leave his great words and fall to ask him forgiveness so as taking off his Crown from his head he laid it down at the Legates feet to be disposed of as the Pope should please and the Legate stuck not to take up his Crown and to keep it three or four dayes in his hands before he restored it and did not then neither but upon Condition that he and his Successors should hold the Kingdom of the See of Rome at the Annual Tribute of a Thousand Marks This King John was shortly after as it is Recorded poysoned by one Simon a Monk who being absolved of his Abbot before hand for doing this fact to accomptish his Design he finds a Toad in the Garden and pricks him with a Pen-Knife until he had made him vomit up all his Poyson which he having conveyed into a Cup of Wine began to the King with a smiling countinance speaking these words If it shall please your Princely Majesty here is such a Cup of Wine as you never drank a better I turst this Wassel shall make all England glad The King having drunk and anon being ill enquired for Simon the Monk to whom some answered that he was departed this life for his Guts gushed out of his Belly the King replyed then God have mercy on my Soul and so he dyed much repenting of his former life About this time several persons were stirred up by the Lord to declare against the Pope as an Heretick and were by him condemned for their pains viz. Arnoldus Johannes Semeca Gulielmus de Santo amorie Gallus and Grosthead great Writers against the Popes Decrees giving many signs of false Teachers of whom see more in my Testimonies of the Martyrs The Pope being at odds with the Emperor Fredrick the second years since Christ 1248 would not at any hand be reconciled though the King of France strongly interceed and the Emperor himself cleared himself of all imputation and offered full saitsfaction for all pretended wrongs and to go out of his Empire if the Pope would not endure him there to the holy Land never to return into Europe again so as his Son Henry Nephew to King Henry of England might succeed him with offer of other most reasonable conditions These Oppositions of the Pope against Christian Emperours and Kings gave the Turks great advantage of prevailing against those called Christians and the grand Cause that God did not prosper the Christians in their wars in the holy-Land was imputed to the Christians adhering to their Masses and other Superstitions And thus having given a brief Relation of the most material Passages in the Affairs of the pretended Christian Church till this time I shall now Proceed to give a Discovery of the beginning and proceedings of the Monks Fryars and Jesuites who now began to swarm in the Apostized Church of the Papists We read that many Religious men heretofore contemning the World and all the Pomp Pride and Vanity thereof withdrew themselves into the Wilderness and Desart places in Syria Aegypt and other Countries it being in the time of great Persecution to the end they might the better being not troubled in the worldly cares and incumbrance bestow their time in reading the Scriptures Fasting Praying Meditating and such divine Exercises whereof Paul sirnamed the first Hermit Anthony Hilarion Basil and Jerome were the first and chiefest among the Christians who for their Sanctity of Life were in those dayes had in great Honour for then this kind of life was simple and free and not bound or Tyed to Unlawful Vows and Ridiculous Ceremonies as afterwards came to be observed by such as were called Monks and Fryars their Habit was then homely and yet decent as every man best pleased to wear neither were they bound to abide or remain in any one particular place nor tyed to one kind of life by Vow but free to stay there where they liked best or to go into any City or Country where they would at their own pleasure they sought out the most Desart place as they could find that is in the Wilderness working with their hands and getting their living with the sweat of their Brows gave a singular good Example to all men to live Virtuously and Godly instructing their Families and others that resorted unto them to lead a godly and Christian Life and were admired and honoured of all good men for their Doctrine Integrity of Life and godly zeal for as yet saith the History the Christians had but one Law and one Religion which afterwards fell out otherwise to the Grief and Sorrow of the Upright among them to see what Rents and Divisions Sects and Factions Superstitions and Ceremonies were brought in amongst them although good stirrings there might be amongst these that lived this private life Their Successors and Imitators were far unlike them for the words of Philo cited by Eusebius are these Now let our Monks saith he who live like Kings who swim in all manner of delights and pleasures who affect nothing more then Promotion and Honour and whose chiefest care and studdy is to gather Wealth and to hoord up Gold Silver c. About this time several Sects of Monks began to spread forth out of the Order of Benedictus years since Christ 562 their Habit was to wear a black loose Coat of Stuff reaching down to their heels with a Cowle or Hood to cover their bald Pates which hangs down to their Shoulders and under that Coat another white Habit as large as the former they shave the hairs off their heads except one little round Circle which they leave round about their heads which they call Corona they are bound to abstain from Flesh unless it be when they are sick These Benedictine Monks would have the World believe that they are godly and religious men and would not be ranked with the Jesuites who were States men for they poor Monks meddle not with matters of State or with Kings Affairs but for all their counterfeit holiness an English Benedictine Monk of Swinsted Abby Poysoned King John as is before related for the which fact he was still is highly honoured by all Papist in general and one saith on him thus Regem perimere Meritorium ratus est he thought it a meritorious deed for to kill the King About this time began to peep out another Sect of Monks years since Christ 1047 called Montelinetences at the time when there were three several Popes living who troubled all Christendom for their Papacy the Institutor of this Family of Monks was one Bernardus Ptolomeus they lived at the first at Sienna in Italy but afterwards having gathered their Crumbs together they built an Abby on the top of a hill not far from thence they wear a white Habit this Family was approved by Pope Gregory the twelfth The Bethlemite Fryars began 1257. their first dwelling was at Cambridge years since Christ 1257 and their Habit was like the Dominican Fryars saving that these did wear a Star
give them in that Quarrel then was he thrice put to the Pin-bank and Tormented most miserably to utter his Setters on then they past sentence against him and this was executed First he was drawn from the Castle of Dornick to the Market place having a ball of Iron put in his mouth then he was set upon a Stage where his Right hand was Crusht and prest between two hot Irons with sharp Iron edges fiery red in the like manner they served his right foot which Torments he endured with marvelous constancy that done they took the ball of Iron out of his mouth and cut out his Tongue notwithstanding his Tongue was cut out he still called upon God as well as he could whereby the hearts of the people were greatly moved whereupon the Tormentors thrust the Iron ball into his mouth again from thence they brought him down to a lower Stage where his legs and hands were bound behind him with an Iron Chain going about his body and so he was let down flat upon the Fire the Governer standing by caused him to be plucked up again and so down and up again till at last the whole body was consumed to Ashes James Faber and three others Martyrs James Faber and three others suffered at Valens James Faber being an old man said that though he could not answer nor saisfie them in Reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the Truth of the Gospel Godfry Hamell Martyr Godfry Hamell a Taylor taken and condemned at Dornick when they had condemned him by the Name of an Heretick nay said he not an Heretick but a Servant of Jesus Christ when the Hangman went about to Strangle him to diminish his punishment he refused saying that he would abide the Sentence that the Judges had given Besides these that suffered in Germany before mentioned a great number there was both in the Higher and Lower Countries of Germany which were put to death for Religion many of them were burnt some buryed alive some secretly drowned many of their Names are mentioned in the Acts and Monuments but little of the circumstances of their Tryal and Execution being mentioned I have omitted them for brevities sake Sufferers in France for bearing the like Witness to the Gospel Dennis Renix Martyr Denis Renix at Melde in the year 1558. Was burnt for testifying against the Mass he was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the Words of Christ He that denyeth me before men him wiâ—â— I also deny before my Father he was burnt in a slow Fire and did abide much Torments Note upon a complaint made to the Council called Le Chamber Ardante that the Judges suffered Hereticks to have their Tongues Immediately thereupon a Decree was made that all which were to be burned unless they recanted at the fire should have their Tongues cut off which Law afterwards was diligently observed Stephen Polliard Martyr Stephen Polliard coming out of Normandy in the year 1546. where he was born unto Meux tarried there not long but he was compelled to flee and went to a Town called Fera where he was apprehended and brought to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark Prison in which Prison he was kept in Bonds and Fetters a long time where he saw almost no Light at length being called for before the Senate and his sentence given to have his Tongue cut out and to be burnt alive his Satchell of Books hanging about his neck O Lord said he is the World in blindness and darkness still for he thought being in Prison so long that the World had been altered from its old darkness to better knowledge at last with his Books about his neck he was burnt to death Florent Venote Martyr Florent Venote remained a Prisoner in Paris four years during which time he was put to divers Torments one kind of Torment was he was put in a narrow place so straight that he could neither stand nor lie which they called the Hose or Boots because it was strait below and wide above in this he remained seven weeks where the Tormentors affirm that no Thief or Murtherer could ever endure 15 days but were in danger of Life or Madness and at last on the 9th of the Moneth called July he was burnt to death with divers other Martyrs who were burnt as a Spectacle at the Kings coming into Paris The next that suffered was a poor Taylor in Paris who for working upon Holy-days so called and denying to observe them A poor Taylor in Paris Martyred was clapt in Prison the King hearing of it sent for him before him and some of his Peeres being before the King he answered with great boldness wit and memory defending the cause of Christ neither flattering their Persons nor fearing their threats which struck the King in a great damp in museing in his mind which the Bishops seeing committed the poor Taylor again to the hands of the Officer saying he was a stubborn Fellow and fitter to be punisht then to be marvelled at within few days after he was condemned to be burnt alive The next year two men for friendly admonishing a certain Priest which in his Sermon had abused the Name of God were both burned another young man of the Age of eighteen years for rebuking a man in Paris for Swearing being suspected to be a Lutheran was apprehended and brought before the Council at Paris who committed him to Prison where he was so cruelly Racked and Tormented that one of the Persecutors seeing it could not but turn his back and weep when he was brought and put in the Fire he was pluckt up again upon the Gibbet and asked whether he would turn to whom he said that he was in his way towards God and therefore desired them to let him go John Joyer and his Servant being a young man in the year 1552. coming from Geneva to their Country with certain Books John Joyer and his Servant and his Servant Martyrs were apprehended by the way and had to Tholouse where the Master was first condemned the Servant being young was not so prompt to answer but directed them to his Master to answer them when they were brought to the Stake the young man first going up began to weep the Master fearing lest he should recant ran to him and he was comforted as they were in the Fire the Master standing upright to the Stake shifted the Fire from him to his Servant being more carfull for him then for himself and when he saw him dead he bowed down himself in the flame and so expired Mathias Dimonetus Merchant at Lyons in the year 1553. having been a man of a Vicious and detestable life Mathias Dimonetus Martyr was notwithstanding through the Grace of God brought to the knowledge and Savour of his Truth for a Testimony to which he was soon after Imprisoned being in Prison he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own Flesh but especially with the temptation
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
