himselfe to them not vngentle so found he theÌ„ again to him not vnconformable Whervpon a certeine agreemeÌ„t pacificatory was concluded betwene them vpon conditions Which agrement the new Polone king eftsoones preferred to the Frenche King hys Brother not without some sute and intercession to haue it ratified The king also himselfe partly being weary of these chargeable warres was the more willing to assent therunto And thus at length through the Lordes great worke the kinges royal consent vnder forme of an Edict was sette downe in writing and confirmed by the king conteining 25. Articles In which also wer included certeine other Cittyes of the Protestantes graunting to them benefit of peace and liberty of religion This edicte or mandate sent downe from the king by his Heralde at armes Bironius in the kinges name caused to be solemnely proclaymed at Rochell an 1573. the x. day of Iune The yeare next folowing 1574. for two thinges seemeth fatall and famous for the death first of Charles the 9. the french king also most of all for the death of Charles Cardinall of Lorayne brother to Guise Of the maner of the Cardinals death I finde litle mentioÌ„ in stories Touching the kinges death although Ric. Dinothus sayth nothing for feare belike because he being a french man hys name is expressed and known but an other story whom the sayd Dinothus doth followe bearing no name sayeth thus that he dyed the xxv day of May vpon Whitson euen being of the age of 25. yeares and addeth more profluuio sanguinis illum laborasse certuÌ„ est Certayne it is that his sickenes came of bleeding And sayth further CoÌ„stans fert fama illum dum evarijs corporis partibus sanguis emanaret in lecto saepe volutatum inter horribilium blasphemiaruÌ„ diras tantaÌ„ sanguinis vim proiecisse vt paucas post horas mortuus â—uerit That is The constant report so goeth that his bloud gushing out by diuers partes of his body he tossing in his bedde and casting out many horrible blasphemies layed vpon pillowes with his heeles vpward and head downeward voyded so much bloud at his mouth that in few houres he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and testified may be a spectable and example to all persecuting kinges and Princes polluted with the bloud of Christian Martyrs And thus muche briefely touching the late terrible persecution in Fraunce ¶ The Conclusion of the worke ANd thus to conclude good Christian Reader this present tractation not for lacke of matter but to shorten rather the matter for largenes of the volume I here stay for this present time with further addition of more discourse either to ouerweary thee with longer tediousnes or ouercharge the booke with longer prolixity hauing hitherto set forth the Actes and Proceedinges of the whole Church of Christ namely of the Church of England although not in such particular perfectioÌ„ that nothing hath ouerpassed vs. Yet in such generall sufficiency that I trust not very much hath escaped vs necessary to be knowne touching the principall affayres doinges and proceedinges of the Church and Churchmen Wherein may be seene the whole state order discent course and continuaunce of the same the encrease and decrease of true religion the creeping in of superstition the horrible troubles of persecution the wonderfull assistaunce of the almighty in mainteining his truth the glorious constancy of Christes Martyrs the rage of the enemyes the alteration of times the trauelles and troubles of the Church from the first primatiue age of Christes Gospel to the end of Queen Mary and the beginning of this our gracious Queene Elizabeth During the time of her happy reigne which hath hetherto continued through the gracious protection of the Lord the space now of 24. yeres as my wish is so I would be glad the good wil of the Lord were so that no more matter of such lameÌ„table stories may euer bee offered hereafter to write vpon But so it is I cannot tel how the elder the world waxeth the longer it continueth the nerer it hasteneth to his end the more Sathan â—ageth geuing still new matter of writing bookes and volumes In so much that if all were recorded and committed to history that within the sayd compasse of this Queenes reigne hitherto hath happened in Scotland Flanders France Spayne Germany besides this our owne Countrey of England and Ireland with other Countryes moe I verely suppose one Eusebius or Polyhistor whiche Plinnye writeth of woulde not suffice thereunto But of these incidentes and occurrentes hereafter more as it shall please the Lord to geue grace and space In the meane time the grace of the Lord Iesus worke with thee gentle Reader in all thy studious readinges And while thou hast space so employ thy selfe to read that by reading thou mayst learne dayly to knowe that may profite thy soule may teach thee experience may arme thee with pacience and instruct thee in all spirituall knowledge more and more to thy perpetuall comfort and saluation in Christ Iesu our Lord to whome be glory in Secula Seculorum Amen FINIS ⧠A diligent Table or Index of the most notable and memorable thyngs contained in the whole volume of this Booke wherein if thou wilt finde any thing good Reader reuolue in thy mynde the letter wherewith the word beginneth and the number of the Page shall direct thee vnto it A ante B. A B. C. agaynst the Popes Clergie 841.843 Abuses in the Church require reformatioÌ„ not defection 1873 Abbey of Peterborow 133. Abbeis suppressed in England 1101. Abbey of Exceter 141. Abbey of Stowe built 184. Abbey of S. Edmundsbury 161. Abbeis and Nunries founded and vpon what causes 149.454 Abbey of S. Albons built and by whom 133. Abbey of Gisburne and Readyng buâ—lt 199. Abbey of Glastenbury 150. Abbeis dissolued in Englande by K Henry the 8. 1070. Abbeis burned ibid. Abbey lands restored by Q. Mary 1559.1560 Abbey of Bangor 119. Abbeis and Monasteries in England infinite built by Saxone Kings 133. Abbeis dissolued by Cromwell 1179.1180 Abbey of Couentry built 165. Abbey of Ely 133. Abbey of Gloucester built ibid. Abbey of Knouesburgh others built ibid. Abbeis and religious houses built for what causes 1180. Abbot of Carilocus his sodain and dreadfull death 2106. Abbot of Glastenbury 150. Abbots not instituted by Christ. 680. Abbot Capellensis cruelly handled for the Gospell 873. Abbot of Peterborow thrust out of the Court of Rome for denying the Popes kinsman a benefice 287. Abbot of Abbingdon amerced by the Pope in 50. markes for denying a benefice to an Italian 291. Abbot of S. Albones sueth to the Pope ibid. Abbot of Westminster more conformable to yeld and submit him selfe to the doctrine of the Protestants then the rest of the Papists in the disputation at Westminster 2125 Abdias authoritie suspected 35. Abiurers names in a table 1040.1041.1042.1277.1401 Abiuration of good men of Leicester .506 their penance ibid. Abiuration in the diocesse of
whore in the fornication of her whorish dispensations pardons Idolatrye suche like abhominations so shall ye drinke with her except ye repent betime of the cuppe of the Lordes indignation and euerlasting wrath which is prepared for the beast his false prophetes and all theyr partakers For he that is partner with them in theyr whoredome and abhominations must also be partner with them of theyr plagues and on the latter day shall be throwne with them into the lake burning with Brimstone and vnquenchable fire Thus fare ye wel my Lords all I pray God geue you vnderstanding of his blessed will and pleasure and make you to beleue and embrace the truth Amen * An other farewell to the Prisoners in Christes Gospelles cause and to all them whiche for the same cause are exiled and banished out from theyr owne countrey choosing rather to leaue all worldly commodity then theyr mayster Christ. FArewell my dearely beloued brethren in Christ bothe ye my felow prisoners and ye also that be exiled and banished out of your countryes because ye will rather forsake all worldly coÌ„modity then the Gospell of Christ. Farewell all ye together in Christ farewell and be mery for ye know that the triall of your fayth bringeth forth patience and pacience shall make vs perfecte whole and sound on euery side and such after triall ye knowe shall receiue the crowne of lyfe according to the promise of the Lorde made to his dearely beloued let vs therefore be pacient vnto the comming of the Lord. As the husbandmanne abideth pacientlye the former and latter rayne for the encrease of his croppe so let vs bee paciente and plucke vp our hartes for the comming of the Lord approacheth apace Let vs my deare brethren take example of pacience in tribulation of the Prophetes which spake likewise Gods word truely in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of pacience the end which the Lord suffered which is full of mercy and pitty We know my brethren by Gods worde that our fayth is muche more precious then any corruptible golde and yet that is tryed by the fire euen so our fayth is therfore tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shal appeare laudable glorious and honorable For if we for Christs cause do suffer that is gratefull before God for thereunto are we called that is our state and vocation wherewith let vs be content Christ we know suffered for vs afflictions leauing vs an example that we shoulde folow his footesteps for he committed no sinne not was there any guile found in his mouth when he was rayled vpon and all to reuiled he rayled not agayne when he was euill entreated he dyd not threaten but committed the punishment therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in freshe remembraunce those wonderfull comfortable sentences spokeÌ„ by the mouth of our Sauior Christ Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you speake all euill against you for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so did they persecute the Prophets which were before you Therfore let vs alway beare this in our mindes that if any incommodity doe chaunce vnto vs for righteousnes sake happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth thinke of vs. Christ our mayster hath tolde vs before hand that the brother should put the brother to death the father the sonne and the children should rise agaynst their pareÌ„ts and kill them and that Christes true Apostles should be hated of all men for his names sake but he that shall abide paciently vnto the end shal be saued Let vs then endure in all troubles paciently after the example of our Mayster Christ and be contented therewith for he suffered being our mayster and Lord how doth it not then become vs to suffer For the disciple is not aboue his mayster nor the seruaunt aboue his Lord. It may suffice the disciple to be as his maister and the seruaunt to be as his Lord. If they haue called the Father of the family the Mayster of the householde Belzebub howe much more shall they call so them of his householde Feare them not then sayth our Sauiour for all pâ—iuityes shall be made playne there is nowe nothing secret but it shall bee shewed in light Of Christes wordes let vs neither be ashamed nor afrayd to speake them for so Christ our mayster commaundeth vs saying that I tell you priuily speake openly abroade and that I tell you in your eare preach it vpon the house toppe And feare not them which kill the body for the soule they cannot kill but feare hym which can cast both body and soule into hell fire Know ye that the heauenly Father hath euer a gracious eye and respect towarde you and a Fatherly prouidence for you so that without his knowledge and permission nothing canne doe you harme Let vs therefore cast all our care vpon him and hee shall prouide that whiche shall be best for vs. For if of two small sparrowes whiche both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the grounde without your father and all the heares of our head are numbred feare not them sayth our Mayster Christ for yee are more worth then many small sparrowes And let vs not sticke to confesse our Mayster Christe for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shal be remeÌ„bring the promise that Christ maketh saying whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him shall I confesse before my father whiche is in heauen but whosoeuer shall denye me him shall I likewise denye before my father which is in heauen Christ came not to geue vnto vs here a carnall amity and a worldly peace or to knitte his vnto the world in ease and peace but rather to separate and deuide them from the world and to ioyne them vnto himselfe in whose cause we must if wee will bee his forsake father and mother and sticke vnto him If wee forsake him or shrinke from him for trouble or deathes sake which hee calleth his crosse he will none of vs we cannot bee hys If for his cause we shall lose our temporall liues here wee shall finde them agayne and enioy them for euermore but if in his cause we will not be contented to leaue nor loose them here then shall we loose them so that we shall neuer finde them again but in euerlasting death What thoughe our troubles here bee paynefull for the time and the sting of death bitter and vnpleasaunt yet we know that they shall not last in comparison of eternity no not to the twinckling of an eye that they pacieÌ„tly taken in Christes cause shall procure and gette vs vnmeasurable heapes of heauenly glory vnto the which these temporall paines of death and troubles compared are not to be estemed but to be reioyced vpon Wonder
daunger of the plague Now the causes why we shoulde flye followeth in the same place of saynct Mathewes Gospell whiche I now passe ouer thou maist read them there And in the xviii chapter of the Reuelation the angell is sayd to haue cryed mightely with a loud voyce Flye my people out of Babilon least you be infected with her faultes so be made partners of her plagues for her offences and sinnes are â—rowne so great that they swel and are come vnto the heauens â—â—â—aynely the tyme doth approche and the Lordes day is at hand Heare I beseeche you also holy Paule that bessed Apostle He playnely forbiddeth vs ducere iugum cum incredulis that is to ioyne or couple our selues with the vnfaythfull for what fellowship can there be sayth hee of righteousnes with vnrighteousnes what companie hath lighte with darckenesse or what agreement hath Christ with Beliall or what part can the faythfull haue with the vnfaythfull or how doth the temple of God agree with Images or Idols for you are the temple of the liuing God as God hath sayd I will walke and dwell in them I will be their God and they shall be my people wherefore depart from amongst them and get you from them sayth the Lord and touche no vncleane thing and I will receaue you bee to you in the stead of youre father and you shal be vnto me as my sonnes and daughters sayth the almighty Lord. This councell to depart the realme I doe not maruel if it do seeme to diuers euen of them I meane that beare fauour to Godward diuersly Many I trust that bee learned shall thinke the councell good Other there be peraduenture that will thinke it rather a thinge to be more tollerable and that it may be in deede by Gods worde lawfully done rather then to bee counsayled to bee done for they will peraduenture say we shoulde counsell a man alwayes to doe that whiche is best of all and of moste perfection but boldly in Christes cause to spend a mans lyfe is best of all and of moste perfection and to flye it maye seeme to smell of cowardnes In many thinges that whiche is best for one at some tymes is not best for all at all tymes and it is not most perfection nor meete for a childe to couet to run before he can goe I will not make here a discourse in this matter what might here be obiected and what might bee aunswered agayne I leaue that to the wittie and eloquent men of the world This is my minde whiche I woulde thou shouldest know O man of God as I woulde wishe and I do pray to almighty God it may be that euery true Christian either brother or sister after they be called and brought into the wrestling place to striue in Christes cause for the best game that is to confesse the truth of the Gospell and of the Christian fayth in hope of euerlasting life shoulde not shrink nor relent one inch or giue back what soeuer shal befall but stande to theyr tackle and sticke by it euen vnto death as they wil Christ shall sticke by them at the latter day so likewise I dare not wishe nor councell any either brother or sister of theyr owne swinge to starte vp into the stage or to cast themselues eyther before or farther in daunger then tyme and neede shall require for vndoubtedly when God seeth hys tyme and his pleasure is that his glory shall be set forth and his Churche edified by thy death and confession meanes shal be found by hys fatherly vniuersall prouidence that thou without thyne owne presumptuous prouocation shalt be lawfully called to do thy feate and to playe thy part The miserable ende that one Quintus came vnto may be a warning and a feareful example for all men to beware of presumption and rashnesse in suche thinges as Eusebius writeth in Eccle. historia for euermore But a thyrd sorte of men there be whiche also wyll be counted fauourers of Gods worde and are I feare in number farre moe and worse to be perswaded to that which is yâ— godly meane I meane of such as wil peraduenture say or thinke that my former councell which was to slye the infection of the Antichristian doctrine by departing out of the Realme is more then needeth and other waies and meanes may be found both to abide and also to be cleare out of daunger of the foresayde plague If that coulde be found both to abide and also to be cleare out of daunger of the foresaid plague If that could be found in deed truely agreable to Gods word I woulde be as glad to heare it God is my witnesse as who is the other Yes peraduenture will some say Thus it may be Thou mayst keep thy selfe thy fayth and thy religion close to thy selfe and inwardly and priuately worship God in spirite trueth and outwardly see thou be no open medler nor talker nor transgressour of common order so mayst thou be suffered in the common wealth and yet vse thy religioÌ„ without offence of thy conscience In other countryes somewhere this peraduenture might be vsed but in Englande what shall be God wot but it was neuer yet so farre as euer I haue knowne or heard And also how can it be but eyther thou must transgresse the common order and the Romishe lawes and customes whiche haue bene vsed in England in the times past of Popery and now it is certayne they retourne agayne I say thou mayst eyther be a breaker of these rites lawes and customes and so bewraye thy selfe or els if thou be in deede a man of GOD thou shalt offend thy conscience for in obseruing of them thou shalt be compelled to breake Gods law which is the rule of conscience to the man of God For how canst thou resort euery holy day to the Churche and beare a face to worship the creature for the creatour as thou must doe peraduenture confesse it too with thy mouth and to sprinckle thy selfe with thy coniured water Thou must bee contributour also to the charges of all their popery as of books of Antichristes seruice of lights of the roode lofte of the sepulchre for settyng vp paynting of Images nay in deede of Idolles and thou muste beare a face to worship them also or els thou must be had by the backe Thou must serue the turne to geue the holye loues as they call it whiche is nothinge els but a verye mockery of the Lordes holy table Thou must be a contributor to the charges of all the disgised apparell that the popishe sacrificing Priest like vnto Aaron must playe hys part in Yea when the pardoner goeth about or the flattering Fryer to begge for the mayntenaunce of superstition except thou doe as thy neighbours doe looke not long to liue in rest If anye of thy housholde dye if thou wilt not pay money for ringing and singing for Requiem Masses Dirige and commendations and
