King for Reformation in Religion and he was the great Instrument in overthrowing Abbies Monasteries and Friaries which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the Kings hands Whereupon not only their Houses were rased but their Possessions were divided amongst the Nobility insomuch that all Friars Monks Cannons Nuns and other such Sects were so rooted out of this Land from the Foundation that there seemed to be no room left for such Weeds to grow here any more But as this Thomas Cromwell was raised up for good and being so greatly in favour with the King used all means he could to perswade him to reform the enormities in the Church on the other hand Satan raised up his Instrument which was Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester who used all wilds and subtill means he could to perswade the King against the same casting upon the Professors of Truth the name of Hereticks Sectaries Anabaptists and Sacramentaries and so far prevailed with the King that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were published prohibiting the publishing any Books in English written by the Sectaries and Sacramentaries under the pain of the forfeiture of all their goods and Chattels and their Bodies to be Imprisoned during the Kings pleasure And further this Stephen Gardner instigated the King not only against the Queen who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation but also against this Thomas Lord Cromwell who no doubt had brought the encrease of true Religion according to his understanding to more prefection had not this Gardner and other Malignant Opposers thereof set themselves against it to hinder the prosperity thereof but now through the said Gardners evill advise the King who before had raised the said Thomas Cromwell for his worth and integrity now for his pleasure took him off and suffered him to be Beheaded After his death Religion and the Reformation more and more decayed whereby the Reader may see how variable the State of things stood in reference to Religion at this time and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth how often things changed even as the King was ruled and gave ear sometimes it went a little forward and then backward again according as the persons prevailed that were about the King And now the King being led through Gardners suggestions began to withdraw shewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion concluding so to do was most for his safety both at home and abroad having so much displeased the Pope and other Popish Princes in what he had already done and though he had rejected the Popes Authority he would declare himself nevertheless to be a good Catholick Son of the Mother Church and a withstander of new Heresies and then calling a new Parliament and Convocation of Prelates there was six Articles decreed concerning Religion which was afterwards commonly called a whip with six Srings it was pretended for the Unity of the Church but what Unity followed the groaning hearts of many that suffered death by the same both in this Kings time and in Queen Maries time may declare The Six Articles of the Bishops Condemning all to be burnt as Hereticks that should hold First That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacrament after Consecration Secondly That the Sacrament might not truely be administred under one Kind Thirdly That Priests entred into holy Orders might Marry Fourthly That Vows of Chastity entred into upon mature deliberation were not to be kept Fifthly That private Masses were not to be used Sixthly That Auricular Confession was not to be used in the Church Before these Articles were published Bishop Gardener having obtained his desire with the King he and the rest of the Prelates began again fresh to persecute the Protestants the first they stretched forth their Hands against was John Lambert a Norfolk man and one zealous for the Spreading of the Truth according to the Manifestation of it then broke forth and to that end was conversant with Tindal and Frith at Antweep until by the Instigation of Sr. Thomas Moor he was apprehended and brought to London where he was first brought to Examination at Lambeth and then at the Bishops House at Oxford before Worham Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others where fourty five Articles were objected against him to all which he answered in writing very fully and wisely both according to the Scriptures and Reason the Articles and his Answers may be read at large in Foxe's Acts and Monuments The Bishop of Canterbury shortly after dying whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out of Prison and coming to London it was not long before he fell into trouble again for having a private Conference with one Doctor Tayler what past between them in their dispute in private grew at last a publick and common talk which coming to the Arch-bishops Ear he sent for Lambort and forced him to defend his Cause openly in that Disputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bishops Upon this appeal Bishop Gardener goes to the King and privately possesses him that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the people who were offended with him for abolishing the Bishop of Rome's Authority and subverting of Monasteries and Abbies c. he might now remedy these troubles if he would manifestly appear in this matter against Lambort and shew himself stoutly to resist the Hereticks the King immediately received this wicked Counsel of the Bishop and forth with sent out a general Commission commanding all the Bishops and Nobles of the Land to come with all speed to London to assist the King against Hereticks these preparations being made a day was set upon which Lambort should appear before the King and the rest assembled with him to be Tryed and Judged The day being come the King ascended his Throne clothed all in white he lookt upon the Prisoner with a sterne Countenance as if his mind was full of Indignation and then called forth the Bishop of Chichester and commanded him to declare to the People the Causes of that Assembly the Substance of the Bishops Speech tended to this That the King would have none to conceive that whereas the Authority and Name of the Bishop of Rome being utterly abolished he would also extinguish all Religion or give Liberty to Hereticks to trouble the Churches of England without punishment the Bishop having ended his Speech the chief thing that the King prest Lambort to declare was what Opinion he held touching the Sacrament of the Altar to which he answered fully and the Dispute held chiefly concerning that point for some hours until the King and Bishops enraged against him forced him to silence at last The King being minded to end the Dispute said to Lambort What sayest thou after all these Labours and Reasons of these learned Men Art thou yet satisfied Wilt thou live or die thou hast yet free choice Lambort answered I yield and submit my self wholly unto the will of your Majesty
Shortly after were four others burnt at Canterbury viz. John Bland John Frankish Nicholas Shetterden and Humfrey Middleton all condemned for their denying the real Presence in the Sacrament Shetterden being at first illegally committed when he was brought before the Chief Priâ—sts and examined upon certain Articles he required 〈◊〉 see their Commission which they shewed and read to him whereby he perceived that upon suspition they might examine upon two Aâ—â—ieles viz. â—hather Christs real Presence were in the Sacrament so called and whether the Church of England were Christs Catholick Church Whereupon Shâ—â—terden said I have been a Prisoner three quarters of â—â—â—ar and as I think wrongfully reasâ—n would therefore that I should answer to those things wherefore I was first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ed. The Susâ—â—agan said his Commission was You mâ—st ansâ—er directly yea or â—â—y Shâ—tterden This Commission was not general to examine whom you woodd bâ—t upon just sâ—spâ—â—ion Susâ—ragan said You are suspected and presented to me Shetterden I require the Accusation may be shewed Suffr I am not bound to shew it Shetterden For what I have done I ask no favour but as I am a Subject I require Justice Suffr You are suspected Shetterden Prove vour suspition or shew the cause of it Suffr Thou wast cast into Prison for that cause Shetterden Because I was cast into Prison contrary to the Law of God must I now to make me amends be examined upon suspition with uâ—a cause to hide all the wrong done to me before Then said the Bishop I my self do suspect thee Whereby said Shetterden Suffr It isâ—nâ— matter whereby you are suspected Shetterden It is not meet for you to be my Accuser and my Judge If I have offended the Law let me be punished I ask no favour Then said they You are obstinate and will not answer Shetterden Because you greedily seek Blood I will answer only to what you have against me Suffr No we seek not thy Blood but thy Conversion Shetterden That we shall sâ—e if you first prove that you have against me before you condemn me upon suspition Shâ—râ—ly after he was had before the Bishop of Winchester Bishop I have sent for you because I hear you are indictedof Heresâ—â—â— and being called before the Commissioners you will not answer nor submit your self Shetterden I did not refuse to answer but did plainly answer that I had been in Prison a long time and I thought it was but reason that I should bâ— charged or discharged for that and not to be examiced upon Articles to hide my wrong imprisonment neither did I know any Indictment against me if there were any it could not be just for I was not abroad since this Law was made Bishop Yet if you be suspected you ought to clear your self Shetterden I thought it sufficient to answer to my Offences c. Bishop If thou wilt declare thy self thou shalt go and then thou wayst have a Writ of wrong Imprisonment Shetterden I am not minded to sue but require Justice to be done me and if I have offended the Law let me be punished and after some other discourse the Bishop departed Middleton being examined who was one of the four burnt at this time concerning his belief in the Sacrament he said he believed in his own God my living God and no dead God After their Examinations they were condemned by the Bishop of Dover the five and twentith day of the Month called June 1555. and were delivered to the secular power and all burnt in one Fire at Canâ—erbury Nicholas Shetterden before his death prayed to this Effect O Lord my God and Saviour which art Lord in Heaven and Earth Maker of all things visible and invisible I am thy Creature and Work of thy Hands Lord God look upon me and other thy People which at this time are oppressed of the Worldly minded for thy Lawes sake Yea Lord thy Law it self is now trodden under foot and mens Inventions exalted above it and for that cause do I and many thy Creatures refuse the Glory Praise and Commodity of this Life and do choose to suffer adversity and to be banished yea to be burnt with the Books of thy Word for the hopes sake that is laid up in store for Lord thou knowest if we would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word we might by their permission enjoy these Comodities that others do as Wife Children Goods and Friends all which I acknowledge to be thy Gifts given to the end I should serve thee and now Lord that the World will â—ot suffer me to enjoy them except I offend thy Laws behold I give unto thee my whole Spâ—rit Soul and Body I leave all the pleasures of this life in hopes of Eternal life purchased by Christs Blood for all them that are content to suffer with him for the Truth In the conclusion of his Prayer he cryed Lord Jesus receive my Spirit into thy Hands Amen In the same Month next after the suffering of the aforesaid Kentish men Nicholas Hall and Christopher Waid Martyrs followed the death and Martyrdom of Nicholaâ— Hall Bricklayer and Christopher Waid of Dartford both condemned by the Biship of Rochester about the last day of the Mouth called June upon Articles much to the same effect as the Kentish mens were As that they should hold and maintain that in the Sacrament of the Altar under the forms of Bread and Wine is not the very Body and Blood of Christ and that the Mass was nought and Abominable Three others burnt in Kent In the Month called July three others were condemned by the same Bishop whose names were Joan Beech widdow John Harpolt of Rochester and Margery Polly Derick Carver John Launder Martyrs The twenty second day of the same Month Derick Carver was burnt at Lewis in the County of Sussex and the next day John Launder was burnt at Stenning in the same County they were first apprehended by one Edward Gage as they were at prayer within the dwelling house of the said Derick Carver and by him sent up to the Council who after examination sent them to Newgate and shortly after were examined privately by Bonner who used many fair words to perswade them to recant of their Religion who when he saw that way would not do he caused them to be brought to the publick Consistory at Pauls where the Bishop first beginning with Derick Carver causing his Articles and Answers to be openly read asking him whether he would stand to the same to whom Derick replyed he would for said he your Doctrine is Poyson and Sorcery and if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before your Ceremonies are beggerly and your Auriculer Confession is very Poyson The Bishop seeing his constancy and that neither his accustomed flatteries nor yet his cruel threatnings could once move him to encline to their Idolatry he pronounced his usual Sentence against him and also
