particular act when no accusation of any particular act can bee brought against mee This were most unjust and wicked Here I tender my aunswere to the Information upon my oath My Lord you did impose impossibilities upon me I could doe no more then I was able L. Keeper Well holde your peace your answere comes too late Speake you Dr. Bastwick Dr. Bast My Honorable Lords Mee thinks you looke like an Assembly of Gods and sit in the place of God yee are called the Sonnes of God And since I have compared you to Gods give me leave a little to paralell the one with the other to see whither the comparison betweene God and you doth hold in this noble and righteous cause This was the carâ—iage of Almighty God in the cause of Sodome Before hee would pronounce sentence or execute judgement he would first come downe and see whether the crime was altogether according to the cry that was come up And with whom doth the Lord consult when he came downe With his Servant Abraham and hee gives the reason for I know saith hee that Abraham will commaund his children household after him that they shall keepe the way of the Lord to doe Iustice Iudgment My good Lords thus stands the case between your Honours and us this day there is a great cry come up into your eares against us from the Kings Attourney bee novv pleased to descend and see if the crime be according to the cry and consult vvith God not the Prelates being the adversary part and as it is apparant to all the World doe proudly set themselves against the vvayes of God and from vvhom none can expect Iustice or Iudgement and vvith righteous men vvill be impartiall on either side before you proceed to censure which censure you cannot passe on us vvithout great unjustice before you heare our Answers read Here is my Answer which I here tender upon my oath My good Lords give us leave to speake in our owne defence wee are not conscious to our selves of any thing we have done that deserves a Censure this day in this Honourable Court but that vve have ever laboured to maintaine the Honour Dignity Prerogative Royall of our Soveraigne Lord the King let my Lord the King live for ever Had I a thousands lives I should thinke them all too little to spend for the maintenance of his Majesties Royall Prerogative My good Lords can you proceed to Censure before you know my cause I dare undertake that scarce any one of your Lordships have read my Bookes And can you then Censure me for what you know not and before I have made my defence O my Noble Lords is this righteous judgement This were against the Law of God and Man to condemne a Man before you know his crime The Governour before whom S. Paul was carried who was a very Heathen would first heare his cause before he would passe any Censure upon him And doth it beseeme so Noble and Christian Assembly to condemne mee before my Answer be perused and my cause knowne Men Brethren and Fathers into what an age are wee fallen I desire your Honours to lay aside your Censure for this day inquire into my cause heare my Answer read which if you refuse to doe I here professe I will cloath it in Roman Buffe and send it abroad unto the view of all the world to cleare mine innocency and shew your great injustice in this cause Lord Keeper But this is not the busines of the day Why brought you not in your Answer in due time D. Bastwicke My Lord a long time since I tendred it to your Honour I failed not in any one particular And if my Counsell be so base and cowardly that they dare not signe it for feare of the Prelates as I can make it appeare therefore have I no Answer My Lord here is my Answer which though my Counsell out of a base spirit dare not set their hands unto yet I tender it upon my oath L. Keeper But M. D. you should have beene briefe you tendred in too large an Answer which as I heard is as Libellous as your Bookes D. Bastw No my Lord it is not Libellous though large I have none to answer for me but my selfe and being left to my selfe I must plead my conscience in answer to every circumstance of the Information L. Keeper What say you M. D. Are you guilty or not guilty Answer yea or no you needed not to have troubled your selfe so much about so large an Answer D. Bastwicke I know none of your Honours have read my Booke And can you with the Iustice of the court condemne me before you know what is written in my bookes L. Keeper What say you to that was read to you even now D. Bast My Lord he that read it did so murther the sence of it that had I not knowne what I had written I could not tell what to have made of it L. Keeper What say you to the other sentence read to you D. Bast That was none of mine I will not father that which was none of my owne L. Dorset Did