Flesh and Blood of Christ And for saying That he would never vail his Bonnet to it if he burnt therefore And for saying That if he heard Mass he should be damned For these things he was accused of his Master and Mistress and sent up by them to the Bishop of Canterbury with Letters desiring that he might be severely punished for the same but no mention is made of his Execution and so that may be past by and return may be to give a short account of the Reformation in this Kings time and how far it extended Injunctions were set out in his time viz that Bibles in English should be placed in some convenient place in the Church so called that the People might read in them when they pleased and rather be furthered to read them then hindred by the Priests or Curates And the Priests or Curates should not at any time haunt Taverns or Ale-houses neither spend their time Idly in unlawful Games but should give themselves to read and hear the Scriptures read and every Benificed-Preacher to preach twice a year and that all Monuments of Idolatry in Churches so called and Houses and Windows should be taken away and that Homilies should be read every Sunday He took away and abrogated all Acts made by former Kings for reformation of Hereticks and Lollords and the Act of the six Articles and all Acts published prohibiting the speading the Scriptures in English He also sent out a Letter to the Arch-Bishop signed by the Council to abolish Images and that the Altars should be taken down and a Table set up instead thereof Though this may be acounted but a little Reformation to what is since yet it so troubled the Popish Adversaries that they sought all the wayes and means they could to hinder its further proceeding and growth and would not be satisfied untill they had found out a way to answer their Wicked purposes And now the old Adversary of all good put it in the Heads of the Popish Party to charge the Duke of Somerset the Kings Vncle and Protector of his Person and the Realm as that he was the occasion of all the Sedition that had happened in the Realm c. And though he was in a high state yet that could not nor did not preserve him and indeed it is a vain thing for man to put Trust or Confidence upon the brickle Pillars of Worldly Prosperity how high soever it seemeth considering that where vertue is most prefect it is there most envied by Wicked men as in the Example of this Duke appears This Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset being Protector had a Brother who was high Admiral of England these two Brethren so long as they were knit and joyned together in Love and Concord preserved themselves the King and whole Common-Wealth from the Violenâ—e and Fear of Danger of all their Adversaries But the old Subtil Serpent alwayes envying mans felicity through Slanderous Tongues sought to sow matter first of discord between them then of Suspition and last of all of Extream Hatred insomuch that the Protector suffered his Brother being accused whether true or false the Lord knoweth to be Condemned and to lose his Head whereby it came to pass that not long after he himself was over-matched by his Adversaries and overthrown by them and being cast into the Tower at last lost his Head also to the great Lamentation of many good men and so the fall of one Brother was the Ruin of the other for it was not long after the Admiral was beheaded but that Insurrections began in several parts of the Kingdom but after they were subdued several of the Lords assembled at Baynard Castle and at the Mayor of Londons House and had great Consultations against the Protector who was then with the King at Hampton Court which the King hearing of sent the Secretary to them with a Message to which they made no answer and not long after published a Proclamation in the City against the Protector charging him with divers Crimes as that he should be the chief Occasion of all the Sedition that had of late happened in the Kingdom and that he did what in him lay to cause Variance between the King and the Nobles and desired the City to aid them the King also sent the Mayor and City a Letter requiring aid likewise This made the Mayor and Citizens in a strait some being for helping the King and some on the other side for helping the Lords and against the Protector the Recorder prest the Citizens to assist the Lords against the Protector who he said had abused the King and the whole Realm and prest the Common Council for an Answer and that they would declare what they would do but they were silent in the matter until one Geâ—rge Stadlow stood up and told them It is good to consider of things pâ—st to avoid dangers in things to come and then related to them what inconveniences damage befel the Citizens in assisting the Barons in their Wars against King Henry the third In conclusion the Lords hearing what past in the City assembled in the Star-Chamber next day sent a Messenger to the King to VVindsor who so ordered his matter with the King that the Protector was apprehended and shortly after was had to the Tower in London and there was charged with several Articles and a terrible Proclamation put out against him but through the Kings Love and labouring in his behalf he was shortly after let out of the Tower and the Proclamation called in again after which trouble he continued two years at Liberty though not restored to his former Office But after this respite he was again apprehended and committed to the Tower from whence he was in a short time after convey'd through the City with the Tower-Ax carried before him to VVestminster and there tryed by the Peers where in a quiet patient and Suffering Spirit he Modestly Behaved himself shewing himself an Example of Meekness yea wisely replying to the Articles objected against him and was at last cleared of the Treason laid to his charge which the People understanding were greatly rejoyced at but his Adversaries quickly found out another Snare for they charged him with Felony for intending and purposing the death of the Earl of Northumberland which was by them adjudged Felony according to a Law wherein it was enacted That it should be Felony for any Subject to seek or procure the death of any Pâ—â—â—y Councillor and being condemned he was again conveyed to the Tower and shortly after from thence was had to the place of Execution where neither his Voice nor countenance changed but after his usual manner he spake to the people to this effect Dearly beloved Friends I am brought hither to suffer death though I never offended the King neither in Word nor Deed and have been always as faithful and true to this Realm as any man hath been And after other words he said morecover Dearly beloved
to Antichrist let your Soul and your Body be far from those Assemblies which yield either known or secret submission unto the Ordinances of the Beast Oh! our Souls are to rejoyce in these wayes more then in all Substance and Treasure and the loving-kindness of the Eternal is forever and ever towards them and thier Seed that remember his ordinances to do them My dear Wife and Sister look not at any earthly thing consecrate your self wholely both Soul Body Husband Children and whatsoever you have unto the Lord your God let them not be dearer unto you then his Worship and Service fear not the want of outward things for the Lord careth for you and yours the Lord is my God and yours and the God of our Seed I know if you and our poor Children continue that they shall see a blessed Reward even in this life be much and often in prayer day and night and much in reading and meditating above all things pray that the Lord would restore beauty unto his Church and so would overthrow the cursed Religion of the Roman Anti christ in every part thereof remember me also and my Brethren now in Bonds that the Lord would assist us with the strength and comfort of his Spirit to keep a good Conscience and to bear a glorious Testimony to the end be not out of hope but I may be restored again unto you therefore be earnest in prayer for my deliverance yet if the Lord shall end my dayes in this Testimony blessed be his Name howsoever it goeth I am ready and content with his good pleasure and whatsoever shift you make keep our poor Children with you that you may bring them up your self in the Instruction and Information of the Lord I leave you and them indeed nothing in this Life but the blessing of my God and this my Sister I doubt not shall be found an ample Portion both for you and them though you know that in hunger often and cold often in poverty and nakedness we must make an account to profess the Gospel in this Life and teach them I beseech you even now in their youth that Lesson If they will reign with Christ they must suffer with him teach them the meanness of the Gospel and that they are not to look for greatness in this Life but every day to make account that they are to yield their lives and whatsoever they have for the Truth break their affections betimes while they are yet green by Instructions and Corrections meet for them when they are capable of handy labour I know you will not let them be Idle Thus having disburdened my self of my duty towards you and of my care to you and your poor Children in some part I am I thank God in great comfort though under great Tryals of my weakness and consideration of my own wants not in regard of men I fear not any power or strength of man whatsoever and I am this hour willing to lay down my Life for my Testimony and I trust shall be unto the end you know I was taken at a Meeting at Ratliff the two and twentieth day of the third Moneth 1592. and committed close by M. Younge to the Powltry Counter some dayes after some were sent privately to confer with me I answered for private Conference inasmuch as my Cause was made publick I saw no Cause why I should yield unto any I desired publick upon equal conditions they said no and after much needless speech departed Upon the fifth day of the fifth Moneth I was sent for to the Sessions House where after some discourse I was sent back again I cannot see but they thirst after my Blood therefore pray for me and desire all they Church to do the same To draw to an End salute the whole Church from me especially those in Bonds and be you all much and heartily saluted in the Lord let none of you be dismayed the Lord will send a glorious issue to Sions troubles yet you must all be prepared for sufferings I see no other likelihood Let not those which are abroad miss to frequent the holy Meetings salute my Mother and yours in Wales my Brethren Sisters and Kindred there and my God knoweth yea your self knoweth how earnestly and often I have desired that he would vouchsafe my service in his Gospel among them to the winning of their souls forever more unto him salute your Parents and mine in Northampton with my poor kinsman Jenkin Jones and M. David also though I had not thought that any outward respects would have made him withdraw his Shoulders from the Lords wayes but the Lord will draw him forward in his good time salute all ours in Scotland upon the Borders and every way Northward especially M. Juell alwayes dear unto me I got means this day to write thus much whereof no Creature living knoweth The sixth of the fourth Moneth 1593. in great haste with many Tears and yet in the great Spiritual comfort of my Soul your Husband John Penry a Witness of Christ against the Abominations of the Roman Antichrist and his Souldiers sure of the Victory by Blood of the Lamb. These Puritans suffered greatly also in King James his Reign although the original Cause thereof so far as I can perceive did not appear to proceed from the King for in his Speech to the Parliament in the eighteenth year of his Reign in the year 1620. He said As touching Religion Laws enough are made already It stands in two points Perswasion and Compulsion Men may perswade but God must give the blessing Jesuits Priests Puritants and Sectaries erring both on the right hand and left hand are forward to perswade unto their own ends and so ought you the Bishops in your Example and Preaching but Compulsion to obey is to bind the Conscience How much soever the King inclined to favour the Reader may understand by this following Relation being the Copy of an Address these people made to the King and Parliament relating the great Oppressions they were under To our Soveraign Lord the Kings most Exellent Majesty together with the honor able Nobility Knights and Burgesses now Assembled at the High-Court of Parliament May it please your Majesty Honors Worships gratiously to respect the humble Suit of Gods poor afflicted Servants and well-affected loyal Subjects to your Highness and Honours We are many of us constrained to live in Exile out of our native Country others detained in Prisons all of us in some Affliction which the Prelates and Clergy of this Land have inflicted upon us for our Faith in God and Obedience to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ We have never to this day been convinced of Heresie Errour or Crime for which we should sustain the great Calamities we have endured The grounds of Christian Religion professed and maintained in this Land and other Churches round about we also with one heart and Spirit assent unto and profess Enemies we are to all Popery Anabaptistry or
against him and Stoned him with Stones at the Commandment of the King in the Court of the House of the Lord and slew him but the Lord soon according unto this good mans Prayer at his Death lookt upon this evil and required it at his and their hands by executing Judgment upon the King and his evil Councellors for at the end of that Year the Lord sent the Host of Assyria against him even but a small Company and destroyed all the Princes of the People the Kings evil Councellors first from among the People and sent the spoil of them to the King of Damascus and delivered a very great Army into their hands Because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers and so they executed Judgment against Joash the King and when they had departed from him having left him in great Diâ—tress by reason of great Diseases his own Servant conspired against him for the blood of the Sons of Jehoida and slew him on his Bed that he died 2 Chron. 24. Proud Haman Persecutor Haman the Persecutor who persecuted Mordecai because he would not bow unto him and do him reverence according to the Kings Command who therefore sought to destroy all the Jews that were in the Kingdom promising to pay into the Kings Treasure ten thousand Talents of Silver if he would grant his Writing for their Destruction unto which the King consented to and in the mean time Haman builds a Gallows fifty Cubits high to hang Mordecai upon for not moving nor rising up nor doing reverence unto him but the Righteous God the Judge of Heaven and Earth who seeth all things soon overtook this Persecutor in his furious Pride and Blood-thirstiness and put a stop to his intended Persecution by turning the Kings Heart against him by the intercession of Esther the Queen whereby he came to be hanged himself upon the same Gallows he had set up for Mordecai the Jew Esther 3. Nebuchadnezar humbled Nebuchadnezzar that Proud Persecuting King of Babylon and Caldea how did the Lord humble him for his pride and cruelty exercised towards the three Children in casting then into the Fiery-Furnace which he caused to be heat seven times hotter then ordinary for them because they would not Worship the Golden Image which he had set up by renting his Kingdom from him and driving him from Men and making his dwelling with the Beasts of the Field and to eat grass as an Ox till seven times past over him and that his hands grew like Eagles Feathers and his nails like Birds Clawes that he and all might know that the Lord only changes times and seasons and Rules the Kingdoms of men and giveth to whomsoever he will and that his Wayes Works and Judgments are Truth as he afterwards confessed and that those that walk in pride he is able to abase Dan. 3.14 to the 18th verse The Executioners executâ—ed Those chosen men that were the most mighty men of all that King Nebuchadnezar had in his whole Army that were the appointed Executioners of the Kings cruelty in fulfilling his Commands in binding the three Children and casting them into the burning Fiery Furnace soon tasted the just Judgment of God for their frowardness to obey such commands of cruelty for the flames of the Fire slew those men that took the three Children up while the Saints of the most high themselves though bound in their Coats Hosen Hats and other Garments being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace where they fell down bound into the midst of it yet upon their Bodies the Fire had no power nor was one hair of their head singed neither were their Coats changed nor the smell of Fire past on them Dan. 3.20 Those Presidents and Princes of Media and Persia that were the Persecutors of Daniel in King Darius his time that sought the occasions to find something against Daniel The Presidents and Princes of Mâ—dia and Persâ—a that they might accuse him to the King concerning the Kingdom but could find no occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was Faithful neither was there any error or fault found in him save only in that matter concerning the Law of his God against whom that they might have something against him in that matter also they are constrained to procure a Degree that whosoever shall ask a Petition of any God or Man for three dayes save only the King he should be cast into the Den of Lions which he the said Daniel even as they thought would not obey but immediately as soon as he be understood it was signed he went into his House his Windows being opened in his Chamber towards Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before God as he did before time for which those men aforesaid accused him before the King by whose means according to the said Decree he was cast into the Lions Den but God sent his Angels and shut the Lions Mouthes that they could not hurt him for no manner of hurt was found upon him because he was Innocent and believed in God but his Persecutors soon felt the just and righteous hand of God upon them for their so wicked persecuting the Innocent for Conscience sake for the King commanded those men to be brought that had accused Daniel and they cast them their Wives and their Children into the Lions Den and the Lions had the Mastery of them and break all their bones in pieces ere they came to the bottom of the Den Dan. 6. King Antiochus King Antiocuâ— surnamed Epiphanes a great Persecutor of the Jews who committed great Evils at Jerusalem and took all the Vessels of Gold and Silver that were therein and sent to destroy the Inhabitants of Judea without a cause and as himself confessed who in a Proud and insolent manner protested he would make Jerusalem a common burying place and the Streets thereof run with the blood of Gods People was by Gods just Judgment plagued with a grievous sickness having a remediless pain in his Bowels and an intolerable Torment in his inward parts his Body bred abundance of Worms which continually crawled out of the same yea he so rotted above ground that by reason of an intolerable stink no man could endure to come neer him neither could he himself endure the same but in a flood of extream Misery ended his dayes which as he confessed came upon him for the evil aforesaid see the Life of Judas Maccabees in Clarkes Martrol page 13. as also the first Book of Maccabees Chap. 1 10. and Chap. 6 8 c. Sennacrib King of Assyria murthered by his own Sons Sennacrib King of Assyria the great Oppressor and Persecutor of Israel and Judah and horrible blasphemer and reproacher of the Living God the God of Israel and Judah though they were left of him for a time for their forsaking him and falling to Idolatry and a great Defyer of him by the Mouth of wicked