daunger to fall in like perill again there he maketh them perfite to be without danger paine or perill after that for euermore But this hys loue towards thē howsoeuer the worlde doth iudge of it is al one both when he deliuereth when he suffereth thē to be put to death He loued as well Peter and Paul whē after they had according to hys blessed will pleasure and prouidence finished their courses and done theyr seruices appoynted them by hym here in preaching of his Gospel the one was beheaded and the other was hanged or crucified of the cruell tyraunt Nero as the Ecclesiasticall hystory sayth as when hee sent the Aungell to bringe Peter out of prison and for Paules deliuery he made all the dores of the prison to flye wide open and the foundation of the same like an earthquake to tremble and shake Thinkest thou O thou man of God that Chryst our sauiour had lesse affection to the first martyr Stephen because he suffered his enemies euen at the first conflicte to stone him to death No surely nor Iames Iohns brother which was one of the three that Paule calleth Primates or Principals amongst the Apostles of Christ. Hee loued him neuer a whit the worse thē he did the other although he suffered Herode the tyrauntes sword to cut of his head Nay doth not Danyell say speaking of the cruelty of Antichristes time Et docti in populo docebunt plurimos ruent in gladio in flamma in captiuitate rapina dierum c. Et de eruditis ruent vt conflentur eligantur dealbentur c. That is and the learned hee meaneth truely learned in Gods lawe shall teache many and shall fall vppon the sworde and in the flame that is shall bee burned in the flaming fire and in captiuitie that is shall bee in prison and be spoyled and robbed of theyr goodes for a longe season And after a little in the same place of Daniell it followeth and of the learned there be whiche shall fall or be ouerthrowne that they may be knowne tryed chosen made white he meaneth be burnished scoured a new picked and chosen and made fresh and lustye If that then was foreseene for to be done to the godly learned and for so gracious causes let euery one to whom any such thing by the will of God doth chaunce be mery in God and reioyce for it is to Gods glory and to his owne euerlasting wealth Wherefore well is he that euer he was borne for whom thus graciously God hath prouided hauing grace of God and strength of the holy Ghost so stand steadfastly in the height of the storme Happy is he that euer hee was borne whome God his heauenly Father hath vouchsafed to appoynt to glorifie him and to edifie hys Churche by the effusion of hys bloud To dye in Christes cause is an high honour to that whiche no man certaynly shall or can aspire but to whō God vouchsafeth that dignitie For no man is allowed to presume for to take vnto hym selfe any office of honour but he which is thereunto called of God Therfore Ioh. saith well speaking of them which haue obtayned the victorye by the bloud of the Lambe and by the worde of hys testimony that they loued not theyr liues euen vnto death And our sauiour Christ sayth He that shall lose his life for my cause shall finde it And this manner of speach pertayneth not to one kinde of Christians as the worldly dothe wickedly dreame but all that doe truelye pertayne vnto Christ. For when Christe had called vnto hym the multytude together with hys Disciples he said vnto thē mark that he sayde not this to the Disciples and Apostles onely but he sayd it to al who soeuer wil follow me let him forsake or deny hymselfe and take vp his crosse and followe me for who soeuer will saue his lyfe shall lose it he meaneth who soeuer will to saue hys life both forsake or leaue hym and his truth and whosoeuer shall lose his lyfe for my cause and the Gospels sake shall saue it For what shall it profite man if he shall winne the whole world and lose his owne soule hys owne lyfe or what shall a manne geue to recompence that losse of his owne lyfe and of hys own soule Who soeuer shal be ashamed of me my words that is to confesse me and my Gospell before this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of hys Father with the holy Aungels Know thou O man of God that all thinges are ordayned for thy behoufe and to the furtheraunce of thee towardes thy saluation All thinges saith Paule worketh with the good to goodnes euen the enemies of God such kind of punishmentes whereby they goe about to destroy them shall be forced by Gods power might fatherly prouidence for to do them seruice It is not as the wicked thinketh that pouerty aduersitie sickenes tribulation yea paynfull death of the godly be tokens that God doth not loue them but euen cleane the contrary as all the whole course of scripture doth euidently declare for then he would neuer haue suffered hys most dearly beloued the Patriarkes to haue had such troubles his Prophetes his Apostles his martyrs and chiefe Champions and mayntayners of hys truth and Gospell so cruelly of the wicked to haue bene murdered and slayn Of the which some were racked as the Apostle sayth and woulde not be deliuered that they might receaue a better resurrection Some were tryed by mockinges scourginges yea moreouer by bondes and imprisonment they were stoned they were hewen and cut a sunder they were tempted they were slayne with the sword they wandered vp and down in sheepes skinnes and Gotes skinnes beyng forsaken afflicted and tormented such men as the world was not worthy to haue wādring in wildernes in moūtaynes in Dennes and Caues of the earth All these were approued by the testimony of fayth and receaued not the promise because God did prouide better for vs that without vs they should not be consummated They tary nowe for vs vndoubtedly longing for the day but they are commaunded to haue pacience yet saith the Lord a litle while vntill the number of theyr fellow seruauntes bee fulfilled and of theyr brethren whiche are yet to be slayne as they were Now thou O man of God for our Lordes sake let vs not for the loue of thys lyfe tary then to long and bee occasion of delay of that glorious consummation in hope and expectation wherof the departed in the Lord and the whiche also the liuing endued with Gods spirite ought so earnestly to desire and to grone for with al the creatures of God Let vs all with Iohn the seruaunt of God cry in our harts vnto our sauiour Christ Veni Domine Iesu come Lorde Iesu come For then when Christ which is our life
constant martyr Who the xviii day of December in the middest of the fiery flames yelded his soule into the handes of the almighty God and full like a lambe gaue vp his breath his body being consumed into ashes Thus hast thou gentle reader the lyfe and doyngs of this learned and worthy souldiour of the Lord Iohn Philpot with all his examinations that came to our handes first penned and written with his owne hand beyng meruaylously reserued from the sight and hands of hys enemies who by all maner meanes sought not onely to stop hym from al writing but also to spoyle and depriue him of that which he had written For the which cause he was manye tymes stripped and searched in the prison of his keeper but yet so happily these his writinges were conueyed and hid in places about him or els hys keepers eies so blinded that notwithstanding all this malicious purpose of the Bishops they are yet remayning and come to light A prayer to be sayd at the stake of all them that God shall account worthy to suffer for his sake MErcifull God and father to whome oure sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reason of death found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christe on whome Stephen called in his extreeme neede and receiued strength Most benigne holy spirite whiche in the middest of all Crosses and death diddest comfort the Apostle S. Paule with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorowes and terrors haue mercy ⧠The martirdome of maister Iohn Philpot Archdeacon with the manner of his kneeling and praying at the stake vpon me miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neare the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of manifold horrible olde and new transgressions which to thyne eyes O Lorde are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto me for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine owne onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respecte of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare me measuring me with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiesty contemning thy dayly calles yet let thy mercy whiche is aboue all thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towardes me through and for the mediation of Christ our sauiour And for whose sake in that it hathe pleased thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritye and trueth taught by him to geue my life therefore to which dignitie I do acknowledge dear God that ther was neuer any so vnworthy and so vnmeet no not the theef that hāged with him on the Crosse I most hūbly therfore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly ayde helpe assiste me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christe thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paule and all others whiche for thy names sake haue suffered affliction and death I may finde so present with me thy gracious consolations that I may by my deathe glorifie thy holy name propagate and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hartes of the heauy confirme thy Church in thy veritie conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart foorth of thys miserable world where I do nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy wherof now geue and encrease in me a liuely truste sense and feelinge wherethrough the terrours of death the tormentes of fire the panges of sinne the dartes of Sathan and the dolours of hel may neuer depresse me but may be driuen away thorough the working of that most gracious spirite which now plenteously endue me withall that through the same spirite I may offer as I nowe desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight Deare Father whose I am and alwayes haue bene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the world was made to whome I commend my selfe soule and body family and frendes countrey and all the whole Churche yea euen my very enemies accordynge to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to geue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word agayn with godly peace to the teaching setting forth of the same Oh dear father now geue me grace to come vnto thee Purge and so purifie me by this fire in Christes death and Passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holy God nowe and euermore world without end Amen ¶ Letters of Mayster Philpot. ¶ A letter which he sent to the christian congregation exhorting them to refrayne from the Idolatrous seruice of the papists and to serue God after his word IT is a lamentable thing to behold at this present in England the faithles departing both of men women frō the true knowledge vse of Christes sincere religion which so plētifully they haue bene taught do know their own consciences bearing witnes to the veritie thereof If that earth be cursed of God which eftsoones receiuing moisture pleasant dewes from heauen doth not bring forth fruite accordingly how much more greuous iudgemēt shal such persons receiue which hauing receiued from the father of heauē the perfect knowledge of his word by the ministery therof do not shew forth Gods worship after the same If the Lord wil require in the day of iudgemēt a godly vsury of all maner of talentes which he sendeth vnto men women how muche more wil he require the same of his pure religion reuealed vnto vs which is of al other talents the chiefest most pertayning to our exercise in this life if we hide the same in a napkin and set it not forth to the vsurye of Gods glory and edifying of his church by true confessiō God hath kindled the bright light of his Gospel which in times past was suppressed hid vnder the vile ashes of mās traditiōs and hath caused the brightnes therof to shine in our harts to the end that the same might shine before men to the honor of his name It is not onely geuen vs to beleue but also to confesse declare what we beleue in our outwarde couersation For as S. Paule writeth to the Romaynes The beliefe of the hart iustifieth and toe acknowledge wyth the mouth maketh a man safe It is al one before God not to beleue at al not to shew forth the liuely works of our belief For Christe sayth Either make the tree good and his fruites good or ells make the tree euill and the fruites euill because a good tree bringeth forth good fruites So that the person which knoweth his maysters will and doth it not shal be beaten with many stripes And not all they
and murthering rage of Papistes The cause hereof was a Letter which Grene did write vnto the sayde Goodman conteining aswell the reporte of certayne demaundes or questions which were cast abroad in London as appeareth hereafter in a letter of hys owne penning whiche he meant to haue sent vnto M. Philpot wherein hee declareth his full vsage before the Bishop of London and others as also an aunswere to a question made by the sayd Christopher Goodman in a letter writtē vnto him in which he required to haue the certaynetye of the report which was spread amongest them on the other side of the Seas that the Queene was deade Whereunto mayster Greene aunswered simply and as the truth then was that she was not dead These letters with manye other written to diuers of the godly exiles by theyr frendes here in Englande beyng deliuered to a messenger to carry ouer came by the apprehension of the said bearer vnto the handes of the king and Queenes Councel Who at theyr conuenient leasure whiche in those daies by some of them was quickely found out for suche matters perused the whole number of the sayde letters and amongest them espyed this letter of Mayster Greenes written vnto his frend Christopher Goodman in the contentes whereof amongest other newes and priuate matters they found these woordes The Queene is not yet dead Which wordes were onely written as an answere to certifye Mayster Goodman of the trueth of hys former demaunde Howbeit to some of the Councell they seemed verye haynous woordes yea treason they would haue made them if the Law would haue suffered Whiche when they coulde not doe and being yet verye lothe to let any such depart freely whom they suspected to be a fauourer of the Gospell they then examined him vpon his fayth in religion but vpon what poyntes it is not certaynely knowne Neuerthelesse as it semeth his aunsweres were such as litle pleased them especially the annoynted sorte and therefore after they had longe detayned him in prison as well in the Tower of London as elsewhere they sente him at last vnto Boner Bishop of London to be ordered according to his Ecclesiasticall law as appeareth by theyr Letters sent vnto the Byshop with the sayd prisoner also wherein it may appeare that Syr Iohn Bourne then Secretary to the Queene was a chiefe stirrer in such cases yea and an entiser of others of the counsell who otherwise if for feare they durst woulde haue bene content to haue let such matters alone The Lord forgeue them theyr weakenesse if it be his good pleasure and geue them true repentaunce Amen ¶ A Letter sent vnto Boner Bishop of London by the Queenes Counsell dated the 11. daye of Nouember 1555. but not deliuered vntill the 17. of the same moneth AFter our right harty commendations to your good Lordship we send to the same herewith the body of one Bartlet Grene who hath of good time remayned in the Tower for his obstinate standing in matters agaynst the Catholicke Religion whome the king and Queenes Maiesties pleasures are because he is of your Lordshippes Dioces ye shall cause to bee ordered accordinge to the Lawes in suche cases prouided And thus wee bydde your Lordship hartily farewell From Sainct Iames the xi of Nouember 1555. Your good Lordships louing friendes Winchester Penbroke Thomas Ely William Haward Iohn Bourne Thomas Wharton * I Sir Iohn Bourne will wayt vppon your Lordship and signifie further of the king and Queenes Maiesties pleasures herein Now that ye may the better vnderstand the certaynty of his handling after this hys comming vnto Boners custody I haue thought it good to put forth hys own letter contayning at large the discourse of the same Whiche letter he wrote and did meane to haue sent vnto mayster Philpot but was preuented belike eyther by Phil. death or els rather by the wily watching of hys keeper for it came by what means I know not certaynly vnto the byshops hands and being deliuered vnto his register was found in one of his bookes of recorde The copye where of here followeth A letter of Barthelet Greene written vnto Iohn Philpot contayning besides other particular matter betwixt him and M. Philpot a briefe rehearsall of his handling and certain his conferences with Boner and others at his first comming to the Bishops THat whiche was lacking in talke through my defaulte at your being here I haue supplyed by writing in your absence now at the length getting some opportunitie and leysure The 17. day of Nouember beyng brought hither by two of the clocke at after noone I was presented before my Lord of London and other two byshops Mayster Deane M. Roper M. Welche Doct. Harpsfield Archdeacon of London and other two or three all sitting at one table There were also present Doct. Dale Maister George Mordant M. Dee Then after the byshop of London had read vnto himselfe the letter that came from the Counsell hee spake with mo wordes but as I remember to this effect that the cause of theyr assembly was to heare mine examination wherevnto hee had authoritie by the Counsell and had prouided Mayster Welch and an other whose name I knowe not but wel I remember though he obtayned it not yet desired hee my Lorde that I might heare the Councels letters to be there if anye matters of the common lawe shoulde arise to discusse them he intreated my Lorde to determine all controuersies of Scriptures and as for the Ciuill law he and Doctor Dale should take it on them Wherfore he demaunded of me the cause of mine imprisonment I sayd that the occasion of myne apprehension was a letter which I wrote to one Christofer Gooodman wherein certifiyng hym of such newes as happened here amonge the reste I wrote that there were certayne printed papers of questions scattered abroad Whereupon beyng suspected to be priuye vnto the deuising or publishing of the same I was committed to the Fleete but sithens heard I nothing therof after the Commissioners had receaued my submission The summe wherof was that as I was sure there neyther coulde be true witnesses nor probable coniecture agaynst me in that behalfe so refused I no punishment if they of theyr consciences would iudge me priuy to the deuising printing or publishing of those questions But my Lord affirming that there was an other cause of mine imprisonment sithens demaunded if I had not after sith I was committed vnto the Fleete spoken or written somewhat agaynst the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar Then desired I his Lordship to bee good vnto me trusting that he would put me to aunswere to no new matters excepte I were first discharged of the old And when I stoode long in that M. Welch aunswered that it was procured that I shoulde so doe right well For albeit I were imprisoned for treason if during the tyme of enduraunce I had mayntayned heresie that were no sufficient allegation agaynst
