that behalf looking upon Christ the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him abode the Cross and dispised the shame nevertheless though we suffer the wrong after the example of our Master Christ yet we are not bound to suffer the wrong cause for Christ himself suffered it not but reproved him that smote him wrongfully likewise Paul Acts 23. saith we must not suffer the wrong but boldly reprove them that sit as Righteous Judges and act contrary to Righteousness therefore according both to God and mans Law you are not bound to make answer to any cause till your Accusers came before you which if you require and thereon do stick the false Brethren shall be known to the great comfort of those who now stand in doubt who they may trust and also it shall be a means that they shall not craftily by Questions take you in Snares and Acts 20. its written It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man that he should perish before he that is accused have his Accuser before him and have License to answer for himself as pertaining to the Crime whereof he is accused and also Christ said that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses all things shall stand wherefore seeing that in Accusations such Witnesses should be you may with a good Conscience require it and thus the God of Grace settle strengthen and establish you that to him may be the glory and praise for ever This is the Substance of the Letter now follows the Substance of Tracy's Will William Tracy of Taddington in the County of Gloucester in his Will declared amongst other things that touching the burying of his body it availed him not whatsoever was done thereto when he was dead for said he Funeral pomps are rather for the Solace of them that live then the wealth and comfort of them that are dead Which Will being brought by his Son his Executor to the Bishop of Canterbury to be proved the Bishop shew'd it to the Convocation who past a Sentence that a Commission should be sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocess of worcester to take up Tracy's dead body and to burn him as an Heretick for making such a Will which accordingly was Executed notwithstanding he had been buryed almost two years before About this time the House of Commons assembled in Parliament put up a Supplication by way of Complaint to the King against the Clergy this Complaint the King seemed at first not to take much notice of yet afterwards coming to have a clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy especially of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same and wholly excluded the Popes Authority out of his Realm but thinking the work not sufficiently done as long as Abbies and Priories kept their Station which were as it were his Fortresses and Pillars there was not long after means found to have them suppressed for aspersions being laid upon them of Adulteries and Murders they by Act of Parliament at least near four hundred of them were suppressed and all their Lands and Goods conferred upon the King and afterwards all the rest and all Colledges Chanteries and Hospitals also the same Parliament enacted that Bishops should pay no more Annals or Money for their Bulls to the Pope and that no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome and an Act was made that the King should be the Supream head of the Church of England c. But although the Popes Wings were thus cut and his Power and Authority in England abrogated by Act of Parliament as before is mentioned yet the Bishops here went on persecuting such as they accounted Sectaries and Hereticks but before I give an account of such as further suffered here in England for Religion it falls in order to give an Account of the Sufferings of William Tindal beyond Sea This William Tindal was burnt near Wales William Tindal Marryr and being a man Zealous for Reformation and Religion and considering that if the Scripture were turned into the vulgar Speech it might much conduce to â—he propagating thereof and finding his purpose could not be well effected here in England by reason of the strictness of the Bishops and Chancellor he travelled into Germany and there he first translated the New Testament and then the Old and writ several other Books against the irreligious Practice of the Prelates which Books being published and sent over into England it cannot be spoken what a door of Light they opened to the whole English Nation who before were many years shut up in darkness But though the spreading of these Books wrought much good to the upright and such as had in any measure a desire to advance the Truth yet the envious and persecuting Spirit of the Bishops was also much more stirred up thereby seeking by all means how to stop them from being spread lest their Hypocrisie and works of Darkness should he discerned wherefore they made great stir and search as Herod did at the birth of Christ and sought out by what means they might hinder the travels of this Tindal and of his Printing and Publishing the said Books and set persons to search and examine at Antwerp how things stook with Tindal which when the Bishops and Chancellors in England understood how things were they sent over one Henry Phillips to betray him into the hands of the Emperors Procurator General at Brussells the said Procurator through the treachery of Phillips seized upon all Tindalls Books and apprehended him and sent him Prisoner to Filford Castle eighteen English Miles from Antwerp being brought to his Tryal they offered him to have Councel to plead for him he refused saying he would answer for himself after much reasoning and Dispute he was Condemned by virtue of the Emperors Decree made in the Assembly at Ausbrough and upon the same was brought to the place of Execution at Filford Anna 1536. being ryed to the Stake he cryed with a fervent zeal and a loud voice Lord open the King of Englands eyes and so was burnt to death When the King had taken the title of Supremacy from the Bishop of Rome and Stated the same to himself he perceived by the Wisdom and advice of Thomas Cromwell one of his Privy Councel that the corrupt State of the Church had need of Reformation in many things This Cromwell was through the goodness of God raised up to be a friend and a favourer of those that profest the Gospel who though but a Smiths Son born at Putney for the pregnancy of his wit he was first entertained by Cardinal Woolsey and by him employed in many great Affairs the Cardinal falling the King took him unto his Service and finding his great Abillities advanced him for his worth to great places of Honour and Trust through whose perswasions several Injunctions were put out by the
Vestry and cut off his Right Hand then he was had into the Market-place and there they cut off his Left Hand then his Arms were bound behind him and his Feet under the Horses Belley and so was carryed to the place of Execution where he was let down by a pulley into the Fire and then pluckt up and let down again all which cruelty he endured with a constant Spirit saying O Eternal God Father of all Mercies look down upon thy Servant and with patience he suffered till at last the Rope burning he fell down into the Fre and was consumed This was in the year 1552. Persecutions in the Reign of Queen Mary beginning Anno 1553. After the Death of Edward the fixth Queen Mary succeeded and after the was setled in her Throne a Sinod was assembled for consulting about matters of Religion and the point especially of the real Presence in the Sacrament after a long Disputation where Reason and Scriptures were not so much weighed as Voices numbred the Papal side as having most voices carried it and thereupon was that Religion again restored and the Mass commanded again in all Churches so called to be celebrated after the antâ—â—â— mâ—â—â— And shortly after Cardinal Poole and English man that 〈◊〉 fed to Rome for Succour in the former time Q. Mary was sent for over again to England by the Queen who was no sooner come but the Attaindor upon Record against him was by Act of Parliament taken off and he restored and a few days after coming to the Parliament before the Queen and both Houses assembled after the Bishop of VVinchester who was Chancellor had