th The first Act for burning of Hereticks William Sawtry the first that was burnt Henry the 4th being but an Usurper and Tyrant was fain to comply with the Prelatical Clergy who had a great stroke in deposing their lawful Prince that he might the better assure himself of the Crown which he had unjustly taken Till now the Sufferings and Persecutions of the Lollards or such as made a profession of the purer Light of the Gospel was but slight in comparison of what they now began to suffer for there was as yet no Law for to put an Heretick to Death though they had made use of the afore-mentioned Statute in the 5th Year of King R 2d to molest trouble and imprison good and pious men but now in the 2d Year of this King Henry the 4th they obtained a Law or Statute for the burning alive such as were convict of Heresie made especially against the Lollards and the first that so suffered upon this Statute was William Sawtry the Parish Priest of St. Scithes in London who had preached against worshipping the Cross and the Images of Saints against Pilgrimages and Transubstantiation and other Popish Heresies for which he was cited before the Bishops and convicted of as they called it Heresie and then publickly degraded of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments aâ—d made a Lay-man and then delivered over to the secular Power to be put to death according to the new made Law which they had with great joy obtained for the extirpating the Lollards Thus the King who had deposed his lawful Prince and usurpt the Crown was the first that put men to death for Religion in England by the unmerciful burning of their Bodies at the Instigation of the cruel Popish Prelates And this William Sawtry was the first that so suffered for the Gospel by the Papists in England who was burnt Anno 1400. The burning of John Badby Taylor After this unusual Exeâ—ution of Sawtry a great fear and dread fell upon all the People but yet
God would not leave his People without Testimony for notwithstanding this cruel Act many maintained the Trâ—ch and among the rest one John Badby an Artificer and Lay-man who w â—â—he next thâ—t suffered in the Year 1409. He was convicted before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbuâ—y with other Bishops his Assistants of certain Articles in which he is said to affirm that the consecrated Wafer was not the real Body of Christ which he averred to be true to the face of all the Bishops and gave his Reasons for the same upon which they pronounced Sentence against him as an Heretick he remaining constant to the Death and could not be wrought upon by any persuasions to give his Conscience the Lye upon which he was delivered over to the secular Power who had got the Kings Writ ad combâ—rendum Haereticum by force of which he was brought to Smithfield and there put into an empty Barrel and bound with Chains to a stake with Fagots a bout him and being in this posture they brought the Sacrament to him in great Pomp asking him how he believed it and whether he would yet recant and save his Life but he told them he believed it to be hallowed Bread and not Gods Body upon which they set Fire to the Fagots upon the seeling of which he cried Mercy and the Prince being present caused the sire to be withdrawn endeavouring to save him and promising him a Pension but he refused all remaining constant inflamed with the Love of God and calling on the name of Jesus the Fire was renewed and he was burnt to Ashes The Statute Ex Officio The Cruelties of the Popish Bishops with their power more and more encreasing by their influence on the said King in the same Parliament they procured the Statute Ex Officio in which it was enacted that no man within the Realm should preach privily or openly without Licence obtained of the Ordinary nor that any should presume to teach preach or write any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith or determination of the holy Church as they then called that of Rome nor keep or frequent any Conventicles or any manner of Schools touching the Sect of the Wickliffians And that any person having any heretical Books Writings or Schrols containing the Wicked Doctrines of Wickliff should within 40 days after Proclamation of this Statute bring them to the Ordinary of the place And if any shall do contrary to any of these Commands the Ordinary by vertue of this Statute within the precincts of his Diccess may imprison them at his pleasure in his own prisons or any others vehemently suspected to be infected with or a favourer of such Doctrines and heretical Opinions until he or they shall by order of Law purge themselves of such Opinions or else openly recant the same And that also the said Ordinary have power to fine such person or persons for the King and to return such Fines into the Exchequer and further such person or persons convict by the Ordinary and his Commissaries he may keep him or them in their own prisons at his Discretion and further if the said persons so convicted remain obstinate and will not abjure or recant their Opinions that then they shall be delivered over to the secular power and the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers of the County City or Burrough being present after Sentence pronounced against them shall take the persons so offending