he did afore-time opened his windows towards Jerusalem and kneeled down and prayed and gave thanks before his God of which these Persecutors acquainted the King then the King commanded and they cast Daniel into the Den of Lions but the Lord preserved him that the Lions hurt him not because he believed in his God which the King hearing of caused Daniel to be taken up out of the Den A judgment of God upon Persecutors and commanded them that were his Persecutors to be cast into it which was done and they were soon destroyed The Constancy and faithful Suffering of some of the ancient people of the Jews rather then they would be forced to depart from the Laws of their Fathers and not to live after the Laws of God Eleazer one of the principal Scribes an aged man and of a well-favoured countenance was constrained to open his Mouth Eleazer persecuted and to eat Swines Flesh But he choosing rather to dye gloriously then to live stained with such an Abomination spit it forth and came of his own accord to the torment as it behoved them to come that are resolved to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted But they that had the charge of that wicked Feast for the old acquaintance they had with the man taking him aside besought him to bring flesh of his own provision such as was lawful for him to use and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the Sacrifice commanded by the King That in so doing he might be delivered from death and for the old friendship with them find favour But he began to consider discreetly and as became his Age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honour of his gray Head whereunto he was come and his most honest Education from a Child or rather the holy Law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly and willed them strait-wayes to send him to the Grave For it becometh not our Age said he in any wise to dissemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazer being fourscore years old and ten were now gone to a strange Religion and so they through mine hypocrisie and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and I get a stain to mine old Age and make it Abominable For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead wherefore now manfully changing this life I will shew my self such an one as mine Age requireth and leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and couragiously for the honourable and holy Laws and when he had said these words immediatly he went to the Torment they that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred because the foresaid speeches proceeded as they thought from a desperate mind But when he was ready to dye with stripes he groaned and said It is manifest unto the Lord that hath the holy knowledge that whereas I might have been delivered from death I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear him And thus this man dyed leaving his death for an example of a noble Courage and a memorial of vertue not only unto young men but unto all his Nation The Constancy and Cruel Death of seven Brethren and their Mother in one day because they would not eat Swines Flesh at the Kings Commandment Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken and compelled by the King against the Law The Mother and her seven Children persecuted to taste Swines Flesh and were tormented with Scourges and Whips but one of them that spake first said thus What wouldst thou ask or learn of us we are ready to dye ' rather then to transgress the Laws of our Fathers Then the King being in a rage commanded Pans and Caldrons to be made hot which forthwith being heated he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that spake first and to cut off the utmost parts of his Body the rest of his Brethren and his Mother looking on Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the Fire and to be fryed in the Pan and as the vapour of the Pan was for a good space disperced they exhorted one another with the Mother to dye manfully saying thus The Lord God looketh upon us and in Truth hath comfort in us as Moses in his Song which witnessed to their Faces declared saying and he shall be comforted in his Servants so when the first was dead after this manner they brought the second to make a mocking stock and when they had pulled off the skin of his Head with the hair they asked him ' Wilt thou eat before thou be punished ' throughout every member of thy Body but he answered in his own Language and said No wherefore he also received the next Torment in order as the former did and when he was at the last gasp he said Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life but the King of the world shall raise us up who have dyed for his Laws unto everlasting life After him was the third made a mocking stock and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soon holding forth his hands manfully and said couragously ' These I had from Heaven and for his Laws I dâ—spise them and ' from him I hope to receive them again insomuch that the King and they that were with him marvailed at the young mans courage for that he nothing regarded the pains Now when this man was dead also they tormented and mingled the fourth in like manner so when he was ready to dye he said thus It is good being put to death by men to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him as for thee thou shalt have no resurrection to life Afterward they brought the fifth also and mangled him then looked he unto the King and said Thou hast power over men thou art corruptible thou dost what thou wilt yet think not that our Nation is forsaken of God but abide a while and behold his great power how he will torment thee and thy seed After him also they brought the sixth who being ready to dye said Be not deceived without cause for we Suffer these things for our selves having sinned against our God therefore marvelous things are done unto us but think not thou that takest in hand to strive against God that thou shalt escape unpunished But the mother was marvelous above all and worthy of honorable memory for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day she bare it with a good courage because of the hope that she had in the Lord yea she
heard a Master of Divinity say That in such case it is all one to touch a Book as to swear by a Book Bishop There is no Master of Divinity in England but if he hold this opinion before me I shall punish him as I shall do thee except thou sware as I shall charge thee Thorp Is not Chrysostom and ententive Doctor Bishop Yea. Thorp If Chrysostom proveth him worthy of great blame that bringeth forth a Book to sware upon it must needs follow that he is more to blame that sweareth on that Book The Clark said lay thine Hand upon the Book touching the holy Gospel of God and take thy charge Thorp I understand that the holy Gospel of God may not be touched with mans Hand It was mentioned before that he was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and it is recorded that he was by the said Bishop at last secretly put to death in the year 1407. John Purvey was imprisoned by Henry Chicheley Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 1421. John Purvey Mâ—rty he writ a Book against the Pope wherein he calls him Antichrist and that his censures was like the blast of Lucifer He the said Purvey complained that many before him who had impugned the Romish errorrs had been imprisoned killed and their Books burnt and that none were suffered to preach but such as would swear obedience to the Pope For which he was imprisoned and secretly made away by the aforesaid Bishop In the year 1413. Roger Acton and other Persecuted Roger Acton John Brown John Beverly were persecuted and put to death for their Testimony to the Truth in Giles's in the field together with divers others to the number of thirty six all which were hanged with Fire made under them These godly persons in these dangerous times used to meet in the night in Giles's in the Fields to pray and preach which the Bishops having notice of they informed the King as if they intended to rebel whereupon the King going with many armed men at Midnight took these thirty six and caused them to be executed the number that were assembled was greater but they fled amongst whom was Wil. Murle of Dunstable Maultster who being afterwards apprehended was drawn hanged and burnt within few daies after their Execution Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop was so stricken by God in his tongue that he could neither swallow any food nor speak for diverse daies before his death A Judgment on a Persecutor whereby he died in much misery And this was thought to come upon him for that he so bound the Word of the Lord that it should not be preached in his daies About this time there began to spring forth some light in Bohemia the Bohemians having received some of Wickliffs Books began first to taste and savour Christs Gospel till at length by the preaching of John Hus they encreased more and more in knowledge insomuch that Pope Alexander the fifth hearing thereof began to stir Coals and directed his Bull to the Arch-bishop of Swinco requiring him to look to the matter that no persons should maintain that Doctrine and not long after this John Hus and Jerome of Prague were both condemned and burnt at Constance by the Council held there and yet their blood did not satisfie their Adversaries but they took further counsel for the destruction of these People in the whole Nation for when fifty eight of the cheif Nobles of Bohemia in the Name of all the Commons Anno 1416. had sent letters from Prague to the Council complaining that John Hus their Paster an innocent and holy man and faithful Teacher of the Truth was unjustly condemned the Council instead of answering them wrote Letters to some violent Papists who were in Authority to assist their Legate iâ— oppressing the Hereticks and thereupoâ—â—â—ey persecuted them all manner of ways useing great violence towards them insomuch that they raised Tumults and one Zisca a noble man of that Country being sore grieved for the death of John Hus and Jerome of Prague minding to revenge the Injuries which the Council had done greatly to the dishonour of the Kingdom of Behemia upon their Complices and Adherents he gathered together a number of men of War subverted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples pulling down and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols driving away the Monks and Priests which he said were kept up in their Cloisters like Swine in their Styes to be fatted when this Zisca died in remembrance of him the Bohemians ingraved over his Tomb in the Greek Language this Epitaph John Zisca a Bohemian Enemy to all wicked and Covetuout Priests but with a godly Zeal Yet still as the Popish party prevailed they exercised all manner of Cruelty upon the poor Servants of Christ till they were utterly suppressed by force many of whom fled into the hilly Country neer to Silesia to inhabit where throwing off all superstitious practices they applyed themselves to the best form that they according to the best of their understandings judged to be nearest to the primitive Christians calling themselves Brethren and Sisters They were branded with the Name of Piccards a Name by which the Waldenses in Piccardy were called The purity that was amongst them much displeased the Devil for he raised a sudden and violent Tempest against them and an Edict was proclaimed threatning death to all that should administer to the Piccards whereupon they were brought into great extremity A second Edict came forth that none of them should be suffered either to live in Bohemia or Moravia hereupon they were dispersed amongst the Woods and Mountains dwelling in Caves where yet they were scarce safe so that they were forced to make no Fire nor dress any meat but in the night time least the smoak should betray them In the cold Winter nights sitting by the Fire they applyed themselves to the reading of the Bible and holy discourses when in the Snow they went abroad to provide them necessaries they went close together and lest their foot-steps should betray them the hindermost of them did draw after him a great bough to cover the prints which their feet had made But to return again to give a futher account of Sufferers in England John Claydon of London Curryer in the year 1415. being examined before Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop of Canturbury upon suspition of Heresie he confessed that for the same cause he had been formerly impâ—â—soned by Robert Braybrock Bishop of London in Conway Prison two years and at another time three years in the Fleet and also that he had several English books that he took delight to hear read to him one of the books was entituled The Lanthorn of Light in which books were contained 1 Speaking or Treating of the Text how the Enemy did sow the Tears there is thus said That wicked Antichrist the Pope hath sowed his Popish and corrupt Decrees which are of no authority strength nor value and that the Bishops Licence for a man