made a short speech to them signifying the presence of the Cardinal and that he was sent from the Pope as his Legate for their good and benefit Then the Cardinal stood up and made a long Oration to them thanking them for restoring him whereby he was made a Member of their Society Then Exhorting them to return into the Bossom of the Church for which end he was come not to Condemn but to Reconcile not to compell but to call and require and for their first work of Reconcilement requiring them to repeal and abrogate all such Laws as had formerly been made in derogation of the Catholick Religion After which Speech the Parliament going together drew up a Supplication which within two dayes after they presented to the King and Queen wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former Errors and humbly desired them to interceed for them to the Cardinal and the See Apostolick that they might be pardoned of all they had done amiss and be received into the Bossom of the Church being themselves most ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinal he then gave them Absolution in these words We by the Apostolick Authority given unto us by the most holy Lord Pope Julius the third Christs Vicegerent on Earth do absolve and deliver you and every of you with the whole Realm and Dominions thereof from all Heresie and Schism and from all Judgments Censures and Pains for that cause incurred and also we do restore you again to the unity of our Mother the holy Church The report hereof coming to Rome was cause that a solemn Procession was made for Joy of the Conversion of England to the Church of Rome And now all Bishops which had been deprived in the time of Edward the sixth were restored to their Bishopricks and the new removed and all that would not turn and forsake their Religion were turned out of their Livings and Stephen Gardner and Bonner became again to be had in favour and were restored to their former places and several old Laws were again revived by Act of Parliament for the tryal of Heresie and Commissions and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all parts of the Realm whereupon many were apprehended and brought to London and there Imprisoned and afterwards most of them burnt to death or else through cruel usage died in Prison and were buryed in Dunghils in the Fields to the Number of near three Hundred Persons Men and Women in the short Reign of this Queen And now Bonner being re-invested into his Bishoprick he sends forth Injunctions that six in every Parish upon their Oaths should present before him such as would not conform and soon after about threescore Inhabitants of the City of London were apprehended and imprisoned for dispersing and selling certain Books sent over into England out of Germany and other Countries About this time the people going a Procession in Smithfield and the Priest being under the Canopy with the Box John Street persecuted according to the usual Custom one John Street a Joyner in Coleman-Street going by in haste about his business by chance went under the Canopy by the Priest at which the Priest was so surprized and overcome with fear that he let the Pix fall down the people being amazed presently apprehended the poor man and committed he was to the Compter and the Priest accused him to the Council as if he came to slay him from the Compter he was removed to Newgate where he was cast into the Dungeon and there chained to a Post and so miserably used till he lost his Sences and then they sent him to Bedlam Roods Commaded to be again set up in the places called Churches These were but in the beginnings of Bonners Cruelty in this Queens time the next thing he did was he put out a Mandate to the Curates within his Diocess requiring them to abrogate and blot out all Scripture Texts wrot upon the Walls in Churches so called in Edward the sixths time which he said was opening a Window to all Vice and further commanded that comely Roods should be again set up in all Churches The same Injunction for setting up Roods was published in other Diocesses at this time for at Cockram in Lancashire the Parishoners and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood and to set it up in that they called their Church at a certain prise which the Carver did but the Rood being made of an ugly grim Countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Work-man that made it whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestants and a man against Images when they came before the Mayor he askt them Why they did not pay the man according to their Agreement they replyed they did not like the grimness of its Vissage saying they had a man formerly with a hansome Face and they would have had such another now well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the Poor-mans Labour has been never the less and its pity he shold loose but I tell you what you shall do pay him the Money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God you may make a Devil of it at which they
pitiful Persecution certifying him that there were very many thousands of them daily put to death of which none did any thing contrary to the Roman Laws worthy persecution saving that they used to gather together in the Morning before day and sing Hymns to a certain God whom they worshipped called Christ in all other their Ordinances they were godly and honest and for proof hereof saith he I caused two Maidens to be laid on the Rack and with Torments to be Examined about the same but finding nothing in them but only lewd and immoderate superstition I resolved to surcease farther enquiry till I receive further Instructions from you in this matter Trajan having read this Epistle returned answer that it was his mind that the Christians should not be sought after but if they were brought and convicted that then they should suffer Execution Whereof Tertullian speaking said Oh confussed Sentance he would not have them sought for as men Innocent and yet would have them punished as men guilty This Trajan sent a Command to Jerusalem that whosoever could be found out of the Stock of David should be inquired for and put to death In this Persecution suffered Phocas Bishop of Pontus whom Trajan because he would not worship Neptune caused to be cast into a hot Lime-Kill and afterwards to be put into a scaulding Bath where he ended his life in the cause of Christ Then also Ignatius Bishop of Antioch was apprehended and sent to Rome where he was devoured of wild Beafts and beside these many thousands more were martyred In the Reign of Antolius Verus a great Number of the Christians suffered most cruel punishments and torments Policarpus suffered especially in Asia and France among whom was Policarp Bishop of Smyrna who was burnt at a Stake at Smyrna About this time also suffered Blandina and Ponticus a youth of fifteen years old who defying their Idols and constantly cleaving to Christ were put to all the Torments their inraged Enemies could devise till at last the youth gave up the Ghost Blandina was first pitifully whiped and then thrown to the wild Beasts then tormented on the Gridiron and at last slain Comolus the Emperour upon his Birth day calling the People of Rome together in a great Royalty cloathed in his Lions skin sacrificed to Hercules causing it to be proclaimed that Hercules was the Patron of the City whereupon Vinsencicus Eâ—sebius Perigrenous and Potentionous learned men being stirred up with Zeal went about from place to place converting the Heathen to the Faith of Christ and hearing of the Madness of the Emperour and People they reproved that Idolatrous blindness exhorting them to believe in the true and living God and that forsaking the worship ping of Divels they should honour God alone The Emperour hearing thereof caused them to be Apprehended required them to Sacrifice Hercules which they refusing to do he caused them to be grievously tormented and pressed to death with weights of Lead Severus another Emperour put forth Proclamations that no Christians should be suffered to live hereby a great Persecution was stirred up on every side and an infinite number of Martyrs were slain Potamtena was tormented with boyling Pitch poured upon her Potamtena persecuted and afterwards with