same delivered over to the secular power to be burned which decree was performed in Smithfield on the 20th day of the same month being 16 days after they had Murthered him to the great grief and disdain of the people Norwithstanding after all this tragical and cruel handling of the dead Body and their fair and colourable shew of Justice yet the Inquest staid not their diligence in searching out the truth and the cause and means of Mr. Hunâ—'s death insomuch that they were called before the Lords Chief-Justices and also before the King himself and his Privy Council about this matter and the determination at last was left to them and after great search and deliberation they found by good proof and sufficient Evidence that Doctor Horsey the Bishop of London's Chancellor Charles Joseph the Sumner and John Spalding the Bell-Ringer had privily and maâ—iciously committed this Murther and therefore indicted them all three as willful Murtherers Notwithstanding by the power of the Bishop of London with Cardinal Woolsey then in great favour the next Sessions the King's Attorney General pronounced the Indictment against Dr. Horsey to be false and untrue and that he was no way guilty of the Murther Being thus freed he went away to Exeter and for shame durst never after appear in London The aforesaid Inquest found by most evident signs that the said Mr. Hun could not have hang'd himself and that his Wrists had-been hard bound with Cords and they found that bis Neck had been broken below the silken Girdle they had â—anged him in and that there were two streams of Blood on his Jacote a great clodder in the lappet of his Coat â—hich could not happen to him after â—e was hanged Besides there was no place for â—im to get up to do the deed But besides these â—roofs Charies Joseph freely confessed of himself â—hat 〈◊〉 those Heresies laid to Mr. Hunn's charge were wrote and invented by the Chancellor and also that he and John the Bell-Ringer together with Dr. Horsey himself who assisted them murthered the said Mr. Hun who was lying on bis Bed and at the bidding of the aforesaid Chancellour who said lay hold on the Thief they fell upon him and broke his Neck and that he the said Charles Joseph put the Girdle about Mr. Hunn's Neck and that John the Bell Ringer helping him to lift the dead Body the Chancellour put the Girdle about the Staple and so left him hanging Thus you may see Godfreying is no new thing among them Murther is their Trade and this was the cruel end of this man only for opposing the Power of the Lordly Priests and which good People you must look for again if ever the Popish Tyranny get footing in this Kingdom Lay it to heart The Martyrdom of John Stillman It would be endless to relate all the troubles the people of God then suffered in the Reign of this King or to enumerate the persons who were forced against their Consciences to abjure in the year 1517. in and about London about 35 persons were compelled to abjure among whom was one George Laud the Prior of St. Sithe Some of them afterwards being troubled in Conscience recanted and suffered death among the rest one John Stillman who about the 24 day of September 1518. was apprehended and brought before Richard Fitz-James then Bishop of London at Fulham and charged for speaking against the worshipping of Images and for that he had commended Wickliff and said he waâ— a Saint in Heaven and that his Book called Wickliff's Wicket was a good and holy Book From thence he was had to the Lollardâ— Tower and or the 22 day of Octob. brought before the Consistory aâ— Paul's and there examined by Thomas Hed the Bishops Vicar General upon several Articles objected against him and he the said John Stillman owning the truth and persevering in the same he was condemned of Heresie and delivered over to the Sheriffs of London on the 25th of the same Month and publickly burnt in Smithfield Thomas Man and Robert Cosin Martyrs The next in order was Thomas Man who the 29. of March 1518. was likewise burned in Smithfield He had for divers years been persecuted and imprisoned forced to abjure and to do Pennance after which they kept him in a Monastery as their servant from whence he escaped his Conscience troubling him for denying the Truth but being retaken he was proceeded against as a relapsed Heretick by the aforesaid Thomas Hed Vicar General who produced false Witnesses against him who swore several Articles that they said were Heresie and though he charged the Witnesses of Adultery and Theft he could not be heard and those they had assigned him for Advocates being Papists betrayed his Cause and wrested his Words to his destruction upon which he was condemned as a relapsed Heretick with these gloseing words Rogamus attentè in Visceribus Jesu Christi ut c. In English thus We desire in the Bowells of the Lord Jesus Christ that the punishment and execution of due severity of thee and against thee in this part may be so Moderated that there be no rigorous Rigour nor yet nodissolute mansuetude but to the health and wealth of thy soul c. This Sentence Thomas Man said was like that of Cajaphas against Christ when he said to Pilate It is not lawfull for us to put any man to death But if thou letst him go thou art not Caesars Friend So they said it was