sub hoc pane corpus domini accipimus Zwinglius controlling hym sayd sub signo panis corpus domini accipimus and the other controlled him in like case Greene. Then M. Greene proued theyr opinions of the sacrament to be one in effect being rightly weighed and though theyr words dyd not sound al one yet they meant one thing and theyr opinions were all one as he proued by diuers other examples Feck Then Fecknam desired hym that he woulde not so wilfully caste himselfe away but to be rather conformable to reason and that my Lord Byshoppe there present would be good vnto hym and would graunt him respite if hee woulde demaund it for a fortnight or three weeks and that hee shoulde choose anye learned man whome he would and shoulde goe with hym home to his house and that hee whome he would choose woulde willingly take the paynes to reade and conferre the Doctoures wyth him and open the Doctours myndes meaninges vnto hym Boner Then Boner sayd that hee was proud and an obstinate boy and therfore hee bad Fecknam to holde hys peace and to call him no more M. Greene for sayd hee you ought not to call an hereticke maister Pendle After this Doctor Pendleton alledged to hym this text out of the xxii of Luke Ex hoc non manducabo illud donec impleatur in regno Dei Here sayd he you muste confesse your opinion to be false ells you must saye that Christ was a lyer for Christ sayde I will eate no more of this while it bee fulfilled in my fathers kingdome If Christ did eate no more the bread wheÌ„ he spake these wordes then must you say that he was a lyer for hee dyd eate bread after with hys Disciples before he ascended But if you say he dyd eate hys body then and after but breade it will not agree with the Scriptures nor with goâ—d reason Greene. Then Greene aunswered and sayd that thys was spoken by anticipation as one of theyr owne Byshops which is now dead did say Pendle Then Doctour Pendleton sayd that that was no sufficient discharge nor no sufficient aunswere for him in this case for sayd he it is well knowne that that bishop was of a contrary opinion to you and that he dyed a good christian man Greene. To whiche wordes Greene sayd I do not cal hym to witnesse in this case as though he were a sufficient man to proue my saying to bee true in this matter but I doe alledge hym agaynst you as Paule did the scripture whiche he found grauen in the aultar of the Atheniens agaynst themselues ignoto Deo These with many other wordes were betweene them which I doe ouerpasse because it were to longe to stande vpon recitall of euery thing Last of all the Byshop asked him if he would recant He sayd nay he would not But my Lord sayd he in old tyme there were no men put to death for theyr conscience vntill such time as Byshoppes found the meanes to make it death to beleue contrarye to them but excommunication my Lorde was the greatest penaltie which men hadde for theyr conscience yea in so muche that S. Augustine wrote and commaunded that no man should be put to death for his opinion Boner Then Boner sayd that when saincte Augustine sawe what inconueniences followed of that commaundement he wrote agayne to the Temporall rulers commaundyng them to punishe their bodyes also Greene. But sayde Greene hee bad not put them to death Boner He bad punish them quoth Boner Greene. Yea sayd Greene but not put them to death Bo. That they should be punished quoth Boner again This talke ended he asked Greene if he woulde recant and returne to theyr Romishe mother Whiche when hee denyed the Bishoppe pronounced the sentence difinitiue agaynst hym and so committed him to the Sheriffes of London who caused him to be carried to Newgate And as he was goyng thether ther met with him two gentlemen being both his speciall frendes minding belike to comfort this theyr persecuted brother but at theyr meeting theyr louing and friendly hartes not able anye longer to hide themselues were manifested by the aboundaunce of theyr pittifull teares To whom when Greene sawe them he sayd in these or like wordes Ah my friends is this your comfort you are come to geue me in this my occasion of heauinesse Must I who needed to haue comfort ministred to me become now a comforter of you And thus declaring his moste quiet and peaceable minde and conscience he chearefully spake to them and others vntil he came to the prison doore into the which he ioyfully entred and there remayned alwayes either in praier whervnto he much gaue himselfe or els in some other godlye meditations and exercises vnto the xxviii day of Ianuary when hee with hys other aboue mentioned brethren went most chearefully vnto the place of their tormentes often repeating as well by the waye as also at the stake these Latine verses following Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee haue I none The truth I loue and falsehoode hate by thee my guyde alone During the tyme of hys imprisonment in Newgate diuers of hys frendes had accesse vnto him to whome he gaue sundry godly exhortations wherewith they were not only well contented but for better remeÌ„brance aswel of the same his instructions as also of hys own good and godly person they desired him to write somewhat in their bookes which request he willingly graunted as in maner here ensueth These verses were written in a booke of mayster Hussey of the Temple Behold thy selfe by me such one was I as thou And thou in tyme shalt be euen dust as I am now Bartlet Greene. ¶ These verses were also written in a booke of mayster William Fleetwood of the same house My resting roode is founde vayne hope hap a dew Loue whome you list with chaÌ„ge death shall me rid froÌ„ you Bartlet Greene. Amonges others diuers and singular good vertues of this good manne especially in him was to bee noted such a modest nature so humbly thinking of himselfe as in few men is to be found euer deâ—ecting hymselfe vnder that was in him and euer seeming to be lesse then he was so that nothing lesse hee coulde abide then to heare of hys prayse or commendation as well declareth not onely his letter written to M. Philpot wherin he doth earnestly expostulate with hym for slaundring hym with prayse of his witte and learning and other manifold vertues of great excellency but also by his owne speache and aunsweres in his examination wherein he casteth from hym all knowledge of learning and cunning when notwithstanding he had more in hym then to anye mennes eyes dyd appeare So great and admirable was this gift of modesty grafted in the nature of
there is the reall substance of the body of Christ Fort. And I aunswered him that it is the greatest plague that euer came into England Bish. Why so Fort. I sayd if I were a Bishop and you a poore man as I am I would be ashamed to aske such a question For a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learne Bish. I am appoynted by the law to teach so are not you Fort. And I sayd Your lawe breaketh out very well for you haue burned vp the true Bishops and preachers and mainteined lyers to be in theyr steed Bish. Now you may vnderstand that he is a traytour for he denyeth the higher powers Fort. I am no traytour for S. Paule sayth All soules must obey the higher powers and I resist not the higher powers concerning my body but I must resist your euill doctrine wherwith you would infect my soule A Doct. Then sayd a Doctor my Lord you doe not well let him aunswere shortly to his articles Bish. How sayst thou make aunswere quickly to these articles Fort. S. Paule sayth Christ did one sacrifice once for all and set him downe on the right hand of his father triumphing ouer hell and death making intercession for sinnes Bish. I aske thee no suche question but make aunswere to this article Fort. If it be not GOD before the consecration it is not God after for God is without beginning and without ending Bish. Then sayd he lo what a stiffe hereticke is this He hath denyed altogether how sayest thou Is it idolatry to worship the blessed sacrament or no. Fort. God is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and trueth Bish. I aske thee no such question answere me directly Fort. I answere that this is the God Mauzzim that robbeth God of his honor Bish. It is pity that the grounde beareth thee or that thou hast a toung to speak Thē sayd the scribe here are a great many more articles Bish. Then sayde the Bishop Away with him for he hath spoken to much ¶ An other examination of I. Fortune ANd when I came to mine examination agayne the bishoppe asked me if I would stand vnto mine answere that I had made before and I sayd yea for I had spoken nothing but the truth And after that he made a great circumstance vpon the Sacrament Then I desired him to stand to the text he read the Gospell on Corpus Christi day whiche sayd I am the breade which came downe from heauen beleuest thou not this And I sayd yea truely And he sayd why doest thou deny the Sacrament Because your doctrine is false sayd I. Then sayd he how can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture And I sayd Christ sayd I am the bread and you say the breade is he Therefore your doctrine is false sayd I. And he sayd doest thou not beleue that the bread is he And I sayd no. Bish. I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fort. Hold that fast my Lord for that is the best Argumēt that you haue yet Bish. Thou shalt be burned like an hereticke Fort. Who shall geue iudgement vpon me Bish. I will iudge an hundred such as thou art and neuer be shriuen vpon it Fort. Is there not a lawe for the spiritualty as well as for the temporaltye and Syr Clement Higham sayde yes what meanest thou by that Fort. When a man is periured by the law he is cast ouer the barre and sitteth no more in iudgement And the Byshop is a periured man and ought to sit in iudgement of no mā Bish. How prouest thou that Fort. Because you tooke an oth by king Henries dayes to resist the Pope So both spirituall and temporall are periured that here can be no true iudgement Bish. Thinkest thou to escape iudgement by that no for my Chaūcellor shall iudge thee He took no oth for he was out then of the Realme M. Hygham It is time to weede out such felowes as you be in deed Bysh. Good fellowe why beleuest not thou in the Sacrament of the aultar Fort. Because I finde it not in Gods booke nor yet in the Doctors If it were there I would beleue it with al my hart Bysh. How knowest thou it is not there Fort. Because it is contrary to the second cōmaundement and seing it is not written in Gods booke why do you thē robbe me of my life Then the Bishop hauing no more to saye commaunded the Bailiffe to take him away And thus much touching the examinations of this man Now whether he died in fire or otherwise preuented with death as I sayd before I am vncertayne In the Registers of Norwich this I do finde that his sentence of condemnation was drawne and Registred but whether it was pronounced in the said Register it is not expressed according as the vsuall maner of the Notary is so to declare in the end of the sētēce Neuertheles this is most certayne that he neuer abiured nor recanted howsoeuer it pleased the Lord by death to call him out of this world ¶ The death of Iohn Careles in the Kynges Benche ABout this time the first day of Iuly amongest diuers other prisoners which dyed the same yeare in the Kinges Bench was also one Iohn Careles of Couentry a weauer Who though he were by the secret iudgemēt of almighty God preuented by death so that he came not to the full Martyrdome of his body yet is he no lesse worthy to be counted in honor place of Christes martyrs then other that suffered most cruell torments aswell for that he was for the same truthes sake a long time imprisoned as also for his willing mind zelous affection he had thereunto if the Lord had so determined it as well may appeare by his examinatiō had before Doct. Martin Which examination because it conteineth nothing almost but wrangling interrogations and matters of contentiō wherin Doctour Martin would enter into no communication about the articles of his accusation but onely vrged him to detect his felowes it shall not be greatly materiall therfore to expresse the whole but onely to excerpt so much as perteining to the question of predestination may bring some fruit to the Reader ¶ The effect of Iohn Careles examination before Doctour Martin briefly declared FIrst Doctour Martin calling Iohn Careles to hym in his Chamber demaunded what was his name To whom when the other had answered that his name was Iohn Careles then began Doctour Martin to descant at his pleasure vpon that name saying that it would appere by his conditions by that time he had done with him that he would be a true careles man in deed And so after other by talke there spent about much needelesse matter then he asked him where he was borne Careles Forsooth sayth he at Couentry Mart. At Couentry what so farre man How camest thou hither Who sent thee to the kinges Bench to prison Carel. I was
you be your selues You will go to hell all the sorte of you if you condemne me if you repent iâ— not with speede Wood. Then my keeper and the Sheriffes deputie Fuller rebuked me because I spake so sharpely to them And I sayde I praye you let me alone I aunswere for my life Then there was muche adoe that I shoulde keepe silence and so I held my peace Then spake the Bishop of Winchester and the Archdeacon of Caunterbury saying we go not about to condemne thee but goe aboute to saue thy soule if thou wilt be ruled ane doe as we would haue thee Wood. To saue my soule nay you can not saue my soule My soule is saued already I praise God therefore There can no man saue my soule but Iesus Christ and hee it is that hath saued my soule before the foundation of that would was layd The fat Priest What an heresie is that my Lorde here is an heresie He sayth hys soule was saued before the foundations weâ—e layd Thou canst not tell what thou saiest Was thy soule saued before it was Wood. Yes I prayse God I can tell what I say I say the truth Looke in the first of the Ephesians and there you shall finde it where Paule sayth Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ whiche hath blessâ—d vs with all maner of spirituall blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christ according as hee hathe chosen vs in himselfe before the foundation of the earth was layd that we shuld be holy and without blame before him through loue and thereto were wee predâ—stinated These be the wordes of Paule and I beleue they be moste true And therefore it is my fayth in and by Iesus Christe that saueth and not you or any man els The fat priest What fayth without workes Saint Iames sayth faythe without workes is dead and wee haue free will to do good workes Wood. I would not that any of you should think that I do disallow good workes For a good fayth cannot be wtout good works Yet not of our selues but it is the gift of God as sayth S. Paule to the Phillippians the 2. Chapt. It is God that worketh in vs both the wil and also the deed euen of good will Winchester Make an ende aunswere to me Here is your Ordinary the Archdeacon of Caunterbury hee is made your Ordinary by my Lord Cardinall and he hath authoritie to examine you of your fayth vppon a booke to aunswere to such Articles as he will laye to you And I praye you refuse it not for the daunger is great if you do Wherfore we desire you shew your selfe a subiect in this matter Then they spake al and said loe my Lord desireth you gently to aunswere to him and so we do all For if you refuse to take an othe hee may excommunicate you For my Lord Cardinall may put whom he wil in the Bishops office vntill he is consecrated Wood. I know not so much If you will geue me time to learne the trueth of it if I can proue it be as you saye I will tell you my mind in any thing that he shall demauÌ„d of me without any flattering Priest My Lord and all we tell thee it is true therefore aunswere to him Wood. I will beleue none of you all for you be turne coates chaungelinges be wauering minded as sayth S. Iames you be neither hoate nor colde as sayth S. Iohn therfore God will spue you out of his mouth Wherfore I can beleue none of you all I tell you truth Winchest What be we turne coates and chaungelinges what meanest thou by that Wood. I meane that in king Edwardes time you taught the doctrine that was set forth then euery one of you and now you teach the contrary and therfore I call you turne coates and chaungelinges as I may well enough Which wordes made the most part of them to quake Winc. Nay not all as it chaunced Wood No I pray you where were you then Winch. I was in the Tower as the Lieutenaunt wyll beare me record Wood. If you were in the Tower it was not therefore I dare say it was for some other matter TheÌ„ they tooke all hart of grace and sayd my Lord he coÌ„meth to examine you we think if he will not answere to the Articles you were best to excommunicate him Winch. He is the naughtiest verlet hereticke that euer I knew I will read the sentence agaynst him Wood. Then they spake all at once and I aunswered then as fast as I could But I can not remember it all the wordes came out so thicke that I spared them not I prayse God therfore for I spake freely Then they that stood by rebuked me sayd you caÌ„ not tell to whom you speake I thinke Wood. No thinke you so they be but men I am sure I haue spoken to as good as they bee and better then they will euer be for any thing that I can see if they repent not with speed Winc. Geue eare for I will read sentence agaynst you Wood. Will you so wherefore will you you haue no iuste cause to excommunicate me and therefore if you doe condemne me you wil be condemned in hell if you repent not and I prayse God I am not afrayd to dye for Gods sake if I had a hundred liues Winch. For Gods sake nay for the Deuilles sake Thou sayest thou art not afrayde to dye No more was Iudas that hanged himselfe as thou wilt kill thy selfe wilfully because thou wilt not be ruled Wood. Nay I defye the deuill Iudas and all their members And Iudas flesh was not afrayd but his spirite and conscience was afrayde and therefore despayred and hong himselfe But I prayse God I feele no lothsomnes in my flesh to dye but a ioyfull conscience and a willing mynde thereto Wherfore my flesh is subdued to it I prayse God and therfore I am not afrayd of death Chichester Woodman for Gods sake be ruled You know what you sayd to me at my house I coulde say more if I would Wood. Say what you can the most fault that you founde in me was because I praysed the liuing God and because I sayd I prayse God and the Lorde which you ought to be ashamed of if you haue any grace for I told you where the wordes were written Winc. Well how say you will you confesse that Iudas receiued the body of Christ vnworthely tell me playnely Wood. My Lord if you or any of you all can proue before all this audience in all the bible that any man euer eat the body of Christ vnworthely then I will be with you in all thinges that you will demaund of me of the which matter I desire all this people to be witnes Priest Will you so then we shall agree well enough S. Paule sayth so Woodman I pray you where sayeth he so rehearse the wordes Priest In