and sentenced and cause them to be openly burnt in the sight of the people The Arch-Bishops Constitutions This cruel Statute being obtained the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel put forth certain Constitutions to be observed That no man should undertake to preach without a Licence from the Ordinary and they to be limited what to say That none should suffer any to preach in their Churches unless they produce such Authority That whosoever should preach contrary to order should be severely punished by his Ordinary That no School-Masters shall teach Children any thing of Religion nor suffer their Scholars to expound the Scriptures nor permit them to dispute concerning the Catholick Faith the Sacraments c That none of Wickliffs Books be kept in any School house or place nor Sold by any Bookseller That no man dare to undertake to translate the Scriptures or any part of them into English That no publick disputes be made concerning the Sacrament or any other points of the Catholick Faith None to speak against Images processions Tapers Crucifixes c. under penalty of being proceeded against as Hereticks With several others of the like kind which I here omit But by this the Reader may judge what Tyranny oppression and cruelty goes along with the Popish Religion and what we must expect to have here again if ever it comes to be set up in this Realm which God forbid Notwithstanding all this severity many thorowout the Land professed the Gospel some Publickly and others privately some stoutly induring Persecution and others through fear forced against their Consciences to Recant Among the rest one William Thorp was very much persecuted by the Arch-Bishop Arundel who in a very learned manner defended himself wrote a certain book called his Testament in which he fully laid open the corruptions and vices of the Popish clergy What became of this man is uncertain but 't is most likely that he died in their Prisons for they kept many in perpetual durance and obscure that none could tell what became of them So one John Ashton another professor was kept in Prison till he dyed in the year 1382. Poor men doing Pennance John Purvey also had great trouble about the same time by the said Arch-Bishop who at last was forced to Recant to get out of their cruel clutches This proud and imperious Prelat Arundel caused several poor men for neglect of bringing straw to his Stables as they were ordered to undergo penance bare footed and bare headed with each a great burthen of straw at his back going before the procession on which some one wrote these verses These Baggs full of straw we bear on our backs Because my Lords Horse his Litter did Lack If ye be not good to my Lord Graces horse Ye are like to go barefoot before the Cross After the Death of King Henry the 4 in the year of the Reign of his Son King H. 5th the Prelats procured another statute de Comburendo Heretico in which it was ordained that all such who would not abjure these opinions of the Lollards contrary to the received Catholick Faith should after conviction forfeit all their goods and chattels and their bodies openly burnt alive And upon this and the former statute Sr. Roger Acton Knight John Brown John Beverly and others to the number of 36 persons were burnt in St. Gyles's fields in January 1413. The cruel Persecution of the Lord Cobham The next noted man who was persecuted by these Tyrannical bloodsuckers was Sr. John Oldcastle Ld. Cobham who was a favourer
without Abjuration and all their goods forfeited to the King and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law to deny them without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary The second being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds that it ought not to be given to the Laity The 3d that Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of chastity ought to be observ'd 5. That private Mosses are agreeable to God's Law 6. That auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be received c. and upon these Articles was granted by the same Parliament a bloody and Cruel Inquisition directed to certain persons in every shire and County to enquire into all such Heresies Felonies Contempts c. committed or done by any that they might suffer according to the Law These Articles were opposed openly in Parliament by Cranmeâ— Archbishop of Canterbury who afterwards suffâ—red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary as shall be declared And among these we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who lost his Life in the cause of God by the craft and policy of his Popish Adversaâ—ies but since it had some other shew than that of Religion only we shall let it pass and proceed to others Dr. Barnes Martyr After the Death of the Lord Cromwell Gardner raged against all that opposed the Papal power at his pleasure having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds and now 3 noted Divines suffered together in Smithfield which I shall briefly mention The first was Doctor Robert Barnes who having been bred abroad at Lovain and also at the University of Cambridg was made Prior and Master of the House of the Augustines where much to his praise he advanced the knowledg of good Letters and caused the Epistles of St. Paul to be read causing