might be glorified and they shall build the old wastes they shall raise up the former Desolations and they shall repair the Waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations And thus the Reader may see the many glorious Dispensations and manifestations of Gods Love unto mankind to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets in all Generations and now we are come according to what the Prophets foretold to the day of the Appearance of that great Saviour of the World whose Dispensation far exceeded all others in Glory being that eternal Substance which ended all Types Shaddows and Figures And thus these Jews who had been the true Worshippers being apostatized and degenerated from their primitive glory and institutions and their Worship becoming meerly outside for it s said they drew neer to God with their Mouthes and honoured him with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him the Prophets were raised up and sent from the Lord to Cry against them and to foretel the Desolation and distruction that was to come upon them which accordingly came to pass as will be seen anon and in this condition did Christ at his coming find these Antient people the Jews to whom God had formerly committed his Laws and Commands and given his Oracles but they were wholy apostatized from them as will appear by their fruits in the following Discourse The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ The year of Christ AFter the Jews had Apostatized according as the Prophets had foretold and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn Christ is born the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men The great rejoycing at his Birth The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger and they published that which was told them concerning the Child and they returned Praising and Glorifying God but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her Heart The Child was called Jesus which signifies a Saviour which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. He is called Jesus The Wise men from the East the Star being their Guide coming to Herod to Jerusalem and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea they went thither and entering into the House which was shewed them by the Star which stood over it they found the little Child and Mary his Mother and falling down worshipped him and having opened their Treasures they offered unto him Gold Frankinseence and Myrhe Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod they departed into their own Country another way And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man who had waited for the Consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms Simeons Testimony concerning that and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People a Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel and Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him and Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against In the same moment came Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel she also openly acknowledged the Lord and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee unto their own City Nazareth The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream sheweth him that he should flee into Egypt that he might provide for the life of the Child and escape the Devices of Herod Herods Cruelty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus who being awakened took the Young Child and his Mother by night and departed into Aegypt where he remained until the death of Herod Herod thinking the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem that he might Destroy him among the rest killed all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under according to the time of the Star first seen in the East that he had enquired of the Wise-men Herod shortly after dyed Miserably being dead the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt and commanded that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod he feared to go thither and being warned of God in a dream he departed into the parts of Galilee and there dwelt in the City Nazareth from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene and the Christians of Nazarenes In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover year of Christ 12 Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem his Parents returning home he stayed behind His Mouth was first opeâ—ed to oppose the Doctors at twelve years old they not knowing where he was sought him three dayes and found him in the Temple sitting in the midest of the Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth and was obedient unto them and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ year of Christ 30 John came forth in his Ministry Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his Pathes streight Iohn Ministry what it was and opening the acceptable year of the Lord or the time of his divine pleasure preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns and his food was Locus and wild Hony And now Jesus being
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
set in on the Fire bind the Rebel hand and foot and when the Grate is red hot on with him roast him broyl him toss him turn him upon pain of our high displeasure do every man his office Oh ye Tormentors Immediately his command was obeyed and after many cruel handlings this meek Lamb was laid on the Gridiron but what he indured was with such patience that the Emperour seemed to be tormented more then him though his Flesn broyled the other 's Heart burned and when he had been pressed down with Forks for a great space in the mighty Spirit of God he spake to the Tyrant thus This side is now roasted enough turn up Oh Tyrant great Assay whether roasted or Raw thou thinkst the better Meat Dioniceous writeth that the number of those that suffered Martyrdom about that time was great Men Women young Men Maidens old Wives and Men of all sorts and ages of whom some with Scourgings and Fire and some with the Sword abtained the Vâ—ctory and got the Crown neither saith he to this day doth the President cease cruelly Murdering such as be brought before him tearing some with Torments Imprisoning others and commanding that no man should come to them yet God with the daily resort of the Brethren doth comfort the afflicted Not long after this time the Church