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
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
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
And after condemnation he was brought To execution his cap gown and coat He gave t' his servant and exhorted him To venture all for Christ yea life and lim Bound to the stake he cry'd For Christ his merit O Lord be pleased to receive my spirit How long shall clouds of darkness overwhelm Great God! how long shall foes oppress this realm A Fryar then Vnto our Lady pray Salve Regina say c. Away away Satanick Imps God hears me in the flame His soul went up to heav'n to praise Gods Name Straton converted said O Lord I have Bin wicked and deserv'd thy wrath yet save O let not me for fear of corp'ral pain Or death deny thee or thy truth again They his and Mr. Norman's person bring And burn them in the presence of the King Such words the Bishop of Dunkelden us'd To one Dean Porret whom the Fry'rs accus'd My joy Dean Thomas I do love thee well And therefore take the liberty to tell Thee of thy faults I am inform'd you do Preach the Epistle nay the Gospel too Each Sunday to your people and refuse To take from them as a reward your dues Which prejudicial to the Church-men is My joy Dean Thomas I advise you this Take tythes or else it is too much to preach But once a week for if thou gratis teach May not the people think that we likewise Should do the same Tom be not so precise It is enough for you when you have sound A good Epistle and Gospel to expound The liberty of holy Church express'd Therein and 't is no matter for the rest Thomas reply'd My Lord if I abstain From tythes will my parishioners complain I know they will not and whereas you say It is too much to preach each Sabbath-day I think it is too little for my part And from the very bottom of my heart Wish that your Lordship would be pleas'd to take Such pains as that Nay nay Dean Thomas spake The Bishop then no orders do us reach Whereas said Thomas you do bid me preach When a good Chapter I do light upon I 've read them over all and finde not one That 's bad amongst them shew me where they lie And at your shewing I will pass them by I bless God said the Bishop I ne're knew What was the Testament nor old nor new And I will not know any thing at all Saving my Portvise and Pontifical Go go your wayes and cease so much to prate Lest you repent you when it is too late I trust said Thomas that my cause is clear In Gods eyes therefore what need I to fear And so he went his way But when time 's glass Had run a little more he burned was Though bloody clouds were rais'd Religion's raies Shone forth in Scotland in those worst of daies Partly by reading comfort flowing thence And partly by fraternal conference Which so enrag'd the Papists that they came And burnt four noted persons in one flame One Jerom Russet that profest the truth And Alexander Kennedy a youth Were brought to Judgement Kennedy's heart panted For fear at first and would have fain recanted But when no hopes was left God's Spirit reviv'd His drooping soul yea inward comforts striv'd To shew themselves both in his face and tongue Then falling on his knees these words out sprung Great God! What love hast thou to all express'd And unto me vile wretch above the rest O who hath tasted of thy clemency In such a high degree O Lord as I For just now when I would deny thy power And Jesus Christ thy Son my Saviour T' have plung'd my self all over head and ears In everlasting flames unquench'd with tears Thy right hand hath not suffer'd me to dwell With the black subjects of the Prince of hell And I that was of late with fear opprest Enjoy by thee a joy-enamel'd brest I fear not death do with me as you please I praise God I am ready death 's an ease Then railed they on him and Jerom who Said also unto them Miscal us do This is your hour and power to command Yee sit as Judges we as guilty stand But know a day will come shall clear our blame And yee curs'd yee to your eternal shame Shall see your blindness Go on forward still Till you the Ephah of your sins up fill No sooner were they both condemn'd to die But Jerom comforted young Kennedy Brother said he fear not he that indwels Our souls him that is in the world excels The pain we here indure is light and short But we shall have unfading glory for 't O strive we then though many rubs annoy To enter in unto our Masters joy And with our Saviour pass the narrow road Which few shall finde the way to hell is broad We die for Christ and Christ hath death subdu'd Death cannot hurt us hence me may conclude We are the members and if Christ our head Be risen can the members long lie dead Thus death and Satan under-foot they trod And in the flame breath'd up their souls to God At Edenburgh the cruel Card'nal Beton Hang'd some upon suspicion they had eaten Goose on a Friday and above the rest A woman with her suckling at her brest He drown'd for being scrupulous and wary Of making prayers to the Virgin Mary He sent into exile some Christian brothers And at St. Johnstons he imprison'd others Mr. George Wischard a Divine whose worth Wan him much admiration in the North Having drunk deeply of afflictions cup. Cheerfully in the flames surrendred up His soul unto its donour God fulfill'd His prophesy the Cardinal was kill'd One Henry Wallace as an Heretick Condemned to be burnt was burned quick One Henry Forr'st betrayed by a fryar Was burnt and had the end of his desire Said Ol'phant to one Walter Mill who pray'd Rise up Sir Walter Prayers don he said My name is Walter if you call me right I have bin too too long a Popish Knight Ben't there sev'n Sacraments Give me but two Said he and all the rest I leave to you Wilt thou recant he answer'd I am corn Not chaff and will not be i' th' truth out-born Then go to th'stake Said he I may not kill My self but put me in and bear I will This is my resolution Having made His pray'r to God he to the people said Although it be confess'd that I have bin A friend to Satan and a slave to sin Yet 't is not that that doth my suff'rings cause I suffer for observing God's just Laws And now God out of his abundant grace Doth honour me so farr as in this place To make me seal what others not withstood His truth's profession with my dearest blood Dear friends as you 'd escape eternal doom And live still happy in the life to come Let not Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Seduce you any more for they are Lyars Trust God alone O alwayes make his power Your rock your bulwark of