to Preach is the true Character of the Beast and Antichrist And that the Court of Rome is the Chief Head of Antichrist And that no Reprobate is a Member of the Church His books being examined were condemned as heretical to be burnt in the Fire and Sentence of Condemnation was past upon him by the Arch-Bishop and he was delivered to the secular Power by whom he was carried into Smithfield and there burnt with one Richard Turning a Baker The next year after the burning of these men the Prelates of England seeing the daily increase of the Gospel and fearing the ruin of their papal Kingdom took counsel together with what deligence they could to maintain the same Wherefore to make their State and Kingdom sure by Statutes Laws Constitutions and Terror of Punishment Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop in his Convocation holden at London maketh another Constitution against the poor Lollards which was sent abroad Anno 1416. to be straitly executed in which their Officials or Commissaries were required twice every year at least to make diligent enquiry after such persons as were suspected of Heresie and Parishoners were to be sworn upon the Evangelifts to discover whether they knew any frequenting privy Conventicles or differing in their life and manners from other Common Catholick men or that should have any Books in the English Tongue After the setting out of this Constitution aforesaid great inquisition hereupon followed in England and many good men who began to have a love to the Gospel were much troubled and great Sufferers John Gale of London was summoned before the Arch-Bishop for having a Book in English entituled A Book of the new Law Ralph Mungin for the same Doctrine was condemned to perpetual imprisonment William White a follower of John Wickliff he was of a devout holy life is recorded as a Morning Star in the midst of a Cloud a man well learned an upright man and well spoken for the love of the Truth he gave over his Preisthood but not his preaching for he continually laboured to advance the glory of God by reading writing and preaching The chief matters charged against him were that he held That men should seek for the forgiveness of their sins only at the band of God That the Pope was an Enemy unto Christs Truth That men ought not to Worship Images That the Romish Church was the Figg-Tree which Christ Cursea because it brought forth no Fruit of the true Beleif That such as wear Câ—ules or be Annointed or Shorn are the Souldiers of Lucifer And that all such because their Lamps are not burning shall be shut out when as the Lord shall come He was apprehended for preaching and teaching such like Doctrine in Norfolk and being had before the Bishop of Norwich he was convicted condemned and burnt in Norwich in the 7th Moneth 1424. When he was at the Stake beginning to open his mouth to speak to the People to exhort them and confirm them in the Truth one of the Bishops Servants struck him in the mouth thereby to force him to keep silence And thus this good man received the Crown of Martyrdom and ended this Mortal life to the great grief of all good men in Norfolk his wife Joane following her Husbands steps A Woman Preacher according to her power teaching and sowing abroad the same Doctrine confirmed many in Gods Truth wherefore she suffered much trouble and punishment the same year at the hands of the said Bishop John Goose 1473. being called before the Bishops and accused for Heresie being condemned and delivered to Robert Beâ—â—isdon one of the Sheriffs of London to see him burnt in the afternoon the Sheriff like a charitable man had him home to his house and there exhorted him to deny his Errors he desired the Sheriff to be content for he was satisfied in his Conscience The Sheriff giving him some meat he being very hungry did eat so freely as if the hour of his death had not been known to be so nigh saying to the Standers by leat now a good and competent Dinner for I shall pass a little sharp Shower ere I go to Supper and having dined he required that he might be led to the place where he should yield up his spirit unto God About this time there being a war begun by the Turks against the Christians so called there was great invasions and victories obtained by the Turks against them insomuch that the Turks in the space of Thirty years subdued Arabia got Palestina Phenetia Siria Egypt and Persia raging with their Armies throughout all Asia and Europe Conquering as they passed The causes of which Invasions and Victories as is recorded were the dissention discord falshood idleness unconstancy greedy avarice lack of Truth and fidelity amongst Christian men of all states and degrees both high and low for by the wilful defection and back-sliding of the Christians the Turkish power did exceedingly encrease and them called Christians were by multitudes destroyed and as it is written there was hardly a Town City or Village in all Asia and Grecia also in a great part of Europe and Africa whose streets did not flow with the Blood of the Christians whom these cruel Turks Murthered after an inhuman manner Men and Women being by them cut in Pieces Children stuck upon Poles and Stakes till they gored them to death in the sight of their Parents draging some at their Horse tails till they famished them to death tearing some in Pieces tying their Arms and Legs to four Horses treading the aged and feeble under their Horses feet The Princes of Rasia had both their Eyes put out with Basons red hot set before them cuting some asunder in the midst and with other Torments putting many to death insomuch that the streets and ways of Chalrides did flow with Blood of them that were slain The Pretors Daughter of which City being the only Daughter of her Father and noted to be of singular beauty A remarkable story and worthy noâ—ing was saved out of the slaughter and brought to Mahumet the Turk to be his Concubine but she denying to consent to his Turkish filthiness was commanded therefore to be slain it would be long to recite and incredible to bâ—lieve the cruel and horrible slaughters and miserable tortures inflicted upon the Christians by these Turks in most parts of Asia and Africa but especially in Europe And during all these Wars and Slaughters the Pope ceased not continually calling upon Christian Kings and Princes and Subjects to take the Cross and to War against the Turks lest he should lose all whereupon in that time of Darkness and Popery many took Voyages to the holy Land and many Baâ—tails were fought for the winning the holy Cross and yet no success neither ever came it prosperoufly forward whatsoever the Pope attempted against him what the cause was may be easily judged if the Reader considers the gross Idolatry prophaness and degeneration those called Christians were fallen into having wholy
deceitful in all their words and deeds Being condemned they were led to the place of Execution in Bruxells they went joyfully saying They dyed for the Glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel as true Christians believing and following the Holy Church of the Son of God saying also That it was the day which they had long desired Being come to the place of execution and stripped to their Shirts they stood so a great space patiently and joyfully enduring whatsoever was done unto them praising God and singing for joy a Doctor standing by exhorted Henry to take heed so foolishly to Glory himself to whom he answered God forbid that I should Glory in any thing but only in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Another counselled him to have God before his eyes to whom he said I trust I carry him truly in my heart The next that suffered was Henry Stutven burned in the borders of Germany when he was apprehended they fell upon him in a great rage and fury drawing him naked out of his bed Henry Stutven Martyred in â—â—rmany and bound his hands behind him when he was brought to Hemming stead they asked of him what his intent was in coming to Diethmar unto whom he gently declared the cause of his coming which was to preach the Gospel they all in a rage cryed out away with him away with him for we will hear him talk no longer then he being mavelous weary and faint required to be set on horse-back for his feet were all cut and hurt with the Ice because he was led all night bare-foot but they mocked him and said he was an Heretick and he should go on foot that night they had him to a mans House called Calden and there bound him in Chains in the Stocks but the Master of the House being compassionate would not suffer the cruel deed long wherefore he was carried away to a Priests House and there shut up in a Cubbard and by the rude people mocked and scorned all night in the morning about Eight of the Clock they gathered together in the Market-place to consult what they should do where the Rustical people boiling in drink cryed out burn him burn him to the fire with the Heretick then they bound him hands feet and neck and being brought to the Fire one of the Presidents appeared to pass a sentence upon him to be burnt and consumed with fire Henry lifting up his hands said Lord forgive them for they know not what they do thy Name oh Almighty God is Holy the Fire as often as it was kindled would not burn notwithstanding they satisfied their minds upon him striking and pricking him with their several kinds of Weapons the said Henry standing in his shirt and when he began to pray one strook him on the face saying thou shalt first be burnt and afterwards pray and prate as much as thou wilt and thus this godly preacher finisht his Martyrdom which was in the year 1529. John Clark Perscuted in France John Clark of Melden in France for setting up a paper upon the Steeple-House door against the Popes Pardons calling the Pope Antichrist for which he was whipt three several dayes and markt in the forehead his mother seeing their cruelty towards her son constantly and boldly encouraged her son blessing the Lord with aloud voice that he was worthy to suffer after the execution of the foresaid punishment the said John Clark removed to Mentz and there followed his trade being a Wooll-Comber where understanding that the people of the City after an old accustomed manner Worshipt certain blind Idols the said John being inflamed with the zeal of God against them went to the place where the Images were and broke them all down in pieces the next morning the Cannons Priests Monks accompained with the People according to their accustomed manner went to their Idolatrous place of Worship where they sound all their blocks and stocks broken to pieces upon the ground which fight sore offended them and searching out for the author of the fact and John Clark being suspected was apprehended and upon examination confest he did it and shewed them the cause wherefore and being brought to tryal he defended the pure Doctrine of the Son of God against their Images and their false Worships for which he was condemned being led to the place of Execution he there sustained extream Torments for first his right hand was cut off then his nose with sharp pinchers was violently pluckt from his face all which and much more he quietly and constantly endured testifying at the Fire against his Persecutors saying their Imageswere Silver and Gold the work only of mans hand George Carpenter of Emering in Bavaria was burnt to death when he was led out of the Tower where he was Prisoner before the Council George Carpender Martyred divers Friars and Monks followed him to instruct and teach him whom he willed to tarry at home and not to follow him when he came before the Council they read his Offences viz. That he did not believe that a Priest could forgive a man his Sins and that he did not believe that God was in the Bread which the Priests hang over the Alter and that the Element of Water in Baptism doth not give grace being urged to revoke these his Opinions and that then he should be set at Liberty and go home to his Wife and Children to which he answered any wife and Children are so dearly beloved unto me that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria but for the Love of my Lord God I can willingly forsake them at his Execution a Schoolmaster repeating the Lords Prayer George Carpenter said as followeth Truly thou art our Father and no other this day I trust to be with thee Oh my God how little is thy Name hallowed in this World for this Cause Oh Father am I now hear that thy will might be fulfilled and not mine the only Living Bread Jesus Christ shall be my food with a willing mind do I forgive all men both my Friends and Adversaries Oh my Lord without doubt shalt thou deliver me for upon thee only have I laid all my hope in thee alone do I trust in thee only is all my confidence I knew that I must suffer Persecution if I did cleave unto Christ who said where the Heart is there is the Treasure also and whatsoever thing a man doth fix in his Heart to love above God that he maketh his Idol and then being cast into the Fire by the Hangman he joyfully yielded up his Spirit unto God The suffering of Weendal Muta Weendel Muta a widdow of Holland receiving the Truth of the Gospel into her Heart was apprehended and committed into the Castle of Werden and from thence shorly after was brought to the Hague to tryal where certain Monks were appointed to talk with her to win her to recant but she
not long after smote him with sickness indeed a most horrible and strange Disease his Body being greatly tormented with Pain and could get no Help being had to an Hospital his Flesh rotted away and stunk so that none cared to come near him and in this Rage and Torment he was under he often cryed out Who will deliver me The Just Judgment of God against a cruel Persecutor Who will Kill me and deliver me out of these Torments and Pains which I know I suffer for the evils and oppressions that I have done to the poor men and in this anguish he most miserably ended his unhappy dayes After the death of this persecuting Monk the Bishop of Aix by his Official continued the Persecution and put a great Multitude of them in Prison of whom some by force of Torments revolted from the Truth the others which proved constant after he had condemned them of Heresie were put into the hands of the ordinary Judge which at that time was one Meiranus a cruel Persecutor who without any form of Process or order of Law such as the Official had pronounced to be Hereticks he put to death with most Cruel Torments After this Persecutor was dead one Bartholomew Casenes President of the Parliment of Province a Pestilent Persecutor whom God at length struck with a fearful and sudden Death in the time of this Tyrant those of Merindol were cited personally to appear before the Kings Attorney but they hearing that the Court had determined to burn them without any Process or Order of Law durst not appear at the day appointed for which cause the Court awarded a cruel Sentence against Merindol and condemned all the Inhabitants to be burned both Men Women and Children and their Town and Houses to be rased to the Ground and their Country to be made a Desart and Wilderness never more to be inhabited This bloody Arrest or Decree seemed strange and wonderful same openly saying They marvelled the Parliment should be so mad to give out such an Arrest so manifestly injurious and unjust and contrary to all Reason and Humanity others said The Judges are not bound to observe either Right or Reason in exterpating such as are suspected to be Lutherans but what ever was said in opposition to this Decree the Bishops from time to time used all the opportunities to endeavour to put the same in execution as appears in the following Relation Amongst these poor men that suffered in Merindol there was a Book-seller who for â—etting publickly to sale certain Bibles in French and Latine in the sight of the Bishop of Aix and other Prelates they were thereat greatly moved and caused him to be apprehended and committed to Prison and afterwards he was sentenced and burnt the Prelates seeing great dissention among the people of Avinion and that many murmured at the death of this Book-seller for selling the Bible to fear the people the next day they put out a Proclamation against all French Bibles That none should keep them in their Hands upon