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
I was neuer called to be a preacher or minister because of my sickenes feare of death in imprisonment before I should come to my aunswer and so my death to be vnprofitable But these and such lyke I thanke my heauenly father which of his infinite mercy inspired me with hys holye Ghost for his sonnes sake my onely Sauiour and redeemer preuailed not in me but when I had by the wonderfull permission of God fallen into their handes at the first sight of the Shiriffe nature a little abashed yet ere euer I came to the prison by the workyng of God thorough his goodnes feare departed I sayd to the Shiriffe at his comming vnto me What matter haue you maister Sheriffe to charge me withall He aunsweared you shall knowe when you come before the maisters and so taking me with him I looked to haue bene broughte before the maisters and to haue heard what they could haue burdened me withall but contrary to my expectation I was committed foorthwith to the Iaile not being called to my aunswere little iustice being shewed therein But the lesse iustice a man finedeth at their hands the more consolation in conscience shall he finde from God for whosoeuer is of the world the world will loue hym After I came into prisone had reposed my selfe there a while I wept for ioy and gladnes my belly full musing muche of the great mercies of God and as it were saying to my selfe after this sort O Lorde who am I on whome thou shouldest bestowe thus thy great mercye to be numbred among the Saintes that suffer for thy Gospels sake And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection vnablenesse sinnefull misery and vnwoorthinesse and on the other side the greatnesse of Gods mercye to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and ouercome for a while with ioy and gladnesse concluding thus with my selfe in my heart O Lord thou shewest power in weakenesse wisedome in foolishnesse mercy in sinfulnes who shall let thee to choose where whom thou wilt As I haue zealously loued the confession of thy woord so euer thought I my selfe to be most vnworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the same Not long after came vnto me M.W. Brasbrige M.C. Phinees M.N. Hopkins traueling with me to be dismissed vpon bondes To whome my answere was to my remembraunce after this sorte For as much as the Maisters haue imprisoned me hauing nothing to burden mee with all if I should enter into bondes I should in so doing accuse my selfe and seeing they haue no matter to laye to my charge they may as well let me passe wtout bondes as wyth bondes Secondarily if I shall enter bondes couenaunt and promise to appeare I shall do nothing but excuse colour and cloke their wickednesse and endanger my selfe neuerthelesse being bound by my promise to appeare They alleaged many worldly perswasions vnto me to auoide the present perill also how to auoid the forfeiture if I brake promise I sayde vnto them I had cast my penywoorth by Gods help They vndertooke also to make the bond easie And when they were somewhat importune I sayd to maister Hopkins that libertie of conscience was a precious thing and toke as it were a pause lifting vp my heart to God earnestly for hys aide and helpe that I might doe the thing that might please him And so when they had let their sute fal my hart me thought was wonderfully comforted Maister Dudly commoned with me in like maner whom I answered in effect as I did before Afterwarde debatinâ— the matter wyth my selfe these considerations came to my head I haue from time to time wyth good conscience God I take to recorde mooued all such as I had conference withal to be no daliers in Gods matters but to shew themselues after so great a light and knowledge hearty earnest constante and stable in so manifest a truthe and not to geue place one ioate contrarye to the same Nowe thought I if I shall withdrawe my selfe and make any shifts to pull my owne necke out of the collor I shall geue greate offence to my weake brethren in Christe and aduantage to the enemies to sclaunder Gods word It wil be sayd he hath ben a great boldner of others to be earnest and feruent to feare no worldly pearils or daungers but he him selfe will geue no such example Wherefore I thought it my bouÌ„den duety both to God and man being as it were by the great goodnes of God maruelously called and appoynted hereunto to set aside all feare pearils and daungers al worldly respects and considerations and like as I had heeretoâ—ore according to the measure of my small gift within the compasse of my vacation and calling from the bottome of my heart vnfainedly mooued exhorted and perswaded all that professe Gods woorde manfully to persist in the defence of the same not wyth sworde and violence but wyth suffering and losse of life rather then to defile themselues againe with the whorish abhomination of the Romish Antichrist so the houre being come with my fact and example to ratifie confirme and protest the same to the hearts of all true beleeuers and to thys end by the mighty assistance of Gods holy spirit I resolued my selfe wyth muche peace of conscience willingly to sustaine what soeuer the Romish antichrist shuld doe against mee and the rather because I vnderstoode the Bishops comming to be at hand and considered that pore mens consciences shoulde be then sharpely assaulted So remained I prisoner in Couentrie by the space of 10. or 11. dayes being neuer called to my answere of the Maisters contrary to the lawes of the Realme they hauing neyther statute lawe proclamation letter warrant nor commandement for my apprehension They woulde haue laide all the matter vpon the Sumner Who being examined denied it before their faces as one of my frendes tolde me saying that he had no commandement concerning me but for my elder brother God laye not their extreeme doings against me to their charge at the great day The seconde day after the bishoppes comming to Couentrie M. Warren came to the Yeldhall and willed the chiefe Iayler to carye me to the Bishop I laide to maister Warrens charge the cruell seeking of my death and when he would haue excused himselfe I tolde him he coulde not wipe hys handes so hee was as guiltie of my bloude before God as though he had murthered me with his owne handes And so he parted froÌ„ me saying I needed not to feare if I would be of his beliefe God open his eyes if it be hys will and geue him grace to beleue this which he and all of his inclination shall finde I feare to true for their parts that is that all they whiche cruelly maliciously and spitefully persecute molest and afflicte the members of Christe for their coÌ„science sake and for the true testimonie of
worde because I am not woorthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so doyng but adde sinne to sinne What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell as Christ himself beareth witnesse Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cōmandements When I am prouoked to pray the enemy may say vnto me I am not worthy to pray therfore I shall not pray so in lyke maner of all the commandements I shall not forbeare swearing stealing murthering because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God These be the delusions of the Deuill and Sathans suggestions which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of euery mans gift agaynst all assaults of the Deuill At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment I was called into a by chamber next to my prison to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers chaplains seruants except it were an old priest I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church which had continued so many yeares As for our church as hee called it it was not knowen he sayd but lately in kyng Edwards tyme. I professe my selfe to be a member of that church said I that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng said I though it beare no glorious shew before the world beyng euer for the most part vnder the Crosse and affliction contemned despised and persecuted My Lord on the other side contended that they were the Church Glouer So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem saying Templum Domini templum Domini The Church the Church c. Bish. And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried hold thy peace I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience to hold thy peace callyng me a proud arrogant heretike Glouer I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions I refused to aunswer him in corners requiryng that I myght make my answer openly He sayd I should aunswer hym there I stood with hym vpon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym Then I lifted vp my hart to God that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word Bish. The first question was this how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church Glo. The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper Bish. No more sayd he Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce a sure hope trust and confidence in the death of Christ to such ministers I grant that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word the remission of sinnes Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt because that matter was of no great waight or importāce although he in so doing did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession I sayd no. Bish. Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament Glouer I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament because sayd I you haue takē away the true institution which when you restore agayne I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor Moe examinations he had no doubt with the Byshop in the publike Consistory when he was brought forth to be condemned which also he would haue left vnto vs if either length of lyfe or laysure of tyme or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become Onely this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister and a familiar friend of hys concernyng the goyng to his death I can report that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord M. Rob. Glouer after he was condemned by the Bishop and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world it so happened that two or three dayes before his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon hym Wherupon he fearing in himself lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred signifieng vnto hym how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was yet seing his cause was iust and true he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same to play the man nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he sayd he was right certayne and sure therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart that then he would shew some signification thereof wherby he might witnesse with hym the same and so departed from hym The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome as hee was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of the stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes that he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen saying in these words Austen he is come he is come c. that with such ioy and alacritie as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly
daunger to libertie of life then as one passing out of the world by any paines of death Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man ¶ Cornelius Bongey felow Martyr with Mayster Robert Glouer IN the same fire with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentrey and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshoppe of Couentry and Liechfield As concerning the Articles which were to him obiected the effect therof was this Firste it was articulate agaynste him that these three yeres last in the City of Couentry and Liechfield other places about he did hold mainteyne argue and teach that the Prieste hath no power here to absolue any sinner from his sinnes Secondly that by Baptisme sinnes be not washed away because he sayd that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly and not the soule Thirdly that there be in the Church onely two sacramentes that is Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Fourthly that in the sacrament of theyr popish aulter was not the reall body bloud of Christ but the substance of bread wine there remayning stil because S. Paul calleth it bread and wine c. Fiftly that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares time did hold maintayne and defend that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth c. Sixtly that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Liechfield c. Seuēthly that the premises are true manifest and notorious and that vpō the same there hath bene is a publick voice and fame as well in the places aboue rehearsed as in other quarters also about c. ¶ His aunsweres Unto the which articles he aunswering agayne to the first he graunted and to euery part therof meaning after the Popish maner of absolution The second he graunted first after reuoked the same To the thyrd also he graunted adding withall that in scripture there be no more conteined To the fourth touching the sacrament he graunted to euery part therof To the fift concerning the Pope likewise Also to the sixt he graūted and likewise to the seuenth Upon these articles and his answeres to the same the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence and so cōmitted him also after the condemnation of Mayster Roberte Glouer to the seculer power Thus this foresayd Cornelius falsely condēned by the Bishop before mentioned suffered at the same stake wyth the Christian Martyr Mayster Robert Glouer at Couentry about the xx day of September ¶ The burning of Mayster Robert Glouer and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry ¶ Here foloweth the story of Iohn Glouer and William Glouer how they were excommunicate and cast out after theyr death and buried in the fieldes NOwe that wee haue discoursed the storye of Mayster Robert Glouer something also woulde bee touched of his other two brethrē Iohn and William Glouer Who albeit they were not called to finishe theyr course by lyke kinde of Martyrdome in the fire as the other did yet because for theyr constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vnto the latter ende they were exempted after theyr death cast out of the same Church as the other was I thought them not vnworthy therefore in the story to be ioyned together which in one cause and the same profession were not sūdered one from the other And first concerning Mayster Iohn Glouer the eldest brother what inward stormes and agonies he susteined by the ghostly enemy partly ye heard before described nowe what his bodily enemies wrought against him remaineth to be declared Whose rage and malice although god so restrained that they coulde litle preuayle agaynst him so long as his life endured yet after his decease hauing power vpon him what they did ye shall now vnderstand After the Martyrdome of mayster Robert Glouer although Iohn Glouer seing his brother to be apprehended for him had small ioy of his life for the great sorow of his hart wherewith he was sore oppressed and would gladly haue put himselfe in his Brothers stead if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him shewing that in so doyng he might intangle himselfe but should doe his brother no good He thus in great care and vexation endured yet notwithstanding rubbing out as well as he could til at lēgth about the latter end of queene Mary there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer Whereupon the Sheriffes with theyr vnder Officers and seruauntes being sent to seek him came into his house where he and his wife were It chaūced as he was in his chamber by himselfe the Officers brusting into the house and searching other roomes came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was Who being within and holding the latch softly with his hand perceiued and heard the Officers buskeling about the doore amongest whome one of the sayd officers hauing the string in his hand was ready to draw and plucke at the same In the meane time an other comming by whose voice he heard and knew bad them come away saying they had bene there before Whereupon they departing thence wēt to search other corners of the house where they found Agnes Glouer his wife who being had to Liechfilde there examined before the bishop at length after much ado was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny Ioh Glouer in the meane time partly for care of his wife partly through cold taken in the woodes where he did lye tooke an Agew whereupon not long after he left this life which the cruell Papistes so long had sought for Thus by the mighty protectiō of the almighty Lord how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended frō the handes of the persecuting enemies during all the time of hys life ye haue hearde Nowe what befell after his death both to him to William his brother it is not vnworthy to be remēbred Who after that he was dead buried in the churchyard without Priest or Clerke D. Dracot then Chauncellour sixe weekes after sent for the parson of the Towne demaunded howe it chaunced that hee was there buryed The parson aunswered that he was then sicke and knewe not of it Then the Chauncellour commaunded the parson to go home and to cause the body of the said Iohn Glouer to be taken vp to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way The Parson agayne answered that he had bene 6. weekes in the earth so smelled that none was able to abide the sauor of him Well quoth D. Dracot then take this byll and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule and a twelue moneth after take vp his bones for then the fleshe will be consumed and cast thē ouer the wall that cartes and horses may tread vpon them and then will I come hallow againe that place in the churchyard where he was buried Recorded by the Parson of the towne who tolde the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at
it remayned in the sea of Rome This if you shall confesse with vs acknowledge with all the realme your errours and false assertions then shall you doe that whiche we most desire then shall we rest vppon the first part of our Commission then shall we receiue you acknowledge you one of the Churche and according to the authoritie geuen vnto vs minister vnto you vpon due repentaunce the benefite of absolution to the whiche the Kyng and Queene their Maiesties were not ashamed to submit them selues although they of them selues were vnspotted and therefore needed no reconciliation yet lest the putrification and rottennesse of all the body myght be noysome and do damage to the head also they as I sayd most humbly submitted them selues to my Lorde Cardinall his grace by hym as Legate to the Popes holynes to bee partakers of the reconciliation but if you shall stubburnely perseuer in your blindnes if you wyll not acknowledge your errours if you as you stande nowe alone wyll be singular in your opinions if by schisme and heresie you wyll styll diuide your selfe from our Churche then must wee proceede to the seconde part of the Commission which we would be loth to do that is not to condemne you for that wee can not doe that the temporall sworde of the Realme and not wee will do but to separate you from vs acknowledge you to be none of vs to renounce you as no member of the Churche to declare that you are filius perditionis a lost chylde and as you are a rotten member of the Churche so to cut you of from the Church and so to commit you to the temporall Iudges permittyng them to proceede agaynst you accordyng to the tenor of their lawes Therefore M. Latimer for Gods loue consider your estate remember you are a learned man you haue taken degrees in the Schole borne the office of a Byshop remember you are an olde man spare your body accelerate not your death especially remember your soules health quiet of your conscience consyder that if you shoulde dye in this state you shall be a stinkyng sacrifice to God for it is the cause that maketh the Martyr and not the death consyder that if you dye in this state you dye without grace for without the Churche can be no saluation Let not vayne glory haue the vpper hande humiliate your selfe captiuate your vnderstandyng subdue your reason submit your selfe to the determination of the Churche doe not force vs to doe all that we may doe let vs rest in that parte whiche wee most hartely desyre and I for my part then the Byshop put of his cap agayne with all my hart exhort you After the Byshop had somewhat paused then M. Latimer lift vp his head for before he leaned on his elbowe and asked whether his Lordshyp had sayd and the Byshop answered yea Lati. Then will your Lordship geue me leaue to speake a worde oâ— two Linc Yea M. Latimer so that you vse a modest kynd of talke without raysing or tauntes Lati. I beseech your Lordshyp licence me to sit downe Linc. At your pleasure M. Latimer take as much ease as you wyll Lati. Your Lordshyppe gentlye exhorted mee in manye woordes to come to the vnitie of the Churche I confesse my Lorde a Catholicke Churche spread throughout all the worlde in the whiche no man may erre without the whiche vnitie of the Churche no man can be saued but I knowe perfectly by Gods woorde that this Churche is in all the worlde and hath not his foundation in Rome only as you say and me thought your Lordshyp brought a place out of the Scriptures to confirme the same that there was a iurisdiction geuen to Peter in that Christe bad hym regere gouerne his people In deede my Lord sainct Peter did well and truely his office in that he was byd regere but since the Byshoppes of Rome haue taken a new kynd of regere In deede they ought to regere but how my Lord not as they will them selues but this regere must be hedged in and digged in They must regere but secundum verbum dei they must rule but accordyng to the worde of God But the Byshops of Rome haue turned regere secundum verbum dei into regere secundum voluntatem suam they haue turned the rule accordyng to the woorde of GOD into the rule accordyng to their owne pleasures and as it pleaseth them best as there is a booke set foorth whiche hath diuers poyntes in it and amongest other this poynt is one whiche your Lordshyppe went about to proue by this woorde regere and the argument whiche he bryngeth foorth for the proofe of that matter is taken out of Deuteronomie where it is sayde if there ryseth anye controuersie amonge the people the Priestes Leuitici generis of the order of Leuiticus shall decide the matter secundum legem dei accordyng to the lawe of GOD so it muste be taken This booke perceyuing this authoritie to be geuen to the Priestes of the olde lawe taketh occasion to proue the same to be geuen to the Byshops and other the Cleargy of the new law but in prouyng this matter where as it was sayde there as the Priestes of the order of Leuiticus shoulde determine the matter accordyng to Gods law that accordyng to Gods law is left out and onely is recited as the Priestes of the order of Leuiticus shall decide the matter so it ought to be taken of the people a large authoritie I ensure you What gelding of Scripture is this what clippyng of Gods coyne With the which termes the audience smiled This is muche like the regere whiche your Lordshyp talked of Nay nay my Lordes we may not geue such authoritie to the Clergie to rule all thynges as they wyll Let them keepe them selues within their commission Now I trust my Lord I do not rayle yet Linc. No M. Latimer your talke is more like tauntes then rayling but in that I haue not red the booke which you blame so much nor knowe not of any suche I can say nothyng therein Lati. Yes my Lorde the booke is open to be red and is intituled to one whiche is Bishop of Glocester whom I neuer knew neither did at any tyme see him to my knowledge With that the people laughed because the Byshop of Glocester sat there in commission Then the Byshop of Glocester stoode vp and sayd it was his booke Lati. Was it yours my Lorde In deede I knewe not your Lordshyp neither euer did see you before neither yet see you now through the brightnes of the Sunne shining betwixt you and me Then the audience laughed agayne and Maister Latimer spake vnto them saying Why my maisters this is no laughyng matter I aunsweare vppon lyfe and death Vae vobis qui redetis nunc quoniam flebitis The Byshoppe of Lincolne commaunded silence and then sayde Linc. M. Latimer if you had kept
haue robbed and spoyled all this heauenly treasure away I may well complayne on these thyngs and cry out vpon them with the Prophet saying Deus venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam c. Psal. 72. O Lord God the Gentiles Heathen nations are come into thy heritage They haue defiled thy holy Temple and made Ierusalem an heape of stones that is They haue broken beaten down to the ground thy holy Citie This Heathenish generatiō these thieues of Samaria these Sabei and Chaldei these robbers haue rushed out of their dennes and haue robbed the Church of England of all the foresayd holy treasure of God they haue caried it away and ouerthrown it and in stead of Gods holy worde the true and right administration of Christes holy Sacramentes as of Baptisme and others they mixte theyr ministerie with mens foolish fantasies and many wicked and vngodly traditions withall In stead of the Lordes holy Table they geue the people with much solemne disguising a thyng which they cal their Masse but in deed and in truth it is a very masking and mockerie of the true Supper of the Lord or rather I may call it a crafty iuglyng whereby these false theeues iuglers haue bewitched the myndes of the simple people that they haue broght them from the true worship of god vnto pernicious idolatry and make them to beleeue that to be Christ our Lord and Sauiour which in deed is neither God nor man nor hath any lyfe in it selfe but in substance is the creature of bread and wyne and in vse of the Lordes Table is the Sacrament of Christes bodye and bloud and for this holy vse for the whiche the Lord hath ordained them in hys table to represent vnto vs his blessed body torne vpon the crosse for vs and his bloude there shed it pleased him to call them his body bloud whiche vnderstanding Christ declareth to be his true meanyng when he sayth Do this in the remembraunce of me And agayne Saint Paule likewyse doth set out the same more plainly speaking of the same Sacrament after the words of the consecration saieng As often as ye shall eat of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall set forth he meaneth with the same the Lordes death vntill his commyng agayne And here agayne these thieues haue robbed also the people of the Lordes cup contrary to the plaine words of Christ written in his Gospell Nowe for the common publike prayers whiche were in the vulgare tongue these theeues haue brought in agayne a strange tongue whereof the people vnderstande not one worde Wherein what doe they els but robbe the people of their Diuine seruice wherein they ought to pray together with the minister and to pray in a strange tong what is it but as Saint Paule calleth it barbarousnesse childishnes vnprofitable folly yea and plaine madnesse For the godly Articles of vnitie in religion for the wholesome Homelies what doe these Thieues place in the stead of them but the Popes Lawes and Decrees lying Legends fayned fables and miracles to delude and abuse the simplicitie of the rude people Thus this robbery and theft is not onely committed nay sacriledge and wicked spoyle of heauenly thyngs but also in the stead of the same is brought in and placed the abhominable desolation of the tyrant Antiochus of proud Senacherib of the shamelesse faced kyng and of the Babilonicall beast Unto this robbery this theft and sacrilege for that I cannot cōsent nor God willyng neuer shall so long as the breath is in my body because it is blasphemy agaynst God hygh treason vnto Christ our heauenly kyng Lord Maister our onely Sauiour and redeemer it is playne contrary to Gods word and to Christes Gospell it is the subuersion of all true godlinesse and agaynst the euerlastyng saluation of myne owne soule and of all my brethren and sisters whom Christ my Sauiour hath so dearely bought wyth no lesse price then with the effusion and shedyng foorth of hys most precious bloud Therfore all ye my true louers in God my kinsfolke and countreymen for this cause I say knowe ye that I am put to death which by Gods grace I shall willingly take with hearty thankes to God therefore in certayne hope without any doubtyng to receyue at Gods hande agayne of his free mercy and grace euerlastyng lyfe Although the cause of the true man slayne of the thiefe helpyng hys neighbour to recouer hys goods agayne and the cause wherfore I am to be put to death in a generality is both one as I sayd before yet know ye that there is no small difference These thieues agaynst whom I do stand are much worse then the robbers and thieues of the borders The goodes which they steale are much more precious and their kynds of fight are far diuers These thieues are worse I say for they are more cruell more wycked more false more deceitfull and crafty for those wyll but kill the body but these will not sticke to kill both body and soule Those for the generall theft and robbery be called are in deed theeues and robbers but these for their spirituall kynd of robbery are called Sacrilegi as ye would say Church robbers They are more wicked for those goe about to spoyle men of worldly thynges worldly riches gold and siluer worldly substance these go about in the wayes of the deuill their ghostly father to steale from the vniuersall Church and perticularly from euery man all heauenly treasure true faith true charity hope of saluation in the bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ yea to spoil vs of our sauior Iesus Christ of his gospel of his heauēly spirit of the heauenly heritage of the kingdom of heauē so derely purchased vnto vs with the death of our maister and Sauiour Christ. These be the goodes and godly substance whereupon the christian before God must liue and without the which he cannot lyue These goods I saye these theeues these Church robbers go about to spoile vs of The which goods as to the man of God they excell and farre passe all worldly treasure so to withstand euen vnto the death such theeues as go about to spoyle both vs the whole Church of such goods is most high and honourable seruice done vnto God These church robbers be also much more false crafty and deceitfull then the theeues vpon the borders for these haue not the craft so to commend their theft that they dare auouch it and therefore as acknowledging themselues to be euill they steale commonly vpon the nyght they dare not appeare at iudgements and Sessions where Iustice is executed and when they are taken and brought thether they neuer hang any man but they bee oft tymes hanged for theyr faults But these Church robbers can so cloke colour their spiritual robbery that they can make the people to beleeue falshood to be truth and truth falshood good
dissolution of my Body and soule should be expired and therefore know ye that I had before mine eies onely the feare of God and christian charity toward you which moued me to write for of you hereafter I looke not in this worlde either for pleasure or displeasure If my talke shall doe you neuer so much pleasure or profit you cānot promote me nor if I displease you ye cannot hurte me or harme me for I shall be out of your reach Now therfore if you feare God can be content to heare the talke of him that seeketh nothing at your hands but to serue God and to do you good harken what I say I say vnto you as S. Paule sayth to the Galathians I wonder my Lordes what hath bewitched you that yee so sodenly are fallen from Christ vnto Antichrist from Christes Gospell vnto mans traditions from the Lorde that bought you vnto the bishop now of Rome I warne you of your perill be not deceiued except you wil be foūd willingly cōsēters vnto your own death For if ye think thus We are lay men this is a matter of religion we folowe as we are taught and led if our teachers and gouernors teach vs lead vs amisse the fault is in thē they shall beare the blame My Lordes this is true I graunt you that both the false teacher and the corrupt gouernour shall be punished for the death of theyr Subiecte whom they haue falsely taught and corruptly ledde yea and his bloud shall be required at theyr handes but yet neuerthelesse shall that Subiecte dye the deathe hymselfe also that is he shall also be damned for his owne sinne for if the blinde leade the blinde Christ sayth not the leader onely but he sayth both shall fall into the Ditch Shall the Sinagogue and the Senate of the Iewes trowe ye which forsooke Christ and consēted to his death therfore be excused because Annas and Cayphas with the Scribes and Pharesies and theyr Cleargy did teache them amisse yea and also Pilate theyr Gouernour and the Emperours Lieuetenaunt by his tyranny did without cause put him to death Forsooth no my Lordes no. For notwithstanding that corrupt doctrine or Pilates washing of his handes neither of both shall excuse either that Sinagogue and Seigniory or Pilate but at the Lordes hand for the effusion of that innocent bloud on the latter day all shall drinke of the deadly whippe Ye are wittye and vnderstande what I meane therfore I will passe ouer this and return to tell you how ye are fallen from Christ to his aduersarye the Bishop of Rome And least my Lords ye may peraduenture think thus barely to call the Bishop of Rome Christes aduersary or to speake it in playne termes to call him Antichrist that it is done in mine anguish and that I doe but rage and as a desperate man doe not care what I say or vpon whō I doe rayle therefore that your Lordshippes may perceiue my minde and thereby vnderstand that I speake the wordes of the trueth and sobriety as Saynt Paule sayde vnto Festus bee it knowne vnto your Lordshippes all that as concerning the Bishoppe of Rome I neither hate the person nor the place For I ensure your Lordshippes the liuing Lorde beareth me witnesse before whome I speake I do thinke many a good holye man many Martyrs and Sayntes of God haue sitte and taughte in that place Christes Gospell truely which therefore iustly may be called Apostolici that is true Disciples of the Apostles and also that Church and Congregation of Christians to be a right Apostolicke churche yea and that certayne hundreth yeares after the same was firste erected and builded vppon Christ by the true Apostolicall doctrine taught by the monthes of the Apostles themselues If ye will know how long that was and how many hundreth yeares to be curious in poynting the precise number of the yeares I will not be too bolde but thus I say so long and so manye hundreth yeares as that Sea did truely teache and preach that Gospell that Religion exercised that power and ordered euery thing by those Lawes and rules whiche that Sea receiued of the Apostles and as Tertullian saith the Apostles of Christ and Christ of God so long I say that Sea might wel haue bene called Peter and Paules chaire and Sea or rather Christes chaire the bishop thereof Apostolicus or true disciple and Successor of the apostles a Minister of Christ. But since the time that that Sea hath degenerated frō the trade of trueth and true Religion the which it receiued of the Apostles at the beginning and hath preached an other Gospell hath set vppe an other Religion hath exercised an other power and hath taken vpon it to order and rule the Church of Christ by other straunge Lawes Canons and Rulers then euer it receiued of the Apostles or the Apostles of Christ whiche thinges it doth at this daye and hath continued so doing alas alas of too too long a time since the time I say that the state and condition of that Sea hath thus bene chaunged in truth it ought of dutye and of righte to haue the names chaunged both of the Sea and of the sitter therein For vnderstand my Lords it was neither for the priuiledge of the place or person thereof that that Sea and Byshop thereof were called Apostolicke but for the true trade of Christs religion which was taught and mainteined in that Sea at the first and of those godly men And therfore as truely and iustlye as that Sea then for that true trade of religion and consanguinity of doctrine with the Religion and doctrine of Christes Apostles was called Apostolicke so as truely and as iustly for the contrariety of religion and diuersity of doctryne from Christ and his Apostles that Sea and the Bishoppe thereof at this day both ought to be called and are in deed Antichristian The Sea is the seate of Sathan and the Bishop of the same that mainteineth the abhominations therof is Antichrist himselfe in deede And for the same causes this Sea at this day is the same whiche S. Iohn calleth in his reuelation Babilon or the Whore of Babilon and spirituall Sodoma and Egyptus the Mother of Fornication and of the abhominations vpon the earth And with this Whore doth spiritually medle and lieth with her and committeth most stincking and abhominable adultery before God all those kinges and Princes yea and all nations of the earth which doe consent to her abhominations and vse or practise the same that is of the innumerable multitude of them to rehearse some for example sake her dispensations her pardons and pilgrimages her inuocation of Saynts her worshipping of Images her false counterfayt religion in her Monkery and Fryerage and her traditions whereby Gods lawes are defiled as her Massing and false Ministring of Gods word and the Sacramentes of Christ clean cōtrary to Christes word