her Mother Mersila and Rhais was burnt in the Fire and when Basilides Captain having the Maid to execution as he led her to the place he repressed the raging of the Multitude who followed with raging and reviling which she seeing prayed to the Lord for his Conversion to the true Faith and so with admirable patience suffered Martyrdom Shortly after Basilides being required to give an Oath in the behalf of his fellow Souldiers he denied the same plainly Basilides suffered affirming that he was a Christian and therefore he could not Swear they which heard him thought he jested at first but when he had constantly affirmed it they had him before the Judge who committed him to Ward the Christians wondering at it went to him and inquiring the cause of his Conversion he told them that Potamiena prayed for him and so he saw a Crown put upon his head adding that it should not be long before he received it and accordingly the next day he was beheaded A certain Christian being examined before the Judge and through fear being ready to shrink back there were certain persons standing by who were ready to burst for grief making signs to him by their hands and jestures to be constant which being observed they were ready to be laid hold on but they of their own accord pressed up to the Judge professed themselves to be Christians which much emboldened the weak Christian and terrified the Judge this being done they departed away rejoycing for the Testimony they had given of their Faith The crimes and charges laid to the Christians The Crimes and Accusations that was laid to the charge of the Christians by the Persecutors were That they refused to worship Idols and the Emperours and that they professed the Name of Christ yet besides all the Calamities and evils that happenedin the World as Wars Famine Pestilence c. were imputed only to the Christians But Cyprian and Tertullian confuting these Slanders proved That the special cause of all those Miseries which befel the Empire proceeded from the sheding of the Innocent Blood of the Christians Cyprian was at last condemned to have his Head cut off who patiently and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword Sixtus Bishop of Rome with his six Deacons for the Christian Faith were all beheaded Laurence also another of hiâ— Deacons following Sixtus Laurence Martyred as he went to his Execution complained that he might not suffer with him but that he was seeluded as the Son from the Father to whom the Bishop answered That within three days he should follow him bidding him in the mean time to go Home and if he had any Treasures to distribute them amongst the Poor the Judge hearing mention of Treasures supposing that Laurence had great store in his custody commanded him to bring the same to him Laurence craved three days respit promising then to declare where the Treasure might be had in the mean time he caused a good number of Christians to be gathered together and when the day of his answer was come the persecutors strictly charged him to make good his promise but Valiant Laurence streaching his Arms over the Poor said These are the pretious Treasures of the Church these are the Treasures indeed in whom Christ hath his Mansion c. But the Tyrant in a great fury and madness cryed kindle the Fire make no spare of Wood hath this Villain deluded the Emperour Away with him whip him with Sourges jerk him with Rods buffet him with Fists brain him with Clubs jesteth the Traytor with the Emperour Pinch him with fiery Tongs gird him with burning Plates bring out the strongest Chains and Fire-forks and the Grate of Iron
King for Reformation in Religion and he was the great Instrument in overthrowing Abbies Monasteries and Friaries which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the Kings hands Whereupon not only their Houses were rased but their Possessions were divided amongst the Nobility insomuch that all Friars Monks Cannons Nuns and other such Sects were so rooted out of this Land from the Foundation that there seemed to be no room left for such Weeds to grow here any more But as this Thomas Cromwell was raised up for good and being so greatly in favour with the King used all means he could to perswade him to reform the enormities in the Church on the other hand Satan raised up his Instrument which was Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester who used all wilds and subtill means he could to perswade the King against the same casting upon the Professors of Truth the name of Hereticks Sectaries Anabaptists and Sacramentaries and so far prevailed with the King that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were published prohibiting the publishing any Books in English written by the Sectaries and Sacramentaries under the pain of the forfeiture of all their goods and Chattels and their Bodies to be Imprisoned during the Kings pleasure And further this Stephen Gardner instigated the King not only against the Queen who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation but also against this Thomas Lord Cromwell who no doubt had brought the encrease of true Religion according to his understanding to more prefection had not this Gardner and other Malignant Opposers thereof set themselves against it to hinder the prosperity thereof but now through the said Gardners evill advise the King who before had raised the said Thomas Cromwell for his worth and integrity now for his pleasure took him off and suffered him to be Beheaded After his death Religion and the Reformation more and more decayed whereby the Reader may see how variable the State of things stood in reference to Religion at this time and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth how often things changed even as the King was ruled and gave ear sometimes it went a little forward and then backward again according as the persons prevailed that were about the King And now the King being led through Gardners suggestions began to withdraw shewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion concluding so to do was most for his safety both at home and abroad having so much displeased the Pope and other Popish Princes in what he had already done and though he had rejected the Popes Authority he would declare himself nevertheless to be a good Catholick Son of the Mother Church and a withstander of new Heresies and then calling a new Parliament and Convocation of Prelates there was six Articles decreed concerning Religion which was afterwards commonly called a whip with six Srings it was pretended for the Unity of the Church but what Unity followed the groaning hearts of many that suffered death by the same both in this Kings time and in Queen Maries time may declare The Six Articles of the Bishops Condemning all to be burnt as Hereticks that should hold First That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacrament after Consecration Secondly That the Sacrament might not truely be administred under one Kind Thirdly That Priests entred into holy Orders might Marry Fourthly That Vows of Chastity entred into upon mature deliberation were not to be kept Fifthly That private Masses were not to be used Sixthly That Auricular Confession was not to be used in the Church Before these Articles were published Bishop Gardener having obtained his desire with the King he and the rest of the Prelates began again fresh to persecute the Protestants the first they stretched forth their Hands against was John Lambert a Norfolk man and one zealous for the Spreading of the Truth according to the Manifestation of it then broke forth and to that end was conversant with Tindal and Frith at Antweep until by the Instigation of Sr. Thomas Moor he was apprehended and brought to London where he was first brought to Examination at Lambeth and then at the Bishops House at Oxford before Worham Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others where fourty five Articles were objected against him to all which he answered in writing very fully and wisely both according to the Scriptures and Reason the Articles and his Answers may be read at large in Foxe's Acts and Monuments The Bishop of Canterbury shortly after dying whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out of