had Peace for about the space of forty four years during which time it did mightily encrease and flourish and divers of the Christians were preferred both to Court and elsewhere but through this great prosperity the Christians began to degenerate and to grow Idle striving and contending among themselves upon every occasion with railing words bespattering one another in a despiteful manner Bishops against Bishops and People against People moving hatred and sedition each against other besides cursed Hyposrisie and Dissimulation more and more by reason whereof Gods Judgments brake forth against them the Pastours being inflamed in mutual comtempt against each other then did the Lord raise up Adversaries against his People then did Dioclecian the Emperour raise a great and grievous Persecution against the Church commanding all the Meeting places of the Christians to be spoiled and cast down and the Book of the Scripture to be burnt which was executed with all rigour and contempt that might be giving out Edicts for the displacing of all Christian Magistrates and for Imprisoning of the Elders and Bishops and a great Persecution ensued But the Christians manfully passed through exceeding bitter Torments by Scouging Whipping and Racking and being put to death so that it cannot be expressed what number of Martyrs suffered what Blood was shed through all Cities and Regions for the Name of Christ in this Emperours time by divers Torments some being hanged up by the Feet and by the smoke of a small Fire strangled One Peter was hoysted up naked and so beaten and torn with Whips that his Bones might be seen then they poured on Salt and Vineger and after Roasted him with a soft Fire Also many Christians being met together Maximinian the Emperour sent some to burn the Meeting place and burn them all but first they commanded a Cryer to Proclaim that whosoever would have life should come out and sacrifice to Jupiter otherwise they should be all burnt then one steping up boldly in the name of all the rest said We are all Christians and believe that Christ is our only God and King and we will sacrifice to none but him hereupon the Fire was kindled and many Men Women and Children were burnt in that place And the punishments these Christians endured were so great and horrible as no Tongue is able to express as Whippings Scourgings Rackings horrible Scrapings Sword Fireship-boats whereinto many were put and sunk into the Sea as also hanging upon Crosses binding some to the bodies of Trees with their Head hanging downwards hanging others by the middles upon Gallowses till they dyed of hunger throwing divers alive to Bears Leopards wilde Bulls pricking others with bodkins and tallens of Beasts till they were almost dead The Christians being assembled at Antioch where one Romanus ran to them declaring to them that the Wolves were at hand which would devour them yet he exhorted them not to fear A Band of armed men were sent against them but they kept their Faith whereupon the Souldiers sent word to their Captain that they could not force the Christians to deny their Faith by reason of Romanus who did so mightily encourage them The Captain commanded that he should be brought before him which was done accordingly What saith the Captain Art thou the Author of this Sedition Art thou the cause that so many lose their lives Romanâ—â— Persecuted by the Gods I Swear thou shalt answer for them all and shalt suffer those Torments that thou encouragest them to undergo Romanus answered Thy Sentance O Emperor I willingly embrace I refuse not to be sacrificed for my Brethren and that by as cruel Torments as thou canst invent The Captain being much enraged with this his stout answer commanded him to be trust up and his bowels drawn out whereupon the Executionor said not to Sir this man is of noble pâ—rantage and therefore be may not be put to so ignoble a death scourge him then quoth the Captain with whips having knobs of lead at the end but Romamus song all the time of his whipping requiring not to favour him for nobilities sake not the blood of Progenitors saith he but the Christian Profession makes me Noble Then did he deride their Idol Gods which inraged the Tyrant so that he commanded his sides to be lanced with Knives till the Bones were laid open yet still did the holy Martyr preach the living God and the Lord Jesus Christ to him for which the Tyrant commanded them to strike out his teeth also his face was buffetted his Eye-lids torn his Cheeks gashed with Knives the skin of his Beard pulled off yet the meek Martyr said I thank thee O Captain that thou hast opened to me so many Mouthes as Wounds whereby I may Preach my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Look how many Wounds I have so many mouths I have landing and praising God The Captain astonished at his constancy bad them give over tormenting him yet he threatned to burn him reviled him and blasphemod God saying Thy crucified Christ is but a yesterdayes God the Gods of the Gentiles are of greatest Antiquity But Romanus taking occasion from hence declared to him the Eternity of Christ withall saying give me a Christian Child of seven years old and thou shalt hear what he will say hereupon a Boy was called out of the Multitude to whom Romanus said Tell me my pretty Babe whether thou think it reason that we worship Christ and in Christ one Father or else that we worship infinite Gods the Child answered that certainly what we affirm to be God must needs be one which with one is one and the same and inasmuch as this one is