not lawfull for them to take away Thomas Mans life but they delivered him up to the Sheriffs of London who caused him to be burnt without any warrant for the same About the same time one Robert Cosin who had been instructed by Thomas Man in his flight was martyred at Buckingham The chief articles against him were that he had perswaded one Joan Norman after she had bowed a piece of silver to be offered to a Saint for the health of her child not to carry it and told her she needed only to pray to Heaven And that she needed not to confess her self to the Priest but to God and that she might drink as well before she went to Mâ—ss on the Sunday as on any other day For these Perillous Doctrines this poor man was sacrificed to the Lusts of the Popish Priests Much about the same time Christopher Shoemaker was burnt at Newberry for professing the Gospel and Speaking against worshipping of Saints and going on Pilgrimages And in the years 1520 and 1521 many received the Light of the Gospel in and about Newberry Buckingham Henly Amerâ—â—m in the Diocess of London in Essex at Colchâ—ster 〈◊〉 Suffolk and Northfolk and many other places so that it spread very much before Luther appeared Cruel percâ—cution by the Bishop of Lincoln Children Compelled to set fire to their parent About the same year a most Cruel persecution was made against these Gospellers or such as professed according to the Gospel by John Longland Bishop of Lincoln who brought
and Robert Smith Martyrs On the 26th of August one George Tankerfeild a Cook suffered at St. Albans in a Green called Romeland neer to the Abby there All the days of King Edward he had been a strict Papist but when he perceived their bloody Cruelties in the days of Queen Mary it made him begin to doubt of their Religion as not agreeing with the Doctrin of Christ upon this he began to read the Testament and prayed earnestly to God to open to him the Truth that he might be thorowly perswaded whether it was of God or no and if it was not that he might utterly abhor it in his Heart God heard his prayer and he found dayâ—y a working in him more and more which made him to detest and abhor the Religion he had so long â—mbraced and the Lord inlightning his mind he went no more to mass after which being siâ—k and lâ—me he could not but openly profess his Religion and declare his mind for which he was had before the bloody Bishop Bonner and several times examined and as usual when before Condemnation he was urged to Recant he boldly told the Bishop that he would never forsake his opinions unless he could refell them by Scripture for said he you Condemn all men and prove nothing against them Upon which sentence was read against him and he was delivered over to the secular power When he was brought to the Town of St. Aloans from London being kept at an Inn there he caused a fire to be made in his Chamber and putting his bare foot to it he was forced to withdraw it thorow the Smart upon which he said The flesh would perswade him one way and the Spirit another The flesh said O fool wilt thou burn when thou needest not But the Spirit said be not afraid for it was nothing in respect of fire Eternal The flesh said leave not thy Friends who love thee But the Spirit said The company of Jesus Christ exceeds all fleshly Friends with the like discourse more at large on this subject but at last the Spirit got the Victory and he went joyfully and with great Resolution to his Death and when he was at the stake and the Faggots placed about him a Priest would have perswaded him to believe in the Sacrament of the Altar upon whiah he vehemently cryed out I defie the Whore of Babylon that most abominable Idol Then the Mayor bid them to set fire to him saying if he had but one load of Faggots in the World he would give it to burn the Heretick Fire being put to him he desired the people to pray for him and so embracing the fire he bathed his Arms in it calling on the name of Jesus till he was out of his pain In the same Month at Vxbridge suffered Mr. Robert Smith who had been a servant belonging to Sr. Thomas Smith and a Clerk at Windsor but was in the second year of the Queen imprisoned for his Opinions and with several other kept long in durance At last he was several times had before Bonner who finding he could not prevert him condemned him to the Fire When he came to the stake he spake to the People endeavouring to comfort the People who bewailed him willing them to think well of his cause and not to doubt but that his body dying in that quarrel should rise again to Life And said He I doubt not but God will shew you some sign thereof And it hapned to the great Confirmation of the people that after he was almost half burnt and that his Body was as black as a Coal and drawn together in a lump all men thinking that he had been dead suddenly he rose upright before the people and lifting up the burning Stumps of his Arms and Clapping them together did as it were declare to them the rejoycing of his Heart then bending down again and hanging over the flames he slept in the Lord and so ended his Mortal Life Much about the same time two more were Martyrd being Condemned with the above mentioned Martyr by the bloody Butcher of Gods people Bonner the one was named Stephen Harwood who