Prison and coming to London it was not long before he fell into trouble again for having a private Conference with one Doctor Tayler what past between them in their dispute in private grew at last a publick and common talk which coming to the Arch-bishops Ear he sent for Lambort and forced him to defend his Cause openly in that Disputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bishops Upon this appeal Bishop Gardener goes to the King and privately possesses him that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the people who were offended with him for abolishing the Bishop of Rome's Authority and subverting of Monasteries and Abbies c. he might now remedy these troubles if he would manifestly appear in this matter against Lambort and shew himself stoutly to resist the Hereticks the King immediately received this wicked Counsel of the Bishop and forth with sent out a general Commission commanding all the Bishops and Nobles of the Land to come with all speed to London to assist the King against Hereticks these preparations being made a day was set upon which Lambort should appear before the King and the rest assembled with him to be Tryed and Judged The day being come the King ascended his Throne clothed all in white he lookt upon the Prisoner with a sterne Countenance as if his mind was full of Indignation and then called forth the Bishop of Chichester and commanded him to declare to the People the Causes of that Assembly the Substance of the Bishops Speech tended to this That the King would have none to conceive that whereas the Authority and Name of the Bishop of Rome being utterly abolished he would also extinguish all Religion or give Liberty to Hereticks to trouble the Churches of England without punishment the Bishop having ended his Speech the chief thing that the King prest Lambort to declare was what Opinion he held touching the Sacrament of the Altar to which he answered fully and the Dispute held chiefly concerning that point for some hours until the King and Bishops enraged against him forced him to silence at last The King being minded to end the Dispute said to Lambort What sayest thou after all these Labours and Reasons of these learned Men Art thou yet satisfied Wilt thou live or die thou hast yet free choice Lambort answered I yield and submit my self wholly unto the will of your Majesty
never the better but worse and worse and therefore I will delay the time no longer but send you to Newgate Hawkes You can do me no better pleasure Bonner Why would you so fain go to Prison Hawkes Truly I did look for none other when I came to your hands Bonner Come on your wayes you shall see what I have written And then shewed him several Articles he had drawn up against him whereupon he thought he should have been carried to Prison the next day and so he had but that he was kept till Doctor Harpsfield had some discourse with him who began to perswade him concerning the Sacrament and the Ceremonies and after much talk he said That the Sacrament of the Altar was the same Body that was born of the Virgin Mary which did hang upon the Cross Hawkes He was upon the Cross both alive and dead which of them was the Sacrament Harpsfield Alive Hawkes How prove you that Harpsfield You must believe he that believeth not is condemned already Hawkes John saith he that believeth not in the Son of God is condemned already he does not say he that believeth not in the Sacrament is condemned already Harpsfield There is no talking with you Then said Hawkes Why is the Roodloff set between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield You have askt a question you cannot answer your self Hawkes Yes that I can for this saith one of your own Doctors that the Body of the Church doth present the Church Millitant and the Chancel the Church Triumphant and so because we cannot go from the Church Millitant to the Church Triumphant but that me must bare the Cross of Christ this is the cause of the Roodlofâ— being between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield This is well and Clarklike concluded Hawkes As all the rest of your Doctrines and so the discourse ended and Thomas Hawkes returned again to the Porters Lodge The next day being the first day of the Monâ—th called July the Bishop went to the Porters Lodge himself and called Thomas Hawkes to him and commanded him to make ready to go to Prison and writ a Warrant and sent two men with him to the Gate-house at Westmenster in the Warrant he writ to this effect to the Keeper to keep him safe Prisoner and let none speak with him for that said he he is a Sacramentary and one that speaketh against Baptism a seditious and perilous man some dayes after his commitment the Bishop sent two of his men to see how he did and whither he was the same man still to whom he answered I do like a Prisoner and am not changed They said my Lord would be glad that you should do well If he will do me any good said Hawks let him suffer my Friends to come to me so they departed but Hawkes heard no more of the Bishop till the third day of the Monâ—th called September following And then Bonner brought a charge against him and required him to set his hand to it but he refused saying I shall set my hand to nothing of your making or devising then the Bishop in great anger thrust him on the breast and said he would be even with him and with all such proud Knaves in Essex Hawkes You shall do no more ther God shall give you leave And as for your Cursings and Railings I care not for them for I know the Moths anâ— Worms shall eat you Bishop I wâ—â—â— be even with you when time shall come Hawkes You have been even with some of us already you may in your Mallice destroy a man but when you have done you cannot do so much as make a finger Bonner If I do thee any wrong take the Law of me Hawkes Soloman saith Go not to Law with a Judge for he will judge according to his own honour Bonner Soloman saith Give not a Fool an answer and I count thee a Fool and so dost thou me but God forgive thee Hawkes Thought is free Then took Bonner the Bill of Articles and read it again when he saw he could not have Hawkes hand to it he biâ— him take it into his hand and give it him again Hawkes What needeth that Ceremony It shall neither come into my hand nor heart After these private Conferences between the Bishop and Thomas Hawkes the Bishop seeing no hopes to win him to his Wicked Wayes he was fully bent to proceed openly against him and to that end caused him to be brought to the publick Consistory where Bonner brought the Articles he refused to sign against him the Bishop adding four more to them to the which Hawkes answered publickly then the Bishop exhorted him to return to the Mother Church but in a constant resolution he satisfied them he should never recant so long as he lived whereupon Bonner past the Sentence of Death upon him and shortly after he was delivered to the Sheriff of Essex and burnt at a Town called Coxhall This following Epistle he wrote to the Congregation An Epistle written by Thomas Hawkes Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ be alwayes with you all My Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ for ever and his holy Spirit conduct and lead you in all your doings that you may alwayes direct your deeds according to his holy Word that when he shall appear to reward every man according to their works you may as Obedient Children be found Watching ready to enter into his Everlasting Kingdom with your Lamps Burning and when the Bridegroom shall shew himself ye need not to be ashamed of this life that God hath lent you which is but transitory vain and like unto a vapour that for a season appeareth and vaniâ—heth away so soop passeth away all our terrestial honour glory and felicity For all Flesh saith the Prophet is grass and all his glory as the Flower of the Field which for a season sheweth her beauty and as soon as the Lord bloweth upon it it withereth away and departeth For in this transitory and dangerous Wilderness we are as Pilgrims and Strangers following the foot-steps of Moses among many unspeakeable dangers beholding nothing with our outward man but all vanities and vexation of mind subject to hunger cold nakedness bonds sickness loss labour banishment in danger of that dreadfull Dragon and his sinfull seed to be devoured tempted and tormented who ceaseth not behind every Bush to lay a bait when we walk awry to have his pleasure upon us casting abroad his Apples in all places times and seasons to see if Adam will be allured and enticed to leave the Living God and his most holy Commandments whereby he is assured of everlasting life promising the World at will to all that will fall down in all Ages and for a mess of pottage sell and set at nought the Everlasting Kingdom of Heaven so â—rail is Flesh and Blood and especially Israel is most ready to walk awry when