in theyr Papistry and so be an occasion of our weake brothers falling the which will be all required at theyr handes which will be to heauy a burden for them to beare if they repent it not with speed For they that know theyr Maysters will doe it not shal be beaten with many stripes Oh do not we perceiue that now is the acceptable time that Christe speaketh of yea euen now is the axe put to the roots of the trees so that euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruites now must be hewed downe and cast into the fire Now is the Lord come with his fanne in his hand to trie the wheate from the chaffe The wheat he will gather into his barne and the chaffe hee willl burne as is aforesayde Nowe is the time come that we muste goe meete the bridgrome with oyle in our Lampes We are also bidden to the feast let vs make no excuses Yea our Maister hath deliuered his talentes vnto vs God geue vs grace to occupy them well that at his comming he may receiue his owne with vauntage Yea nowe is the Lorde come to see if there be any fruit vpon his trees so that if the Lord come find none he will serue vs as he did the wilde figge trees that is neuer fruit shall grow on him more Also if we goe to meete the bridegrome without oyle in our laÌ„pes should go to buy the doubt is we should be serued as was the foolishe virgins that was God sayd to theÌ„ depart I know you not Or if we should make excuses to come to the feast other shal be biddeÌ„ in our roomes If we occupy not our talentes wel they shal be taken away from vs geuen to other and all such vnprofitable seruantes shal be cast into prison in hell wheâ—e shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth Oh good God what a sort of feareful sayinges are here conteined what christian hart will not harken diligently hereto Oh may not all people well perceiue nowe that this is the time that our Mayster Christ speaketh of that the father should be agaynst the sonne and the sonne agaynste the father and one brother agaynst another that the brother shal deliuer the brother to death yea and that the wicked shall say all maner of wicked sayinges agaynst vs for his names sake the which I haue well found by experience I prayse God therefore that hath geuen mee strength to beare it For I thinke there canne no euill bee deuised but it hath bene imagined agaynst me that of my familiar frendes as Dauid said but I prayse my Lord God they are not able to proue any of their sayinges true but that they go about to finde fault in theÌ„ that God hath chosen because they theÌ„selues list not to take vp their crosse and folow Christ therfore they spake euil of the thing that they know not the which shall geue account for it before him that is ready to iudge both the quicke and the dead But my trust is that al the people of God wil be ruled by the counsell of S. Iohn saying My sheepe will heare my voyce strauÌ„gers the will not heare meaning thereby that ye shoulde not beleue straungers counting them straungers that go about to subuert the Gospell Wherfore marke well what they be and try theÌ„ well or euer you geue credite to theÌ„ according to S. Iohns couÌ„sell in his Epistle saying Beleue not euery spirit but trie the spirites whether they be of God or not meaning thereby that they that be not of God wil speake good of none but of them that be as they be Wherefore deare sister be of good cheare geue no credite to such people what so euer ye heare them say For I haue no mistrust by Gods help but that all the world shal see know that my bloud shal not be deare in mine owne sight whensoeuer it shall please God to geue my aduersaries leaue to shedde it I doe earnestly beleue that God which hath begon this good worke in me will performe it to the end as he hath geuen me grace wil alway to beare this easy yoke and light burden the which I haue alwayes found I prayse my Lord God For when I haue bene in prison wearing other while boltes other while shackles other while lying on the bare grouÌ„d some time sitting in the stockes sometime bound with cordes that al my bodye hath bene swollen much like to bee ouercome for the payne that hath bene in my flesh sometime fayne to lye without in the woodes fieldes wandring to and fro few I say that durst to keepe my company for feare of the rulers sometime brought before the Iustices Shiriffes Lordes Doctours and Bishoppes sometime called dogge sometime deuill hereticke whoremonger traytor theefe deceiuer with diuers other such like yea euen they that did eat of my bread that should haue bene most my fâ—endes by nature haue betrayed me Yet for all this I prayse my Lord God that hath separated me from my mothers wombe all this that hath happened to me hath bene easy light and most delectable ioyful of any treasure that euer I possessed for I praise God they are not able to proue one iote or title of their sayinges true But that way that they call heresy I serue my Lord God and at all times before whomesoeuer I haue bene brought God hath geuen me mouth and wisedome where agaynst all my aduersaries haue not bene able to resist I prayse God therfore Wherfore deare sister be of good coÌ„fort with all your brethren and sisters and take no thought what you shall saye for it shall be geuen you the same houre according to the promises as I haue alwayes found and as you and all other of Gods elect shall well finde when the time is full come And whereas I and manye other haue hoped that this persecution woulde haue bene at an end ere this time now I perceiue God will haue a further triall to roote out all disseÌ„blers that no man should reioice in himselfe but he that reioyceth shall reioyce of God Wherfore if prophecy should fayle and toungs should cease yet loue must endure For feare hath paynefulnesse but a perfecte loue casteth out all feare which loue I haue no mistrust but God hath poured it vpoÌ„ you so abouÌ„dantly that nothing in the world shal be able to seprate you from God Neither high nor low riche nor poore life nor death shal be able to put you from Christ but by him I trust you shall enter into new Hierusalem there to liue for euer beholding the glory of God with the same eyes that you now haue and all other faythfull people that coÌ„tinue to the end Geue all honour and glory to God the father God the sonne God the holy Ghost three persons and one God to be honoured now and euer Amen After
to receaue the Masse she began to be troubled in consciēce waxed very vnquiet because her house was euen hard by M. Iohn Glouers house of whome mention was made before pag. 1614. and 1620. a man of blessed memory and of a singular example of his vnfayned godlines and manifold troubles whiche he suffered for the Gospell shee did oftentimes resort to him and desired him to tel her the faultes that were in the Masse and other thinges that at that time were vrged as necessary to saluation Now he perceiuing both her vnquiet minde also the desire she had to know the truth dyd most dilligently instruct her in the wayes of the Lord approuing vnto her out of Gods holy word that the Masse with all other papisticall inuentions was odious in Gods sight and besides this reproued her for that she delighted in the vanities of this world so much By the which godly counsell geuē by him it happened that she began to waxe weery of the world throughly sorrowfull for her sinnes being inflamed with the loue of God desirous to serue him accordyng to hys word purposing also to flee from those thinges the whiche did displease the Lord her God And because she had learned the masse to be euil abhominable she began to hate it And when at a time she was compelled by the furiousnes of her husband to come to the Churche at the same tyme when the holy water was cast shee turned her backe towardes it and shewed her selfe to be displeased with their blasphemous holy water iniurious to the bloud of christ Whereupon she was accused before the Bishop for the despising of theyr sacramentals Immediately a Citation was sent for her to her husbandes house to appeare before the bishop incontinently The Summer that brought the Citation deliuered it to her husband who looking vpō it perceauing what it was was moued with anger willing the sumner to take the Citation with him agayne or els he woulde make him to eate it The Sumner refused to take it agayne for he thought no man durst haue bene so bold to trouble him But in the ende Lewes compelled the sayd sumner to eate the Citation indeed by setting a daggar to his hart when hee had eaten it he caused him to drinke to it so sent him away But immediately after the sayd Lewes with his wife were commaunded to appeare before the B. where the sayd Lewes by by submitted himself desired the Bish. to be good to him excusing himselfe after the best fashion he could Wherupon the B. was content to receiue his submission with condition that his wife shoulde submit her selfe also But shee stoutly told the byshop that by refusing of the holy water she had neither offended God nor any part of hys lawes At the which words the bish being greeuously offended because she was a Gentlewomā he would not take her at the worst as he sayd he gaue her one monthes respite binding her husband in an hundred pound to bring her again vnto him at the monthes end and so they were both let go When they came to their owne house the sayde Maystresse Ioyce Lewes gaue her selfe to most dilligent praier and inuocating of the name of God resorting continually to the aboue named man of God Maister Iohn Glouer who did most dilligently instruct her with Gods worde willing her in any wise not to meddle with that matter in respect of vayne glory or to get her selfe a name shewyng her the great daungers shee was like to cast her selfe in if shee shoulde meddle in Gods matters otherwyse then Christ doth teach When the moneth was nowe almost expired and the time at hand that shee shoulde be brought before the Bishop her husband being aduertised by the sayde Mayster Iohn Glouer and others not to carry her to the Byshop but to seeke some wayes to saue her or if the worst should come to be content to forfeit so much money rather then to cast his own wife into the fire He answered hee woulde not loose or forfeit anye thinge for her sake and so lyke a murtherer of his owne wife caryed her to the bloudye B. where she was examined and found more stout then shee was before death was threatned And to begin withal she was sent to such a stincking prison that a certayn mayde which was appoynted to keep her companye did sownd in the same prison Being thus kept in prison and oftentimes examined and euer founde stoute at the length shee was brought in iudgement pronounced an hereticke worthy to be burned When the Bishop reasoned with her why she would not come to the masse and receiue the sacramentes and sacramentals of holy Church she answered Because I find not these thinges in Gods worde which you so vrge and magnifie as thinges moste needefull for mens saluation If these thinges were in the same word of God commended I would with all my hart receiue esteeme and beleue them The Bishoppe aunswered if thou wilt beleeue no more then is in the scripture concerning matters of religion thou art in a damnable case At the whiche wordes she was wonderfully amased and being moued by the spirite of God tolde the Bishop that hys wordes were vngodly and wicked After her condemnation she cōtinued a whole twelue moneth in prison because she was committed to the Sheriffe that was of late chosen who coulde not be compelled to put her to death in his tyme as he affirmed for y◠which thing after her death he was sore troubled and in daunger of his life All that time shee was in prison her behauiour was such both in wordes and deedes that al they that had any sparke of godlines or ciuile honesty did greatly lamēt her case that she should be put to death Now when the tyme did drawe neare the which God had appoynted for her deliueraunce the writte De comburendo as they terme it beyng brought down from London she desired certaine of her frends to come to her with whom when they came shee consulted how shee might be haue her self that her death might be more glorious to the name of God cōfortable to his people and also most discomfortable vnto the enemies of God As for death sayd shee I do not greatly passe when I behold the amyable countenance of Christ my deare Sauiour the vglesome face of death doth not greatly trouble me In the which time also shee reasoned most comfortably out of Gods worde of Gods election and reprobation In the euenyng before the daye of her suffering two of the priests of the close of Lichfield came to the vnder Sheriffes house where shee laye and sent worde to her by the Sheriffe that they were come to heare her confession for they would be sory shee shoulde dye without it She sente them word agayne shee had made her confession to Christ her sauiour at whose hands she was sure to haue forgeuenes of her sinnes
â—id mee take heede I thanke you I trust in God that I shall be at peace with him shortly remaining now registred in the actes of this Court For answer vnto al these articles he graunted that the first â—x were true as the Register recordeth Howbeit I finde noted in the backeside of the information specified in the 2. article although crossed out againe that he denied such things as were there in the same informed against him Wherefore it is not likely that hee did simply graunt vnto the contents of the 2. article but rather that he onely affirmed that such an information was geueÌ„ against him and not that the same was true Thus much I thought to warne the reader of lest that in mistaking his answers it might seeme that he graunted himselfe to be a sedicious and a rebellious persone of which facte he was most cleare innocent And being farther demanded vpon the contentes of the 8. article where he had the bloud he wrote that letter withall he sayd that Richard Roth sometime his prison fellow did make his nose blede and thereby he got the bloud wherwith he did then wryte The bish again asked him to whom he wold haue sent the same He answered vnto one Agnes Smith alias Siluerside of Colchester Why quoth the bish Agnes Smith was an Hereticke and is burned for Heresie Nay said Allerton shee is in better case then either I my selfe or any of vs all Then being againe demanded vpon the 9. obiection to whom he would haue sent the letter mentioned in the same he answered that he ment to haue sent it vnto Richard Roth at that present separated from him Wherupon the bish farther enquired what he ment by these wordes brethren and sistern specified in the sayd letter he answered that he ment therby such as wer lately condemned at Colchester and were like at the wryting therof shortly to be burned Now as for the contents of the 10. and 11. articles he vtterlye denied them But to the 12. he confessed that he wryt vpon the said trencher and other bordes the woordes mentioned in the sayd Article that he did leaue the same in the prison house to the entent that Richard Rothe shoulde read them Boner also bringing out the woodden sword mencioned in the saide article asked him who made it and for what purpose Whereunto he answered that he was the maker thereof howebeit for no euil purpose But being idle in the prison and finding there an old board he thought the time better spent in making thereof then to sit still and do nothing at all The forenoone being now spent the rest of this tragedie was deferred vntil the afternoone Wherin was ministred vnto him yet certaine other obiections the tenoure whereof was FIrst that hee hadde misliked the Masse callyng vppon Saincts and caryinge the crosse in procession wyth other theyr ceremonies calling them Idolatrie also had disswaded them there from 1. Item that he was muche desirous to haue the people beleeue as he did and therefore being in prisone with hys fellowes did sing Psalmes and other songes againste the Sacrament of the Aultare and other ordinaunces of the church so loud that the people abroade might heare them and delight in them 2. Item that he had diuers times conspired against hys keeper and hadde prouided thinges to kill him and so to breake the prison and escape awaye Item that he had raised against the B. being his ordinarie calling him a bloudy butcher tyrant and rauening wolfe and also against his officers especially Clunie hys sumner calling him butchers cur with other such names 4. Item that he had murmured grudged disdained and misliked that the bishop had proceeded against certaine of his Diocesse and had condemned them as Heretickes or that he should proceede nowe against him and others yet remaining in errours notwithstanding that hee and hys chaplaines had charitably admonished and exhorted them from the same 5. Item that he ought faithfully to beleeue that there is one catholicke churche without the which there is no saluation of the which church Iesus Christ is the very priest sacrifice whose body and bloud is really and truly contained in the sacrament of the altare vnder the formes of breade and wine the breade and wine being by the diuine power transubstanciated into his body and bloude 6. Item that he had kept himself and also distributed to others certaine hereticall and corrupt bookes condemned and reprooued by the lawes of this realme 7. Item that he had contrary to the orders and statutes of this realme kept company with that seditious heretike and traitor George Eagles commonly called Truâ—gedner and had heard him read in woodes and other places yet not accusing but allowing and praising him 8. Unto which articles because they were for the moste part so foolish and full of lies he would in a maner make no answer sauing he graunted that he did misselike theyr masse and other ceremonies because they were wicked naught And moreouer he told the bishop that he and his complices did nothing but seeke how to kill innocents The bishop then asked him whether he would beleue in all poyntes touching the Sacrament of the altar as is contained in the generall councell holden and kept vnder Innocentius 3. and therwithall he did read the decree of the sayd Counsel touching the Sacrament Wherunto Allerton againe made answer and sayd I beleeue nothing contained in the same Councell neyther haue I any thing to doe therewith and it were also very necessary that no man els should haue to do therewith Then quoth Boner thou arte of the opinion that the heretikes lately burned at Colchester were of Yea said he I am of their opinion and I beleeue that they be Saincts in heauen This done the Bish. perceiuing that he would not recant demaunded what he had to say whye he shoulde not pronounce the sentence of condemnation against him To whom he answered yee ought not to condemne me as an heretike for I am a good christian But now go to doe as you haue already determined For I see right well that right and truth be suppressed and cannot appeare vppon the earth These woordes ended the bish pronounced the Sentence of condemnation so deliuered hym vnto the temporall officers Who reserued him in their custodye vntill the 17. day of September at which time bothe he and the other 3. before mencioned were all burned as ye haue already heard Of which other 3. because as yet litle is sayd I wil therfore now procede to declare suche cause of theyr cruel deathes as in the Registrie is recorded Iames Austoo and Margerie his wife TOuching the first apprehension of these ij persones I finde neither occasion whye neither time nor manner howe Howbeit as the daies then serued it was no harde or strange matter to fall into the haÌ„ds of such as with cruelty persecuted the true professors of Gods gospell especially hauing so
