defence your tower So slep'd he in the Lord and was the last In Scotland that the fi'ry tryal past SECT XXXII The Persecution of the Church in Ireland Anno Christi 1642. THe factious Archbishops Abbots Pryors False Jesuites Romish Priests and knavish Friars Stirr'd up rebellion by their instigation Against the English in the Irish Nation And when they thought their malice had invented Such thriving plots as could not be prevented They in their publick prayers recommended The good success of their designes which tended To the advancement of the Cath'lick cause And told the people 't was no time to pause Their nation over-run with hereticks Call'd Protestants sworn foes to Catholicks Who were not to be suffered alive Amongst them and for any to deprive Them of their breaths the crime was not more great Then to destroy a dog to give them meat Or yield to them relief at any time 'T was mortal O unpardonable crime Romes Doctrine they pretended to suppress And root out those that did the same profess They Laws would make they thought should under All Pop'ry after Englands good example trample Observe we how their words and deeds did vary Said one thing but did act the quite contrary And now they fall to murthr'ous blows and glory 'T will save them from the pains of Purgatory None that spake English the least mercy found The English language was a loathed sound All are resolv'd to scowre the Irish borders From these supposed Authors of disorders Poor Protestants some were to exile packt Some kill'd 't was thought a meritorious act To slay those Devils in the shapes of men For so they called them not one of ten Escap'd their clutches what a deal of good Said they it does us thus to bath in blood When these injurious wretches are destroy'd In Ireland and their habitation voyd We 'll then for England have at England then We will not leave alive one English man Put case we should be of our lives bereaven Immediately our souls would fly to heaven Why should such scoundrels breath to work let 's fall And take away their lives estates and all Strip strip man woman child base rougues and whores Leave not a rag on turn them out of doors So now they shelter them but woods and caves Sha'n't be their dwellings but shall be their graves Whom wee 'l But many by the high-wayes side For want of sustenance fell down and dy'd And many thousands that for succour fled To towns by that time they came there were dead To tell their horrid Massacres would make The ear to tingle and the heart to ake In Armagâ— and Tyrone this barb'rous rage Spar'd neither rich nor poor nor sex nor age And elsewhere many thousands did expire By sword by water famine or by fire Some had their guts rip'd out some drag'd thro bogs Young children thrown to be devour'd by dogs If any chanc'd to beg but leave to pray And kneeled down they lost their heads straightway Some in dark dungeons lie others half slain Earnestly beg'd to be rid out of pain They cover'd some alive with dirt and stones And laugh'd to hear their lamentable grones Some were from bridges into rivers flung Others on tenter-hooks by the chin hung They hang'd up some by th' arms with their swords trying How long an English-man would be a dying Young infants rip'd out of their mothers womb Were given to the hogs for to entomb Children were forc'd to kill fathers and mothers Parents their children and brothers brothers Wives their own husbands husbands their own wives And they themselves in fine must lose their lives No mercy's shown man woman no nor child The dead's dig'd up th'alive in cauldrons boil'd Some had their hands cut off and eyes pluck'd out Many were left alive their guts about Their very heels and of some's grease and fat Candles were made while others rosted at Slack fires Nay boys and women were employ'd To perpetrate such deeds and therein joy'd The Rebels in the country Portendown Did many thousands in the river drown At Lisgool Tullah Lissenskeah and Cumber All Castles a considerable number Were brought unto untimely ends Man woman And child was kill'd at Killmore and Killoman An ancient dame which towards Dublin went Was strip'd in one day seven times and sent To seek her God and to her God complain And bid him if he could cloath her again All mercy was exil'd these murth'rous Cains Brain'd some stab'd others with their swords forks skeins Thousands of Protestants in snowy weather Turn'd out stark naked perish'd all together Through cold and hunger many that were sick Were drag'd out of their beds and hang'd up quick One Gcodwife Lin they hanged in the Air And then the daughter by the mothers hair Upon a day a Cittadel they fir'd Over the Christians heads therein retir'd And thus express'd their joy Behold how high The flames mount O