the History of the two thousand five hundred fifty two years and a half and the Children of Israel mourned for Moses as they had done for Aaron thirty dayes in the Land of Moab The Lord was with Ioshua And now Joshua succeeding Moses the Lord Promised Joshua to be with him and to Assist him and the Lord was with him until he had Conquered all the Enemies of the Israelites and now when God was about to give the Israelites rest round about them so that they might dwell there securely it was requisite also that a place should be appointed which himself should chuse to place his Name there wherefore coming together at Shilo they there fixed the Tabernacle of the Congregation after the whole Land was subdued unto them Now Shilo both by the signification of the Name and also by the situation of the place seemeth to be the same with Salem both which words signifieth Peace or Rest Joshua built the City of Timnah-Sera in Mount Ephraim year of the world 2561 in which he dwelt many years after God had given rest to Israel and having lived a hundred and ten Years he there died and was buried After the decease of Joshua and the Elders who out lived him year of the world 2591 the Wonders which God had wrote for the Children of Israel Joshua being dead the Israelites began to backslide from the time of their first bringing out of Egypt began to be forgotten by the Young men every man now doing what seemed good in his own Eyes all those disorders were committed which are reported in the five last Chapters of the Book of Judges to wit the Idolatry of Micah and the Children of Dan and the War of the Benjaminites and the cause thereof and there succeeded a Generation of men which forgot God And Idolarty crept in and mingled themselves with the Canaanites by marriage and worshipped their Idols and God hereby was provoked to Wrath and gave them up to Cushan King of Mesapotania They were brought into Bondage which first calamity of theirs held them eighty years until Othoniel Son-in-law to Joshua being stirred up by God as a Judge and Avenger of his People defeated Cushan Delivered by Othoniel and delivered the Israelites out of their Bondage and the Land had rest forty years after the rest which Joshua procured them After the decease of Othoniel year of the world 2661 the Israelites falling again to sin against God Brought into Bondage again were again given over into the hands of Eglon King of Moab who joyning with the Ammonites and Amalekites overthrew the Israelites and took Jerico and this second Oppression of theirs continued for the space of eighteen years Instrumentally delivered by Ehud Then the Lord raised up Ehud to be an Avenger of his People who slew Eglon and ten thousand of the Valiant men of Moah and then the Land of Israel had rest forty years But when Ehud was dead they returned to their old Sin They return again to sin and are brought into Bondage wherefore they were brought again into Thraldom for twenty years until Jabins Army was routed and Sisera Captain of his Army was killed by Jael the Wife of Heber in her own Tent with a Nail struck into the Temples of his Head whereupon Debora Are delivered again a Prophetess who at that time judged Israel made a Song thereof for a memorial of that Victory and the Land rested forty years The Israelites sinning again and doing evil in the sight of the Lord year of the world 2752 the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years They sin again the Israelites falling into this fourth Thraldom cryed unto the Lord for help A Prophet sent of God to reprove them and the Lord sent a Prophet unto them who reproved them and shewed them what great things the Lord had done for them and encouraged them that they should not fear the Gods of the Amorites and the Lord raised up Gideon Gideon raised up to deliver them again being stirred up by an Angel sent from God to deliver them and first by Command from God he overturned the Altar of Baal and burnt his Grove and now the Midianites and Amorites pitching their Camp against him the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and out of thirty two thousand men he chose only three hundred according to Gods Commandment to fight against them By a small number which he chose and why That so the Victory of Salvation might appear to be of the Arm of the Lord that Israel might not Vaunt themselves against him After he had obtained the Victory when the Israelites offered to settle the Kingdom on his Posterity he refused it saying The Lord shall rule over you but receiving their Golden Earings he made thereof an Ephad whereof they afterward took an occasion to fall into Idolatry but the Midianites being vanquished the Land had rest forty years They fall into Idolatry again So soon as Gideon was dead the Israelites falling back to Idolatry worshipped Baal-Berith for their God and Abimelech the Son of Gideon begotten upon a Concubine purpossing to get unto himself the Kingdom which his Father had refused slew seventy of his Brethren all upon one Stone when Abimelech had goten the Kingdom and had reigned three years Gaal a man of Sichem conspired against him which being discovered to Abimelech the City of Sichem was utterly Destroyed and the Inhabitants put to the Sword and from thence Abimelech going to besiege Thebez was knocked on the head with a piece of a Milstone cast upon him by a Woman and then killed out-right by his own Armour-Bearer Now the Israelites forsaking again the true God and falling to Worship the Gods of several Nations year 2799 were given up into the hands of the Philistines Were delivered into Bondage Sampson the Nazarite was born at Zora who avenged the Israelites twenty years in the time of the Philistines who slew a thousand of of them at one time with the Jawbone of an Ass in which place called Lehi from that Jawbone God at the prayer of Sampson clave an hollow place that was in the Jaw and there came water there-out Sampson avenged their cause and when he had drunk he was revived wherefore he called the name thereof Enâ—hackore that is The Fountain of him which called upon God Sampson betrayed by Dalila with what followed Sampson being betrayed by Dalila and spoiled of the Hair of his Nazariteship is delivered to the Philistines who plucking out his Eyes carried him away Prisoner to Gaza and put him there in Prison fast bound in Chains where his strength renewing again he pulled down the Temple of the great Dagon killing the Princes of the Philistines with a very great multitude of People which were therein more men being killed at the fall thereof with himself for Company then he had slain in all his life