disputations of the same publickly which seemed strange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars His first Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge the Sunday before Christmass day for which he was accused of Heresie by two Fellows of Kings Hall and Articles drawn up against him and not long after he was publickly arrested by a Serjeant at Arms from London and the University was searched for Luthers Books Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London and brought before Cardinal Woolsie who was then in power After a long discourse with him the Cardinal being highly offended with him for his preaching against his Pomp Power and Dignity seeing he could not cause him to recant but stood in the justification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conscience the Scriptures he sent him to the Fleet from whence he was had again before the Cardinal and by the importunity of Gardner Fox and others he was perswaded at last to abjure and with some of the men of the Stillyard accused also for Lollardy he publickely bore a faggot After which he was remanded to the Fleet and thence was removed to Austins Fryer's in London where being Complained against to the Cardinal by those who sought his Life he was removed again to Austin Fryer's in Northampton with intent to have him burnt But he escaped thence leaving a Letter as if thorow despair h ehad gone to drown himself that they might not pursue him so that whilst they were searching the River for his Body he made his escape to London and thence beyond the seas where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum with a supplication to King Henry There he grew Familiar with Luther Melancthon Pomeran the Duke of Saxony and others and was not long after sent over by the King of Denmark as his Ambassador into England where Sir Tho. Moor sought his Life but Cromwell stood his friend After that in the time of Queen Ann he returned into England and was sent by the King as his Embassador to the Duke of Cleve But Gardner getting into the favour of the King never left till he had undermined Dr. Barneâ— who was at last sent to the Tower together with Thomas Garrat and Mr. Hierom from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom Thomas Garrat and William Hierom Martyrs Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London and having received the knowledge of the truth endeavoured all he could to promote it and haveing a parcel of Tyndols translation of the new Testament and other books treating of the Scriptures he went privately to Oxf rd to sell them there to those he knew well affâ—cted to the Gospel But his Adversarâ—es having their spies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 â—nd immâ—dâ—aâ—â— some were sent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford that they might be both burnt together and after great search he was taken but made his escape intending to fly into the west but was pursued and taken again and imprisoned and after much trouble was forced agâ—inst his Conscience to abjure After which he fled again from place to place for fear of his persecutors but was tâ—kâ—◠〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adversaries and sâ—nt to the Tower from whence he was câ—râ—â—ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome The Death of Barnes Gaâ—ret and Hierom. The 3d Companion in this glorious suffering was Mr William Hierâ—â— who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word for the comfort and edification of the People and had preached divers sermons with intent to implant in the Consciences of men the sincere Truth of Christian Religion and to weed out of mens minds traditions dreams and Popish fansies in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papists who were utter enemies of the Gospel of Christ and for this they sought this good man's Life The occasion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Cross the fourth Sunday in Lent in which speaking of Sarah and Hagar he said those who were born of the free Woman were freely Justified and the one would think nothing of false doctrine or Heresie could be gathered from these words yet he was charged therewith and convented before the King at Westminster for that he had erroneously taught the people that all that were born of Sarah were freely justified absolutely without Condition either of Baptism or Penance c. Several other things were objected against him and he was at last sent to the Tower in order to his Execution we have spoken of these 3 Martyrs severally we shall now joyn them together as fellow sufferers and Martyrs About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell a process was issued out against these three men by means of See Gardner to which they were never brought to Answer but on the 30th of July being Condemned without their knowing the cause and without any hearing were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt Then Dr. Barnes made his protestation against several false