not you send that booke as now it is to a Noble mans house together with a Letter directed to him D. Bast Yea my Lord I did so but withall you may see in my Epistle set before the booke I did at first disclaime what was not mine I sent my Booke over by a Dutch Merchant who it was that wrote the addition I doe not know but my Epistle set to my Booke made manifest what was mine and what was not and I cannot justly suffer for what was none of mine L. Arund My Lord you heare by his owne speech the cause is taken pro confesso L. Keeper Yea you say true my Lord. D. Bast My noble Lord of Arundell I know you are a noble Prince in Israel a great Peere of this Realme There are some honourable Lords in this Court that have beene forced out as combatants in a single duell it is betweene the Prelates and us at this time as betweene two that have appointed the field The one being a coward goes to the Magistrate by vertue of his Authority disarmes the other of his weapons gives him a Bullrush and then challenges him to fight If this be not base cowardice I know not what belongs to a Souldier This is the case betweene the Prelates and us they take away our weapons our Answers by vertue of your Authority by which we should defend our selves and yet they bid us fight My Lord doth not his savour of a base cowardly spirit I know my Lord there is a Decree gone forth for my Sentence vvas passed long since to cut of our eares Lord Keeper Who shall know our Censure before the Court passe it Doe you prophesy of your selves D. Bastwicke My Lord I am able to proove it and that from the mouth of the Prelates ovvne Servants that in August last it vvas
Servants of Iesus Christ who came with most undaunted and magnanimous courage thereunto having their way strawed with sweet hearbes from the house out of which they came to the Pillary with all the honour that could bee done unto them Dr. Bastwijcke and Mr. Burton first meeting they did close one in the others armes three times with as much expressions of love as might bee rejoycing that they met at such a place upon such an occasion that God had so highly honoured them as to call them forth to suffer for his glorious Truth Then immediately after M. Prynne came the D. and hee saluting each other as M. Burton and hee did before The D. then went up first on the Scaffold and his wife immediately following came up to him and like a loving Spouse saluted each care with a kisse and then his mouth whose tender love boldnes and cheerefullnes so wrought upon the peoples affections that they gave marvailous great showte for joy to behold it Her Husband desired her not to bee in the least maner dismay'd at his suffrings And so for a while they parted she using these words Farewell my Deerest be of good comfort I am nothing dismay'd And then the D. began to speake these words There are many that are this day Spectators of our standing here as Delinquents though not Delinquents we blesse God for it I am not conscious to my self wherein I have committed the least trespasse to take this outward shame either against my God or my King And I doe the rather speake it that you that are now beholders may take notice how farre innocency will preserve you in such a day as this is for wee come here in the strength of our God who hath mightily supported us and filled our hearts with greater comfort then our shame or contempt can bee The first occasion of my trouble was by the Prelates for writing a Booke against the Pope and the Pope of Canterbury sayd I wrote against him and therefore questioned me But if the Presses were as open to us as formerly they have been we would shatter his Kingdom about his eares But bee ye not deterred by their power neither bee affrighted at our sufferings Let none determine to turne from the wayes of the Lord but goe on fight couragiously against Gog Magog I know there be many here who have set many dayes apart for our behalfe let the Prelates take notice of it and they have sent up strong prayers to heaven for us we feele the strength and benefit of them at this time I would have you to take notice of it we have felt the strength benefit of your prayers all along this cause In a word so farre I am from base feare or caring for any thing that they can do or cast upon me that had I as much blood as would swell the Theames I would shedd it every droppe in this cause therefore be not any of you discouraged be not daunted on their power ever labouring to preserve Innocency keep peace within goe on in the strength of your God and hee will never fayle you in such a day as this As I sayd before so I say againe Had I as many lives as I have heires on my head or droppe of blood in my veines I would