how sweetly do they fry A Divines mouth up to the ears they slit So don they put a Bibles leaf to it And bid him preach and teach some pretty stuff For now he had a mouth was wide enough A naked woman her bare skin to hide A wisp of straw about her middle tide They fit'd it boasting how it did enhance Their spirits to see the English jade so dance They stab'd Jane Addis and her young child stuck T' her brest and said Suck English bastard suck If any hid themselves in cellars caves They all were murther'd by these hell-sent slaves Who made their boast they pleas'd the devil well In sending him so many souls to hell Against God and his holy word likewise They belch'd out execrable blasphemies Bibles they burnt and said They burnt hell-fire Cut some and soaked others in the mire Then dash'd them on the owners faces some They stamp'd on saying Hence all mischiefs come A plague upon them all in a short time We hope to see none in our Irish clime They told th' Apostates that they thought it good To kill them while they were in a good mood Anne Nicholson said boldly she 'd not turne And rather then she would her Bible burn As they would have her she the death would die And did as it fell out for by and by She and her mate was stabb'd but he that acted The vill'ny grew immediately distracted At Glascow fisty English men and Scots They made recant and then cut all their throats In Mayo and in Tiperary too Both Counties not a few did undergo All sorts of cruel deaths these bloody ones Did slash hew hack and pellet them with stones They forc'd some in the Sea swoln big with waves To take possession of those watry graves In Sligo forty Protestants were strip'd And lock'd up in a cellar then there slip'd A butcher in appointed so to do And with an axe cleav'd all their heads in two Into the Jail belonging to this town Poor Protestants were sent and there knock'd down About Dungannon Tyrone Charlemount
any other thing they would Provided that she did her self so carry As fits a duteous Subject Lady Mary Having receiv'd this answer heavy hearted From out the City's circuit streight departed Hereat the Councel did set out a band Of armed souldiers under the command Of the Northumbrian Duke Mary withdrew her Self into Suffolk many flocking to her And while she in Fermingham Castle staid All Suffolk freely proff'red her their aid And best assistance to procure her Reign With this Provisoe that she would maintain Religion established of late By her good brother and not broach debate Amongst her Subjects nor foment the seed Of war to this she easily agreed And did to God so solemnly protest That no man could suspect her in the least Now with this power of those Godly men She vanquished her foes yet after when The self-same party spplication made Unto her Grace to do as she had said She answer'd Forasmuch as you that are But members arrogantly seek to bear Rule o're your head I fear me to your cost You 'l once know what it was to rule the rost By sad experience you shall find one day That Subjects may not rule but must obey Then in the Pill'ry famous Mr. Dobbe Exposed was to many a bitter bobbe Some others for presenting that request Were laid up fast to terrifie the rest The Marches of the Duke not over-long The Lady by his ling'ring grew more strong So that the London Councel having heard How much the Commons for her aid appear'd And that some of the Nobles too did lean That way they presently proclaim'd her Queen The Gen'ral by his souldiers forsook At Cambridge left almost alone was took And brought to London-Tower in a short season On Tower-hill he lost his head for treason After his condemnation he was Promis'd his life if he would go to Mass Which he assented to his words regrest The truth he had so formerly profess'd He to the Cath'lick cause the people led To th'papists great joy yet did he lose his head Queen Mary thus possessed of the crown Began the pure Religion to disown As soon appear'd by her displacing all The godly Bishops Ridly Coverdale Poinet Hooper and Scory Gardiner Set free was made Bishop of Winchester Also Lord Chancellour of England Bonner Too undeservedly attain'd the honour Of being London's Bishop To the Fleet Was Mr. Hooper manded O unmeet To see the Queen good Doct or Ridly went But on a lame Jade to the Tow'r was sent A Parliament was call'd a Proclamation Forthwith the Queen set forth throughout the nation Wherein she shew'd She could by no means brook To smother that Religion which she took In with her Infant-milk and to her power Meant to observe until her latest hour Wishing that all her Subjects which would sleep Secure in their whole skin the same might keep She also did declare whereas there were Evil-disposed persons who did dare To preach God's