bee free from chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and no children Seing then when as we haue had carnall parents which chastened vs we reuerenced them shall not we much more be subiect vnto our spirituall father that we might liue And they for a litle time taughte vs after theyr owne mind but this father teacheth vs to our commodity to geue vnto vs his holinesse Al chastisment for the present tyme appeareth not pleasaunt but paynefull but afterward it rendereth the fruite of righteousnesse on them which are exercised in it Wherefore let vs bee of good cheere good Brethren and let vs plucke vppe our feeble members that were fallen or beganne to faynt hart handes knees and all the rest and let vs walke vpright and straight that no limping no◠〈…〉 bring vs out of the way Let vs looke not vpon the thinges that be present but with the eyes of our fayth let vs stedfastly behold the thinges that be euerlasting in heauen and so choose rather in respecte of that whiche is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare Christes Crosse then for this short life time to inioy all the riches honours and pleasures of the broade worlde Why should we Christians feare death Can death depriue vs of Christ which is all our coÌ„â—ort our ioy and our life Nay forsooth But contrary death shall deliuer vs from this mortall body whiche lodeth and beareth downe the spirite that it cannot so well perceiue heauenly thinges in the which so long as we dwell wee are absent from God Wherefore vnderstanding our state in that we be Christians that if our mortall body which is our earthly house were destroied we haue a building a house not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen c. therefore wee are of good cheere and know that when we are in the body we are absent from GOD for we walke by fayth and not by cleare fight Neuerthelesse we are bolde and had rather be absent from the bodye and present with GOD. Wherefore we striue whether we be present at home or absent abroad that we may alwayes please him And who that hath true fayth in our Sauior Christ whereby he knoweth somewhat truely what Christ our Sauiour is that he is the eternall sonne of God life light the wisedome of the father all goodnesse all righteousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that heart canne desire yea infinite plentye of all these aboue that that mans hart canne either conceiue or thinke for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godheade corporally and also that he is geuen vs of the Father and made of GOD to be our wisedome our righteousnesse our holâ—nesse and our redemption who I say is he that beleueth this in deede that woulde not gladly bee with his mayster christ Paul for this knowledge coueted to haue bene loosed from the body and to haue beene with Christ for that he counted it muche better for himselfe and had rather to be loosed then to liue Therefore these wordes of Christe to the thiefe on the Crosse that asked of him mercy were full of comfort and solace This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise To dye in the defence of Christes Gospell it is our bounden duety to Christ and also to our neighbour To Christ for he dyed for vs and rose agayne that he might be Lord ouer all And seing he dyed for vs we also sayth S. Iohn shoulde ieopard yea geue our life for our Brethren And this kinde of geuing and loosing is getting and winning in deede for hee that geueth or looseth his life thus getteth winneth it for euermore Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord and if they dye in the Lordes cause they are most happy of all Let vs not then feare death which can do vs no harme otherwise then for a momeÌ„t to make the flesh to smart but that our fayth whiche is surely fastened and fixed vnto the worde of GOD telleth vs that we shall be anon after death in peace in the handes of GOD in ioye in solace and that from death we shall go straight vnto life For Saynt Iohn sayeth he that liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye And in an other place he shall depart from death vnto life And therefore this death of the Christian is not to be called death but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlasting life Therefore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolution and both Peter and Paul a putting of this Tabernacle or dwelling house Meaning thereby the mortall body as wherein the soule or spirite doth dwell here in this worlde for a small time Yea this death may be called to the Christian an end of all miseries For so long as we liue here we must passe through many tribulations before we canne enter into the kingdome of heauen And nowe after that death hath shot his bolt all the christian mans enemies haue done what they canne after that they haue no more to doe What coulde hurte or harme poore Lazarus that lay at the rich mannes Gate His former penury and pouerty his misery beggery and horrible sores and sickenesse For so soone as death had stricken him with his dart so soone came the aungels and caryed him straight vp into Abrahams bosome What lost he by death who from misery and payne is set by the ministery of Aungels in a place both of ioy and solace Farewell deare brethren farewell and let vs comforte our hartes in all troubles and in death with the worde of God for heauen and earth shall perish but the word of the Lord endureth for euer Farewell Christes dearely beloued spouse here wandering in this world as in a straunge land farre from thine owne couÌ„try coÌ„passed about on euery hand with deadly enemies which cease not to assault thee euer seeking thy destruction Farewell farewell O ye the whole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of God here liuing vpon earth the true churche militant of Christ the true misticall body of Christ the very house holde and family of God and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewell Farewell O thou litle flocke of the highe heauenlye pastour Christ for to thee it hath pleased the heauenlye father to geue an euerlasting and eternall kingdome Farewell Farewell thou spirituall house of God thou holy and royall priesthood thou choseÌ„ generatioÌ„ thou holy nation thou wonne spouse Farewell Farewell N. R. ¶ An other treatise of B. Ridley wherein is conteyned first a lamentation for the chaunge of Religion in England then a comparison betwene the doctrine of the Gospell and the Romish religion with wholesome instructions in the end to all christians how to behaue themselues in time of tryall ALas what misery is thy church brought vnto O lord at this day Where of late the worde of the Lord was truely preached was read and heard in euery towne in euery Church
doctrine to be error and heresie and the olde lawes of Antichriste are allowed to returne with the power of theyr father agayne what can be hereafter looked for by reason to the man of God and true christian abiding in this realme but extreame vyolence of death or els to denye his mayster I graunt the hartes of Princes are in Gods handes and whether soe-euer he will he can make them to bowe and also that christian princes in olde tyme vsed a more gentle kinde of punishment euen to them whiche were heretickes in deede as degradation and deposition out of theyr roumes and offices exile and vanishment out of theyr domynions and countryes and also as it is read the true Bishoppes of Christes Church were sometime intercessors for the heretickes vnto Princes that they would not kill them as is read of S. Augustine But as yet Antichristes kingdome was not so erected at that time nor is nowe accustomed so to order them that will not fall downe and worship the beast and his Image but euen as al the world knoweth after the same maner that both Iohn Daniell hath prophesied before that is by violence of death and Daniell declareth farther that the kinde of death accustomablye should be by sword fire and imprisonment Therefore if thou O man of God doest purpose to abide in this realm prepare and arme thy selfe to dye for both by Antichristes accustomable lawes and these prophecies there is no appearaunce or likelihood of any other thing except thou wilt deny thy mayster Christ which is the losse at the last both of body and soule vnto euerlasting death Therefore my good brother or sister in Christ whatsoeuer thou bee to thee that canst and mayst so doe that counsayle that I thinke is the best safegard for thee both for thy body and most suretie for thy soules healthe is that whiche I shall shew thee hereafter But first I warne thee to vnderstand me to speake to hym or her which be not in captiuitie or called already for to confesse Christ but are at libertye abroade My councell I say therefore is this to flye from the plague and to get the hence I consider not onely the subtleties of Sathan and how hee is able to deceiue by hys false perswasions if it were possible euen the chosen of GOD and also the great frayltie whiche is oftentymes more in a man then he doth know in himselfe whiche in the tyme of temptation then will vtter it selfe I doe not onely consider these thinges I saye but that our mayster Christ whose life was and is a perfecte rule of the Chrystian mans life that hee himselfe auoyded oftentimes the furie and madnes of the Iewes by departing from the country or place Paule likewise when hee was sought in Damasco and the gates of the citty were layd in wayt for him was conueighed by night being let downe in a basket out at a windowe ouer the wall and Helias the Prophet fledde the persecution of wicked Iesabell and Chryste our sauiour sayth in the Gospell When they persecute you in one citie flie vnto an other and so did many good great learned vertuous men of God which were great and stout chaÌ„pions neuerthelesse and stoute confessors and mayntayners of Christ and his truth in due time and place Of suche was the great Clarke Athanasius But this is so playnâ— to be lawfull by Gods worde and examples of holy men that I neede not to stand in it Hauing this for my ground I say to thee O man of God this seemeth to me to be the most sure way for thy sauegard to depart and fly farre from the plague and that swiftly also for truely before God I thinke that the abhomination that Daniel Prophesied of so long before is nowe set vpp in the holye place For all Antichristes doctrine lawes rites and relygion contrary to Christ and to the true seruing and worshipping of God I vnderstand to be that abhomination Therfore now is the time in England for those wordes of Christ Tunc inquit qui in Iudea sunt fugiant ad montes TheÌ„ sayth he marke this Christes then for truely I am perswaded and I trust by the spirite of God that this then is commaunded Then sayth Christ they that be in Iewry let them flye into the mountaynes and he that is on the house top let hym not come downe to take away any thing out of his house and he that is abroad in the fielde let hym not retourne to take hys clothes Woe be to the great bellied women and to them that geue sucke but pray sayth Christ that youre flight be not in Winter nor on the Sabboth day These wordes of Christe are misticall and therefore haue neede of interpretation I vnderstand all those to be in Iewry spiritually which truely confesse one true liuing God and the whole truth of his word after the doctryne of the Gospell of Christ. Such are they whom Christ here biddeth in the time of the raigne of Antichristes abhomynations to flye vnto the mountaynes whiche signifieth places of safegard all such thinges which are able to defeÌ„d from the plague That he biddeth hym that is in the house top not to come downe and hym that is in the field not to returne to take with hym his clothes hee meaneth that they shoulde speede them to get them away betyme leaste in theyr tarying and trifling about worldly prouision they be trapped in the snare ere euer they be aware and caught by the backe and for gain of small worldly things endanger and cast themseues into great perilles of more waighty matters And where he sayth woe be to the great bellied woman and to them that geue suck women great with child and nigh to their lying downe and to be brought to bed are not able to trauell nor also those women whiche are brought to bed and now geueth their babes suck By these therefore Christ spiritually vnderstandeth all suche to be in extreame daunger whiche this worde woe signifieth all suche I say as are so letted by any maner of meanes that they no wayes be able to â—lye from the plague And where Christ sayth pray you that your flight be not in the winter nor on the sabboth day in winter the common course of the yeare teacheth vs that the wayes be foule therfore it is a hard thing then to take a farre iourney for many incommodities and daungers of the wayes in the tyme of the yeare and on the Sabboth day it was not lawful to iourney but a little way Now Christ therefore meaning that wee should haue neede both to speede oure iourney quickly which cannot be done in Winter for the incommodities of the wayes and also to go farre which cannot be done on the Sabboth day he biddeth vs therefore pray that our flight be not in winter nor on the Sabboth day that is to pray that wee may flye in tyme and also farre enough from the
but yet at last perceauing that asmel sir Henry as also the other gentlemen did beholde him somewhat fixedly he brake of his talke Wherewith sir H. Knyuet making as though he had noted nothing did louingly dismisse him praying him that when he had receiued the B. letters he would also repaire to him for a packet to an Englyshe Gentleman of his acquaintaunce at Myllan which he promised to do and so departed againe When sir Henry had thus made sufficieÌ„t tryall of this matter he forthwith wrote his letters vnto the K. Maiestie signifiyng vnto him the whole at large as he had learned In the meane while Ludouicke the next morning repaired vnto the B. of Winchesters lodging to demaunde an answere of those letters the Legate had sent vnto hym but how he vsed him selfe or whether he vttered the talke he had with sir H. Knyuet and with Wolfe whom he supposed at the first to be the B. man it is not certainely knowen But the B. perceiuing that by mistaking one for an other and in supposing Wolfe to be the B. seruaunt Ludouicke had vttered all his message from the Legate vnto Wolfe and that thereby his practises would come to light in great hasty rage caused Ludouicke to be stayed in his owne house while in the meane time him self went to Grauuela one of themperors counsell so practised with him that Ludouick was secretly committed vnto prison in the custody of one of themperours Marshals so as he could be no more talked withall all the tyme of their aboad there And then sending in great hast to sir H. Knyuet to come and speake with him which he did he fell into very hot speach with him saying that he had poyson in his dysh and that a knaue was suborned to be his distructioÌ„ with many such like words Sir Henry told him again how he vnderstode it and prayed him that Ludouicke might be brought face to face to be examined in both their presentes Which the B. would in no case agree vnto affirming that he had so declared the case to Grauuela being indifferent as he thought to them both that he woulde not meddell with Ludouicke nor speake with him but that themperours counsell should examyne hym try what he was for hym To whom sir H. Knyuet againe very earnestly obiected that he maruayled that the B. in matter touching the K. Maiestie their Maister would vse the ayde or means of Grauuela a forraine Princes minister to make him priuie of their question But stay do what he would he would neuer come to the speach of Ludouicke any more euer after Whereupon there rose great and long controuersies betweene them both wryting letters vnto the K. about that matter vntill at last the K. Maiestie perceiuing his affayres otherwaies to slacke therby wrote vnto them both that they should lay all those things vnder foote and ioyne together in his seruice as before which they did accordingly But how soeuer this matter was afterwardes salued here with the K. Maiestie as eyther by the death of sir H. Knyuet which I thinke was not very long after or by other friendes the B. had here at home I know not yet Wolfe who within two monethes after died of a long cough of the Longues vpon his death bed did agayne affyrme the premisses to be most true and therefore in the presence of sir H. Knyuet diuerse other of his seruauÌ„ts he protested that he had not inuented sought or procured this at Ludouickes handes for any malice or displeasure borne to the B. but only for discharge of his fayth duetie vnto the K. Maiesty desiring that the same his protestation might be inserted in the end of his last will and testament which was then presently done thereunto set his hand Now whether this was the matter that the K. moued so often M. Secretary Paget being after L. Keeper to keepe safe as sore matter agaynst the B. I know not but yet it appears by some depositions of the Nobilitie and others in the processe agaynst hym had in K. Edwardes dayes that the K. Maiestie Henry .8 had this matter euer in his mynd for in euery generall pardon that he graunted by Parliament after this practise he did styll except all treasons committed beyond the seas meaning thereby as it was supposed that the B. should not take any benefite by any general pardon if at any time his Maiestie would call him to accompt and therfore all thinges wel wayed he had smal cause to vaunt of his great fauour he had of K. Henry his M. How beit it seemeth he was brought into this fooles paradize by the L. Paget who as he himselâ—e reporteth in his depositions in his messages from the K. to the sayd B. deluded hym telling him muche otherwyse then the K. had spoken counsaling alwayes the K. hard speches agaynst him which thing puffed vp this vaine-glorious Thraso not a litle All whiche premises appeare more at large by the depositions of the Nobles others examined in the long processe against him in K. Edwardes raigne as appeares in our first edition of actes and monumentes from the .804 Page vnto the ende of that processe in that booke at large mentioned But whatsoeuer he was seeing he is nowe gone I referre him to his Iudge to whom he shall stand or fall As concerning his death and maner thereof I woulde they which were present thereat would testifie to vs what they saw This we haue all to thinke that his heath happened so opportunely that England hath a mighty cause to geue thankes to the Lord therfore not so much for the great hurt he had done in times past in peruerting his Princes in bringing in the vi Articles in murderyng Gods saintes in defacing Christes sincere Religion c. as also especially for that he had thought to haue brought to passe in murdring also our noble Queene that now is For what soeuer daunger it was of death that she was in it did no doubt proceede froÌ„ that bloudy bishop who was the cause therof And if it be certain which we haue heard that her highnes being in the Tower a writte came downe from certaine of the Counsell for her execution it is out of controuersie that wily Winchester was the onely Dedalus framer of that ingine Who no doubt in that one day had brought this whole Realme into wofull ruine had not the Lordes moste gratious counsell through M. Bridges then the Lieuetenaunt comming in hast to the Queene certified her of the matter and preuented Architophels bloudy deuises For the which thankes be to the same our Lord and sauiour in the congregacion of al English churches Amen Of thinges vncertaine I must speake vncertainely for lacke of fuller information or els peraduenture they be in the Realme that can say more then here I haue expressed For as Boner Story Thornton Harpsfielde Dunning with other were occupied in puttyng the poore braunches of
Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. Mary in deed you M. Doctour put me in good remeÌ„braunce of the meaning of S. Paule in that place for Apotasia is properly a departing from the fayth and thereof commeth Apostata whiche properly signifieth one that departeth from his fayth and S. Paule in the same place after speaketh of the decay of the Empyre Cole Apostasia doth not onely signify a departing froÌ„ the fayth but also from the Empyre as I am able to shew Phil. I neuer read it so taken and when you shal be able to shew it as you say in woordes I will beleue it and not before Worcest I am sory that you shoulde be agaynst the Christen world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hath hated the truth and bene enemies to the same Gloc. Why M. Philpot doe you thinke that the vniuersall church hath erred and you onely to be in the truth Phil. The church that you are of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world which is Asia Africa neuer consented to the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome as at this day they do not neither do folow his decrees Gloc. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was sayde so by false report after they of Asia and Africa were gone home but it was not so in deed as the sequele of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Gloc. I pray you by whom will you be iudged in matters of controuersy which happen dayly Phil. By the word of God For Christ sayth in S. Iohn The word that he spake shall be Iudge in the latter day Gloc. What if you take the word one way and I an other way who shall be iudge then Phil. The Primitiue Church Gloc. I know you meane the Doctors that wrote thereof Phil I meane verely so Gloc. What if you take the Doctors in one sense and I in an other who shal be iudge then Phil. Then let that be taken whiche is moste agreeable to Gods word Cole My Lordes why do you trouble your selues to answere him in this matter It is not the thing which is laid to his charge but his error of the sacrament and he to shift himselfe of that brought in another matter Phil. This is the matter M. Cole to the which I haue referred all other questions and desire to be satisfied Worc. It is wonder to see how he standeth with a few agaynst a great multitude Phil. We haue almost as many as you For we haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France and dayly the number of the Gospel doth encrease so that I am credibly informed that for this Religion in the whiche I stande and for the whiche I am like to dye a greate multitude doth dayly come out of Fraunce through persecution that the Cityes of Germany bee scarse able to receiue them and therefore your Lordship may be sure the word of God will one day take place doe what you can to the contrary Worc. They were wel occupied to bring you such newes and you haue bene well kept to haue such resort vnto you Thou art the arrogantest felow stoutest fond felow that euer I knew Phil. I pray your Lordship to beare with my hasty speech for it is part of my corrupt nature to speake somewhat hastily but for all that I meane with humility to do my duty to your Lordship Boner M. Philpot my Lordes will troule you no further at this time but you shall goe from whence you came and haue such fauor as in the mean while I can shew you and vpon wednesday next you shal be called agayn to be heard what you can say for mainteinaunce of your error Phil. My Lorde my desire is to be satisfied of you in that I haue required and your Lordship shall finde me as I haue sayd Worc. We wish you as well as our selues Phil. I thinke the same my Lordes but I feare you are deceiued and haue a zeale of your selues not according to knowledge Worc. God send you more grace Phil. And also God encrease the same in you and opeÌ„ your eyes that you may see to mayneteyne his trueth and hys true Church Then the bishops rose vp consulted together caused a writing to be made in the which I think my bloud by theÌ„ was bought sold thereto they put to theyr handes and after this I was caried to my Colehouse agayne ¶ Thus endeth the fourth part of this tragedy God hasten the end therof to his glory Amen BEcause I haue begon to write vnto you of mine examinations before the Bishop other more to satisfy your desire then it is any thing woorthy to be written I haue thought it good to write vnto you also that whiche hath bene done of late that the same might come to light which they do in darcknes and priuy corners and that the world now and the posterity hereafter might knowe how vnorderly vniustly vnlearnedly these rauening wolues doe proceed agaynst the seely and faythfull flocke of Christ and condemne persecute the sincere doctrine of Christ in vs which they are not able by honest meanes to resist but only by tyranny and violence * The 5. examination of Iohn Philpot had before the Bishops of London Rochester Couentry S. Asses I trow and one other whose Seas I know not Doctor Story Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with diuers other Chaplaynes and Gentlemen of the Queenes Chamber and diuers other Gentlemen in the Gallery of my Lord of Londons Palace BOner M. Philpot come you hither I haue desyred my Lordes here and other learned meÌ„ to take some paines once agayne and to do you good because I do minde to sit in iudgement on you to morow as I am commauÌ„ded yet I would you should haue as much fauor as I caÌ„ shew you if you wil be any thing coÌ„formable Therfore play the wise man and be not singuler in your opinioÌ„ but be ruled by these learned men Phil. My Lord in that you say you will sit on me in iudgement to morrow I am glad thereof For I was promised by them which sent me vnto you that I should haue bene iudged the next day after but promise hath not bene kepte with me to my farther griefe I looke for none other but death at your hands and I am as ready to yeld my life in Christes cause as you be to require it Boner Lo what a wilfull man this is By my fayth it is but folly to reasoÌ„ with him neither with any of these heretickes I am sory that you wil be no more tractable that I am compelled to shew extremity agaynst you Phil. My Lord you need not to shew extremity against me vâ—les you list neither by the law as I haue sayd you haue any thing to do with me for that you are not mine Ordynary albeit I am contrary to
triall of our faith that we might bring foorth that excelleÌ„t vertue pacience by the which we are made like to our redeemer Christ with whome we heere being like in suffering assuredly shall heereafter be pertakers of his eternall glory Therefore s. Paul saith God forbid that I should glory in any thing but in the crosse of our lord Iesus Christ. I that am vnder the crosse with you thankes be geuen to God therefore haue felt in the same more true ioye and consolation then euer I did by any benefite that God hath geuen mee in my life before For the more the world doth hate vs the nigher God is vnto vs and there is no perfect ioy but in God Wherefore Christ sayd In me you shall haue ioy but in the worlde affliction Blessed be God which sendeth vs this affliction that we mighte perfectly ioy in hym For this cause in the ripest time of iniquitie and in the moste feruent season of persecution of the true church which Christ in the 21. of Luke prophesied to come he willeth vs to be of good chere and to lift vp our heads for our redemption is at hand O that the Lorde would come and deliuer vs from this worlde which is a vale of miserie vnto his owne kingdome where floweth perpetuall ioy and consolation And verily that is the true and onely ioy which is conceiued not of the creature but of the Creator the which when we doe possesse no body canne take it away from vs. To the which ioy all other ioyes being compared are but mournings all delights sorrow al sweetenes sower all beauty filth and finally al other things that be counted pleasant are tediousnes Your owne selfe is better witnes of thys then I aske your selfe with whom you are best acquainted Doeth not the holy Ghost speake the same in your heart Haue you not perswaded your selfe this to be true before I wrote thereof For howe should you being a woman and a yong Gentlewoman beautifull and at your owne liberty haue ouercome this your fraile kinde and age and despised your excellent beautie and estate vnlesse all those things which be subiect to the senses had bene counted of you vile lâ—tle to be estemed in coÌ„parison of those things which inwardly do comfort you to ouercome the flesh the world and the deuil c. God encrease your ioy in all spirituall things and establish your hope to the day of eternal rest You haue forsaken darkenes and are entred into light God graunt the same may shine stil in you vntil the perfect day come of the Lord in the which is all our consolation Here we must be darkened that there we may appeare as brighte as the sunne in the face of the whole world of all them that now condemne vs for our wel doing whose iudges then we shall be to their horrible griefe though nowe wrongfully they iudge vs. Pray hartily that often that God once again for his Christes sake woulde be mercifull to his afflicted church in England Faithfull prayer is the onely remedy that we haue against the fierie dartes of the Deuil that be kindled against vs. By prayer the Amalechites shall be ouercome and the roarings of the Lion which seeketh still to deuoure vs shal be stopped put to silence The Lorde stoppe Leuiathans mouth that he swalow not vp Gods seely people according to his expectation Praise the Lord for the faithfull testimonie and sacrifice which 2. of our brethren of late haue through fire rendred to the truth of the gospell which nowe triumpheth by the death of godly Martyrs The Lorde is at hande therefore watche and pray The last of May. 1555. Captiue in the kings Bench. Yours with heart in Christ Iohn Philpot. An other letter of maister Philpot to the godly Ladie Vane GOd the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ encrease in your godly heart the faith of the gospell which is your eternall inheritance the holy ghost comfort your spirite with all spirituall consolation to the day of the Lord. Amen I can not but praise God moste highly earnestly my deare faithful lady for the great vnfained loue whych you beare vnto me in Christ declared oftentimes as wel now as of late by manifest and liberal tokens Blessed be God that hath made you so worthy a meÌ„ber in his kingdome For it can not be but such shal reape with abuÌ„dance in time of reward that here do sowe so plenteously in well doing Albeit I am moste vnwoorthy to receiue any suche benefit at your hands as in respect of a piller of Christes church which am scarse a shadow thereof But the zeale of Christes church in you wisheth me to be such a one as the time doth require God fulfill your desire of me that I may be fouÌ„d constant no wandring starre I am not worthy of the name of a prophet or of a minister of Gods woorde for that I haue being letted by the iniquitie of time little or nothing labored therein I am a friend of our common spouse Iesus and do reioyce of the veritie of his woorde for the which praised be hys name hee hath counted mee worthy to suffer and in deede who that geueth a draughte of water in the name of a disciple as Christ hath promised shall not lose his reward Therefore that your gentlenes doth in the name of him which I am not the Lorde recompence vnto you in all hys blessings which he is accustomed to powre on them which loue his flocke vnfainedly Good Lady you haue to ioy that the kingdome of God is thus continually before your eies and that you are not ashamed of the bands of Christ which you with his people in part do suffer They may be assured of the glory euerlasting which heere are not ashamed to take vp the crosse of Christ to folowe him Heere we must weepe and lament whiles the worlde laugheth triumpheth ouer vs but our teares shall shortly be turned into vnspeakeable ioy and we shall eternallye be merrye together when the world shall lament their infidelitie without ende c. I woulde I were able to doe any thing that myght shewe condigne thaÌ„ks for that sincere loue you beare vnto me in Christ. You adiure me as it were by your gentle letters to be bolde on you in all my needes I thanke God whych ceaseth not to prouide for his I lacke nothing at this present but only hability to thank your faithful hart for your goodnesse towards me I loue you and not yours as it is meete christians to loue one an other in God your faith which I beholde in you is more woorth vnto me then al your possessioÌ„s And I thinke I shal not neede long to be chargeable vnto you for that this weeke I looke for commissioners to sit on me my fellow prisoners in prison least the spirit of our breath might blowe further abroade The
destruction And then I weene your new made Prosolites will be glad to couer their crowns with a Cowe turd sauyng your Lordships reuerence I should haue sayd first Well I rather desire the conuersion then confusion the Lord send the one of them shortly as may be most to his glory Amen I signifye also vnto your Lordshyp that the raylyng words which your lying preacher shewed forth of hys filthy fountayne vpon Sonday agaynst the deare seruaunt of God good M. Philpot doth greatly redounde to your Lordships dishonesty and much deface your spiritual honour Uerily I see that the great wrath of GOD hath so blynded your eyes that you see not what is with you nor what is against you but still you vomite out your owne shame and make all the world wonder vpon you Was it not enough for you to condemne hym most vniustly ye contrary to your own lawes and to kill his innocent body most tirannously but you must also set a lying limme of the Deuill to blaspheme slaunder and belye him now he is dead Oh viperous generation seed of the serpent right children of the deuill full well doe you counterfaite the fathers steps whom Christ calleth a murderer and a lyer from the beginnyng which two thinges be the onely weapons of your war wherwith you maintaine all your mischiefe that is to say lying and murder for those whom ye cannot ouercome with your lying perswasions them you kill most cruelly and then blaspheme belye them with railyng sentenses when they are deade But all this will not blynd the people of God nor yet make them any whit the lesse beleeue the truth nor abate their loue from the true preachers thereof yea it is a true signe and token that they are the very disciples of Christ for he hath sayd Blessed are ye when men reuile you and say all maner of euill sayings agaynst you for my names sake Reioyce be glad for great is your reward in heauen And doubtlesse great is that good mans reward in heauen by this time as your Lordships damnation shall be great in hel except you repent and surcease from sheddyng innocent bloud But it is to be feared your hart is hardned as Pharaoes was seyng that with Iudas ye haue sold and betraied your maister Take heed my Lord lest you come to the same ende or a worse then he did For verily I caÌ„not perceiue how you should escape it long Therfore say not but a womaÌ„ gaue you warning if you list to take it And as for the obteining of your popish purpose in suppressing the truth I put you out of doubt you shall not obtaine it so long as ye go this way to worke as you doe for verily I beleeue that you haue lost the harts of 20000. that were ranke papists with in this 12. months It is found very true that one holy doctor sayeth the bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Gospel when one is put to death a thousand doth rise for hym And that this is true you may well perceiue by the harty loue that the people shewed vnto good M· Philpot at his goyng to his death They went not about to make an Idoll of hym as your adders brood would beare meÌ„ in hand but they worshipped God which gaue such strength to his deare child to die so constantly for the testimony of his truth to the vtter destruction of that detestable idolatry which your lordship doth most diuelishly maintaine with the force of fire fagots and sword yea rather then faile to famish men in prison agayne as ye haue done already It is reported of your owne tormenters that the 6. prisoners that you haue in your prison be put into 6. seueral places al the day and euery night brought together and set in the stockes Forsooth my L. this doth get you a foule name all abroad the countrey and yet all will not helpe your lordships pestilent purpose but euery way hinder the fame For Zorobabell will bee founde no lyer which sayd The truth should haue victory you do but striue agaynst the streame and kicke against the pricke the Lord doth laugh your doyngs to scorne and will bring all your counsailes and deuises to naugh as knoweth the Lord God who of hys great mercy shortly conuert your Lordship or vtterly coÌ„found you and get his name a glory ouer you Amen Your Lordships Oratour who praieth daily to God that he may rewarde you according to your deeds * Anno. 1556. ¶ The Story of seuen Martyrs suffryng together at London for the lyke testimony of Christes Gospell THe Catholike prelates of the Popes band beyng as yet not satisfied with this their one â—eres bloudy murderyng of the reuerend lerned principal members of Christes church whereof there were now very few which either were not consumed by most cruel fire or els for the auoidyng of their popâ—sh rage compelled to flee their natural country continued still this next yere also which was an 1556. in no lesse crueltie towards the more simple inferior sort of people I meane in degree though God be praysed not in stedfastnes hauing yet sometimes amoÌ„gst them such as were both learned and of good estimation as in continuance of this history shall appeare Wherfore as the first fruites thereof to beginne this yeare withall about the 27. day of Ianuary were burned in Smithfield at London these seuen personnes hereafter followyng to witte Thomas Whittle Priest Barthelet Greene Gentleman Iohn Tudson Artificer Iohn Went Artificer Thomas Browne Isabel Foster wyfe Ioane Warren alias Lashford Mayd All whith seuen as they were burned together in one fire so were they likewyse all vppon one sort and forme of Articles condemned in one day Howbeit forasmuch as the gyfts of God in them were diuers some more abounding in knowledge then others their dealyngs wythall were also diuers as shall be more plainly perceiued in the discoursing of their seuerall processes hereafter folowing And therefore for the better vnderstandyng hereof I will first by the leaue of the Lord passing ouer their priuate articles and examinations had at sundry tymes in the bishops house set foorth their generall examinations in the publike Consistorie vpon the Bishops articles there ministred vnto them with their aunswers also vnto the same accordyng as they all agreed after one maner and sort together as here by the words both of the articles and theyr aunswers vnder written may appeare ¶ The forme and wordes of Boners Articles ministred to the seuen persons aboue mentioned in his Consistorie ANd first to behold the maner of speach in these bishops sittyng in their maiesty to terrifie the eares of the simple withall let vs heare the pontificall phrase of this Bishops beginnyng in this sort ¶ The within written articles and euery of them and euery part and parcell of them we Edmund by the permission of God Bishop of London do obiect and minister to thee Thomas Whittle c of our