fare your Lordship well from London this second of July Your Lordships loving Friends Nicholas Hare Richard Rede William Roper William Cooke An Account of the most remarkable Passages at their Examination and Executions are as followeth Elizabeth Warne Martyr Elizabeth Warne of London Widdow her Husband being not long before her death burnt for the same cause she was first apprehended at a Meeting in Bow-Lane where she with others were at prayer and was first carried to the Counter and from thence to Newgate being brought before Bonner the common Articles usally administred to the Martyrs and such as had before suffered were objected against her In the end being brought divers times before him and urged to recant she said do what you will for if I am in an Error Christ was in an Error upon which answer he condemned her as an Heretick and she was burnt at Stratford-Bow neer London about the latter end of the Month called May 1555. George Tankerfield of London Cook born in the City of York Aged about twenty seven years G. Tankerfield Martyr at his first conversion being something touched in his understanding he desired the Lord would open his Truth to him according to his Request there was wrought in him daily a further detestation of the Mass and such Idolatrous stuff so that he did abhor the same and his mind came more and more to be enlightened that at length such a Flame was kindled in him that he began not only to reprove and declare against his own former ignorant actions but exhorted others to repent and to return to the Truth but no sooner did this good thing stir in him but the bad stirred in his Adversaries against him who sent one to his House to apprehend him when the Messenger came for him he was from home but the Messenger declaring to his Wife a Lye saying that he was come for her Husband to dress a Banquet for the Lord Paget the Woman mistrusting no evil in the matter sought out her Husband and acquainted him of the business the poor man when he heard the Message said A Banquet Woman indeed it s such a Banquet as will not be very pleasent to the Flesh but Gods will be done and went home with her where he was soon apprehended and had to Newgate shortly after he was brought to Examination before Bonner where the common Articles concerning the Sacrament and Auricular Confession c. were objected against him and for refusing to recant Sentence was past against him and he was delivered to the Sheriff of Hartford-Shire and burnt at Albions upon the 26th of the Moneth called August 1555. The Sufferings and Examination of Robert Smith who Suffered for the Truth in the Month called August 1555. Robert Smith was brought to Newgate the fifâ—h of the Month called November by John Mathew yeoman of the Gâ—ard by order of the Council this Smith first served in the house of Sir Thomas Smith Knight being then Provest of Eaton from thence he was preferred to Windsor having there in the Colledge a Clerk nâ—p of ten pounds a year of stature he was tall and slender aâ—â—â—e â—â—bout many things In Religion he was fervent after he had â—â—ce â—â—â—â—d the Truth at the coming of Queen Mary to the Crown he was â—eprived of his Clerkship by her Visitors and not long after wâ—s appreheaded and brought to Examination before Bonner as here followeth written and testified with his own hand The principal heads of the first Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner written by himself About nine of the Clock in the Morning I was among the rest of my Brethren brought to the Bishops house and I first of all was brought before him into his Chamber to whom the Bishop said as followeth after he had asked my Name Bonner How long is it ago since the time that you were confessed to any Priest Smith Never since I had years of discretion for I never saw it needful neither commanded of God to come to shew my faults to any of that sinful number whom ye call Priests Bonner Thou shewest thy self even at the first chop to be a rank Heretick which being weary of painting art entred into Divinity and so fallen through thy departing from thy vocations into Heresie Smith Although I have understanding in the said Occupation yet I praise God I have had little need all my life hitherto to live by the same but have lived without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation as ye have lived in yours and yet used the same better then ever you used the Pulpit Bonner How long is it ago since you received the Sacrament of the Altar and what is your opinion in the same Smith I never received the same since I had years of discretion nor never will by Gods Grace neither do esteem the same in any point because it hath not Gods Ordinance neither in Name nor in other usage but rather is set up and erected to mock God withal Bonner Do you not believe that it is the very Body of Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary naturally substantially and really after the words of Consecration Smâ—th I shewed you before it was none of Gods Ordinances as you use it then much less to be God or any part of his Substance but only bread and wine erected to the use aforesaid yet nevertheless if ye can prove it to be the Body that ye speak of by the Word I â—ill believe it if not I will as I do account it a detestable Idol not God but contrary to God and his Truth Then after many raging words and vain Objections he said There was no remedy but I must be burned Smith Ye shall do no more unto me then ye have done to better men then either of us both but think not thereby to quench the Spirit of God neither thereby to make your matter good for your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with Blood for even the very Children have all your deeds in derision so that although ye parch up one place with Authority yet shall it break forth in forty to your shame Then after much ado and many railing sentences the Bishop said throwing away the Paper of mine Examination Well even now by my Troth even in good earnest if thou wilt go and be shriven I will tear this Paper in pieces Smith To which I answered it would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion After which Answer I was carried down to the Garden with my Goaler and there remained until my Brother Harwood was examined and then being again brought up before the said Bonner he demanded if I agreed with Harwood in his Confession upon this Articles following Bonner What say you to the Catholick Church do ye not confess there is one in Earth Smith Yesverily I believe that there is one Catholick Church or faithful Congregation which as the
Torments if they did it not they set nought by his threats and made themselves ready to suffer The Governor when he had assay'd them with all kind of Torments last of all set them on the Gridiron and caused fire to be made under and broiled them to death who nobly said If thou long O Amachius after broiled meat Their Zeal at their death turn up the other side of us least in the eating we seem raw unto thee and the blood run about thy Teeth Iulian dyes Jovianus succeeds Julian being dead Jovianus succeeds who being proclaimed Emperor refused the Crown and being compelled thereto by loud Speeches expressed himself in that he was a Christian he would not be Emperor where Ethnicks should be his Subjects but when they cryed with one Voice and confessed themselves Christians he yeilded and was crowned Emperor and now peace came again to the Church but it was no sooner come The Christians have peace again but the Sedition began again among the Christians and now the Emperor sticking fast to the Faith of one Substance the Bishops who had been exiled for the same Faith he also restored the Pagans Temple he shut up Jovianus puts a stop to Idollatry and ceased their worshipping Devils which Julian gave way to and which they had their fill in in his raign Now went on the old work of tearing and rending one another among the Christians Chap. 21. The Christians fall into Contention again the Macedonians make a supplication unto the Emperor that such as avouch the unlikeness and dissimilitude between the Son and the Father should be banished the Church and themselves substituted in their Rooms the Emperor gave them no answer at all but with these words sent them away I tell you truly The Emperor is troubled at it I cannot away with Contention but such as embrace Unity and Concord I do both honour and reverence them which cooled the firy Contention of others The Acacians also signed a Supplication to the Emperor acknowlidging the Faith of one Substance the Emperor told them he would not molest any what Faith and Religion soever they professed but above all others that he would honour and reverence such as shewed themselves Peace-makers and went about to maintain the bond of unity and concord And Athanasius being dead Anno. 375. after he had been Bishop forty and six years Peter was left behind to succeed him the Emperor Jovianus being also dead Cha. 16. and the Arians coming in favour Lucius the Arian was settled in Alexandria whereupon great Persecution followed in Egypt He dies and Lucius succeeds Persecution began again wherein some were Imprisoned some Tormented others Exiled Peter the Bishop of Alexandria was Imprisoned and not long after an Edict was proclaimed by vertue of which the Religious Houses in the Desart were spoiled thrown down and cruelly beaten to the Ground for the armed Souldiers setting upon those accounted silly and unarmed Souls who would not streach out the hand in their own defence were miserably slain the manner of which Slaughter was so lamentable saith the Record that it cannot sufficiently be Manifest to the World and throughout Alexandria and Egypt there was great Persecutions to them that maintained the Faith of one Substance they were brought before the Bar they were put in Prison they were diversly Tormented and vexed with sundry Punishments set at nought Cap. 19. Scourged spoiled of their Rayment fettered in Prison crushed with Stones beheaded with bloody Swords shut up in the Desart covered with Sheep and Goat Skins destitute of aid and succour greivously afflicted whom the World was not worthy to enjoy nor the Earth to bear so holy a burthen saith the Historian Rufinus who is said to be an eye witness and pertaker with them in the same Calamity many wandered saith he in many and dangerous wayes The Extremities they were put to they hid themselves in Mountains and Caves and Dens and hollow Rocks all which when Lucius had accomplished he perswaded the Captain to banish the Fathers and Ring-leaders of them In those dayes these sufferings brought the Christians into a lowly frame and State leading a self denying life in Desarts and other retired places Cap. 29. the Historian mentions one of them They were humbled by it by which may be seen what Principles was amongst the rest There was saith he one Moses who led in the Desert a Solitary or retired kind of life and is said for his Zeal to Religion and constant Faith to be famous among them this Moses was taken from the Wilderness and sent to Alexandria with intent to be made Bishop and being come to be made Bishop he