called to â—â—ke a Benefice in London being Allhallows Bread-â—â—eet which he accepted and being minded to â—â—ve over that in the Country he went thither much about the time that Queen Mary came to the Crown At which time preaching at Northampton â—reat exceptions were taken at his sermon by the Papists for that he inveighed against the Popish Religion as Antichristian After this they had a malicious eye against him and sought for his blood which he perceived but seeing he could not now â—esign his Benefice but into the Hands of a Papist â—e kept both constantly preaching sometimes at â—ondon and sometimes in the Country till the proâ—â—bition came forth which we before mentioned â—et his Conscience not giving him leave to desist tho â—e foresaw the danger he should incurr he continuâ—â—d to preach the Gospel and would not fly the Realm tho advised to it by his friends And it was not long after that preaching at his cure in London he was aâ—prehended by the order of Bishop Bonner and carried out of the Church and brought before him where the Bishop accused him of Treason and Herâ—sie to which Mr. Saunders answered with much sobriety endeavouring to prove he had done nothing against the Laws or spoke contrary to the Dâ—ctrine of Christ and his Apostles After much talk the Bishop bid him to write down his mind concerning Transubstantiation or the Real presence in the Sacrament Mr. Sauâ—ders perceived that Bonner fought his Life my Lord said he you seek Blood and you shall have it I pray God that you may be baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood sucking and become a better man And upon this he wrote his mind boldly not fearing what they could doe being willing to seal to the Testimony of the Gospel with his Death From him he was sent to the Chancellor Gardner who after Examination before him being secretly nipped by Mr. Saunders answers for that he had in the days of King Henry the 8th written a book treating of true obedience in which he openly declared the Princess Mary to be illegitimate sent him to prison from whence he was had before the Council and after several examinations he was condemned after which Mr. Saunders at his goeing away said that he did preach sincerely the word in its purity and thâ— he now was forbidden by them to do it with his mouth yet he doubted not but that his blood would do the same He was sent to prison where he continued a year and 3 months in which time one that was his Bedfellow declared that he had often heard Mr. Saunders say that he felt the power of God upon him wonderfully comforting him insomuch that not only his Spirit but his Body also received a tast of the Communion of Saints whilst he felt 〈◊〉 sweet and pleasant refreshing flow thorow every part and member thereof from the heart ebbing and flowing like a tide of sweet and Spiritual flame thorow his whole body But such was their cruelty that in all this time by the Bishops order they would not suffer his Wife to come to see him she several times attempted it but one day intreating the Keeper with her young Child in her Arms the Keeper took the Child and carried him being a Boy to his father which rejoyced the Heart of Mr. Saunders who said what man would not lay his Life down before he would make such a fine Child a Bastard and its Mother a Whore as I must if I embrace the Religion of Rome At last Bonner came to the prison where he was and degraded him and then delivered him over to the Secular Power after he was Excommunicated to be burnt for an Heretick The Sheriff of London took him and carried him to the Counter in Bread-street his own Parish but he stayed not long there because an order was signed for his burning in Coventry to which place he was carried and put into the Common Goal where he spent the night in prayers and the next day being the 8th of February he was led to execution in the Park without the City going in an old Gown and a shirt bare footed falling often flat on his face and praying to himself When he came to the Stake a pardon was â—ffer'd him if he would recant but he refused it saying it is not I nor my fellow Preachers that hurt â—he Queen or the Realm but such as you speaking to 〈◊〉 officers who resist Gods holy word and I shall never woke the Truth of what I have taught and openly â—â—intained Upon that they cryed our away with â—im to the fire to which he went with a chearfull Countenance nothing daunted and coming to the take Kissed it Crying Welcome Life Welcome the â—ross of Christ After they had chained him fast they â—â—t fire to the fewell which being green smothered â—nd would not burn clearly so that they put this â—oly Martyr to intollerable pain which he yet â—â—â—tained with admirable patience till he fell aâ—â—eep in the Lord at last in the midst of the fire The Martyrdom of Bishop Hooper The next most godly Martyr who suffered for the Gospel of Christ by the cruel and bloody Papists was that most Reverend and Holy Bishop both oâ— Gâ—ocester and Worcester and who was burnt at Gâ—â—câ—ster Feb. 9th 1555. This man was bred a Student in the University of Oxford where he led a pious and sober Life and was a good Schoâ—lar but in the time of persecution in King Hen. 8th days he was forced to leave the University and to become Steward to Sr. Thâ—mas Arundel but Sâ— Thomas being a Papist tho he loved Mr. Hooper yet looking on him as an Heretick he would not keep him buâ— sent him privately to the Bishop of Winchester that he might Convert him but the Bishop not being able to answer Mr. Hoopers solid Arguments seâ—â— him back