hym at hys cōmandement but to your Masse sayd I I haue small affectiō At which aunswer he was displeased sore sayd I should be fedde with bread and water And as I followed hym through the great hall he turned backe and beat me with his fist first on the one cheeke and then on the other as the signe of my beatyng did many dayes appeare And then he led me into a little salthouse where I had no straw nor bed but lay two nightes on a table and slept soundly I thanke God Then vpon the Friday next after I was brought to my L. and he then gaue me many fayre words and said he would be good to me And so he goyng to Fulham committed me to Doct. Harpsfield that he and I in that after noone should common together and drewe out certayne Articles whereunto if I would subscribe I shoulde bee dismissed But D. Harpsfield sent not for me til night and then perswaded me very sore to forsake my opinions I answered I held nothing but the truth therfore I could not so lightly turne therefrom So I thought I should at y◠time haue had no more ado but he had made a certaine bill whiche the Register pulled out of his bosom red it The bill in deed was very easily made and therefore more daungerous for the effect therof was to detest all errours and heresies against the sacrament of the aultar and other sacramentes to beleue the fayth of the catholicke church and liue accordingly ¶ The copy of this bill here mentioned if it please the gētle reader to peruse so as it came to our hands we haue hereunto adioyned written and conteined in theyr owne wordes as foloweth to be sene ¶ The Bill of submission offered to Thomas Whittell to subscribe I Thomas Whittell Prieste of the Dioces of London knowledge and confesse with my mouth agreeing wyth my hart before you reuerend father in God Edm. bishop of London my Ordinary that I do detest and abhorre all maner of heresies and errours agaynst the Sacrament of the aulter or any of the Sacramentes of the Church whiche heresies and errours haue heretofore bene condemned in any wise by the catholicke church and I do protest and declare by these presents that I do both now hold and also entēd by gods grace alwayes hereafter to hold obserue and keepe in all poyntes the Catholicke fayth and beliefe of Christes Church according as this church of England being a member of the sayd Catholicke Church doth now professe and keepe and in no wise to swerue decline or go from the sayd faith during my naturall life submitting my selfe fully and wholly to you reuerend father my sayd Ordinarye in all thinges concerninge my reformation and amendement at all times In witnesse whereof I the sayde Thomas Whittell Prieste haue hereunto subscribed my name written c. To this Bill I did in deed set to my hand being much desired and counselled so to do and the flesh being alwaies desirous to haue libertye I considered not throughly the inconuenience that might come thereupon and respite I desired to haue had but earnestlye they desired me to subscribe Now when I had so done I had litle ioy thereof For by and by my mind and conscience tolde me by Gods worde that I had done euill by such a sleighty meanes to shake of the sweete Crosse of Christ and yet it was not my seking as God he knoweth but altogether came of them O the crafty subtlety of Sathan in his members Let euery man that God shall deliuer into theyr hands take good heede and cleaue fast to Christ for they will leaue no corner of his conscience vnsought but will attempt all guilefull and subtle meanes to corrupt him to fall both frō God and his trueth But yet let no man dispayre of Gods help for Peter did fall and rise agayne And Dauid sayeth A righteous man though he fall he shall not bee cast away for the Lorde vpholdeth him with his hande For I for my part haue felt my infirmities and yet haue I found Gods present helpe and comfort in time of neede I thanke hym therfore The night after I had subscribed I was sore greeued and for sorrowe of conscience coulde not sleepe For in the deliueraunce of my body out of bondes whiche I mighte haue had I could finde no ioy nor comfort but still was in my conscience tormented more and more being assured by Gods spirit and his word that I through euill councell aduisement had done amisse And both with disquietnesse of minde and with my other cruell handeling I was sickly lying vpon the ground when the keeper came and so I desired him to pray Doctour Harpsfield to come to me and so he did And when he came and the Register with him I told him that I was not well at ease but especially I told him I was greued very much in my conscience and minde because I had subscribed And I sayd that my conscience had so accused me through the iust iudgement of God and hys word that I had felt hell in my conscience and Sathan ready to deuoure me and therefore I pray you M. Harpsfield sayd I let me haue the bill agayne for I wyll not stande to it So he gentlye commaunded it to be fetched and gaue it mee and suffered mee to pull out my name whereof I was right glad when I had so done although death should folow And hereby I had experience of gods prouidence and mercy towardes me who trieth his people and suffereth them to fall but not to be lost for in the middest of this temptation and trouble he gaue me warning of my deed and also deliuered me his name be praysed for euermore Amen Neither deuill nor cruell tyrant can plucke any of Christes sheepe out of his hand Of the which flock of Christes sheepe I trust vndoubtedly I am one by meanes of hys death and bloudshedding which shall at the last day stand at his right hand and receiue with other his blessed benediction And now being condemned to dye my conscience and minde I prayse God is quiet in Christ and I by hys grace am very well willing and content to geue ouer this body to the death for the testimony of his truth pure religion agaynst Antichrist and all his false Religion doctrine They that report otherwise of me speake not truely And as for Fountayne I saw not him all that while By me Thomas Whittell Minister ¶ Concerning the troubled mind of this Godly man and tearing of his name out of the bill here followeth the report of the same written in the letters both of the sayde Harpsfield and also of Iohnson the Register beyng then present thereat and reporters of the same vnto the bishop as in theyr letters hereto annexed is to be sene * The Copy of Nich. Harpsfieldes Letter touching Mayster Whittell written to Boner Byshop
tribulations that being founde constant to the end he may crowne his owne giftes in them in heauen highly reward thē Whether I trust to goe before looking for you to followe my faythfull frend that we maye sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Sathan and sinne won for vs by Iesus Christ God and man our onely and sufficient Sauiour and Aduocate Amen Farewell and pray in fayth Yours Thomas Whittell Minister and nowe condemned to dye for the Gospels sake 1556. Ianuary 21. ¶ All my felowes salute you Salute all our faythful brethren with you ¶ To my deare frend and brother Iohn Went and other his prison felowes in Lollardes Tower HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt fed Daniel in the Lions denne and deliuered Paul Peter and the Apostles out of prison vouchsafe of his goodnes to keep feed and deliuer you my good brother Went with the other our felow souldiors your prison felowes as may be most to his glory to your consolatiō and the edification of his Church I cannot but praise God most earnestly when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioye in the crosse of Christ which you now beare and suffer together with many other good members of Christ which is a token that by Christ you are counted worthy the kingdome of God as Paule sayth And though the world counteth the yoake and crosse of Christ as a most pernicious and hurtfull thing yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is cannot but reioice in this persecution as touching our selues in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause and not ours at whose hand if we endure to the end we shall receiue through his liberall promise in Christ not onely a greate reward in heauen but also the kingdome of heauen it selfe also in the meane season be sure to bee defended and cared for so that we shall lacke no necessarye thinges neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without his knowledge Oh what is he that would mistrust or not gladly serue so louing a father O how vnhappy are they that forsake him and put theyr trust in man But how blessed are they that for his loue and for his holy woordes sake in these troublesome dayes doe committe theyr soules and bodyes into his handes with wel doing counting it greater happines and riches to suffer rebuke with Christ and his Church thē to enioy the pleasures of this life for a litle short seasō This crosse that we nowe beare hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abell hitherto and shal be to the end because the Deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and his Christ can not abide that hee should for his manifolde mercies bee lauded and magnified and Christ to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer Sauiour and aduocate and therefore because we will not deny Christ nor dissemble with out fayth but openly protest and professe the same before the world he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp his wicked members to persecute and kill the bodies of the true Christians as S. Iohn sayth the Deuill shall cast some of you into prison And Dauid sayth I beleued and therfore haue I spoken but I was sore troubled This notwithstanding goe forward deare brethren as ye haue begon to fight the Lords battel considering Christe the Captayne of your warre who will both fight for you geue you victorye and also highlye rewarde your paynes Consider to your comfort the notable and chiefe shepheardes and souldiours of Christe whiche are gone before vs in these dayes I meane those learned and godly Bishops Doctours other ministers of Gods word whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to folowe as S. Paule sayth Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God the ende of whose conuersation see that ye look vpon and folow theyr faith The grace blessing of God with the ministery of his holy Angels be with you for euer Amen All my prison felowes greete you From the Colehouse this 4. of December By your poore brother Thomas Whittell an vnworthy Minister of Christ nowe his prisoner for the Gospels sake Amen ¶ To all the true professors and louers of Gods holy Gospell within the City of London THe same faith for the whiche Abraham was counted righteous and Mary blessed the Lorde GOD encrease and make stable in your hartes my deare and faithfull brethren sisters of London for euer and euer Amen Dearely beloued be not troubled in this heat which is now come amongest you to try you as though some straunge thing had happened vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christes passions that when his glory appeareth ye may be mery and glad c. Out of these wordes of S. Peter I gather most specially these 4. notes First the persecution happeneth to Christes Church for their triall that is for the probation and proofe of their fayth Which fayth like as it is knowne with God in the depth of our hartes so will he haue it made manifest to the whole worlde through persecution that so it may euidently appeare that hee hath such a Churche and people vpon earth which so trusteth in hym and feareth his holy name that no kinde of persecution paynes nor death shal be able to seperate them from the loue of hym And thus was Abraham tried and Iob tempted that their fayth whiche before laye hid almost in their hartes might bee made knowne to the whole world to be so stedfast and stronge that the deuill naturall loue nor no other enemie coulde bee able to bereaue them thereof Whereby also GOD was to be magnefied who both tryeth his people by many tribulations and also standeth by them in the middest of their troubles to deliuer them by lyfe or death as he seeth best like as he assisted Loth and deliuered hym out of his enemies handes Ioseph out of the handes of his Brethren and out of Prison Paule from his enemies in Damasco and the Apostles out of the Stockes and Prison These with many mo he deliuered to lyfe And also he deliuered Abell Eleazar Steuen and Iohn Baptist with other manye by deathe and hathe also by the tryall of their fayth made them good presidentes and examples to vs and all that come after to suffer affliction in the like cause as Saynt Iames sayeth Take my brethren sayth he the prophets for an ensample of suffering aduersity and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord beholde we count them happy which endure Y◠haue heard of the pacience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lord made with him for the Lord is very pitifull and mercifull Also the Lorde tryeth vs to let vs see our owne hartes and thoughtes that no Hypocrisy or Ambitiō deceiue vs that the strong
and he will keepe you from all euill Call vpon his holy name he will strengthen you and assiste you in all your wayes and if it please him to lay his crosse vpon you for his Gospelles sake refuse it not neither shake it off by vnlawefull meanes leaste you should as God forbidde finde a more grieuous crosse and torment of conscience if you shoulde dissemble and denye the knowen verity then is any persecution or death of body Oh howe happye are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake their rewarde is great in heauen The momentanie afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed vpon vs. Oh remember the Godly weman of the old testament and new which liued in Gods seruice and feare and therefore are now in blisse and commended for euer as namely Iudith Hester Abigael the mother of the 7. sonnes Mary Elizabeth Susanna Lidia and Phebe and others Set theyr examples before your eyes and feare nothing for Sathan is conquered by our Sauiour Christe sinne is put to flight and the gate of immortality and eternall life is set wide open God graunt we may enter therein through the doore Iesus Christ Amen Thomas Whittell ¶ The Story of Mayster Bartlet Greene Gentlemanne and Lawyer Martyr AFter the Martyrdome of Thomas Whittell nexte followeth in order to speake of Bartlet Greene who the nexte day after the foresayde Whittell was likewise condemned Thys Greene was of a good house and hauinge such Parentes as both fauoured learning and were also willing to bring vp this theyr childe in the same Who after some enteraunce in other inferiour Schooles was by them sent vnto the Uniuersity of Oxforde where thorow exercise and diligent study he so profited that within short time he atteined aswell to the knowledge of sundery prophane Sciences and also now in his last yeares vnto the godly vnderstanding of Diuinitye Whereunto through ignorance in which he was trayned vp from his youth he was at the first an vtter enemy vntill such tyme as God of his mercy had opened his eyes by his often repayring vnto the commō Lectures of Peter Martyr reader of the Diuinity Lecture in the same Uniuersity so that therby as by Gods instrument he saw the true lighte of Christes Gospell Whereof when he had once tasted it became vnto hym as the fountayne of liuely water that our Sauiour Christ spake of vnto the woman of Samaria so as he neuer thirsted any more but had a well springing vnto euerlastyng life In so much as when he was called by his frendes frō the vniuersity and was placed in the Temple at London there to attayne to the knowledge of the common Lawes of the Realme he yet continued still in his former study earnest profession of the Gospell wherein also he did not a litle profite Howbeit suche is the fraylety of our corrupte nature without the speciall assistaunce of Gods holy spirit through the continuall accompanying and felowshyp of such worldly I will not say to much youthfull young gentlemen as are commonly in that and the like houses he became by litle and litle a compartner of theyr fond follies and youthfull vanities aswell in his apparell as also in banquettinges and other superfluous excesses whiche he afterward being agayne called by Gods mercifull correction did sore lament and bewayle as appeareth by his one testimonye notified and lefte in a booke of a certayne frend of his a litle before his death written with his owne hand in maner as foloweth ¶ This did Mayster Bartlet Greene write in Mayster Bartram Calthrops Booke TWo thinges haue very muche troubled me whilest I was in the Temple Pride and Glottonye whiche vnder the coulour of glorye and good felowshippe drewe me almoste from GOD. Agaynst both there is one remedye by prayer earnest and without ceasing And for as much as vayne glory is so subtle an Aduersarye that almoste it woundeth deadly ere euer a manne can perceiue himselfe to be smitten therefore we ought so muche the rather by continuall prayer to labour for humblenesse of minde Truely Glottony beginneth vnder a charitable pretence of mutuall loue and society and hath in it most vncharitablenesse When we seeke to refresh our bodies that they may be the more apte to serue GOD and performe our duetyes towardes our Neyghbours then stealeth it in as a priuye theefe and murthereth both body and soule that nowe it is not apte to to pray or serue GOD nor apte to studye or labour for our neighbours Let vs therefore watch and be sober For our aduersary the Deuill walketh about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may deuour And remember what Salomon sayth Melior est patiens viro forti qui dominatur animo expugnatore vrbium 1. A pacient man is better then a strong warrior and he that conquereth his owne stomacke is better then hee that conquereth Townes and Cityes Bartlet Greene. Animorum in fide vnio per charitatem acta firma est amicitia Vale mi Bartrame mei memineris vt semper simillimi efficiamur Vale. Apud nouam Portam 20. Ianuarij 1556. Set sober loue agaynst hasty wrath Bartlet Greene. Thus we see the fatherly kindenesse of our moste gracious and mercifull God who neuer suffereth his electe children so to fall that they lye still in security of sinne but oftentymes quickeneth them vp by some such meanes as perhaps they thinke least of as he did here this his strayed sheepe And now therfore to returne to our history for the better maynteinaunce of himselfe in these his studyes and other his affayres he had a large exhibition of his grandfather Mayster Doctour Bartlet who during the tyme of Greenes inprisonment made vnto him large offers of great liuinges if he would recant and forsake the truth and Gospell of Christ come home agayne to the Church and Sinagogue of Rome But these his perswasions the Lord be therefore praysed tooke small effect in this faythfull hart as the sequell did declare He was a man beloued of all men except of the Papistes who loue none that loue the truth and so he well deserued for he was of a meeke humble discreete and most gentle behauiour to all Iniurious he was to none beneficiall to many especiallye to those that were of the householde of fayth as appeared amongest other by his frendly dealing with maister Christopher Goodman beeing at that present a poore exile beyond the Seas With whom this Bartlet Greene aswell for his toward learning as also for his sober and Godly behauiour had often society in Oxforde in the dayes of good king Edwarde which now notwithstanding hys frendes misery and banishment he did not lightly forget and that turned as it chaunced not without the prouidence of almightye GOD to the greate griefe of both the one of heart for the losse of his Frende and the other of body in suffering the cruell
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
same booke And finally because those worthy Martyrs had neither libertye nor leysure to go through with that trauaile that which lacked in them for accomplishment of that behalfe was supplied shortlye after by Peter Martyr who aboundantly and substantially hath ouerthrowne that booke in his learned Desension of the trueth agaynst the false Sophistication of Marcus Antonius aforesayd Besides these bookes aboue recited of this archbishop diuers other thinges there were also of his doing as the booke of the reformation the Catechisme with the booke of Homelies whereof part was by him contriued parte by his procurement approued and published Whereunto also may be adioyned an other writing or confutation of his agaynst 88. Articles by the conuocation deuised and propounded but yet not ratified nor receiued in the reigne time of king Henry the eight And thus much hetherto concerning the doynges and trauelles of this Archbishop of Caunterbury duringe the lyues both of kynge Henrye and of kinge Edwarde hys sonne Which two kinges so long as they continued this Archbishop lacked no staye of maynteinaunce agaynst all his maligners Afterward this king Edward Prince of most worthy towardnesse falling sicke when hee perceyued that hys death was at hande and the force of his paynefull disease woulde not suffer him to liue longer and knowing that his sister Mary was wholy wedded to popish Religion bequeathed the succession of this Realm to the Lady Iane a Ladye of greate byrthe but of greater learning being Neece to king Henry the eight by his sister by consent of all the Councell and lawers of this realme To this testament of the kinges when all the Nobles of the Realme states and Iudges had subscribed they sent for the Archbishop and required him that he also would subscribe But he excusing himselfe on this maner sayd that it was other wise in the testament of king HeÌ„ry his father and that he had sworn to the successioÌ„ of Mary as then the next heire by which oth he was so bound that without manifest periury he could not go from it The Councell answered that they were not ignoraunt of that and that they had consciences as well as he and moreouer that they were sworne to that testament and therfore he should not thinke there was any daunger therein or that he should be in no more perill of periury then the rest To this the Archbishop answered that he was iudge of no mans conscience but his owne and therefore as hee would not be preiudiciall to others so he would not commit his conscience vnto other mens factes or cast himselfe to daunger seing that euery man shoulde geue account of his owne conscience and not of other mens And as concerning subscription before he had spoken with the kynge himselfe he vtterly refused to do it The king therefore being demaunded of the Archbyshop concerning this matter sayde that the Nobles and Lawyers of the Realme counselled him vnto it and perswaded him that the bond of the first testament coulde nothing let but that this Lady Iane might succeede hym as heyre and the people without daunger acknowledge her as theyr Queene Who then demauÌ„ding leaue of the king that he might first talke with certayne Lawyeâ—s that were in the Court when they all agreed that by law of the realme it might be so returning to the king with much ado he subscribed Well not long after this king Edwarde dyed beyng almost sixtene yeares olde to the great sorowe but greater calamity of the whole Realme After whose decease immediatelye it was commaunded that the Ladye Iane which was vnwilling thereunto shoulde be proclaymed Queene Which thing much misliked the common people not that they did so much fauor Mary before whom they saw the Lady Iane preferred as for the hatred conceiued agaynst some whom they could not fauor Besides this other causes there happened also of discord betwene the nobles and the commons the same time for what iniuryes of commons and enclosures wrongfully holden wyth other inordinate polinges vncharitable dealing betwene the landlordes and tenauntes I cannot tell But in fyne thus the matter fell out that Mary hearing of the death of her brother and shifting for her selfe was so assisted by the Commons that eftsoones shee preuayled Who being established in the possession of the realme not long after came to London and after she had caused first the two Fathers the Duke of Northumberland and the Duke of Suffolke to be executed as is aboue remembred likewise she caused the Lady Iane being both in age tender and innocent froÌ„ this crime after she coulde by no meanes be turned froÌ„ the constancy of her fayth together with her husband to be beheaded The rest of the nobles paying fines were forgeuen the Archbishop of Cant. onely excepted Who though he desired pardon by meanes of frendes could obteine none in so much that the Queene would not once vouchsafe to see him For as yet the olde grudges agaynst the Archbishop for the deuorcemeÌ„t of her mother remayned hid in the bottome of her hart Besides this diuorce she remembred the state of religion chaunged all whiche was reputed to the Archbishop as the chiefe cause therof While these thinges were in doing a rumor was in all mens mouthes that the Archbishop to curry fauour with the Queene had promised to say a Dirige Masse after the old custome for the funeral of king Edward her brother Neither wanted there some which reported that he had already sayd Masse at Caunterbury which Masse in deed was sayd by D. Thornton This rumour Cranmer thynkyng speedely to stay gaue forth a writing in his purgation the tenour whereof being before expressed I need not here agayne to recite This bill being thus written and lying openlye in a window in his chamber commeth in by chaunce M. Scory Bishop then of Rochester who after he had read pervsed the same required of the Archbishop to haue a Copy of the bill The Archbishop when he had grauÌ„ted and permitted the same to M. Scory by the occasion thereof M. Scory lending it to some freÌ„d of his there were diuers copyes taken out thereof and the thing published abroad among the coÌ„mon people in so much that euery scriueners shop almost was occupied in writing and copying out the same and so at length some of these copies comming to the Bishops handes and so brought to the Counsel and they sending it to the Commissioners the matter was known and so he commaunded to appeare Wherupon D. Cranmer at his day prefixed appeared before the sayd Commissioners bringing a true Inuentory as he was commaunded of all his goodes That done a Bishop of the Queenes priuy counsell being one of the sayd Commissioners after the Inuentory was receiued bringing in mention of the bill My Lord sayd he there is a bil put forth in your name wherein you seeme to be agreeued with setting vp the Masse agayne we doubt not but you are
purpose the rest they committed to all aduenture as became men of that religion to doe The Queene hauing nowe gotten a time to reuenge her old grieef receiued his recantation very gladly but of her purpose to put him to death she would nothing relēt Now was Crāmers cause in a miserable taking who neither inwardly had any quietnes in his owne cōscience nor yet outwardly any helpe in his aduersaries Besides this on the one side was praise on the other side scorne on both sides daunger so that neither he could die honestly nor yet vnhonestly liue And where as hee sought profite hee fell into double disprofite that neyther with good men he could auoid secrete shame nor yet with euill men the note of dissimulation In the meane time while these things were a doyng as I said in the prison among the doctours the Queene taking secrete Counsel howe to dispatch Cranmer out of the way who as yet knew nothing of her secrete hate and looked for nothing lesse then death apoynted D. Cole and secretely gaue him in commandement that against the 21. of March he should prepare a funerall sermon for Cranmers burning so instructing him orderly and diligently of her wil pleasure in that behalfe sendeth him away Soone after the Lord Williams of Tame the Lorde Shandoys syr Thom. Bridges and syr Iohn Browne were sent for with other woorshipfull men and Iustices commanded in the Queenes name to be at Oxford at the same day wyth their seruauntes and retinue least Cranmers death should raise there any tumult Cole the Doctor hauing this lesson geuen hym before and charged by her commandement returned to Oxford ready to play hys part who as the day of execution drewe neare euen the day before came into the prison to Cranmer to try whether he abode in the catholicke faith wherin before he had left him To whom when Cranmer had aunsweared that by Gods grace he would daily be more confirmed in the catholicke faith Cole departing for the tyme the next day following repaired to the Archb. agayne geuing no signification as yet of hys death that was prepared And therefore in the morning which was the 21. day of Marche appoynted for Cranmers execution the sayde Cole comming to hym asked if he hadde any money To whome when he answeared that he had none he deliuered hym 15. crownes to geue the poore to whome hee woulde and so exhorting him so muche as hee coulde to constancie in Faith departed thence aboute hys businesse as to hys Sermon appertained By this partly and other like Argumentes the Archbishop began more and more to surmise what they went about Then because the day was not farre past and the Lordes and Knightes that were looked for were not yet come there came to him the Spanish frier witnes of hys recantation bringing a paper with articles which Cranmer shoulde openly professe in hys recantation before the people earnestly desiring him that hee woulde wryte the sayd instrument with the articles with his owne hande and signe it with his name which when he had done the said frier desired that he would wryte an other copy thereof which should remaine with him and that he did also But yet the Archbishop being not ignoraunt whereunto theyr secreat deuises tended and thinking that the time was at hande in which he could no longer dissemble the profession of his faith with Christes people he put secretely in hys bosome his Prayer with his exhortation wrytten in an other paper which he minded to recite to the people before he should make the last profession of hys faith fearing least if they had heard the confession of his faith first they woulde not afterward haue suffered hym to exhort the people Soone after about 9. of the clocke the Lord Williams Syr Thomas Bridges syr Iohn Browne and the other Iustices wyth certaine other noble men that were sent of the Queenes counsell came to Oxford with a great traine of wayting men Also of the other multitude on euerye side as is wōt in such a matter was made a great concourse and greater expectation For first of all they that were of the Popes side were in great hope that day to heare somthing of Cranmer that should stablish the vanitye of their opinion the other parte which were endued with a better minde coulde not yet doubte that he which by continuall studie and labour for so many yeres had set foorth the doctrine of the gospel either would or could nowe in the last Acte of hys life forsake his part Briefly as euery mannes wil enclined eyther to this part or to that so accordyng to the diuersitie of their desires euery mā wished and hoped for And yet because in an vncertaine thing the certaintye could be knowen of none what would be the end al theyr mindes were hanging betwene hope and doubt So that the greater the expectation was in so doubtfull a matter the more was the multitude that were gathered thether to heare and beholde In this so great frequence and expectation Cranmer at length commeth from the prison Bocardo vnto s. Maries churche because it was a foule and a rainy daye the chiefe church in the vniuersity in this order The Mayor went before next him the Aldermen in their place and degree after them was Cranmer brought betwene two friers which mumbling to and froe certaine Psalmes in the streetes aunsweared one an other vntill they came to the Church doore and there they began the songe of Simeon Nunc Dimittis and entering into the Churche the Psalme saying Friers brought hym to his standing and there left him There was a stage set vp ouer against the pulpit of a meane height from the ground where Cranmer hadde hys standing wayting vntill Cole made him ready to his Sermone The lamentable case and sight of that man gaue a sorrowfull spectacle to al Christian eyes that beheld him He that late was Archbishop Metropolitane and Primate of England and the Kings priuy Councellor being now in a bare and ragged gowne and ill fauouredly cloathed wyth an olde square cappe exposed to the contempt of all men did admonish men not onely of his owne calamitie but also of theyr state and fortune For who woulde not pitie hys case and bewaile his fortune might not feare his owne chaunce to see such a Prelate so graue a Councellour and of so long continued honoure after so manye dignities in hys olde yeares to be depriued of his estate adiudged to die and in so painefull a death to end his life and now presently from such fresh ornaments to discende to such vile and ragged apparell In this habite when hee had stoode a good space vpon the stage tourning to a piller neare adioyning thereunto he lifted vppe hys handes to heauen prayed vnto God once or twise till at the length D. Cole comming into the pulpit and beginning his sermon entred first into mention of Tobias and Zacharie
therefore declare vnto you my very faith how I beleeue wythout any colour or dissimulation for nowe is no time to dissemble whatsoeuer I haue sayd or wrytten in time past First I beleeue in God the Father almightye maker of heauen and earth c. And I beleue euery Article of the Catholicke faith euery woord and sentence taught by our Sauiour Iesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the newe and olde Testament And nowe I come to the great thinge that so muche troubleth my conscience more then any thing that euer I did or sayd in my whole life and that is the setting abroad of a wryting contrary to the truth which now here I renounce and refuse as things wrytten with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart and written for feare of death and to saue my life if it might be and that is all suche billes and papers which I haue wrytten or signed with my hand since my degradation wherein I haue wrytten many thinges vntrue And for asmuche as my hand offended wryting cōtrary to my heart my hand shall first be punished therfore for may I come to the fire it shal be first burned And as for the Pope I refuse hym as Christes ennemie and Antichrist with all his false doctrine And as for the sacrament I beleeue as I haue taught in my booke against the Bishop of Winchester the whych my booke teacheth so true a doctrine of the sacrament that it shall stand at the last day before the iudgement of God where the Papisticall doctrine contrary thereto shal be ashamed to shewe her face Here the standers by were all astonied maruailed were amased did looke one vpon an other whose expectation he had so notably deceiued Some began to admonish hym of hys recantation and to accuse him of falshoode Briefly it was a world to see the doctours beguiled of so great an hope I thinke there was neuer crueltie more notably or better in time deluded deceiued For it is not to be doubted but they looked for a glorious victorie and a perpetuall triumph by this mans retractation Who assoone as they heard these things began to lette downe their eares to rage frette and fume and so much the more because they coulde not reuenge their griefe for they coulde nowe no longer threaten or hurt him For the most miserable manne in the world can die but once and where as of necessity he must needes die that day though the papists had bene neuer so well pleased now being neuer so much offended with him yet coulde hee not be twise killed of them And so when they coulde doe nothing els vnto him yet least they shoulde say nothinge they ceassed not to obiect vnto him his falshoode and dissimulation Unto which accusation he answered Ah my maisters quoth he do not you take it so Alwayes since I liued hitherto I haue bene a hater of falshood and a louer of simplicitie and neuer before this time haue I dissembled and in saying this al the teares that remained in his body appeared in hys eyes And when he began to speake more of the sacrament and of the papacie some of them beganne to cry out yalpe and baule and specially Cole cried out vppon him stop the heretickes month and take him away And then Cranmer beinge pulled downe from the stage was ledde to the fire accompanied wyth those Friers vexing troubling and threatning him most cruelly What madnesse saye they hath brought thee againe into this error by which thou wilt draw innumerable soules with thee into hel To whom he answeared nothyng but directed all his talke to the people sauing that to one troubling hym in the way hee spake and exhorted him to gette hym home to hys studie and applye hys booke diligently saying if he did diligently cal vpon God by reading more he should get knowledge ⧠The description of Doctour Cranmer howe he was plucked downe from the stage by Friers and Papists for the true Confession of hys Faith ⧠The burnyng of the Archbishop of Caunterbury Doctor Thomas Cranmer in the Towneditch at Oxforde with his hand first thrust into the fire wherewith he subscribed before Then the Spanish Friers Iohn Richard of whom mention was made before began to exhort him and playe their partes with him a freshe but with vayne and lost labour Cranmer with stedfast purpose abidyng in the profession of his doctrine gaue his hand to certaine old men and other that stood by biddyng them farewell And when he had thought to haue done so likewyse to Ely the sayd Ely drewe backe his hande and refused saying it was not lawfull to salute heretickes and specially such a one as falsly returned vnto the opinions that he had forsworne And if he had knowen before that hee would haue done so he would neuer haue vsed his company so familiarly and chid those sergeants and Citizens whiche had not refused to geue hym their hands This Ely was a priest lately made and student in Diuinitie beyng thē one of the fellowes of Brasennose Then was an iron chaine tied about Cranmer whom when they perceyued to be more stedfast then that he could be mooued from hys sentence they commaunded the fire to be set vnto hym And when the woode was kindled and the fire began to burne neere hym stretching out his arme he put hys right hand into the flame which he held so stedfast immoueable sauing that once with the same hand he wiped his face that all men might see hys hande burned before his body was touched His body did so abide the burning of the flame with such constancy and stedfastnes that standyng alwayes in one place without moouyng of his body he seemed to mooue no more then the stake to which hee was bound his eyes were lifted vp into heauen and oftentymes he repeated hys vnworthy right hand so long as his voyce would suffer hym and vsing oftē the words of Steuen Lord Iesus receiue my spirite in the greatnesse of the flame he gaue vp the Ghost This fortitude of mynd which perchaunce is rare and not found among the Spaniards when Frier Ioh. saw thinkyng it came not of fortitude but of desperation although such maner of examples which are of the like constancy haue bene common here in England ranne to the L. Williams of Tame crying that the Archb. was vexed in mind and died in great desperation But he which was not ignorant of the Archbishoppes constancy beyng vnknowen to the Spaniards smiled only and as it were by silence rebuked the Friers folly And this was the ende of this learned Archb. whom least by euill subscribyng he should haue perished by well recantyng God preserued and least he should haue lyued longer with shame and reproofe it pleased God rather to take him away to the glory of his name and profit of his Church So good was the Lord both to hys