refused to receive orders from Lucius and after this sort reasons with him I think my self unworthy of the Priestly order yet if it be for the profit of the Common wealth that I be called unto the Function truely thou Lucius shalt never lay hand upon my head for thy right hand is imbrewed in slaughter and bloodshed when Lucius said again that it became not him so contumeliously to revile him but rather to learn of him the precepts of Christian Religion Moses answered I am not come to reason of matters of Religion but sure I am of this that thy horrible practice against the Brethren prove thee to be utterly void of the true Principles of Christian Religion for the true Christians striketh no man revileth no man fighteth with no man for the Servant of God should be no Fighter but thy deeds in Exiling of some throwing others to wild Beasts burning of some others do cry out against thee yet are we surer of the things we see with our eyes then of those we hear with our ears So Moses was brought to a Mountain and made Priest by such 〈◊〉 were exiled for now the Wars ceased and the Persecuted found some comfort But now the Affairs of the Church being quiet from Persecution Anno. 383. Socrat lib. 4. Cap. 29. they began to jangle about their Creeds and to difference they go again and falling together by the ears when a little outward peace from the Emperor sprang in among them which was occasioned by forcing their Faith one upon another this was the division among themselves when there was no division made of them by the Roman Governments and this was the trade among the Christians striving and contending for each others Bishopricks worse then some of the Emperors Lib 5. Cap. 19. who were willing many times to leave things free as to matters of Religion the manner of the Bishops at the general Councils and Synods being to cleave hairs as they use to say at Arguments and they that were most curious and subtil therein were accounted the best Masters of Faith and so carryed the matter not according to the Revelation of Truth but the subtilty of man through which came all this ado and trouble in the World and that
of Penance were nongth and that he would have none of them and likewise that the Colledge of Carpinals were Limbs of Antichrist and the Priests the Synogogue of Satan and that the Doctors of the Church had Subverted the truth of Holy Scripture expounding it after their own minds and that he should say he would abide by these Doctrines and dye for it and wisht there were twenty thousand of his Opinion to witness against them Scribes and Pharisees For his constant persevereing in these Principles Doctors Head Vicar-general past sentence against him as an Heritick and so delivered him to the Sheriffs of London to be openly burnt in Smithfield Thomas man martyr The next that suffered was Tho. Man who for saying the Popish Church was not the Church of God but a Synagogue and for holding several other Articles contrary to the Popish Church he was a long time imprisoned but through frailty and fear having an oppertunity he fled the Diocess of Lincoln but not long after was again apprehended and brought before the Bishop of London and was shorty after delivered by Dr. Head to the Sheriff of London to be presently burnt with this protestation that he might not consent to the death of any This Popish Chancellor would not seem to consent to his death Note but yet sent him to the Shambles to be Killed for these were the words he sent to the Sheriff Receive this Person and we desire in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ that the punishment and execution of due severity of him and against him in this part may be so moderate that there be no rigorous Rigor nor yet no dissolute mansuetude but to the health and wealth of his Soul c. Thomas Man was burnt by the Sheriff without any warrant for Head delivered him to the Sheriff in Paternoster-Row protesting he had no power to put him to death and therefore desired the Sheriff to see him punisht et tamen citra mortem that is without death but the Sheriff had him to Smithfield and there caused him to be burnt This Tho. Man after he had escaped out of the Diocess of Lincoln traveled about in divers places and Counties in England and instructed many into the Truth as at Amersham London Biâ—â—erycay Chelmsford Stratford Uxbridge Henly Newberry Suffolk and Norfolk and divers other places and he teftified himself that as he went westward he found a great Company of well disposed persons of the same Judgment with him especially at Newberry where he said were a glorious and sweet Society of faithful favourers three or four of which were burnt for Religion And he travailed divers other places where he found many faithful Brethren who at that time were called by the name of Known Men or Just Fast Men. This Thomas Man confessed as it is Registred in the Bishops Book that he had turned seven hundred People to his Religion for which he thanked God which People were afterwards called by the name of Protestants William Sweeting and James Brewster had the like Catholick Charity shewed to them by the Bishop who being imprisoned for their Zeal to the Truth and Religion being surprised with fear said they submitted themselves to the mercy of Almighty God and to the favourable goodness of the Judge upon which submission the Popish Fathers were contented to give out a Sollemn Commission to reâ—â—ase and pardon them from the Sentence of Excommunication but immediatly the Bishop pronounced upon them the Sentance of death and condemnation whereupon they were both delivered to the Secular power and both burnt together as one Fire in Smithfield I find further upon Record that as the Light of the Gospel began more and more to appear and the number of the Professers thereof to grow so Persecution increased and the Bishops bestired themselves to keep the Truth from increasing and growing whereupon ensued great Persecutions and grievous Affliction upon divers in several Counties especially about Buckinghamshire Norfolk Suffolk and Essex but although they were thus afflicted outwardly yet their inward fervency and zeal for the Truth was very great as appeared by their sitting up all Night in Reading and Hearing and by their Expences in giving great prizes for a few Chapters of James and Paul in English And further their great Travails earness Seeking their burning Zeal their Reading their Watchings their sweet Assemblies their Love and Concord their Godly Living their faithful Marrying only with the faithful all which it is written that they were faithfully practising and observing being noted or known among themselves by the name of Known Men or Just fast Men the Bishop of Lincoln in his Inquisitions and Examinations of those Known Men was so strict and cruel that he caused the Wife to detect the Husband and the Husband the Wife the Father the Daughter and the Daughter the Father Brother against Brother and Neighbour against Neighbour to witness one against another and that to death causing them to Swear upon the Evangelists whether they knew the persons to be Known Men. Agnis Ashford being one of the said People for preaching these words following was Articled against viz. We be the Salt of the Earth if it be putrified and vanisht away it is nothing worth a City set upon a Hill may not be hid ye light not a Candle and put it under a Bushel but set it on a Candle stick that it may give a Light to all in the House so shine your Light before men that they may see your works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven And further she did teach saying Jesus feeing his People as he went up a Hill was set and his Disciples came to him he opened his Mouth and taught them saying Blessed be the poor men in Spirit for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs blessed be mild men for they shall weld the Earth For teaching this Doctrine the Bishop strictly enjoyned and commanded her to teach no more such Lessons to any man especially to her Children There were three persons accused for sitting up all night reading in a Book of Scriptures in the House of one Durdant in Iven Court near Stanes either were accused for having of certain English Books as Wickliffs Wicket in which was contained how that man could not make the Body of Christ which made us another Crime was for having fome part of the New-Testament and a Book called The Prick of Conscience for these and such like Allegations did these men greatly suffer but the Lords Hand did work marvelously amongst them so that in a short space they did exceedingly increase in such sort that the Bishop was driven to make his Complaint to the King to require his aid to suppress them the King being then young and easily incensed with the Bishops Suggestions and cruel Complaints sent Letters to the Sheriffs to aid the Bishop against these Known Men whom he termed Hereticks upon the Kings Letter he renewed his former sierceness and began
Then said the King commit thy self unto the hands of God and not unto mine Lambort I commend my Soul unto the hands of God but my Body I wholly yield and Submit unto your clemency Then said the King if you do commit your self unto my Judgment you must die for I will not be a patron to Hereticks and so caused the Sentence of Death to be read against him Shortly aâ—â—er he was had to Smithfield and there burnt in the midst of the Flames he cryed unto the people in these words None but Christ none buâ— Christ and so ended his life The aforesaid six Articles being consented unto and concluded by the King and Parliament the Bishops caused further to be enacted that whosoever denyed Transubstantiation or whosoever should be Alders Comforters Counsellors Consentors and A bettors therein should be adjudged Hereticks That every such Offender should have and suffer Judgment Execution and pain of death by way of burning without any Abjuration benefit of the Clergy or Sanctuary and should forfeit to the King all their Land and Tenements Goods and Chattels as in Cases of high Treason And for all such as did preach teach uphold maintain or defend any thing contrary to the five last Articles should be adjudged as Fellons and lose both life and goods as in the Case of Fellony When these Articles were in debate in the Parliament house Doctor Cranmer in favour to the Professors of the Truth earnestly disputed in defence of the Truth against them but notwithstanding all his opposition the Act was past By reason of these fix Articles a great Number were apprehended in London and other Places so that all the prisons in London were too little to hold them and many were imprisoned in Halls Amongst whem was one John Porter of London John Porter died in Prison who for reading to people in a Bible was sent for by Bonner and sharply reproved Porter answered he trusted he had no way offended contrary to the Law thereby Bonner charged him for making expositions upon the Text and for gathering Multitudes about him this Porter denyed yet did Bonner send him to Newgate where he was miserably Loaden with Irons both hands and legs with a great Collor of Iron about his neck whereby he was fastned to the Wall in the Dungeon after a while he sent for a Kinsman of his who by bribing the Keeper obtained that he was put amongst Thieves and Murtherers but Porter hearing and seeing their Wickedness exhorted them to amendment of life giving them good instructions for this he was complained of and carried down into the lowest Dungeon where he was so cruelly oppressed with Bolts and Irons that within few daies after he was found dead In the year 1544. One Robert Testwood living at Windsor being a favourer of the Lutherans Robert Testwood Martyr and seeing People licking and kissing a white Alablaster Image that stood behind the high Altar at which his Zeal was so stirred that with a Key that he had in his hand he struck off the Images nose saying see good People what it is it cannot help it self how then would you have it help you The noise hereof being spred abroad one Simonds a Lawyer took up the Nose and said one day it should be a dear Nose to Testwood And further upon a day whereon every one was to carry a Relick in procession Testwood amongst others had Beckets Rochet proferred him but he pusht it from him saying if they gave it him he would wipe his Tayle with it These doings so offended the Clergy that they said he was a Heretick and would