word misled by their own brain She therefore did by strict command ordain Such should not henceforth preach as held unfit Read or interpret any Sacred Writ Or other points Religion concern'd Or Print Books by the which it might be learn'd Without a special licence from the Queen On pain of stirring up her Highness spleen Requiring all her Officers to see Her will and pleasure executed be If herein any wilfully offend She authoriz'd them them to apprehend And send them forthwith to the neighb'ring gaol Without admitting Mani-prize or bail Till for their punishment and the example Of others Orders be procur'd more ample Also the London Aldermen were will'd To send for all the Ministers which fill'd The streight'ned Wards and silence them on pain Of death commanding them that none explain Or preach or read the Scripture in their stead But such as by the Queen were licensed One William Rutler Humphry Palden too He must to prison this to th'Counter go For speaking but against what was express'd At Paul's Cross by one Bourn a Popish Priest Good Mr. Rogers was t' his house confin'd Bradford Vernon and Beacon were assign'd Close pris'ners in the Tower Then did they send For Coverdale and Hooper to attend The Councel and for Newgate they allot John Melvine a Divine by birth a Scot. Mr. Hugh Latimer was sent to th' Tower And so was Dr. Cranmer by this power Mr. Simonds Sanders Horn Durhams Dean Were summon'd to appear before the Queen Soon after this the Parliament began Where Mr. Harly a judicious man Bishop of Hereford degraded was For marrying a wife and shunning Mass Sir James Hales Justice of the Common-Plea In charge against the Popes supremacie Producing Statutes c. into prison cast Was there so roughly dealt with that at last Recant he did but O dire consequence He felt the terrours of his conscience And his own executioner had been Had not God's special goodness step'd between The knife and him From prison he releas'd His self-made wounds recur'd no inward rest Enjoy'd at home so having made his will He drown'd himself and 's end began his ill At the same time for their dis-approbation Of a presented Bill the Convocation By Bonner was dissolv'd From Coventry For their oppugning of Idolatry Baldwin Clark Careless Willcocks all in hast Sent up to London by the Mayor lay fast Bishops imprison'd were Archdeacons Deans All Beneficed men put by their means Who closely to the truth reveal'd adher'd And Popish Parsons in their roomes prefer'd Too bad supplies within a little season Archbishop Cranmer for no less then Treason At Guild Hall was araing'd clear'd of that charge For 's heresy he might not live at large One Mr. Thomas Wotton an Esquire And Doctor Crome did in the Fleet retire Now Hymen went to joyn with Nuptial bands Iberian Philip's and Queen Maries hands Some of the Nobles and the vulgar sort Not very well resented this report The Duke of Suffolk labour'd to prevent The match Sir Thomas as Wyat rais'd in Kent Some sorces to oppose it for he fear'd The Realm would be enslav'd and Popery rear'd Wyat for London march'd Queen Mary then At Guild Hall stirred up the City-men Wyat came into Southwark having found Entrance block'd up he went by Kingstone round And faced Lud-gate which to entertain Such guests refusing he return'd again And having got the worst at Temple-Bar Became Sir Clement Parson's prisoner Who sent him to the Tow'r on Tower-Hill He and the Lady Jane their dayes fulfill Bonner did in his Diocess disperse Injunctions to all the Ministers Wherein they were required to give in The names of all whoever were agin Auricular confession the next Lent Encroaching on Queen Mary also sent To Bonner Articles commanding streight The Church-Laws made by Henery the eight Should be in force that heresy abhor'd Should fall the Popes supremacy restor'd That Ministers which did lead marri'd lives Should be divorced from themselves their wives And that processions should be said or sung From that
Declining the dispute the Orth'dox then A Declaration of their faith did pen And did it with this protestation show What our belief is if you long to know Here 't is the Arrians stormed at this thing Gave them foul words accus'd them to the King He all of them out of the City turn'd Who them reliev'd must by his Law be burn'd The Bishops which i' th' open fields did ly Bespake the Tyrant as he passed by What evil have we done we fain would know The reason why we are afflicted so If we be called to dispute we crave Why are we thus despoil'd of all we have Why must we live on dunghils in distress Afflicted housless cold and comfortless He bids and over them his horsmen ride Many are bruised sore then they deny'd B'ing urg'd unto an oath to put their hands And said Our God