suffer'd at Stratford the other Thomas Fust who was burnt at Ware In the same month also suffered another of their Companions named William Hale who was burnt at Barnet where he Constantly sealed his Faith with his Blood There were at the same time 3 more Condemned to be burnt viz George King Thomas Leys and Joon Wade but these were so Cruelly handled in the prison of the Lollards Tower belonging to the Bâ—shop that they dyed before they could be executed and were buried by night in the field The like was done to one William Andrew a Carpenter who dying in Newgate was cast out in the fields like a dog till some Charitable People buried him Mr. Samuel a Minister Martyr The next whom we shall mention in this brief Martyrology is one Mr. Robert Samuel a godly and zealous Preacher and Minister of Gods word at Barfold in suffolk where he faithfully taught his flock all the days of King Edward but upon the setting up of Popery he was put out of his Benefice as many more godly Ministers were and that because he would not put away his wife and conform to the Romish Superstition however not giving over his care of his flock he preach'd to them and taught them privately and by stealth till he was laid hold on and clapt into Ipswich Jail but he did not long Continue there before he was removed to Norwich under the power of the most cruel and persecuting Bishop of that See who had no mercy Thinking by Cruelty to prevail upon this good man they used him when in their Clurches most inhumanely and Barbarously for they chained him bolt upright against a post so that he could not lye down and so that his toes could but just touch the ground and in this manner they kept him a long time allowing him but one bit of Bread and 3 Spoonfulls of water to maintain his Life for further torment so that his Stomach was clung together for lack of food and he could have eat his own flesh Being thus tormented and still continuing constant to the admiration of his Tormentors he endured with great patience extream pains and almost intollerable torments O worthy Constancy of the Martyr and O pittiless hearts of the Papists whose hearts were made of Adamant and would not be moved to relen When he had been thus tormented several days he fell into a slumber and he beheld one standing by him clad all in white who said to him Samuel Samâ—el be of good cheer take heart for after this day thou shalt never be either hung 〈◊〉 thirsty Which proved true for from that time as he declared himself he never felt the least hunger or thirst which continued till he was Martyr'd which was not long after and it was said by divers that beheld him burnt that his Body when in the flames did
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
know all the names of Gods Saints belonging to the Congregation to bring them into trouble being warned in his dream be caused Cutbert not to carry that book about him as be was wonted to do for it so fell out he was layd hold on and because he would not Coufess and betray those of the Congregation he was had before the Recorder of London and the Constable of the Tower but he absolutely denying to Confess any thing they set him 3 hours upon the rack but not being able to move him with their torments they loosed him sent him to prison for that time but the Sunday following he was sent for again and being asked if he would ye Confess the Hereticks shortly answered that he never would upon which the Lieutenant of the Tower swore by God he would make him and presently caused his fore-fingers to be bound together and then betwixt them thrust a sinall forked Arrow drawing it backward and forward Cruelly tormenting and curting his fingers but still finding him Constant and resolute these bloody and Tyrannical Papists rack'd him twice more and set him 3 hours in an Iron Engine in the Tower called Skevingtons Gives all which he with great patience suffered and they could not get their wills of him And Bishop Bonner was forced to confess that so patient a man he had never before seen being thrice racked in one day and it was pity he was an Heretick The night before he was burnt he heard his prison doors as he thought unlock about midnight he saw an apparition of great brightness to enter the dungeon saying nothing to him but Ha! and then departed but the sight thereof filled him with extraordinary Joy and comfort With this Constant Martyr Cutbert Symson suffered also Hugh Fox and Jâ—hâ—â—evonish for the same cause all ending their lives on the day and in the place aforesaid with great Joy and alacrity to the Strengthning of others On the 6th of April following was burnt at Haverford West in Wales one William Nicholson a plain simple man who there lay'd down his life for the Gospel Three Martyrs burnt at Norwich On the 19th of May following was burnt at Norwich in one fire Will. Seaman an husbandman Tho. Carman a lay man and Thomas Hudson a Glover all of them condemned by the Bishop of Norwich Hudson had often prayed to God that he might suffer for the Gospels sake and when he was taken he was so far from flying that he chearfully met the Officers saying welcome friends welcome my hour is now come you are they that shall lead me to Life in Christ I thank God for this and the Lord inable me thereto