Christ of necessity Christ must be the true God for that there be many Gods we Children cannot believe The Captain amazed at this said Thou young Villain and Traytor where and of whom learnest thou this Lesson of my mother said he with whose milk I sucked in this Lesson that I must believe in Christ The mother was called and she gladly appeared the Tyrant commanded the Child to be horsed up and scourged the Standers by beholding this merciless act could not refrain from tears the joyful and glad mother alone stood by with dry cheeks yea she rebuked her sweet Babe for desiring a cup of cold water charging him to thirst after the cup that the Babes of Bethlem once drunk of she willing him to remember little Isaac who willingly offered his neck to the dint of his fathers Sword c. Then did the cruel Tormentor pull of the skin hair and all from the crown of the Childs head the mother Crying Suffer my Child anon thou shalt pass to him that will adorn thy head with a Crown of Eternal glory Thus the mother counselleth and encourageth the Child is encouraged and receiveth the strips with a smilling countenance The Captain seeing the Child invincible and himself vanquished commanded him to be cast into the stinking Prison whilest the Torments of Romanus were renewed and encreased then was Romanus brought forth again to receive new strips upon his old sorts the flesh being torn and the bare bones appearing yet the cruel Tyrant raging like a mad man quarrelled with the tormentors for dealing so mildly with him commanding them to cut prick and punch him and then he passed sentence upon him together with the Child to be burned to death to whom Romanus said I appeal from this unjust sentence of thine to the righteous Throne of Christ that upright Judge not because I fear thy cruel Torments and merciless handling but that thy Judgments may be known to be cruel and bloody When they came to the place of Execution the Tormentors required the Child of his mother for she had carried it in her Arms from the Prison she kissed it delivered it to them and as the Execution or was striking off his head she said farewel my sweet Child All Laud and praise with heart and Voice O Lord we yeild to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be The Childs head being cut off the mother wrapt it in her garment laid it to her brest and so departed Then was Romanus cast into a mighty Fire which being quenched with a great storm of Rain the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out and afterwards caused him to be strangled in the Prison Gordius a Centurion in Cesarea in the heat of this Persecution left his charge living a sollitary Life in a Wilderness for a long time at last when a solemn Feast was celebrated to Mars in that City and multitudes of People were assembled in the Theatre to see the Games he came and got up into a conspicuous place and with a loud Voice said behold I am found of those that sought me not The Multitude hereupon looked about to see who it was that spoke this and Gordius being known he was immediatly brought before the Sheriff and being asked who and what he was and why he came thither he told him the whole Truth professing that he believed in Christ valued not their threatings and chose this as a fit time to manifest his Profession in Then did the Sheriff call for Scourges Gibbets and all manner of Torments to whom Gordius answered That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers Torments and Punishments for Christ and his Cause The Sheriff more incensed hereby commanded all those Torments to be inflicted on him with which Gordius could not be overcome but sang The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do unto me and I will fear no evil because thou Lord art with me c. Then did he blame the Tormentors for favouring him provoking them to do their uttermost the Sheriff not prevailing that way sought by flattery to seduce him promising him Preferment Riches Treasures Honour c. if he would deny Christ but Gordius deriding his foolish Madness saying That he lookt for greater preferment in Heaven then he could give him here upon Earth Then was he condemned and had out of the City and burnt Multitudes followed him and some kissing him with Tears intreated him to pity himself to whom he answered Weep not I pray you for me but for the Enemies of God which fight against the Christians weep I say for them which prepare a Fire for us purchasing Hell-fire thereby for themselves in the day of Vengeance and cease I pray you thus to molest my quiet and setled mind for truly For the Name of Christ I am ready to suffer a Thousands deaths c. Others perswaded him to deny Christ with his mouth and to keep his Conscience to himself my Tongue saith he which by Gods goodness I have cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of the same for with the Heart we believe unto righteousness and with the Tongue we confest unto Salvation and thus perswading and encouraging the People to be willing to dye in the like cause with an unappalled countenance he willingly gave himself to be burnt Basil in one of his Orations relates a Story of one Julitta from whom one of the Emperours Officers took all her Goods Lands and Servants contrary to all Equity whereupon she complained to the Judges and a day of hearing was appointed where the spoiled Woman lamentably declared her Case but the wicked Villain that had robbed her said that her Action was of no force for she was an Outlaw for not observing the Emperours Gods and that she was a Christian His Allegation was allowed Incense was prepared for her to offer to the Gods which if she refused she should neither have protection nor benefit of the Emperours Laws nor continue her life she hearing this in the mighty Strength of God said Farwel Riches welcome Poverty Farwel Life welcome Death all that I have were it a Thousand times more would I lose rather then speak one wicked word against God my Creator I yeild thee most hearty thanks O my God for this gift of Grace that I can condemn and dispise this frail and transitory World esteeming the Profession of Christ above all Treasures And thence forth when any Question was proposed to her her answer was I am the Servant of Jesus Christ her Kindred and Friends earnestly solliciting her to change her mind but she constantly refused with detestation of their Idolatry Then did the cruel Judge condemn her to be burnt which Sentence she embraced joyfully as a thing most sweet and delectable and so she addressed her self to the Flames in countenance jesture and words declaring the Joy of her Heart coupled with singular