to his Master but intending to do him 〈◊〉 mischief he being a Constant persecutor of all good People but Mr. Hooper having notice of it left Sr. Tho. Arundels House and service and got overseas to Paris where he stayed not long before he returned for England and was retained by one Mr St. Lowe but he was not long there before notiâ—â— was given of him and he was fain to disguise himself and fly over to Ireland from whence he weâ—â— to France and thorow France into Germany wherâ— he remained both at Basil and at Zurick in thâ— company of several Protestant Ministers who weâ—â— great friends to him and where he Married a wiâ—â— who was a Burgundian Here he stayed till thâ— Reign of the pious King Ed. 6th when desirous tâ—â— see his native Country he took leave of his friendâ— and among the rest the famous Mr. Bullinger whâ— at parting desired him not to forger them when 〈◊〉 prosperity in his own Land tho he should be madâ— a Bishop to whom Mr. Hooper prophetically râ—plyed that he would constantly write to them 〈◊〉 that he should not be
â—ashforâ—â— being the d ngâ—â—er â—f onâ— Robert Lâ—shford a Cutler who dying her Mother married John Warren an Upholster of whose Maâ—â—yâ—dom and also her Mothers Elizabeth Warreâ— we hâ—â—â— spoken and now the dâ—ughter was also broâ—ght to the Stake she was a maid of about 20 years of Age and was brought before Bonner that â—â—mercâ—fal Butcher before whom she Confessed her saith â—nd told him she could not goe to Mass nor acknowledg the bodily presence in the Sacrament and hâ— seeing he could by no Perswasions make her turn from her Religion she was condemned and suffer'd in the same fâ—â—e with the rest leâ—ling her faith with her blood And thus these 7 blessed Martyrs ended theiâ— lives in the flames being sent to heaven in a fiâ—ry Chariot On the 31 of the same mâ—â—th and yeer no less than 5 more viz. 4 women and one man suffered in one fire at Canâ—â—â—â—â—y Their names were Jâ—hn Lâ—mns a young man Ann Albâ—ight Joâ—n Câ—â—more Agâ—is Sâ—â—th a widdow and Jâ—â—n Sole a Married wife all of them being condemned for the same things denying the Popish Mass to be a Sacrament but Idolatry for which they all joyfully received their Martyrdom with â—reat constancy when they were in the midst of the Flames they all fâ—ll to singing of Psalms to the â—reat amâ—â—â—n 〈◊〉 of their persecutors some of them weeâ—ing to bâ— hoâ—â—â—hem Archbishop Cranmer Marâ—â—'d 〈◊〉 Oxford In pursuance 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 view of â—â—â—istical persecutions we shall â—â—â—e yoâ— a very â—â—â—â—â—nct Relation of the Life and 〈◊〉 of that â—â—st worthy and Religious Prelate Dr. 〈◊〉 Arâ—hbishop of Canterbury who suffered for the Gospel sake at Oxford On the 21th of March 〈◊〉 He was born in Notâ—â—ghamshire of a very 〈◊〉 â—â—mily bred up carefully at School and sent to the University of Cambridg where he profited wâ—ll in his Studies and was at last made Fellow of 〈◊〉 Colledg When he was Master of Arts and Fellow of the Colledg he married a gentlemans daughter and so lost his Fellowship and was made thereupon Reader in Buckingham Colledg But not long after his wife dying in Childbed his old Companions desirous of his Company chose him again Fellow of the Colledg where he grew in great repute and Commenced Dr. in Divinity and was commonly appointed one of those who were to examine such as were to take the Degrees of Batchelours or Doctors of Divinity now he favouring the knowledg of the Scripture often put by such whom he found ignorant in the History of the Scripture which extreamly enraged the Priests and Fryers many of which Mass-mongers could not tell who was Solâ—mons Father so little were they acquainted with the History of the Bible studying other Authors to little purpose This First begat the envy of the Papists against him He was however chosen to be one of the Fellows of the Cardinal 's new founded Colledg at Oxford which he refused not without the great indignation of that proud Prelate But it hapned that whilst he Continued at Cambridg the plague raging in the University that he removed to a friends at Waâ—tham and the King passing that way some of his followers as Gardner his secretary and Fox his Almoner lying at the same house with Dr. Cranmer whom they knew had accidentally some discourse of the Kings scruple of Conscience for marrying his Brother's wife and upon the Divorce he had sued for at Rome and the proceedings thereupon which was the general Discourse at that time Dr. Cranmer without any design declared his mind so to the purpose telling them that he thought they did not goe the ready way to work by prosecuting the Laws Ecâ—lesiastical when it had been more proper to have 〈◊〉 the point discoursed by Divines and the auâ—â—ority of the Word of God in the Scripture which â—â—ght be better done in England and in the Univer … than at Rome This being told to the King he caused Dr. Cranmer to be sent for to him to London to the Doctors great trouble not desiring to interest himself in the business but the King sending his peremptory command he was forced to obey against his mind and having by several discourses well satisfied the King he commanded him to write his mind fully on the point and ordered the Earle of Wiltshire to entertain him in his