for his mercies sake When they were brought to the plâ—ce of execution which was without Bishop gate in Norwich called Lollards pit after they had made their prayer to God they were chained to the Stake when Hadson not feeling that Joy in Spirit he used to do he dâ—sired them to stay a while which some believed was that he might recant but he falling on his Knees prayed with great Vehemency to God to visit him with his spirit and at last he received that comfort he desired and then he arose up with great Joy as a man new changed even from Death to Life and said Now I thank God I am strong and pass not what man can do into me And so fire being put to them all three suffered most Joyfully Constantly and manfully and were Consumed with the Fire glorifying God to the terrour and amazement of their bloody persesecutors and to the comfort and strengthning of their Brethren The 29 of the same month were burnt also for the Gospels sâ—ke 3 more together at Colchester their Names were William Harris Richard Day and Christian George who dyed chearfully and willingly The Seven last Martyrs burnt in Smithfield On the 27th of June following being Anno 1558 were burnt together in one fire in Smithfield 7 blessed Martyrs all condemned thereto by the bloody butcherly Bishop Bonner who gloried in his shame the names of these men were Henry Pond Raignold Estland Ro. Southam Maâ—thew Richarby John Floyd John Holyday And Roger Holland This last was a Gentlemans son of Lancashire of great kindred many friends being bred a strict Papist and bound Prentise in London where he lived so leud and debauch'd a Life till the begining of Queen Maries days that there was little likelyhood of his coming to be burnt for the sake of Chrisls Gospel But it pleased God at last to work upon him in the midst of his ryot and licentious Life being given to dancing fencing gaming banqueting and all manner of luxurie and one night having lost 30 l. at play of his Masters mony he grew troubled and resolved to run away and go beyond seas to France or Flanders and making a Bill under his hand acknowledging his debt to his Master he privatly made his case known to the servant maid in the house who was a religious maid and one who professed the Gospel and desired her to give his Master that Note when he was gone premising to pay him so soon as he was able if he would keep it from his friends for if they should know of it they would never look on him and it would be his Ruine This maid pittying the young man and hopeing to reclaim him from his Evil ways haveing some monys by her left to her by some of her friends she kept the note and fetch'd him 20 l. to pay his Master upon Condition he would leave his leudness and debauchery read the bible pray to God and frequent sermons and to leave all his Papistical Books and licentious Ballads and Ribaldry and to lead a new life giving him a great deal of good and grave advice He promised what she desired and endeavouring it God so wrought upon him and strengthened him in this good way that in some time he left off all his wicked and debauch'd Companions and became a strict professor of the Gospel to the great Admiration of all those who had known his former wicked Life After some time he bought several good books and going into the Country to his father carried them and bestowed them among his friends whereby his father and many others began to tast the Gospel and to abhor the Idolatry of the Papists his father giving him a stock to begin with his time being out he goes to London and repairs to the maid who had generously lent him the 30 l. pays her and in return of her kindness Marrys her Haveing a child by her he caused it to be privatly baptized for which he was lay'd hold on and cast into prison and divers times had before Bonner who by reason of his many and great kindred the Lord Strange being one of them he sought all he could to have him recant and save his Life but he was a stout and noble Champion and would not be perverted by any means He told the Bishop that
had him several times in Examination rapping him often on the head with his stick and flirting him under the chin and on the ears when he cross'd him The poor man often mentioning the Scripture to the Bishop Haâ—â— Sirrah said he What have you to do with Scripture Do you believe the Scripture To whom this honest confessor reply'd that he did why then said this learned Bishop St. Paul says if the man sleep the woman is at Liberty to go to another man and then wouldst thou having a wife be content she should go to another man when thou art asleep And yet this is Scripture As thou seest the Bodies of the Hereticks burnt in Smithfield just to do their souls hang burning in hell for forsaking the true Church They call me bloody Bonner a vengeance of you all I think you have a delight in burning but if I might have my will I 'de soon be rid on you all for I would sow up all your Mouths put you into Sacks and drown you O excellent Popish Bishop But seeing the honest Capper no ways approving his Doctrins he caused him to be untrussed and in his Arbour this Whipping fat paunch'd Bishop exercised himself on his hinder parts with a willow Rod which being spent he sent for a birchen Rod with which he clawed off the poor man