Church in fortifieng the same wyth the testimony and bloud of such a Martyr and so good also to the man with this crosse of tribulation to purge his offences in this world not onely of his recantation but also of his standyng agaynst Iohn Lambert and M. Allen or if there were any other with whose burnyng and bloude hys hands had bene before any thyng polluted But especially he had to reioyce that dying in such a cause he was to be numbred amongst Christes Martyrs muche more worthy the name of S. Thomas of Caunterbury then he whom the Pope falsly before did Canonise And thus haue you the full story concernyng the lyfe and death of this reuerend Archbish. and Martyr of God Thomas Cranmer and also of diuers other the learned sort of Christs Martyrs burned in Queene Maries time of whom this Archb. was the last beyng burnt about the very middle tyme of the raign of that Queene and almost the very middle man of all the Martyrs which were burned in all her raigne besides Now after the lyfe and story of this foresayde Archbishop discoursed let vs adioyne withall his letters beginning first with his famous letter to Quene Mary which he wrote vnto her incontinent after he was cited vp to Rome by bishop Brookes and his fellowes the tenour whereof here followeth ⧠Letters of Doctor Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury ¶ The Archbishop of Canterburies letter to the Queenes highnesse IT may please your Maiestie to pardone my presumption that I dare be so bold to write to your highnes But very necessitie constraineth me that your Maiestie may know my mynde rather by myne owne writyng then by other mens reports So it is that vppon Wednesday beyng the 12. day of this moneth I was cited to appeare at Rome the 80. day after there to make answer to such matters as should be obiected agaynst me vpon the behalfe of the K. your most excelleÌ„t maiestie which matters the thursday following were obiected against me by D. Martin and D. Story your Maiesties Proctors before the B. of Glocester sitting in iudgement by commissioÌ„ from Rome But alas it cannot but grieue the heart of a naturall subiect to be accused of the King and Queene of his owne realm and specially before an outward Iudge or by authoritie commyng from any person out of this realme where the king and Queene as they were subiects within their own Realme shall complaine and require Iustice at a straungers hands agaynst their owne subiectes beyng alreadye condemned to death by their owne lawes As though the king and Queene could not do or haue iustice within their owne Realmes agaynst their own subiects but they must seeke it at a strangers hands in a straunge land the lyke whereof I thinke was neuer seene I would haue wished to haue had some meaner aduersaries and I thinke that death shal not grieue me much more then to haue my most dread and most gracious soueraigne Lord and Lady to whome vnder God I do owe all obedience to bee myne accusers in iudgement within their owne Realme before any stranger and outward power But forasmuch as in the tyme of the prince of most famous memory kyng Henry the 8. your graces father I was sworne neuer to consent that the B. of Rome should haue or exercise any authoritie or iurisdiction in this realme of England therfore least I should allow hys authoritie contrary to myne othe I refused to make answer to the B. of Glocester sittyng here in iudgement by the Popes authoritie least I should run into periurie An other cause why I refused the Popes authoritie is this that his authoritie as he claimeth it repugneth to the crowne imperiall of this Realme and to the lawes of the same which euery true subiect is bound to defend First so that the Pope sayeth that all manner of power as well temporall as spirituall is geuen first to hym of God and that the temporall power hee geueth vnto Emperors and kyngs to vse it vnder hym but so as it be alwayes at hys commandement and becke But contrary to this claime the Imperiall crowne and iurisdiction temporal of this Realme is taken immediately from God to be vsed vnder hym onely and is subiect vnto none but to God alone Moreouer to the Imperiall lawes customes of this realme the kyng in his Coronation all Iustices when they receiue their offices be sworne all the whole realm is bound to defend and maintayne But contrary hereunto the Pope by his authoritie maketh voyde commandeth to blot out of our bookes all lawes and customes beyng repugnant to his lawes and declareth accursed al rulers and gouernours all the makers writers executors of such lawes or customes as it appeareth by many of the Popes lawes whereof one or two I shall reherse In the decrees Distinct. 10. is written thus Constitutiones contra Canones decreta praesulum RomanoruÌ„ vel bonos mores nullius sunt momenti That is The constitutioÌ„s or statutes enacted agaynst the Canons and decrees of the Bishops of Rome or their good customes are of none effect Also Extra de sententia excommunicationis nouerit Excommunicamus omnes haereticos vtriusque sexus quocunque nomine censeantur fautores receptores defensores eorum nec noÌ„ qui de caetero seruari fecerint statuta edita consuetudines contra Ecclesiae libertatem nisi ea de capitularibus suis intra duos menses post huiusmodi publicationem sententiae fecerint amoueâ—i Item excommunicamus statutarios scriptores statutorum ipsorum nec non potestates consules rectores consiliarios locorum vbi de caetero huiusmodi statuta consuetudines editae fuerint vel seruatae nec non illos qui secundum ea praesumpserint iudicare vel in publicam formam scribere iudicata That is to say We excommunicate all heretikes of both sexes what name so euer they be called by and theyr fautors and receptors and defenders and also them that shall hereafter cause to be obserued the statutes customs made agaynst the libertie of the Church except they cause the same to be put out of their recordes and chapters with in two moneths after the publication hereof Also we excommunicate the statute makers and writers of those statutes and all the potestates consuls gouernours counsellors of places where such statutes and customes shall be made or kept and also those that shall presume to geue iudgement accordyng to them or shall notifie in publike forme the matters so iudged Now by these lawes if the Bish. of Romes authoritie which he claymeth by God be lawfull all your Graces lawes and customes of your Realme being contrary to the Popes lawes be naught and as well your Maiestie as your Iudges Iustices and all other executors of the same stand accursed amongest heretikes which God forbid And yet this curse can neuer be auoyded if the
boldly to the profession of Christ then they shewed how little they passed of death how much they feared God more then meÌ„ how much they loued and preferred the eternall lyfe to come aboue this short and miserable lyfe Wherfore I exhort you as well by Christes commandement as by the example of hym and his Apostles to withdraw your selfe from the malice of yours gods enemies into some place where God is most purely serued which is no slaunderyng of the truth but a preseruyng of your selfe to God and the truth and to the societie comfort of Christes little flocke And that you will doe doe it with speede least by your owne folly you fall into the persecutors hands And the Lord send his holy spirite to lead and guide you where so euer you goe and all that be godly will say Amen ¶ Unto these former letters of D. Cranmer Archbishop written by hym vnto others it seemeth to me not much out of place to annexe withall a certaine Letter also of Doc. Taylor written to hym and his fellow prisoners the tenor of which letter here followeth ¶ To my deare fathers and brethren Doctor Cranmer Doctor Ridley and Doctor Latimer prisoners in Oxford for the faithful testimony of Gods holy worde RIght reuerend fathers in the Lord I wish you to enioy continually Gods grace and peace through Iesus Christ God be praysed againe for this your most excellent promotioÌ„ which ye are called vnto at this present that is that ye are counted worthy to be allowed amongst the number of Christes recordes and witnesses England hath had but a few learned Bishops that would sticke to Christ ad ignem inclusiuè Once againe I thanke God hartily in Christ for your most happy onset most valiaunt proceeding most constant suffryng of all such infamies hissings clappyngs tauntes open rebukes losse of liuyng and liberty for the defence of Gods cause truth and glory I cannot vtter with pen how I reioyce in my hart for you three such captaines in the foreward vnder Christs crosse banner or standerd in such a cause and skirmish when not onely one or two of our deare redemers strongholds are besieged but all his chiefe castles ordeyned for our safegard are traiterously impugned This your enterprise in the sight of all that be in heauen and of all Gods people in earth is most pleasaunt to behold This is another maner of nobilitie then to be in the forefront in worldly warrefares For Gods sake pray for vs for we fayle not daily to pray for you We are stronger and stronger in the Lord hys name be praysed and we doubt not but ye be so in Christes owne sweet schoole Heauen is all wholy of our side therefore Gaudete in domino semper iterum gaudete exultate i. Reioyce alwayes in the Lord and agayne reioyce and be glad Your assured in Christ Rowland Taylour ¶ De Tho. Cranmeri Archiepiscopi qui carcere detinebatur palinodia Te Cranmere grauis sontem prope fecerat error Sed reuocas lubricos ad meliora pedes Te docuit lapsus magis vt vestigia firmes Atque magis Christo consociere tuo Vtque tuae melius studeas haerescere causae Sic mala non rarò causa fuere boni Et benè successit nam ficta adultera turba Illudens alijs luditur arte pari Nempè pia sic est frustatus fraude papismus Et cessit summo gloria tota Deo ¶ In mortem D. Cranmeri Cant. Archiepiscopi Infortunatè est foelix qui numine laeso Cuiusuis gaudet commoditate boni Infoelix ille est verò feliciter orbi Inuisus quisquis tristia fata subit Hoc Cranmere probas vitae praesentis amore Dum quaeris sanctâ—m dissimulare fidem Et dum consilijs tandem melioribus vsus Praeponis vitae funera saeua tuae ¶ Persecution in Suffolke Agnes Potten and Ioane Trunchfield Martyrs IN the story of Robert Samuel mention was made before of two godly women in the same Towne of Ipswich which shortly after hym suffered likewyse and obtained the crowne of Martyrdome the names of whome was Agnes the wife of Robert Potten and another wife of Michaell Trunchfield a Shomaker both dwellyng in one Towne who about the same tyme that the Archbishop aforesayd was burned at Oxford suffered likewyse in the foresayd Towne of Ipswich eyther in the same moneth of March or as some say in the ende of February the next moneth before Their opinion or perswasion was this that in the sacrament was the memoriall onely of Christes death and passion for sayd they Iesus Christ is ascended vp into heauen and is on the right hand of God the father according to the scriptures and not in the sacrament as he was borne of the Uirgin Mary For this they were burned In whose sufferyng their constancie worthily was to be wondered at who beyng so simple women so manfully stoode to the confession and testimony of Gods worde and veritie In so much that when they had prepared and vndressed themselues redy to the fire with comfortable wordes of the Scripture they earnestly required the people to credite and to lay hold on the word of God and not vpon mans deuises and inuentions despising the ordinances and institutioÌ„s of the Romish Antichrist with all his superstitions and rotten religion and so continuyng in the torment of fire they held vp their handes and called vnto God constantly so long as lyfe did endure This Pottens wife in a night a little before her death beyng a sleepe in her bed saw a bright burnyng fire ryght vp as a pole on the side of the fire she thought there stood a nuÌ„ber of Queene Maries friends lookyng on Then beyng a sleepe she seemed to muse with her selfe whether her fire should burne so bright or no and in deed her suffryng was not farre vnlike to her dreame ¶ The burnyng of two Women * Persecution in the Dioces of Salisbury AFter these two women of Ipswich succeeded iij. men which were burnt the same moneth at one fire in Salisburye who in the like quarell with the other that went before them and led the daunce spared not theyr bodyes to bring their soules to the celestiall felicity whereof they were throughly assured in Christe Iesus by his promises as soone as the furious flames of fire had put their bodyes and soules a fonder * Their names were Iohn Spicer free Mason William Coberly Taylor Iohn Maundrell husbandman ¶ The story of Iohn Maundrell William Coberley and Iohn Spicer Martyrs FIrst Iohn Maundrell which was the sonne of Robert MauÌ„drell of Rowd in the CouÌ„ty of Wiltshyre Fermer was from his childhood brought vp in husbandry after he came to mans state did abide dwell in a Uillage called Buchamton in the Parish of Keuel within the CouÌ„ty of Wiltshyre aforesaid where he had wife and children being of good name and fame Which Iohn Maundrell
God and with the infallible testimonies of holy scripture For although Gods mercy is ouer all his woorkes yet it doth not extende but onely to them that holde fast the confidence and reioysing of hope vnto the ende not being weary in well doing but rather waxing euery day stronger and stronger in the inward man Therfore in the Reuelation of S. Iohn wher it is entreated of the Beast and his image it is also sayde Heere is the sufferance of Saintes and heere are they that keepe the commaundements and the faith of Iesus Christ. Where by almighty God doth shewe plainely that he doth vse those wicked men as instruments for a time to try the pacience and faith of his peculiar people wythout the performance whereof we can haue no part among the liuing but as it is sayd in the same Reuelation The fearfull shall haue theyr parte in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone whyche is the second death But peraduenture ye will obiect say vnto me what shall we do Shal we cast our selues headlong to death I say not so But thys I say that we are all bounde if euer we looke to receiue saluation at Gods hande in thys case wholy to be obedient to hys determinate counsell foreknowledge expressed by the gift of the spirit in holy scripture and then to cast all our care vpon him who worketh all in all for the best vnto them that loue him and thus he geueth commaundement saying Come awaye from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receue not of her plagues Nowe who hearing this terrible voyce of God which must needes be fulfilled will not wyth all speede and diligence applye him selfe to doe thereafter except such as will presumptuously tempt him And as touching such the Wise man sayeth Hee that loueth pearill and daunger shall pearish therein But they that be of the Faith of Abraham euen as he did so will they in all assayes and trials be obedient to the heauenly voyce how soeuer it semeth contrary to their owne naturall wil and carnal reason according to the sure worde of faith which saith Hope thou in the Lorde and keepe his way holde thee stil in the Lord and abide patiently vpon him Let not thy ielousie moue thee also to doe euill Come out from among them and ioyne not your selues to your vnlawfull assemblies yea do not once shew your selues with the least part of your body to fauour theyr wicked doinges but glorifye God as moste right is so well in your whole bodye outwardlye as inwardly in your spirite or els you can doe neither of both well for your body doth belong to God so well as youre spirite At the dreadfull day of iudgement we shall all receiue the workes of our bodies according to that we haue done whether it be good or bad Therefore what soeuer we doe we may not bryng the spirite in bondage to the body but contrariwise we must subdue the body and the will of the flesh to the spirit that the spirite maye freely accomplishe the will of God in all things for otherwise we shall neuer be partakers of hys promise with the true childrē of Abraham For as s. Paul sayeth They which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God If we shall liue according to the flesh we shall dye For to be carnally mineded is death but to be spiritually mineded is life and peace because that the fleshly mineded is enmitie to God for it is not obedient to the lawe of God neyther canne be So then they that are in the flesh can not please God Nowe chuse you which way you will take either the narow way that leadeth vnto life which Christ hymself and hys faithfull followers haue gone throughe before or else the broad path way that leadeth to destruction which the wicked worldlinges take theyr pleasure in for a while I for my part haue now wryttē thys short admonition vnto you of good will as God be my witnesse to exhort you to that way which at length you your selues shuld prooue and finde to be best yea and reioyce thereof And I do not onely wryte thys but I will also wyth the assistaunce of Gods grace ratifie and confirme and Seale the same wyth the effusion of my bloude when the full tyme shall be expired that hee hath appoynted whych so farre soorth as I maye iudge must needes be within these few daies Therefore I nowe bidde you all moste heartely farewell in the Lorde whose grace bee wyth youre spirite Amen Watch and pray watch and pray pray pray So be it Iohn Hullier Besides these letters the said Iohn Hullier leaft also a godly prayer whiche if any be disposed to peruse it is extant in the old booke of Acts to be found pag. 1515. The death and Martyrdome of sixe constant professours of Christ burned at Colchester for the testimonie of the Gospell the 28. day of Aprill NOt long after the death of Robert Drakes William Tymmes and the other Essex Martyrs executed in Smithfielde as is aboue specified followed in the same order likewise of martyrdome at one like fire in the town of Colchester where the most parte of them did inhabite sixe other blessed Martyrs whose names be these Christopher Lyster of Dagneham Husbandman Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecarie Iohn Spenser of Colchester Weauer Symon Ioyne Sawyer Richard Nichols of Colchester Weauer Iohn Hamond of Colchester Tanner With these sixe was also ioyned an other whose name was Roger Grasbroke but he afterwarde submitted him selfe These aboue named the Byshoppe because he as it semeth by the short processe recorded by his register waxed now weary made a very quicke dispatche For soone after that they were deliuered vnto one Iohn Kingstone Bacheler of Ciuil law and then Commissarye to the Bishop by the Earle of Oxford other Commissioners as appeareth by a bil endented made betwene the Commissioners and the said Commissary for the receit of the sayd prisoners dated the 28. day of Marche Anno regni regis Reginae Philippi Mariae secundo tertio which is the yere of our Lord 1556. and by him sent vp vnto hys Lord and Maister the Bishop caused them to be broughte vnto hys house at Fulham Where in the open Churche iudicially were ministred vnto them the same Articles that were propounded vnto Bartlet Grene and others mentioned before To the whych they made their seuerall answeres agreeing altogether in one truthe as by the summe and effect thereof heere ensuing more plainly appeareth 1 To the first article they al consented and agreed Iohn Spenser adding further thereto that the churche malignant which is the Church of Rome is no parte of Christes Catholike church and that he neither hath nor dothe beleeue the doctrine and religion taughte and set foorth in the sayd Romish and malignant
Church and to your owne euerlasting comfort in him So be it Ah my deare hartes and most faithful brethren and sisters in the Lord what high laudes and prayse yea what humble continuall thankes am I bound to geue to God our father for you on your most happy behalfe who so mightely hath magnified him selfe in you thus farre forth in geuing you his holy mighty spirit to the constant confessing of Christes veritie euen to the cruel condēnation I doubt not but he will do the same to the death Oh happye and blessed are you that euer you were borne that the Lord will vouch you worthy of this great dignitie to dye for his sake Doubtles it is the greatest honour that God can geue you in this lyfe Yea if they be so blessed of God that dye in the Lord as the holy ghost saith they be how much more blessed and happy then are you that die not only in the Lord but also for the Lord. Oh that it were the good wyll of God that the good houre were now come that I might goe with you Ah that my sinnes made me not vnworthy of such an excellent dignitie Be thankfull deare harts be thankfull reioyce in the Lord for mighty is his mercy towardes you and great is your reward in heauen the which you like faithful persōs haue plucked to you with a godly violēce of an inuincible faith Oh worthy warriours of the most high captaine Oh cōstant confessors of the euerlasting veritie how glorious a crown of victory shal you shortly receiue which is prepared for all such as do continue to the ende Oh you sweete saintes of the Lorde how precious shal your death be in his sight Oh how deare are your soules to your redeemer in whose hand they shall most ioyfully rest and the paynes of death shall neuer touch you Oh how blessed shall you be when Christ shall appeare at the which time you shall receaue your bodyes againe full of immortalitie Oh howe ioyfull shall you be when Christ according to his promise shall knowledge you before his father and his holy aungels as you haue most constantly confessed him to be your Lord and onely sauiour before men Oh blessed Greene thou meek and louing lamb of the Lord how happy art thou to be appoynted to dye for hys sake A full daintie dish art thou for the Lords own tooth Fresh and Greene shalt thou be in the house of the Lord thy fruites shal neuer wither nor decay Although thou go here forth sowing thy good fruites with teares the time shal come that thou shalt reape with ioy and gladnes the fruites of euerlasting life and that without ceasing Be mery therfore and feare not for it is thy fathers will to geue thee a kingdome wherunto he hath chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layd Oh happy Minister thou mā of God how glad maiest thou be of Gods most gracious fauour which hath preuented thee in the day of thy tryall Oh happy Peter whose part thou hast wel playd therfore thy reward and portion shall be like vnto his Now hast thou good experience of mans infirmitie but much more proofe and tast yea sense feeling of Gods aboundant bottomles mercy Although Satan desired to sift thee yet Christe thy good Captayne prayed that thy fayth should not fayle Gods strengthe is made perfect by thy weakenes his grace is sufficient for thee his deare childe Thine example did so incourage and strength thy poore brethren that God is euery waye glorified by thee and shortly will he glorifie thee with himself with that glory whiche he hath prepared for thee his electe deareling before the world was made Therfore reioyce be glad for thou hast good occasion in finding such fauour in his sight This is most true Oh my other brethren whom I do not know neyther haue I heard muche of you happy are you that euer you were borne and blessed be our God which hath geuen you such victory ouer the bloudy beast shortly shall you be clothed in large white garmentes and fyne raynes of righteousnes and so shall you follow the Lambe on mount Syon with new songes of mirth and melodye for your deliuerie forth of Satans power tiranny God for euermore bee blessed for you and strengthen you to the end as I doubt not but he will for hee neuer fayled them that put their trust in him O my deare and faithfull sister Ioane Warner what shall I say to thee Thy triall hath bene great thy victory in Christ hath bene notable Thou hast ouercome many a sharpe shower and storme Shortly shalt thou ariue at the hauen of quiet rest and receiue a reward due to a constant martyr Thou shalt go home to thy heauenly father and possesse for euer the inheritance which Christ hath purchased for thee where thy earthly parentes be still looking for thee which haue triumphed ouer Antichrist most victoriously Oh blessed parentes of happy Children which haue shewed such an example as the like hath bene seldome seen I salute thee deare sister of like constant mind whose constant example is worthy of continual memory Praysed be god for you mine own sweet sisters which hath made you to play such wise virgins parts He hath plentifully poured the oyle of his spirite into the lampes of your faythe so that the light thereof shall neuer be extinct You shal enter with your bridegrome into euerlasting ioy wherunto you were chosen in him from the beginning Oh my deare brethren and sisters you blessed saynts of the Lord how much how deeply am I bounde to prayse God for you both day night Pray pray for me my deare hartes for the render mercy of God that I may bee made worthy to folow your trace Oh that I had runne the race of my life as farre as you haue done yours and were as nigh my iorneys end as you be vnto yours But alas I lie like the lame man at the pooles side by Salomons porch euery man goeth into the place of health before me But God will appoynt me one one daye to put me in I truste my Lord of Londōs Colehouse is emptie al his officers idle Therefore they must shortly fetch more sheepe to the shambles for he is the common slaughter slaue of all England But happy are you that are passed through the pikes deliuered out of his hands and from al the angels of the darknes of this world which long tempted you in the wildernes of the same but now shall the angels of God come and minister vnto you for they are your seruantes to hold you vp in your handes that you shal not hurt your foot no nor one heare of your head shall pearish They shal cary you vp to heauen in a fiery chariot thoughe you leaue your Mantell behinde you for a time till God restore the
haue depraued and corrupted with theyr false gloses to establish the fleshly kingdome of Antichrist and to purchase securitie in the world which they seke to kepe in theyr possession by all meanes possible rather curssing wyth the thunderbolte of excommunication burnynge hanging drowning racking scourging and persecuting by secrete practise and open violence the simple sheepe of our Sauiour Christ then that their false forged packing shuld be detected theyr estimation appaired theyr kitchin cooled theyr rents reuenues goodes landes and possessions abated I say as Gods woorks be woonderful which chuseth some of all sortes to confesse his Gospell so there is no one example in the whole godly felowship of martyrs more to be marked yea more to be wōdered at then thys that one which in all King Edwardes dayes was a Papist within the Uniuersitie of Oxforde and so obstinate as that he did vtterly abhorre all godly Prayer and syncere Preaching and almost of all them with whom he liued was therefore likewise abhorred as I may say poynted at with the finger did yet after in Queene Maries time suffer most cruell deathe at the Papists handes at Newberie in Barkeshire for the most ready and zealous profession of the blessed truthe Hys name was Iulins Palmer borne in Couentry where also his parents dwelt His father had some tyme bene Maior of that Citie and occupied Marchandise all be it he was an Upholster by hys misterie How he was brought vppe in hys yonge and tender yeares from hys first entring we knowe not but as we haue learned hee was sometime scholer to master Harley which taught the free schoole of Magdalene Colledge in Oxforde by whose diligence and the goodnesse of hys owne capacitie he became a towarde yong scholler in prose and verse For hee had a very prompt and ready memorie a witte sharp and pregnant Hee spake Latine with greate facilitye of vtterance and wanted not competent knowledge in the Greke tong in so much that diuers times he supplied the roume of the Greke reader in his house He was a subtill disputer both in the publique schooles and also at home He vsed to say that he was neuer so pleasantly occupied as when he came to the harde debating of profounde questions in Philosophie so that he hath oftentimes watched and spēt the whole nighte in the discussing and searching oute the truth of deepe and diffuse questions as De principijs de infinito de vacuo te tempore de casu fortuna c. And thys vsed he to do sondry times with diuers of his equals In familiar talke he greatly delited for the exercise of his learning to defend the contrary to that which was affirmed yet with modestye and wtout all ostentation For he greatly abhorred al ouerthwart cauilling al friuolous talke and vnsauery brabbling He was not captious but would reason so soberly with such probability that euē his aduersaries would no lesse maruel at the dexteritie of hys inuention then at hys comely and decent behauiour in prosecuting the same And although he applied Diuinitie very lately it appeareth that he recompēsed the smal time of his study with the greatnes of his diligence bestowed in the same his late comming to the truthe with his earnest zealous proceding therein For by the secrete inspiration of Gods holy spirit inwardly working in his hart he gaue an apparāt signification in his yōg yeres that if God had spared his life to age he would haue grown to such maturitie ripenes of iudgement as wherby he should haue ben an ornamēt to Christes Church and an honour to his countrey And somewhat to speake of his ciuil behauior he was of maners courteous without curiosity of countenaunce chearefull without high lookes of speach pleasant wythout affectation he was affable and lowlye as any childe and yet quicke spirited and vehement in reasoning Hee practised no deceit towarde any man for he was of suche simplicitye that hee was apter to be deceiued then to deceiue and he was so great a cōtemner of al reproches and iniuries that he would say none were to be counted valiant but such as could despise iniurie In priuate studie he was so infatigable that hee arose ordinarily euery morning at 4. of the clock and went not lightly to bed before 10. at night In so much that as he grew in yeres vnderstanding so he came to be a Bacheler of Art at length for the hope appering in him to the preferment of a felowship in Mag. colledge where also he was admitted to the office of a reader in logique An. 1550. Now if he had at the first fauored syncere religiō so much as he folowed his booke then had we had the les matter to note in him But in deede he was so much as is aforesaid addicted to the Romish faith that his company conuersation in the same house was altogether with such as were vtter enemies to the gospel of Christ. If he came to cōmon praier at any time it was vy violence compulsiō for otherwise he came not Sermons wold he heare none himself nor yet suffer hys scholers to resort vnto them by his good will for he was full perswaded that they might be better occupied at home The Preachers themselues he did both disdaine and despise and all suche as were setters foorth of sounde doctrine beside For the which contumacie stubbornnesse hee was so ofte called before the Officers of the Colledge and punished sometime by the pursse sometime by the lacke of hys commons and otherwhile by certaine taskes and exercises of learning enioyned vnto hym that diuers supposed hym to haue endeuoured of set purpose continually to seeke occasion whereby he might be counted a sufferer for that fantasied religion of the Romyshe Churche In the ende not longe before the deathe of King Edwarde that godly Prince certaine sclaunderous libelles and railing Uerses were priuely fixed to the walles and doores in sondry places of the Colledge against the President which was then Doctor Haddon whereby was ministred further matter of trouble to Palmer For whereas it was well knowen that he and some of his companions had very little before spoken contumelious woordes against the President it coulde not be nowe auoyded but that thereby arose a vehement surmise and suspition that he conspiring wyth others had contriued made and scattered abroade the sayde slaunderous wrytings Great inquisition was made in the Colledge to search out the author of so malitious and despitefull a deede but nothynge coulde be found and prooued against Palmer or any of his companions Nowe Palmer being hereuppon examined by the Officers did not onely with stoute courage denye the facte to haue bene hys but also spake further manye reprochefull woordes touching the sayd Officers and sent the same to them in wryting wherby he was by them adiudged to be an vnwoorthy member of that
confession And what if she had opened the same vnto the Iudges They would sayth he haue spared her life for the time and so the innoceÌ„t had bene preserued And how is M.H. sure of this more then was the life spared of the young Lady mistres sometime of M. H. who suffered notwithstanding she was reported of some to be with childe Because the law sayth he is beneficiall to women in her case clayming the benefite thereof The law so geueth I grauÌ„t But it foloweth not therfore whatsoeuer the law geueth or prescribeth the same to be put by and by in execution But many times the law goeth as it pleseth them which haue the handling of the law As for example the law willeth none to be condemned by sentence of death for heresye whiche the first time reuoke theyr opinion and yet contrary to this law they condeÌ„ned her vnlawfully Agayne the like law prescribeth none to be executed for heresy before the writ be sent downe de coÌ„burendo and yet contrary to this lawe without any suche writ as farre as I yet vnderstand they burned her moste cruelly And what lawe then was here to be looked for of these men who in theyr doinges herein seemed neither to obserue law nor to regarde honesty nor much to passe for charity And albeit she had claymed neuer so much the priuiledge of the law what had that auayled with those men whose hunting altogether as by theyr proceedinges maye appeare semeth to be for the houshold goodes of these women which after theyr death immediatly they incroched in to theyr owne handes But bee it admitted that neither she demaunded this benefite of the law nor that the Iudges would euer haue denyed her if she had so done yet had it bene the parte of a graue accuser before he had bene descended into such a raâ—ling action of murder agaynst a poore woman now dead gone first to haue aduised wisely with himselfe whether it might be that she had no such intelligence what benefite the law would haue geueÌ„ in case it had bene required For not vnlike it is and well may be thought rather yea then no that the simple woman brought vppe all her lyfe long in her mothers house in an obscure Iseland in such an outcorner of the realme farre of from the Courte and practise of English lawes neuer heard before of any such benefite of the law and therefore vpon mere simplicity for lacke of skil required it not because she knew not what to require Peraduenture also her senses might be so astonied with the greatnesse and sodennesse of the feare that it was out of her remembraunce Certes it had bene the duty of the Iudges which knew the lawe hauing the woman before them could not be ignorant of her case to haue questioned with her thereof and to haue holpen her simplicity in that behalfe Or at least if they had disdained yet it had bene the Priestes parte who was her Ghostly Father and made priuy thereunto either to haue instructed her or to haue stayd the executioÌ„ of her death for sauegard of the childe But all this denyeth M.H. and to aggrauate the matter inferreth that shee not of any simple vnskilfulnesse of the law but onely of mere wilfulnesse for auoyding of worldlye shame concealed her owne turpitude and so became a murderer of her babe c. These be the wordes of M. H. written by him not of any sure ground but onely vpon his catholicke coniecture for other demonstration certeinely to prooue this true he bringeth none Wherefore to aunswere coniecture by coniecture thus I replye to him agayne that in case she had bene asked the questioÌ„ of the Iudges and Inquisitours whether shee had bene with childe and then had denyed the same or els if she by any other colourable meanes had cloaked her being with child whereby it should not appeare this accuser might haue some probable aduauntage agaynst the woman Nowe as she was neuer demaunded of theyr partes any such question nor did euer deny any such matter so to aunswere this man with as good probability I holde that in case they had inquired that matter of her she woulde neuer haue denyed it And therfore whereas she is accused for her not vttering of her child why may she not by as good reason agayne be defeÌ„ded for not denying the same But she shoulde haue vttered it sayth he It had bene well done say I. And I would she had but yet that is not the question betwene him and me what she shoulde haue done but why she did it not M. Harding wandring in his blind surmises phantasieth the cause onely to be for hiding her dishonesty for that she would not shame the Gospell So that in Summa to this effect tendeth all his accusation Perotine being big with childe at her condemnation did not shew it to the Iudges Ergo she did not conceale her turpitude and because she would not shame the Gospell But here this accuser must vnderstande if he haue not forgotte his Logike that such argumentes which do truly holde a Signis doe alwayes presuppose that the signes whiche goe before the thinges signified must be necessary perpetuall and firme as is betweene causes naturall their effectes Otherwise if the signes be doubtfull voluntary or accidentall there is no firme consequent can proceede therof Now if the sayd accuser shoulde be put to his proofe how to iustifie this his sequele to be true by euident demoÌ„stration that she did it onely for couering her dishonesty I suppose verely he should be found to say more then hee is able to make good and in conclusion shuld be brought into the like case as were the Phariseis who comming to accuse the adulteresse before christ went away mute with as much shame out of the temple as the woman her selfe came in hauing not one word to aunswere For a man to pronounce assuredly vpon the secret cogitation and intent eyther of man or womaÌ„ farther theÌ„ by vtterance of speach is to him signified passeth his capacitie and is to bee lefte onely to him which is serutans corda renes Deus But for so muche as M.H. worketh as I sayde by surmises construing euery thing to the worste let vs see what may be surmised as much agayne to the contrarye concerning the quallitie of this surmised murder Wherin diuers thinges are to be considered as hereunder followeth The first coniecture is this that suche maner of womeÌ„ which for worldly shame are disposed to murder their children haue otherwayes to compasse that wickednesse then by silence keeping Now as touching this Perotine going to be burned neither coulde this silence saue her if she would from â—ordly shame neither is it to be thought any such intent euer to be in her to murder her childe as might well appeare in her mothers house where if shee might haue continued her whole