give them up all for this cause this plot of sending us to those remote places was first consulted and agitated by the Jesuites as I can make it plainly appeare O see what times we are fallen into that the Lords must sit to act the Iesuites plots For our owne parts wee owe no mallice to the persons of any of the Prelats but would lay our necks under their feet to doe them good as they are men but against the usurpation of their power as they are Bishops we doe professe our selves enemies till doomes day Mr. Prynne shaking the Dr. by the hand desired him that hee might speake a word or two With all my heart sayd the Doctor Te cause sayd Mr. Prynne of my standing here is for not bringing in my Answer for which my cause is taken pro confesso against mee What endeavours J used for the bringing in thereof that God and my owne conscience and my Counsell knowes whose cowardise stands upon Record to all ages For rather then J will have my cause a leading cause to deprive the subjects of that libertie which J seek to maintaine J rather expose my person to a leading example to beare this punishment And J beseech you all to take notice of their proceedings in this cause when J was served with a Subpoena into this Court J was shut up close prisoner that J could have no accesse to Counsell nor admitted pen inke or paper to draw up my answere by my Jnstructions for which J feed them twice though to no purpose yet when all was done my Answer would not be accepted into the Court though I tendered it upon my oath I appeale to all the world if this were a legall or just proceeding Our accusation is in point of Libell but supposedly against the Prelates to cleere this now I will give you a little light what the Law is in point of Libell of which profession I have sometimes beene and still professe my selfe to have some knowledge in you shall finde in case of Libell tvvo statutes The one in the second of Queene Mary The other in the seventh of Queene Elizabeth That in the second of Queene Mary the extremity and heighth of it runs thus That if a Libeller doth goe so farre and so high as to Libel against King or Queene by denomination the high and extremity of the Law is that they lay no greater fine on him then an hundred pounds vvith a moneths imprisonment And no corporall Punishment except hee doe refuse to pay his fine and then to inflict some punishment in lievve of that fine at the moneths end Neither was this Censure to be passed on him except it vvere fully prooved by tvvo vvitnesses vvho vvere to produce a certificat of their good demeanor for the credit of their report or else confessed by the Libeller You shall finde in that Statute 7. Eliz. some further addition to the former of 2. Marie and that onely in point of fine punishment and it must still reach as high as the person of King or Queen Here this statute doth set a fine of two hundred pounds the other but one This sets three moneths emprisonment the former but one So that therein onely they differ But in this they both agree namely at the end of his imprisonment to pay his fine and soo to goe free vvithout any further question But if hee refuse to pay his fine then the Court is to inflict some punishment on him correspondent to his fine Novv see the disparity between those times of theirs and ours A libeller in Queen Maries time vvas fined but an hundred pounds in Queen Elizabeth time tvvo hundred In
A BRIEFE RELATION OF Certaine speciall and most materiall passages and speeches in the Starre-Chamber Occasioned And delivered the 14th day of Iune 1637. At the Censure of those three famous and worthy Gentlemen Dr. Bastwicke Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne EVEN SO As it hath beene truely and faithfully gathered from their owne mouthes by one present at the said Censure PRINTED In the yeare of God 1638. TO THE READER CHristian Reader I present you heere the Relation of such a Censure and the Execution thereof as I dare say all circumstances layd together cannot bee paralled in any age of man throughout the Christian World and I thinke I may take in even the World of Pagans and Heathens to it Which though it bee not drawne up in so eloquent a straine as it was delivered deserved nor all the Heavenly words and eloquent speeches recorded which were uttered by these Three Worthies of the Lord both in the presence of the Lords themselves at their Censure and also at the place of Execution Yet I earnestly beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ that you doe not in the least manner under-valu the glory and dignitie eyther of the Persons or the cause but rather lay the blame upon the rudenes and meane capacity of the Composer who is an unfeyned