roast a Fagot one day for this geer but notwithstanding their Threats he lived in quiet till the death of the Lord Cromwell and till Winchester had insinuated into the affections of the King and wholly ruled at which time Testwood being sick in bed was fetched out and cast into Prison together with one Anthony Person John Marbeck and Henry Filmer and after a while they were all brought forth to Judgment be fore Doctor Capon â—iâ—â—op of Salsbury and others Testwoods Indictment was for that when the Priest lifted up the Sacrament he said what wilt thou lift it up so high what yet higher take heed that thou let him not fall As also that at such times when the Sacrament was lifted up he used to look down on his Book or another way that he might not see the Sacrament whereupon he said Whereon did he look that marked me so well Marry quoth the Kings Attorney he could not be better Occupied then to mark such Hereticks The Prisoners being Condemned they spent the greatest part of the night before their Execution in prayer that the Lord would strengthen them and enable them with stedfast Faith and power to go through their Exercise About this time there rose a great Persecution in Callice in France which was then under Englands power Persecution in Callice there was at one time twelve persons Imprisoned for their Religion but the Lord Cromwell so called hearing of it wrote immediately to the Commissioners in Callice in the Kings Name requiring that the Hereticks with their Accusers should be sent over into England forthwith the Commissioners loading them with Chains sent them over as soon as Cromwell heard they were arrived he sent for them to his House and smiling upon them said Go your ways to the Fleet and Submit your selves Prisoners there and be of good cheer for if God give me life you shall shortly go home with as much honesty as ye came with shame But it pleased God that shortly after this Cromwell was beheaded so that the poor men then had no hope but in the Providence of their Heavenly Father who comforted them in their deep Troubles that as their Afflictions abounded their joyes and consolations abounded much more for when all hope was past the Lord Audley Chancellor of England sent for them and without any further examination discharged them of their Imprisonment In the year 1541. The King sent out a Commission for apprehending of such as offended against the six Articles and when the Commissioners satâ— at Mercers-Chapple being such as were chosen on purpose they enquired not only for such as offended against the six Articles but of such as came seldom to Church as it s called and received not the holy Bread and Water so that they indicted above five hundred persons most of which had either died in Prison or been burnt in Smithfield but that the King being informed by the Lord Audley that they were indicted of malice granted them his Pardon Richard Meekins Martyr beinâ— a Boy of fifteen years old About the same time one Richard Meekins a boy of fifteen years old was accused for spaking some words against the Sacrament of the Altar and when the first Jury would not find the indictment against him they were soundly ratled by the Bishop of London and another Jury impannelled that found it
that they had a Child that could lose his Life for Christ's sake Many people resorted to the Inn to see him whom he exhorted to leave the Abomination of Popisn Superstition and Idolatry At his Execution he desired the people to pray for him Justice Brown that first apprehended him standing by said I will pray no more for thee then I would for a Dog William answered Now you have what you sought for I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the last day I forgive you Brown said I ask no forgiveness of thee William If God forgive you not I shall require my Blood at your Hands The Fire being kindled William said I am not afraid and lifting up his Hands said Lord receive my Spirit and so sealed his Testimony with his Blood to the praise of God Justice Brown commanded an Officer to take Robert Hunter William's Brother and put him in the Stocks until he came back from the burning of Higbed at Hornden on the Hill on the same day after he was taken out of the Stocks and brought before the Justice he askt him If he would do as his Brother had done Robert Hunter answered If I do as my Brother hath done I shall have as he hath had Thou mayest be sure of that said the Justice But after some further Examination he bid him go home Higbed and Canston Martyr The next that suffured were Higbed and Canston both of Essex two men so fervent for Religion that in these blind and Idolatries times could not lie long hid in obscurity but were constrained to bear their Testimony though it were by Death Bonnet perceiving these men were men of repute in their Country and such as were called Gentlemen was so much the more concerned to bring them off their Profession that he went down to Colchester himself to seek to reclaim them sometimes using fair Promises and flattering Enticements other times threatning them with high words to terrifie them in fine seeing them both constant and unmoveable in their Zeal for their Religion he caused them and some others at the same time and for the same cause apprehended in that Country to be brought up to London Prisoners where they were committed close Prisoners where they were first privately examined and urged by all means to forsake their Opinions by the Bishop and his Chaplain But when the Bishop saw that way would work no alteration he caused them to be brought to open Examination at the Consistory at Pauls the seventeenth day of the Mouth called February 1555. where being further pressed to Recant of the Errors they said they held and to return to the unity of the Church which they still refused whereupon a great List of Articles were delivered them and their Answers thereunto the next day required of them At the second time of their publick appearance and tryal their Answers were read and Canston being first called was exhorted again to be conformable to the unity of the Church into which they said they were ready to receive him He replyed you lay Snares and Gins to catch us but mark what measure you meet shall be measured to you again Then Higbed was called to whom the like perswasions were used but to as little purpose as the other for he told them he had been sixteen years in that mind he was then in and should not alter now At their last appearance before them the Prisoners declared calling God to record that their persisting in that stedfastness was not in wilfulness as some might judge but for Conscience sake for said they we sought the Lord that we might do nothing contrary to his blessed Word and in that he hath shewed his Power in our weakness we cannot but praise him unto whom we give thanks through Christ Jesus our Lord. When they had thus spoken the Bishop began to pronounce the Sentence against Canston to whom Canston said it was a rash Judgment without Love and Mercy Then was sentence also pronounced against Higbed and both delivered to the Sheriffs who sent them to Newgate where they remained fourteen dayes contiunally praising God not so much concerned at their Afflictions as rejoyced in their Consolations praying and earnestly desiring they might persevere to the end to the praise of the Eternal God and Comfort of the Brethren The fourteen dayes being expired they were by four a Clock in the Morning led from Newgate to Algate and there delivered to the Sheriff of Essex who conveyed them to the places where they were Executed viz. Higbed to Hornden on the hill and Thomas Canston to Rayly where they both with great constancy finished their Testimonies in the Fire greatly rejoycing and giving the glory to God The next that suffered were William Pyget Stephen Knight and John Lawrence Pyget Knight Lawrenâ— Martyr at their Examinations it was demanded of them to declare their Opinion concerning the Sacrament of the Altar to which they answered to this effect That in the Sacrament of the Altar under the forms of Bread and Wine there is not the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ This Answer being given the Bishop caused Articles to be read against them to which they answered The second time they were brought before him he prest them to recant which they refusing saying They should stick to their Faith Wherefore the third time being brought before him he past Sentence upon them and committed them to the Custody of the Sheriffs of London who sent them to Newgate where they remained in much Joy and comfort and at last were had down to Essex and there burnt When Stephen Knight came to the Stake which was at Maulden he kneeled down and prayed some Sentances of which Prayer are as followeth O Lord Jesus Christ for whose Love I leave willingly this Life and desire rather the bitter Death of the Cross with the loss of all Earthly things then to abide the Blasphemy of thy most holy Name or to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandment Thou seest O Lord that where I might live in Wordly Wealth to Worship a false God and honour thine Enemy I choose rather the Torment of the Body and the loss of this Life and have counted all things but Vile Dust and Dung that I might Win thee which Death is Dearer unto me then thousand of Gold and Silver such Love O Lord hast thou laid up in my Breast that I Hunger for thee as the Deer that is Wounded desireth the Soil send thy holy Comforter O Lord to Aid Comfort and Strengthen this Weak piece of Earth which is empty of all strength of it self Thou rememberst O Lord that I am â—ut 〈◊〉 therefore as thou of thy Love hast bidden me to this Banquet and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own Cup amongst thine Elect even so give me strength O Lord that so through me strength of thy holy Spirit I may pass through the rage of this fire into thy Bossom according to
can no man lay then that which is already laid which is Jesus Christ if any man build on this Foundation Gold Silver Pretious-Sones Timber Nay Stubble every mans work shall appear for the day shall declare it and it shall be shewed in Fire and the Fire shall try every mans work what it is if any mans work which he hath builded upon abide he shall receive a Reward if any mans work burn he shall suffer Loss but he shall be saved himself yet as it were through Fire By Fire here the Apostle understands Persecution and Trouble for they which do truely preach and profess the Word of God which is called the Word of the Cross shall be railed upon and abhorred hated thrust out of the Company persecuted and tryed in the Furnace of Adversity as Gold and Silver are tryed in the Fire By Gold Silver and pretious Stones he understandeth them that in the midst of Persecution abode stedfast in the Word By Timber Hay and Stubble are meant such as in the time of Persecution do fall away from the Truth and when Christ doth purge his Floor with the Wind of Adversity these scatter away like Chaff which shall be burnt with unquenchable Fire Wherefore my beloved give diligent heed that ye as living Stones be built upon this sure Rock and be made a spiritual House and holy Preistood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ for we are the true Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in us if so be that we continue in the Doctrine of the Gospel we are also a holy and Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices and Oblations And thus I commend you Brethren unto God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you further and to give you an Inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified beseeching you to help me and all them that be in bonds for the Gospel sake with your Prayers to God for us that we may be delivered from all them that believe not and from unreasonable and froward Men and that this our Imprisonment and Affliction may be to the glory and profit of our Christian Brethren in the World and that Christ may be magnified in our Bodies whether it be by death or by life Amen Salute me to all the faithful Brethren let them hear my Letters the Grace of our Lord be with you all Amen George Marsh In another Letter dated from Lancaster the thirtieth of August 1555. directed to his Friends at Manchester he writeth thus Confider what I say the Lord give us understanding in all things Brethren the time is short it remaineth