poore blinde womans life and deathe in suche sorte as is aboue prefixed hath bene confessed to be very true by diuers persons of worthy credite and yet liuing and also hath bene specially perused and examined by W. Baynbridge tofore mentioned Bayliffe then of Darbye who aswell of his own knowledge as by speciall enquiry and conference by him made with diuers others hath certified vs the same to be vndoubted besides the Testimoniall of Iohn Cadman Curate of the sayd towne and of other also vppon whose honesty well knowne and theyr report herein nothing differing from such as were best acquaynted with that matter I haue bene here the more bold to commit this story to posteritie for all good men to consider and to iudge vpon * Edwarde Sharpe ABout the beginning of the next month folowing whiche was September a certayn godly aged deuout zelous person of the Lords glory borne in Wiltshyre named Edward Sharpe of the age of lx yeares or thereabout was condemned at Bristow to the like Martyrdom where he constantly manfully persisting in the iust quarrel of Christes Gospell for misliking and renouncing the ordinaunces of the Romishe Churche was tryed as pure gold and made a liuely sacrifice in the fire in whose death as in the death of all hys other saynts the Lord be glorified and thanked for his great grace of constancy to whom be praise for euer Amen ¶ Foure suffered at Mayfield NExte after the Martyrdome of Edward Sharpe aboue sayd followed iiii which suffered at Mayfield in Sussex the xxiiii day of September anno 1556. Of whose names ii we finde recorded and the other two we yet know not and therefore according to our register here vnder they be specified as we find them Iohn Hart. Thomas Rauensdale A Shomaker And a Coriar Which sayd .4 being at the place where they shoulde suffer after they hadde made theyr prayer and were at the stake ready to abide the force of the fire they constantlye ioyfully yelded their liues for the testimony of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ vnto whome be prayse for euer and euer Amen The day after the Martyrdome of these foresayde at Mayfield which was the 24. of September an 1556. was a young man which by science was a Carpenter whose name we haue not put to death for the like testimonye of Iesus Christe at Bristowe where he yelding himselfe to the tormentes of the fire gaue vp his life into the handes of the Lord with such ioyfull constancye and triumphe as all the Church of Christe haue iust cause to prayse God for him The martyrdome of Iohn Horne and a woman NOw not long after the death of the sayde young man at Bristow in the same moneth were two mo godly Martyrs cōsumed by fire at Wotton Underhedge in Glocestershyre whose names are aboue specified which dyed very gloriously in a constaunt fayth to the terrour of the wicked and comforte of the Godly So graciously did the Lord worke in them that death vnto them was life and life with a blotted conscience was death ¶ A pitifull storye concerning the vnmercifull handling of W. Dangerfield and Ioane hys wife beyng in childbed taken out of her house wyth her sucking infant of 14. daies old layd in the common Iayle amongest theeues and murderers WHen I had written and finished the story of the Garnsey women with the young infant there with them burned and also had passed the burning of the poore blind woman Ioane Wast at Darby I well hoped I shoulde haue found no moe such stories of vnmerciful cruelty shewed vppon seely women with theyr children and young infantes but now cōming to the persecution of Glocester shyre about the partes of Bristow I finde an other story of such vnmercifulnes shewed agaynst a woman in child-bed as farre from all charitie and humanitie as hath ben anye other storye yet hetherto rehearsed as by the sequele hereof may appeare In the Parish of Wotton Underhedge not farre from Bristow was dwelling one W. Dangerfield a right honest and godly poore man who by Ioane Dangerfield his wife had ix Children and she nowe lying in childbed of the tenth Thys William after he had bene abroad from his house a certayne space for feare of persecution hearing that his wife was brought to bed repayred home to visite her as naturall duety required and to see his children she being now deliuered foure dayes before The returne of this man was not so soone known to some of his vnkinde vncharitable neighbours but they incensed with the spirite of Papistrye eftsoones beset the house about and there tooke the sayd W. Dangerfield caryed him to prison and so at length hee was brought to the Bishop being then Doctor Brookes in whose cruell handling he remayned a certayne space so longe till hys legges almost were freated off with yrons After the apprehension of the Husband the wife likewise was taken with her younge borne childe being but 14. dayes olde as is sayde out of her childbed and caryed into the common Iayle and there placed amongst theues and murderers where both shee and her poore innocent found so small charitie amongest the catholicke men that she neuer could come to any fire but was driuen to warm the clothes that she should put about the childe in her bosome In the meane season while they lay thus inclosed in seuerall prisons the husband and the wife the Bishop beginneth to practise not with the woman first as the serpent did with Eue but with the man craftily deceiuing his simplicitie with fayre glosing wordes falsely perswading him that his wife had recanted and asking him wherfore he should more stande in his owne conceate then shee being as well learned as he and so subtilly drew out a form of recantation wherewith hee deceiued the simple soule Whereunto after that he had once graunted that hee would consent although hee had not yet recanted they suffered hym to to go to his wife where shee laye in the common Iayle Then they with melting hartes opening their minds one to an other when he saw hys wife not released perceauing that he had not done well he declared vnto her the whole matter how falsely he was circumuented by the subtile flatteringes of the Byshop bearyng him in hand that certaynly she had recanted and thus deceiuing me sayde he brought this vnto me and so plucked out of hys bosome the copy of the recantation whereunto he had granted his promise At the sight whereof the wife hearyng what her husband had done her hart claue a sunder saying Alacke thus long haue we continued one and hath Satan so preuayled to cause you to breake your first vow made to Christ in Baptisme And so departed the saide W. and Ioane his wife with what heartes the Lorde knoweth Then began hee not a little to bewayle his promyse made to the Bishop and to make hys prayer to almighty God
For nowe after the deathe of Kinge Edwarde since the time that the gouernement of the Realme came to the hande of Queene Marye all suche personnes being dryuen awaye as hadde reiected the Romishe Religion in whom wel nie alone rested whatsoeuer wit and learning was in the whole Uniuersitie besides such a sort of Raskals were put in their roumes that all places now swarmed with vnlerned and vnnurtured chaplains To whoÌ„ nothyng was greater pleasure then to cause all men to speake slander and reproch of Bucer There were dyuers yet left among them that spake agaynst their demaunds But they because as it commonly commeth to passe that might ouercommeth right could nothing auaile For this is a common custome in all such matters ordinaÌ„ces that looke what the greater number decreeth is published in the name of all and that which the better part disallowed semeth as though no man at all disallowed it The next day beyng the 14. of Ianuary all the Uisitors onely Christopherson elect of Chichester excepted came to the Kings Colledge Where first goyng into the Church and there makyng their prayers at the gresings they so proceeded into the stalles there sitting all the masse tyme the company standyng in their copes and singing a solemne Respond in honour of the Uisitors After the respond done the Prouost in the best Cope made to them his protestation vnto whom the B. of Chester made aunswer also in Latine declaryng that he could not perceyue to what purpose his protestation was notwithstandyng they would accept it and beare with him Then went they to Masse which ended the Catholike Uisitors approched vp to the aulter tooke downe the Sacrament searched the pixe but first the two Bishops sensed the Sacrament Then they went to the reuestry and opened the Chalices corporas cases and crismatory and viewed all those thyngs And so reâ—urnyng into the Prouosts chamber deuided themselues in examination of the Prouost Uiceprouost and the rest of the company The same day D. Bacon M. of Gonwell hall bad the Uicechauncellor D. Young D. Haruy Swineborne Maptide with others home to dinner These men immediately after diner caused the coÌ„mon seale of the Uniuersitie to bee put to the foresayd instrument of condemnation accordyng as was determined the day before by the generall consent of the Graduates of the Uniuersitie And by and by after they caried the same to the Commissioners to their lodgyng The which when they had receiued forasmuch as after more diligent perusing thereof it liked them not in all points some thynges they rased out some they enterlined other some they changed so that in fine they were faine to take the payne to engrosse it new agayne To the signing wherof a congregation was eftsoones called of all the Graduates of the Uniuersitie agaynst the next day which there beyng red ouer a new grace againe was asked and granted for settyng to the seale TheÌ„ were the Graduates dismissed with commaundement to resort forthwith to S. Mary Church whether the Commissioners also repayred When they had taken their places D. Harny presented to them before all the company a newe commission to make enquest vpon heresie then newly sent from the Cardinall which was red immediately by Uincent of Noally Ormanets Clarke This done D. Perne who as ye heard was factor for the Uniuersitie exhibited to the coÌ„missioners in the name of the Uniuersitie the sentence of the foresayd condemnation The copy and tenour whereof hereafter God willyng shall follow This coÌ„demnation beyng openly red then D. Perne aforesaid desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare or any other that would take vpon them to pleade their cause to stand to the order of the court agaynst the next Monday to the intent that when they had exhibited themselues the Courte might the better determine what ought to be done to them by order of law The commissioners condescended to hys request and the next day processe went out to cite the offenders This citation Uincent of Noally their common Notarie hauyng first red it ouer before certayne witnesses appointed for the same purpose caused to bee fixed vp in places conuenient to witte vpon S. Mary church doore the doore of the common Schooles and the crosse in the market steade of the same towne In this was specified that whosoeuer woulde maintayne Bucer and Phagius or stande in defence of their doctrine should at the xviij day of the same moneth stand foorth before the L. Commissioners in S. Mary Church which was appoynted the place of iudgement and there euery man should be sufficientlye heard what he could say This Commaundement was set out with many wordes Shortly after the matter drewe toward Iudgement Therefore the next day before the day limited which was the xvij of Ianuary the Uicechauncellor called to hym to Peterhouse whereof he was M. D. Young D. Segiswike with them Bullocke Taylor Parker and Redman Whitlocke Mitch certaine others These men cast their heds togither how they might beare witnes against Bucer Phagius to conuince them of heresie For seyng the matter was brought in face of open court because it might so come to passe that some Patrones of their cause would come out they thought it needfull to haue witnesses to depose of their doctrine What came of this their coÌ„sultation it is not perfectly knowen The xviij day the Uicechauncellor goyng to the Inquisitors sittyng at the Kyngs Colledge did put them in remembrance that the same was the day in which by their processe sent forth the xvj day before they had commanded to appeare in S. Mary Church such as would take vpon them to defend Bucer and Phagius by the law He desired therefore that they would vouchsafe to sitte there if perchaunce any man would try the aduenture of the law They lightly condescended thereunto When the Uicechauncellor had brought them thether hee exhibited vnto them the processe of the Citation which he had receyued of them to publish a little before saying that he had diligently executed whatsoeuer the contents of the same required After that they had taken their places and that no maÌ„ put forth hymself to answer for the offenders the Iudges called aside D. Yong D. Segiswike Bullock Tailor Maptide Hunter Parker Redman aboue mentioned Also Browne Gogman Rud Iohnson Mitch Rauen and Carre who had before written out the buriall of Bucer with a singular commendation of hym and sent it to Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight These men takyng first their othe vpon a booke were commanded to beare witnes agaynst the heresies and doctrine of Bucer and Phagius The 22. day of the same month was limited to this Iurie to bryng in their verdict In the meane while Ormanet and Doctor Watson abode at home in their lodgyng to take the depositions of them whom we shewed you before to haue bene called to Peterhouse to haue communicated with the
certified before Wherfore my conscience compelled me to shew them my mynd in writing wherein is conteined nothyng but the scriptures of God rebuking them for their folly Chichest Yea but it is terribly ment and vncharitably It is such geare coupled together I promise you as I neuer see the lyke But I promise you I will make the best of it And I protest before God I would you should doe as well as myne owne soule and body Be contented to be enformed God hath done his part on you Cast not your selfe away Remember your wife and children the poore that lacke your occupying Meane to follow your vocation Remember you are not called to bee a teacher nor a preacher S. Paul saith Let euery man walke wherein he is called and therein abide Remember you are called to another vocation for Gods sake walke therin It is not your office to do as you haue done You might do as much good by the report of worshipfull men as any man might do in all the Countrey by your example and if you would follow the lawes of the catholike church it would be an occasion to bring a great many into the true church that are out as you are Wood I would not that you should say that I am out of the church of God for I am not but do allow the Church of God accordyng to his word Yea if I were abroad if I could winne any into the true Church that be out by any meanes that I could vse I would be very glad For God knoweth I loue all people as my self And where you say I haue bene a preacher it is not so I neuer tooke any such thyng vpon me as it is well known But as for teaching I cannot deny for it becommeth euery man to teach and instruct his houshold in the feare of God and all other as far as he can that desire it of him And where as you haue blamed me for reading the Scripture and leauing my vocation as you say I leâ—â— not my vocation in reading the Scripture For I trust I followed my vocation the better therefore And the greatest cause that I was compelled to read the Scriptures was because the preachers and teachers was so changeable Chic No did you not preach at a Fayre Woodman No surely but it was so reported I was at a Fayre in deede Whilest I was in prison I had leaue of the Counsaile to goe home to pay my debtes and then I went to a Faire to sell cattayle and there mette with mee diuers poore men that I had set a worke and of loue asked me howe I dyd and how I coulde away with imprisonment And I shewed them howe GOD had delte with mee and howe he woulde deale with all them that putte their trust in hym and this they called preachyng And since that it hath bene reported that I haue baptised children and maried folkes the which I neuer dyd for I was neuer Minister Wherefore if I had so done I had done contrary to the order of the Apostles as God forbid I should Chich. I am well apaid if you be faultles in those thyngs for I haue heard say the contrary Wood. I haue shewed you the truth and that no man liuyng shal be able to prooue the contrary Chich. You sayd you doe not disallow the true Catholike Church Wood. No that I do not Chich. Why do you not then go to the Church You come not there it is enformed me Wood. I trust I am in the true church euery day But to tell you truth I come not at the Church where the most do resort For if I should I should offend and be offeÌ„ded For at the last tyme that I was there I offended many was offended my selfe Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there For I was sent to prison for my commyng there now I am sent to you for biding theÌ„ce So they will not bee pleased any way with mee for they seeke my lyfe Wherefore looke you to it for I am now in your hands and you ought to be a house of defeÌ„ce against myne enemies For if you suffer them to kill me my bloud shall be required at your hands If you can finde any iust cause in me worthy of death by Gods word you may coÌ„demne me your self and not offend god wherfore looke to it the matter is weighty deliuer me not into their hands and thinke so to be discharged Chich. I tell you truth I can doe little in the matter For I haue not full authoritie as yet of myne office but I wil send for you and talke with you if I wisâ— I should do you any good Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to shew you my mind in any thing that you shall demaund of me now or at any other tyme. Chich. So then he desired the shiriffes men to tary dinner with hym that this man said he may dine with me also for it is possible that hee may haue no great store of meate whither he shall go Wood. So we taried dinner with him and had no further talke neither how to prooue where the true church of God is nor of the Sacraments nor of any other thing pertaining to meward not for the space of two houres or more but he entred in talke with me how I vnderstoode many scriptures for bishops and priests mariages whether Paul had a wyfe or not To whom I answered It is a thyng that I haue little to do with as concernyng mariages but I am very well content to talke with you in the matter as far as my poore learning will serue So when he had talked with me of diuers Scriptures he liked my talke well He asked me how I said by S. Paul whether he were maried or not To whom I answered I prooue by the scriptures that he was neuer maried Chich How prooue you that Wood. I will prooue it well enough by Gods helpe But yet I will prooue that Paul might haue had a wife as wel as the other Apostles had Chich. Why had the Apostles wyues Wood. Yea all sauing Paul and Barnabas as I vnderstand it For these are Paules wordes in the 1. to the Cor. 9. chap. Am I not an Apostle am I not free haue I not seene Iesus Christ Are not ye my worke in the Lord And if I be not an Apostle to other yet to you I am an Apostle For you are the seale of my Apostleship in the Lord. Myne aunswer to them that aske me is this Haue we not power to eate and to drinke eyther haue we not power to lead about a sister to wyfe as well as the other Apostles haue and as the brethren of the Lord Eyther haue not Barnabas and I power thus to doe So this text prooueth that Paul Barnabas were vnmaried But Paule declareth that the rest had wiues that they had power
these examinations thus had and commensed betwene Richard Woodman and the Bishops he was as is afore told iudged by sentence of cōdēnation and so depriued of his life with whom also was burned 9. other to wit fiue men and foure women which were takē not past two or three dayes before theyr iudgement The names of all which being also before expressed here agayne folow in this order Richard Woodman George Steuēs William Maynard Alexander Hosman his seruant Thomasine a Wood his mayde Margerye Moris Iames Moris her sonne Denis Burgis Ashdownes wife Groues wife These persons here aboue named and blessed martyrs were put to death at Lewes the xxij of Iune ¶ The burning of x. Martyrs at Lewes Of the which number the viij last were apprehend as is sayd either the same daye or the second or third day before and so with the sayd Woodman and Steuēs were together committed to the fire in which space no writ could come downe from London to the Iustices for theyr burning Wherfore what is to be said to such Iustices or what reckoning they wil make to God and to the lawes of this Realme I referre that to them that haue to do in the matter The like whereof is to be found also of other Iustices who without any lawfull writte of discharge or order of law haue vnlawfully and disorderly burnt the seruantes of Christ whhose bloud the lawe both may and also ought to reuenge especially at Salisbury and also at Canterbury and Garnesey But concerning these matters though mans law do wincke or rather sleep at them yet they shall be sure Gods law wil find such murderers out at length I pray God the doers may repent betime ¶ One Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison AFter these x. aboue named burnt at Lewes aboute the same time and moneth one Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison who els should haue bene burned in the like cause and quarell as the other were The condemnation and Martyrdome of Richard Lush IN the Registers of Gilbert Bishop of Bathe Welles I finde a certificate made to K. Philip and Q. Mary of one Richard Lush there condemned geuen to the secular power to be burned for the cause of heresy whose affirmations in the sayde certificate he expressed in tenour and effect as foloweth FIrst for denying the verity of the body bloud of christ in the Sacrament of the Aultar 2 Item for denying auricular confessiō to be made to the Priest 3 Item for affirming onely to be three sacramēts to wit of baptisme of the supper and of matrimony 4 Item for refusing to call the Lordes Supper by the name of the Sacrament of the aulter 5 Item for denying Purgatory and that prayer almes profite not the dead 6 Item that Images are not to be suffered in the church and that all that kneele to Images at the Church be Idolators 7 Item that they which were burnt of late for religiō died Gods seruants and good Martyrs 8 Item for condemning the single life of Priestes and other votaries 9. Item for denying the vniuersall and catholicke church meaning belike the Church of Rome For these assertions as there are expressed he was cōdemned and committed to the Sheriffes and also a certificat directed by the Bishop aforesayd to the king and Q. Whereby we haue apparantly to vnderstand that the said Richard Lush thus condemned by Bishop Borne was there burnt and executed vnlesse peraduenture in the mean season he dyed or was made away in the prison wherof I haue no certeinty to expresse A note of Iohn Hullier Minister and Martyr burned at Cambridge COncerning the story of Iohn Hullier Martyr partly mentioned before pag. 1864. for the more ful declaratiō of the death and martirdome of that good man because the story is but rawly and imperfectly touched before for the more perfetting thereof I thought thereunto to adde that which since hath come to my hand as foloweth First Iohn Hullier was brought vp at Eaton colledge and after according to the foūdation of that house for that he was ripe for the vniuersitye he was elected scholer in the kinges colledge where also not tarying full the 3. yeares of probation before he was felow of the Colledge he after a litle season was one of the x. Conductes in the kinges colledge which was an 1539. Then at length in processe of time he came to be Curate of Babrame 3. miles from Cābridge and so went afterward to Linne where he hauing diuers conflictes with the papistes was from thence caried to Ely to D. Thuriby then bishop there who after diuers examinations sent him to Cambridge Castle where he remayned but a while From thence he was conueyed to the town prison cōmonly called the Tolboth lying there almost a quarter of a yere while at lēgth he was cited to appeare at great S. Maries on Palmsonday euē before diuers Doctors both Diuines Lawyers amongest whō was chiefest Doctor Shaxton also Doct. Young D. Sedgewike Doct. Scot Mitch and others Where after examination had for that he would not recant he was first condemned the sentence being read by D. Fuller Then consequētly he was disgraded after their popish maner with scraping crowne and handes When they had disgraded him he sayd cherefully this is the ioyfullest day that euer I saw and I thank ye all that ye haue deliuered and lightened me of all this paltry In the meane time whilest it was doyng one standing by asked Hullier what book he had in his hand Who aunswered a testamēt Wherat this man in a rage tooke it and threw it violently frō him Thē was he geuen ouer to the secular powers Brasey being Maior who carying him to prison agayne took from him all his bookes writinges papers On Maundy Thursday comming to the stake he exhorted the people to pray for him after holding his peace and praying to himselfe one spake to him saying the Lord strenthē thee Wherat a Sergeant named Brisley stayed bad him hold his toung or els he should repent it Neuerthelesse Hullier answered and sayd either thus or very like the effect was all one frende I truste that as God hath hitherto begon so also he will strengthen me finish his work vpō me I am bidden to a Maundy whether I trust to goe there to be shortly God hath layd the foundation and I by his ayd will end it Then goyng to a stoole prepared for hym to sit on to haue his hosen plucked of he desired the people to pray for him agayne and also to beare witnesse that he dyed in the right faith and that he would seale it with his bloud certifying them that he dyed in a iust cause and for the testimony of the verity and truth that there was no other rocke but Iesus Christ to builde vpon vnder whose banner he fought and whose souldiour he was and yet speaking he turned
Robert Maynard the Bayliffe and such like which Maynard commonly when he sate in iudgment vpon life and death would sit sleeping on the Bench many times so careful was his mind on his Office Further shee willed halting Gospellers to beware of bloud for that would cry for vengeaunce c. And in the end she told them all laying her hand on the Barre if they dâ—d not repent their wicked doynges therin that vndoubtedly the very barre should be a witnes agaynst them at the day of iudgement that they had there that day shed innocente bloud This Elizabeth Folkes the day before she was condemned was examined onely vpon this article whether she beleued that there was a Catholicke Church of Christ or no. Unto which she answered Yea. Then was she immediately by Bowsels meanes the Scribe deliuered vnto her vncle Holt of the same towne of Colchester to keep who caried her home vnto hys house shee being there might haue departed thence many tymes if she had wold for there was meanes offered to conuey her awaye But she hearyng that some doubted that shee hadde yealded to the Pope although it was most vntrue would in no wise content her selfe but wept and was in suche anguishe of minde and terrour of conscience that no remedye shee woulde to the Papistes agayne for any perswasions that could bee and commyng before them at Cosins house at the white Harte in Colchester she was at vtter defiaunce with them and their doctrine and so had as ye haue heard in the end a papisticall reward as the rest of her brethren had ¶ The Lordes faythfull prisoners in Colchester Castle WIlliam Munt of Muchbentley in Essex of the age of 61. yeares sayde that the sacrament of the Aultar was an abhominable Idoll and that if he should obserue any part of their popish proceedinges he should dysplease God and bring his curse vpon him and therfore for feare of his vengeaÌ„ce he durst not doe it This good father was examined of many thinges but God be thanked he stoode to the truth and in the end therfore had sentence of condemnation read agaynst hym Iohn Iohnson of Thorpe in Essex wydower of the age of xxxiiii yeares was examined as the rest and made answere in suche sorte as the Papistes counted them none of theirs and therefore condemned him with theyr bloudye senteÌ„ce as they had done the rest before This Ioh. Iohnson affirmed that in the receauing of the sacrament accordyng to Christes institution he receiueth the body of christ spiritually c. Alice Munt the wife of the sayde William Munt of the age of xli yeares being also examined as the rest sayd and confirmed the same in effect as her husband dyd and was therefore also condemned by their bloudy sentence in lyke maner Rose Allyn mayd the daughter of the sayd Alice Munt of the age of twenty yeares being examined of auricular confession goyng to the church to heare Masse of the Popish seuen sacramentes c. aunswered stoutlye that they stanke in the face of God and she durst not haue to do with them for her life neyther was she she sayde anye member of theirs for they were the members of Antichriste and so shuld haue if they repented not the reward of Antichrist Being asked further what she could saye of the Sea of the Bishop of Rome whethere she would obey hys authoritie or no she aunswered boldly that she was none of hys As for hys See quoth she it is for Crowes kytes owles and Rauens to swimme in such as you be for by the grace of God I shall not swimme in that See while I lyue neither will I haue any thing to doe therewith Then read they the sentence of condemnation agaynst her and so sent her vnto prison agayne vnto the rest where she song with great ioy to the wonder of many Thus these poore condemned Lambes beyng deliuered into the handes of the secular power were committed agayn euery one vnto the Prison from whence they came where they remayned with much ioy great comfort in continuall reading and inuocating the name of God euer looking and expecting the happy day of their dissolution In which time the cruell Papistes left not their mischieuous attemptes agaynst them although they would seeme now to haue no more to doe with theÌ„ for bloudy Boner whose throte neuer cryed ho shortly aâ—ter got a writ for the burning of the foresayd ten good creatures and to shewe the more dilligence in the cause he sent hys owne trusty man downe with it named Edward Cosin and with hym also his letter for the furtheraunce of the matter the thirtye day of Iuly the next month after the condemnation The writ being thus receiued of the sayde Bayliffes they hauing then no leysure thereaboutes appoynted the day of the executioÌ„ therof to be the second day of August next following And because the faythfull soules were in two seuerall Prisons as the Castle was for the Countrey and Mote Hall for the Towne therfore it was agreed among them that they in Mote Hall should be burnt in the forenoone and those at the Castle by the Sheriffe of the Shyre in the after noone as here thou mayest see it more playne how it came to passe accordingly ¶ The martyrdome of three men and three women at Colchester burned in the forenoone besides 4 other burned at after noone When all sixe were also nayled likewise at their stakes and the fire about them they clapped their handes for ioy in the fire that the standers by which were by estimation thousandes cryed generally all almost The Lord strengtheÌ„ them the Lord comfort them the Lord poure his mercies vpon them with such like wordes as was wonderfull to heare Thus yealded they vp theyr soules and bodyes into the Lordes handes for the true testimony of his trueth The Lord graunt we may imitate the same in the like quarrell if hee so vouche vs worthye for hys mercies sake Amen In like manner the sayde day in the afternoone was brought forth into the Castle yard to a place appoynted for the same W. Munt Iohn Iohnson Alice Munt and Rose Allyn aforesayd which godly constant persons after they had made theyr praiers and were ioyfully â—yed to the stakes calling vpon the name of God and exhorting the people earnestly to flee from Idolatry suffered their martyrdome with such triumphe and ioye that the people did no lesse showte therat to see it then at the other that were burnt the same day in the morning Thus ended all these glorious x. soules that day their happy liues vnto the Lord whose ages all did growe to the summe of 406. yeares or thereaboutes The Lord graunt we may well spend our yeares and dayes likewise to his glory Amen ¶ Iohn Thurston dyed in Colchester Castle BEfore you haue heard of the taking of one I. Thurston at Muchbentley in the house of one William Munt
at a time when they layd great wayte for thys George Eagles so that it was thought that it was vnpossible but that he should be taken being so beset his frends did put him in a Prentice apparill that is to say watche◠hose as their maner is and an old cloke and set him on a packe of woll as though he had ridden to carry woll to the spinners so he rode amongst the midst of his aduersaries and escaped them al for that time An other troubler of the sayd George Eagles was also Iustice Browne who enioyed not his cruelty many yeares after c. Also when hee was at the Sessions at Chelmsforde there was a rumor raysed that hee had accused diuers honest men that dyd keepe him in theyr houses and was conuersaunt with him and all to discredite him which rumor was very false and vtterly vntrue Witnes one Reynold with diuers other dwelling in Chelmsford ¶ The martirdome and examination of Richard Crashfield of Wymoundham condemned to death for the testimonye of Iesus Christ. ABout this time suffered at Norwiche a godly man a constant martyr of Christ called Richard Crashfield whose examination before the Chauncellor named Dunnynges as he penned them with hys owne hand so haue we faythfully recorded the same How say you Syrha sayd the Chancellor to the ceremonyes of the Church Then sayd I what ceremonies He sayd vnto me Do you not beleue that all the ceremonies of the church were good and godly My aunswere was I do beleue so many as are groūded in the testament of Iesus Christ. Tush sayd he do you beleeue in the Sacrament of the aultar I sayd I knew not what it was Then sayd he Do you not beleeue that Christe tooke bread gaue thankes brake it and sayde Take eate thys is my body Yes verily sayd I and euen as Christ did speake so did he performe the worke Tush sayd he doe you not beleeue this that after the wordes be spoken by the prieste there is the substaunce of Christes body flesh and bloud How say you doe you not beleue this Speake man I doe beleeue that Christes body was broken for me vppon the Crosse and his bloud shed for my redemption wherof the bread and the wyne is a perpetuall memory the pledge of hys mercy the ring and seale of hys promise and a perpetuall memory for the faythfull vnto the ende of the world So then I was commaunded into prison vntil the next day ¶ An other examination of Richard Crashfield THe daye following I was brought foorth Then the Chauncellor sayd vnto me Richard how say you Are you otherwise minded then you were yesterdaye Hee rehearsing all the wordes that we hadde afore sayde are not these your wordes Whereto I aunswered Yes Then sayd he how say you can you not finde in your hart when you come to the Church to kneele downe before the Roode and make your prayer I aunswered and sayd No rehearsing the commaundement of God forbidding the same He sayd haue you not read or heard that God commaunded an Image to be made I answered what Image He sayd the brasen serpent I sayd Yes I haue heard it read how that God dyd commaunde it to bee made and lykewise to bee broken downe Then D. Brigges sayd Wherfore did God command the Seraphins and Cherubins to be made I sayd I could not tell I would fayne learne Then sayd the Chauncellor But how say you to this can you finde in your hart to fall downe before the picture of Christ which is the Roode I sayd No I feare the curse of God for it is wrytten that God curseth the handes that make them yea and the handes that make the tooles wherewith they are carued Then D. Brigges raged and sayd List nowe what a peece of scripture he hath here gotten to serue hys purpose for he will not allow but where he listeth Then sayd the Chauncellor How say you to Confession to the priest when were you confessed I sayd I confesse my selfe dayly vnto the eternal God whom I most greuously offend Then the Chauncellor sayd You do not then take confession to the priest to be good I aunswered No but rather wicked Then the Chauncellor sayd How say you by yonder geare yonder singing and yonder playing at the Organs is it not good and godly I sayd I could perceaue no godlines in it Then he sayde why is it not written in the Psalmes that we should prayse God with hymmes and spirituall songes I sayd Yes spirituall songes must be had but yonder is of the flesh of the spirite of error For to you it is pleasaunt and glorious but to the Lord it is bitter and odious Then sayd the Chauncellor why is it not written My house is an house of prayer I sayd Yes It is written also That you haue made my house of prayer a denne of theeues With that the Chancellor looked and sayd Haue we I aunswered and sayde Christ sayde so Then was I commaunded to ward The thursday next following was D. Brigges sent to me for to examine me of my fayth And he sayd Countrey-man my Lord Bishop for loue he would haue you saued hath sent me vnto you because to morow is your day appointed therfore my Lord hath thought it meete that you should declare vnto me your fayth For to morow my lord will not haue much adoe with you I aunswered said Hath my Lord sent you It is not you to whom I am disposed to shew my minde Then he sayd to me I pray you shew me your minde concerning the sacrament of the altar I aunswered Are you ignoraunt what I haue sayd He said No for it was wel writtē Except you beleue sayth he as the Church hath taught you are damned both body and soule I answered and sayd Iudge not least yee bee iudged condemne not least ye be condemned And he sayd Loe we shall haue a traytour as well as an hereticke for hee will disallowe the kinges iudgement I sayd No I do not disallow the kinges iudgement but yours I do disallowe For I praye you tell me howe came you by this iudgement He answered and sayd By the Church for the Church hath power to saue and condemne for if you bee condemned by the church he ye sure that you be damned both body and soule Then I aunswered If you haue this power I am sore deceiued For I beleue that Christ shall be our Iudge But now I perceiue you will do much for him that you will not put him to the payne Then he sayd stand nearer countryman why stand ye so farre off I sayd I am neare enough and a little to neare Then he sayd Did not Christ say Is not my flesh meate and my bloud drinke in deede I sayd To whome spake Christ those wordes He sayd To his Disciples I intending to rehearse the texte sayde whereat did Christes disciples murmure inwardly He sayd