Wel-wisher to them Fare well A Briefe Relation OF Certaine speciall most materiall passages and Speeches in the Starre-chamber on the 14th day of Iune in the yeare 1637. At the Censure of those three vvorthy Gentlemen Dr. Bastwick Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne BEtweene eight and nine a clocke in the morning the 14. of Iune the Lords being set in their places in the said Court of Starre-chamber and casting their eyes upon the Prisoners then at the Bar Sr. Iohn Finch chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas began to speake after this manner Sr. Iohn Finch I had thought M. Prynne had had no eares but me thinkes hee hath eares which caused many of the Lords to take the stricter view of him and for their better satisfaction the Usher of the Court was commanded to turne up his haire shew his eares Upon the sight wherof the Lords were displeased they had beene formerly no more cut off and cast out some disgracefull words of him To which M. Prynne replied M. Pryn. My Lords there is never a one of your Honours but would be sorry to have your eares as mine are The Lord Keeper replied againe L. Keeper In good faith hee is some what sawcy M. Pryn. I hope said M. Prynne your Honours will not be offended I pray God give you eares to heare L. Keeper The busines of the day said the Lord Keeper is to proceed on the Prisoners at the Barr. M. Pryn. M. Prynne then humbly desired the Court to give him leave to make a motion or two which being graunted he mooves First that their Honours would be pleased to accept of a crosse Bill against the Prelates signed with their owne hands being that which stands with the Iustice of the Court which he humbly craved and so tendred it L. Keeper As for your crosse Bill it is not the busines of the day Hereafter if the Court shall see just cause and that it savours not of Libelling wee may accept of it for my part I have not seene it but have heard somewhat of it M. Pryn. I hope your Honours will not refuse it being it is on his Majesties behalfe wee are his Majesties Subjects and therefore require the Iustice of the Court. L. Keeper But this is not the busines of the day M. Pryn. Why then My Lords I have a second motion which I humbly pray your Honours to graunt which is That your Lordships will be pleased to dismisse the Prelates here now sitting from having any voyce in the censure of this cause being generally knowne to be Adversaries as being no way agreeable with equity or reason that they who are our Adversaries should bee our Iudges Therefore wee humbly crave they may be expunged out of the Court. L. Keeper In good faith it 's a sweet motion is 't not Herein you are become Libellous And if you should thus Libell all the Lords and Reverend Iudges as you doe the most Reverēd Prelates by this your Plea you would have none to passe sentence upon you for you Libelling because they are parties M. Pryn. Vnder correction My Lord this doth not hold Your Honour need not put that for a certainty which is an uncertainty we have nothing to say to any of your Honours but onely to the Prelates L. Keeper Well proceed to the busines of the day Read the Information Which was read being very large and these five Bookes annexed thereunto viz. a Booke of D. Bastwicks written in Latin The second a little Booke intituled Newes from Ipswich The third intitled A Divine Tragedy Recording Gods fearefull judgements on Sabbath-breakers The fourth Mr. Burtons Booke intituled An Apology of an Appeale to the Kings most Excellent Majesty with two Sermons for God and the King preached on the fifth of November last The fifth and last Dr. Bastwickes Letany The Kings Counsell being five tooke each of them a severall Booke and descanted there at the Barre upon them according to their pleasure M. Attorney Mr. Attorney began first with D. Bastwickes Latin Booke picking out here there particular conclusions that best served for his owne ends so did all the other Counsell out of the former other Bookes to the great abuse of the Authors as themselves there immediately complain'd intreating them to reade the foregoing grounds upon which the said conclusions depended without which they could not understand the true meaning of them Serjeant Next unto the Attorney Serjeant Whitfeild fals upon Reverend M. Burtons Booke who vented much bitternes against that unreprooveable Booke as all that read it with an honest and orthodox heart may clearely perceive swearing In good faith My Lords there is never a page in this Booke but deserves a heavier and deeper Censure then this Court can lay upon him Next followed A. B. who in like manner descanted upon the Newes from Ipswich charging it to be full of pernitious