replyed I will not Pray in this Place nor in no such Then said one of the Chaplains let him go my Lord and he shall not pertake with us in our prayers Hawkes I think my self best at ease when I am furtherst from you So to prayer they went and Tho. Hawkes walkt in a Court between the Hall and the Chappel till they had done and then he was called up into the Bishops Bed-Chamber where he examined him concerning the Sacrament saying you could not have your Conscience examined any further then in that you were accused of Hawkes I thought you would not be both my Accuser and Judge And the Bishop speaking further of the Sacrament of the Altar Hawkes said I do not know it Bonner Well we will make you know it and believe in it too before we have done with you Hawkes No you shall never do that Bonner Yes a Fagot will make you do it Hawkes No no a point for your Fagot what God thinketh meet to be done that shall ye do and more shall ye not do Bonner How say you to the Mass Sirrah Hawkes I say it is Destable Abominable and Profitable for nothing Bonner What nothing Profitable in it what say you to the Epistle and Gospel Hawkes It s good if it be used as Christ left it to be used Bonner Well I am glad that you somewhat Recant Hawkes I have not nor will not Recant Bonner How say you to Confiteor Hawkes I say it is Abominable Detestable and Blasphemy against God and his Son Christ to call upon any to turst to any or to pray to any but to Christ Jesus The next day he was brought before Bonner and another old Bishop to whom Bonner said This young man hath a Child and will not have it Christened and was very angry with Tho. Hawkes calling him Fool. Hawkes meekly replyed A Bishop ought to be blameless sober discreet no Chider nor given to Anger Then said the old Bishop that stood by Alas young man you must be taught by the Church and by your Antients and do as your forefathers have done before you Then said Bonner No no he will have nothing but the Scriptures and them he understands not he will have no Ceremonies in the Church what say you to holy Water Hawkes I say to it as to the rest and to all that be of his making that made them Bonner Why the Scriptures allow it and we read that Elisha threw Salt into the Water Hawkes It 's ture Elisha threw Salt into the water and the water became sweet and good which before was Corrupted when our waters are corrupted if by throwing in your Salt you can make them sweet and wholsome we will believe better of your Ceremonies Bonner You believe no Doctrine but that which is wrought by Miracles Hawkes No these tokens said Christ shall follow them that believe in me they shall speak with new Tongues they shall cast out Devils and if they drink any deadly Poyson it shall not hurt them Bonner With what new Tongues do you speak Hawkes Whereas heretofore I was with my Tongue a foul Blasphemer a filthy Talker since I came to the Knowledge of the Truth I have praised God and given thanks to him Is not this a new Tongue Bonner Did you ever drink any deadly Poyson Yes that I have for I have drunk of the Pestilent Traditions and Ceremonies of the Bishop of Rome Bonner Now you shew your self to be a right Heretick you shall be burnt if you continue in this Opinion Hawkes Where prove you that Christ or his Apostles did kill any man for his Faith Bonner Did not Paul Excommunicate Hawkes Yes but there is a great difference between Excommunicating and Burning Bonner Have you not read of the Man and the Woman in the Acts of the Aâ—ostles whom Peter destroyed Hawkes Yes I have read of one Annanias and Saphira his wife who were destroyed for Lying against â—he holy Ghost which serveth nothing to your purpose After some other words the Bishop went to Dinner and Hawkes to the Porters Lodge After Dinner the old Bishop by Bonners advice took Hawkes into his Chamber and sitting him down in his chair said to him I would to God I could do you some good you are a young man and I would not wish you to go too far Hawkes I will bear with nothing that is contrary to the Word of God And he looked that the old Bishop should have made him an answer but he was fallen fast asleep then Hawkes departed our of the Chamber and went to the Porter's Lodge again The next day Fecknam camo and discoursed with him Fecknam How say you Christ took bread and brake it and said take cat this is my body Hawkes Is every word to be understood as Christ spake it Christ said I am a door a Vine I am a King away c. Fecknam Christ spake these words in paraâ—les Hawkes And why spake he these in Pâ—rables more then when he said take eat this is my Body for after the same phrase of speech that he said the one he said the other Then Fecknam stood up and said Alas these places serve nothing for your purpose I perceive you build upon them at Oxford Hawkes I build my Faith upon no man for if those men and as many more should recant and deny that they have said or done yet will I stand to it and by this shall you know that I build my Faith upon no man Bonner If any of those recant what will you say to it Hawkes When they recant I will make you an answer Then Fecknam departed and Hawkes went to the Porters Lodge again The next day Doctor Chadsey and the Bishop entered discourse with him he told Chadsey this man is Stubborn and will not Christen his Child but is against the Ceremonies of the Church Bonner He thinâ—eth there is no Church but in England and Germany Hawkes And you think there is no Church but the Church of Rome Chadsey What say you to the Church of Rome Hawkes I say it is a Church of a Sort of vicious Cardinals Priests Monks and Fryars which I will never credit nor believe after much more discourse Chadsey at his parting said it is pity thou shouldst live or any such as thou art Hawkes answered In this Case I desire not to live but rather to die The next day Chadsey was to preach in the Bishops Chappel where Bonner would have had Thomas Hawkes to have gone in to hear him but he would not go into the Chappel but stood at the Door After Dinner the Bishop askt him How he liked the Sermon To whom he replyed as I like all the rest then said the Bishop it was made on purpose for you Said Howkes I am sorry he should bestow so much labour upon one that so little regarded it The next day the Bishop called him into his Chamber and said you have been with me a great while and you are