house at Durham place and to let him have Books and what ever he wanted Accordingly Doctor Cranmer wrot his mind fully and delivered it to the King in which he shewed by the Authority of the Scripture and of general Councels and ancient Writers that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority whereby he might dispence with the word of God and the Holy Scripture This opened the Kings eyes and rejoycingly he asked the Dr. if he durst stand by it which he told him he would even to the Popes face at Rome if he would be pleased to send him thither whereupon the King sent the question to most of the Universities of Europe to be disputed on and by most it was Concluded that no such Matrimony could be Lawful by the Word of God or Authority of the H. Scripture The King also sent Dr. Cranmer to dispute the point at Bonnonie where the Pope then was with his Ambassador the Earl of Wiltshire and several other Doctors and learned men in company When they came before that proud Antichristian Bishop he sat inthroned in great State under a Canopy in Rich Robes and Sandals on his feet which in a proud manner he held out to the Earl to Kiss but he disdaining it stood still but his spaigniel by what instinct we know not ran to his held up foot and caught it in his mouth so rudely and unmannerly that the old Bishop was somewhat afrâ—ghted which made the English men smile But after the first Complement the Earl told him from his Master that he had brought with him certain learned men who were there ready to prove that no man jure divino could or ought to marry his brothers wife and that the Bishâ—p of Rome could or ought noâ— to dâ—spence to the Contrary Promâ—se was made that the point should be discussed but thâ— old fox after many put offs and delays â—â—ut them away without aâ—â—â—ing so ingrareful a dispute The Eâ—â—bâ—â—s dot and the rest returned home but Dr. Câ—â—mer by order went to Vienna to the Emperor to answer what the Emperors learned Council could say against it and he so satisfied the greâ—t and Learned Corâ—â—â—tus â—grâ—ppa with his reasons that no publick Disputation would be suffered to be had for which that learned mâ—n fell into the Emperors displeâ—suâ—â— Upon his return home having done to the King such singular service and Archbishop Wâ—rren then dying the King made Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Câ—â—â—â—buâ— in his place Here he got the Envy of all the Popish Prelates his enemies for oppugning the Popes authority but this good and worthy man shewed himself a Bishop according to the Rule of St.
Paul answering in all respects that of the 1 Tim. 3. and that to Titus Chap. 1. A Bâ—shop must be faultless as becometh a Minister of God Nâ—r Stubborn nor â—â—gry no drunkard sighter nor given to filthy lucre but Charitable a lover of Goodness sober minded righteous temperate cleaving to the truth and able teach or instruct All this he was and that in an high degree He studied much riseing at 5 of the Clock in the Morning Continuing private till 9. from which time â—o Dâ—nner he spent in hearing suitors or minding the King Affairs I shall not goe about to give you the history of this good man's life which was exâ—mplaâ—â— not of â—ll the troubles and persecutions he inâ—â—â—ed from his Enemies the chief being Gardner the Bishop of â—enchesieâ— in this Kings days who alway stood by him and well perceived the Integrity of the Archbishop and the implacable hatred of his Enemies so that in his dayes he was preserved in the Kingâ— Favour and afterwards he was dear to 〈◊〉 Eâ—â—â—rd and one who assisted in the Reformantioâ— of Religion writing his Faith in 5 books concerning the Sacrament But assoon as Queen Mary câ—me to the Crown yoâ— mâ—y be sure she would â—emember what he hâ—d done as to â—eâ— Mothers divorce and was indeed his bitter Enemy tho he was very â—â—rdly brought to subscâ—ibe against her for the Lady Jaâ—â— We have â—lready told you how he was had from the Tower with Bishop Râ—â—ley and Lâ—â—mer to dispute at Oâ—ford and the issue thereupon that he wâ—s condemned and where be continuâ—d a prisonâ—r about 3 years they using all ways an mâ—nner of means to cause him to recant and sinâ—ing thâ—t force and threatning would not do they tryed flattery and fair means but he had resisted all things till aâ— lâ—st resolved they were he should be burnt upon which they degraded him and tho he told them they being but Bishops and â—e their superior they could not rightfully degrade â—im their Archbishop however saying as they were the Popes Delegates and Commissionated by the Queen they had power to do it and so they useâ— all their toâ—pish Ceremonies Bishop Bonner using him roughly and uâ—mâ—nnerly All this needed not said the Archbishop for I had flâ—ng off all this gear long agoe Then being stript to his Jacot they put on him a Beâ—dles old gown and a Townsmans Cap and so delivered â—â—m over to the sâ—cular power Yet for all this being extream desirous to have him recant they afresh set upon him trying all ways to allure him with promise of Life and hopes of Reward and so importunate they were night and day never ceasing to solicitâ— him that at last humanâ— frailty appeared and he was overcome and they got him to sign a Recantation against his Conscience The Queen received