As concerning the cause for the whiche she should dye she had no cause to confesse that but rather geue vnto God most humble prayse that he did make her worthy to suffer deathe for his worde And as concerning that absolution that they were able to geue vnto her being authorised by the pope she did defie the same euen from the bottome of her hart The which thing when the priests heard they said to the Sheriffe Well to morow her stoutnes will be proued and tryed For although perhaps shee hath now some friendes that whisper her in her eares to morow will we see who dare be so hardy as to come neare her and so they went theyr wayes with anger that theyr confession and absolution was nought set by All that night she was wonderfully chearefull mery with a certaine grauitie in so much that the maiestie of the spirit of God did manifestly appeare in her who did expel the feare of deathe out of her heart spending the tyme in prayer reading talking with them that were purposely come vnto her for to comfort her with the word of God About three of the clocke in the morning Satan who neuer sleepeth especially when death is at hand began to stirre himselfe busily shooting at her that fierye darte the whiche he is wont to doe agaynst all that are at defiaunce with him questioning with her how shee coulde tell that she was chosen to eternal life and that Christ dyed for her I graunt that he dyed but that he dyed for thee howe canst thou tell with this suggestion when shee was troubled they that were about her did councell her to follow the example of Paule Galathians 2. where he sayth Which hath loued me and geuen hymselfe for me Also that her vocation and calling to the knowledge of Gods word was a manifest token of Gods loue towards her especially that same holy spirite of God working in her hart that loue and desire towardes God to please him and to bee iustified by him through Christ c. By these and like perswasions especially by the comfortable promises of Christ brought out of the scripture Satan was put to flight and she conforted in Christ. About eight of the clocke maister Sheriffe came to her into her chamber saying these wordes Maistres Lewes I am come to bring you tidings of the Queenes pleasure the whiche is that you shall liue no longer but one houre in this world therefore prepare your selfe therunto 〈◊〉 stādeth you in hand At which wordes being so grosely vttered and so sodaynly by such an officer as he was she was somewhat abashed Wherefore one of her friendes and acquayntaunce standing by sayde these words Maistresse Lewes you haue great cause to prayse GOD who wyll vouchsafe so speedily to take you out of this worlde and make you worthy to be a witnesse to his truth to beare record vnto Christ that he is the onely sauiour After the which words spoken thus she sayde maister Sheriffe your message is welcome to me and I thanke my God that he will make me worthye to aduenture my life in his quarrell And thus maister Sheriffe departed and within the space of one houre he came agayn cum gladiis fustibus and when he came vp into the chamber one of her friendes desired him to geue him leaue to goe with her to the stake to comfort her the whiche the Sheriffe graunted at that time but afterwardes he was sore troubled for the same when she was dead Nowe when shee was brought throughe the towne with a number of bill menne a great multitude of people being present she being led by two of her frends whiche were M. Michaell Reniger and M. Augustine Bernher she was brought to the place of execution and because the place was farre off and the throng of the people great and she not acquaynted with the fresh ayre being so long in prison one of her frendes sent a messenger to the Sheriffes house for some drinke and after she had prayed three seuerall times in the whiche prayer she desired God most instantly to abolish the idolatrous Masse and to delyuer this realme from Papistry at the end of the whiche prayers the most parte of the people cryed Amen yea euen the Sheriffe that stoode harde by her readye to cast her in the fire for not allowing the Masse at this her prayers sayde with the rest of the people Amen when she had thus prayed she tooke the cup into her handes saying I drynke to all them that vnfaynedly loue the Gospell of Iesus Christ and wish for the abolishment of Papistry When she had dronken they that were her frends dranke also After that a great number specially the women of the towne dyd drynke wyth her which afterward were put to open penaunce in the Churche by the cruel Papistes for drinking with her When she was tyed to the stake with the chayne shee shewed such a cheerefulnes that it passed mans reason beyng so well coloured in her face and being so patient that the most part of them that had honest hartes did lament and euen with teares bewayle the tyranny of the Papistes When the fire was sette vppon her she neither struggled nor sturred but onely lifted vp her handes towardes heauen being dead very speedely for the vnder Sheriffes at the request of her friendes had prouided such stuffe by the whiche shee was sodenly dispatched out of this miserable worlde This amongest other thinges may not bee forgotten that the Papistes had appoynted some to rayle vppon her openly and to reuile her both as shee went to the place of Execution and also when she came at the stake Amongest others there was an olde Prieste whiche hadde a payre of writing tables to note bothe the names of the women that dranke of her cuppe as before you heard and also described her friendes by their apparell for presentlye hee could not learne their names and afterwardes enquyred for their names and so immediately after processe was sente out for them bothe to Couentrye and other places but God whose prouidence sleepeth not did defende them from the handes of these cruell tyrauntes Unto the whiche God with the sonne and the holy Ghost bee honour and glory for euer Amen * The Martyrdome of Rafe Allerton Iames Austo Margery Awstoo and Richard Roth burned at Islington IN searching out the certayne number of the faythfull Martyrs of God that suffered within the tyme raygne of Queene Mary I finde that about the 17. day of September wer burned at Islingtō nigh vnto London these 4. constant professours of christ Rafe Allerton Iames Awstoo Margery Austoo his wife and Richard Roth. Amongest the which it first appeareth that this Rafe Allerton was more then a yeare before his condemnation apprehended and brought before the Lorde Darcy of Chich. and was there accused aswell for that he woulde not consent and come vnto the
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
the Guildhall in Norwich where shee remayned vntill her death This Cicelie Ormes was a very simple woman but yet zelous in the Lordes cause beyng borne in East Deram and was there the daughter of one Thomas Haund Tailor She was taken the v. day of Iuly and dyd for a twelue month before she was taken recant but neuer after was she quiet in conscience vntill she was vtterly driuen from all their Poperie Betweene the tyme she recanted and that she was taken she had gotten a letter made to geue to the Chancellor to let hym know that she repēted her recantation from the bottome of her hart would neuer do the like again while she liued But before she exhibited her bil she was taken sent to prison as is before sayd She was burnt the 23. day of September betweene 7. and 8. of the clocke in the morning the sayd two shirifes being there and of people to the number of 200. When she came to the stake she kneeled downe and made her prayers to God That beyng done she rose vp and sayde good people I beleeue in God the father God the sonne and God the holy ghost three persons and one God ¶ The burnyng of Cicelie Ormes at Norwich ¶ The trouble and disturbance among good men and women at Lichfield AFter the death and Martyrdome of maistresse Ioyce Lewys a little aboue specified diuers good men and women in the same towne of Lichfield were vexed and in trouble before the Bishop and his Chauncellor for kissing the sayd Ioyce Lewys and drinking with her about the tyme of her death the names of which persones were these Ioane Loue Elizabeth Smith Margaret Biddell Helene Bouring Margaret Cootesfote Nich. Bird Ioh. Hurlstone and his wyfe Agnes Glyn Agnes Glouer Agnes Penyfather c. These with other were produced to their examination before the Bishop his Chācellor for the cause aboue named and therefore adiudged for heretikes for that they did pray and drinke with the sayd maistresse Lewys but especially Agnes Penyfather sustained the most trouble for that she accompanied the sayde Ioyce Lewys goyng to her death Whiche Agnes beyng examined further of the sayd Bishop what words she had spoken to two priestes of the church of Lichfield called Iohn Adye and Iames Foxe concernyng the sayd Ioyce Lewys after her burnyng sayd as followeth that she beyng asked by the said two priests beyng at her fathers house in the Citie of Lichfield at such tyme as she came frō the burning of the sayd Ioyce Lewys wherefore shee the sayd Agnes did weep for such an heretike meanyng Ioice Lewys whose soule sayd they was in hell the sayd Agnes Penyfather to the demaund made this aunswer that she thought the sayde blessed Martyr to bee in better case then the sayde two Priestes were With the which wordes she beyng charged and willed to submit her selfe as the other had done aboue rehersed to such penaunce as they should inioyne vnto her refused so to do and therfore was commaunded to close prison the shiriffes beyng charged with her vnder payne of one hundred poundes that none should haue any accesse vnto her At length at the perswasion of her friendes shee was compelled to doe as the other had done before And thus much concernyng thyngs done at Lichfield ¶ The Persecution and crueltie exercised by the Papistes in the Diocesse of Chichester ANd now from Lichfield to come to Chichester although we haue but little to report thereof for lacke of certaine relation and recordes of that countrey yet it seemeth no little trouble and persecution there also to haue raged as in other countreys For what place was there almost in all the Realme where the Popes ministers did not besturre them murtheryng some or other as in the Acts of this ecclesiastical history may sufficiently appeare Wherfore as this plague of the popes tiranny was generall to all other people and countries of England so likewyse in the Diocesse of Chichester diuers and many there were condemned and martyred for the true testimony of righteousnesse within the compasse of Queene Maries raigne In the number of whom were these Martyrs Iohn Foreman of Estgrimsted Iohn Warner of Berne Christian Grouer of the Archdeaconry of Lewys Thomas Athoth Priest Thomas Auyngton of Erdinglie Dennis Burgis of Buxsted Thomas Rauensdale of Rie Iohn Milles of Hellinglegh Nich Holden of Withiam Iohn Hart of Withiam Margery Morice of Hethfield Anne Trie of Estgrenested Iohn Oseward of Woodmancote Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Iames Morice of Hethfield Tho. Dougate of Estgrenested Iohn Ashedon of Ketherfield The greatest doers against these godly and true faithfull Martyrs and sitters vpon their condemnation were these Christopherson the Bishop after Day Rich. Brisley Doctour of Lawe and Chauncellour of Chichester Rob. Taylor Bacheler of Lawe his Deputy Tho. Paccard Ciuilian Anth. Clarke Albane Langdale Bach. of Diuinitie c. ¶ The examination of Thomas Spurdance one of Queene Maries seruaunts before the Chauncellour of Norwich THe Bishops Chauncellour did aske me if I had bene with the priest and confessed my sinnes vnto him And I sayd no I had confessed my sinnes to God and God sayeth In what hower so euer a sinner doth repent and be sory for his sinnes and aske hym forgeuenes willyng no more so to doe he will no more recken his sinne vnto him and that is sufficient for me Then sayd the Chancellor Thou deniest the Sacrament of penance I said I deny not penance but I deny that I shoulde shew my sinnes vnto the priest Then sayd the Chancellor that is a deniyng of the sacrament of penance Write this Article Haue you receiued the blessed sacrament of the aulter sayd he at this tyme of Easter And I sayd no. And why haue ye not sayth he I said I dare not meddle with you in it as you vse it Why do not we vse it truly sayd he I sayde no for the holy supper of the Lord serueth for the Christen congregation and you are none of Christes members therfore I dare not meddle with you least I be like vnto you Why are wee none of Christes members sayde the Chancellor I sayd because you teache lawes contrary to Gods lawe What lawes are those sayd he I sayd these 3. articles that you sweare the people vnto here be false and vntrue and you do euill to sweare the people vnto them Then sayd hee Good people take no heede vnto hys words for he is an heretike teacheth you disobedience and so he would no more speake of that matter Then said he how beleuest thou in the blessed Sacrament of the aultar doest thou not beleeue that after it is consecrated it is the very same body that was borne of the virgin Mary I sayd no not the same body in substance for the same body hath a substance in flesh bloud and bones and was a bloudy sacrifice and this is a dry sacrifice And I sayd
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
do vs. But this I dare be bold in God to speake which by his spirit I am moued to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shal not molest his church And this shal you in short time well perceiue my deare brethrē to be most true For after this day in this place shall there not be anye by hym put to the triall of fire and fagot And after this daye there was neuer none that suffered in Smithfielde for the testimonie of the gospell God be thanked After these woordes spoken saith Boner Roger thou art I perceiue as madde in these thy heresies as euer was Ioan Butcher In anger and fume thou woldest become a railing Prophet Thoughe thou and all the sorte of you would see me hanged yet I shall liue to burne yea I wil burne all the sort of you that come in my handes that wil not worship the blessed sacrament of the altare for all thy pratling and so he went his way Then Roger Holland began to exhort his frendes to repentance and to thinke wel of them that suffered for the testimonie of the Gospel and with that the B. came back charging the keeper that no man shoulde speake to them without his licence and if they did they should be cōmitted to prison In the meane season H. Pond and Roger spake stil vnto the people exhorting them to stande in the truthe adding moreouer that God woulde shorten those cruel and euil daies for his elect sake The day they suffred a proclamation was made that none should be so bold to speake or talke any word vnto them or receiue any thing of them or to touche them vpō payne of imprisonment without either bale or mainprise wyth diuers other cruell threatninge woordes contained in the same Proclamation Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewyse still praied for the people and the restoring of his woorde At length Roger embracing the stake and the reedes said these woordes Lord I most humbly thanke thy Maiestie that thou hast called mee from the state of death vnto the lighte of thy heauenlye worde and nowe vnto the fellowship of thy Sainctes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of hoastes And Lord into thy handes I commit my spirite Lord blesse these thy people and saue them from Idolatrie and so ended his life looking vp into heauen praying and praising God with the rest of his fellowe Sainctes For whose ioyfull constancie the Lord be praised The Martyrdome of vj. which suffered at Brainforde for the true testimonie of Iesus Christ. NOt long after the death of the fore named vij godlye Martyrs that suffered in Smithfielde were vj. other faithfull witnesses of the Lordes true Testament Martyred at Braynforde vij miles from London the xiiij day of Iuly 1558. which sayd sixe were of that companie that were apprehended in a close harde by Islington as is aboue specified and sent to prisone Whose names and articles proponed to them with their answers vnto the same hereafter followeth Robert Milles. Stephen Corton Robert Dynes Stephen Wight Iohn Slade William Pikes or Pikers a Tanner These vj. forenamed Martyrs gentle Reader hadde their articles ministred to them by Thomas Darbishire Boners Chancellor at sundrye times as Robert Mules the 20. day of Iune Stephen Wight the 21. day of the said moneth Ste. Cotton and Iohn Slade the 22. day Robert Dines and William Pikes the 23. day At which said times though they were seuerally examined yet had they all one maner of articles ministred to them yea th◠selfe same Articles that were ministred to Iohn Holiday Hēry Pond and their companie aforesayd Which sayde articles I leaue the reader to looke for in page 1967. and think it not necessarye anye more to rehearse them but onely to proceede with their aunsweres to the same which briefly and in summe hereafter followeth The answeres of the forenamed persons to the Articles aforesayd 1 TO the first Article they all graunted the same and added thereto for going to Church that Robert Milles and Stephen Wight came not there for 3. quarters of a yere before and Iohn Slade William Pikes not since the Queenes raigne Stephen Cotten not for a twelue moneth before and Rob. Dynes not for two yeares before The 2.3.4.5 and 6 Articles they all answeared in effecte as the forenamed Iohn Holiday Henry Ponde and their companye did pag. 1931 sauing they added that as their rites customes ceremonies are against the worde of God so will they obserue and keepe no parte of the same Stephen Wight added further that he receiued not their Sacrament of the aultar for two yeres before nor Iohn Slade and William Pikes since Queene Maries raigne nor Stephen Cotton for a twelue moneth before nor Robert Dines for three yeres before To the 7. article they all graunted the same in euerye parte like vnto the aforenamed Henry Pond and his companye page 1931 sauing Rob. Dines added that it was no part of his beliefe To the 8. Article they all graunted the same in euery part as the forenamed William Holliday and his companye page 193◠but Robert Milles added therto that he wil not come to church nor allowe their religion so long as the crosse is crepte too and worshipped and Images are in the Church Iohn Slade affirmed in effecte as Robert Milles did adding further that there be not 7. Sacraments but 2. Sacraments which is Baptisme the Supper of the Lord. Stephen Cotton woulde no further allowe the Popish religion then it agreeth with Gods woorde and Robert Dines affirmed in effect the like to Stephen Cotton also To the 9. and 10 articles Robert Milles Iohn Slade Steuen Cotton answered that they do not allow the popish seruice then set foorth because it is against the truthe and in a straunge language which the common people vnderstand◠not Robert Dines and William Pikes will neither allow nor disallowe the Latine seruice because they vnderstād it not And Steuen Wight would make no directe aunswer to the articles at all and to the 11.12.13 and 14. articles we finde no answeres recorded of the said Steuen Wight but of the rest of his fellowe prisoners wee finde answers to those articles which hereafter followe To the 11. article Robert Milles Iohn Slade and Steuen Cotton answered that concernīg the bookes faith and religion specified in this article they doe allowe them so farre foorth as they agree with Gods word c. Robert Dines would make no answer thereto because he thoughte himselfe vnmeete to iudge thereof and William Pikes doeth not remember that hee hathe misliked the seruice and the faith and religion set foorth in king Edward the sixt his time To the 12. they graunt that if they might receiue the sacrament as they did in king Edward the sixt daies they would with all their heart so doe To
to speake he sayd Doest thou answer my Archdeacon so thou naughty boy I shall handle thee well enough be assured so he sent for a couple of rods and caused him to kneele agaynst a long bench in an arbor in his garden where the sayd Thomas without any enforcement of his part offered hymselfe to the beatyng did abide the fury of the sayd Boner so long as the fat panched B. could endure with breath and til for werines he was fayne to cease geue place to his shamefull act He had two willow rods but he wasted but one and so left of Now after this scourgyng the sayd Thom. Hinshaw notwithstandyng did sustaine diuers conflictes and examinations sundry tymes At last beyng brought before the sayd Bishop in his chappell at Fulham there hee had procured witnesses and gathered Articles agaynst hym which the yong man denied and woulde not affirme or consent to any interrogatory there and then ministred do what they could ¶ The Articles were these COncernyng Palmes Ashes Holy bread Holy water Auriculer confession receiuyng the Sacrament at Easter hearyng deuine seruice then set forth c. Whether he had receiued all these or whether he would receiue them or no. Item what he thought of the seruice set forth in K. Edwards tyme in his latter dayes and in especiall what he thought of the veritie of Christes body in the sacrament In which all his answers the sayd Tho. Hinshaw kept an vpright conscience and entangled himselfe with none of their ceremonies so mercifull was the Lord vnto hym Not long after this his examination about a fortnight or such a thyng the foresayd Examinate fell sicke of a burnyng agâ—â— wherby he was deliuered vpon entreatie vnto his maister Martin Pugson in Paules Churchyard aforesayd for the bishop thought verily he was more like to dye then to lyue The whiche hys sickenesse endured a twelue month or more so that in the meane tyme Queene Mary dyed Then he shortly after recouered health and escaped death beyng at the writyng of this yet alyue both witnesse and reporter of the same the Lord therefore bee praysed Amen The scourging of Iohn Milles by B. Boner BEsides the aboue named was scourged also by the haÌ„ds of the sayd B. one Iohn Milles a Capper a right faith full and true honest man in all his dealyngs and conditions Who was brother to the foresayd R. Milles burned before at Brainford as is aboue signified pag. 1967. Who also was apprehended in the same number with them at Islington as is mentioned also before pag. 1969. and beyng brought before Boner and there examined was commaunded to the Colehouse with the foresayde Tho. Hinshaw where they remained one night in the stocks From thence he was sent to Fulham where hee with the sayde Hinshaw remayned 8. or 10. dayes in the stockes during which tyme hee susteined diuers conflictes with the sayde Boner who had hym oft tymes in Examination vrgyng hym and with a sticke which he had in his hand oft times rappyng him on the head and flirting him vnder the chin on the eares saying he looked downe like a thiefe Moreouer after he had assaied all maner of wayes to cause him to recant and could not at length hauyng him to his Orchard there within a little arbor with his owne handes beat hym first with a willowe rod and that beyng worne well nigh to the stumps he called for a birchin rod which a lad brought out of his chamber The cause why hee so beat him was this Boner asked hym when he had crept to the crosse He answered not since he came to the yeares of discretion neither would to be torne with wyld horses Then Boner bade him make a crosse in his forehed which he refused to do Whereupon he had him incontinently to his Orchard and there callyng for rods sheweth his crueltie vpon hym as he did vppon Tho. Hinshaw as is aboue declared This done he had hym immediately to the Parishe Church of Fulham with the sayd Tho. Hinshaw wyth Rob. Willis to whom there beyng seuerally called before hym he ministred certaine Articles asking if they would subscribe to the same To the which the sayd Iohn Milles made his answer according to his conscience denying theÌ„ all except one article which was coÌ„cernyng K. Edwards seruice in English Shortly after this beating Boner sent to him in prison a certain old priest lately come froÌ„ Rome to coniure out the euill spirite from hym who laying hys hand vpon his hed began with certaine words pronounced ouer hym to coniure as hee had bene woont before to do Milles meruailing what the Priest was about to doe sayd he trusted no euill spirit to be within hym laughed hym to scorne c. As this Iohn Milles was diuers tymes and oft called before Boner so much communication and talke passed betwene them which to recite all it were too long And yet it were not vnpleasaunt for the Reader that lusteth to laugh to see the blynd and vnsauorie reasones of that B. which he vsed to perswade the ignorant withall As in the processe of his other talke with this Milles Boner going about to perswade hym not to meddle with matters of the scripture but rather to beleeue other mens teachyng which had more skill in the same first asked if he dyd beleue the scripture Yea sayd he that I do Then the Bish. Why quoth he S. Paul saith if the man sleepe the woman is at libertye to goe to another man If thou were a sleepe hauing a wyfe wouldst thou be content thy wyfe to take another man And yet this is the scripture Item if thou wilt beleue Luther Zuinglius and such then thou canst not go right But if thou wilt beleue me c thou canst not erre And if thou shouldst erre yet thou art in no peril thy bloud should be required at our hands As if thou shouldst go to a far country meete with a fatherly man as I am for these were his termes and aske the way to the head citie and he should say go this way and thou wilt not beleeue hym but follow Luther and other heretikes of late dayes and go a contrary way how wiâ—te thou come to the place thou askest for so if thou wilt not beleeue mee but followe the leadyng of other heretickes so shalt thou bee brought to destruction and burne both body and soule As truly as thou seest the bodies of them in Smithfield burnt so truly their soules doe burne in hell because they erre from the church Oft tymes speaking to the sayde Iohn Milles hee would say they call me bloudy Boner A vengeaunce on you all I would faine â—e rid of you but you haue a deâ—ire in burnyng But if I might haue my will I would sowe your mouthes and put you in sacks and drowne you Now somewhat to say concerning the deliueraunce of the said Iohn
it I will declare it vnto you But I praye you that you will take your pen and wryte it and then examine it and if ye find any thing therein that is not fit for a Christian woman then teache me better and I will learne it Chaunc Wel said But who shal be Iudge betwene thee and me Elizab. The Scripture Chaunc Wilt thou stand by that Eliz. Yea sir. Chaunc Wel go thy way out at the doore a litle while for I am busie and I will call for thee anon againe Then he called me againe and said Nowe woman the time is too long to wryte Say thy minde and I wil bear it in my head Then Elizabeth began and declared her faith to him as shee had done before the Bishop Chaunc Woman spirit and faith I do allow but dost not thou beleeue that thou doest receiue the body of Christ really corporally and substantially Eliz. These wordes really and corporally I vnderstond not as for substantially I take it ye meane I should beleue that I should receiue his humane body which is vpon the right hand of God and can occupy no moe places at once and that beleeue not I. Chanc. Thou must beleeue this or els thou art damned Eliz. Sir can ye geue me beliefe or fayth Chanc. No God must geue it thee Eliz. God hath geuen me no such fayth or beliefe The Chauncellor then declared a text of S. Paule in Latine and then in English saying I could make thee beleeue but that thou hast a cankered heart and wilt not beleeue Who then can make thee to beleeue Eliz. You sayd euen now that fayth or beliefe commeth of God and so beleeue I and then may not I beleue an vntruth to be a truth Chanc. Doest thou not beleeue that Christes flesh is flesh in thy flesh Eliz. No sir I beleeue not that for my flesh shall putrifie and rot Chanc. Christ sayd my flesh is flesh in flesh Eliz. Who so receiueth him fleshly shall haue a fleshly resurrection Chanc. Christ sayeth in the 6. of Iohn My fleshe is meate in deed and my bloud is drinke in deed Eliz. Christ preached to the Capernaits saying Except ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye shall not haue lyfe in you and the Capernaites murmured at it And his Disciples also murmured saying among themselues This is an hard saying and who can abide it Christe vnderstoode their meanyng and sayde Are ye also offended Will ye also goe away What and if ye shall see the sonne of man ascende vp to heauen from whence hee came will that offende you It is the spirite that quickeneth the fleshe profiteth nothyng I praye you Sir what meaneth Christ by that Chanc. O God forbid Would ye haue me to interprete the Scriptures We must leaue that for our olde auncient fathers which haue studied scriptures a long tyme haue the holy ghost geuen vnto them Eliz. Why sir haue ye not the holy ghost geuen and reuealed vnto you Chanc. No God forbid that I should so beleeue but I hope I hope But ye say ye are of the spirit Will you say that ye haue no profit in Christes flesh Eliz. Sir we haue our profite in Christes flesh but not as the Capernaites did vnderstand it For they vnderstoode that they must eate his fleshe as they did eate Oxe fleshe and other and drinke his bloud as we drinke Wyne or Beere out of a Bole. But so we must not receyue it But our profite that we haue by Christ is to beleeue that hys body was broken vpon the Crosse and his bloude shedde for our sinnes That is the very meanyng of Christ that so we should eate his fleshe and drinke hys bloude when he sayde My fleshe is meate in deede and my bloud is drinke in deede Chanc. How doth thy body lyue if Christes flesh bee not flesh in thy flesh Eliz. Sir I was a body before I had a soule which body God had created yet it could not lyue til God had breathed lyfe into me and by that lyfe doth my body lyue And when it shall please God to dissolue my lyfe my flesh will offer it selfe vnto the place from whence it came through the merites of Christ my soule wil offer it selfe to the place from whence it came Chanc. Yea but if thou doe not beleeue that Christes flesh is flesh in thy flesh thou canst not be saued Eliz. Sir I do not beleeue that Chauncel Why doth not Christ saye My fleshe is meate in deede and my bloude is drinke in deede Canst thou denye that Eliz. I denye not that for Christes fleshe and bloude is meate and drinke for my soule the foode of my soule For who so euer beleeueth that Iesus Christ the sonne of God hath dyed and shed his bloud for his sinnes his soule feedeth thereon for euer Chauncel When thou receiuest the Sacrament of the aultar doest thou not beleeue that thou doest receiue Christes body Eliz. Sir when I do receiue the Sacrament which Christ did institute and ordaine the night before he was betraied and left among hys Disciples as often I say as I receiue it I beleeue that spiritually and by fayth I receyue Christ. And of this Sacrament I knowe Christ himselfe to be the author and none but hee And this same Sacrament is an establishment to my conscience an augmenting to my fayth Chaunc Why did not Christ take bread and gaue thankes and brake it and gaue it to his Disciples and sayde Take eate this is my body that is geuen for you Did he geue them his body or no Elizabeth He also tooke the cuppe and gaue thankes to his Father and gaue it vnto his Disciples saying Drynke ye all hereof for this is the Cuppe of the newe Testament in my bloude which shall bee shedde for many Nowe I praye you Sir let me aske you one question Dyd he geue the cuppe the name of hys bloud or els the wyne that was in the cuppe Then was he very angry and sayd Doest thou think that thou hast an hedge priest in hand Eliz. No sir I take you not to bee an hedge priest I take you for a Doctor Chauncel So me thinketh Thou wilt take vpon thee to teach me Eliz. No sir But I let you know what I know and by argument one shall know more Christ sayd As oft as ye do this do it in the remembrance of me but a remembrance is not of a thing present but absent Also S. Paule saith So oft as ye shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall shew forth the Lordes death till he come Then we may not looke for hym here vntill his cōmyng agayne at the latter day Agayne is not this article of our beliefe true He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead But if
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