Right hand of God the Father and therefore I do not believe him to be in the Sacrament of the Altar but he is in the worthy Receiver and your Sacrament as you use it is an abominable Idol George Brâ—dbridge said as for your holy Bread and holy Water and your Mass I utterly defie them They were all five condemned and burnt at Canterbury the sixth day of the 7th Moneth 1555. Two burnt at Lichfield About the middle of the same Moneth Thomas Hayward and John â—oreway were both burnt at Lichfield The Persecutions and Sufferings of Robert Glover About the Moneth called September 1555. there was a privy Commission sent down to the Mayor of Coventry to apprehend John Glover Brother of the said Robert Rob. Clover Martyr but John having some notice of the Officers coming escaped but they searching in an upper Room found Robert Glover lying sick in Bed and had him away before the Sheriff who being detained till the Bishop came and was then examined a Relation of his Troubles and Conflicts he had with the Bishop He sent his Wife in a Letter some Passages most material of which are as followeth To my intirely beloved Wife Mary Glover The peace of Conscience which passeth all understanding the Sweet Consolation Comfort Strength and Boldness of the holy Ghost be continually increased in our hearts through a servant earnest and stedfast faith in our most dear and only Saviour Jesus Christ Amen I thank you heartily most loving Wife for your Letters sent unto me in my imprisonment I read them with tears more then once or twice for Joy and Gladness that God had wrote in you so merciful a work These your Letters and the hearing of your most godly proceedings and constant doing from time to time have much relieved and comforted me at all times and shall be a goodly Testimony with you at the great Day If I would have given place to worldly reasons these might have moved me first the foregoing of you and my Children the consideration of the state of my Children being yet tender of Age and young apt and inclineable to virtue and learning and so having the more need of my Assistance being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them withal possessions above the common sort of men because I was never called to be a preacher or minister because of my sickness fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to my answer and so my death to be unprofitable But these and such like I thank my heavenly Father who of his infinite mercy inspired me with his holy Ghost for his Sons sake prevailed not in me but when I had by the wonderfull permission of God fallen into their hands at the first sight of the Sheriff Nature a little abashed yet ere ever I came to the Prison by the working of God and through his goodness fear departed I said to the Sheriff at his coming unto me what matter have you to charge me withal He answered you shall know when you come before the Masters I lookt to have been brought before the Masters and to have heard what they could have burthened me withal but contrary to my expectation I was committed forthwith to the Goal not being called to my answer little Justice being shewed therein but the less Justice a man findeth at their hands the more Consolation in Conscience shall he find from God for whosoever is of the World the World will love him After I came into Prison and had reposed my self there a while I wept for Joy and Gladness my belly full musing much of the great mercies of God and as it were saying to my self after this sort Oh Lord who am I on whom thou shouldest bestow this great mercy to be numbered among the Saints that suffer for the Gospel sake And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection unableness sinfull misery and unworthiness and on the other side the greatness of Gods mercy to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladness concluding thus with my self in my heart Oh Lord thou shewest Power in Weakness Wisdom in Foolishness Mercy in Sinfulness who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt as I have zealously loved the confession of thy Word so ever thought I my self to be most unworthy to be a partaker of the affliction for the same Not long after came unto me M. Brasbridge M. Phinees and M. Hopkins travelling with me to be dismissed upon bonds to whom my answer was to my rememberance after this sort for as much as the Masters have imprisoned me having nothing to burthen me withal If I should enter into bouds I should in so doing Accuse my self and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge they may as well let me pass without boÌ„nds as with bonds And when they were somewhat importune I said to one of them that liberty of Conscience was a pretious thing and took as it were a pause lifting up my heart to God earnestly for his aide and help that I might do the thing that might please him and so when they had let their sure fall my heart me thought was wonderfully comforted Afterward debating the matter with my self these considerations came into my head I have from time to time with good Conscience God I take to record moved all such I had Conference withal to be no dalliers in Gods matters but to shew themselves after so great a light and knowledge hearty earnest constant and stable in so manifest a Truth and not to give place one jot contrary to the same now thought I if I shall withdraw my self and make any shifts to pull my own neck our of the Collar I shall give great offence to my weak Brethren in Christ and advantage to the Enemy to slander Gods Word it will be said he hath been a great boldner of others to be earnest and fervent to fear no worldly perrils or dangers but he himself will give no such example Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty both to God and man being as it were by the great goodness of God marvelously called and appointed hereunto to set aside all fear perril and dangers all worldly respects and considerations and like as I had hereto according to the measure of my small gift from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved exhorted and perswaded all that profess Gods Word manfully to persist in the defence of the same not with Sword and Voilence but with suffering and loss of life rather then to defile themselves again with the Whorish abominations of the Romish Anti-christ so the hour being come with my fact and Example to ratific and confirm the same to the hearts of all true Believers and to this end by the assistance of Gods holy Spirit I resolved my sâ—lf with much peace of Conscience willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Anti-christ should