that ye use this World as though you used it not for the fashions of this World vanisheth away see that ye Love not the World neither the things that are in the World but set your affections upon heavenly things be meek and long suffering serve and edifie one another with the gift that God hath given you beware of strange Doctrine lay aside the old conversation of greedy Lusts and walk in a New Life beware of uncleanness covetousness and foollish talking rejoyce and be thankful towards God and submit your selves one to another cease from sin be sober and apt to pray be patient in trouble love each other and let the Glory of God and profit of your Neighbour be the only mark you shoot at in all your doings repent ye of the life that is past and take better heed to your doings hereafter Another Letter to a Friend Grace be with you and Peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus the Lord. After hearty Commendations and Thanks to you for your large token but much more for your loving Letters full of Consolation to me as touching my person unknown to you these shall be to certifie you that I rejoyce greatly in the Lord when I perceive to see the minds of my Friends stirred up to bear part with me in this my costly imprisonment sending me things not only necessary for this persent life but also comfortable Letters encouraging exhorting me to continue grounded and established in the Faith and not to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel whereof according to my small Tallent I have been a Minister and daily I call and cry unto the Lord in whom is all my trust and without whom I can do nothing that he which hath begun a good work in me would go on with it until the day of Jesus Christ being surely certified in my Conscience of this that he will so do for as much as he hath given me that not only I should believe on him but also suffer for his sake The Lord strengthen me with his holy Spirit that I may be one of the number of those Blessed which enduring to the end shall be saved And whereas you say that my suffering of Persecution with Christ is a thing to you most comfortable I answer that in all my Adversities and Necessities nothing on your behalf is greater Consolation unto me then to hear of the Faith and Love of others and how they have good remembrance of us alwayes even as the Apostle said by the Thessalonians Now are we alive if ye stand stedfast in the Lord be strong let your hearts be of good comfort and wait ye still for the Lord he tarrieth not that will come look for him therefore and faint not and he will never fail you Yours George Marsh The next that suffered were John Cordmaker John Cordmaker and three other Martyrs John warn Upholster of London John Ardly and John Simson of Wigborrough in Essex husbandmen against these four persons many Articles were drawn up for not conforming to the Doctrine of the Popish Church according to common course of the Consistory Court they were several times called and the Articles against them read which Articles were much alike against them all and for refusing to recant they were all condemned and burat about the Month of May. The Examinations Sufferings and Martyrdom of Thomas Hawkes called a Gentleman written by himself The said Thomas Hawkes Thomas Hawkes Martyr was condemned when Thomkins and the rest with him were condemned which was in the Month called February but his Execution was not till the Month called June following and now coming in order to that Month it falls in course to relate his Tryals and Sufferings as followeth As touching his Education he was born in Essex of an honest stock and bred up a Courtier his Person and Stature very comly and his mind endued with excellent qualities a man of a gentle behaviour and of a fervent love to true Religion and godliness he was also singularly adorned with valour and courage whose Example therein was a good president to the rest of his Brethren and as it is recorded of him few men stood more notably or triumphed more gloriously then this young man for he was so wise in the Cause of God
never the better but worse and worse and therefore I will delay the time no longer but send you to Newgate Hawkes You can do me no better pleasure Bonner Why would you so fain go to Prison Hawkes Truly I did look for none other when I came to your hands Bonner Come on your wayes you shall see what I have written And then shewed him several Articles he had drawn up against him whereupon he thought he should have been carried to Prison the next day and so he had but that he was kept till Doctor Harpsfield had some discourse with him who began to perswade him concerning the Sacrament and the Ceremonies and after much talk he said That the Sacrament of the Altar was the same Body that was born of the Virgin Mary which did hang upon the Cross Hawkes He was upon the Cross both alive and dead which of them was the Sacrament Harpsfield Alive Hawkes How prove you that Harpsfield You must believe he that believeth not is condemned already Hawkes John saith he that believeth not in the Son of God is condemned already he does not say he that believeth not in the Sacrament is condemned already Harpsfield There is no talking with you Then said Hawkes Why is the Roodloff set between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield You have askt a question you cannot answer your self Hawkes Yes that I can for this saith one of your own Doctors that the Body of the Church doth present the Church Millitant and the Chancel the Church Triumphant and so because we cannot go from the Church Millitant to the Church Triumphant but that me must bare the Cross of Christ this is the cause of the Roodlofâ— being between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield This is well and Clarklike concluded Hawkes As all the rest of your Doctrines and so the discourse ended and Thomas Hawkes returned again to the Porters Lodge The next day being the first day of the Monâ—th called July the Bishop went to the Porters Lodge himself and called Thomas Hawkes to him and commanded him to make ready to go to Prison and writ a Warrant and sent two men with him to the Gate-house at Westmenster in the Warrant he writ to this effect to the Keeper to keep him safe Prisoner and let none speak with him for that said he he is a Sacramentary and one that speaketh against Baptism a seditious and perilous man some dayes after his commitment the Bishop sent two of his men to see how he did and whither he was the same man still to whom he answered I do like a Prisoner and am not changed They said my Lord would be glad that you should do well If he will do me any good said Hawks let him suffer my Friends to come to me so they departed but Hawkes heard no more of the Bishop till the third day of the Monâ—th called September following And then Bonner brought a charge against him and required him to set his hand to it but he refused saying I shall set my hand to nothing of your making or devising then the Bishop in great anger thrust him on the breast and said he would be even with him and with all such proud Knaves in Essex Hawkes You shall do no more ther God shall give you leave And as for your Cursings and Railings I care not for them for I know the Moths anâ— Worms shall eat you Bishop I wâ—â—â— be even with you when time shall come Hawkes You have been even with some of us already you may in your Mallice destroy a man but when you have done you cannot do so much as make a finger Bonner If I do thee any wrong take the Law of me Hawkes Soloman saith Go not to Law with a Judge for he will judge according to his own honour Bonner Soloman saith Give not a Fool an answer and I count thee a Fool and so dost thou me but God forgive thee Hawkes Thought is free Then took Bonner the Bill of Articles and read it again when he saw he could not have Hawkes hand to it he biâ— him take it into his hand and give it him again Hawkes What needeth that Ceremony It shall neither come into my hand nor heart After these private Conferences between the Bishop and Thomas Hawkes the Bishop seeing no hopes to win him to his Wicked Wayes he was fully bent to proceed openly against him and to that end caused him to be brought to the publick Consistory where Bonner brought the Articles he refused to sign against him the Bishop adding four more to them to the which Hawkes answered publickly then the Bishop exhorted him to return to the Mother Church but in a constant resolution he satisfied them he should never recant so long as he lived whereupon Bonner past the Sentence of Death upon him and shortly after he was delivered to the Sheriff of Essex and burnt at a Town called Coxhall This following Epistle he wrote to the Congregation An Epistle written by Thomas Hawkes Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ be alwayes with you all My Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ for ever and his holy Spirit conduct and lead you in all your doings that you may alwayes direct your deeds according to his holy Word that when he shall appear to reward every man according to their works you may as Obedient Children be found Watching ready to enter into his Everlasting Kingdom with your Lamps Burning and when the Bridegroom shall shew himself ye need not to be ashamed of this life that God hath lent you which is but transitory vain and like unto a vapour that for a season appeareth and vaniâ—heth away so soop passeth away all our terrestial honour glory and felicity For all Flesh saith the Prophet is grass and all his glory as the Flower of the Field which for a season sheweth her beauty and as soon as the Lord bloweth upon it it withereth away and departeth For in this transitory and dangerous Wilderness we are as Pilgrims and Strangers following the foot-steps of Moses among many unspeakeable dangers beholding nothing with our outward man but all vanities and vexation of mind subject to hunger cold nakedness bonds sickness loss labour banishment in danger of that dreadfull Dragon and his sinfull seed to be devoured tempted and tormented who ceaseth not behind every Bush to lay a bait when we walk awry to have his pleasure upon us casting abroad his Apples in all places times and seasons to see if Adam will be allured and enticed to leave the Living God and his most holy Commandments whereby he is assured of everlasting life promising the World at will to all that will fall down in all Ages and for a mess of pottage sell and set at nought the Everlasting Kingdom of Heaven so â—rail is Flesh and Blood and especially Israel is most ready to walk awry when