Benden one of the seven being brought before one Roberts of Crambrook who askt her Why she would not go to Church because Seven more burnt at Canterbury said she I cannot with a clear Conscience there is so much Idolatry committed there against the glory of God for the which she was committed to Prison but her Husband being troubled at it got a Certificate from some of the chief men of Staplehurst to the Bishop of Dover desiring her liberty When she came before the Bishop he askt her If she would go home and go to Church she said If I would have so done I need not to come hither Well said the Bishop Go thy wayes home and go to Church when thou wilt thereupon she was set at Liberty but shortly after she was again committed for the same cause and her Husband went again to desire her liberty but the Bishop told him She was an obstinate Heretick and therefore he could not deliver her then her Husband desired the Bishop that he would keep her Brother from coming to her for said he he relieves her and comforts her and perswades her not to recant this request was no sooner made but it was granted by the Bishop who commanded that she should be put into a place called Mundayes-Hole being a Vault under ground and gave a strict charge that if her Brother came at her he should be apprehended however he used what means he could to find where she was and to get at her and one morning hearing her voice as she was pouring out her sorrowfull complaints unto the Lord he invented a way how he might relieve her which was by putting Money in a loaf of bread and sticking the same upon a pole and so reaching it to her and this was five weeks after her coming thither all which time no Creature was known to come at her except her Keeper her Lodging in this Vault was only upon a little Straw between a pair of Stocks and a Stone-wall being allowed three farthings a day that is half Peny Bread and a Farthing Drink neither could she get any more for her Money wherefore she desired to have her whole allowance in Bread and used Water for her drink and thus she lay nine weeks without shifting her apparel all the time at her first committing to this place she much lamented her condition dolefully mourning that the Lord should so sequester her from her Friends but in the midst of her Supplications she considered the Right hand of the most high could change all and received comfort therein shortly after she was called before the Bishop again who askt her Whether she would go home and go to Church she replyed your extremity towards me hath thorowly satisfied me that you are not of God who seeks my utter Destruction shewing him how lame she was with lying in the cold and for lack of Food then the Bishop sent her from that filthy hole to Westgate Prison and shortly after she was called before the Bishop and others who condemned her and committed her to the Castle Prison where she continued till the 19th day of the Moneth called June and then with six others aforementioned was burnt in Canterbury The Substance of the Examinations and Answers of Matthew Plaise Weaver of the Parish of Stone Examination of Matthew Plaise in the County of Kent before Thomas Thornton Bishop of Dover and others When he came before the Bishop he askt him where he dwelt he answered at Stone in Kent Then said the Bishop You are indicted by twelve men at Ashford at the Sessions for Heresie Matthew That 's sooner said then proved and said let me hear it and I will answer to it Then the Bishop said He would not do so but you shall answer to the Article against you yea or nay Matthew answered he could not for I was not at Ashford said he but I perceive you go about to lay a Net for my Blood Arch-Deacon said Peace Peace we do not desire thy Blood and said you are suspected of Heresie and therefore we would have you confess what you believe concerning these Articles and the Bishop charged him again in the King and Queens Name to answer yea or nay to the Articles Mathew Then I commanded him in his Name that should come in Flaming Fire with his mighty Angels to render Vengance to the Disobedient and to all those that believed not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which should be punisht with Everlasting Damnation that he should speak nothing but the Truth Grounded upon Christ and his Apostles and then I would answer him or else not Then the Bishop was angry and said If you will not answer I will condemn you Matthew Well said I if you do you shall be guilty of my blood and prove your self a Murderer The Bishop further Examined him concerning the Catholick Church and said Tell me whether is the King and Queen of that Church or not Matthew Well said I now I perceive you go about to be both mine Accuser and Judge contrary to all right I confess Christ hath a Church upon Earth which is built upon the Apostles and Prophets Christ being the Head thereof and as touching the King and Queen I answer I have nothing to do with any mans Faith but mine own Then said the Bishop Is there no part of that Church here in England Matthew Well I perceive you would fain have something to lay to my charge I will tell you what Christ saith where two or three is gathered together in his Name there is he in the midst of them Then the Arch-Deacon stood up and in a mocking manner said You have no wit to think that we have been deceived so long time Q. Mary An. 1557. and that the Truth is only made known to half a dozen of you in a Corner and read the Article of the Sacrament and said you deny the real Presence to be in the Sacrament after Consecration much talk they had about this point but at last the Bishop was so angry that he said If you will not answer yea or nay I will condemn you Mathew said I have answered and if you condemn me my life is not dear unto me and I am sure you shall not escape unpunished for God will be revenged upon such Murderers Then the Deacon entreated him to be ruled by him and take Mercy while it was Offered for if you are condemned you must be burnt And whether he died in Prison or was burnt no mention is made in the Register Ten persons burnt in Sussex On the 22th day of the Moneth called June in the year 1557. Ten persons were burnt for Religion in Lewis in Sussex viz. Richard Woodman George Stevens William Mainard Alex. Hoseman's Servant Tomazin Wood Margery Morris James Morris her Son Dennis Burgis Ashdon's Wife and Grove's Wife The Sufferings and Principal Heads and Matter of the Examination of Richard Woodman being written by his