pain of Death After this Proclamation the Bishop of Aix endeavoured his utmost to prosecute the people of Merindol being very earness with the President to that effect and to put the Parliaments Arrest and Decree in execution the President shewing himself unwilling to the Bishop to shed Innocent Blood pleaded The King would be displeased to have such destruction made of his Subjects then said the Bishop Though the King at the first do think it ill done we will so bring it to past that in a short space he shall think it well done for we have the Cardinals on our side especially Cardinal Tournon By these Arguments of the Bishop the President and Councel of Parliament were perswaded to raise a Force and destroy the people of Merindol according to the Decree The Inhabitants of Merindol hearing thereof and seeing nothing but present death to be at hand with great Lamentation commended themselves and their Cause unto God by Prayer and made themselves ready to be murdered as Sheep for the Slaughter whilst they were in this grievous distress there was one raised up called the Lord of Alner to plead with the President on their behalf giving the President several Reasons why he ought not to destroy these poor Christian man of Merindol by which Reasons the President was perswaded and immediatly called back his Commission which he had given out and caused the Army to Retire who were within a mile and a half of Merindol which the people of Merindol understanding that the Army was retired gave thanks unto God comforting one another with Admonition and Exhortation Alwayes to have the fear of God before their Eyes and to seek after the everlasting Riches The noise of these Proceedings and of this Arrest and Decree coming to the King of France his ear he appointed persons to make Inquiry into the whole matter and to make a Report to him thereof and what manner of People these Merindolians were These Deputies brought a Copy of the Arrest Decree and Proceedings unto the Kings Lieutenant declaring unto him the great Injuries Polling Extortions Exactions Tyrannies and Cruelties which the Judges as well Secular as Ecclesiastical had used against them of Merindol and others as touching the behaviour and disposition of those which were persecuted they reported that the most part of the men of Province affirmed them to be men given to great Labour and Travel and that about two hundred years past as it is reported they came out of the Country of Piedmont to dwell in Province and took to tillage and to inhabit many Villages destroyed by the Wars which they had so well husbandred that there was now great store of Wine Oyle Honey and Cattle so that Strangers were greatly relieved and that they were a Peaceable Quiet People beloved of all their Neighbours man of good Behaviour constant in keeping of their Promise and paying of their Debts without suing men at Law that they were also Charitable men giving Alms relieving of the Poor and suffered none amongst them to lack or be in necessity harbouring and Nourishing poor Strangers and Passengers in their necessities moreover that they were known by this throughout all the Country that they would not Swear and that if they heard any Swear blaspheme or dishonour God they strait-way departed out of their Company this was the tenour of the report made to the Kings Lieutenant touching the Life and Behaviour of these Inhabitants of Merindol who were persecuted by the Popish Bishops and Cardinals which the Lieutenant advertised the King who was a good Prince moved with mercy and pity sent Letters to the Parliament Expresly charging and commanding them that they should not hereafter proceed to prosecute the said Arrest and Decree so Rigorously as they had done before against this People and not to molest or trouble them in person or goods and to command them to set at Liberty all Prisoners which either were accused or
time but in the month called June following it was first proposed to them To put away their Ministers that were Strangers which they refusing to do it was then commanded of them in the Dukes name That they should banish from them all their Ministers that were Strangers and a New Proclamation was put out and Persecution began afresh and many of the said People were slain and many imprisoned and cruelly handled the Monks being very active in this Persecution in one place causing two Women to carry Faggots to the Fire where their Minister was burnt and to speak these words to him viz. Take this thou wicked Heretick in recompence of the Naughty Doctrine thou hast taught us to whom he said Ah! Good Women I have taught you well but you have learned ill Great was the Havock and Ruin they made upon these poor Peoples Estates and Bodies in this Persecution and not long after an Army was raised to destroy the Waldoys which they hearing their Ministers met with the cheif Rulers to advise what in such an Extremity they were best to do upon due consideration they concluded not to defend themselves by force of Armes but to flee to the Mountains and carry their goods with them others of their Ministers hearing of the resolution that they at Angrogne and Lucern had made thought it strange that they might not defend themselves against their Enemies violence in so just a cause knowing that it was the Pope and his Ministers who were the cause of their Troubles and some stood in their own defence and made great Slaughters upon their Enemies at times and when they persued their enemies they often retired to avoid shedding Blood meaning only to defend themselves and held their Adversaries so titely to it that they were at last brought to make a Peace upon Articles and conditions so that the Persecution was stopt and the Pride Malice and Rage of their Adversaries was abated Thus having given an Account in brief of the troubles and Persecutions sustained by the faithful Martyrs in Forreiâ— parts it remains to give a further Relation of such as suffered in this Nation of England in this Kings Reign After that the light of the Gospel began to Shine and encrease beyond Sea the Beams of it began to spread and grow more here in England and a great stir and alteration followed in the hearts of many so that coloured Hypocrisie and painted Holiness began to be spied more and more by such as in any measure tasted of the Truth and some there were that could distinguish Christ from Anti-christ amongst whom was one Simon Fish of Grayes-Inn who wrote a sharp Book against the Corruption of the Clergy Entituled The Supplication of Beggers which Book was wrot beyond Sea Anno 1525. he being fled thither for fear of Cardinal Woolsey who had taken distaste against him in this Book was shewed what a great Oppression the Priests and Clergy were to the Nation for that they had got into their hands more then a third part of the Realm besides their Tythes of all the enerease of Corn Hay c. The Book being read to the King after a pause he said If a man should pull down an old stone wall and begin at the lower part the upper part thereof might chance to fall on his head and took the Book and put it in his Desk and seemed to be pleased at it for he encouraged Simon Fish his Wife to send for her Husband to come before him but how much so ever he liked it he would make no show of it openly for that Book and others being thrown about London the Cardinal acquainted the King therewith and bid him beware of them and the Cardinal and Bishop of London consulted how they might stop the mischief that might acrew by that and other Books being so spread about whereupon they agreed that the Bishop of London should send forth a Proclamation to call in the New Testament Translated into English The Supplication of Beggers The Revelation of Anti-christ by Martin Luther and other Books in English This was one way they took by which they thought-to have suppressed the growth of those they accounted Hereticks but not thinking that sufficient obtained a Proclamation from the King to suppress the Sectaries Hereticks and Lollards and for abolishing divers of their Books in English the Bishops having that now they would have there was no dilligence wanting on their parts for the putting the same in execution whereupon ensued a grievous Persecution and Slaughter of the Faithfull Thomas Bilâ—ey Martyr The first that went to wrack was Thomas Bilney who after his Examination and Condemnation by Doctor Pells Chanâ—llor he was committed to the Lay Power viz. to the Sheriffs of the City of Norwich a day before his Execution some Friends being with him and comforting him that though he was to go through the Fire the Lord would refresh him in it At this he put his finger in the Candle as he used to do divers times saying I know the fire is hot and my body shall be wasted by it and it is a pain for the time but he would often reherse this Scripture for his comfort Fear not for I have redeemed thee and called thee by my name thou art mine own When thou goest through the water I will be with thee when thâ—s walkest in the Fire it shall not burn thee and the Flame shall not kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel Going to Execution he said The Marriner for a while meets with a troubled Sea and is tossed with the Waves but he is in hopes when he comes to the Haven he shall be at quiet I doubt not though I feel storms but by Gods Grace I shall attain to the Haven and being brought to the Stake he very Patiently endured the Fire till doath Richard Bayfield Martyr The next that suffered was Richard Bayfield who receiving the truth in a measure and reading the Testament in English and a book called The wicked Mamman c. He was cast into Prison and there sore whipped with a Gag in his mouth and then stocked and there continued in Prison three quarters of a year and then was set at Liberty but soon after was taken again and put in the Câ—le-house where he was tyed by the neck middle and legs standing upright by the walls this punishment was inflicted on him to make him confess who bought his books but he accused none but stood to his Religion and told them he would Dispute for his Faith at his Tryal he was accused of divers things but the chief were for bringing Books over from beyond Sea and spreading them here in England on the twentieth day of November 1532. being had into the Quire of Pauls Cathedral the Bishop of London with other Prelates being there ready to pass sentence on him and being delivered to the Sheriffs of London to carry him to
this is in Spite of all holy Saints and in Spite of our most holy Father the Pope Gods Viccar here in Earth and in Spite of the reverend Father in God John our Diocesian and the Worshipfull Cannons Masters Priests and Clarks which serve God daily in this Cathedral Church fixed up with wax such Cursed and Heretical Bills full of Blasphemy upon the Doors of thâ—s and other holy Churches within this City Excommunicate be hâ— she or they plaenally and delivered over to the Devil as perpetual Malefactors and Schismaticks accursed they be and given Body and Soul to the Devil Cursed be they he or she in Cities and Towns in Fields and Wayes in Houses and out of Houses and all other places standing lying or rising walking running waking sleeping eating drinking and whatsoever thing they do besides we seperate them him or her from the Threshold and from all the good Prayers of the Church from the participation of the holy Mass from all Sacraments Chappels and Altars from Holy Bread and Holy water from all the Merrits of Gods Priests and religious men and from all their Cloisters from all their Pardons Priviledges Grants and Immunities which all the holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them and we give them over utterly to the power of the Devil and let us quench their Souls if they be dead this night in the pains of Hell-fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out and with that he put out one of the Candles and let us pray to God if they be alive that their ey 's may be put out as this Candle light is so he put out another Candle let us pray to God and to our Lady and to Saint Peter and Paul and all holy Saints that all the Sences of their bodies may fail them and that they may have no feeling as now the Light of this Candle is gone and so he put out the third Candle except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and by repentance as in them shall lie make satisfaction unto God our Lady Saint Peter and the Worshipfull Company of this Cathedrall Church Thomas Bennet being not able to digest these Fopperies writ other Bills and caused them to be set up upon the Gates of the Grave yard but the person that set them up being taken in the action Thomas Bennet was thereby discovered and being apprehended confest they were his Bills and that he could do it again to discover the Abominable Blasphemy of their Anti-christ the Pope and to let people see that he is the Bâ—ar come out of the Wood which destroyeth and throweth down the Hedges of Gods Church Whereupon he was committed to Prison and the next day was had to the Bishop who committed him to Prison again where he was kept in the Stocks with strong Irons with as much favour as a Dog should find then his Houâ—e was Searched for Books and his wife shamefully abused which she bore with patience being contented to bare the Cross with her Husband and to fare hardly with him and eat Course meat and drink A gray Fryar possessing Thomas Bennet with the many dangers that he was lyable to fall into in that condition Thomas replyed my life is not dear to me I had rather by death which I know is not far off depart this Life then to partake of your detestable Idolatries and Superstitions or be subject to Anti-christ your Pope During the time of his imprisonment the hate of the people through ignorance was great against him notwithstanding they could never move his patience during his imprisonment his wife provided Sustenance for him when she Lamented he Comforted her and gave her many good and godly Exhortations and desired her not to move him to comply with his Adversaries After the Clergy saw they could by no means cause him to recant they Condemned him to be burnt and delivered him to the Sheriff of Devonshire to see him Executed the mild man rejoycing to see his end approach so near as the Sheep before the Shearer yielded himself with all humbleness to abide and suffer the Cross of Persecution being brought to his Execution in a place called Livery Dole without Exeter he gravely and soberly spake to the people to seek the honour of God and the knowledg of him and to leave the devices and immaginations of mens inventions and saying Oh Lord receive my spirit patiently endured the Cruelty of the Fire untill his life was ended Thus the Reader hath an Account of such as sustained death for Christs Cause through the rigorous Proclamation aforesaid set out in the name of the King but indeed procured by the Bishops and by them so strictly Executed that no good man could peep out with his head never so little but he was caught by the back and either brought to the fire or else forced to abjure their Religion a great number of which are particularly mentioned in Foxe's Acts and Monuments which for Brevity sake are here omitted Thomas Phillip being one of them that was prosecuted and being asked by the Bishop whether he would abjure or not he said except ye shew me cause wherefore I should abjure I will not say yea or nay to it but will stand to my appeal then the Bishop read openly the Bill of Excommunication against him charging all men to have no company or any thing to do with him after this Excommunication what became of him whether he was burnt or died in the Tower no mention is made in the Register I mention him because a Letter that was found in his Pocket and the substance of one Tracy's Will are worth the taking notice of which are as followeth A Letter directed to Thomas Phillip in the name of the Brethren and given him by the way going to the Tower is as followeth The favour of him that is able to keep you that you fall not and to confess your name in the Kingdom of Glory and to give you strength by his Spirit to confess him before all his Adversaries be with you ever Amen The Brethren think that there be divers false Brethren craftily crept in among them to seek out their freedom in the Lord that they may accuse them to the Lords Adversaries as they suppose they have done you wherefore if it be so that the Spirit of God move you thereunto they as Councellers desire you above all things to be stedfast in the Lords Truth without fear for he shall and will be your help according to his promise so that they shall not diminish the least hair of your head without his will unto the which will submit your self and rejoyce for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation and how to reserve the Unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punisht and therefore cast all your care on him for he careth for you and in that you suffer as a Christian man be not ashamed but rather glorifie God on