vnto death Feare it not saith Christ for I haue ouercome death saith he Oh deare hearts seeing that Iesus Christ will be our helpe oh tary you the Lordes laisure Be strong let your hearts be of good comfort wait you stil for the Lord. He is at hand Yea the angel of the lord pitcheth his tent rounde about them that feare him and deliuereth them which way he seeth best For our liues are in the lords hands and they can doe nothing vnto vs before God suffer theÌ„ Therefore geue all thankes to God Oh deare hearts you shall be clothed with long white garments vpon the mount Sion with the multitude of Saintes and with Iesus Christ our Sauiour which will neuer forsake vs. Oh blessed virgins ye haue plaied the wise virgines part in that you haue taken oyle in your lamps that ye may go in with the bride grom when he commeth into the euerlasting ioy wyth hym But as for the folish they shal be shut out because they made not theÌ„selues ready to suffer with Christe neither goe about to take vp his crosse O deare hearts howe precious shall your death be in the sight of the Lord for deare is the death of his saintes O fare you well and pray The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be wyth you all Amen Amen Pray pray pray By me Rich. Roth wrytten with mine bloud This letter he confessed in dede vpon the sayd examination to haue wrytten with his bloude that he meant to haue sent the same vnto suche as were condempned at Colchester for the gospel of Iesus Christ and were afterwardes burned there as ye haue already heard The bish then farther asked him what he thought hys prison fellow Rafe Allerton to be He aunsweared that he thought hym to be one of the elect children of God and that if at any time heereafter he happened to be put to death for his faith and religion hee thought he shoulde die a true Martyr And moreouer finding him selfe agreued with the Bishoppes priuie and secrete condeÌ„ning of Gods people he said vnto him in this sort My Lord because the people should not see behold your doings ye cause me and others to be brought to our examinatioÌ„s by night being afraid belike to do it by day Foure Martyâ—s burned at Islington The Bishop not greatly caring for this talke proceeded to examine hym of other matters amongest whiche this high and waighty thyng was one videlicet how he did lyke the order and rites of the Churche then vsed here in England To whome he said that hee euer had and yet then did abhorre the same with all his heart Then diuers of the Bishops complices entreated and perswaded him to recant and aske mercy of the bishop No quoth Roth I will not aske mercy of hym that cannot geue it Wherupon he was as the rest before meÌ„tioned condemned and deliuered vnto the Shiriffe and the xvij day of September they all most ioyfully ended their lyues in one fire at Islington for the testimonie of Christ as before is declared ¶ Agnes Bongeor and Margaret Thurston two godly Christian women burnt at Colchester for the sincere professing of Christes Gospell A Little before gentle Reader was mention made often that suffred Martyrdome at Colchester pag. 2007. at whâ—ch tyme there were two other women also one called Margaret Thurston and the other Agnes Bongeor that should haue suffered with them and were likewyse condemned at the same tyme and place that the other aboue named ten were for the like cause and aunswered also in their examinations the like in effect as the other did But the one namely Margaret Thurston that 〈◊〉 she should suffer with those that went from the Castle was for that tyme deferred What the cause was the testimonie of Ioâ—e Cooke shal declare vnto vs. Which Ioâ—e Cooke the wife now of Iohn Sparke beyng then in the castle of Colchester for religion did demaund of this widow Thurston whose husband died in the prison being imprisoned for religion wherefore the sayd Margaret beyng a condemned woman should be reserued when the other suffred in the Castle Baily She aunswered that it was not for any feare of death but beyng prepared as the rest were that suffered the same day she felte in her selfe a great shiuering and trembling of the flesh Whereuppon forsaking the company she went aside to pray And whilest she was a praying she thought that she was lifted vp with a mighty wynd that came round about her Euen at that instant came in the Gaoler and company with hym whilest she turned her selfe to fetch her Psalter they tooke the other prisoners and left her alone Shortly after shee was remooued out of the Castle and put into the Towne prison where she continued vntill Friday seuennight after her company were burnt That day not two howers before her death she was brought to the Castell agayne where shee declared thus much to the aforesayde Ioane Cooke The other named Agnes Bongeor who should haue suffred in like maner with the 6. that went out of Motchal was also kept backe at that tyme but not in lyke sort because her name was wrong written within the writte as in the Bailiffes letters of Colchester sent to Boner about the same more plainely doth appeare in the booke of our first edition pag. 1632. The same morning the 2. of August that the sayd sixe in Motehall were called out to goe to their Martyrdome was Agnes Bongeor also called with them by the name of Agnes Bowyer Wherefore the Bailiffes vnderstaÌ„ding her as I sayd to be wrong named within the writ commanded the sayd Agnes Bongeor to prison agayne as ye haue heard in the letter before named and so from Motehall that day sent her to the Castle where shee remayned vntill her death But when she saw her selfe so separated from her sayd prison fellowes in that sort Oh good Lord what piteous mone that good woman made how bitterly shee wepte what strange thoughts came into her mynde how naked and desolate she esteemed her selfe and into what plunge of dispayre and care her poore soule was brought it was piteous and wonderful to see which all came because she went not with them to geue her lyfe in the defence of her Christ for of all thyngs in the world lyfe was least looked for at her hands For that morning in which she was kept backe from burnyng had she put on a smocke that she had prepared onely for that purpose And also hauyng a child a little yong Infant suckyng on her whom she kept with her tenderly all the tyme she was in prison agaynst the day likewyse did she send it away to another Nurse and prepared her selfe presently to geue her selfe for the testimonie of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ. So little did shee looke for lyfe and so greatly did Gods gifts worke in her aboue nature that death seemed a
these articles thus ministred and layd to Cutbert Simson with his aunsweres likewise vnto the same the Bishop calling them altogether obiected to them other positions and articles the same whiche before are mentioned in the story of Bartlet Greene. pag. 1736. onely the 8. Article out of the same omitted and excepted which Articles because they are already expressed in the page aboue mentioned we neede not here to make anye newe reporte thereof but onely referre the Reader to the place assigned ¶ The aunsweres generall of Cutbert Simson Hugh Foxe and Iohn Deuinishe to the Articles by the Bishop to them generally proposed TO the first Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely but Iohn Deuenishe added that that Churche is grounded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles Christe being the head corner stone and how in that Churche there is the true fayth and religion of Christ. To the second Article they all confessed and beleeued that in Christes Catholicke Churche there are but two Sacramentes that is to witte Baptisme and the supper of the Lord otherwise they do not beleue the contentes of this Article to be true in any part therof To the 3. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely To the 4. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely ¶ Three godly Martirs burned in Smithfield To the sixt Article they al answered and denied to acknowledge the authoritie of the sea of Rome to be lawfull and good eyther yet his religion To the seuenth Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely that they haue and will doe still while they liue and Iohn Deuinishe adding thereto sayde that the sacrament of the aultar as it is now vsed is no sacrament at all To the 8. Article they all confessed and beleued all thynges aboue by them acknowledged and declared to be true and that they be of the Dioces of London and iurisdiction of the same These three aboue named persons and blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ Cutbert Foxe and Deuenish as they were altogether apprehended at Islington as is aboue declared so the same all three together suffered in Smithfield about the xxviii day of March in whose perfect constancie the same Lorde in whose cause and quarrell they suffered giuer of all grace and gouernour of all thinges be exalted for euer Amen ¶ The suffering and Martyrdome of William Nichole put to death by the wicked hands of the papistes at Herefordwest in Wales WE finde in al ages from the beginning that Sathan hath not ceassed at all times to molest the Churche of Christ with one affliction or other to the tryall of theyr fayth but yet neuer so aparauntly at anye time to all the worlde as when the Lorde hath permitted him power ouer the bodyes of hys saynctes to the shedding of theyr bloud and peruerting of religion for then sleepeth he not I warrant you from murdering of the same vnlesse they will fall downe with Achab and Iesabell to worship him and so kill and poyson their owne soules eternally as in The burning of W. Nicole at Herefordwest in Wales these miserable latter dayes of Queene Mary we haue felt heard and seene practised vppon Gods people Amonge whome wee finde recorded an honest good simple poore man one William Nicole who was apprehended by the Champions of the pope for speaking certayne wordes agaynst the cruell kingdome of Antichriste and the ninth day of Aprill 1558. was butcherly burnt and tormented at Herefordwest in Wales where he ended his life in a most happy and blessed state and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lorde whose goodnes bee praysed for euer Amen This William Nicoll as we are informed was so simple a good soule that many esteemed him half foolish But what he was we know not but this are we sure he died a good man and in a good cause what soeuer they iudge of hym And the more simplicitie of feeblenes of wit appeared in him the more beastly and wretched dothe it declare their cruell tyrannicall acte therin The Lord geue them repentaunce therefore if it bee his blessed will Amen Amen The Martyrdome of William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson put to death by the persecuting papists at Norwich in the county of Norfolke IMmediately after William Nicoll succeeded in that honourable and glorious vocation of Martyrdome three constaunt godly menne at Norwiche in Northfolk who were cruelly and tyrannically put to death for the true testimony of Iesus Christ the xix of May. an 1558. Whose names be these William Seaman Thomas Carman Thomas Hudson The sayde William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of xxvi yeares dwelling in Mendlesham in the county of Suffolke who was sūdry sought for tymes by the commandement of Sir Iohn Tirrell knight at laste he himselfe in the night searched his house and other places for him notwithstanding hee somewhat mist of his purpose God be thanked Then he gaue charge to hys Seruauntes Robert Baulding and Iames Clarke wyth others to seek for him Who hauing no officer went in the euening to hys house where he being at home they took him and caryed him to theyr Mayster Syr Iohn Tirrell This Baulding being Seamans nighe neighbour and whome the sayde Seaman greatly trusted as a speciall friend notwithstanding to doe hys Mayster a pleasure now became enemy to hys chiefe friend and was one of the busiest in the taking of him Now as they were goyng to cary hym to theyr Mayster Syr Iohn Tyrrell in the night it is credibly reported that there fell a lyghte betweene them out of the element and parted them Thys Baulding being in company with the rest when the light fell and albeit he was then in hys best age yet after the time neuer enioyed good daye but pyned away euen vnto the death Well for all that straunge sight as I sayd they caried him to theyr Mayster Who when he came asked him why he would not goe to Masse and to receaue the sacrament and so to worship it Unto which William Seaman aunswered denying it to bee a sacrament but sayde it was an Idoll and therefore would not receaue it After whiche wordes spoken sir Iohn Tirrel shortly sent hym to Norwiche to Hopton then Bishop and there after conference and examination had with him the bishop read his bloudy sentence of condemnation agaynst him and afterward deliuered him to the secular power who kepte him vnto the day of Martyrdome This sayd William Seaman left behynde him when he dyed a wife and three children very young and wyth the sayd young children hys wife was persecuted oute of the sayde towne also of Mendlesham because that shee would not go to heare Masse and all her corne and goods seased and taken awaye by Mayster Christopher Coles officers he being Lorde of the sayd towne Thomas Carman who as is sayd pledged Richarde Crashfield at hys burning and thereupon was apprehended being prisoner in Norwiche was about
execution done vpoÌ„ the same which for that he had not done the matter he sayd was great and therfore wylled him to look well vnto it how he would aunswere the matter And thus began he fiercely to lay to his charge Wherin note gentle Reader by the way the close and couert hypocrisy of the Papistes in theyr dealinges Who in the forme and stile of their owne sentence coÌ„demnatory pretend a petition vnto the seculer power In visceribus Iesu Christi vt iuris rigor mitigetur atque vt parcatur vitae That is That the rigour of the law may be mitigated and that their life may be spared And how standeth this now with their owne doinges and dealinges when this Chauncellour as ye see is not onely contented to geue Sentence agaynst them but also hunteth here after the Officer not suffering him to spare them although he would What dissimulation is this of men goyng and doyng contrarye to their owne wordes and profession But let vs returne to our mattâ—â— agayne The Sheriffe hearing the ChauÌ„cellours wordes and seeing him so vrging vpon him tolde him agayne that he was no babe which nowe was to be taught of hym If he had any writ to warrant and discharge him in burning those men then he knew what he had to do Why saith the Chauncellour did not I geue you a writ with my hande and 8. moe of the Close set vnto the same Well quoth the Sheriffe that is no sufficient discharge to me and therfore as I told you if ye haue a sufficient writ and warrant froÌ„ the superiour powers I know then what I haue to do in my office otherwise if you haue no other writ but that I tell you I wil neither burne them for you nor none of you all c. Where note agayne good Reader how by this it may be thought and supposed that the other poore Saintes and Martyrs of God such as had bene burned at Salisburye before were burned belike without any authorised or sufficient writ from the superiours but onely vpon the information of the Chauncellour and of the Close through the vncircumspect negligence of the Sheriffes which shoulde haue looked more substantially vpon the matter But this I leaue and referre vnto the Magistrates Let vs returne to the story agayne Doct. Geffrey the Chauncellour thus sent away from the Sheriffe went home and there fel sicke vpon the same for anger belike as they signified vnto me whiche were the partyes themselues both godly and graue persons who were then condemned the one of them which is Richarde White being yet aliue The vnder Sheriffe to this Syr Anthony HuÌ„gerford aboue named was one M. Michell likewise a right and a perfect godly man So that not long after this came down the writ to burne the aboue named Rich. White Iohn Hunt but the vnder Sheriffe receiuing the said writ sayd I will not be guilty quoth he of these mens bloud immediately burnt the writing and departed his way With in 4. dayes after the Chauncellour dyed Concerning whose death this coÌ„meth by the way to be noted that theâ—e 2. foresaid Iohn Hunt and Richard White being the same time in a lowe and darcke Dungeon being Saterday toward euening according to theyr accustomed maner fell to euening prayer Who kneeling there together as they should begin theyr prayer sodeÌ„ly fel both to such a strauÌ„ge weeping tendernes of hart but how they could not tell that they could not pray one word but so coÌ„tinued a great space brusting out in teares After that night was past and the morning come the first word they heard was that the Chauncellour theyr great enemy was dead The tyme of whose death they found to be the same houre wheÌ„ as they fell in such a sodeyne weeping The Lord in all his holy workes be praysed Amen Thus muche concerning the death of that wicked Chauncellour This Richard White and the sayd Iohn Hunt after the death of the Chauncellour the Byshop also being dead a litle before continued still in prison til the happy coÌ„ming in of Queene Elizabeth and so were set at liberty * The Martyrdome of a young lad of eight yeares olde scourged to death in Bishop Boners house in London IF bloudy tormâ—ntes and cruell death of a poore innocent suffering for no cause of his owne but in the trueth of Christ and his Religion do make a Martyr no lesse deserueth the child of one Iohn Fetty to be reputed in the Catalogue of holy Martirs who in the house of Bishop Boner vnmercifuly was scourged to death as by the sequele of this story here folowing may appeare Amongest those that were persecuted miserably imprisoned for the profession of Christes Gospell yeâ— mercifully deliuered by the prouidence of God there was one Iohn Fetty a simple and godly poore man dwelling in the parish of Clerkenwell was by vocation a Taylor of the age of 42. yeres or therabout who was accused and complained of vnto one Brokenbury a priest a parson of the same parish by his own wife for that he would not come vnto the church be partaker of theyr Idolatry superstition therfore through the sayd priestes procurement he was appreheÌ„ded by Rich. Tanner his felow constables there and one Martin the Hedborough Howbeit immediatly vpoÌ„ his appreheÌ„sion his wife by the iust iudgemeÌ„t of God was stricken mad and distract of her wits which declared a maruelous exaÌ„ple of the iustice of God agaynst such vnfaythfull and most vnnaturall treachery And although this example perhaps for lack of knowledge instruction in such cases little moued the consciences of those simple poore meÌ„ to surcease their persecutioÌ„ yet natural pity towards that vngratefull woman wrought so in theyr harts that for the preseruation sustentatioÌ„ of her her 2. children like otherwise to perishe they for that present let her husband alone and would not cary him to prison but yet suffered him to remayne quietly in his own house During whiche time he as it were forgetting the wicked and vnkinde fact of his wife did yet so cherish and prouide for her that within the space of three weekes through Gods mercifull prouidence she was well ameÌ„ded and had recouered agayne some stay of her wits and senses But suche was the power of Sathan in the malicious hart of that wicked woman that notwithstanding his geÌ„tle dealing with her yet she so soone as she had recouered some health did agayne accuse her husband whereupon he was the second time apprehended and caryed vnto Syr Iohn Mordaunt Knight one of the Queenes Commissioners and he vppon examination sent him by Cluny the Bishops Sumner vnto the Lollardes Tower where he was euen at the first put into the paynefull stockes and haâ— a dish of water set by him with a stone put into it To what purpose God knoweth except it were to shew that he shuld look for