against John Launder and delivered them both to the Sheriffs who conveyed them to the aforesaid places in Sussex whâ—re they were both burnt When Derick Carver came to the Stake he bore Testimony to the people to this effect as followeth Dear Brethren and Sâ—sters Witness to you all that I am come to Seal with my Blood Chrâ—sts Gospeâ— because I know that it is true and because I will not deny here Gods Gospel and be obedient to mans Laws I am condemned to die and he said further O Lord my God thou hast written he that will not forsâ—ke wife Children House and all that ever he hath and take up the Cross and follow thee is not worthy of thee but thou Lord knowest that I have forsaken all to come unto thee Lord have Mercy upon me for unto thee I command my Spirit and my Soul doth rejoyce in thee At Chichester about the same Moneth was burnt one Thomas Jveson of Godstoâ—e in the County of Surrey Carpenter Tho. Jveson Martyr his Examination and Articles were much like Derick Carver and John Launder's when the Bishop prest him to recant he said he would not recant for all the goods in London I do apeal said he to Gods mercy and will be none of your Church nor submit my self to the same and what I have said I will say again and if there came an Angel from Heaven to teach me any other Doctrine then that which I am now in I would not believe him for which answer he was condemned as an Heretick and shortly after was burnt at Chichester as before is mentioned James Abbies a Young man James Abbies Martyr which through compassion of the Tyranny then used travelled from place to place to avoid the peril of the times but at last happened to be apprehended and to be brought before the Bishop of Norwich who examining of him concerning his Religion and very strictly charging him sometimes with threats and other whiles with flatteries perswading him at last the Young man did yield to their perswasions although against his Conscience then the Bishop dismist him giving him a small piece of Money he was no sooner gone from the Bishop but his Conscience began to work and inwardly to be Accused how that he had displeased the Lord by consenting to their delusions whereupon he immediately went back to the Bishop and threw him his Money again saying I repent that ever I consented to your wicked perswasions and received your Money Upon this the Bishop with his Chaplins fell a labouring to reduce him again but all was in vain for he would not yield to them at all but with constancy suffered death for his Religion being burnt in Bury the second day of the Moneth called August 1555. The next that suffered were John Denly John Newman and Patrick Packington John Deuly John Newman and Patrick Packington Martyrs the manner of their apprehending was as followeth One Edmund Terril a Justice in Essex having been at the Execution of certain Martyrs met with John Denly and John Newman both of Maidstone in Kent travelling upon the way and going to â—isit their Friends upon sight of them the said Terrill suspected them to be religious persons and caused them to be apprehended and searched and at last sent them up to London to the Queens Commissioners who shortly after sent them to Bishop Benâ—er who according to his accustomed manner would have perswaded them to recant to whom Denly said God keep me in the mind that I am in and from your Counsel for that you count Heresie I take to be the Truth Shortly after they were brought to the open Consistory where Articles were drawn up against them but their unmoveable constancy appearing they were soon condemned for Hereticks and delivered to the Sheriffs of London to see them Executed The Chief heads of the Examination of John Newman before Doctor Tornton and others are as followeth How say you to this This is my Body which is given for you Newman It is a figurative speech one thing spoken and another meant as Christ saith I am a Vine I am a Door I am a Stone Is he therefore a material Stone a Vine and a Door Docter This is no figurative speech for he saith This is my Body which is given for you and so saith he not of the Stone Vine or Door but that is a figurative speech Newman Christ saith this Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood if ye will have it so meant then let them take and eat the Cup. Doctor Nay that is not so meant for it is a common Phrase of speech among our selves we say to our Friend drink a Cup of drink and yet we account he should drink the drink in the Cup. Newman Why if you will have the one sound erstood you must so understand the other Thornton Well how say you is the Body of Christ really in the Sacrament or no Newman No I believe it not Thornton Well will you stand to it Newman I must needs stand to it till I be perswaded by a further truth Many other Questions Thornton asked which for brevity sake are omitted being not very material to be inserted Six persons burned at Canterbury and one at Chichester About this time there suffered death for the same Cause seven persons viz. one Richard Hooke burnt at Chichester in Sussex and the other six were all burnt at Canterbury viz. William Coker William Hopper Henry Lawrence Richard Colliar Richard Wright and William Steer the last six were persecuted by the aforesaid Thornton Bishop of Dover for denying the real presence in the Sacrament and Auricular confession c. Henry Lawrence being charged for not putting off his Cap when Mention was made of the Sacrament by the Suffergan the said Lawrance told them It was not so holy that they need put of their Caps to it calling it an Idol c. Richard Wright another of the Prisoners being asked what he believed concerning the Sacrament of the Altar he said he allowed not of it nor of the Mass but was ashamed to speak of them At this time the Prisons at London began to be filled with the Servants of God many being daily committed being sent up to the Commissioners from one part of the Nation or another and now here is an account of Ten persons sent by the Commissioners to Bonner at one time as appears by the following Letter A Letter sent by the Commissioners to the Bishop of London After our hearty commendations to your good Lordship we send you here John Wade William Hale George King Thomas Leyes of Thorpe in Essex Thomas Fust Hosier Robert Smith Painter Stephen Harwood Brewer George Tankerfield Cooke Elizabeth Warne and Joane Layshford of London Sacramentaries all which we desire your Lordship to examine and to order according to the Ecclesiastical Laws praying your Lordship to appoint some of your Officers to receive them at this Bearers hands and thus most heartily
call it Have ye nâ—â— had my Brother Tomkins before you whose hand when you had burned most cruelly ye burn also his body and not only him but a great many of the numbers of Christ men that feared God and lived Vertuously and also the Queens true Subjects and seeing to these Saints you have shewed so little mercy shall it seem to my Lord and this Audience that ye shew me more favour no no my Lord but if you mean as you say why then examine you me of that I am not bound to answer you unto Bonner Well what sayest thou by the Sacrament of the Altar is it not the very body of Christ Flesh Blood and Bone as it was born of the Virgin Smith I have answered that it is none of Gods order neither any Sacrament but mans own vain invention and shewed him the Lords institution But when he was so earnestly before the Audience declaring that we knew nothing bringing out his hoc est Corpus meum to lay in my dish I proved before the Audience that it was a dead God declaring the distinction appointed between the two Creatures of Bread and Wine and that a body without Blood hath no life at which Harpsfield found himself much offended and took the Tale out of my Lords mouth saying Harpsfield I will prove by the Scriptures that you blaspheme God in so saying for it is given in two parts because there is two thing shewed that is to say his Body and his Passion as saith St. Paul and therefore is the Bread his Body and the Wine the representation of his death and blood shedding Smith You falsify the Word and rack it to serve your purpose for the Wine was not only the shewing of his passion but the Bread also for our Saviour saith so oft as you do this do it in remembrance of me and St. Paul saith so oft as you eat of this Bread and Drink of this Cup you shall shew the Lords death till he comes and here is as much reverence given to the one as the other Then rose up the Lord Bishop and the Lord Mayor desired me to save my Soul To whom I answered I hope it was saved through Christ Jesus desiring him to have pity on his own soul and remember whose Sword he carried At which I was carried into the Garden and there abode until the rest of my Friends were Examined and so were we sent away with many foul farewels to Newgate again the Lord Bishop giving the Keeper a charge to lay me in Limbo The Substance of another Examination of Robert Smith before the said Bishop Upon Saturday at Eight of the Clock I was brought to his Chamber again and there by him examined as followeth Bonner Thou Robert Smith sayst that there is no Catholick Church here on Earth Smith You have heard me both speak the contrary and you have written it as a Witness of the same Bonner Yea but I must ask thee this question how sayst thou Smith Must you of necessity begin with a Lye it maketh manifest that you determine to end with the same but there shall no Lyars enter the Kingdom of God nevertheless if you will be answemed ask mine Articles that were written yesterday and they shall tell you that I have confessed a Church of God as well in Earth as in Heaven and yet all one Church and one mans Members even Christ Jesus Bonner Well what sayest thou to Auricular confession is it not necessary to be used in Christs Church and wilt thou not be shriven of the Priest Smith It is not needful to be used in Christs Church as I answered yesterday but if it be needful for your Church it is to pick mens purses and such pick-purse matters is all the whole rabble of your Ceremonies for all is but money matters that ye maintain Bonner How art thou able to prove that Confession is a Pickpurse matter Art thou not ashamed so to say Smith I speak by experience for I have both heard and seen the fruits of the same for first we see it hath been a bewrayer of Kings secrets and the secrets of other mens Consciences who being delivered and glad to be discharged of their sins have given to Priest great sums of money to absolve them and sing Masses for their Souls health and began to tell him an Example of a Gentleman in Norfolk who being bound in Conscience through the perswasion of the Priest gave away a great part of what he had the which thing when his Brother heard he went to London and declaring it to the Council how that by subtilty the Priest had robbed his Wife and Children he recovered a great part again to the value of two or three hundred pounds as I was relating this the Bishop saw it savoured not to his purpose but began to revile me and said By the Mass if the Queens Majesty were of his mind I should not come to talk before any man but should be put into a Sack and a Dog tyed unto the same and so should be thrown into the Water Smith To which I answered again saying I know you speak by practice as much as by speculation for both you and your predecessors have sought all means possible to Kill Christ secretly Witness M. Hunn whom your predecessors caused to be thrust in at the Nose with hot burning needles and then to be hanged and said he hanged himself and also a good Brother of yours a Bishop of your profession having in his Prison an Innocent man whom because he saw he was not able by the Scriptures to be overcome he made him privily to be Snarled and his Flesh to be torn and pâ—â—kt away with a pair of Pinsors and bringing him before the People said the rats had eaten him Thus according to your Oath is all your dealing and hath been and as you taking upon you the Office do not witâ—out Oaths open your Mouths no more do you without Murther maintain your Traditions Bonner Ah you are a Generation of Lyars there is not one true Word that cometh out of your Mouthes Smith Yes my Lord have said that Jesus Christ is dead for my sins and risen for my Justification and this is no Lye Bonner How sayst thou Smith to the seven Sacraments believest thou not that they be Gods order that is to say the Sacrament of c. Smith As for the Sacrament of the Altar and all your Sacraments they may well serve your Church but Gods Church hath nothing to do with them neither have I any thing to do with them nor you to examine me of them Bonner Why is Gods order changed in Baptism in what point do we differ from the Word of God Smith First in Hallowing your Water in Conjuring the same in Baptizing Children with Annointing and Spitting in their Mouths mingled with Salt and with many other lewd Ceremonies of which not one point is able to be proved in Gods order Bonner By the