of his Conscience being also hunted by force of the Law was constrained to leave his House and to go to Sea for a livelyhood an imployment he was unaccustomed to Agnes Wardal coming home one day to see her Children which she had left wholely to the care of the Maid-servant to look after one Doctor Argentine a great Persecutor having notice of her coming home stirred up the Constable and Watch to apprehend her who in the night beset the House and knocking at the door the the Maid heard them and awâ—ked her Mistriss who immediately got up and creeping through a ditch full of Nettles she got into a Parlour wherein stood a Cupbord with a fair Press Q. Mary An. 1556. into the which the Maid lockt her and then going into a Chamber next the Street spake to the Watch who threatned to break the door down if she did not open it with that she opened the door and the Watch searched the House very narrowly and came into the Room where Agnes was in the Press and one of them said here is a fair Cupbord and laid his hand on it she may be here for any thing that is done that is true said another yet they looked no further but went into another Room and when they had searcht the House they went into the Fields at the back-side of the House and in the mean time the poor Woman was almost smothered in the Press but at last by a Neighbour with much ado for being a stranger she could not in a long time unlock the Press was let out and being let out she got through the Garden Pales into the Fields and there hid her self in the Ditch whereby she escaped these envious Persecutors who sought in their cruelty to have Ruined her Thomas Moore The Examination and Martyrdom of Tho. More a Husbandman and a Servant in the Town of Leicester for saying that his Maker was in Heaven and 〈◊〉 in the Pix was apprehended the person that examined him poâ—ting to the high Altar asked him whether he did not believe his Maker to be there Thomas Moor said No. Bishop What is that thou seest above the Altar Thomas Moor I cannot tell what you would have me to see I see there fine Cloathes with golden Tassels and other gay gere hanging about the Pix what is within I cannot see Bishop Dost not thou believe Christ to be there Flesh Blood and Bone Thomas Moor No that I do not Whereupon he was immediately condemned to die and was the twenty sixth day of the Moneth called June burnt in the Town of Leicester The Examination of John Jackson before Doctor Cook When first I came before him The Examination of Jo. Jakson he railed and called me Heretick Jackson I said I am no Heretick Cook M. Read told me that thou wast the rankest Heretick of all them in the Kings-Bench Jackson I said I knew him not Cook No quoth he yes he examined thee at the Kings-Bench Jackson He examined five other but not me Cook what sayst thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Jackson It is a diffuse question to ask me at the first Dash you promising to deliver me Cook What a Heretick is this Jackson It is easier to call a man a Heretick then to prove him one Cook What Church art thou of Jackson What Church quoth I I am of the same Church that is builded on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ being the head Corner-stone Cook Thou art an Heretick Jackson How can that be seeing that I am of that Church I am sure you will not say that the Prophets and Apostles were Hereticks Cook No but what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Jackson I find it not written Cook No Keeper away with him But I had some further discourse with him and then he called again to the Keeper to have me to Prison Jackson I am contented with that and so we parted and I answered no further in this matter because I thought he should not have my blood in a Corner but I hope in the living God that when the time shall come before the Congregation I shall shake their building in another manner of fashion for they build but upon Sand and their Walls be daubed with untempered Morter and therefore they cannot stand long Therefore good Brothers and Sisters be of good cheer for I trust in my God I and my other Prison-fellows shall go joyfully before you Praising God most heartily that we are counted worthy to be Witnesses of his Truth John Jackson The next that suffered was one Joan Wast a poor Blind Maid about twenty two years of Age. Joan Wast Martyr This poor Woman had such an esteem of the Scriptures that though she was blind and had little Money she saved so much Money together as would buy her a New-Testament which in those dayes was but scarce and she would give Money to some at their spare time to read to her whereby she became perfect in the Scripture so that she retained several Chapters in her memory and in King Edwards time she was zealous for the Religion then established and when he died she could not but continue constant in her Conscience and refused to back-slide with the Multitude to Popery but retained her Zeal until she was apprehended and being Examined was Condemned and was led from the place where she was condemned to a place called the Windmill-pit near to the Town of Derby and holding her Brother Roger Wast by the hand she desired the People to pray for her and called upon Christ to have mercy upon her and so with patience suffered Martyrdom The Sufferings of William Dangerfield William Dangerfield of Wooton near Bristol for fear of Persecution kept abroad from his House and Family and coming home to visit Wife and Children his House was soon beset and he apprehended and imprisoned where under Bishop Brook's his cruelty he was so handled for some time yea so long till the flesh was fretted off his Legs with Irons and after he was apprehended his Wife likewise was taken with a young Child but fourteen dayes old and was put into the Common Goal amongst Thieves and Murderers where she was kept without any fire but was forced to warm her Childs clothes in her own Bossom in the mean season while the Husband and Wife lay in two Prisons the Bishop began to practice not with the Woman first as the Serpent did with Eve but with the Man craftily deceiving his simplicity with fair words falsly perswading him that his Wife had recanted and when he perceived he was inclinable and consented he suffered him to go to his Wife in the Common Goal where they with melting hearts opened their minds one to another and he told his Wife how the Bishop with his subtil flatteries had circumvented him at the hearing of which the Womans heart clave assunder and she said Alack thus long have we