contrarily commands Nor are we mad-men or such fools as that We should subscribe before we know to what This was the tenour of the oath then read You all shall swear that when the King is dead Hildrick shall reign and that no man shall send Letters beyond the seas The King your friend Upon your taking it will you restore Unto the Churches you were at before They that did not and also they that did Were all enslaved and to preach forbid What doleful outeries what heart-rending grones Were throughout Affrick caus'd by bloody ones With cudgels either sex and age was bang'd Here some they burned there they others hang'd Women and naked gentlewomen were Openly tortur'd all their bodies bare Fair Dionysia bolder the rest Thus the conceptions of her mind exprest Afflict your fill God's favour I have got Onely my woman-hood disclose you not These words scarce out they more enraged strip'd her Expos'd her to all eyes and soundly whip'd her Untill the blood flow'd down that which you broach Satanick slaves said she for my reproach Is my best garland Then she wisely chear'd Her young and onely son who persever'd Patient in all his pains till he disburst His spirit unto him that gave it first Hunrick b'ing dead succeeding Gundabund Twice six years tyranniz'd mild Thrasamund And Ild'rick ruled well But in conclusion Bell'zarius brought the Vandals to confusion After they ninety years had been a rod To scourge the Saints and Israel of God THE Persecution of the Church Under the PAPACY SECT XX. The Persecution of the Waldenses which began Anno Christi 1160. WHen the black cloak of Popery was hurl'd Upon the shoulders of the christian world The saints still labour'd to dispel away Those shades Cimmerian and reveal the day With truth's bright lustre and withall devest The Roman glory One among the rest A learn'd and godly man at Lions whose name Was Peter Valdo much oppos'd the same Declaring plainly Transubstantiation To be no better then an Innovation He mov'd the cred'lous people to embrace The precious offers of the means of grace They which unto his Doctrine gave respect From him were called the Waldensian Sect Which like a Snow-ball rowling down a hill Decreased nothing but increased still Though ev'ry day and hour the Martyrs bleed Yet is the Martyrs blood the Churches seed This her'sy in a thousand Citys swarms Maintaining seventy thousand men of arms Nor could the popish Canons Constitutions Curses Decrees alter their resolutions To suffer wrong in body goods or name For Christ his sake was counted not a shame Valdo yet still proceeds nor can he hope Long life to publish to the world the Pope Is Antichrist the Mass abominable The Host an Idol Purgator ' a fable Pope Innocent the third did authorize Monkish Inquisitors for to surprize These Her'ticks as he call'd them by process That so the sec'lar power might them suppress Is any rich the inquis'cors had a trick To make him poor Oh he 's an Heretick Let him have such a death no power controul'd Or curb'd them in but what they would they would If any water or a pad of straw Gave to the Saints he was condemn'd by law If any advocate assaid to plead His kinsmans cause an Action indeed And if an Heir his father that way leans And that 's enough to rob him of his means Nay for to keep the people in more aw They prisoners do in their processions draw Triumphantly injoyning them to vex And scourge themselves with ropes about their necks A torch in either hand others along Must pass to terrify the gazing throng Besides all these they have a thousand Querks They send cut some to fight against the Turks And Infidels no need to seek for heires Their houses goods and chattels all are theirs At their return if any ask'd their wives VVho lay with them They ' ndangered their lives The foes confess'd they had not wherewithall To build up prisons for th' accused all And yet for all this persecution there Above eight hundred thousand Christians were The faith encreas'd and with a prosp'rous gale Clim'd o're the Alps came to Pragela's vale From thence the people bordered upon St. Martin Piedmont La Perouse Angrogne Wander there did innumerable flocks Upon the craggy cliffs and algid rocks Above three thousand being hid in caves VVere stifled by these marble-hearted slaves The poor Waldenses by their pray'rs and tears Oft mov'd the Lord to free them from their fears Two horsemen flying cry'd They come they come Another while the beating of a drum Caused their foes retreat which stones and slings They thousands kill'd at several skirmishings Thus God for his despised Saints did fight A handful putting num'rous foes to flight But when the godless party overcame They did commit their captives to the flame Or hang'd them up or cut them out in quarters