it very gladly but bearing Revenge and malice in her heart she nevertheless resolved he should dye and for that End dispatched away Dr. Cole to preach at St. Maries at Oxford and to declare his Recantation Cranmer was now Miserable being tormented in his Conscience for what he had done and too late began to perceive the Malice of his Enemies who thirsted for his Blood Subtilly and treacherously they dealt with him not giving him any notice of his death but still put him in hopes of his Life urging him publickly to make his Recantation in St. Marys for which end they had prepared a stage in the midst of the Church to which place they led him whilst Dr. Cole mounted the Pulpit to make his Oration The Lord Williams and several other Commissioners were there with a multitude of people thinking to hear the Recantation of the Archbishop But things could not be so closely carried tho they kept all people from the Archbishop that might inform him but he began to surmise they intended to put him to Death and at last plainly perceived it when they gave him mony to distribute to the poor as he passed thorow the streets to the Church It was a lamentable spectable to the people to behold the Metropolitan and Primate of England standing with his bald head and reverend gray beard in an old tattered gown on the stage exposed to the Contempt of all men which sight made many weep especially seeing the Tears running down his Cheeks and beard As he thus stood by a pillar he lifted up his eyes and hands toward heaven and prayed privatly to himself till Dr. Cole began his sermon the first part being passed over he turned his whole discourse upon the Archbishop exhorting him to take his Death pariently and to glorifie God with his Conversion from his heresie since it had pleased God to reclaim him saying that before in his prosperity he was not worthy of Life but now since he could not Live he seemed unworthy of Death But he promised that Masses and Dirges should be said in all the Churches in Oxford for the succor of his soul if he continued to dye a good Catholick Cranmer with extream grief of mind heard out his Sermon showing by his Countenance the agitation of his spirit and when he had done and that all men expected he should have read his recantation he pulled out of his Bosom a writing which he had prepared and began to read Good people I beseech you all to pray to God for me that he may forgive me my sins and especially one which I â—ominate to you by and by then Kneeling down â—e made a most excellent prayer which being not long I shall here recite O Father of Heaven O Son of God Redeemer of the World O holy Ghost three Persons and one God have mercy upon me most wretched Catif and miserable sinner I have offended both against Heaven and Earth more than my tongue can express Whither then may I go or whither shall I fly To Heaven I may be ashamed to lift up mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or Scucor To thee therefore O Lord do I run to thee do I humble my self saying O Lord my God my sins are great yet have mercy upon me for thy great mercy The great mystery that God became Man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not give thy Son O Heavenly Father unto death for small sins only but for all the greatest sins in the world so that the sinner return to thee with his whole heart as I do here at this present Wherefore have mercy on me O God whose property is always to have Mercy Have mercy upon me O Lord for thy great mercy I crave nothing for mine own merits bâ—t for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake And now therefore our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name c. Then riseing up he desired he might exhort the people before his death that God might be glorified and they edified He then began an excellent Exhortation pressing them
to brotherly Love and shewing the Vanity of the world exhorting to Alms and obedience to the Queen with many other excellent things and at last He made a short Confession of his Faith repeating the Articles of the Creed continuing I believe every Article of the Catholick Faith every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Jesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the new and old Testament anâ— now said he I am come to the great thing th t so much troublâ—th my Conscience more than â—ny â—oing thâ—t ever I did or said in my whole Late and that is the sâ—ttiâ—g my hand to a writing C ntrary to Truth which I now renounce being done only for fear of Death and for as much as my hand offended against my heart this my hand shall be first of all punishâ—d for it and assâ—on as I can coâ—e to the fire shall be first burâ—t As for the Pope I refusâ— him as Câ—riâ—â—s Eâ—â—my and Antichrist with all his f â—sâ— Dâ—ctrinâ— As for the Sacrament I believe is as I have taughâ— it in my Book against the Bishâ—p of Wincâ—ester which shall stand at the last dâ—y before the Judgment of God where the Papistiâ—â— Doctrine Contrary thereto shâ—ll be never able to appear All the people being amazed looked one upâ—â— another and all the Priests and Fryers were in an uprore seeing their great expectation frustrated and Cole bellowed from the Pulpit stop the Heretick Mouth pull him down pull him down Upon which the rabble of