most miserably died Who commonly when he woulde affirme any thing were it true or false vsed to say If it be not true I pray God I rotte ere I die Witnesse the Printer heereof with diuers other With these I mighte inferre the sodeine death of Iustice Lelond persecutor of Ieffray Hurst mentioned before pag. 2076. Also the death of Robert Baulding stricken with Lightning at the taking of William Seamen whereuppon hee pined away and died the storie of the which W. Seaman see pag. 2035. Likewise the wretched end of Beard the promoter Moreouer the consuming away of Rob. Blomfielde persecutor of William Browne specified pag. 2065. Further to returne a little backewarde to king Henries time here might be induced also the example of Ihon Rockewoode who in his horrible ende cried all to late with the same woordes which he had vsed before in persecuting Gods poore people of Calice pag. 1055. Also the iudgement of God vpon Lady Honor a persecutor and of George Bradway a false accuser both bereft of theyr wittes page 1227. And what a notable spectacle of Gods reuengyng iudgement haue wee to consider in Syr Rafe Ellerker who as hee was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlyp whom they most wrongfully put to death so shortly after the sayd Syr Rafe Ellerker being slaine of the Frenchmen they all too mangling him after they had cutte off hys priuie members woulde not so leaue hym before they myght see hys heart cutte oute of hys bodye pag. 1229. Doctor Foxlorde Chauncellor to bishop Stokesley a cruell persecutor died sodeinly read pag. 1055. Pauier or Pauie Towne Clearke of London and a bitter enemie to the Gospell hanged him selfe pag. 1055. Steuen Gardiner hearing of the pitiful end of Iudge Hales after he had drowned himself taking occasiō thereby called the following and professiō of the Gospel a doctrine of desperation But as Iudge Hales neuer fell into that inconuenience before hee had consented to Papistrye so who so well considereth the ende of Doctour Pendleton which at hys death ful sore repented that euer he had yeelded to the doctrine of the Papists as he did and likewise the miserable ende of the moste parte of the Papistes besides and especially of Steuen Gardiner him selfe who after so longe professinge the doctrine of Papistrie when there came a Bishop to him in his deathbed and put him in remembraunce of Peter denying his Maister he aunswearing againe sayd that he had denied with Peter but neuer repented with Peter and so both stinckingly vnrepentantly died will say as Steuen Gardiner also hym selfe gaue an euident exāple of the same to all men to vnderstand that Poperie rather is a doctrine of desperation procuring the vengeaunce of almighty God to them that wilfully do cleaue vnto it Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Syr Thomas More in Kyng Henryes time after they hadde brought Iohn Frith Baifield and Baynham and diuers other to theyr death what great reward wanne they therby with almighty God Did not the sworde of Gods vengeaunce light vpon their owne neckes shortly after and they them selues made a publicke spectable at the tower hil of bloudy deathe which before had no compassion of the liues of others Thus ye see the saying of the Lord to be true Hee that smiteth with the sword shall pearish with the sword So was Heliodorus in the old time of the Iewes plagued by Gods hand in the Temple of Hierusalem So did Antiochus Herode Iulian Ualerianus the Emperour Decius Maxentius with infinite others after they had exercised theyr crueltye vppon Gods people feele the like striking hand of God them selues also in reuenging the bloud of his seruaunts And thus much concerning those persecutors as well of the Clergy sort as of the laity which were stricken and died before the death of Quene Mary With whom also is to be numbered in the same race of persecuting Byshops which died before Quene Mary these bishops folowing Bishops Coates Bishop of Westchester Parfew Bishop of Harford Glinne Bishop of Bangor Brookes Bishop of Glocester King Bishop of Tame Peto Elect of Salisburie Day Bishop of Chichester Holyman Bishop of Bristow Now after the Queene immediately followed or rather waighted vpon her the death of cardinal Poole who the next day departed Of what disease although it be vncertaine to many yet to some it is suspected that hee tooke some Italian Physicke which did him no good Then folowed in order Bishops Iohn Christopherson B. of Chichester Hopton B. of Norwich Morgan B. of S. Dauids Iohn White B. of Winchester Rafe Baine B. of Lichfield and Couentrie Owen Oglethorpe B. of Carlile Cuthert Tonstall B. of Durham Thomas Rainolds elect of Herford after hys depriuation died in prison Besides these Bishops aboue named first died at the same time D. Weston Deane of Westminster afterwarde Deane of Windsore chiefe disputer against Cranmer Ridley and Latimer M. Slerhurst maister of Trinitie colledge in Oxforde who died in the Tower Seth Holland deane of Worcester and Warden of Alsoule Colledge in Oxforde William Copinger Monke of Westminster who bare the great Seale before Steuen Gardener after the death of the sayde Gardener made him selfe Monke in the house of Westminster and shortly after so fell madde and died in the Tower Doctor Steward Deane of Winchester ¶ To beholde the woorking of Gods iudgements it is wonderous In the first yeare of Quene Marie when the Clergy was assembled in the Conuocation house and also afterwarde when the Disputation was in Oxford against Doctor Cranmer Ridley and Latimer he that had seene then Doctor Weston the Prolocutoure in his ruffe howe highly he tooke vpon him in the Schooles and how stoutly he stoode in the Popes quarell against simple and naked truth full litle would haue thought and lesse did he thinke him self I dare say that his glory and lofty lookes shoulde haue bene brought downe so soone especiallye by them of hys owne Religion whose part he so doughtely defended But such is the rewarde and ende commonly of them who presumptuouslye oppose them selues to striue against the Lord as by the example of this Doctorly prolocutor right wel may appeare For not long after the disputation aboue mentioned against Bishop Cranmer and hys fellowes God so wrought against the sayd Doctour Weston that hee fell in great displeasure wyth Cardinall Poole and other Bishops because hee was vnwilling to geue vp his Deanery and house of Westminster vnto the Monkes and religious men whom in deede he fauoured not although in other things he maintained the Churche of Rome Who notwithstanding at last through importunate sute gaue vp Westminster was deane of Windsore Where not long after he was apprehended in adulterie and for the same was by the Cardinall put from all hys spirituall liuings Wherefore he appealed to Rome and purposed to haue fledde out of the Realme but was taken by the way and committed
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
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
leaue it to the reporte of them which in this matter know more then I here will vtter But notwithstanding al these cracks and threatnings of the king to see what the Lord can doe in making hygh kinges to stoupe euen the same day when the king was in his most rage agaynst these good men almightye God taking the cause in hand to fight for his Church so turned the matter that he made the great enemy of hys both with his mouth and with his hand to worke his own destruction with his mouth in commaunding with his hanâ— in geuing him the Lance into hys hand which the same day gaue him his deathes wound as by the sequele hereof in reading ye may vnderstand ¶ The stroke of Gods hand vpon Henry .2 French king KIng Henry being in the ParliameÌ„t house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines at Paris because the Pallace was in preparing agaynst the mariage of hys daughter and his sister and hauing heard the opinion in religioÌ„ of Anne du Bourg Counsaylour in the lawe a man eloquent and learned he caused the sayd Anne du Bourg and Loys du Faur Counsaylours to be taken prisoners by the Constable of Fraunce who apprehended them and delyuered them into the handes of the Countye of Mongommery the which caryed them to prison Agaynst whom the king being wrathfull and angry among other talke sayd to the sayd Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shall see thee burnt And so on the 19. of Iune Commission was geuen to the Iudges to make his Proces During this meane while great feastes and banquets were preparing in the Courte for ioy and gladnes of the mariage that should be of the kinges daughter and sister agaynst the last day of Iune saue one So when the day tyme aboue prefixed was come the king employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidentes as Counsaylours of the sayde Parliament agaynst these prisoners and other theyr companions that were charged with the same doctrine which being done they went to dinner The king after he had dyned for that he was one of the defendauntes at the Tourney which was solemnly made in S. Anthonies Streate neare to the prison where the foresayde Prisoners were committed hee entred into the Lystes and there in iusting as the manner is had broken many Staues right valiauntly as could be runnyng as well agaynste the Countye of Montgommery as other moe Whereupon he was highly commended of the lookers on And because he had done so valiauntly and was thought nowe to haue done enough hee was desired to cease with praise But he being the more inflamed with hearing of hys prayse woulde needes runne an other course wyth Montgommery who then refusing to runne agaynst the king and kneling vpon his knees for pardon not to run the king being egerly set commanded him vpon his allegeance to runne and as some affirme did also him selfe put the staffe in his hand vnto whose handes he had committed the foresayd prisoners a little before Montgommery thus being enforced whether he would or no to run agaynst the king addressed hymselfe after the best wyse to obey the kinges commaundement Whereupon he and the king met together so stoutly that in breaking theyr Speares the king was striken with the counter blowe so right in one of hys eyes by reasonne that the visour of his Helmet so sodenly fell downe at the same instaunt that the shiuers entred into hys head so that the braynes was peryshed thereupon so festred that no remedy could bee founde although Phisitions and Surgeons were sent for from all places in the Realme as also froÌ„ Brabant by king Philip but nothing auayled so that the xj day after that is the x. of Iuly 1559. he ended his life in great dolour hauing raigned xij yeares three monethes and ten dayes Some report that among other wordes he said that he feared he was strickeÌ„ for casting the poore christians wrongfully in prisoÌ„ but the Cardinal of Loraine standing by as he was alwayes at haÌ„d sayd vnto him that it was the enemy that tempted him that he should be stedfast in the fayth By this meanes the Hall which was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes did now serue for a Chappel to keep the corps being dressed with blacke mourning cloth night and day tâ—ere was nothing heard but mournyng and lamenting for the space of xl dayes About two yeares after this which was the yeare of our Lord .1561 there were certayne Gentlemen put to death at Amboise for taking armes agaynst the house of Guise Touching which Gentlemen this is to be noted that as one of theÌ„ should be brought to the place of executioÌ„ where the other lay dead before him he thrust his handes into the bloud of two of his companions which were there beheaded and then lifting them vp to heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the bloud of thy childreÌ„ thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after the same the Chancellor Oliuier who was condemner of theÌ„ at the instigatioÌ„ and pursuit of the Cardinall of Loraine through great remorse of coÌ„science fell sicke and in a frensy casting out sighes vncessauntly afflicting himselfe after a fearefull and strauÌ„ge fashion for his vnrighteous sentence and more then barbarous cruelty shriked vpon a sodeyne with an horrible cry sayd O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned And within a very few dayes after he dyed Fraunces the second of that name king of Fraunce at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Loraine of certeyne others caused an asseÌ„bly of the Estates of the realm in the towne of Orleans among other things to mainteine the Papall See to the ouerthrow of those which would lyue after the sincerity of the gospel but being fallen sick shortly after in the foresayd place of a feuer through an Impostume in his left eare he dyed the fourth of Decemb. 1561. hauing raigned but one yeare and about fiue monethes It was sayd of this king Fraunces as the authour aboue mentioned reporteth that when he was drawyng toward his end the Cardinal of Loraine made him to say and pronounce these words which folow Lord forgeue me my trespasses and impute not vnto me the faultes which my ministers haue done vnder my name and authority Neither is it vnworthy of obseruation that after the father happened in much like sort by gods mighty iudgement vpon Carol. 9. his second sonne brother to Frances aboue mentioned in these our latter dayes who after the horrible and bloudy murder of the Admyrall other true professors of Christes Gospell both men womeÌ„ and children to the nuÌ„ber of many thousandes of diuers Cityes in so much that the prisoÌ„s streetes are said to be coloured with bloud smoking after such a cruell sort as in our time or country the like hath not hitherto bene sene by the terrible
I set as litle by it as the best of you all In deede sayth the Printer so we vnderstand now for you being at a supper in Cheapside among certaine honest company and there burdened with the matter sayd then that you did it rather to looke vpon fayre wenches then otherwise He being in a great rage sware to the purpose saying Can a man speake nothing but you must haue vnderstaÌ„ding therof But sayth he did I any man any hurt It was aunswered that hee meant litle good to M. Doddes aforesayd especially procuring a secret witnesse behinde his doore to catche some wordes that might tend to Doddes destruction Whiche thing Drayner sware as before was not true To whoÌ„ the printer replied that it was most true for that the party there secretly hidden hath since vpon his knees asking forgeuenesse for his intent confessed the same to Doddes himselfe I will hang that knaue sayth he And so he departed in a rage and since is deceased whose death order therof I referre to the secret Iudge ¶ A Lamentable History of Iohn Whiteman Shoomaker who suffered most cruell tormentes at Ostend in Flaunders for the testimony of Iesus Christ and the truth of his Gospell an 1572. IOhn Whiteman Shoomaker being about the age of 49. yeares borne in Tinen a towne in Brabant After hys comming ouer into England dwelt in Rye in the County of Sussex maryed xxiij yeares alwayes a professour of the Gospell as well in the time of the freedome therof as in time of persecution About Candlemas in the yeare 1572. vnknowne to his frendes in Rye vnderstanding of shipping in Rye which was ready bound for Ostend in Flaunders went aboorde the Saterday morning and arriued at Ostend that night where he lodged wyth one of his kinsmeÌ„ there dwelling The next day being Sonday in the morning he accompanyed with his sayd kinsman tooke his iourney as it were to haue passed hither into the countrey When they were about three mile on theyr way out of the Towne sodeynely Whitman stayd and would go no further but immediatly returned back againe to Ostend whither so soone â—s he was come it being seruice tyme in theyr Church he forthwith addressed himselfe thither and at the time of the heaue offering stept to the sacrificer and tooke from ouer his head his Idoll saying these words in the Dutch tongue· Is this your God and so breaking it cast it downe vnder his feet and trode theron Forthwith the people in an vprore came to lay holde on him and hardly in the Church escaped he death by the souldiers there present but being rescued by some to the intent to be further examined and made a publicke spectackle he was carryed immediatly to prison Upon the next day being monday the Iudges other Counsellers being assembled he was brought forth into the common hall and examined of hys fact the intent the counsell and abettors thereof and also of his fayth where he very coÌ„stantly in defence of his christian fayth great detestation of Idolatry demeaned him selfe in such sort that he wrong teares from the eyes of diuers both of the chiefe others present So was he committed agayne to prison The next day being Tuesday he was brought out agayne before the Iudges into the same place And being examined as before he no whit abated but increased in his coÌ„stancy WhereupoÌ„ senteÌ„ce was geueÌ„ vpoÌ„ him to haue his hand cut of and his body scorched to death after to be haÌ„ged vp So the day folowing being wednesday he was brought out of prisoÌ„ to the towne hal standing in the market place all thinges beloÌ„ging to execution being made ready there Which when they were al ready the hangman went into the hall with a cord tyed the hands of Whitman came out leadyng him thereby so soone as Whitman was out of the house he made such hast as it wer ran to the place of execution that he drew the hangman after him There was a post set vp with sparres froÌ„ the top therof aslope downe to the ground in maner of a Tent to the end that he shoulde be onely scorched to death not burned When he was come to the place the hangmaÌ„ commaunded him to lay downe hys right hand vppon a block which he immediately with a hatchet smote of the good man stil coÌ„tinuing constaÌ„t the hangman stept behind him bid him put out his tonge which he forthw t did as far as he could out of his mouth through the which he thrust a loÌ„g instrument like a Packe needle and so let it sticke Then the Iudges standing by in the common Hall read agayn his fact and sentence Wherunto hee coulde make no aunswere his tongue haÌ„ging out of his head so was he stripped out of his Cassocke his hose being put of in prison put wtin his Tent made fast with two chaynes and fire and put round about which broyled and scorched his body most miserably al blacke he not being seene but heard to make a noyse within the Tent. When he was dead hee was caryed out to be haÌ„ged vpon a gybbot beside the town Spectatores praesentes Cutbert Carr Bartholomeus Bellington Nautae Rienses ¶ Admonition to the Reader concerning the examples aboue mentioned IT hath bene a long perswasion gendred in the heades of many men these many yeares that to ground a mans fayth vpoÌ„ Gods word alone and not vpon the See and Churche of Rome following all the ordinaunces and constitutions of the same was damnable heresie and to persecute such men to death was hygh seruice done to God Whereupon hath risen so great persecutions slaughters and murders with such effusion of ChristeÌ„ bloud through all partes of Christendome by the space of these 70. yeares as hath not before bene seene And of these men Chryst himselfe doth full well warne vs long before true prophesiyng of such times to come when they that flea his Ministers and seruantes shuld thinke themselues to do good seruice vnto God Ioh. 16. Now what wicked seruice and howe detestable before God this is which they falsly perswade themselues to be godly what more euident demonstrations can we require then these so many so manifest so terrible examples of Gods wrath pouring down from heauen vpon these persecuters whereof part we haue already set forth for to comprehend all which in number are infinite it is vnpossible Wherfore although there be manye whiche will neyther heare see nor vnderstand what is for theyr profite yet let al moderate wel disposed natures take warning in time And if the playne word of God will not suffice theÌ„ nor the bloud of so many martirs wil moue theÌ„ to embrace the truth and forsake errour yet let the desperate deathes horrible punishments of their own papistes perswade theÌ„ how perillous is the end of this daÌ„nable doctrine of papistry For if these papistes which make so much
strangler of his owne life Neither for the Apostles to pursue Iudas that betrayed their Mayster for he himselfe was his owne hangman no man els that his body brust and his guts brast out Senacharib had he not for his Persecutors his own sonnes and cost Ezechias nothing to be reuenged of him for his tiranny Antiochus and Herode although the Children of GOD whom they so cruelly persecuted layd no hand vpon them yet they escaped not vnpunished of Gods hand who sent Lyce and Wormes to be theyr Tormentours whiche consumed and eate them vp Pilate after he had crucified Christ our Sauiour within few yeares after was he not driuen to hang himselfe Nero after his cruell murders and persecutions stirred vp agaynst the Christians when he shoulde haue bene taken by the Romaynes God thought him not so worthy to be punished by the handes of them but so disposed the matter that Nero hym selfe when he could finde no frend nor enemy to kill him made his owne handes to be his owne cutthroat Dioclesianus with Maximinian his fellowe Emperour whiâ—â— were the Authours of the tenth and laste Persecution agaynst 〈◊〉 Christians being in the middest of theyr furious tyranny agâ—â—nst the name of Christ needed no mans helpe to bridle them anâ—â—lucke them backe for God of his secret iudgement put such 〈◊〉 in the mouthes of these Tyrauntes that they themselues 〈◊〉 â—heyr owne accorde deposed and dispossessed themselues of theyr â—â—periall function and liued as priuate persons all theyr liues afteâ— And notwithstanding that Maximinian after that sought to 〈◊〉 his Imperiall state agayne yet by Maxentius hys Sonne hee was resisted and shortlye after slayne What should I here speake of the cruell Emperour Maximinus who when he had set forth his Proclamation engrauen in Brasse for the vtter abolishing of Christ and his Religion was not punished by man but had Lice Vermin gushing out of his entrals to be his tormentors with such a rotting stinch layd vpon his body that no phisitions could abide to come neare and were caused to be slayne for the same pag. 82. Maxentius the sonne of Maximinian and Pharao the king of Egypt as they were both like enemies agaynst God and his people so dranke they both of one cup not perishing by any mans hand but both in like maner after were drowned with their harnes in the water Furthermore and briefely in this matter to conclude if the Kynges among the Iewes which were bloudy and wicked were not spared as Achaz Achab Iesabell Manasses Ioachim Sedechias with many other but hadde at length although it were long the hyre of theyr iniquity let not these bloudy Catholickes then thinke which haue bene Persecutors of Christes Sayntes that they being in the same cause as the other were aboue recited shall escape the same iudgement which the longer it is deferred the sorer many times it striketh vnles by due repentaunce it be preuented in time which I pray God it may Innumerable examples moe to the same effecte and purpose might be inferred whereof plentifull store we haue in all places and in al ages of men to be collected But these hitherto for this present maye suffice whiche I thought here to notify vnto these our bloudy children of the murdering mother church of Rome of whom it may well be sayd Manus vestrae plenâ— sunt sanguine c. Your handes be full of bloud c. Esay Chapter 1. to the intent that they by the examples of their other fellowes before mentioned may be admonished to followe the Prophetes counsell which followeth and biddeth Lauamini mundi estote c. Be you washed and make your selues cleane c. Esay 1. and not to presume to farre vppon their owne securitie nor thinke themselues the further of from Gods hand because mans hand forbeareth them I know and graunt that man hath no further power vppon any then God from aboue doth geue And what the lawes of this Realme could make agaynst them as agaynst open murderers I will not here discusse nor open that I could say because they shall not say that we desire their bloud to be spilled but rather to be spared but yet this I say and wishe them well to vnderstand that the sparing of their liues which haue bene murderers of so many is not for want of power in magistrates nor lack of anye iust lawe agaynst them whereby they might iustly haue bene condemned if it had so pleased the Magistrates to proceed as they might agaynst them but because almighty God peraduenture of so secret purpose hauing some thinge to doe wyth these persecuters hath spared them hitherto not that they shuld escape vnpunished but that peraduenture â—he will take his owne cause in his owne hand eyther by death to take them away as he did by Boner and by al Promoters in a manner of Queene Maryes time or els to make them to persecute themselues with their own handes or will stirre vp their conscience to be theyr owne confusion in such sort as the Church shall haue no neede to lay handes vpon them Wherfore with this short admonition to close vp the matter as I haue exhibited in these histories the terrible endes of so many persecuters plagued by Gods hand so would I wish all suche whome Gods lenitie suffereth yet to liue this wisely to ponder with themselues that as their cruell persecution hurteth not the sayntes of God whome they haue put to death so the pacience of Christs church suffering theÌ„ to liue doth not profite theÌ„ but rather heapeth the great iudgment of God vpoÌ„ theÌ„ in the day of wrath vnlesse they repent in tyme which I pray God they may And nowe to reenter agayne to the time and story of Queene Elizabeth where we left before In whose aduauncement and this her princely gouernance it cannot sufficiently be expressed what felicitie and blessed happines this Realme hath receaued in receauing her at the Lordes almighty and gracious haÌ„d for as there haue bene diuers kinges and rulers ouer this Realme I haue read of some yet I coulde neuer finde in Englishe Chronicle the like that may be written of this our noble worthy Queene whose comming in not onely was so calme so ioyfull and so peaceable without shedding of any bloud but also her reigne hetherto raygning nowe 24. yeares and more hath bene so quiet that yet the Lord haue all the glory to this present day her sword is a Uirgine spotted and polluted with no drop of bloude In speaking whereof I take not vpon me the part here of the morall or of the diuine Philosopher to iudge of thinges done but onely keep me within the compasse of an historiographer declaring what hath bene before and comparyng thinges done with thinges now present the like wherof as I sayde is not to be found lightly in Chronicles before And this as I speake truely so I would to be taken without flattery to be
My friend or friends be it known vnto you that this is no errour as ye suppose but it is the truth of Gods will that we should beleeue as S. Iohn sayth That Christ Iesus is the sonne of the liuing God and in so beleeuyng wee should haue euerlasting lyfe Thus with loue I write vnto you praying God night and day to deliuer you froÌ„ euill which is in you and to keepe you from it Wherefore my friend or friendes you are not crucified with Christ you are not dead with him as concerning sinne you are not graffed with him in Baptisme nor you know not god nor his sonne whome he hath sent nor his commaundements which he hath commaunded and yet will ye teach other with most hearty prayer praying to God for you continually Patrike Patingham A note of a certaine letter of Wil. Tymmes GRace mercy and peace from God the father through the mercies of his deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour with the comfort of his holy spirite that as you haue full godly begun euen so to continue to the end to the glory of God and your euerlasting comfort which thing to do I pray God to geue you grace who is the geuer of all good and perfect gifts to the glory of hys holy name Amen My dere sisters after most harty commendations vnto you and also most harty thankes geuing vnto you for all the great kyndnesse that you haue always shewed vnto me most vnworthy of the same I certifie you that I am very glad to heare of your good health which I pray God long to continue to his glory And especially I doe much reioyce in your most godly constancie in the Gospell of Christ which is the power of God vnto saluation vnto so many as beleeue it Therefore my deare hartes goe forward as you haue godly begunne for the tyme will come that these cruell tyrants which now so cruelly persecuteth the true members of Christ shall say for very anguish of mynde These are they whom we sometyme had in derision and iested vppon We fooles thought their lyfe to haue bene very madnesse and their ende to haue bene without honour But lo how they are counted among the children of God and their portion is among the Saints therefore we haue erred from the way of truth The light of righteousnes hath not shined vnto vs and the sonne of vnderstandyng rose not vpon vs. We haue weried our selues in the way of wickednesse and destruction Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the way of the Lord we haue not knowen it What good hath our pride done vnto vs or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs. All these things hath passed away as a shadow or as a Messenger running before As a sheepe that passeth ouer the waues of the water which when it is gone by the trace thereof cannot be found neither the path in the flouds c. For as soone as we were borne we began inordinately to drawe to our ende and haue shewed no token of vertue but are consumed in our owne wickednesse Such wordes shall they that thus haue sinned speake in the hell c. But the righteous shall lyue for euermore their reward is also with the Lord and their remembraunce with the highest therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome and a beautifull crowne at the Lordes hand for with his right hande shall he couer them and with his holy arme shall he defend them c. The soules of the righteous are in the haÌ„ds of God and the paynes of death shall not touch them but in the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to die and their end is taken for very destruction but they are in rest And though they suffer payne before men yet is their hope full of immortalitie They are punished but in few thynges neuerthelesse in many things shall they be wel rewarded for God prooueth them and findeth them meete for hymselfe yea as the golde in the fornace doth he try them and receiueth them as a burnt offering and when the tyme commeth they shall be looked vppon the righteous shall shine as the sparkes that runneth through the red bushe they shall iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people and their Lord shal raigne for euer They that put their trust in hym shall vnderstand the truth and such as be faithfull will agree vnto hym in loue and he shall be a piller in the temple of God and shall no more go out and there shall be written vppon him the name of God And they shall lye vnder the aultar which is Christ crying with a lowd voyce saying How long tariest thou Lord holy and true to iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth and they shall haue long white garmentes geuen vnto them and it shall be sayd vnto them that they should rest yet for a little season til the number of their fellowes and brethren of them that should bee killed as they were were fulfilled For as S. Iohn sayth they are worthy that thus ouercommeth to bee clothed in white aray and their names shall not bee put out of the booke of lyfe but shall be seperated from the Gotes and set on Christes right hand hearing his sweet and comfortable voice wheÌ„ he shall say Come ye blessed of my Father and possâ—sse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginnyng of the world And the very redy way to obtaine the same is as our maister Christ saith to forsake our selues takyng vp our crosse followyng our maister Christ which for the ioy that was set before him abode the crosse and despised the shame and is set downe on the throne of the right hand of God therefore let vs follow his example in sufferyng for his worde seeyng that hee of his mercifull goodnesse suffered so muche for vs when wee were his enemies for it was our sinne that killed Christ and by his death hath made vs on lyue Therefore with ioy seeing all these his merciful benefites purchased for vs onely by his death and bloudsheding Let vs with boldnesse confesse his holy word before this wicked generation euen to death and we be called thereto and so be well assured that our lyues be not in the hands of men but in Gods handes Therefore my deare sisters as you haue godly begun so go forward euen through many tribulations euen into the euerlasting kingdom of heauen To the which God the father of all mercy for his deare sonne Christes sake bring both you and all yours Amen Yours to commaund to my poore power Wil. Tymmes Continue in prayer Aske in fayth And obtaine your desire Praying for you as I know that you do for me ¶ Another Sermon of M. Latimer concerning his playing at Cardes NOw you haue heard what is ment by this first carde and how you ought to play with it I purpose againe to deale vnto you another carde almost of
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
Christ. 63 Examination of Stephen Gratwicke Martyr with his aunsweres 1977.1978 Exam Battayle with the successe thereof 713 Example notable of a souldiour biting off his tongue and spitting it in the face of an harlot 63 Examples of Gods plagues vpon the deniers of his sacred trueth 64 Example of Peter slaying of Ananias and Saphira falsely wrested by the Papistes 490 Exaltation of the Pope aboue kinges and princes 782 Excommunicatiō of Henricus the Emperor by Hildebrand 179 Excommunication the seconde of Hildebrand agaynst the Emperour 180 Excommunication was in the olde time the greatest punishment in matters of fayth and conscience that could be 1854 Excommunication how to be feared and when 612 Excommunication requireth consent of the church 1113 Excommunication abused by the papistes manifolde wise 19.193 Excommunication in the Churche of Rome abused 860 Exeter Colledge built 372 Execution at Norwich 339 Exiles in Queene Maryes tyme for religion how many 800 Exorcising of Priestes 497 Extreame vnction reproued 725 F. A. FAbian chosen bishop of Rome miraculously 60. Fathers their testimonies against Images 2130.2131 Fabianus martyr .60 hys ordinances suspected ibid. Fachell geueth iudgement agaynst faynting of certaine Christians 46. Fayth recouereth that which was lost by the law .22 Fayth why it onely iustifieth 22.977 Fayth in Christ what it is 977. Fayth of the godfathers and godmothers sanctifieth not the child but theyr dilligence may helpe in seeing him catechised 1995. Fayth the meane wherby we are known to be elected .1658 what it is .1656 whereof it taketh his force and strength ibid. Faith planted in Rome in the days of Tiberius before Peter came there .1758.1803 faith the foundation of the church ibid. not grounded on the ciuill Law 1802. Fayth of the Pope hangeth vppon the multitude .1805 was neuer vniuersall 1804. Fayth ought not to be compelled 1817. Fayth wherein it consisteth 1824. Fayth sometimes to bee couered with loue 1933. Fayth onely iustifieth 26.21.22.1116.1117.1658 Fayth in Souldiers notable 78. Fyyth defined 677.1659 Fayth first planted in Englande whether it came from Rome or not 106 Fayth came out of Britayne not from Rome 480. Fayth of the Turkes Iewes and Papistes 22. Fayth of the olde Romaynes good 20. Faith iustifieth 3. maner of wayes 23. Fayth not babtisme in water saueth 1994. Fayth cause of good workes 26. Fayth and iustification falsly applied by the Papistes 25.26 Farrar Bishop hys tragicall story with articles agaynst hym exhibited .1544 hys aunswere to the same .1546 hys condemnation and Martyrdome .1555 hys letters 1556 Famyne and death in Englande 369. Fast to be perswaded not coacted 1110. Fayrefaxe scourged for the Gospel 2058.2059 Fathers how farre they ought to be followed 1823. Faustinus Martyr 41. Fasting straight of Alcibiades corrected 50. Faustus Martyr 73. Faukes de breut rebelleth agaynst king Henry 258. F. E. Feast of the speare of the nayles 393. Feastes ordayned by the Pope 557 Feast of Corpus Christi by whome inuented 507. Feastes of all soules Alhallowes by whome 1404. Feete of the Pope kissed of the Emperoures 129. Feare of sinne death and distrust in Gods promises two pellettes wherwith the Deuill assaulteth Gods seruauntes .1925.1926 the remedies therof 1926. Fetties wife strocken by Gods hād for persecuting of his saints 2103. Feare of God consisteth in three thinges 357. Fecknam hys talke with the Lady Iane. 1419. Felicitas with her 7. Children martyred 44. Felix B. of Rome Martyr 75 Felix 5. Pope hys coronation royaltie valuation of hys Crowne 690. Ferdinandus king of Hungary .748 hys decree at Spires 872. Fetty with the martyrdome of hys childe 2055.2056 Fewrus Martyr hys story martirdome 914. F I. Fire in hell whether materiall or not 1741. Fire thought to be in S. Maries Church in Oxford 1208. Figuratiue speache howe to bee knowne .1393 what it is 1950. Filmer Testwood Marbeck and Bennet their story 1219. Fisher Bishop of Rochester persecutor hys end 2101 Filmer hys trouble and persecution .1213 his wife her suite for hym .1217 hys death 1220. Finall Martyr his story and martyrdome 1970. First fruits brought in by the pope 352. denied to be paid vnto him ibid. First fruites and impropriations brought in by the pope and abused 5. Fishcock Martyr his story martyrdome 1980.1981 Fish Author of the booke called the supplication of beggers 1013 1014 Fisher Bishop of Rochester an enemy to Christes Gospell .1068 beheaded 1069 Fifte parte of all the goodes of the Cleargy graunted to the Pope 285. Fitziames Bishop of London hys death 804 Fiue Martyrs burnt at Canterb. 1708 Fiuetene Martyrs and confessors imprisoned at one time in Caunterbury for the truth .1954 fiue famished ibid. F L. Flauia a Consuls daughter banished for the Christian fayth 48 Flying in time of persecution whether it be lawfull or not 1781 1782 Florence a Turner his trouble and displing 656 Flower Martyr his story and persecution .1574 his communicatiō with Robert Smith ibid. Articles agaynst him .1575 his condemnation and martyrdome 1577 Floyd Martyr his story 2037.2038.2039 F O. Foreman Martyr 1949 Formosus .1 Pope of Rome 145 Forme of prayers appoynted by Constantine to his souldiours 104 Forret Martyr his story with other his companions 1206 Forrest Martyr 982 Fortune his story 1918.1919 Forme of disgrading an Archbyshop after the maner that the papistes vse it 2133.2134.2135 Fonte halowing after the maner of the Papistes 1405 Foster Martyr famished for the Gospell 1954 Foster Lawyer of Suffolke with Iohn Clearke of Hadley Papistes 1519 Foster Martyr his story persecucution and cruell Martyrdome 1917.1918 Foure thinges considered in the church of Rome title iurisdictiō life and doctrine 1 Foure thinges to bee considered of all men vnder affliction of the Crosse. 1646 Foxford Doctor and Chauncellor to Byshop Stokesley hys sodeyne death 2101 Fox Byshop of Herford .1183 his Oration to the Byshops ibid. Foure Martyrs at Mayfield 1953 F R. Frances the French K. his death 2112 Franciscus 2. burned at Auinion 391 Frances San Romaine Martyr his godly story .928.929 his cōstant death and martyrdom 930 France interdicted and why 200 Frebarne his trouble and persecution 1184 French kyng a persecuter slayne in iustyng by Montgomery 2110 Frebarnes wyfe her story who beyng with child longed for a piece of meat in Lent cast into pryson for eatyng thereof with her husband also their extreme misery in the prison 1184. Friers in France their tragicall history 1291 Frederike the Emperour relieueth the French army 293.265 Frederike cursed of the Pope but God blesseth hym 204.2947 Frederike 2. his contention wyth Honorius 3. Pope .298.299 hys voyage towardes Ierusalem to warre agaynst the Turke .300 hys sicknesse .301 he is excommunicate by the Pope purgeth hymselfe writeth to the kyng of England and is crowned kyng of Ierusalem 301.302 Fredericus 1. called Barbarossa holdeth the Popes stirrop and is blamed for holdyng it on the left side 202.789.174 Frederike 2. Emperor crowned in Ierusalem .302 hys letter to all the world agaynst the
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