All which discourag'd not the glorious Martyrs Through the industrious Waldenses toil Abundant store of Corn and VVine and Oil Enrich'd Calabria And God did bless Their pains in Provence with the like success At last when freely they the Gospels worth Began to publish Pope Pins the fourth Disturbing them they left behinde their goods VVith wives and children flying into th' woods But were pursu'd some slain and others wounded Some famine-pined souls in caves were found dead And they that were of St. Xist and la Garde VVere rack'd strip'd whip'd nor old nor young was Panza slays eighty and stakes up their joynts spar'd For thirty miles together he appoints A quarter to each stake Merindol Town VVas razed by Opede and batter'd down The Cabrierians brought into a field VVere hack'd to pieces cause they would not yield And in a barn replenished with straw VVomen were fir'd Opede himself did draw Young Infants from their mothers â—ip'd-up bellies His men kill'd them of Aix and Marseilles Some two and two together bound they slew And boots of scalding oil O cruell drew On others legs But heav'n at last decreed A woful end to that accurs'd Opede The Waldenses which into Albs came Of Albigenses thence receiv'd the name
Behold behold Me a decrepit wretch whose frequent pray'rs Have beg'd deliverance from this vale of tears But all in vaine for to be gaz'd upon By the worlds eyes I 'm kept God's will be done Not mine my death to mortal eyes may seem Disgraceful but 't is rich in Gods esteem Oh Lord my God my trembling feet support For fear my sudden fall occasion sport To my observing foes The Minister Perceiving that the excutioner Could not perform his office as he meant His crookedness b'ing an impediment Bespake him thus My Noble Lord as you Commended have your soul to Christ so now Advance your hoary head to God he try'd What he could do his head struck off he dy'd Then the Lord Oito a judicious man Having receiv'd the sentence thus began And do you then O Caesar still think good For to stabilitate your throne with blood Can God be pleas'd with this say Tyrant say How will you answer 't at that dreadful day Kill this my body do let my blood fill Your veins disperse my members where you will Yet this is my belief My loving father Will be so pleas'd as them together gather And cloath them with their skin these very eyes Shall see my Lord where e're my body lies These ears shall hear him and this very tongue Ring peals of joy his praises shall be sung By this same heart of mine I must confess I was perplex'd at first but now I bless My God I finde a change I was not troubled So much but now my joyes are more redoubled I fear not death now death hath lost her sting To die with joy O 't is a pious thing Am nor I sure Christ and his Angels will Guide me to heaven where I shall drink my fill Of those Celestial cups those cups of pleasure And measure drinking though not drink by measure Shall then this death have power to divide My soul from him the heavens open wide See where my finger points The standers by Beheld eye-dazeling cortuscancy After a silent prayer made he spake Lord save thy servant Oh some pity take I am thy creature O let me inherit Christ-purchas'd glory Lord receive my spirit Next Dionysius Zervius that storm'd Against the saints but when he was inform'd Of Gospel-truths how Christ procured rest For those believ'd he forthwith smote his brest And fetch'd a sigh while tears ran down did cry This is my faith and in this faith I 'll die Through Christ alone I can acceptance finde Yet God will not despise my contrite minde Upon these knees these bended knees I call For mercy mercy Lord although I fall Help me to rise in thee My foes controul May hurt my body but not hurt my soul An aged man b'ing brought both these commended Their souls unto the Lord so their lives ended Next was the Lord of Rugenice arraign'd Who said I have a greater priv'ledge gain'd Then if the King had spar'd me and augmented My restor'd substance and am more contented God is our witness that we onely sought Religions Liberty for that we fought Who though w' are worsted and must end our days The Lord is righteous in all his ways His Truth we must defend as he sees good Not by our naked Swords but by our Blood What is the cause my God O tell me why So soon as others do I may not die For ah thou knowst thou knowst that I resign My self unto thee and am wholly thine Put not thy servant off with long delay But take me hence sweet Jesu come away The Sheriff came for him he rejoycing said Blessed be God then towards him he made Upon the Scaffold he himself did chear With that of Christ Father I will that where I am thy servants may there also be That they may my heaven-given glory see I haste