lyes and especially vindicating the honor of Mathew Wren Bishop of Norwich as being a learned pious and Reverend Father of the Church M. Littleton In the fourth place followes the Kings Solicitor who acts his part upon the Divine Tragedy To which part of it concerning Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers he had little to say but onely put it off with a scoffe saying That they sate in the Seate of God who judged those accidents which fell out upon persons suddainly strooken to be the judgement of God for Sabbath breaking or words to the like effect but enlarged himselfe upon that passage which reflected upon that late Reverend as he termed him and learned Professor of the Law and his Majesties faithfull Servant M. William Noy his Majesties late Attorney who as hee said was
Queen Maries daeys but a moneths imprisonment In Queen Elizabeths three moneths and not so great a fine if they libelled not against King or Queen Formerly the greatest fine vvas but tvvo hundred pounds though against King or Queen Novv five thousand pounds though but against the Prelates that but supposedly vvhich cannot be prooved Formerly but the moneths imprisonment Novv perpetuall imprisonment Then upon paying the fine no corporall punishment vvas to be inflicted But novv infamous punishment vvith the losse of blood and all other circumstances that may aggravate it See novv vvhat times vve are fallen into vvhen that Libelling if it vvere so against Prelates onely shall fall higer then if it touched Kings and Princes That vvhich I have to speake of next is this The Prelates finde themselves exceedingly agrieved and vexed against vvhat vve have vvritten concerning the usurpation of their calling vvhere indeed vve declare their calling not to be Iure divino I make no doubt but there are some Intelligencers or Abbertors vvithin the hearing vvhom I vvould have vvell knovv and take notice of vvhat I novv say I here in this place make this offer to them That if I may be admitted a faire dispute on faire termes for my cause that I vvill maintaine and doe here make the challenge against all the Prelates in the Kings Dominions and against all the Prelates in Christendome let them take in the Pope and all to help them that their calling is not Iure Divino I will speake it againe I make the challenge against all the Prelates in the Kings Dominions and all Christendome to maintaine that their calling is not Iure Divino If I make it not good let mee bee hanged up at the Hall-Gate Where upon the people gave a great shout The next thing that I am to speake of is this The Prelates find themselves exceedingly agrieved and vext against vvhat I have vvritten in point of Lavv concerning their Writs and Proces That the sending forth of Writs and Proces in their ovvne name is against all Lavv and Iustice and doth entrench on his Majesties Prerogative Royall and the Subjects Liberties And here novv I make a second challenge against al the Lavvyers in the Kingdom in way of fayre Dispute That I vvill maintaine the Prelates sending forth of Writs and Proces in their ovvne names to be against all Lavv and Iustice and entrencheth on his Majesties prerogative Royall and subjects Liberty Lest it should bee forgotten I speake it again I here challenge all the vvhole Society of the Lavv upon a fayre dispute to maintaine that the sending forth of Writs and Proces in the Prelates ovvne names to be against all Lavv and Iustice and entrencheth on the Kings Prerogative Royall the Subjects Liberty If I bee not able to make it good let mee bee put to the tormentingest death they can devise Wee praise the Lord vvee feare none but God and the King Had vvee respected our Liberties vvee had not stood here at this time it vvas for the generall good and Liberties of you all that vve have now thus farre engaged our ovvn Liberties in his cause For did you know how deeply they have entrenched on your Liberties in point of Popery If you knew but into what times you are cast it would make you looke about you and if you did but see what changes and revolutions of persons causes and actions have beene made by one man you would more narrowly looke into your priviledges and see how farre your Liberty did lawfully extend and so maintaine it This is the second time that I have beene brought to this place who hath beene the Author of it I thinke you all well know For the first time if I could have had leave given me I could easily have cleered my selfe of that vvhich was then laid to my charge As also I could have done now if I might have been permitted to speake That booke for vvhich I suffered formerly especially for some particular vvords therin vvritten vvhich I quoted out of