till he could Labour no longer This man was delivered from his tyranny by the Death of the Queen A Child Scourg'd to Death in Bonners house We will also take notice of another cruel Whipping in this Bishops house either by himself of his Caâ—plains one John Fetty of â—â—e kenwell being for the cause of the Gospel in the Lollards Tower where for many weeks he had indured great hardship being often tormented in the stocks it chanced that one of his Children a Boy of about 8 or 9 years old came to the Bishops palace to see if he could get into the prison to see his Father and being met by one of the Bishops Chaplains who asked the child what he would have who told him he came to see his Father that was in prison in the Lollards Tower Your Father then said the Priest is an Heretick No said the Child he is no Heretick but you are Hereticks for you have Balaam's Mark With that this hard hearted Priest took the Child in and among them stripping him whipt him all over till he was of a gore blood and then in that condition sent him to his Father which cut the poor man to the heart to see him so cruelly handled He then asked the Child who had done it the Child replyed a Priest in the Bishops house with Balaams Mark on him had used him thus with that the cruel hangman carryed the Childback where they to cruelly handled the poor Innocent that 〈◊〉 about 15 days after he dyed The Bishop hearing that the Child was about to dye fâ—aring he should be called to account for it released thâ— Father and so saved his Life for murthering his Childs Richard Yeoman a Minister Martyr'd On the 10th of July one Richard Yeoman of 70 â—ears of Age was Martyr'd at Norwich This Richard Yeoman was a Minister and had been the Martyr'd â— Taylors Curate to whom he had left his care but being turned out and a Popish Priest put in having a Wife being aged he fell into great poverty wandring about with a few Pinns Tape and Laces and such like to sell and where he durst he often preached and instructed good people in the true doctrine of Christ After long wandring about he came home secretly to his Wife who lockt him up in her Chamber going abroad to get â—nd beg Victuals to maintain them but at last it was suspected that he was in the house and in the night when in bed together they broke into the house where their Popish Adversaries found them Ha said the Priest I thought we should find a Rogue and an Whore together upon which the old man told them they were lawfully Married and they did ill so to â—erm those who came lawfully together by Gods ordinance which he would own They then forc'd him to rise and had him to the Cage where they kept him all night where he found one John Dale who had been kept there two or 3 days Thence they were had before the Justice and from him sent to the Jail at Norwich where Dale dyed before he was executed Yeoman being examined by the Bishop who finding him resolute in owning the truth he was condemned degraded and deliver'd over to the secular power to be burnt and so on the day in the place aforesaid he suffer'd sealing his testimony with his blood passing thorow the torments of the fire to everlasting peace Mr. Thomas Benbridg Martyr I am now come near to a conclusion of these craâ—â— persecutions of the Papists and shall end wâ—â—â— mentioning one or two more Mr. Thomas Benbridg of the Diocess of Winchester was a Gentlemâ—â— of Estate and mought have lived in all plenty 〈◊〉 Earthly pleasures all which he forsook for the sakâ—â— of the Gospel and of his soul which was more derâ—â— than all earthly delights and pleasures for which cause being apprehended and brought before thâ— Bishop he had several disputes with him but iâ— the end he was overcome by their cruel Topick thâ— Fire to which he was condemned Coming to thâ— stake very richly clad his coat â—â—â—ing lay'd all oveâ— with Gold and Silver lace his Cap of Velvet and other things sutable which he cast off at the stake iâ—â— being tyed thereto was willed by Dr. Seaton to recant and that he should have his Pardon but he refusing it the Dr. willed the people not to pray foâ— him no more than for a Dog because he said to thâ— Dr. Away thou Babyâ—oâ—man away some would hard had his Tongue cut out but his Adversaries seeing he would not yeild try'd a new way to Tormenâ—â—â— him and instead of putting him to death they rather rosted or broyled him with a few Faggots that he might through the great torment of the sire recant for they burnt part of his legs and scorched his face and heard iâ— in a â—itious manner so that the pain being so greaâ— he cryed out he would recant upon which the fire was withdrawn and he was led back to prison but he was so troubled at what he had done that he could have no quiet or peace in his conscience till he had given under his hand that be utterly renounced that forced Recantation and that he was willing to dye for the Gospel which he had and dâ—d still profess Upon which his Popish Adversaries being enraged that day seven-night after he was had again to the stake where they as before rather broiled him than burnt him to Death which he then manfully endured and so at laâ—â— slept in the â—â—â—rd July 19. 1558. Four Martyr'd at St. Edmunds-bury About the beginning of August and a little before