blessing upon any thing you take in hand The Lord my Brethren and Sisters hath not forgotten to be gracious unto Sion you shall yet find dayes of peace and rest if you continue faithful This standing and treading of us under his feet this subverting of our cause and right in Judgment is done by him to the end that we should search and try our wayes and repent us of our Carelesness Prophaneness and Rebellion in his sight but he will yet maintain the Cause of our Souls and redeem our lives if we return to him yea he will be with us in Fire and Water and will not forsake us if our Hearts be only and especially of the Building of Zion whithersoever we go Let not those of you then that either have Stocks in your hands or some likely Trades to live by dispose of your selves where it may be most commodious for your outward Estate and in the mean time suffer the poor ones that have no such means either to bear the whole Work upon their weak Shoulders or to end their dayes in sorrow and mourning for want of outward and inward comforts in the Land of Strangers for the Lord will be an Avenger of all such dealings but consult with the whole Church yea with the Brethren in other places how the Church may be kept together and built whithersoever they go let not the Poor and the Friendless be forced to stay behind here and to break a good Conscience for want of your support and kindness unto them that they may go with you And here I humbly beseech you not in any outward regard as I shall answer before my God that you would take my poor and desolate Widdow and my mess of Fatherless and Friendless Orphans with you into exile whithersoever you go and you shall find I doubt not that the blessed Promises of my God made unto me and mine will accompany them and even the whole Church for their sakes for this also is the Lords Promise unto the holy Seed as you shall not need much to demand what they shall eat or wherewith they shall be clothed and in short time I doubt not but they will be found helpful and not burthensome to the Church only I beseech you let them not continue after you in this Land where they must be inforced to go again unto Aegypt and my God will bless you even with a joyful return unto your own Country for it There are you who I doubt not will be careful of the performance of the will of your dead Brother in this point who may yet live to shew this kindness unto yours I will say no more Be kind loving and tender-hearted the one of you towards the other labour every way to encrease love and to shew the duties of love one of you towards another by visiting comforting and relieving one the other even for the reproach of the Heathen that are round about us as the Lord saith Be watching in prayer especially remember those of our Brethren that are especially endangered particularly those our two Brethren M. Studley and Robert Boule whom our God hath strengthned now to stand in the fore-front of the Battel I fear me that our carelesness was over great to sue unto our God for the lives of these two so notable Lights of his Church who now rest with him and that he took them away for many respects seeming good to his Wisdom so also that we might learn to become careful in prayer in all such causes pray for them then my Brethren and for our Brother M. Fran. Johnson and for me who am likely to end my dayes either with them or before them that our God may spare us unto his Church if it be his good pleasure or give us exceeding faithfulness and be every way comfortable unto the Sister and Wife of the dead I mean unto my beloved M. Barrow and M. Greenwood whom I most heartily salute and desire much to be comforted in their God who by his Blessings from above will countervail unto them the want of so notable a Brother and Husband I would with you earnestly to write yea to send if you may to comfort the Brethren in the West and North Countries that they faint not in these Troubles and that also you may have of their advice and they of yours what to do in these desolate times and if you think it any thing for their further comfort and direction send them conveniently a Copy of this my Letter and of the declaration of my Faith and Allegiance wishing them before whomsoever they be called that their own Mouthes be not had a Witness against them in any thing yea I would wish you and them to be together if you may whithersoever you shall be banished and to this purpose to bethink you before hand where to be yea to send some who may be meet to prepare you some resting place and be all of you assured that he who is your God in England will be your God in any Land under the whole Heaven for the Earth and the fulness thereof are his and blessed are they that for his Cause are bereaved of any part of the same Finally my Brethren the eternal God bless you and yours that I may meet with you all unto my comfort in the blessed Kingdom of Heaven Thus having from my Heart and with tears performed it may be my last duty towards you in this Life I salute you all in the Lord both men and women even those who I have not named as heartily as those whose names I have mentioned for all your names I know not And remember to stand stedfast and faithful in Jesus Christ as you have received him unto your Immortallity And he Confirm and Establish you to the end for the praise of his Glory Amen The 24th of the 4th Moneth April 1593. Your Loving Brother in the Patience and Sufferings of the Gospel John Penry a Witness of Christ in this Life and a Partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed I found also a Letter of the said Penry to his Wife which being large I have only inserted some particular sentences thereof as followeth To my beloved Wife Ellinor Penry Partaker with me in this life of the sufferings of the Gospel in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ and resting with me in undoubted hope of the glory that shall be revealed all strength and comfort with all other spiritual graces be multiplyed through Christ Jesus our Lord. I see my blood layd for my Beloved and so my dayes and Testimony drawing to an end for ought I know and therefore I think it my duty to leave behind me this Testimony of my love towards so dear a Sister and loving a Wife in the Lord as you have been unto me First then I beseech you stand fast in that Truth which you and I profess at this present in much outward discomfort and danger let nothing draw you to be subject
ought to be Compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath VI. Some remarkable Collections out of Doctor Taylors Book entituled OEOAOTIA EKAEKTIKH A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to other mens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions VII Instances out of divers Authors treating on the same subject by W. C. deceased VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward force nor imposition ought to be used in matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. deceased IX Several Sayings Collected from the Speeches and writings of King Charles the first X. Several Promises and Declarations for the Liberty of tender Consciences taken out of the Speeches of King Charles the second SECT I. Persecution for the cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ the King of Kings as these Scriptures and Reasons following do demonstrate The first Reason against Persecution is because it is contrary to Scripture FOr Christ commanded that the Tares and Wheat should be let alone in the World Matth. 13.30.38 c and not pluckt up until the Harvest which is the End of the World Christ also commandeth Matth. 15.14 that they that are blind should be let alone referring their punishment unto the falling into the Ditch Again he reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven Luke 9.54 59. and devour those Samaritans who would not receive him in these Words Ye know not of what Spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroy mens Lives but to save them Paul the Apostle taught 2 Tim. 24.2 that the Servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them Repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of that Snare of the Devil According to these blessed Commandments the Prophets foretold Esa 2.4 Mica 4.3.4 that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established they should break their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Then shall none hurt or destroy in all the Mountains of my holiness And when he came the same he taught and practised as before Esa 11.9 so did his Disciples afterâ—him for the Weapons of his Warfare are nor carnal saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.4 But he chargeth straitly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray when they were Cursed Matth. 5. they should Bless c. And the reason seems to be because they who now are Tares may hereafter become Wheat they who are now Blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to Repentance they that are now Blasphemers and Persecutors as Paul was may in time become faithful as he they that are now Idolatrous as the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true Worshippers as they they that are now no people of God nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2 20. may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Matt. 20. 