Gods vvord and ancient Fathers for vvhich notvvithstanding they passed Censure on me that same booke vvas tvvice licensed by publicke Authority and the same vvords I then suffered for they are againe made use of and applied in the same sence by Heylin in his booke lately printed and dedicated to the King and no exceptions taken against them but are very vvell taken Dr. Bastwicke Aye said D. Bastvvicke and there is another Booke of his licensed vvherein he rayles against us three at his pleasure and against the Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries dayes calling them Schismaticall Hereticks and there is another Booke of Pocklingtons licensed they bee as full of lyes as dog bee full of fleas but vvere the presses as open to us as they are to them vvee vvould pay them and their great Master that upholds them and charge them vvith notorious Blasphemy M. Pryn. Said Mr. Prynne You all at this present see there be no degrees of men exempted from suffering Here is a Reverend Divine for the soule a Phisition for the Body and a Lawyer for the Estate I had thought they vvould have let alone their ovvne Society and not have meddled vvith any of them And the next for ought I knovv may bee a Bishop You see they spare none of vvhat society or calling soever none are exemted that crosse their ovvne ends Gentlemen looke to your selves If all the Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries dayes are accounted and called Schismaticall hereticks and Factious Fellowes What shall vve looke for Yet so they are called in a Booke lately come forth under Authority And such Factious Fellovves are vvee for discovering a Plot of Popery Alas poore England vvhat vvill become of thee if thou looke not the sooner into thine ovvne Priviledges and maintainest not thine ovvne lavvfull Liberty Christian people I beseech you all stand firme and bee zealous for the cause of God and his true Religion to the shedding of your dearest blood othervvise you vvill bring your selves and all your posterities into perpetuall bondage and slavery Novv the Executioner being come to seare him and cut of his eares M. Prynne spake these vvords to him Come friend Come burne mee cuâ— mee I feare not I have learn'd to feare the fire of hell and not what man can doe unto mee Come seare mee seare mee I shall beare in my body the markes of the Lord Iesus Which the bloody Executioner performed vvith Extraordinary Cruelty Heating his Iron tvvice to Burne One Cheeke And cut one of his eares so close that hee cut off a piece of his Cheeke At vvhich exquisit torture Hee never mooved vvith his body or so much as changed his Countenance but still lookt up as vvell as he could tovvards Heaven vvith a smiling countenance even to the astonishment of all the beholders And uttering assoone as the Executioner had done this Heavenly sentence The more I am beaten downe the more am I lift up
And returning from the execution in a boate made as I heare these tvvo verses by the vvay on the Tvvo Charasters branded on his Cheekes S. L. STIGMATA LAUDIS STIGMATA maxillis bajulans insignia LAVDIS Exultans remeo victima grata Deo Which one since thus Englished S. L. LAUDS SCARS Trimphant I returne my face descries LAUDS scorching SCARS Gods greatefull sacrifice Mr. Burtons heavenly and most comfortable Speech which he made at the time of his fuffering both before and while he stood in the Pillary which was something distant from the other double Pillary wherein Dr. Bastwicke and Mr. Prynne stood THE night before his suffering about eyght a clock when he first had certaine notice thereof upon occasion of his Wives going to aske the Warden whither her Husband should suffer the next day immediately he felt his spirits to be raysed to a farre higher pitch of resolution and courage to undergoe his sufferings then formerly he did so as he intreated the Lord to hold up his spirits at that heigth all the next day in his sufferings that he might not flagg nor faint least any dishonour might come to his Majestie or the cause And the Lord heard him For all the next day in his suffering both before and after his spirits were carried aloft as it were upon Eagles wings as himselfe said farre above all apprehension of shame or paine The next morning being the day of his sufferings hee was brought to Westminster and with much cheerefullnes beeing brought into the Pallace-yard unto a Chamber that looked into the Yard where he viewed three Pillaries there set up Me thinkes said hee I see Mount Calvery where the three Crosses one for Christ and the other two for the two theeves were pitched And if Christ were numbred among theeves shall a Christian for Christs cause thinke much to be numbred