they had sore laboured for vnlesse they made frendes to buy it with money of the sayd Sheriffe so cruel and greedy was he and his officers vpon such things as were there left Wel now this innoceÌ„t man is dead his goods spoiled his wife and children left desolate and comfortlesse and all things is hushte and nothing feared of any parte yet the Lord who surely doth reuenge the guiltles bloud would not stil so suffer it but began at the length to punish it him selfe For in the haruest after the sayde Grimwood of Hitcham one of the witnesses before specified as hee was in his labour staking vp a goffe of corne hauing hys health and fearing no pearill sodenly his bowels fell out of hys body and immediately most miserably he died suche was the terrible Iudgement of God to shâ—we his displeasure against this bloudy act and to warne the rest by these hys iudgements to repentance The Lorde graunt vs to honour the same for his mercies sake Amen This foresaid Fenning who was the procurer of this tyrannie against him is yet aliue and is nowe a minister which if he be I pray God he may so repent that fact that he may declare himselfe hereafter such a one as may well aunswere to his vocation accordingly But since we haue heard that he is no chaungeling but continueth still in his wickednes therfore presented before the woorshipfull Mayster Humerston Esquire and Iustice of Peace Coram for that he had talke with some of his friendes as he thoughte how many honest women to their great infamy were in the Parish of Wensthaston wherein he is now Uiâ—are resident wherfore he was commaunded the next sonday ensuing to aske all the Parish forgiuenes vpoÌ„ his knees openly in seruice tyme which he did in Wensthaston Church beforesayd moreouer the abouesayd Fenning is reported to be more lyke a shifter then a Minister To these examples also may be added the terrible iudgment of God vpon the Parson of Crondall in Kent who vpon Shrouesonday hauing receiued the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole came to his Parish and exhorted the people to receiue the same as he had done himselfe saying that he stoode now so cleare in coÌ„science as wheÌ„ he was first borne cared not now if he should dye the same houre in the clearenes of conscience whereupon being sodenly stricken by the hand of God leaning a little on the one syde immediately shronke down in the Pulpit so was found dead speaking not one word more Read before pag. 1560. Not long before the death of Queene Mary dyed Doctour Capon Bishop of Salisbury About the which tyme also followed the vnprepared death of Doctour Geffrey Chancellour of Salisbury who in the midst of his buildings sodainly being taken by the mighty hand of God yelded his lyfe which hadde so little pittye of other mens lyues before Concerning whose crueltye partly mention is made before pag. 2055. As touching moreouer this foresayde Chauncellour here is to be noted that he departing vpon a Saterday the next day before the same he hadde appoynted to call before him .90 persons and not so fewe to examine them by Inquisition had not the goodnes of the Lord and his tender prouidence thus preuented him with death prouiding for his poore seruauntes in tyme. And now to come from Priests to Lay men we haue to finde in them also no lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heauy iudgement vpon such as haue beene vexers and persecutours of his people Before in the story of M. Bradford .1624 mention was made of Maister Woodroffe who being theÌ„ Sheriffe vsed much to reioyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ and so hard he was in his office that when Mayster Rogers was in the cart going toward Smithfield and in the way his childreÌ„ wer brought vnto him the people making a laue for them to come Maister Woodroffe bad the carmans head should be brokeÌ„ for staying his cart But what happened He was not come out of his office the space of a weeke but he was stricken by the sodaine hand of God the one halfe of his body in suche sorte that he lay be nummed and bedred not able to moue himself but as he was liâ—ted of other and so contynued in that infirmity the space of 7. or 8. yeares tyll his dying day pag. 1624. Lykewise touching Rafe Lardyn the betrayer of George Eagles it is thought of some that the sayd Rase afterward was attached himselfe arraegned and hanged Who being at the barre had these woordes before the Iudges there and a greate multitude of people This is most iustly fallen vpon me saythe he for that he hadde betrayed the innocent bloud of a good iust man George Eagles who was here condemned in the time of Queene Maryes raygne thorough his procurment who sold hys bloud for a little money Not much vnlyke stroke of these seuerally was shewed vpon W. Swallow of Chemlford his wife also vpon Rich. Potto Iustice Browne cruel persecutors of the sayd George Egles concerning whose story Reade before pag. 2009. Amonge other persecutours also came to our handes the cruelty of one Maister Swingfield an Aldermans Deputye about Thamis streete who hearing 〈◊〉 Angelles wyfe a midwyfe that kepte her selfe from their Popishe Church to be at the labour of one Mistres Walter al crooked Lane ende tooke three other with him and besette the house about and tooke her and caryed her to Boners officers bigge with childe 28. weekes gone who layd her in Lollardes Tower where as the same daye shee came in thorough feare and a fall at her taking she was deliuered of a man childe could haue no woman with her in that needefull tyme. Lying there 5. weekes she was deliuered vnder suertyes by friendship and Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with fellony and so sent her to Newgate The cause was for that she had a womaÌ„ at her house in her labour that dyed and the child also and so he charged her with their death But when Syr Roger Cholmley hearde her tell her tale he deliuered her and not much more then 10. weekes after if it were so long dyed the sayd Maister Swingfield and the other three that came to take her Because some there be and not a few which haue such a great deuotion in setting vp the Popish Masse I shal desire theÌ„ to marke well this story following There was a certain Bailiffe of CrowlaÌ„d in Lincolnshire named Burton who pretending an earnest frendship to the Gospel in king Edwards dayes in outward shew at least although inwardly he was a Papist or Atheist and wel knowen to be a man of a wicked adulterous life set forth the kinges proceedinges lustely till the time that king Edward was dead and Queene Mary placed quietly in her estate Then perceiuing by the first proclamation concerning Religion how the world was lyke to turne
824. Dauid Beaton Archbishop of s. Andrewes in Scotland shortly after the beginning of M. George Wisard how hee by the iust stroke of God was slaine and wretchedly ended his lyfe within his owne Castle in the discourse of his story is euident to see who so listeth further to read of that matter pag. 1272. Ioannes Sleidanus in his 23. booke maketh relatiâ—â— of Cardinall Crescentius the chiefe President and moderator of the Councell of Trident ann 1552. The story of whom is certain the thing that hapned to him was straÌ„ge and notable the exaÌ„ple of him may be profitable to others such as haue grace to be warned by other meÌ„s euils The narration is this The 25. day of March in the yere aforesaid Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trident was sitting all the day long vntill darke night in writing letters to thâ— Pope After his labour when night was come thinking to refresh himselfe he began to rise and at his rising beholde there appeared to hym a mighty blacke dogge of a huge bignes his eyes flamyng with fire and his eares hanging low downe welneere to the ground to enter in and straite to come toward hym so to couch vnder the boord The Cardinall not a little amased at the sight thereof somewhat recouering himselfe ralled to his seruauntes which were in the outward chaÌ„ber next by to bring in a candle and to seeke for the dog But when the dog could not be found neither there nor in no other chamber about the Cardinall thereupon striken with a sodaine conceit of mynd immediately fell into such a sicknes wherof his Phisitions which he had about hym with all their industry and cunnyng coulde not cure hym And so in the towne of Uerona died this popish cardinall the Popes holy Legate and President of this couÌ„cel wherein his purpose was as Sleidane saith to recouer and heale againe the whole authoritie and doctrine of the Romish see and to set it vp for euer There were in this Councell beside the Popes Legates and Cardinall of Trident lxij Bishops Doctours of Diuinitie xlij And thus was the ende of that Popishe Councell by the prouident hand of the almighty dispatched and brought to naught Ex Sleidano Li. 23. This Councell of Trident being then dissolued by the death of this Cardinal was afterward notwithstanding recollected againe about the yeare of our lord 1562. against the erroneous proceedings of which Councel other writers there be that say enough So much as pertaineth only to story I thought hereunto to adde concernyng two filthy adulterous bishops to the sayd Councel belonging of whome the one haunting to an honest mans wife was slaine by the iust stroke of God with a Borespeare The other Bishop whose haunte was to creepe through a window in the same window was subtilly taken and hanged in a grinne layed for hym of purpose and so conueied that in the mornyng hee was seene openly in the streete hangyng out of the windowe to the wonderment of all that passed by Ex protestatione Concionatorum Germa aduersus conuentum Trident. c. Amongst all the religious order of Papists who was a stouter defender of the Popes side or a more vehement impugner of Martin Luther then Iohn Eckius who if his cause wherein he so trauailed had bene godly had deserued no doubt great fauour and condigne retribution at the hands of the Lord. Now for so much as we cannot better iudge of him then by his ende let vs consider the maner of his departing hence and compare the same with the end of M. Luther In the which M. Luther beyng such an aduersarye as he was to the Pope and hauyng no lesse then al the world vpon him at once first this is to bee noted that after all these trauailes the Lord gaue him to depart both in great age and in his owne natiue countrey where he was born Secondly he blessed him with such a quiet death without any violent hande of any aduersary that it was counted rather a sleepe then a death Thirdly as the death of hys body was myld so his spirit mynde continued no lesse godly vnto the end continually inuocating and calling vpon the name of the Lord and so commending his spirite to hym with feruent prayer he made a blessed and an heauenly ending Fourthly ouer and besides these blessings almighty God did also adde vnto him such an honourable buriall as to many great Princes vnneth happeneth the like And this briefly concernyng the ende of M. Luther as ye may read before more at large pag. 863. Now let vs consider and conferre with this the death of Iohn Eckius and the maner thereof which we find in the English translation of the history of Iohn Carion fol. 250. in these words expressed This yere saith he died at Ingold state Doctor Eckius a faithful seruant and champion of the Pope and a defender of the abhominable Papacie But as his lyfe was full of all vngodlines vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pitifull in so much that his last wordes as it is noted of many credible personnes were these In case the foure thousand guildens were ready the matter were dispatched c. Dreamyng belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Some say that the Pope had granted him a certaine Deanry which he should haue redeemed from the Courte of Rome with the foresayd summe Now what a heauenly ende this was of M. Eckius I leaue it to the Readers iudgement In the Citie of Andwerpe was as they terme hym there a Shoulted that is to say the next Officer to the Markgraue one named Iohn Uander Warfe a Bastard sonne of a stocke or kinred called Warfe of good estimation amongest the chiefest in Antwarpe Who as he was of nature cruell so was he of iudgement peruerse and corrupt and a sore persecutor of Christes flocke with greedines seekyng and sheddyng innocent bloud and had drouned diuers good men and women in the water for the which he was much commended of the bloudy generation Of some he was called a bloudhound or bloudy dog Of other he was called Shildpad that is to say Sheltode for that hee beyng a short grundy and of little stature did ride commonly with a great broad hat as a churl of the countrey This man after he was weary of his office wherein he had continued aboue xx yeres he gaue it ouer and because he was now growen rich and welthy he entended to passe the residue of his lyfe in pleasure and quietnes During which tyme about the second yeare after hee had left his office he came to Antwarpe to the feast called our Ladies Oumegang to make mery which feast is vsually kept on the Sonday followyng the assumption of our Lady The same day in the after noone about foure of the clock he being wel loden with wine rode homewards
in his wagon with his wife and a gentlewoman waiting on her and his foole As soone as the Wagon was come without the gate of the citie called Croneborgh gate vpon the wooden bridge beyng at that tyme made for a shifte with railes or barres on both sides for more safetie of the passengers halfe a mans heighth more the horses stood still and would by no meanes go forward whatsoeuer the guider of the wagon could do Then he in a drunken rage cried out to him that guided the wagō saying Ride on in a thousand deuils name ride on Wherat the poore man answered that he could not make the horses to goe forward By and by whyle they were yet thus talking sodenly rose as it were a mighty hurlewynd with a terrible noyse the wether beyng very faire no wynd stirring before tost the wagon ouer the barre into the towne ditch the ropes whereat the horses had bene tied beyng broken a sunder in such sort as if they had bene cut with a sharp knife the wagon also being cast vpsidedowne with the fore end thereof turned toward the towne agayne and he drowned in the mire and when he was taken vp it was found that his necke also was broken His wife was taken vp aliue but died also within three dayes after But the Gentlewoman and the foole by Gods mighty prouidence were preserued had no harm The foole hearing the people say that his Maister was dead sayd was not I dead was not I dead too This was done an 1553. Witnesse hereof not onely the Printer of the same story in Dutch dwelling then in Andwerpe whose name was Fraunces Fraet a good man and afterward for hatred put to death of Papistes but also diuers Dutchmen here now in England and a great number of English merchants which then were at Antwerpe are yet alyue Of the sodaine death of Bartholomeus Chassaneus or Cassanus persecutor read before pag. 943. Of Minerius the bloudy persecutor or rather tormētor of Christes saints how he dyed with bleeding in hys lower partes ye heard before pag. 953. And what should I speake of the iudge which accompanied the sayd Minerius in his persecution who a little after as he returned homeward was drowned and three mo of the same company killed one another vpon a strife that fell amongst them pag. 953. Ioannes de Roma cruell Monke whom rather wee may call a hell hound then persecutor what hellishe tormentes hee hadde deuised for the poore Christians of Angrongne the cōtents of the story before doth expresse pag. 216. Agayne with what like torments afterward that doublefold the Lord payd him home agayne who in hys rottyng and stinking death neither could find any enemy to kill hym nor any friend to bury him who neither could abide his owne stinking carion nor any man els to come neare hym Hereof read also in the same page and plate aboue specified Such a like persecutor also the same tyme was the lord of Reuest who likewise escaped not the reuenging hand of Gods iustice being striken after his furious persecution with a like horrible sicknes and such a furie and madnesse that none durst come neare him and so most wretchedly died Whereof read before pag. 943. Touching the like grieuous punishment of God vpō one Iohn Martin a persecutor read pag. 955. Erasmus in an Epistle or Apologie written in defence of his Colloquies inferreth mention of a certayne noble person of great riches and possessions who hauyng wyfe and children with a great familie at home to whom by S. Pauls rule he was bound in conscience principally aboue all other worldly thyngs to attend had purposed before his death to go see Ierusalem And thus all thyngs beyng set in order this Noble man about to set foreward on his iourny committed the care of his wife whom he left great with childe and of his Lordshippes and Castles to an Archbishop as to a most sure and trusty father To make short it happened in the iourney this Noble man to dye Whereof so soone as the Archbishop had intelligence in stead of a father he became a thiefe and robber seising into his owne handes all his Lordshippes and possessions And moreouer not yet contented with all this he layed siege agaynst a strong fort of his vnto the which his wife for safegard of her selfe did flee where in conclusion shee with the child that she went withall pitifully was slaine and so miserably perished Which story was done as testifieth Erasmus not so long before his tyme but that there remayned the nephews of the said Noble man then aliue to whom the same inheritance should haue fallen but they could not obtaine it What commeth of blynd superstition when a mā not conteining himselfe within the compasse of Gods worde wandereth in other bywayes of his owne and not contented with the religion set vp of the Lord wyll binde his conscience to other ordinaunces prescriptions and religious deuised by men leauyng Gods commaundements vndone for the constitutions and preceptes of men what ende and reward I say commeth thereof at length by this one example beside infinite other of the like sort men may learne by experience and therefore they that yet will defend Idolatrous pilgrimage and rash vowes let them well consider hereof It is rightly sayd of saint Hierome to haue bene at Hierusalem is no great matter but to lyue a godly and vertuous lyfe that is a great matter in very deede In the yeare of our Lord 1565. there was in the town of Gaunt in Flanders one William de Weuer accused imprisoned by the Prouost of S. Peters in Gaunt who had in his Cloister a prison and a place of execution and the day when the sayd William was called to the place of iudgement the Prouost sent for M. Gyles Brackleman principall aduocate of the Counsaile of Flaunders Borough maister and Iudge of S. Peters in Gaunt wyth other of the rulers of the towne of Gaunt to sit in iudgement vpon hym and as they sate in iudgement the Borough maister named M. Gyles Brackleman reasoned with the sayd William de Weuer vpon diuers articles of his fayth The one whereof was why the sayd William de Weuer denied that it was not lawfull to pray to Saintes and he aunswered as the report goeth for three causes The one was that they were but creatures and not the creator The second was that if he should call vpon them the Lord did both see it and heare it therefore he durst geue the glory to none other but to God The third and chiefest cause was that the creator had commaunded in his holy word to call vpon him in troubles vnto which commaundement he durst neither adde nor take from it The Borough maister M. Gyles Brackelman also demaunded whethere he did not beleeue that there was a Purgatory which he should go into after