without order at the first encounter are reckoned up to him all his Articles and then besides binding his hands they tye his Thumbs together with a small Cord then they tye his Hands and Tumbs unto a greater Cord hoisting him up by a Pulley very high which done they put upon his Legs heavy Bolts if he have not them on before to which are yet added for the first pull an Iron weight of twenty five pounds which is hanged to those Bolts between his Feet being thus arrayed the Tormenter draws him up on high the Register and Inquisitor mixing therewith their former Exhortations confess when he comes to touch the Pulley with his Head they urge him yet then to confess if he obey they presently let him down if not then they let him hang in this condition until he have answered their demands now after he hath hung thus without making any Confession they let him down to redouble on his feet the former weight and then pulling him up again threatning him to hang there till he die if he declare not to them what they ask of him commanding thet Tormenter to let him hang a long while that through the heaviness of the weight which hangs at his Feet all his Members and Joynts are stretched out beyond measure when the Patient through the extremity of Torment which he endures cryes out they in like sort cry as loud as they can that he should now confess what he knows if not then they let him fall for when they perceive he continues constant then they commanded the Officer to let go the Cord which is as soon done as spoken yet not wholly and altogether to the mid way but a certain stop which hinders his falling to the ground by reason whereof he receives such a suddain check his Body is pitifully and miserably stretched But yet this sufficeth not for then if through their importunity he will confess nothing they augment the weight the third time and if the poor creature in regard of his intollerable pain call upon the Lord to help him and desire to be let down then they Scoff and Mock at him pressing him to confess telling him that is not all threatning him by the Strappado as before This Hellish Torture beginneth at nine and lasteth till one a clock and when they please to make an end they ask the Tormenter if he have the other Engines ready and at their going all the comfort they give their dissolate Patient is thus this shall suffice say they for this time but look between this and to morrow thou advisest thy self well what thou oughtest to confess other wayes thou art like to die under Torture nor think to escape by what thou hast endured for that is but a Bed of Roses in regard of the Torment which is to come they being gone his clothes is put on and if he be not able to go he is carried again unto Prison a few dayes after they send for him again renewing their threats that if he will not reveal those that are of his Opinion he must prepare himself for the Torture wherein if he any way miscarry or Death follows the fault shall be his and not theirs if he continue unmovable in his mind they cause the Goaler to bring him to the place of Torture and there they sitting in their Tribunal command him to be stripped naked and then tormented after the same manner as is before related besides as an addition thereunto they tye his thighes and hamstrings together with a small Cord forcing the same with pieces of Wood so that the Cords do eat into his very Flesh in which extremity they leave him for three or four hours plying him the whilst with infinite threats and derisions which is all the comfort that they minister unto him in this his most miserable condition Thus in short the Reader hath an Account of the cruel Inquisition of these pretended Christians in Spain Now I shall proceed to give a further Account of some that suffered under these Papists cruelty in divers parts of France and Flanders A Woman of Tours whose Husband the Papists had not long before drowned having an Infant sucking at her Brest about seven weeks old and a Daughter about sixteen Years Old who was very beautiful this Woman accompained with her Children they hailed to the River side where kneeling down she prayed to the Lord the Child sucking at her Brest then she shifted her Child in the Sun and laid it upon the Grass commending it to God in the mean while this Hellish Crew used many words to turn the Young Maid from her Religion the Mother being ready to be plunged into the Water exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth the Daughter beholding their outrage cryed out in these words I will said she live and die with my Mother whom I know to be a virtuous woman as for your threats and promises I regard them not do with me what you please The Mother was not yet dead when these merciless wretches threw in the Daughter also An. 1562. and so they yielded up their Souls together as Witnesses against the Papists cruelty the Infant was taken up by a Souldier who having kept it a day and a night laid it in a Steeple-House-Porch whence being taken and given to a Nurse to keep it would never take the Brest after but within two dayes it died In the same City suffered one Glee an honourable woman and constant to her Profession and when news was brought her that she was condemn'd to be hang'd she received it with joy being conducted with the rest of the Prisoners about the second hour in the afternoon towards the place of Execution they would have put a lighted Torch into her hand and have had her to acknowledge she had offended God and the King Away away with it said she I have neither offended God nor the King I need no such light to help me ask forgiveness of my sins use such things your selves who sit and walk in the Darkness of Ignorance and Errour The one of her Kindred meeting her in the way presented to her veiw her little Children praying her to have compassion on them seeing that by renouncing your Religion you may preserve your life This caused the tears to flow down and this answer she made I must needs say I love my Children dearly but yet neither for love I bear to them or any thing else in this World will I renounce the Truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them and therefore to his Providence and Protection I commend and leave them and so passed on and with cheerfulness finished her Testimony with the loss of her life The Body of Coqueville being stripped naked was dragged by the Murtherers from Valongues being low Normandy up and down his House with derision into a Chamber where they used to meet and there spurning the dead body with their feet they bid him Now