accused on several Articles by the Bishops and afterwards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt when he came to the fire he said Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands and then turned him to the People and said these Words I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affliction and Torments which you see already prepared for me but I Exhort you that you Love the Word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort Moreover I pray you shew my Brethren and Sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor lâ—â—ve off the Word of God which I taught unto them after the Grace given to me for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World which lasts not and shew unto them that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable after the Constitution made by men and if I had taught mens Doctrine I had gotten great thanks of men but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men not sorowfully but with a glad Heart and Mind for this cause I was sent that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake this grim Fire I fear not and so I pray you to do if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake and fear not them that Kill the Body and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee Father of Heaven to forgive them that have through Ignorance or an evil Mind forged Lyes against me I forgive them with all my heart and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly So being first Hanged he was then burnt many People bewailing his death VVabter Mille amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland his Constancy is not to be past over with silence out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland many Articles were drawn up against him for which he had sentance pronounced against him that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge and punisht as an Heretick which was to be burnt Now when all things were ready for his death and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire Andrew Olifant Judge that past sentence upon him bad him Go to the Stake he said Nay except thou pull me up with thy hand for I am forbidden by the Law of God to lay hands of my self then Olifant put him up with his hand thereupon he went gladly saying I will go to the Altar of God and desired that he might have time to speak to the People which his Executioner denyed saying That he had spoken over-much and that the Bishops were oâ—fended that the matter was so long continued but some young men that stood by desired him to speak what he please so after he had prayed he rose up and standing upon the Coles said on this wise Dear Friends the Cause why I suffer this day is not for any Crime laid to my Charge but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus for which as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves being assured after the Death of their Bodies of Eternal Felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his Mercy among the rest of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Life which as I received it of him so willingly I offer it to his Glory Therefore as you will escape the eternal death be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests Monks and Bishops and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his Mercy that you may be delivered from Condemnation All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his Patience Stoutness Boldness and Constancy were not only moved and stirred up but their hearts also were so inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake and being in the Fire he said Lord have Mercy on me pray People while there is time and so be constantly departed The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth Henry the Eighth being dead Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years he was a Youth of a meek nature and disposition much inclined to Clemency and Mercy yea so much that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie all the Council could not move him to set his hand saying to Cranmer what will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error Doctor Cranmer perswaded him with much ado at last to put his hand to whom he said He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord. But though this King was of so mild a Nature and a Person inclining to love Religion from a Child being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church abolishing the Mass c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset a man also very Zealous for Reformation and an Encourager of such as profest the Gospel but in the midst of these meek and gentle times on the other hand the Pâ—pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecution and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle inclinable to yet the most of this Kings Reign which was but short the Sword was taken out of their hands so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign yet some there were that suffered for Religion viz. Joan of Kent an English woman and one George a Dutchman and one Thomâ—s Dobb who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass and committed to Prison where he died The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion and as it is recorded of him a man so Innocent that he was like a Dove without any Gall or Bitterness and more apt to receive Injury then do wrong to any one It happened that as he was passing by Pauls in London seeing the Priest at Mass being at the Elevation as he passed by the young man filled with godly Zeal pitying the Ignorance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up was not able to forbear but opened his Mouth and turning to the People exhorted them testifying against their Idolatry for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet where falling sick he soon after died In this Kings time there was also one John Hume a servant to one Lewnax accused by his Master of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real
thy Promise and for this Mortal receive an Immortall and for this Corruptible put on Incorruption accept this burnt Sacrifice and Offering O Lord not for the Sacrifice but for thy Sons sake for whose Testimony I offer this Free-will-Offering with my Soul into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Amen The next day John Lawrence was brought to Colchester and being not able to go his Legs being so worn in Prison with heavy Irons and his Body weak he was carried in a Chair to the Fire and burnt sitting After these suffered two persons in Wales viz. Robert Farrar in Carmarthen Robert Farrar and Rawlins White Maryrs in Wales who was a Bishop of a place called St. Davids and one Rawlins white a Fisher-man burnt at Cardiff This Rawlins for the love that was in him to the Truth and delight he took in hearing the Scriptures read trained up his Son at School on purpose to read to him because he could not read himself and by often hearing the Scriptures read having a good Memory he so retained them that he at last became an Instructor and Teacher to People and travelled from place to place with his little Boy with him visiting such where he saw any hopes of receiving the Truth having thus continued for five years in Edward the sixths time he became a noted Preacher until by the Bishop of Landaff he was committed Prisoner to Chepstow and from thence was removed to Cardiff Castle where he continued a Prisoner a whole year which tended to the ruin of his poor Wife and Children in this World yet he as a man unconcerned at the loss of the World continued exhorting and speaking to such as came to visit him declaring the Way of Salvation to them according to the best of his understanding admonishing them to beware of false Prophets that come to them in Sheeps Cloathing At his Examination the Bishop speak to him to this effect that they had taken pains to reduce him from his Opinions but seeing he continued still obstinate and willful he must condemn him as an Heretick but said the Bishop to the People before we proceed any further let us pray that God may turn his heart after Prayer the Bishop askt him how it was with him and whether he would recant He answered Rawlins you left me and Ralwins you shall find me Thereupon he was carried again to Cardiff and ordered to be put in the Town Prison a very dark loathsom bad Prison where he continued about three week before he suffered in which time the Enmity of his Persecutors was such that they would have burnt him before the Writ de hareticis Comburendis came from London had not the Recorder of the Town stopt them teling them if they should so do they were liable to be called in question when the Writ came as they had him to Execution his Wife and Children met him by the way Q. Mary An. 1555. with great Weeping and Lamentation at the Suddain sight whereof his heart was so pierced that the tears trickled down his Face yet on he went cheerfully to the Stake and being fastned thereto with a Chain and the Fire kindled he give up his life crying O Lord receive my Soul O Lord receive my Spirit About this time the Pope knowing how things stood in England in reference to Religion and how the Power of the Sword was turned against such as had been the chief Instruments in reforming Religion he thought it was now a good time to stir to redeem and cause to be restored to the Church such Rites as not long before had been taken from her for Queen Mary signifying to the Council that in her Conscience she was not satisfied until she had restored Abbey Lands to the former Proprietors The Council objected against it upon this account for that it brought in such an incom to the Crown without which possessions they said it could not well be furnished nor maintained she answered the Salvation of her Soul was more to her then ten Kingdoms a zealous Expression and could not have been discommended had it been spoken in a good cause The Pope hearing this sends over a Bull with all speed with full Authority to Command the Restitution of Abbey Lands thundring out Excommunication against all such as should detain them but many of the chief both of the Clergy and others being against the alteration of those Laws that had given them to the Crown considering the profit they brought in over-ballanced that good will and affection they had to observe the Popes Directions and Command which no doubt they were ready enough to incline to had it not been in a matter wherein the Revenues of the Crown would have been so lessned if the Bull had been prosecured and therefore it was let fall without taking so much notice of it as to see it performed but to return to shew the next that suffered The Sufferings and Examination of George Marsh Martyr at Westchester the 24th day of the Moneth called April 1555. The said George Marsh was born in the Parish of Deane George Marsh Martyr in the County of Lancaster about the Age of twenty five years he Married and took a Farm towards the Maintenance of himself and Family for favouring the Protestant Religion and Preaching against the Anti-Christian Doctrine of the Papists he was at length apprehended and committed to Prison The beginning of his trouble was thus there was strict search made for him in Boulton with intentions if he had been apprehended to have him before the Earl of Derly there to be examined concerning his Religion divers of his Friends and Relations hearing of it advised him to escape their hands laying before him the danger that might ensue if he did not which caused him to consult with himself and to be full of trouble not knowing what course he had best to take but soon after a Friend writ to him counselling him that he should not flee but abide and boldly confess the Faith of Jesus Christ at which words he was so confirmed and established in his Conscience that from thenceforth he consulted no more but was resolved to appear before those that sought after him and patiently to bear such Cross as it should please God to lay upon him upon which Conclusion be found great peace and quietness in his Conscience And appearing before one Barton that had sought for him Barton shewed him a Letter from the Earl of Darby wherein he was Commanded to send the said George Marsh and others to Latham when he came to Latham he was brought before the Earl of Darby who after he had ask his name enquired further of him whether he was not one that sowed evil seed and diffention among the People which thing he denied desiring to know who were his Accusers and after many more Questions askt him in Conclusion they committed him to Ward in a cold windy Stone House where was little room where he