the state of your own person but of your kingdome also To what end became the enterprise of the Duke of Guise in Italy goyng about the seruice of the enemy of God and purposing after his returne to destroy the Vallies of Piemont to offer or sacrifice them to God for his victories The euent hath well declared that God can turne vpsidedowne our counsailes and enterprises as he ouerturned of late the enterprise of the Constable of Fraunce at S. Quintins hauyng vowed to God that at his returne he would go and destroy Geneua when he had gotten the victory Haue you not heard of L. Ponchet Archbish. of Toures who made sute for the erection of a Court called Chamber Ardente wherein to condemne the Protestantes to the fire who afterwardes was striken with a disease called the fire of God whiche began at his feete and so ascended vpward that he caused one member after another to be cut off and so died miserably without any remedy Also one Castellanus who hauyng enriched himselfe by the Gospell and forsaking the pure doctrine thereof to returne vnto his vomite again went about to persecute the Christians at Orleans by the hand of God was striken in his body with a sickenes vnknowen to the Phisitions the one halfe of his body burnyng as whote as fire and the other as colde as Ise and so most miserably crying and lamentyng ended his lyfe There be other infinite examples of Gods iudgements worthy to be remembred as the death of the Chauncellour and Legate du Prat which was the first that opened to the Parliament the knowledge of heresies and gaue out the first Commissions to put the faythfull to death who afterwarde died in his house at Natoillet swearyng and horribly blasphemyng GOD and hys stomacke was founde pierced and gnawen a sunder wyth wormes Also Iohn Ruse Counsailor in the Parliament comming frō the Court after he had made report of the processe agaynst the poore innocentes was taken with a burnyng in the lower parte of his belly and before he could be brought home to his house the fire inuaded all his secret partes and so hee died miserably burnyng all his belly ouer without any signe or token of the acknowledging of God Also one named Claude de Asses a Counsailour in the sayd Courte the sayde day that he gaue his opinion and consent to burne a faythfull Christian albeit it was not done in deede as he would haue it after he had dyned committed whoredome with a seruaunte in the house and euen in doyng the acte was striken with a disease called Apoplexia whereof he dyed out of hande Peter Liset chiefe President of the sayd Courte and one of the authors of the foresayd burnyng chamber was deposed frō his office for beyng known to be out of his right wit and bereaued of his vnderstandyng Also Iohn Morin Lieuetenaunt Criminall of the Prouost of Paris after he had bene the cause of the death of many christians was finally striken with a disease in his legs called the Wolues whereby he lost the vse of them died also out of his wits many dayes before denieng and blaspheming God Likewise Iohn Andrew Bookebinder of the Pallace a spie for the President Liset and of Bruseard the kings sollicitor died in a fury and madnes The Inquisitor Iohn de Roma in Prouence his flesh fell from hym by peece meale so stinkyng that no man might come nere hym Also Iohn Minerius of Prouence which was the cause of the death of a great number of men women and children at Cabriers at Merindol died with bleeding in the lower partes the fire hauing take his belly blaspheming and despising of God besides many other wherof we might make recital which were punished with the like kynd of death It may please your maiesty to remember your self that ye had no sooner determined to set vpon vs but new troubles were by and by moued by your enemies with whom ye could come to no agreement which God would not suffer for as much as your peace was grounded vpon the persecution which ye pretended against Gods seruauntes As also your Cardinals can not let through their crueltie the course of the Gospell which hath taken such roote in your realme that if God should geue you leaue to destroy the professors thereof you should bee almost a kyng without subiects Tertullian hath well sayde that the bloud of Martyrs is the seed of the Gospell Wherfore to take away all these euyls commyng of the riches of the papistes which cause so much whoredome Sodomitrie and incest wherein they wallowe lyke hogs feeding their idle bellies the best way were to put them from their lands and possessions as the old sacrifising Leuits were according to the expresse commaundement which was geuen to Iosua For as long as the ordinance of God tooke place and that they were voyde of ambition the puritie of religion remayned whole and perfect but when they began to aspire to principalitie riches and worldly honours then began the abhomination of desolation that Christ found out It was euen so in the Primatiue church for it flourished continued in all purenesse as long as the Ministers were of smal wealth and sought not their particuler profite but the glorye of God onely For since the Popes began to be princelike and to vsurpe the dominion of the Empire vnder the colour of a fals donation of Constantine they haue turned the Scriptures from their true sense and haue attributed the seruice to themselues which we owe to God Wherefore your Maiestie may seise with good right vpon all the temporalties of the benefices and that with a safe conscience for to employ them to their true right vse First for the findyng and maintainyng of the faithfull Ministers of the word of God for such liuyngs as shall be requisite for them accordyng as the case shall require Secondly for the entertainment of your Iustices that geue iudgement Thirdly for the relieuyng of the poore and maintenance of Colledges to instruct the poore youth in that which they shall be most apte vnto And the rest which is infinite may remayne for the entertainment of your owne estate and affaires to the great easement of your poore people which alone beare the burthen and possesse in maner nothyng In this doyng an infinite number of men and euen of your Nobilitie which lyue of the Crucifix should employ themselues to your seruice and the common wealths so much the more diligently as they see that ye recompence none but those that haue deserued where as now there is an infinite number of men in your kingdome which occupy the chiefest greatest benefices which neuer deserued any part of them c. And thus much touching the superfluous possessions of the Popes Lordly Clergie Now procedyng further in this exhortation to the king thus the letter importeth But when the Papists see that they haue
you as from the Queenes Maiesty by commaundement who doth require of vs all a more dilligēce in execution of lawes then is spyed commonly abroad Whereby we shall do our duties to almighty God the better declare our allegiance to our Souereigne regard the maiesty of the lawes loue the quiet of our country and procure the safety of our selues God saue the Queene And here I trust we are now come to an end of al our English Martyrs which hetherto haue bene burnt for the veritie of the gospell if we adde besides to the same a godly countryman more of ours one named Richard Atkins an Hartfordshyre man who of late about two yeares past in the reigne of this our gracious Queene an 1581. most miserably was tormented at Babilon that is in the citie of Rome The cause and maner of whose suffering and martirdome here ensueth taken out of a certayne late printed story and testified by such as were present witnes and beholders of the same most tragicall execution The purport of whiche story in wordes as is put downe by the said reporter here vnder followeth * A true report of the horrible and merciles martyrdome of one Richard Atkins an Englishe man with extreeme tormentes and most cruell rage of furious tyrantes persecutors put to death at Rome ABout the month of Iuly an 1581. one Richard Atkins borne in Hartfordshire an english man came to Rome and hauing found the englishe Colledge knocked at the dore To whome diuers of the studentes there came out to welcome him vnderstanding that he was an Englishe man Among other talk had with him they willed him to goe to the hospitall and there to receiue his meat and lodging according as the order was appoynted whereunto he aunswered I come not my countrimen to any suche intent as you iudge but I come louingly to rebuke the great misorder of your liues whiche I greeue to heare and pity to beholde I come likewise to let youre proude Antichrist vnderstand that hee doth offend the heauenly maiestie robbe God of his honour and poysoneth the whole world with his abhominable blasphemies making them homage stockes and stones and that filthy sacramēt which is nothing els but a foolish Idol When they heard these wordes one Hugh Griffin a Welche man and a student in the Colledge caused him to be put in the Inquisition where how they examined him and howe he aunswered them I know not but after certayn dayes he was set at libertie agayne And one day going in the streete he met a priest carying the sacrament whiche offending hys conscience to see the people so crouche and bow downe to it he caught at it to haue throwne it downe but missing of his purpose and being iudged by the people that hee dyd catch at the holinesse that they say commeth from the sacrament vppon mere deuotion hee was let passe and nothing sayd to him few dayes after hee came to S. Peters Churche where diuers gentlemen and other were hearing Masse and the Priest at the eleuation he vsing no reuerence stepped among the people to the aultar threw downe the Chalice with the wine striuing likewise to haue pulled the cake out of the priestes handes for whiche diuers rose vp and beate hym with theyr fistes and one drewe his rapier and woulde haue slayne him so that in briefe he was caryed to prison where hee was examined wherfore he had committed such a hainous offence wherunto he aunswered that he came purposely for that intent to rebuke the popes wickednes and theyr Idolatry Upon this he was condemned to be burned which sentence he sayd hee was right willing to suffer and the rather because the summe of his offence pertayned to the glorye of God During the time he remayned in prison sundry English men came vnto him willing him to be sory for that he hadde done and to recant from his damnable opinion but all the meanes they vsed were in vayne hee confuted theyr dealinges by diuers places of scripture and willed them to be sory for theyr wickednesse while God did permit thē tyme els they were in danger of euerlasting damnation these wordes made the English men departe for they could not abide to heare them Within a while after he was set vpō an Asse without any saddle he being from the middle vpward naked hauing some englishe priestes with him to talke with him but he regarded them not but spake to the people in so good a language as he could and told them they were in a wrong way and therfore willed them for Christes sake to haue regard to the sauing of theyr soules All the way as he went there were foure did nothing els but thrust at his body with burning Torches whereat he neuer moued nor shronke one iote but with a cherefull countenaunce laboured to perswade the people often bending his body to meet the torches as they were thrust at him and woulde take them in hys owne hand and hold them burning still vppon his body whereat the people not a little wondered Thus he continued almost the space of halfe a mile till he came before S. Peters where the place of execution was When he was come to the place of execution there they had made a deuise not to make the fire about him but to burne his legges first whiche they did he not dismaying any whit but suffered all meruaylous cherefully whiche moued the people to such a quandary as was not in Rome many a day Then they offered him a crosse and willed him to embrace it in token that hee dyed a christian but he put it away with hys hand telling them that they were euill men to trouble him with suche paltry when he was preparing himselfe to God whome he beheld in maiestie and mercy ready to receaue him into the eternall rest They seeing him in this minde departed saying let vs goe and leaue him to the deuill whome hee serues Thus ended this faythfull souldiour and Martyr of Christe who is no doubt in glory with hys mayster whereunto God graunt vs all to come Amen This is faythfully auouched by Iohn Young who was at that tyme and a good while after in Rome in seruice with mayster Doctor Morton who seing the Martirdome of this man when he came home to hys house in presence of M. Smith his sonne M. Creede and the sayd Ioh. Young spake as followeth Surely this fellow was meruaylous obstinate hee nothing regarded the good counsayle which was vsed to hym nor shronke all the way when the torches wer thrust at hys naked body Beside in the place of execution hee did not faynt nor cry one iote in the fire albeit they tormēted him very cruelly and burned him by degrees as his legges first to put him to the greater payne yet all this he did but smile a◠Doubtlesse but that the worde of God cannot be but true els we might iudge this fellow to be of God for who could haue suffered so much payne
for her godly zeale to the truth detestatioÌ„ of papistry 2145.2146 Crosse in this life a token of Gods election .1652 oughte paciently to be borne of euery true Christian man .1835 what fruit it bringeth ibid. Crosbowmaker his story 1229. Creed not made al by the Apostles 684.685 Crosmans wife her trouble deliuery 2073 Cromwell his notable Story his rare commendation .1177 hys voyage to Rome with his actes there .1178 receiued into the Cardinalles seruice complayned of to the king made knight M. of the Roles and Earle of Essex .1179 he was a great suppressor of Abbeyes 1181. his Oration to the Byshoppes .1182 his curtesy to his olde frendes .1186 appreheÌ„ded and crimes laid agaynst him 1187. his death 1190 Cromwell the onely preferrer of Boner 1088 C V. Cup debarred in the administratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper 1778 Custome for woll raysed 388 Custome letteth Edwine to bee Christened 121 Custome and Ueritye a Dialogue betwene them 1388 Custome without truth agaynst truth what 121 Custome of sinne a perilous and daungerous matter 1932 Cuspinianus girdeth the pope 304 Cutbert Symson his story .2031 his fingers grated thorow wyth an arrow racked .2032 his visioÌ„ 2033. articles ministred agaynst him .2033 his martirdome 2034 Cutbert Archbishop of Caunterbury his synodall decrees 128 Cuthlake a Popish Saint .125 his lying miracles ibid. Cursse of the pope hurteth not but rather profiteth the godly 545.546 Cursing with booke bell and candle 202.1038 Curssinges of Papistes taken for great blessinges 1038 Curde Martyr burned at Northhampton 202â— C Y. Cyprian his Apollogy for the christians 68 Cyprian banished for the Gospell and writeth to the chrisâ—iaâ—s out of exile exhorting them to constancy in the trueth .66 his countrey and education he was elect Byshop of Carthage his modestye patience visions and moste constaunt Martyrdome for the truth of Christes Gospell .69 his Sentences 70 Cyprians diuers of that name 71 D. A. DAbney his trouble happy deliuerance 2071. Dale a popishe promoter eaten wyth lice 2101. Dale troubled for the gospels truth and dyed in prison 2045.2046 Dalaber his story 1195.1196.1197.1198 Damiâ—ta taken of the Christians 273.268 Damasus the 2. Pope 168. Damasus subdued of the Sarazens 737. Damlip persecuted in Calice .1223 his martyrdome 1229. Danes and their story 135. they inuade England ibid. Danes driuen froÌ„ Norfolke Chester and diuers other places .142 at the last expelled England 163. Danes by conspiracy slayne thorough out all England 161. Danes field at Merton 141. Dane gilt released 199. Dane gilt 160. Dante 's an Italian writer against the Pope 390. Dandalus submitteth himselfe for his crueltie 368. Daruell Gatheren a filthy idoll in Wales 1100. Daughter compelled to set fire to her father 774. Dangerfield and his wife theyr tragicall history 1953. Dauies a childe vnder 12. yeares of age condemned for the sixe articles and preserued 2073. Dauid of Wales 119. Dauid king of Scottes inuadeth England and is taken prisoner 386. Dauid beaten a persecutor his fearfull dâ—ath 1272. Dauids stocke feared of the Empyre of Rome .40.48 is sought for and murthered ibid. Day martyr his story 2037 D. E. Dead men excommunicate by the Pope 393. Death of Martyrs the life of the Gospell 1932. Death of Charles 9. frenche kyng with the Cardinall of Lorayne 2154. Death of Hus and Hierome of Prage reuenged 656. Death of king Lucius 107. Debnam hanged for taking downe Douer Court Roode 1031. Decius Emperoure a persecutor 59.60 Decius a tyraunt a cruell persecutor of poore Christians his death 66. Declaration of the preachers in prison 1469. Decretall Epistles confuted 58. Decree that no secular man should geue any spiritual liuing 169. Decree beginning ego Ludouicus proued false 5. Decrees of the councell of Basill godly 696. Decrees of Fabianus forged 60 Decrees of Anselme 194. Decrees of Laterane councell in Rome 230. Decree of Spyres resisted by the Protestantes 872. Decrees of Pope Urbanus 185. Dedication of Churches 53. Dedication of Churches 1404. Degradation of an archbishop wiâ—h the order and ridiculous manner thereof 2133.2134.2135 Degradation froÌ„ the order of deaconship subdeaconship Benet and Colet exorcising readership dorekeeper or sextonship 2134.2135 Degradation of Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury 2133.2134.1883 Degradation ridiculous of the popes best maner 517. Degradation of M. Hooper 1768. Degradation popishe the manner thereof 879. Deicham why so called 115. Degrees in the Church distincted 21. Degrees of Mariage forbid by the Pope 859. Degrees prohibited by the lawes of God to mary in 1053 Defence of Richard Hunne against Syr Thomas More and Alanus Copus 811. Defence of the Lord Cobham agaynst Ala. Copus 568. Defence of M. Bilney agaynst sir Thomas More 1008.1009 Deposition concerning the murthering of Richard Hunne 810. Defence of Wickliffe by Ioh. Hus in Prage 451.452 Defence of the Garnesey story agaynst M. Harding 1946.1947 1948. Defender of the fayth no meete title for any man 1754. Defection of the Romish Church from the old fayth and church of Rome 23.29 Demaundes for the Papistes to aunswere vnto 17. Denyers returne agayne to theyr former profession 37. Denie Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1912. Denis Burgis Martyr his story 1983.1994 Denley martyr his story and martyrdome 1683.1684.1686.1688 Denton burned in his owne house 2103. Deposition agaynst M. Bilney 1000. Derifall his story and martyrdom 1914.1915.1916 Description of Lollardes Tower with the sondry kindes of tormentes therein 1703. Descension of Christ into hell 873 Deuotion without knowledge is hurtfull 1114. Deuill and the pope alike 1890. Deuenish martyr 2033.2034 Deuill tame his story 2108. D. I. Diadumenus Emperour 57. Dialogue betweene Tho. Bilney and frier Brusiard 1002. Dialogue betweene custome and truth 1388. Dicke Adams his confession of the truth at the gallows dehortation from papistry 2145 Didacy a crafty Fryer temptyng Iohn Hus. 600. Didimus a good christian souldier martyr preseruer of Theodora her chastitie 63. Diet of Norenberge 854. Difference betweene Byshoppes and Priestes how it is come 1066. Difference betweene the Churche of Rome that nowe is and the Churche of Rome that was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12.14.20.281.107 Difference betweene Priests and Monkes 150.1181 Difference betweene the Greeke Churche the Romayn church 286.287.186 Difference about the celebration of Easter 44.45.54 Difference betweene the law and the Gospell 26. Difference betweene Peter and the Pope 1120. Difference betweene Christes naturall body and the sacrament thereof 1145. Difference betweene the Papistes and the Protestantes in the reall presence of the Lordes supper 1761 Dignities ecclesiasticall in the haÌ„ds of strangers valued 429 Dighton murtherer of his Prince 728 Dionisius Corinthius an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Dionisius willed by God to flie persecution 62 Dionisius Areopagita hys booke de Hierarchia suspected 53 Dionisius bishop of Alexandria with others banished his story .72 his death 73 Dionisius bishop of AlexaÌ„dria writeth to Fabius 61 Dionisius Alexandrinus his Epistle to Germanus 62. Dines Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Dioclesian Emperor a tyrant raiser