〈◊〉 If those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they come not at the first then should they never come but be prevented SECT II. The second Reason against Persecution for cause of Conscience is because it is against the Profession and Practice of famous Princes FIrst Consider the speech of King James to the Parliament 1609. he saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed and that it was usually the Condition of Christians to be persecuted but not to persecute Again he saith page four speaking of the Papists I gave good proof that I intended no Persecution against them for Conscience Cause And in the same Kings Exposition of the Revelation the twentith printed 1588. he writes thus Compassing of the Saints and beseiging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain Note of a false Church to be Persecution for they come to seek the faithful the Faithful are them that are sought the Wicked are the Besiegers the Faithful are the Besieged And the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the latter Times wherein Sundry Opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his Eye and as it were to touch with his Finger that according to the Truth of the Scripture and a Maxime heretofore maintained by the antient Doctors of the Church that mens Consciences ought in no fort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been Pernitious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovations in the Principalest and Mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom And further he saith So that once more we do profess before God and the whole World that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not those who profess themselves to be of the Romish Church neither to trouble nor disturb them in the Exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. SECT III. The Third Reason because Persecution for Cause of Conscience is condemned by the antient and later Writers HIlary against Auxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted And Lamentable it is to see the folly of these Times and the foolish Opinion of this World in that men think by humane Aid to help God and with Wordly Pomp and Power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask the Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing the Gospel with the Aid of what power did they Preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were in Prisons and lay in Chaines did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities or favours received from the Court or do you think that Paul went about with regal Mandates or kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own Maintenance travelling by Land and Water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ but now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same Countenance too and by vain and worldly Honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ
against the Mass and Antichrist the people in a rage fell upon him beating and bruising of him and he was forthwith bound and set upon an Ass and the Executioners with lighted Torches burnt his Face Mouth and Tongue first when the flames came overthwart his Cheeks he was heard to cry Lord forgive them they know not what they do and then they consumed his body with Fire to Ashes And herein the Reader hath seen the invinceable Constancy of these Martyrs who in their burning Zeal for Religion dryed up the Rivers of Persecution and were never tyred in Suffering until the Persecutors swords were blunt with the slaughter Blessed are they that are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven Part IV. Q. Eliz. An. 1558. Containing an Account of such as suffered Persecution and Martyrdom under Episcopacy c. I Am now come to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth in whose first year the Parliament restored the first fruits and tenths to the Crown and the Protestant Religion was again established the Bishops that refused the Oath of Supremacy were removed and others put in their rooms in this Queens time about the Eleaventh year of her reign arose a People making a Profession of the Pure Religion and would allow of nothing but what was directly taken out of the Scriptures openly condemning the received Discipline of the Church of England together with the Liturgy and the very calling of the Bishops as savouring too much of the Romish Religion declaring it to be an impious thing to hold any thing common with the Church of Rome and used all diligence to have the Church of England reformed in every point according to the rule of the Church of Geneva amongst these Dissenters were Coleman Burton Hallingham and Benson whom the Queen commanded to be committed to Prison yet it is a thing almost incredible how on a suddain their Followers encreased known by the envious name of Puritans who preached nothing more then Evangelical Purity crying down the Ecclesiastical Form of Government as a thing poluted with Roman Dregs setting out Books in Print to the same effect refusing to go to the publick Worship as it was then used whereupon many endeavours were used to suppress them and the Law was commanded to be put in Execution which required Uniformity and the Books wrote by the Puritans to be delivered into the Bishops hands on pain of Imprisonment by these courses of persecution and force they were kept down for a time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury using his utmost endeavours to settle an uniformity in Ecclesiastical Discipline according to the Laws which he saw lay gasping if the Puritans encreased and thereupon provided Articles for all Ministers to subscribe but he found great opposition or disturbance in this his Design both at home and abroad for one Robert Brown a young man of Cambridge from whom a People called Brownists took their name and one Rich. Harrison a School master these set forth Books in Zealand dispersed them over England condemning the Church of England for no Church these Books were by Authority prohibited and several of the chief of these Brownists were executed at Bury in Suffolk as the Reader shall understand more particularly in this following Discourse Q. Eliz. An. 1558. as far as I can give a discovery by the Authors I could procure As I have said though by the forciable course the Bishops took these People were kept under at times yet in the one and thirtieth year of the Queen the Pur̄itān̄s Flames brake forth again and Books were written by the names of Martin-Marprelate and another Book by Penry and Udal against the Government of Bishops and Barrow and Greenwood wrote a short Treatise called a Plat-Form in which was contained sharp reproofs to the Clergy saying That all false and Antichristian Ministers ought by the Princes Authority to be rooted out and that their Antichristian and Idolatrous Livings ought to be converted to chartiable Civil-uses and are not to be appropriated or given to Gods true Ministry for the maintenance thereof neither ought it to receive the same for it stands not with the honour of God that Bethel Gods House should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Bethaven the House of Idols as if the Almighty wanted other means for support of his own House and must needs be beholden to the House of Idols to help him and his For these and such matters by them openly divulged they were imprisoned and all that would not bow the Bishops resolved to break them to pieces on the other hand the more hotly they were persecuted by the Bishops the more the Zeal stirred in them to oppose strengthening themselves daily through their diligence in Reading the Scriptures that they might be enabled to oppose the Clergy whose Reformation they said was no more then casting out the name and Persons of the Pope and Papists and yet reserved all their Livings and Priviledges even all the fat and gainful Ware of Amaleck unto themselves But in the end of these things as it seldom hath been known so far as I have observed that whensoever the Truth appeared though in the least Measure but it cost some Blood which should make men love it the better So in these times this Barrow Greenwood and Penry and several others sealed their Testimony first by hard Imprisonment and at last by death