and all his Company Smith At this word which he coupled with an Oath came I in and said my Lord it is written you must not Sware Bonner Ah Master Controler are you come Lo my Lord Mayor this is Master Speaker pointing to my Brother Tankerfield and this is Master Controler pointing to me and then began to read my Articles Smith I require you my Lord in Gods behalf unto whom pretaineth your Sword and Justice that I may here before your presence answer to these Objections that are laid against me and if any thing can be proved Heresie that I have said I will recant before this Auditory Mayor Why Smith thou canst not deny but this thou saydest Smith Yes I deny that which he hath written because he hath both added to and diminished from the same but what I have spoken I will never deny Mayor Why thou speakest against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Smith I denied it to be any Sacrament and I do stand here to make proof thereof and if my Lord here or any of his Doctors be able to prove either the name or usage of the same I will recant mine error Then spake my Brother Tankerfield and defended the probation of things which they called Heresie unto which the Bishop answered Bonner By my troth Master Speaker you shall Preach at a Stake Smith Well sworn my Lord you keep a good Watch. Bonner VVell Master Controler I am no Saint Smith No nor yet good Bishop for a Bishop saith St. Paul should be faultless and a dedicate Vessel unto God and are you not ashamed to sit in Judgment and be a Blasphemer condemning Innocents Bonner VVell Master Controler you are faultless Note the said Robert Smith being charged â—alsly in the said Articles turning to the Mayor said Smith speaking to the Mayor said I require you in Gods name that I may have Justice we are here this day a great many Innocents that are wrongfully Accused of Heresie and I require you if you will not seem to be partial let me have no more favour at your hands then the Apostle had at the hands of Festâ— and Agrippa who being Heathens and Infidells gave him leave not only to speak for himself but also heard the probation of his Cause this require I at your hands who being a Christian Judge I hope will not deny me that right which the Heathen have suffered if ye do then shall all this Audience and the Heathen speak shame of your fact for a City saith our Saviour that is builded on a hill cannot be hid if they therefore have the Truth let it come to light for all that well do come to the Light and they that do evil hate the Light Then the Mayor hanging down his head said nothing but the Bishop told him he should preach at a Stake and so the Sheriff cryed with the Bishop Away with him Thus came he before them four times desiring Justice but could have none and at length his Friends requiring with ouâ— voice the same but could not have it they had Sentence and then being carried out were brought in again and had it every men severally given But before the Bishop gave Sentence on Richard Smith he told him in derision of his Brother Tankerfield a Tale between a Gentleman and his Cook To which he answered you fill the Peoples Ears with Fantasies and foolish Tales and make a laughing matter at Blood but if you were a true Bishop you should leave these railing Sentences and speak the Words of God Bonner Well I have offered to that naughty fellow Master Speaker your Companion the Cook that my Chancellor should here instruct him but he hath here with great disdain forsaken it How sayst thou wilt thou have him instruct thee and lead thee in the right way Smith If your Chancellor shall do me any good and take any pains as you say let him take mine Articles in his hands that you have objected against me and either prove one of them Heresie or any thing that you do to be good and if he be able so to do I stand here with all my heart to hear him if not I have no need I praise God of his Sermon for I come to answer for my life and not to hear a Sermon Then began the Sentence in Dei Nomine To which Smith answered that he began in a wrong name requiring of him where he learned in Scriptures to give sentence of death against any man for his Conscience sake To the which he made no answer but went forward to the end and immediately cryed Away with him Then Smith turned to the Mayor and Sheriffs and said Is it not enough for you that ye have left the strait way of the Lord but that you must condemn Christ causless Bonner Well Master Controller now you cannot say but I have offered you fair to have Instruction and now I prithee call me bloody Bishop and say I seek thy Blood Smith Well although neither I nor any of this Congregation do report the truth of your fact yet shall these Stones cry it out rather then it shall be hidden Bonner Away with him away with him Woodrofe Away with him take him away Smith Well good Friends ye have seen and heard the great wrong that we have received this day and ye are all Records that we have desired the probation of our cause by Gods Book and it hath not been granted but we are condemned and our cause not heard nevertheless my Lord Mayor forasmuch as here you have exercised Gods Sword câ—â—sless and will not hear the right of the poor I commit my cause to Almighty God that shall judge all men according unto right before whom we shall both stand without Authority and there will I stand in the right to your great confusion except your repent which the Lord grant you to do if it be his will and then was I with the rest of my Brethren carried away to Newgate Thus gentle Reader as neer as I can I have set out the Truth of my Examination and the verity of mine unjust condemnation for the Truth desiring God that it may not be laid to the châ—rge of thee O England requiring your hearty prayers unto God for his Grace and Spirit of boldness with hope even shortly to set to my Seal at Uxbridge the eighth of August by Gods Grace pray that it may be to his honour my Salvation and your Consolation I pray you Dagloriam Deo Robert Smith Thus Reader thou hast a full Relation of the Christian fortitude and valour of this faithful Martyr who so valiantly and manfully stood in the defence of his Masters cause and as thou seest him here boldly stand in Examination before the Bishop and Doctors so was he no less comfortable also in the Prison among his Fellows who being togâ—â—â—â—r Prisoners in Newgate did daily pray and exhort one another and his care was not only for those in the â—ame
our God trusting in his Mercy and he will surely help us as shall be most unto his Glory and our everlasting comfort being sure of this that he will suffer nothing to come unto us but that which shall be most profitable for us for it is either a Correction for our Sins or a Tryal of our Faith or to set forth his glory or for all together and therefore must needs be well done for there is nothing that cometh unto us but by our heavenly Fathers providence and therefore pray unto our heavenly Father that he will ever give us his Grace to consider it let us give most hearty thanks for these his fatherly corrections for as many as he loveth he correcteth And I beseech you now be of good chear and count the Cross of Christ greater Riches then all the vain-pleasures of England I doubt not but you have Supped with Christ at his Table I mean believed in him for that is the effect and then must you drink of his Cup I mean his Cross for that doth the Cup signifie unto us take the Cup and then shall you be sure to have the good Wine Christ's Blood to thy poor thirsty Soul pray continually in all things give thanks In the Name of Jesus shall every knee bow Cuthbert Simson One thing more I thought meet to mention which I find upon record concerning this Cuthbert Simson which some may hardly believe who are apt to think all things incredible which vary from the common course and order of Nature and may look upon this to be more a Phantasie then a real Vision but I shall relate the matter in short as I find it and so leave it to the tender Reader to judge of it The day before this Cuthbert Simson was condemned he being in the Stocks in the Bishops Cole-house Cluny the Keeper about nine at night according to his usual manner came to see whether his Prisoner was safe and lockt the Doors about two hours after Cuthbert heard one coming in to him first opened the Outward-door then the Inner-door and though there was no Candle yet he saw a great brightness and light most comfortable and joyful to his heart and this he declared to one Austen and others and expressed much joy and solace in declaring of it and the Vision that he saw was comfortable unto him Soon after suffered William Nichol who was burnt for the same cause at Haverfordwest in Wales and William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson suffered in Norfolk William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of twenty six years dwelling in Mendlesham in the County of Suffolk William Seaman Martyr he was persecuted by one Sr. John Terril who searched his house for him by night but missing of him he set his servants to search for him and when they had apprehended him brought him before their Master who asked him why he would not go to Mass and receive the Sacrament Seaman replyed because it was an Idol he would not receive it wherefore Terril sent him to Hopton Bishop of Norwich to deal with him who after he had examined him soon passed his bloody sentence of death against him This Seaman when he died left behind him a Wife and three young Children which her Husband being taken away one would have thought should have moved those pretended Christians to some pity towards her but instead of shewing pity they persecuted her out of the Town of Mendlesham because she refused to hear Mass and one Coles Lord of the said Town caused all her Goods and Corn to be seized and taken away Another of these Sufferers was Thomas Hudson of Ailesham in Norfolk he was thirty years of age by trade a Glover and a very honest poor man having a Wife and three Children and labouring alwayes dilligently in his imployment being zealous for that Truth which bore testimony against the Papists blasphemous preaching who put the Draugh and Darnel for the Wheat and that he might avoid their Idolatries and Superstition he absented from his house and went into Suffolk a long time and there remained traveling from one place to another at last he returned home again to comfort his Wife and Children being troubled at his absence when he was come home he conceiving his continuing there would be dangerous he and his Wife devised to make him a place among his Fagots to hide himself in where he remained all day exercising himself in reading and prayer and thus he continued for about the space of half a year but at last his Zeal and Courage arose and he walked abroad several dayes openly in the Town crying out continually against the Mass and such like trumpery and for three dayes and three nights together refused meat or to talk with any one Berry Vicar of the Town and one of the Bishops Commissaries caused the Officers to watch for him who upon the twenty second day of the Month called April apprehended him by the break of the day and led him to Berry the Commissary who examined him after this manner Doest thou not believe said Berry in the Sacrament of the Altar what is it Hudson replyed it is worms meat my belief is in Christ Berry Dost thou not believe the Mass to put away Sins Hudson No God forbid it is a patcht Monster and a disguised Puppet more longer a piecing then ever was Solomons Temple At which words Berry stamped and fumed and said Well thou Villain I will write to my Good Lord the Bishop Hudson said There is no Lord but God Then he asked Hudson whether he would Recant to which he replyed the Lord forbid I had rather die many deaths then do so This Thomas Hudson and the other two being brought to the Lollards-pit and there standing with Chains about them on a suddain Thomas Hudson came forth from under the Chain which made some to doubt that he would have recanted but his two Companions at the Stake exhorted him and comforted him in the Bowels of Christ but Hudson felt more in his Heart and Conscience then they did conceive was in him for he was compassed with great grief of mind not for his death but for lack of the feeling of Christ for which he kneeled down and prayed earnestly unto the Lord who at last according to his mercies gave him comfort and then he said now I thank God I am strong and so went to the Stake to his Fellows again and they all suffered constantly and joyfully to the Magnifying of the Lords Name Before I proceed to give a further Account of such as suffered Martyrdom its necessary to give a short Account of the said end of this Persecuting Commissary Berry who Persecuted Thomas Hudson and others to death as I find it recorded This Berry in his rage was very fierce against many godly People in the Town of Ailesham he burnt all good Books he could get and persecuted men for their Consciences and compelled many to Idolatry and being
I am content to be a Witness of Christ's death And I pray you make no longer delay with me for my heart is fixed and I will never turn to your superstitious doings Then the Bishop said The Devil did lead her No said she it is the Spirit of God which leadeth me and which called me in my Bed at Midnight and opened his Truth to me Then the Priests and others Shouted and laughed at her When the Sentence was read against her and she was condemned to be burnt to death she lifted up her Voice and said I thank thee my Lord my God this day have I found that which I have long sought for At which words They mockt her and so being brought to the Stake she was as lively and cheerful in her Countenance as if she had been prepared for that day of her Marriage to meet the Lamb and so she ended this Mortal Life She was a Woman very patient in her Words and Answers in her Apparel Meat and Drink moderate and sober and would never be Idle and was a great comfort to such as talked with her and in her trouble she refused to take Money saying whilst I am here God has Promised to feed me and I am going to a City where there is no need of Money And in the time of her suffering she forsook Husband Children who Persecuted her because she would not stoop to Idolatry and when after Sentence and Judgment was given against her they offered her that if she would recant and turn her life should be spared Nay said she God forbid that I should lose life Eternal for this life I will never turn from my heavenly Husband to my earthly Husband from the fellowship of Angels to Mortal Children If my Husband and Children were faithful then am I theirs God is my Father my Sister my Brother and my Friend most faithful Five persons burnt at Canterbury We are now come to a stop of the Issue of Blood and the rage of Persecution for the Testimony of Truth in Queen Maryes time and the last that suffered in her time were five that were burnt at Canterbury about six dayes before her Death viz. John Cornford of wortham Christopher Browne of Maidstone Jo. Hurst of Ashford Alice Sloth Katherine Tynley which five persons being in the custody of the Arch-Deacon of Canterbury who being at London and understanding the danger of the Queens dying Posted home to dispatch them out of the way in the which fact the Tyranny of this Arch-Deacon seemeth to exceed Bonner's cruelty for several that were under his custody were delivered by the Death of the Queen after they had suffered many great Exercises and Tryals Here followeth an Account of such who suffered Tryals and Imprisonments for their Profession of the Truth and who in all likelihood had also been burnt for the same had not God through his Mercy and Providence preserved them by the Death of the Queen At this time divers there were in many places of the Realm Imprisoned whereof some were but newly taken and not Examined some begun to be Examined but were not condemned several were Examined and condemned but no Writ being sent down escaped others were condemned and the Writ sent down for there burning but the Bishop Chancellor and Queen happning to die together about one time they were Marvelously preserved amongst whom was one John Hunt and Richard white both Imprisoned at Salisbury and other places This Examnation was on the 26th of April 1557. where they lay above two years and were often troubled by Priests and Bishops Richard White being brought before Capon Bishop of Salisbury and Brookes Bishop of Gloucester and a great number of other Priests Bishop Brookes said Is this the Prisoner and said Friend wherefore comest thou hither VVhite I trust to know the cause for the Law saith in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses things must stand Dr. Capon Did not I Examine thee of thy faith VVhite No you did not Examine me but commanded me to the Lollards Tower and that no man shoeld speak with me and now I do require mine Accuser say what I have said and I will answer you Then the Chancellor said Thou shalt corfess thy Faith ere then depart and my Lord of Gloucester shall Examine thee VVhite I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God to Salvation to all that believe and St. Peter saith If any man do ask thee a reason of the hope that is in thee make him a direct answer and that with meekness And being referred to the Bishop to Examine him he said Will you take the pains to wet your Coat in my blood Be not Guilty thereof I warn you and that before hand Brookes I will do nothing contrary to our Law declare thy faith said he concerning the Sacrament of the Altar VVhite What is a Sacrament I find not that word Sacrament in the Scriptures Much discourse they had concerning the Sacrament of the Altar which for brevities sake is omitted and at last the Bishop cryed Away with him to the Lollards Tower and dispatch him as soon as you can this was the Substance of his Examination The occasion of his and his Companions long detainment in Prison and not Executed was the moderation of the Under-Sheriff who when he had received the Writ to burn them said I will not be guilty of these mens blood and immediately burnt the Writing within few dayes after the said John Hunt and Richard White being in a low and dark Dungeon in an Evening fell upon their knees to prayer but could not utter words for weeping and tenderness of Heart and so continued a great while in tears the next morning news was brought them that the Chancellor their great Enemy was dead who died about the same time that they were in such a weeping frame however they there continued in Prison till the coming in of Queen Elizabeth and then were set at Liberty At this time also was delivered by the Providence of God one John Fetty a poor Taylor of Clarkenwel whom his Wife complained of to the Priest of the Parish for that he would not go to Mass and be partaker of their Idolatry notwithstanding this unkind fact of his Wife yet did he cherish her and provide well for her but notwithstanding his gentle dealing with her and that she had recovered her health having been ill did again accuse him whereupon he was apprehended and by one of the Queens Commissioners sent to the Lollards Tower where he was put into the painful Stocks and had a dish of Water set by him with a Stone put in it after he had layn there about two weeks hanging in the Stocks sometimes by one Leg and one Arm and sometimes by the other and sometimes by both it happened that one of his Children a Boy of the Age of about eight or nine Years came to the Bishops House to see if he could