Mass this is the most unshamfaced Heretick that ever I heard speak Smith Well sworn my Lord you keep a good Watch. Bonner Well Mr. Controler you catch me at my Words but I well Watch thee as well I warrent thee John Mordant being by said By my Troth my Lord I never heard the like in all my life but I pray you my Lord mark well his answer for Baptism he disalloweth therein holy Oyntment Salt and such other laudable Ceremonies which no Christian man will deny Smith That is a shameful Blasphemy against Christ so to use any mingle-mangle in your Baptism Bonner I believe I tell thee that if they die before they are Baptized they are damned Smith You shall never be saved by that belief but I pray you my Lord shew me are we saved by Water or by Christ Bonner By both Smith Then the Water died for our Sins and so must you say that the Water hath life and it being our Servant and created for us is our Saviour Bonner Why how understandest thou these Scriptures except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And again suffer saith our Saviour these Children to come unto me if thou wilt not suffer them to be Baptized after the laudable order thou lettest them to come unto Christ Smith Where you alleadge except a man be born c. And will thereby prove the Water to save The Apostle asked the Calathians whether they received the Spirit by the deeds of the Law or by the Preaching of faith And where you say I let the Children from coming unto Christ it is manifest by our Saviours Words that you let them to come that will not suffer them to come without the necessity of Water for he saith suffer them to come unto me and not unto Water and it is not saith St. Peter the washing away of the filth of the Flesh but in a good Conscience converteth unto God and to prove that the Water only bringeth not the holy Ghost it is written that Simon received Water and would have received the holy Ghost for Money and many received the holy Ghost before Baptism and to Judge Children damned that be not Baptized it is Wicked Mordant By our Lady Sir but I believe that if my Child dye without Water he is damned Bonner Yea and so do I and all Catholick men good Master Mordant Smith Well my Lord such Catholick such Salvation Bonner Well Sir what say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith You may call it the Sacrament of Misorders for all orders are appointed of God but as for your Shaving Anointing Creasing Poling and Rounding there are no such things appointed in Gods Book and therefore I have nothing to do to believe your orders and as for you my Lord if you had grace or intelligence you would not so dis-figure your self as you do Bonner Sayst thou so now by my Troth and I will go shave my self to anger thee withall desiring me before he went to answer to these Articles Bonner What say you to the holy Bread and holy Water to the Sacrament of Anointing and to all the rest of such Ceremonies of the Church Smith I say they be Baubles for Fools to play withall and not for the Children of God to exercise themselves in and therefore they may go among the refuse Then went away M. Mordent and my Lord went to shaving leaving there certain Doctors as he called them to assay what they could do of whom I was baited half an hour of whom I asked this question where were all you in the dayes of King Edward that you spake not that which you speak now Doctor We were in England Smith Yes but then you had the Faces of men but now you have put on Lyons Faces again you shew your selves as full of malice as may be for you have for every time a visor yea and if another King Edward should arise ye would then say down with the Pope for he is Antichrist and so are his Angels Then they reviled me and had me away but brought me before them again and one of them asked me if I disallowed confession Smith To whom I answerd look in my Articles and they will show you what I allow Doctor In your Articles you confess that you allow not auricular Confession Smith I allow it not because the Word alloweth it not nor commandeth it not Doctor Why it is written thou shalt not hide thy Sins and Offences Smith No I do not when I confess them to Almighty God Doctor Why you cannot say that you can hide them from God and therefore your must understand the words are spoken to be uttered to them that do not know them Smith You have made a good answer then must the Priest confess himself to me as I to him for I know his faults and secrcets no more then he knows mine and David said I will confess my Sins unto thee Lord And after some more words passed between me and the Doctors came in the Bishop from shaving and asked me How I liked him Smith Forsooth you are even as wise as you were before you were shaven Bonner Well How standeth it Master Doctors have you done any good Doctor No by my Troth my Lord we can do no good Smith Then it is fulfilled which is written How can an evil Trâ—â— bring forth good Fruit Bonner Nay naughty fellow I set these Gentlemen to bring thee home to Christ Smith Such Gentlemen such Christs and as truly as they have that Name from Christ so truly do they teach Christ Bonner Well wilt thou neither hear them nor me Smith Yes I am compelled to hear you but you cannot compel me to follow you Bonner Well thou shalt be burnt at a Stake in Smithfield if thou wilt not turn Smith And you shall burn in Hell if you repent not But my Lord to put you out of doubt because I am weary I will strain Curtesie with you I perceive you will not with your Doctors come unto me and I am not determined to come unto you by Gods Grace for I have hardned my Face against you as hard as Brass Then after many railing sentences I was sent away And thus have I left the Truth of my Answers in writing being thereunto desired by my Friends that you may see how the Lord hath according to his promise given me a Mouth and Wisdom to answer in his Cause for which I am condemned and my Cause not heard The Substance of the last Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner with his Condemnation in the Consistory The second day of July I was with my Brethren brought into the Consistory and mine Articles read before the Mayor and the Sheriffs with all the Assistants unto which I answered as followeth Bonner By my faith my Lord Mayor I have shewed him as much favour as any man living might do but I perceive all is lost both in him
I might have had I could find no joy nor confort but still was in my Conscience tomented more and more being assured by Gods Spirit and his Word that I through evil counsel and advisement had done amiss and with the disquietness of my Mind and other cruel handling I was sick lying upon the ground when the Keeper came and so I desired him to pray Doctor Harpsfield to come to me and so he did And when he came and the Register with him I told him that I was not well at ease but especially I told him I was grieved very much in my Conscience and Mind because I had subscribed and I said that my Conscience had so Accused me through the just Judgment of God and his Word that I had felt Hell in my Conscience and Sathan ready to devour me and therefore I pray you said I let me have the Bill again for I will not stand to it so he gently commanded it to be fetcht and gave it me and suffered me to put out my name whereof I was right glâ—d when I had so done although death should follow and hereby I had experience of Gods Providence and Mercy towards me who tryeth his People and suffereth them to fall but not to be lost for in the midst of this Temptation and Trouble he gave me warning of my deed and also delivered me his name be praised for evermore Amen By me Thomas VVhittle Bartlet Green born in the City of London in the Parish of Baâ—inghal of the age of twenty five years Bartlet Green Martyr being examined by Bishop Bonner with whom he had sundry Conferences and publick Examinations but in the end Bonner seeing his stedfastness to the faith of Christ to be such as against the which neither their threatnings nor yet their flattering promises could prevail After he he had condemned the other six he called for Bartlet Green and pronounced the definitive sentence against him and so committed him to the Sheriffs of London who sent him to Newgate and when he came to Prison he was often exercised in prayer and godly meditations and exercises until the twenty eighth day of the month called January when he with his other above mentioned Brethren went most cheâ—rfully unto the place of their Torments at the stake repeating these Latine verses following Christe de us sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor Q. Mary An. 5515 te duce falsa nege In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee have I none The Truth I love and falshood hate by thee my Guide alone After these seven above rehearsed martyred together in Smithfield shortly after in the same Month being the one and thirtieth day of the Month called January Four Women and one Man burnt at Canterbury four Women and one Man were burnt for the Faith of the Gospel at Canterbury their names are as followeth viz. John Lomas a young man of the Parish of Tenterden Anne Albright Joan Catmer of the Parish of Hyth Agnes Snoth Widdow of Smarden Joan Sole Wife of the Parish of Horton The aforesaid five persons were burnt at two Stakes and one Fire ratifying and confessing the true faith of Christ Jesus and when the flame was about their ears they sung for joy whereat John Norton called Knight standing by wept bitterly to hear and see what was done The Persecutors names The Judges and others Assistants which face upon these Martyrs were Richard Faucet John Warren John Mills Robert Collins and John Baker the Notary Now we come to the time of Cranmers Execution who the year before as I have mentioned was condemned and degraded by Commission from the Pope Cranmers Martyrdom after which being by the subtylty of some put in hope of life out of frailty he subscribed to a Recantation which yet did him no good for whether it were that Cardinal Pool would no longer be kept from being Aron-Bishop which he would not be as long as he lived or that the Queen could not be gotten to forget his being the chief Instrument of her Mothers divorce his Execution was resolved to be in the same place at Oxford where Ridley and Latimer five Months before had suffered before the Execution Doctor Cole preached who to make use of Cranmers recantation told the People they should do well to hearken to this learned mans Confession who now at his death and with his death would testifie which was the true Religion never thinking Cranmer would have denied his former Recantation but Cranmer being brought to the Stake contrary to expectation acknowledged that throught frailty he had subscribed it praying God heartily to forgive it for that he had set his hand contrary to the Truth that was in his heart and now for a punishment that hand which had done â—â—should first suffer and therewithal thrusting his Right hand into the Fire he there held it till iâ— first then his whole Body was consumed The next that suffered were Agnes Potter and Jone Trunchfield in the County of Suffolk both Married Women dwelling both in one Town they were burnt in Ipswich when they had prepared themselves ready for the Fire they exhorted the people very earnestly to lay hold on the Word of God and not upon mans devices and inventions despising the Ordinances and Inventions of the Romish Antichrist with all his Superstitions and rotten Religion After these two Women were burnt three Men at one Fire in Salsbury their names John Spicer Free-Mason William Coberly Taylor John Maundrel Husbandman The beginning of their Imprisonment was after this manner going into a Steeple-house and seeing the Idolatry by the people performed in following the Idol in procession exhorted the people to return to the living God speaking more particularly to one Robert Berksdale head man of the Parish but he took no regard to their words soon after the Priest came into his Pulpit who being about to read his Bedral and prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Jo. Maundrel speaking with an Audible voice said that that was the Popes Pinfold after which words by commandment of the Priest they were had to the Stocks where they remained till their Worship was done and then were had before a Justice of Peace and the next day were all three had to Salsbury and presented before Bishop Capon and William Geoffry the Chancellor of the Diocess by whom they were imprisoned and often Examined of their Faith in private but seldom openly in their Answer to the Articles charged against them they said that the Popish Mass was abominable Idolatry and injurious to the Blood of Christ and being asked whether the Pope was supream head of the Church they said he usurped Authority and said Christ was the head of the Church and said Christs Blood purged away their Sins and not the Popes Purgatory and being asked whether Images were necessary in the Church John Mundrell said Wooden Images were