it self as in the sequel will appear and if what I find upon record be true as I have no cause to believe otherwise the chief Instruments of their deaths were the Clergy and not the Queen For when the Queen asked Doctor Raynolds what he thought of those two men meaning Barrow and Greenwood he answered It would not avail any thing to shew his Judgment concerning them seeing they were put to death and being loath to speak his mind further the Queen pressed him and charged him to speak whereupon he answered that he was perswaded if they had lived they would have been two as worthy Instruments for the Church of God as hath been raised up in this Age The Queen sighed and said no more But after that riding to a Park by a place where they were executed called to mind their suffering of death and being willing to have further information concerning them demanded of the Earl of Cumberland that was present when they suffered what end they made he answered a very godly end and prayed for your Majesty and the State moreover one Philips a famous Preacher having both heard and seen Barrows Speeches and Preparation for death said Barrow Barrow my Soul be with thine And now before I give Account of the places where these persons were executed it will be necessary to insert their Complaint to the Parliament relating their hard usage in Prisons a Copy of which is as followeth The Humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the Persecuted and Prescribed Church and
Servants of Christ falsly called Brownists unto the High-Court of Parliament The most high God Possessor of Heaven and Earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdoms right honourable his own Cause his own People his own Sworn and most treacherous Enemies together with the most shameful Usage of his Truth and Servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed Peace and Tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your Consideration and Defence in our Profession and Persons His Enemies and their Out-rage against his Truth and Servants in the Persons and Bloody Proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices We profess the same Faith and Truth of the Gospel with her Majesty which your honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day do hold and Maintain We go beyond them being our only fault even in the Judgment of our tyrannical and most savage Enemies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearful Anti-christian Religion and draw nearer in some Points by our practice unto Christs holy Order and Institution this is our Faith this is our cause Right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinful hands For the Profession and Maintenance of which Faith the fore-named Enemies of God detain in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Goals throughout the Land about threescore and twelve persons Men Women Young and Old lying in Cold in Hunger in Dungeons and in Irons of which Number they have taken the Lords day last being the third day of the fourth Moneth 1592. about some sixteen persons hearing the Word of God truly taught praying and praising God for his favours shewed unto us unto her Majesty your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be Merciful to us unto our Gracious Prince and Country being employed in these holy Actions and no other as the Parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the Persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like Exercise in Queen Maryes dayes The former Number are now unbailable committed by the Prelatel or Bishop of London unto whose close for the most part several Prisons as Bridewel the Limboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Fleet the Marshalsea the Counters the Clynk the Gatehouse the Whitelyon c. wherein we willingly acknowledge the Lot and Inheritance in this Life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyrs of the former Age and the entailed Aceldama or Bloody Succession of the See of London and that whole Linage Well here our Brethren lie How long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in Hunger in Cold in Nakedness and all outward distress for these Bloody men will allow them neither Meat Drink Fire Lodging nor suffer any whose Hearts the Lord would stir up for their relief to have any access unto them purposing belike to imprison them unto death as they have done Seventeen or Eighteen others in the same noisome Goals within these Six Years The Husband and Wife being now taken by them they permit not to be in the same but have sent them to be close kept in other Prisons VVhat the poor Family doth at home in the mean time your Lordships may consider and justly pity Som of this Company had not one Penny about them when they were sent into close Prison nor any thing being abroad which is the case of most of them if not all to procure themselves and their poor Families any Maintenance save only their handy Labours and Trades whereby it is come to pass that these Enemies of God do not only starve and undo a number of men in the Prisons but even a lamentable Company of poor Orphans and Servants abroad their unbrid led slanders their Lawless privy searches their Violent breaking open and rifling of our Houses their lamentable and barbarous Usage of VVomen and Young Children in these hostile assaults their Uncontrouled Thievery Robbing and taking away of whatsoever they think meet from us in this case their unappeased and merciless pursuit of us from our Houses Trades Wives Children especially from the holy Society of the Saints and Church of God We are inforced to omit lest we should be over tedious to your Lordships but their dealing this way towards us is so woful right honourable as we may truly demand with grief of heart whether the forreign Enemy or our native Country men do possess and bear rule over us in our dear and native Country Their whole dealing herein is most Barbarous most Inhumane but especially most Unchristian and such as exceeds the cruelty of the Heathen and Popish Professed Tyrants and Persecutors the Records of the Heathen Persecution under Nero Trajan Decius Galienus Maximinian c. can scant afford us any Examples of the like cruelty and havock for the Heathen Romans would Murder Openly and Professedly These godless men have put the Blood of War about them in the day of the Peace and Truth which this whole Land professeth to hold with Jesus Christ and his Servants Bishop Bonner Story Wesâ—â—n dealt not after this sort for those whom they committed close they would also either feed or permit to be fed by others and they brought them in short space openly into Smithfield to end their misery and to begin their never ending joy Whereas Bishop Elinar Q. Eliz. An. 1592. Dr. Stanhope and Mr. Justice Young with the rest of that Persecuting and Blood thirsty faculty will do neither of these No Fellows no Murderers no Traytors in this Land are so dealt with There are many of us by the Mercies of God still out of their hands The former holy Exercise and Profession we purpose not to leave by the Assistance of God We have as good Warrant to reject the Ordinances of Anti-christ and labour for the recovery of Christs holy Institutions as our Fathers and Brethren in Queen Maryes dayes had to do the like and we doubt not if our cause were truly known unto her Majesty and your Wisdoms but we should find greater favour then they did whereas our Estate now is far more lamentable And therefore we humbly and earnestly crave of her Majesty and your Lordships both for our selves abroad and for our Brethren now in miserable Captivity but just and equal Tryal according unto her Majesty's Laws if we prove not our Adversaries to be in a most Pestilent and godless course both in regard of their Offices and their Proceedings in them and our selves to be in the right Way we desire not to have the benefit of her Majestyes true and faithful Subjects which of all earthly favours we account to be one of the greatest Are we Malefactors Are we any wise undutiful unto our Prince Maintain we any Errours Let us then be judicially convicted thereof and delivered to the Civil Authority but let not these bloody men both Accuse Condemn and closly Murther after this sort