to lose this life so transitory That I may be with Christ and see his glory Climbe up my soul climbe up to be embrac'd In Christ his arms and so he breath'd his last Valentine Cockan spake to this effect Upon the Scaffold Gracious Lord direct My feeble steps O let deaths valley be A Pasport to the clearer view of thee For why thy word hath bin my hidden treasure O what satiety of joy and pleasure Take residence with thee there 's nothing can Afford my soul more satisfaction than Thy self's fruition Lord my spirit flies Into thy Courts so having said he dies Next Toby Steffick's brought a man whose heart Walk'd upright with his God though like a cart Press'd with afflictions sheaves to heaven he heav'd His wasted eyes and said I have receiv'd From the beginning of my life till now Good things of God and shall not I then bow My will to his but his chastisements shun I will not no God's holy will be done Can I poor dust and ashes have the face To plead with God I chearfully embrace Thy pleasure Lord I come to bear the cross O be thou pleas'd to purge away my dross Calcine my soul obliterate my sins And make me pure against that day begins He pray'd and having drunke the lethal cup His spirit into heaven ascended up Doctor Jessenius after him was Martyr'd His tongue cut out head off his body quarter'd Citing the saying of Ignatius Chears his co-sufferers We are Gods corn Sown in the Churches field and must be torn By beasts to fit us for our Masters use But here 's our comfort one a bloody sluce The Church is founded and hath been augmented By blood nor shall the opened vein be stented The blow must now be fetch'd his soul he gave To heav'n his body to the gaping grave Then being call'd to execution I come said he a pious resolution Takes up my heart I 'm not asham'd nor sory To suffer these nay worse things for his glory I have I have by my heav'n-borrow'd force Fought faith's good fight and finished my course Then praying Father in thy hands I leave My spir't he did a Martyrs crown receive John Shunlt is while he on the Scaffold stood Said thus Leave off this melancholy mood Dejected soul O be not so cast down Hope thou in God though for a time he frown Yet will he smile again and thou shalt yet Praise him though Nature do receive her debt The righteous are among the dead enrold By fools whenas they rest Behold behold I come sweet Jesus O some pity take Unon thy creature for thy promise sake Cast me not off my misery condole My sins O pardon and receive my soul Make no long tarriance come Lord Jesus come And so he underwent his Martyrdome Next Maximilian Hoslialeck Whom Learning Worth and Piety did deck After the sentence past one asked him The reason why he look'd so dull so grim And sadder then the rest To rell the truth The sins said he I acted in my youth Come now afresh into my minde for though I know that no remainder can o'rethrow Them which with Jesus Christ have made a close
out At length the Parson having understood How this good old man liv'd he took a brood Of Officers with him at night rebound He made the doors search'd diligently found Old father Yeomans and his family laid In bed together whereupon he said Ne're trust me if I did not think a knave I with a whore should finde and so I have And would have pull'd the bed-cloaths off withall But father Yeomans held them fast Call call Us what you please here 's neither knave nor whore But a cojugal pair in God though poor I bless God for it you in darkness grope And I defie with all his trash the Pope Then in the cage they carri'd him away There to the stocks with one John Dale he lay VVho shortly after dy'd he told's faith for which Degraded and condemn'd he burnt at Norwich John Alcock a young man by trade a Shear-man In Hadly-Parish said I do not fear man But God if for my God I suffer may 'T will be a happy and a joyful day As for the Pope I will not be forgiven By him forgive me thou great God of heaven He was a Newgate pris'ner hereupon And thrust into the lower dungeon Where he with cruel handling and beside Ill keeping suddenly fell sick and dy'd One Mr. Thomas Benbridge though estate Enough he had yet through the narrow gate Of persecution did he chuse to enter Into heaven's Kingdom manfully adventure His life and limb for Christ Truth he defended Against the Pope till he was apprehended Condemn'd therefore at the place unappal'd His rich apparel he put off and call'd Upon his God then fastned to the stake Said Dr. Seaton to him Do but make A recantation and thou shalt be freed Said Mr. Benbridge Shall I so indeed I thank you but I will not Christ's my Guerdon I don't regard you man no nor your pardon The Doctor said In troth it is a sin Good folk to pray for such a dog begin Benbridge begin a new