Priests and Fryers laid hands on Cranmeâ— and pull'd him off the stage and all things being prepared for his burning in the same place where the Martyrs Râ—â—ey and Latâ—mer suffered they haled and drâ—gged him thither to which place all the coâ—â—any râ—n yelping and hauling at the good Archbishâ—p When he came to the place he kneeled down making but short prayerâ— seeing them so â—ager to have his Life and putting off his garments to his shâ—rt which hung down to his seer which were â—â—re as likewise his head being thus stript they fâ—sâ—ned the holy Martyr to the Stake with a chain and after several of them â—ad tryed in vain to move him to recant and saw that he was stedfast they caused fire to be set to him into which assoon as iâ— began to burn he thrust his right hand which had signed the Recantation which he hâ—ld therein stedfastly and unmoved sâ—eing that once therewith being of a stâ—me be wipeâ— his face that all men might see his hand was burned before his body was touched His body aboad the burning and torment of the Flame with such Constancy and stedfastness that he was not seen to stir or move any more than the stake to which he was fastned shewing to their amazement a noble Constancy of mind and heroick fortitude His eyes were seen to be lifted up towards Heaven and he was heard oftentimes to repeat whilst his hand was burning O unworthy right hand at last in the greatest of the flame he gave up the Ghost useing these his last words O Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This was the end of this blessed Martyr Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered about the middle of the Reign of the Cruel Queen Mary Two women burnt at Ipswich About the same time suffered in the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk two simple women â—he one named Agâ—es Potten the other Joan Trunchfeild the wife of a Shoemaker both for that they denied the bodyly presence of Christ in the Sacrament they both dyed with wonderful Constancy exhorting the people at their death today hold on and believe the word of God and to despise the ordinances of the Romish Antichrist and after fire was set to them they stood holding up their hands and calling on the name of God in the midst of the flames till they dyed In the same Month of march on the 24th day three men were burnt in one fire without Salisbury in Wiltshire for the same cause as other Martyrs before them for denying the Popes Supremacy Purgatory and that murthering Article of the bodily presence their names were John Mandrel an husbandman who had long professed the truth and in King Henry 8. days had done penance William Coberly a Taylor and John Spicer a free-mason all 3 Companions both before and at their Deaths They died with great fortitude and when the Sheriff offered them pardon if they would turn one of them replyed not for all Salisbury And John Spicer said O Mr. Sheriff must you be the Butcher of these Papists and be made guilty of Shedding innocent blood before the Lord Coberly was longer in burning than the other and when his Arms were burnt off and his body hung over the chain black and shrunk up so that all thought he had been dead he suddenly rose up again and then fell down and dyed Six men Martyred in Smithfeild About the 23d of April 1556. were burnt in one fire in Smithfield no less than 6 blessed Martyrs two of them being Ministers viz Robert Drakes Minister of Tundersley in Essex and William Tymes Curate of Hookley in the same County This Tymes upon his examination before Bonner one of his Articles being for denying the Popes Supremacy told him that he owned no more than what his Lordship had maintained in print Where have I written any thing against the Church of Rome said the Bishop angrily In your Preface replyed Tymes to the Chancellors Book Stephen Gardner which he wrot purposely against the authority of the Romish Church where also you in your preface inveigh against the Bishop of Rome reproving his Tyranny and falshood calling his power false and pretended only and this is still extant This much abashed the Bishop and made him speak more gently afterwards saying it was done in perilous times and when it was death to have declared otherways but that the Chancellour and himself had since owned their errors as he would now have him to do but Mr. Tymes told him that would be against his Conscience and he would never do it for what he himself had wrote against the Popes Supremacy was according to the Scriptures and he would prove it upon which he entred on his proofs was much too hard for them all in the Scriptures but at last he was condemned with the rest whose names were Richard Spurge Sheerman Thomas Spurge Fuller John Cavel Weaver and George Ambrose Fuller all of Essex and of the Diocess of London and so condemned by Bonner and suffered together in one Fire in Smithfeild with the true Constancy of other holy and blessed Martyrs In the same Month of April at Rochester suffered John Harpool and Joan Bench in one fire Also in the same month suffered at Cambridg John Hullier a Minister brought up at Eaton School and afterwards Scholar and Conduct in Kings Colledg in Cambridge where he at last suffered being condemned by the Bishop of Ely for preaching the truth and owning the Gospel and disavowing