throwne downe at Basil. 871 Impropriations and first fruites abused by the Pope 5 Impropriations deuillish and vngodly cause of muche wickednes 862 Imber fast or deined by whō wherfore and when 58.197 Incense 1404. Inconueniences that follow the taking away of Gods word 1904 Indenture concerning the 22. prisoners apprehended at Colchester 1972. Inditement of the Lorde Cobham Syr Roger Acton and others 575. Indulgences of the Pope blasphemous and wicked 844 Infantes murthered and found in Lenton Abby 1947. Ingar and Hubbe captains of the Danes .140 slayne in Englefield 141.114 Iniunctions of king Henry 8. for reformation of religion 1094.1095.1096 Innocentius 2. pope vsurper 200. Innocentius 4. made Pope to sit in the seate of pestilence .313 hys crueltie and death ibid. Innocentius 3. Pope ennemy to Chrstes Church hys acts decrees 259. Innocentius 8. his bloudy cruelty 711. Ina his Lawes 778. Inquisition of Spayne most bloudy how it is vsed and what vnspekable hurt commeth by it 930.931.932.933 Inquisition at Cambridge by the inquisitours with the processe and burning of Bucer Paulus Phagius bones 1956.1958 1960.1962.1963.1966.1968 Inquisition agaynst euill officers 350. Inquisition at Oxford 526. Inquisitiō bloud◠of the 6. Articles by king Henry the 8. 1136. Inquisition bloudy by Pope Martin 651. Insurrections and rebellions the causes thereof 1753. Interrogatories ministred to Thomas Arthure and M. Bilney 999. Interpretation of the prophesies of the Turke and Pope 769. Introit of the Masse by whome it was introduced 1401. Inuocation 1108. Inuocation of saynctes 28. I. O. Iohn Alcocke martyr troubled for reading Gods word to the people in the absence of their pastor apprehended committed to prison and dyeth in the same 2146. Iohn Andrew bookbinder a persecutor plagued 2109. Iohn Apprice martyr 1909.1910 Ioh. Aishton troubled exam 437 Iohn Adams Martyr ibid. Iohn Auerth a popish priest 1519 Iohannes Anglicus Cardinall hys words to the Pope 290 Iohn Aucocke dyed in prison and buried in the fields 1561 Iohn Aleworth died in pryson 1683 Iohn Bradford Martyr his excellent story .1603 his lyfe and education ibid. appeaseth the rage at Paules crosse .1604 imprisoned ibid. his conference with Winchester and the commissioners .1605 his sundry examinations .1606.1607.1608.1610.1611 hys priuate talke with Harpsfield and others .1612.1613.1614 wyth certayne Bishops .1615.1616 with Friers .1617.1618 with others .1620.1622 his condemnation .1623 hys glorious martyrdome .1624 hys letters 1625 1626.1628.1630.1664.1638.1666 Iohn Badby his story and grieuous persecution .521 his constancy and martyrdome for the truth 522 Ioane Boughton Martyr 731 Iohn Barton persecuted 641 Ioane Beach Martyr 1906 Iohn Browne his story .1292 hys martyrdome 1293 Iohn Bent Martyr 1030 Iohn Baker Martyr 2058 Ioane Bradbridge Martyr her story 1979 Iohn Browne Martyr 805 Iohn Butler his story 1226 Iohn Bland preacher and Martyr his story .1665 apprehēded .1666 hys examination and aunswers .1667.1668 his appearaunce in the spirituall court with his answers there .1670 his confutation of transubstantiation .1671 1672.1674.1676 his death and prayer at the same 1676 Iobita Martyr 41 Iohn Castellane doctor and martyr his trouble and persecution .878 his degradation .879 hys martyrdome 880 Iohn Cornford Martyr his story and martyrdome 2053 Iohn Cheeke his story recantation repentance and death 1955 Iohn Clarke Iohn Archer wyth their fellowes famished in the castle at Canterb. for the Gospell 1954 Iohn Carelesse hys death in the Kings Bench his examinatiōs and aunswers .1919.1920 hys letters 1921.1922.1924.1926.1928.1930.1932.1933 Iohn Cardmaker his trouble persecution and martyrdome 1578.1579.1580 Iohn Ardley his story articles ministred against him with his answers .1582 his martyrdome 1583 Iohn Cooke Martyr his story and martyrdome 2047 Iohn Cauell Martyr his story 1895.1896 Iohn Chapman Martyr 1036 Iohn Cornet his deliuery 2081 Iohn Clarke Martyr 878 Iohn Alcocke confessor hys story and death 2046 Iohn Clement hys death and buriall 1914 Iohn Claidon Currier his story .639 hys condemnation Martyrdome 640 Iohn de Clum his great loue to Iohn Hus his Epistle of comfort vnto hym 621 Iohn de Clum frend to Ioh. Hus 599 Iohn Derifall Iohn Routh their story and martyrdome 1914 1915.1916.1917 Iohn Deny Martyr 1912 Iohn Deuenish Martyr his story 2033.2034 Iohn Dauid Martyr 2049.2050 Iohn Dighton murtherer of hys Prince 728 Iohn Dauies his trouble and deliuery 2073 Iohn Denley Iohn Newman with Patrike Patchinghā martyrs .1683 articles obiected against them .1684 their answers ibid. their christian beliefe confession 1687.1684 Iohn de Roma a terrible persecutor hys fearefull death 2107 2108.2109 Iohn the Euangelist his excellent story 36 Iohn the Euangelist exiled into Pathmos released agayne 36 Iohn Esche Martyr 874 Iōh Fishcocke Martyr his story and martyrdome for the Gospell at Cant. with vi moe his fellow Martyrs 198.1981 Iohn Floyd Martyr his story and martyrdome 2037.2038.2039 Ioh. Frankish martyr his trouble and persecution .1673 his martyrdome 1676 Iohn Foreman Martyr his story 1949. Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester an enemy to Christes Gospell .1068 beheaded in the end 1069. Iohn Frith his trouble for the gospell .2126 refuseth to be deliuered out of prison prophesieth of the restoryng of the truth in england 2127 Iohn Frith hys story .1031 set in the stocks at Reading .1032 his reasons vpō the sacrament .1033 his letter to his friendes .1034 sentence of condemnation geuen agaynst hym .1035 his constant martyrdome 1036.1037 Ioh. Frontō his trouble in Spain 2056.2057.2058 Iohn Glouer and Robert Glouer their story persecution and trouble .1709.1710.1712.1713 are excommunicate beyng dead and buried in the fields 1714 Iohn Glouer his trouble and deliuerance 2071 Iohn Galle hys trouble 642 Iohn Florence a Turner his trouble and displyng 659 Iohn Gostwicke knight accuser of Cranmer in the parliamēt house 1867 Iohn Gates knight beheded with sir Tho. Palmer 1408 Iohn Gower 839 Iohn Goddesell his trouble persecution 660 Iohn Goose Martyr 717 Iohn Holyday Martyr his story 2037.2038 Iohn Halingdale Martyr his story and martyrdome 2025.2026.2027 Iohn Hullier Martyr burned at Cambridge 2004 Iohn Huglein Martyr hys story 884 Ioh. Harpole Ioane Beach martyrs their story 1906. Iohn Hullier minister and martyr his story and letters 1906.1907 1908.1909 Iohn Hamond Iohn Spenser martyrs 1909 Ioane Hornes Martyr 1910.1911 Iohn Hamelton bishop of S. Dauids a persecuter 1272 Iohannes Huniades his victories against the Turkes 740 Iohn Herst Martyr his story and martirdome 2053 Iohn Hart Martyr hys story 1953 Iohn Horne and a woman Martyrs 1935 Iohn Hus his story cited and excōmunicate .588 banished Prage 590. his obiections agaynst the doctors decrees .599.590 his safe conduct his letters of hys goyng vp to the Councell 596. hys appearance before the Pope cardinall .599 his sicknes and imprisonment articles obiected against hym with hys aunsweres .600 his bookes writ in prisonne .601 his protestation .604 hys false accusations .606 hys appeale .611 his degradation .623 his sentence of condemnatiō .622 his martyrdome burning .624 his letters 626.627.628 Iohn Haywood his recantation
Mary by one Ladye Anne Wharton 2128 Lady Iane her talke with Fecknam .1419 her letters 1420. her death and prayer at the same 1422 Lady Katharine duchesse of Suffolke her tragicall story 2078 2080 Lady Kneuet her trouble and deliuerie 2072 Lady Mary her letters to K. Edward 6. and the councell .1332.1333.1335.1336.1338.1339 with answers to the same ibid. Lady Uane a great benefactor to Gods saints 1838 Ladislaus a yong Pope 720 Ladislaus and his dominions 722 Ladislaus an enemy to the gospell .721 his strange fact at his death ibid. Laishford Martyr her story and martyrdome 1689.1702 Lannam men in Suffolke ryse against the proud bishop of Norwich 428. Lambert Martyr his story .1101 articles obiected agaynst him his aunsweres to the articles .1101.1102 set at liberty .1121 hys disputation before the Kyng nobles .1122 his constant martyrdome for the truth of Christs gospell 1124 Lacels death and martyrdom .1240 his letter of the sacrament 1241 Lambe Martyr his story Martyrdome 1267 Lampes in the church 1404 Lambeth when and by whom first built 233 Lambrith Archb. of Canterbury 129 Launcelot Martyr his story 1279 Landesdale one of the gard his story and terrible end 2104.2105 Lanfrancus Archb. of Cant. 172 Lane Martyr his story 2047 Landes restored to Abbeys by Q. Mary 1559.1560 Larke and Germain Gardine traitors agaynst the kings supremacie 1230 Laremouth his history and death 2150 Latimer Preacher and Martyr his excellent story 17â—0 made Bish. of Worcester .1738 cast into the Tower .1740 appeareth before the Commissioners .1762 his examination and aunsweres .1763.1764.1766 his Letters .1746.1748.1749.1750 hys death and constant martyrdome at Oxford 1769.1770 Latimer coÌ„plained of Boner .1311 disputeth at Oxford .1454.1455 1456.1428 condemned with doctor Cranmer and doctor Ridley 1463 Latimer his sermon at Cambridge of the Cardes conteinyng most excellent and comfortable doctrine for euery christian man to follow 2142.2143 Latine seruice reprooued edifieth not 1903 Latine seruice defended .1588 confuted 1617 Latine masse first song at ConstaÌ„tinople 1404 Laurence his worthy history .71 tormented on a firie gridiron to the death 72 Laurence Martyr 1542 Laurence Pernam Martyr 1914.1915 Laurence Martyr with v. other burned in Cant. 1688 Laurence Gest Martyr his story 775 Laurentius Anglicus condemned by the Pope 322 Laurentius Archb. after Austen 119 Laurence Shiriffe sworne friende and seruant to the good lady Elizabeth his maistresse .2097 his faithfulnes towards her ibid. Launder Martyr his story 1680 1681 Lawson her trouble deliuerance 2070.2071 Lawson Martyr his story 1917 1918 Lauerocke Martyr 1910 Lawes by the king and Nobles at Oxford 329 Law of premunire with the penalties 419 Lawes of king Edward others 165.166 Law and the gospell their differeÌ„ce 26.27 Lawes of Egelred agaynst wicked Iudges and Iusticers 162 Lawes of Claredon 207 Lawes of king Ethelstane concernyng Ecclesiasticall causes and tithes .149 hys lawes coÌ„cerning thieues 150 Laws of K. Alfrede K. Edward 147 Lawes of Canutus 164 Lands restored to Abbeis by Q. Mary 1559.1560 Lawes of king Henry the 1. 191 Lawes whereto Becket Archb. of Cant. agreed and agreed not 206.207 Law how loosed how not loosed by Christ. 483 Lawe of Moises of all lawes the iustest 488 Lawes Ecclesiasticall by kings of this realme before the conquest 779 Law with the doctrine thereof 976. Law and the Gospell wherto they serue 1655 Lawes of the Pope and of England differ and wherein 1889 1890 L E. Leaden hall built 712 Learned men increase in christendome 730 League betwixt the Pages of Zuitzerland 866 Leafe Martyr his story .1623 his examination condemnation and martyrdome 1623.1624 Learned men agaynst the Pope 398 Learned men agaynst Friers 409 Learned men sent for into England 1296 Legate commanding chastity takeÌ„ himselfe with an Harlot 199 Legates of the Popes not admitted of the Nobles .369 robbed of theyr treasure in the North couÌ„trey 370 Legate of the Popes restrayned from comming into England 707 Legate du prat persecutor his fearfull death 2109 Legend and Masse booke of the papistes full of filthy and blasphemous lyes 584 Legend of S. Albane disproued 88 Legittimation of Priestes childreÌ„ 1176 Leicester interdicted 505 Leicester menne persecuted for the Gospell 505 Lent fast and the ordinances therof falsely ascribed to Telesphorus 53 Lent and fasting the originall therof .52 diuersly kept ibid. Lelond Iustice his sodeine death 2101 Lent fast brought in 665.1404 Lennam towne riseth agaynst their Bishop and swingeth him well 428 Leonard Keisar martyr his story 885 Leonard Cox scholemaister at Reding 1032 Leo .8 Pope 159 Leo .9 Pope 168 Leonides Martyr 54 Leofricus Earle of Mercia 165 Lesson good for Ministers to seeke theyr lost sheepe 36 Letter of Anselme to Ualtram bishop of Norenberge 187 Letter of Anselme to K. Henry .1 192 Letters of Anselme agaynst Priestes mariage 195 Letter most excellent and worthy of all Christian men to be redde of Pomponius Algerius an Italian Martyr 939 Letter of Tho. Becket to the Bishop of Norwich 217 Letter of Boner to the L. Cromwell against Winchester 1090 Letter of a certaine godly woman written to Boner rebukyng him for his bloudy crueltie to Gods saints 1842.1844.1845 Letter of Boniface B. of Mentz and Martyr to Ethelbald the kyng 128 Letter of the brethren of France to the brethren of Asia 46 Letters of the Councel of Calice against the Protestants 1224 Letter of Iohn Kingstone commissary to Byshop Boner concernyng the 22. prisoners apprehended at Colchester for the truth 1971.1972.1973 Letter of king Phillip out of England to the Pope 1478. Letter of king Henry 1. to the pope 192. Leiton martyr hys story and martyrdome 1131. Letter of Earle Lewes to Bishop Waltram 190.191 Letter of Lucifer to the Popes Clergy 502. Letter of Marcus Aurelius Antonius Emperour to the senate of Rome concerning the Christians 51 Letters of Queene Mary to king Edward the 6. and the Councel with aunsweres to the same 1332.1334.1335.1336.1337.1338.1339 Lewes Gentlewoman Martyr burned at Lichfield 2012.2013 Letters of the Lady Mary and the councell each to other 1406.1407.1408 Letters of the nobles and commonaltie of Englande to the Pope 291 Letters of Otho Archbishoppe of Caunterbury to the Prelates 151. Letter of Pope Urbane to Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury 240. Letters to the Pope concerning Becket 220.221 Letter of Pope Hadrian to Fredericke the Emperour with aunswere to the same 203. Letter of Pope Alexander to Becket Archbishop of Canterbury with aunswere to the same 208 209.216 Letter of the Pope concerning the degradation of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury 2132.2133 Letter of William Symmes to a certayne frend of hys 2142. Letter layd vpon Queene Maryes deske agaynst shee shoulde come to prayer conteining an expostulation and dehortation from the abhominable sinne of idolatry 2139. Letter of William Hunter to hys mother 2150. Letter of Queene Mary to the Duke of Northfolke 2128. Letter of one Iohn Meluine prisoner for Gods truth in Newgate 2140. Letters of Constantine 103. Letters of Doctor
The Greeke Church differing from the latine The 2. examination of Roger Holland Psal. 91. The last examination of Roger Holland The Rhetoricall perswasions of B. Boner The Papistes how they take 〈…〉 of Scripture and leaue out an other The presence in the Sacrament Sentence read against Roger Holland Roger Holland prophesieth of shortening the tyme of B. Boners cruelty The last that suâ—tred in Smithfielde The cruell dayes shortened for the elect sake The Martyrdome of Roger Holland with sixe other in Smithfielde Anno 1557. Iuly 〈◊〉 14. 〈◊〉 Martyrs 〈◊〉 at â—raâ—â—â—ord Martyrs The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 to the â—â—â—icles The sixe Martyrs brought agayne before Darbyshire Syr Edward Hastinges and Syr Thomas Cornwales at the condemnation of these Martyrs Anno 1558. Iuly Hâ—nshaw â—eaten with Rods. The boy waâ— beholding to Byshop Bonerâ— graund pâ—â—nch Articles 〈◊〉 Thomas Hinshaw deliuered to Maister Pugson his Maister The story oâ— Iohn â—â—lles Capper Iohn Milles with Thomas Hinshaw layd in the stockes at Fulham Hinshaw and Milles beaten of Boner Iohn Milles denyeth to subscribe to B. Boners articles An old coniuring Priest The vnsauâ—ry reasons or talke of Bishop Boner going about to perswade Iohn Milles. Boners iudgement that we should trust more to men then to the Scriptures of God This similitude holdeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rasâ—â— and presumptuous iudgement of Boner B Boners wishe in 〈◊〉 God Sainctes The occasion maner of deliuering Iohn Milles. Milles wyfe intreâ—teth for her husband Anno 1557. Iuly Robert Rousse kinsâ—man to Iohn Milles. The condition putte to Iohn Milles to laye In nomine Paâ—riâ— c. Iohn Milles sent home with his wyfe Iuly 10. The story and Martyrdome of Richard Yeoman Minister Richard YeomaÌ„ 〈◊〉 into Kent Richard Yeoman set in the 〈◊〉 by M. Moile of Kent Richard YeomaÌ„ returneth agayn to Hadley Paâ—son Newall a wicked persecutour Yeoman taken by Parson Newall This Iohn Dale dyed in 〈◊〉 Gâ—ile as 〈◊〉 before mentioned The wordes of Iohn Dale to Parson Newall and his Curate Iohn Dale sette in the Cage by Parson Newall Syr Henry Doyle entreated for Gods Sainctes but could not be heard The kingdome of Locustes Yeoman reâ—â—â—ned to Norwich The chiefe 〈◊〉 obâ—ected to Richard Yeoman The story of Iâ—â—n Alcocke Parson Newal in a 〈◊〉 agaâ—nst Iohn 〈…〉 Procession Robert 〈◊〉 an 〈…〉 Constable 〈◊〉 Hadley Alcocke brought to Pâ—rson Newall Parson Newall caâ—ieth vp Iohn 〈◊〉 to London Iohn 〈◊〉 dyed at Newgate Iohn Alcocke buryed of the Papistes in a dunghill Iuly 29. The story of Thomas Benbridge Martyr W. Benbridge examined before the B. of Winchester Articles opposed agaynst W. Benbridge Aunswere The reall presence Aunswere Confirmation Aunswere Aunswere Penaunce no Sacrament Aunswere Aunswere Head of the Church Aunswere Aunswere Purgatory Aunswere Aunswere Matrimony no Sacrament M. Luther W. Benbridge condemned W. Benbridge brought to the stake D Seaton forbiddeth to pray for him The story of 4. Martyrs in Suffolke Martyrs Syr Edward Walgraue persecutour ExaminatioÌ„ of Iohn Cooke ExaminatioÌ„ of Robert Milles. ExaminatioÌ„ of Alexander Lane Anno 1558. Nouem Examinatiâ—â—â— Iâ—mes 〈◊〉 Nouemb. 4. M. Noone a persecuâ—â—â—r Gouch and Alice Dryâ—â—â— taken at Grousborough Gâ—uch and Alice Dryâ—â—â— caryed to Melton Gaâ—le Q Mary called Iesabell Alice Dryâ—â—â—â—ares 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 Q. Mary to Ieâ—â—â—ell Alexander Gouch Gouch and Alice Dryuer caryed 〈◊〉 â—pswich D. Spenser after the death of D. Dâ—nning who dyed sodenly in Lincolneâ—â—ire was Chauncellâ—â—r vnder Bâ—â—hop Hopton Sacrament of the Aultar A farre Prâ—est put to 〈◊〉 No Sacrament of the Aultar to be found in Gods booke D. Gascoyne persecutour What a Sacrament is D. Gascoynes Oration little to purpose Talke betweene Alyce Dryuer D. Gascoyne If Christ had but one body that body was eaten vp ouer night what body then was crucified the next day Luce. 22. 1. Cor. 11. Gascoynes mouth stopped The Chauncellour when he could not aunswere her with reason sendeth her to prison An other examination of Alice Dryuer before D. Spenser and Gascoyne Spenser vp with his Sacrament of the Aultar agayne Gascoyne agayn tâ—keth â—he mâ—tter in hand Thrâ—â—e Churches Gascoyne little acquainted with thâ— new Testamens The Papistes put to silence by a simple woman Alice Driuer brought vp at her fathers plough Spencer readeth sentence agaynst Alice Driuer The articles whereupon Gouch was condemned The Martyrdome of Gouch and â—lice Dryuer at Ipswich Aâ—no 15â—8 Nouember 4. Gouch Alice Dryuer brought to the stake The Martyrs not suffered to pray Bate a rayling persesecutâ—uâ— Example of Godâ— iuâ—gment vpon persecutors The Martyrdome of 3. good men at Bury Syr ClemeÌ„t Higham persecutor The story of a poore woman burâ—ed at â—xcestor iâ— Queene Maryeâ— tyme. Her departing from her husband returning agayne The poore woman sent vp to Excestor D. Troubleuile B. of Excestor Blackstone persecutors Talke betweene the woman the Bishop The wyfe renouncing her husband for Christes sake The Sacrament of the Altar made an Idoll â—easons â—â—ewing why the Sacrament of the Lordes body is not to be worshipped The wyfe persecuted by husband and children Talke betweene The woman and the Priestes about the Sacrament Talke betweene the woman and a Fryer False doctrine of the Papistes reprooued The reuolting of one Daniell a minister from the Gospell to Popery in Q. Maryes tyme William Iohn Kede two godly brethren The conâ—â—â—ncy of woman 〈◊〉 wayes 〈◊〉 Gregory Basset a rayling Papist The constant paâ—ience of this woman and Martyr to be noted The woman brought 〈◊〉 make Bishops prison to the Guild Hall Exhortations to haue her recant The constant standing of this woman Blasphemy of the Byshop How God reueled his truth vnto her Iudgement geuen agaynst this good woman Shee thanketh God for her iudgement 〈◊〉 The story of three Martyrs which suffered at Bristow Martyrs Richard Sharpe Martyr M. Dalby Chauncellour of Bristow persecutour Richard Sharpe condemned Thomas Hale Martyr Thomas Benion Martyr The Martyrdome of Thomas Benion at Bristow Anno. 1557. August 27. 〈◊〉 10. Martyrs â— Last Martyrs that were burned in Queene Maryes tyme. Their articles why they were condemned Sentence of condemnation pronounced by Iohn Cornford against the Papists The cruell dealing of M. Harpsfield the Archdeacon of Canterbury Ioell 2. A note of Alice Snoth Hereby B. Boner may see that the Martyrs dyed in the same fayth wherein they were baptised by their Godfathers and Godmothers The story of Iohn Hunt and Richard White Examination of Richard White The Mayor of Marlborough persecutor The Sacrament of the Aultar The name of Sacramentes noâ— found in the Scriptures How the Papistes play with Scriptures as the deuill did when he tempted Christ. Whites opinion of the SacrameÌ„t Double receauing of the Sacrament externall and internall A Popishe Paradoxe Christes body both in heauen and in earth at one tyme. How S. Paule saw Christ. Supra Psal. 54 B. Brookes leaueth the Scripture proueth the Sacrament by other matter The trembling and shaking of Blackston at the examination