leaf wilt thou say Away thou Babylonian away Benbridge reply'd they kindled then the wood VVhich burnt his beard yet he unmoved stood Fire seiz'd on 's legs unable to abide So grievous pains I do Recant he cry'd The fire 's removed and his life is granted But he his recantation recanted it pleasing God his conscience to awake And six dayes after suff'red at the stake John Cook James Ashly Alexander Lane And Robert Miles because they did abstain From going to the Church did pass the Fury Of corm'rant Vulcan at St. Edmunds Bury One Philip Humphry John and Henry David Two brothers were destroy'd and yet were saved Green Wilmot Williams Cotton Collingborow And Harris whip'd run through a deal of sorrow One Alexander Gouge Alice Driver By Mr. Noon a Suffolk-Justice were So hunted after that a while they lay For safety sake hid in a mow of hay The Justice with his men searching about Thrust Pitch-forks in the mow and found them out Sent them to Melton goal where being prov'd A certain time they were to Bury mov'd At the Assizes they Christ crucifi'd Boldly confessed and the Pope defi'd Alce Driver did compare exceeding well Queen Mary in her rage to Jesabel Her ears to be cut off the Judge procur'd Hereat which she rejoycingly endur'd Both are to Ipswieh sent examin'd there By Dr. Spencer Norwich Chanceller And others the main matter was intent About Christs presence in the Sacrament Alce Driver did so baffle them herein That they had nothing to reply agin Thus she concluded then the Lord be blest You are though learn'd not able in the least T' oppose God's spirit in me a silly woman Of low degree and tutoured by no man I am no Academick nor was I E're brought up in the University As ye have been yet in the truths defence And in the cause of Christ my Master whence I power derive I will set foot to foot To any of you if you put me to 't For to maintain the same and if I had A thousand lives to lose I should be glad To let all go for it The Chancellour Condemn'd and sent her to the Sec'lar power Gouge also was condemn'd for Christ his name And so both sweetly dy'd in Ipswich flame Alce Driver's neck being chain'd O said she heed Here is a goodly handkerchief indeed VVell God be praised for it As they stand At stake some came to take them by the hand The Sheriffe bids they be caught the crowd forbid The Sheriffe bids let alone and so they did There liv'd in Cornwall a religious Dame Her husband a recusant often came To hear Mass read nor would he ever lin Till his forc'd-wife did joyn with him therein Which was no little trouble to her soul She thereupon did seek the Lord and roul Her self upon him and by earnest prayer Crav'd his direction God was pleas'd to hear And one night fill'd her with such spir'tual mirth That she enjoy'd a little heaven on earth From husband children and from all she run For conscience sake and for her living spun Yet to her husband she return'd at last Where but a very little time being past Her neighbours apprehending carry'd her To th'Bishop of the town of Exeter She was condemned and the reason why VVas that she spake against Idolatry The Bishop said to her VVoman do y'hear Minde your good husband and your children dear She answered Remembred and forgot They 're soon I have them and I have them not While I enjoy'd my ease I them enjoy'd But now all such relations are voyd Standing here as I do in Christ his cause Where I must either frangifie the Laws Of Grace or Nature either Christ forsake Or else my Husband I 'm content to take Christ as my heavenly Spouse and to renounce The other with my children all at once The Bishop after much Argumentation Gave her a months time for consideration Seeing a Dutch-man who new Noses made For images defac'd when Edward swaid She said Mad-man what meanst thou to compose New Noses for such images as those Which will so shortly loose their heads For this She was close pris'ner kep'd nor did she miss Threatnings taunts scoffes call'd Anabaptist whore Mad-woman drunkard vagabond and more Then many specious promises were us'd Of liberty of wealth which she refus'd With husband goods and children they affail To win her but yet nothing would prevail Her heart was fixed trusting in the Lord She had cast anchor and renounc'd abhor'd The sin-involved world with all the wiles Which Satan uses when he souls beguiles She was devoyd of learning yet so vers'd I' th' Scriptures that not onely she rehers'd Apposite proofs Quotations but could tell The Book and Chapter also very well Condemn'd and given to the sec'lar power The country Gentlemen came flocking to her Bidding her yet to call on God for grace And cease her fond opinions to embrace So got'her husband and her children dear Thou art a woman ignorant we fear And