sixteen Provinces also subjecting themselves under this new Government lost their antient Liberties and Priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the year 1567. hitherto by a new Council of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principal of which were Vergas and Elrio Fathers of the Inquisition which Council was commonly called the Council of BLOOD In the year 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the World his feigned meekness An. 1568. puting to death two Brethren Barons of Battembourg The names of three Martyrs Imprisoned at Antwerp were Schoblant Son of Barthel Jo. de Hues and Joris Comans and several others he Executed at the same time at Brussel These two Brethren from the flower of their youth had constantly professed the pure Doctrine of the Gospel and in the end were put to death for their Testimony to the same Shortly after there were taken and imprisoned at Antwerp several persons whose constancy to Death will appear by what they writ to certain of their Brethren Dated the 17th of March as followeth Seeing it is the will of God that we should suffer for his holy Name and in the Quarrel of his Gospel we certifie you Brethren that we are hitherto of good courage howsoever the flesh continually rebels against the Spirit counselling it ever and anon according to the advice of the Old Serpent but we are well assured that Christ who hath bruised will also still bruise the Serpents Head and not leave us comfortless true it is we are now and then pricked in the heel but that is all the Serpent can do nor are we discouraged but keep our faith close to the Promises of God who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth having created all things of nothing He forsook not Joseph in Eygpt nor left the three Young Men in the fiery Furnace no nor Daniel in the Lyons Den this is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of their Righteous Posterity so that we can without fear say with the Prophet David The Lord is my Help Tower Strength and Refuge By such and the like Scriptures dear Brethren we comfort our selves in our Bonds rejecting all confidence in man whatsoever be not dismayed then good Brethren and Sisters for our Bonds and Imprisonment for so is the good will of God now towards us and therefore pray rather that he would give us grace to persevere constantly unto the End so be it One of these three imprisoned in Antwerp wrot a few Lines to the Church of God in Antwerp as followeth Brethren I write unto you being left alone whereas we were three in number John Hues is now dead in the Lord I did my best to comfort him whilest he breathed so as now I am alone and yet not altogether alone seeing the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is with me he is my exceeding great Reward and will not fail to reward me as soon as I have laid down this earthly Tabernable Pray unto God that he would strengthen me to the end for from hour to hour I expect the dissolution of this house of Clay When Joris one of the three was examined before the Magistrates the Marquess said unto him I have hitherto spared you hoping to see you recant but you grow worse and worse Joris replyed during the time of my Imprisonment I have shed many tears and further said he was now become resolute and could not fashon himself according to their desire although they burnt him as they had done his Brother Schoblant Marquess I can tell you it will cost you but little better cheap Joris I am ready if it be to morrow Then said one of the Standers by he has neither Wife Child nor Goods to lose and that makes him so willing to dye Joris You shall answer these your doings at the last day where you must all appear and then there will be no respect of persons Marquess We have heard you preach too long take him Goaler and cast him into the Hole then was he put among Thieves as a Lamb among so many Wolves Thus this constant Witness remained firm till death The Spectacles of dead Bodies slain by the Bloody Inquisition was a Dreadful sight being gazed on in a manner in every place especially in the City of Tournay and of the Valentians in regard of the multitudes of Believers both of men and women who had long Languished in sundry Prisons in great miseries and necessities Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this Year 1569. Thus it happened in the City of Valence seven and fifty persons were executed for no other cause but for cleaving to the true Faith of Christ Jesus not without much astonishment of the poor people of that City Among these sad Relations a little to quicken and refresh the Spirit of the Reader I will here insert a Letter full of Consolations written out of Prison to the Faithful by one William Tovart Merchant who had his dwelling in the City of Lile in Flanders This honourable person being come to the Age of Eighty Years or thereabouts used his House for the space of Fourteen or Fifteen Years for the Assembly in the City of Lile to meet in Being chased and Banished thence in the Year 1561. he withdrew himself for a while to Tournay whence he was constrained to flie and to go to Amiens and Moundediea Cities of Prickardy afterwards returning into his own Country he came to reside in the City of Antwerp where after he had continued many Years he was at length condemned to be burnt with two others who suffered for the same cause but they put him to another kind of Death for they drowned him by plunging him in a Cistern of Water in Prison Amongst many Letters which he wrote during the time of his Imprisonment my Author hath selected out this one which here followeth Dear Brethren and Sisters in Jesus Christ I most humbly thank my God that he hath so fortified and comforted me by his Grace that I feel my self more cheered by lying in this dark Prison then if I were walking in the open Streets or Fields I say this I feel according to the Spirit for as touching the Flesh what doth it apprehend here but stinking Vapours and Smoke Wherefore my beloved if it so fall out that you be apprehended for the Name of Jesus Christ fear not the prison nor those that have power to Kill the Body for having done that they can go no further be not afraid then seeing it is the reward which our good Captain Jesus Christ hath Promised to all his Faithful Souldiers and Servants he who turns his back in this conflict goes by the loss but whosoever fights manfully obtains in the end the Crown not a Crown of Gold but of Glory Immortal we here lay down a fading life filled with griefs and troubles to change the same for a Life Everlasting we put off the Rags
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
miserably Also one named Claude De Astes a Councellor in the said Court the same day he gave his Opinion and Consent to burn a faithful Christian albeit it was not done indeed as he would have it after he had dined committed Whoredom with a Servant in the House and even in doing the Act was stricken with a disease called an Apoplexia whereof he died out of hand Peter Lyset chief President of the said Court and one of the Authors of the aforesaid burning Chamber was deposed from his Office for being known to be out of his right wit and bereaved of his understanding Also John Moren Lievtenant Crimnel of the Provost of Paris after he had been the cause of the Death of many Christians was finally stricken with a disease in the Legs called the Wolves whereby he lost the use of them and died also out of his wits many dayes before denying and blaspheming God Likewise John Andrew Book-Binder of the Palace a spie for the President Liset and of Bruseard the Kings Soliciter died in a Fury of Madness The Inquisitor John De Roma in Province his flesh fell from him by piece-meal and so stinking that no man might come near him for the smell thereof Also John Minerius of Province who was the cause of the death of a great Number of Men Women and Children at Cabriers and at Merindol died with bleeding in the lower parts the Fire having taken his Belly blaspheming and despising God besides many other whereof we might make recital which were punished with the like kind of death It may please your Majesty to remember your self that ye had no sooner determined to set upon us but new troubles were by and by moved by your Enemies with whom ye could make no Agreement which God would not suffer forasmuch as your Peace was grounded upon the Persecution which ye pretended against Gods Servants as also your Cardinals cannot let through their cruelty the course of the Gospel which hath taken such root in your Realm that if God should give you leave to destroy the Professers thereof you should be almost a King without Subjects Tertullian hath well said that the blood of Martyrs is the Seed of the Gospel wherefore to take away all these evils coming of the riches of the Papists which cause so much Whoredom Sodomitry and Incest wherein they wallow like Hogs feeding their idle Bellies the best way were to put them from their Lands and Possessions as the Old Sacrificing Levites were according to the express Commandment given to Joshua for as long as the Commandment of God took place and that they were void of Ambition the purity of Religion remained whole and perfect but when they began to aspire to Principallity Riches and worldly Honours then began the Abomination of Desolation that Christ foretold It was even so in the Primitive Church for it flourished and continued in all pureness as long as the Ministers were of small wealth and sought not their particular profit but the Glory of God only but since the Pope began to be Prince like and to usurp the Dominion of the Empire under the colour of a false Donation of Constantine they have turned the Scriptures from their true sence and have attributed the service to themselves which we owe to God wherefore your Majesty may seize with good right upon all the Temperallities of the Benefices and that with a safe Conscience to Employ them to their true and right use First For the finding and maintaining of the faithful Ministers of the Word of God for such Livings shall be requisite for them according as the case shall require Secondly For the entertainment of your Justices that give Judgment Thirdly For the relieving of the poor and Maintenance of the Colledges to instruct the poor Youths in that which they shall be most apt unto and the rest which is infinite may remain for entertainment of your own Estate and Affairs to the great easment of your poor People which alone bear the Burden and possess in manner nothing In this doing an infinite Number of men and even of your Nobility which live of the Crucifex should imploy themselves to your Service and the Common Wealths so much the more diligently as they see that ye recompence none but those that have deserved whereas now there is an infinite Number of men in your Kingdom which occupy the chiefest and greatest Benifices which never deserved any part of them c. And thus much touching the Superfluous Possessions of the Popish Lordly Clergy Now proceeding further in this Exhortation to the King thus the Letter importeth But when the Papists see they have not to alledg for themselves any reason they say to make odious to your Majesty the Lutherans as they call us and say if their sayings take place ye shall be fain to remain a private person and that there is never change of Religion but there is also change of Princedom a thing as false as when they accuse us to be Sacramentaries and that we deny the Authority of Magistrates under the shaddow of a certain furious Anabaptist which Sathan hath raised in our time to Darken the Light of the Gospel for the Histories of the Emporors which have begun to receive the Christian Religion and that which is come to pass in our time shew the contrary Was there ever Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine in receiving the Christian Religion Was he therefore put from the Empire No he was thereby the more confirmed and established in the same and also his Posterity which ruled themselves by his Providence but such as are fallen away and followed mens Traditions God hath destroyed and their Race is no more known in the Earth so much doth God detest them that forsake him and in our time the late Kings of England and Germany were they constrained in reproving Superstitions which the wickedness of the time hath brought in to forsake their Kingdoms and Princedoms All men see the contrary and what honour fidelity and obedience of the people in our time that have received the Reformation of the Gospel do under their Princes and Superiours yae I may say that the Princes knew not before what it was to be obeyed at that time when the rude and ignorant people received so readily the dispensations of the Pope to drive out their own Kings and Natural Lords The true and only remedy Sir is that ye cause to be holden a holy and free Council where ye should be chief and not the Pope and his who ought but only to defend their causes by the holy Scriptures that in the mean while ye may seek out men not corrupted suspected nor partial whom ye may charge to give report faithfully unto you of the true sence of the holy Scriptures and this done after the Example of the good King Jehosaphat Hezekias and Josiâ—â— ye shall take out of the Church all Idolatry Superstitions and Abuse which is found directly