and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty For neither Eye hath seen nor the Ear hath heard neither can it enter into the heart of man what good things the Lord hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. Ye are brought neither with Silver nor Gold but with the pretious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. There is none other Name given to men wherein we must be saved Acts 4. So fare ye well Wife and Children and leave worldly care and see that ye be dilligent to pray Take no thought saith Christ Mat. 6. saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothed for after all these things seek the Gentiles for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things but seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be ministred unto you The Sufferings of Cicely Ormes Wife of Edmund Ormes of Norwich Worsted-Weaver burnt about the twenty third day of September The occasion of her first apprehending was for that she being persent at the death of two Martyrs burnt in the Lollards-pit Ciâ—ely Ormes Martyr without Bishops-gate in Norwich for that she said she would pledge them of the same Cup that they drunk of she was apprehended and had before the Chancellor who Examining her concerning the Sacrament of the Altar He askt her What it was the Priest held over his head she replyed It was Bread and if said she you make it any better it is worse Whereupon the Chancellor with threatning words sent her to the Bishops Prison shortly after she was brought before him again who offered her If she would go to Church and keep her Tongue she should be at liberty but she refusing his offer he past Sentence of Death upon her and delivered her to the Sheriff to see her burnt when she came to the Stake she said Welcome the sweet Cross of Christ and when the Fire was kindled about her she said My Soul doth Magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour and so finished her Testimony in patience At this time the rage of Persecution was very hot in many Counties and many were Persecuted at Litchfield and about seventeen were put to death in Sussex in the Diocess of Chichester a particular Relation whereof there is little left upon record to make manifest but the Popes Tyranny was great in many Counties in England in this Queens time The Examination of Thomas Sprudence before the Chancellor of Norwich Chancellor askt him Whether he had been with a Priest and confest his sins Tho. Spancer Martyr He replyed I have confest my sins to God and that is sufficient for me Then said the Bishop Wilt thou be sworn to the Pope as supream head of the Church No said he not as long as I live for you cannot prove by the Scripture that the Pope is head of the Church Yes said the Bishop As the Bell-weather which weareth the Bell is head of the Flock of Sheep even so is the Pope the head of the Church of Christ and now good fellow thou hast wandered long out of thy way like a scattred Sheep therefore hear this Bell-weather and come home with us to thy Mother the true Church again Thomas answered All this is but Natural reason and no Scripture Oh said the Bishop I see you are stout and will not be answered therefore you shall be compelled by Law Thomas replyed So did your Fore-fathers intreat Christ and his Apostles they had a Law and by their Law they put him to death and likewise you have a Law which is Tyranny and by that you would force me to believe as you do but I trust the Lord will assist me against all your beggerly Ceremonies and make your Foolishness known to all the World Then said the Bishop When were you at Church Thomas said Never since I was born How old are you then said the Bishop I think said he about forty Then the Bishop not well understanding him he explained himself saying never since I was born anew for Christ said unto Nicodemus Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Then the Bishop told him He was a stubborn Fellow and an Heretick and speaking to him of Obedience to the Laws of the Realm Thomas relyed You must consider that I have a Soul and a Body and my Soul is none of the Queens but my Body and Goods is the Queens and I must give God my Soul and all that belongeth unto it that is I must obey the Laws and Commandments of God and whosoever commandeth obedience to Laws contrary to Gods Laws I may not obey them lest I loose my Soul but must rather obey God then man and further told the Bishop that their graven Images and Ceremonies were but the Inventions and Imaginations of their own brain Then one standing by said to the Prisoners Are you wiser then all men Will you willingly cast away your selves My Lord would fain save you therefore chuse some man where you will and take a day my Lord will give it you Then Thomas replyed If I save life I shall lose it and if I lose my life for Christs sake I shall find life Everlasting and if I take a day when the day cometh I must say then even as I say now except I will lye and therefore that needeth not Well then said the Bishop Have him away and after he had been kept some time a Prisoner in Bury in Saffolk he was burnt in November In the same Moneth were three persons put to death in Smithfield viz. John Hallingdal William Sparrow and Richard Gibson Three persons burnt in Smithfield they were several times brought before Bonner who produced several Articles against them and used Arguments to perswade them to recant before he past Sentence upon them to which John Hallingdal replyed Because I will not come to your Babylonical Church therefore you go about to condemn me then the Bishop askt him Whether he would persevere in his Opinions He replyed He should persist in them until the death whereupon Bonner read the bloody Sentence against him William Sparrow being asked the same Question by the Bishop he made answer to this effect That way which you call Heresie is good and godly and if every hair of my head were a man I would burn them all rather then go from the Truth and said their Laws and Mass was naught and abominable whereupon the Bishop Immediately read the Sentence of death against him and delivered him to the Secular Power who sent him again to Prison After the Bishop had ministred several Articles against Rich. Gibson the said Richard proposed several Articles to him to answer yea or nay or else to say he could not tell viz. Whether any man by the holy Ordinance of God ever was is or shall be Lord over mens faith And by what Lawfull Authority any man of what
Another Letter of John Rough's written to the Congregation two dayes before he suffered The Spirit of all Consolation be with you aid you and make you strong to run to the fight that is laid before you wherewithal God in all Ages hath tryed his Elect and hath found them worthy of himself by coupling to their Head Christ Jesus in whom who so desireth to live godly the same must needs suffer Persecution for it is given unto them not only to believe but also to suffer and the Servant or Scholler cannot be greater then his Lord or Master But by the same way the Head is entered the Members must follow no life is in the Members which are cut from the Body likewise we have no life but in Christ for in him we live move and have our being dear Hearts now departing this life to my great advantage I make change of Mortallity with Immortallity of Corruption to put on Incorruption to make my Body like to the Corn cast into the ground which except it die first can bring forth no good Fruit wherefore Death is to me great advantage for thereby the Body ceaseth from sin and afterwards turneth into the first Original but after it shall be changed and made brighter then the Sun or Moon what shall I writ of this corporal death seeing it is decreed of God that all men shall once dye happy are they that dye in the Lord which is to dye in the Faith of Christ professing and confessing the same before many Witnesses I praise my God I have past the same Journey by many Temptations the Devil is very busy to perswade the World to entice with promises and fair words which I omit to write least some might think I do hunt after vain glory which is farthest from my heart Lastly the danger of some false Brethren who before the Bishop of London purposed to confess an Untruth to my face yet the God that rul'd Balaam moved their hearts where they thought to speak to my Accusation he made them speak to my purgation what a Journey by Gods power I have made these eight dayes before this day it is above Flesh and Blood to bear but as Paul saith I may do all things in him which worketh in me Jesus Christ My course Brethren have I run I have fought a good fight the Crown of Righteousness is laid up for me my day to receive it is not long to pray Brethren for the Enemy doth yet assault stand constant unto the end then shall you possest your Souls walk worthily in that vocation wherewith you are called comfort the Brethren salute one another in my name be not ashamed of the Gospel of the Cross by me preached nor yet of my suffering for with my Blood I affirm the same I go before I suffer first the baiting of the Butchers dogs yet I have not done what I should have done but my weakness I doubt not is supplyed in the strength of Jesus Christ and your Wisdoms and Learning will accept that small Talent which I have distributed unto you as I trust as a faithful Steward and what was undone impute that to frailty and ignorance and with your love cover that which is and was naked in me God knoweth ye are all tender unto me my heart bursteth for the love of you ye are not without your great Pastour of your Souls who so loveth you that if men were not to be sought out as God be praised there is no want of men he would cause stones to Minister unto you cast your care upon that Rock the Wind of Temptation shall not prevail fast and pray for the dayes are evil look up with your Eyes of hope for the Redemption is not far off And also that which is behind of the blood of our Brethren which shall also be laid under the Altar shall cry for your relief time will not now suffer me to write longer Letters the Spirit of God guide you in and our rising and sitting cover you with the Shaddow of his Wings defend you against the Tyranny of the Wicked and bring you happily unto the Part of eternal felicity where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and you shall alwayes abide with the Lamb. John Rough. The Sufferings and cruel Torments sustained by Cutbert Simson of London at the hands of the cruel Papists This Cuthbert Simsion was a man of a zealous and faithful Spirit for Christ and the true Flock in London Cuthbert Simson Martyr in that day wherein they greatly suffered he ceased not daily to labour and earnestly to endeavour their preservation from the corruption of the Popish Religion his pains zeal travil patience and sidelity was not easily to be expressed as saith the Record A Relation of his cruel Usage in the Tower is as followeth On the 13th day of the Moneth called December he was sent to the Tower by the Councel and on the Thursday following he was called into the Ware-house before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London who prest him to discover the persons he had willed to come to the Meeting he belonged to but he answered he would declare nothing whereupon he was set in the Rack of Iron the space of three hours then they asked him If he would tell them he answered as before then was he loosed and carried to his Lodging and on the day called Sunday following was brought to the same place again before the Lievtenant and Chelmly Recorder of London who again Examined him he answered as before Then the Lievtenant swore by God he should tell and caused his two fore-fingers to be bound together and put a small Arrow betwixt them and drew it threw so fast that the blood followed and the Arrow broke then they Rackt him twice and then carried him to his Lodging again and ten dayes after the Lievtenant asked him If he would confess to whom he answered He had said as much as he would then about five weeks after he sent him to a high Priest who past the Popes curse upon him forbearing Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ When he was brought before Bonner several Articles were objected against him as denying the Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church and for being at several great Meetings Assemblies and Conventicles At the same time there were two other persons Examined before Bonner viz. Hugh Fox Hugh Fox and Jo. Devenish Martyrs and John Devenish against whom the general common Articles were produced and they were condemned and burnt with Cuthbert Simson in Smithfield upon the 28th day of the Moneth called March for whose constancy to the Lord in his Quarrel his Name be exalted for evermore Some Passages wrote in a Letter from Cuthbert Simson to his Wife out of the Cole-house are as followeth Dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ I cannot writ as I do wish unto you I beseech you with my Soul commit your self under the mighty hand of