among Rogues such as wee are condemned to be Surely if I be a Rogue I am Christs Rogue and no mans And a little after looking out at the casement toward the Pillary hee sayd I see no difference betweene looking out of this square window and yonder round hole poyning towards the Pillary hee said It is no matter of difference to an honest man And a little after that looking some what wishly upon his Wife to see how shee did take it shee seemed to him to be something sadd to whom hee thus spake Wise why art thou so sadd To whom shee made answer Sweet heart I am not sadd No said hee See thou be not for I would not have thee to dishonour the day by shedding one teare or fetching one sigh for behold therefore thy comfort my triumphant Chariot on the which I must ride for the honour of my Lord Master And never was wedding day so welcome and joy full a day as this day is and so much the more because I have such a noble Captaine and Leader who hath gone before mee with such undauntednes of Spirit that hee sayth of himselfe I gave my backe to the smiters my cheekes to the nippers they pluckt off the haire I hidd not my face from shame and spitting for the Lord God will helpe mee therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know I shall not be ashamed At length being carried toward the Pillary hee met D. Bastwicke at the foot of the pillary where they lovingly saluted and embraced each other and parting a little from him hee returned such was the ardency of his affection and most affectionately embraced him the second time being heartily sorry hee missed Mr. Prynne who was not yet come before hee was gonne up to his Pillary which stood alone next the Starre-Chamber and about halfe a stones cast from the other double Pillary wherein the other two stood so as all their faces looked Southward the bright Sun all the while for the space of two howers shining upon them Being ready to be put into the Pillary standing upon the Scaffold he spied Mr. Prynne new come to the Pillary Dr. Bastwicke in the Pillary who then hasted of his band called for a Handkercher saying What shall I be last or shall I be ashamed of a Pillary for Christs who was not ashamed of a Crosse for mee Then being put into the Pillary â—e sayd Good people I am brought hither to be a spectacle to the world to Angels and men And howsoever I stand here to undergoe the punishment of a Rogue yet except to bee a faithfull servant to Christ a loyall Subject to the King be the property of a rogue I am no Rogue But yet if to bee Christs faithfull Servant and the Kings loyall Subject deserve the punishment of a Rogue I glory in it and I blesse my God my conscience is cleare is not stained with the guilt of any such crime as I have beene charged with though otherwise I confesse my selfe to be a man subject to many frailties humane infirmities Indeed that Booke intiteled An Apology of an Appeale with sundry Epistles and two Sermons for God and the King charged against me in the Information I have and doe acknowledge the misprinting excepted to be mine and will by Gods grace never disclaime it whilst I have breath within mee After while hee having a Nosegay in his hand a Bee came and pitched on the Nosegay began to suck the flowers very savourly which hee beholding and well observing said Doe yee not see this poore Bee She hath found out this very place to suck sweetnes from Christ The Bee sucking all this while and so tooke her flight By and by hee tooke occasion from the shining of the Sunne to say You see how the Sunne shines upon us but that shines as well upon the evill as the good upon the just and unjust but that the Sonne of righteousnes Iesus Christ who hath healing under his wings shines upon the soules and consciences of every true beleever onely and no clowd can hide him from us to make him ashamed of us no not of our most shamefull sufferings for his sake And why should wee be ashamed to suffer for his sake who hath suffered for us All our sufferings be but fleabitings to that bee endured hee endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set on the right hand of God Hee is a most excellent patterne for us to looke upon that treading his stepps and suffering with him wee may bee glorified with him And what can wee suffer wherein hee hath not gone before us even in the same kinde Was hee not degraded when they scornefully put on him a purple Robe a Reede into his hand a thorny Crowne upon his head saluting him with Hayle King of the Iewes and so disrobed him againe was not hee deprived when they smote the Shepherd and the Sheepe were scattered Was not violence offered to his sacred person when hee was buffited and scourged his hands and his feet