maiesticall maner therof 750 R O. Robert De Artois a noble man of France exciteth king Edward the 3. to make claym to the kingdome of Fraunce 376. Robert Brakenbery true to hys Prince 728. Robert Braybroke byshop of LoÌ„don 443. Robert Bacon a bloudy and cruelâ— enemy to the Sayntes of Godâ— 1912. Robert Barnes hys story 1192. Robert Cosin Martyr hys story 818. Robert Chapell his trouble and persecution .641 abiured ibid. Robert Dynes Martyr his story and Martyrdome 2042. Robert Drakes hys story .1895 hys examination and death 1896.1897.1898 Robert Edgore hys death 2103.2104 Robert Farrar of London a sore enemy filthy talker by the good Lady Elizabeth 2097. Robert Grosthead made Byshop of Lincolne 279. Roberts Gentlewoman her trouble and deliueraunce 2073. Robert Grosthead Byshoppe of Lincolne his coÌ„mendatioÌ„ books trouble and death .325 hys articles agaynst the Pope 325. Robert Glouer Martyr and his Brother theyr trouble persecution and death 1709.1710.1711 1712.1713 Robertus Gallus his Prophesies agaynst the Pope 322 Robert Harrison Martyr 1277 Robert Kyng Robert Debnam hanged for takynge downe the Roode of Douer Courte 1031 Robert Kylwarby Archbyshoppe of Caunterbury 336 Robert Lambe with other moe Martyrs 1267 Robert Lawson Roger Bernard Martyrs theyr Storyes 1917 1918.1919 Robert Miles aliâs PluÌ„mer martyr his story 2047 Robert Milles Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Robert Packington murthered 1130 Robert Parson of Heggeley hys examination and aunsweres 641 Robert Pigot Martyr his Story examination and constaunt martyrdome 1715.1716 Robert Smith Martyr .1689 his examinations and answeres .1691.1692.1693.1694 his Godly Letters to diuers of hys Frendes 1696.1698.1699.1700.1701.1702 Robert Samuell Martyr his story and death .1703.1604 hys letters 1705.1706 Robert Twing spoyled of his benefice by the Papistes 276 Robert Streater Martyr 1708 Robert Southam Martyr his story martyrdome 2037.2038 2039 Robert Williams scourged 2062 Roger Acton knight why executed as a traytor 587 Roger Byshop of London excommunicated the Popes Usurers 278 Roger Clarke Martyr his Story and Martyrdome 1231.1232 Roger Holland Martyr .2037.2038.2039 his examination and aunsweares .2039.2040 his death and martyrdome 2039 2042 Roger Mortimer earle of Marsh executed 376 Roger Cooe his examination condemnatioÌ„ and martyrdome 1707 1708 Rogers burned in Northfolke 1241 Roger Onley proued not guilty of treason 703 Rogers his story and martyrdome 1484. his examinations and answeares .1485.1486 hys condemnation .1488 his admonition to the Byshoppes out of prison .1489.1490 his Propheticall sayinges .1492 hys constaunt martyrdome for the truth 1493 Rockewood Persecutor hys death 2101 Rood of Paules in London set vp with Te Deum solemnly song 1472 Roode sette vppe in Lankeshyre 1474 Rhodes besieged .744 and wonne of the Turkes 748 Rodolphe Archbishop of Caunterbury 198 Rogation dayes in olde time without superstition 128 Rochester besieged of the Barons 332 Rome why aduaunced aboue other Cittyes .18 sacked destroyed 987 Rome full of all abhominations .697 not the Catholicke Church and why 1803 Rome not supreame head ouer other Churches 1759 Rome described in her Colours 322 Rome how it beganne to take head ouer other Churches 120 Rome proued to be Babilon .478 Antichristes neast 562 Romaynes punished by their owne Emperours for contemningâ— Christ and his true Religion 31. Romaynes olde theyr fayth 20 Romanes 23. brought into England to be beneficed 287 Romanus his lamentable history death 89 90 Romeshot confirmed by Canutus 163 Romish prelats displaced by queene Elizabeth and good Bishoppes placed in theyr stead 2125 Rowland Taylour Doctour and Martyr his life and story .1518 cited .1519 appeareth before Winchester theyr conference together .1520 depriued of his benefice 1521 Rounde Table built in Windsour 384 Rough Martyr his story and martyrdome 2028.2031.2034 Rollo a Dane first Duke of Normandy 141 Roper Martyr his story persecution and death 1794 Rochtailada Martyr his Story 391 Rose his trouble for the Gospell .2082 his examinations .2083.2084.2085 his deliuery 2086.2087 Rose Allin her story .2005 her hand burned by Edmund Tyrill 2006 2007 Rose Minister with 30. godly persons taken in Bowchurch at the Communion 1480 Rota an Office in the Courte of Rome full of all abhomination 857 Roy burned in Portingall for the Gospell 1398.1027 Roth Martyr his story and martyrdome 2013.2014.2015.2016.2017.2018.2019 R V. Rubricke of the 5. woundes after the Papistes 1398 S A. SAbinus publisheth the Emperors decree 82 Sabinianus Bishop of Rome 120 Sabina Martyr his story 4 Sacrament called breade of Saynt Paule of the Chanon of the masse it selfe and of the fathers 534 Sacrament defined .1183 why called the body of Christ. 1392 Sacrament of the Lordes bodye called breade of Saynt Cyprian 62 Sacrament hath two thinges in it to be noted 500 Sacrament is not to be considered in nature but what it is in mistery 1432 Sacrament in one kind contrary to the worde of God practise of the primitiue Church and Fathers in all ages 1150.1151 Sacramentall mutation in the Lordes Supper what and howe 1761 Sacrament hath both commaundement and promise annexed 1611 Sacramentes are confirmations of Gods grace towards his people 1707 Sacrament made an Idoll by the Papistes 28 Sacramentes take theyr names of those thinges whiche they represent .1129 not Christes body in deede but in representation onely 1130 Sacramentes without theyr vse are no Sacramentes .1809.1815 ministred in one kinde by the papistes .1820.1821 abused ibid. oughte to bee ministred in bothe kindes and not in one as the papistes do 1890 Sacrament neither chaunged in substaunce nor accidence .1380 they are seales of Gods grace towardes vs. 1431 Sacrament of the Aultar no Sacrament 1977 Sacrament of the aultar ouerthroweth the Lordes supper 1626 Sacramente of the Aultare who brought in 544 Sacrament of Penance 544 Sacrifice of Christ once offered sufficient for all 1432 Sacrifice propiciatory of the masse is derogatory to Christes death and passion 1761 Sacrifice of the Church and Sacrifice for the Church 1615 Sacrifice of Christ not many tymes offered but once for all 484 Sadoletus Cardinall his desperate death 2106 Safe conducte graunted to Iohn Hus. 596 Sagaris Martyr 4 Saladine slayeth Christian Captaynes and is put to flight hymselfe 245.246 Salisbury the first Byshop therof 183 Sanctus his notable constancy and cruell martyrdome 46 All Sayntes day first instituted with the day of all soules 137 Sayntes not to be called vppon or prayed vnto 1108.1109 Sayntes are not to be worshipped 1741 Sayntes of the Popes Traytors 579 Saynt Stephen the Ringleader of all Christes holy Martyrs 32 Saynt Iohns Gospell translated into English by Beede 127 Saynt Iohn of Beuerleyes miracles reproued 125 Saynt Iames the Apostle Martyred 32 Saynt Edmond Chanon of Salisbury Canonized a Saynt 270 San Romayne his story and constant martyrdome for the trueth 928.929.930 Saynt Peters body clothed in siluer in Rome 130 Saynt Martin persecuted 955 Saynt Bridget 419 Saynt Elizabeth her Story 273.268 San Beneâ—o 931 Sarton burned at Bristow for the truth of Christes Gospell 2149 Saunders his life and
protestation agaynst the Pope 344.345 William Flower martyr his story and persecution 1574. his communication with Robert Smith 1574. articles obiected agaynst him .1575 hys sentence of condemnation with depositions agaynst him .1576 his constant martyrdome 1577. William Foster famished in Caunterbury for the Gospell 1954. William Gie troubled for the Gospell and whipped in Bridewâ—ll 2144 William Hastlen gunner in the Castle of high Bulloyne his trouble for hys zeale to Gods truth with his examinations answers and happy deliueraunce 2137.2138 William Harries martyr hys story 2037. William Henry of Tenterden examined 644. William Hierome his story 1192. William Hoker martyr 2058. William Halcot gentleman a fauourer of the Gospel his trouble for bringing Doctour Cranmer a booke into Bocardo 2135. William Holte a Iudas 1032. William Hierome his story 1192.1197 his martirdome 1199.1200 William Halliwell martyr 1914.1915 William Hayle martyr .1689 burned at Barnet 1702. William Hunter hys notable godly history 1536. William Hunter hys letter to hys mother 2150. William Liuing persecuted and dedeliuered by Gods prouidence 2063. William Longspathe an Englishe Captayne goeth with the french armie into holy lande .293.265 his ventrous actes and attemptes there atchieued .295.296 slayne in battayle 295. William Leiton Martyr 1131. William Mainard martyr his story and martyrdome 1983.1984 William Maulden his story and deliuery 2082 William Crossebowmaker his story 1229. William Mauldon prentice scourged for the Gospell and rebuketh a lewd fellow for mockyng the word of God 2102.2013 William MouÌ„t with Alice Mount his wife theyr story trouble persecution condemnation and martyrdome 2005.2007.2008 William Minge imprisoned for the Gospell dyed in prison 1665. William Morant Martyr his story 1976. William Nicholl Martyr hys story and Martyrdome 2034.2035 William Northburgh Confessor to king Edward 3. hys letters describing the actes of king Edward in Fraunce 385. William Plane hys story 1467 William Plane committed to the Tower and racked for hys fauour borne to the Gospell .2128 deliuered and set at libertie hys death ibid. William Pigot his story 1542. William Pikes or Pikers his story and martyrdome 2042. William Purcas martyr his story and martyrdome 2007.2008 William Rufus 184. his hardines .189 his death ibid. William Seaman martyr hys story 1035. his martyrdome 2036. William Sparow martyr his story and Martyrdome 2025.2026.2027 William Sarton burned at Bristow 2149. William Sautre his story .516 hys articles agaynst him his aunsweres and processe agaynst hym ibid. his degradation and martirdome 518. William Sleach his death 1914. William Adherall hys deathe and buriall 1914. William Smith a zelous preacher at Calice .1224 his story 1226. William Smith Bishoppe of Lincolne a persecutor 820. William Steuens hys trouble for the Gospell 1227. William Sweeting martyr .804 hys articles and martyrdome 818. William Swinderby his story 464 Williams a Smith scourged 2062 William Taylour his trouble and apprehension with his articles obiected agaynst him .658 hys godly martyrdome 659. William Tell. 866. William Tilsworth martyr 774. William Tindall his lyfe story and martirdome .1075.1078 his supplication to the king and nobles with his letters 1079.1080 William Tyms Martyr his godly letter to a certayne friend 2142. William Thorpe his godly history his preface to his examinations .527 cast into prison and is comforted of the Lord .542 his Testament conteining a complaynt of vicious priestes ibid. his ende vncertayne 543. William Tyms Deacon and martyr 1895. his examination answeres .1896 his letters 1898.1899.1900.1901 William Waterer William Lowick William Hay William Prowting martyrs 1970. William Wattes his trouble and deliueraunce 2071. William Warlwast the kinges ambassadour to the Pope his Oration 193. William White confessor his story .2054 his examination and happy deliueraunce 2055. William Wiseman dyed in prison burned in the field 1794.1795 William De weauer martyr burnt at Gaunt 2108. William Wickam Byshop of Winchester depriued 426. William White Priest his persecusecution 661. his articles martyrdome 662. William Wood of Kent his deliuery from Persecution 1077. William Woode hys trouble for the gospell and sondry deliueraunces by the singular prouideÌ„ce of God 2146.2077 William Wolsey Martyr his story examination and godly Martyrdome 1715.1716 William Byshop of Ely Chancellour of England made Legate of England and Scotland 236. William Bishop of Ely and Hugh Bishop of Duresme made ouerseers of the Realme in absence of the king .236 his story 246. deposed resigneth his castles and clotheth himselfe in womans apparrell .247 taken for an harlot cast into a darke seller in stead of a prison released receiued into Paris with procession for mony writeth to the Pope and king 247.248 William Wolsey Martyr hys story and Martyrdome 1715.1716 Williams Doctor and Chauncellour of Gloucester his terrible end 2015. Williams a lawier striken mad for his mocking of the truthe 2105. Wight martir his story and martirdome 2042. Wiche martyr hys story and martyrdome taken for a Saincte 701. Wilfrida archbishop of Yorke 124 Wife of Peter Martyr her cruell handling at Oxford of the Papistes 1968.1969 Wilfride king Edgar his Leaman 155. Wilsons wife martyr her story and martyrdome 1980.1981 Wilmot scourged for the Gospell 2058. William Gardiner martyr hys tragicall history .1364 he plucketh the Cardinalles idoll out of hys handes at masse .1365 is wounded and brought before the kyng ibid. his cruell and pacient martyrdome 1366 Wife of one Prest burned at Exeter for the Gospell of Christ. 2149. Wife of one Michaels troubled for the Gospell 2144. Winchesters reasons agaynst the supremacy of the pope that Romish Antichrist 1058. Winchester his story .1339 an enemy to Christes Gospell .1245.283 depriued .1359.1360 hys contrarietie both to hymself and others .1792.1791.1792 alloweth the sacrament in both kindes 1789. dissaloweth masses for satisfaction supremacie of the pope 1789. is agaynst images chauntres ceremonies .1790.1791 his death 1785. Winchester and Wrisley complayned of the gospellers to the king 1214 Winchester Church built 133. Windsor castle recouered out of the handes of straungers 331 Windsor castle inlarged 384. Windsore persecuted 1211.1212 Winson in Suffolke persecuted 1912. Wimbletons sermons at Paulus Crosse. 547. Wimshurst his trouble and deliuery 207. Winchcombe church built by whoÌ„ 130. Wilfull pouertie abhorred 414. Wischart gentlemaÌ„ hys story trouble and martyrdome .1267 hys examinations and aunsweres .1268 his prayer and martyrdome 1271. Wittenberge writeth to the Pope in the behalfe of Martine Luther 845.149 W O. Woodman martyr his story .1983.1984 his apprehension .1985 his examinations .1986.1988.1989.2002 hys condemnation and Martyrdome 2003. Woode hys trouble for the Gospell wyth hys sondry deliueraunces 2146.2147 Wood Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1914. Woodroffe a cruell Sheriffe hys bloudy tyranny to Gods seely Martyrs is punished of God 1624.2100 Women burned at Exceter in Q. Marâ—es dayes for the Gospell 2049.2050.2051 Woman Pope 137. Workes excluded from the glory of iustifâ—yng 23. Workes of supererogation 26.264 Workes iustifie not 23.978.979.1117 Workes and the law with the errors of the Papistes touchyng the same 25.26 Workes
Dangerfield apprehended his owne in house Ioane the wyfe of W. Dangerfield taken with her young infant out of childbed and had to prison Dangerfield made to beleeue falsely that his wyfe had recanted Dangerfield vppon hope of his wiues recaÌ„tation consented to the Bishop The wyfe lamented the fall of her husbaÌ„d Dangerfield lamenteth his promise made to the Bishop The prayer of Dangerfield to God The death of the husband The young infant famished in prison The Martyrdome of the mother The death of the olde woman M. Bridges persecuted the same tyme for Gods word and witnes of this story Anno 1557. Septem October â—â— In Martâ—â—dome of a Sâ—â—maker 〈◊〉 Northaâ—â—ton Octâ—ber 18. 〈◊〉 dyed 〈◊〉 Castle of Câ—â—chester 〈…〉 Hooke 〈◊〉 〈…〉 DuÌ„ning 〈◊〉 persecutors Persecution in Kent â—â— Martyrs 〈◊〉 confessâ—â—â— together 〈◊〉 Canterbury Carying about the Crosse. Necessitye alwayes excused in matters indifferent W. Foster apprehended by Syr Thomas Moyle Mother Potkins Martyr troubled by W. Robertes Alice Potkins in Christ but one yeare olde The aunswere of Iohn Archer Martyr Syr Iohn Gilford committed Father Archer to prison The prisoners letter declaring how they were handled and famished in prison Doctour Bane Doctor Draycot his Chauncellor in Lichfield cruell persecutours Anno 1556. Ianuary The names of them that bare fagottes in the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentrye The names of them which were troubled there and bare no fagottes Ioice Lewes Martyr read hereafter The conclusion of the 11. booke 84. Martyrs and aboue in this yeare 1556. put to death in this realme A briefe declaration of M. Cheekes recantation Astrologye Anno 1557. The cause why the reformation was taken in hande The comming of the Inquisitors and of their entertainment M. Christopherson M. of Trinitye Colledge Bishop elect of Chichester An Oration Gratulatory at their comming thither Watson aunswereth to the Oration Ianuary 9. Ianuary 10. S Maryes and S. Michaels interdicted because of Martyn Bucer and Paulus Phagius buryall Anno 1556. Ianuary Commendation of Martin Bucer Ianuary 11. The Oration of Maister Stokes publike Orator of the Vniuersitye Cardinal Polus The aunswere of M. Scotte Bishop of Cheâ—ter to 〈◊〉 Oration 〈◊〉 Iohn 〈◊〉 The Commiâ—â—ion assigned by tâ—e Cardinall and â—ay The causes â—eclâ—red 〈◊〉 more commended 〈…〉 A Masse at the Kinges Colledge Ormanet Datarye Pecocke preacheth at Saint Maryes The citation of the Maisters of the Colledges Robert Brasseâ—s exception Alterâ—ation betweene D. Brassie and D. Scot B. of Chester Inquisition at the common schooles Ianuary 12. Inquisition at the Kynges Colledge The maner of receiuing the Inquisitors wheÌ„ they went to make Inquisition Note the ambitious pâ—mpe of these Papistes The Commissioners represent the Pope Here was a foule fault commiâ—ted that these men came in without Procession D. Brassey excuseth himselfe for the â—lacknes of his ProcessioÌ„ M. Brassey maketh exception agayne Doctour Scots aunswere to M. Brassey The Popes authoritye swalloweth vp al other priuileges The Legates saluting first their God The othe refuseâ— of some in the kinges Colledge and why The consultation of the Maister vpon 〈…〉 my vp of M. Bucer Inquisition to be made of M. Bucers doctrine Martin Bucers buâ—iall agaynst the holy Canon lawes Causes why Mart. Bucer and Paulus Phagius bodyes ought to be taken vp Andrew Perne Vice chauncellour made factor for the Vniuersitye in the case of M. Bucer Phagius M. Christophersons testimony of Perne A Supplication putte vp to the Inquisitors by the Vniuersitye Note this â—â—ate of coÌ„ueyance The Sentence of condemnation agaynst Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius copied out by the Datarye Grace asked in the congregatioÌ„ for the taking vp of Martin Bucer 〈◊〉 14. Ianuary 15. 〈◊〉 17. Witnesses sworne agaynst M. Bucer Ianuary 18. Other witnesses sworne agaynst Maister Bucer A Relicke giuen by Ormanet to Trinity Colledge Ormanet in a pelting chafe with M. Dale A commaundement for bringing in of hereticall bookes Graciously considered Ianuary 26. An high matter in a low house The Oration of Doctour Scotte Bishop of Chester before the pronouncing of the Sentence of condemnation What dissembling is here in thesâ— Pope holy Catholickes Tyranny couered with the visor of mercy Sathan transforming himself into an Aungell of light O Lord God as though this were the doing of the Vniuersity and not your owne The Wolfe pretendeth to be a Lambe As though the Cardinall sent you not downe before you came to the Vniuersitye Bucer and Phagius falsely accused of hipocrisie by false hipocrites The Sentence of condemnation agaynst Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius Agaynst Martyn Bucer Agaynst Paâ—lus Phagius Paulus Phagius 〈…〉 Oeâ—â—lampadiâ—â— Bucer Melaâ—cthoÌ„ 〈…〉 Pernes Serâ—â—â— against Bâ—cer D. Pernes accusation against M. Bucer 〈…〉 noted D. Perne Shamefull of D. Perne agaynst M. Bucer D. Perne speaketh agaynst his ownâ— conscieÌ„ce in rayling against M. Bucer Verses agaynst M. Bucer and Phagius The Sentence of condemnatioÌ„ sent to London with the Commissioners letters A writte for burning of heretickes Watsons SermoÌ„ vpon Candlemas day Mary and Ioseph went a procession with waxe candels or els D. WatsoÌ„ sayth false A question to be spurred to D. Watson The sodayne sownde of Christopherson The day assigned for burning M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius bodyes The taking vp of M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius The burning of Martyn Bucer and Paulus Phagius The talke of the countreyfolke of the burning of M. Bucer and Paulus Phagius Watsons Sermon at the burning of Bucer and Phagius As though in these dayes of Queene Mary had bene raysed no subsidies at all Watson sclaunde◠〈…〉 Watson and Scot had both subscribed to the doctrine of the Gospell in the raigne of K. Edward the 6. The reconciling of the Churches that were interdicted A solemne Procession of the Vniuersitye and of the townesmen The order of Procession in Cambridge Oâ—manet Câ—lâ— proâ—â—â—ded Doctours The departing of â—he 〈◊〉 Swineâ—â—â—nes saying as conâ—â—â—ing the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Inquiâ—â—â—rs The Oration of Acworth Anno 1557. Ianuary Anno 1557. Maye 〈◊〉 SermoÌ„ 〈◊〉 Iames 〈◊〉 Anno 1557. February Stephen Gardiner of Winchester â—ande somtyme Maior of the towne Anno 1557. Aprill Iurates sworne agaynst Peter Martyrs wyfeâ— Cardinal Poole earnest in burning dead mens bodyes D. Marshall Deane of Frideswides Peter Martyrs Wiues bones agayne reduced out of the DuÌ„ghill and layd in a decent monument Great ingratitude shewed to Peter Martyr M. Iames Caldfield The bones of Peter Martyrs wyfe coupled with the bones of S. Frideswide Anno 1556. February· Articles of the Cardinall to be enquired in his visitation of Kent Articles of Cardinall Poole to be inquired vpoÌ„ touching the Laitye Anno. 1557. Ianuary â—â—â—uary 15. 〈◊〉 Marâ—â—â—dome of 〈…〉 the Dioces of Canterbury The names 〈◊〉 the Martyrs Concerning their articles read before pag. 1â—72 The cause of 〈◊〉 Martyrdome Examples how kinges Princes the power of the world bend themselues agaynst Christ and his worde and yet could neuer preuayle A terrible proclamation of K. Phillip and Q.
of Richard White Condemnation of Iohn Hunt Richard White The Christen zeale of M. Clifford Example of Christian pietye in a Shrieffe to be noted A note to be obserued concerning the Papists dealinges The Papistes charged with manifest dissimumulation Burning without a sufficient Writtâ— Rich. White now Vicar of Malbrough in Wilshire M. Miâ—hell vnder Sheriffe bâ—â—neth the writte Gods 〈◊〉 kinges 〈…〉 the death 〈◊〉 D. Geffrey Chauncellour of Salisbury The story of Iohn Fetty and Martyrdome oâ— his childâ— Gods dreadfull hand vpon a wife seeking the destruction of her husband The wyfe persecuting her husband Iohn Fetty agayne apprehended The strayte handling of Iohn Fetty by Syr Iohn Mordant Richard Smith dead in prison through cruell handling The cruell handling and scourgâ—â—â— of Iohn Fettyes childe The miserable tyrranny of the Papists in scourging a 〈◊〉 The childe all bloudy brought to his father in prison Cluny caryeth the 〈◊〉 agayne to the Byshops houâ—e The wordes betweene Boner and Iohn Fetty Boners Crucifixe B. Boner compared to Cayphas B. Boner for feare of the law in murdering a childe deliuered the father out of prison The Martyrdome of a childe scourged to death in Boners house The story of Nicholas Burton Martyr in Spayne Nicholas BurtoÌ„ Londoner Nich. Burton layd in prison they hauing no cause to charge him with Nich. Burton caryed to Ciuilâ— Nich. Burton brought to iudgement after a disguised maner The trouble of Iohn FrontoÌ„ Citizen of Bristow in Spaine Note the rauening extortion of these Inquisitours The vyle procedingâ—â— of the Inquisitors of Spayne Iohn Fronton imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisitors for asking his owne goodes Anno 1558. Iâ—hn Fronton iudged 〈◊〉 an heretike for not reding to Aue Maria 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 Scripâ—â—re hath 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Maâ—chaunt 〈…〉 of his goodes An other â—â—â—lishe 〈◊〉 burnt 〈◊〉 Spayne 〈◊〉 afore 〈◊〉 907. 〈◊〉 Baker 〈◊〉 â—urgate 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 Marke Burges burnt in Lushborne The scourging of Richard Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe D. Cromeâ— Sermon D Cromes recantation D. Crome caused to recant the second tyme. Richard Wilmot Prentise in Bow lane Lewes one of the Garde a Welchman a Popishe persecutour Wilmot defendeth D. Cromeâ— Sermon The Lord Cromwell wrongfully accused The doinges of the Lord Cromwell defended The common reason of the Papistes why the Scriptures sâ—ould not be in Englishe Gods truth goeth not alwayes by tytle fame of great learning Learned men how farre they are to be credited Wilmot complayned of to his Mayster M. Daubnies seruaunt called Thomas Fayrefaxe taketh Wilmots part Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe sent for to the Lord Mayor Rich. Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe examined before the Lord Mayor and M. Cholmley S. Paules doctrine made heresie with the Papistes Wilmot Fayrefaxe committed to prison Sute made bâ— the company of Drapers for Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe M. Brooke Maâ—ster of tâ—e compaâ—â— of Drapers â—â—ch Wilâ—â—t and â—â—â—mas â—â—â—refaxe â—â—â—urged in Drapers 〈◊〉 The scourâ—â—â—â— of â—â—â—mas Grâ—ene The Master promoteth the serâ—â—â—nt Thomas Greene put in the stockes Thomas Greene examined before Doctour Story D. Story scoffeâ—â— at Christes seruauntes An other examination of Tho. Greene before D. Story Mistres Story sheweth her charitable hart Greene agayne examined before Doctour Story Greene xamined of his belief D. Stories blasphemous scoffing in matterâ— of our fayth The Masse Greene sent agayne to the Colehouse The strayte handling of Greene in prison Talke betweene Thomas Greene and B. Boner Two prisoners brought to B. Boners Salthouse Cruelty shewed vpon prisoners for singing Psalmes Thomas Greene brought before D. Storye and the Commissioners This woman was one Youngs wyfe Thomas Greene examined before M. Hussey Dixon in Bâ—â—chin Lane Iohn Beanâ— Prentise with M. Tottle Thomas Greene adiudged to be whipped Thomas Greene brought to the Gray Fryers Thomas Greene agayne appeareth before D. Story and two gentlemâ—n The scourging of Tho. Greene before Doct. Story 〈…〉 his brother Stephen Cotton twise beatâ—n by Byshop Boner Iames Harâ—â—â— scourged â—eade before pag. 1804. Iames Harris repenteth his comming to the Popish Church The cause of Iames Harris â—courging The scourging of Robert Williams B. Boner causeth certayne boyes to be beaten Boners pityfull hart Boners deuoute Orâ—â—ons A poore begger whipt at Salisbury for not receiuing with the Papistes at Easter Actes 5. A treatise of Gods mercy and prouidence in preseruing good men women in the tyme of this persecution The deliuerance of W. Liuing his wyfe and of Iohn Lithall Deane Constable George Hancocke Beadle persecutors Talke betweene Darbyshire and W Liuing Priest Cluny playeth the theefe Note the couetous dealing of these Papistes W. Liuing layd in the Lollardes tower William Liuing deliuered Talke betweene Darbyshire Liuingeâ— wyfe Liuinges wyfe commaunded to the Lollardes Tower Dale a Promotor Marke the hope of the Papistes The Constable of S. Brides surety for Iulian Liuing Liuing and his wyfe deliuered 〈◊〉 the death of Q. Mary Ioh. Lithall brought to examinatioÌ„ by Iohn Auales Lithall brought before D. Darbyshire Chauncellour Talke betweene Lithall and the Chauncellour Iustification â—y fâ—yth 〈◊〉 Lithall denyeth to kneele before the Roode Lithals neighbours make sute for him S. Iames expounded Esay 65. Actes 16. Heb. â—â— Lithall refuseth to 〈◊〉 in â—onde Apoc. 13. Math. 18. His neighbours 〈◊〉 into bonde for him Edward Grew and Appline his vvyfe M. Browne of Suffolke Robert Blomefield persecutor Edward Goulding vnder Shâ—â—â—ffe Syr Thomas Corn 〈◊〉 high Shrieffe M. Browne persecuâ—â—â—â— and taken M. Browne deliuered Example of Gods punishment vpon a parsecutor The first examination of Elâ—zaâ—beth YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young refuseth to go to masse Elizabeth Young denyeth to sweare and 〈◊〉 The 2. examination of Elizabeâ—h YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young for bringing ouer bookes D. Martyn â—â—reatneth her with the racke Elizabeth Young charged for speaking agaynst the Queene Elizabeth YouÌ„g and her husband deliuered by D. Martyn Elyzabeth YouÌ„g commaunded to close prison to haue one day bread an other day water The 3. examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn seeketh to know how many gentlemen were fled ouer the Sea Elizabeth YouÌ„g againe threatned with the racke Shee agayne refuseth to sweare to accuse other Elizabeth YouÌ„g commaunded agayne to the Clinke The 4 examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn presenteth her to the Commissiners The booke called Antichrist Elizabeth Young a great while in the Clinke Elizabeth Young refuseth to sweare and why Elizabeth Young thought to be no womaÌ„ Sacrament of the Aultar The confession and fayth of Elizabeth Young The Sacrament to be receaued in spirite and fayth Cholmley cannot abyde spirite and fayth Institution of the Sacrament by Christ onely once for all Confession of Cholmleys fayth Elizabeth Young caryed into the stockhouse The 5 examination of Elizabeth Young Elizabeth Young offereth agayne to declare her beliefe Really Corporally Substantially Fayth commeth of God Ergo no vntruth ought to be beleued Christ is fleshe of our fleshe but not in our fleshe Iohn 6. This man dare not
triall of the text Winch. And then when the bish of Winchester sawe that I cared not whether of the Translations I had he stoode vp thinking to beguile some simple man that had a booke there bad him that had an English Testament to bring it in that he might get some hold at him that should bring a testament but God disappointed him therof so he flue away from his matter and began to raile vpon me said my subtill Arguments shuld not serue for if I would not answer directly I should neuerthelesse be excommunicated for sayd he I see a madde â—oy in thine head thou gloriest muche in thy talke and thinkest nowe the people are come about thee that thou shalt encourage them with thy constant heretical opinion For the last day when thou wast before me vpon Sonday in s. Mary Oueries church thou there reprouedst my sermon haddest a thousand by thee at the lest to bid God strengthen thee but now let me see him here that dare open his mouth to bid God streÌ„gthen thee he shall die the death that thou shalt die Grat. To that I answered my Lord I know your crueltie doth extend more largelier then your pity Good experience so I haue to say for you kepe men in prison â— yeare or two taking their bookes from them permitting theÌ„ not so muche as a Testament to looke vppon for theyr soules comfort the which all men oughte to haue and so you entreat them more like brute beastes then Christen men Winch. No syr we will vse you as we will vse the childe for if the childe will hurte himselfe with the knife we will kepe the knife from him So because you wil damne your soule with the woord therefore you shall not haue it Grat. My lord a simple argument you bring for to maintaine and couer your fault Are you not ashamed to make the woord the cause of our damnation I neuer knew any man but only you that did not affirm our sinnes to be the cause of our damnation and not the word as you say and therfore if your Argument be good then this is good also Because that some men do abuse drinke therefore the benefite of drinke should be taken from al men or any other such like good gift Winch. My lordes here we lose much time for this felow is peruerse speaking nothing but sophistrie and peruerse questions so that we can get no aduantage vpon him Then spake my Counterfait Ordinarie as one halfe a sleepe al this while yet somwhat with hast when he was awaked he began to tell his tale and sayde Counterf Read these articles against him once more and if he wil not answer them take him vpon his first words That which I said that I haue said Winch. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade them againe Grat. But I sayd vnto him I would not aunswere them because they were none of mine examinations but obiections of their owne making because they would haue my bloud But yet I said if they would set the lawe a part I would talke my conscience freely to them Counterf Then my counterfet Ordinarie began to speake againe charging mee with the saying of S. Peter that I should render account of such hope as was in me Grat. So can I do and yet shal I not please you for here I now render my hope as S. Peter willeth me I beleue only in Iesus Christ to haue my saluatioÌ„ in him by him and through him but I perceiue you would haue me reÌ„der my faith in such sorte as you may haue my bloud and therfore you bring good Scriptures and euil apply them Win. Why this felow is peruerted we shal get no more at his hands then we haue already therfore lette vs pronounce sentence against him for we do but lose our time Grat. Nay good my lordes seeing you wil nedes haue my bloud let me say a little more for my selfe Upon sonday last wheÌ„ I was before you you preached this which was a truth agreeable to the doctrine of the apostle s. Iames and said If any maÌ„ thinke himself a religious man in the meane time seduce his toung or hys heart the same mans religion is a vain religion and so my lord you staÌ„ding there in the pulpit in the mean time seduced your toÌ„g to slander vs pore prisoners being there present in yron bondes burdening vs with the sect of Arrians and with the sect of HerodiaÌ„s and with the sect of Anabaptists and with the sect of sacramentaries with the secte of PelagiaÌ„s And when we stoode vp to purge our selues therof you saide you would cut out our tonges cause vs to be pulled out of the church by violeÌ„ce But there you gaue your selfe a shrewde blow for your toungue in the meane time slandered your neighbor For I my Lord wil geue my life against all these heresies the which you ther burdened vs withall euen as I will geue my life against that wherein I now stand before you And with that he was raging angry and caught my condemnation and said Win. Thou wilt graunt here no more but this word that I haue said I haue said and here I gather mater enough to condemne thee for this is a confirmation of all that thou hast heretofore said Grat. Then I answered If you can proue that euer any of mine examinatioÌ„s were written it were inough but you haue nothiÌ„g agaiÌ„st me but obiectioÌ„s of your own makiÌ„g Win. Haue at thee now If thou wil not yelde I wil pronounce sentence against thee and so he proceded forth onward apace curssing and banning in Latin so that I told him If the people might heare it in English they would thinke you an vncharitable bishop Grat. And then I said stay my Lorde and note what you doe for you haue neither temporall law nor spiritual here against me in any cause Then stepped foorth a gentleman said vnto my Lord take hede what you do for he doth hear say that you haue no title nor cause why you should condemne him Then the bish looked about him againe and asked me if I would recant I asked him whereof I should recant Then saide the bish are you there nay then I knowe what I haue to do and so he proceded forth in reading my condemnation And there was an other gentlemaÌ„ which began to snap and snatch at me and then said I I would God I had knowen this or euer I had come from home I would surely haue put on breeche and not had my skin thus torne And all this while the Bishop red foorth still At last his chaplains cried stop stop my Lord for now he will recant and then the bishop asked me againe And I answered sayd my lord my faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a momeÌ„t it is no proces of time can alter me vnles my faith
were as the waues of the sea and so the B. made an end deliuered me into the hands of the sheriff to be caried prisoner to the Marshalsey againe And when I was condemned I desired God with a loud voice that he would not lay my bloud to their charges if it were his good will so then they refused my praier and sent me away Then I beganne to talke as I went and they cried cut out his toung or stop his mouth and so I was broughte to the Malshalsey and lapped in yron bandes Therefore I pray vnto God that they vnto whom this present wryting shal come may take example by my death and souldiour fare So be it By me Steuen Gratwicke condemned for Gods euerlasting truth HEere for want of time I haue left out many matters because the Lord hath hastened the time so that I haue wrytten but the briefnes of the matter in probation of faith and the reward of faith the which the bish of Roch. I debated vpon the whych matter I wold haue ben very glad to haue set down in wryting Also much more talke there was that the B. of Winch. and I had concerning my worldly frendes personable estate for he plaied sathan with me hee caried me vp to the mountaines and there told me my learning was good and my eloquēce and also my knowledge saue that I did abuse it saide he and then he fell to praising of my person that it was comely worthy to serue a Prince Thus Sathan flattered with me to make me aunsweare vnto such obiections as he woulde lay against me that I mighte fall into his Diocesse Thus Steuen Gratwicke this Christian Martyr being wrongfully condemned by the bish of Winchester as ye haue heard was burned with William Moraunt and one King in s. Georges field about the latter end of May. Seuen godlye Martyrs v. women and ij men burned at Maidstone for the word of truth and professing of sincere religion of Christ. I Shewed a litle before how after the vnmerciful proclamation was sent set forth by the K. and Quene in the month of Febr. last the storme of persecution began in all places to rise whereof some part also is declared before but yet in no place more thē in the country dioces of Cāt. by reason of certaine the aforesaid inquisitors being now armed with authority but especially by reasō of Ric. Thornton Suffragan of Douer and the Archd. of Cant. who of their owne nature were so furious and fierye against the harmles flocke of Christ that there was no nede of any proclamation to stir vp the coles of their burning crueltie by reason wherof many a godly Saint lieth slaine vnder the altare as in diuers places of this booke wel may appeare And now to returne to the said dioces of Cant. againe in the next moneth following being the month of Iune the 18. day of the same were 7. Christian true faithfull martirs of christ burned at Maidst whose names here folow Ioane Bradbridge of Stapleherst Walter Appelbie of Maidstone Petronil his wife Edmund Alen of Fritenden Katherine his wife Ioane Mannings wyfe of Maidstone Elizabeth a blinde Maiden As concerning the generall Articles commonly obiected to them in the publicke Consistory the order of theyr cōdemnation it differeth not much from the vsuall maner expressed before pag. 1585. neither did their aunsweares in effect much differre from the other that suffered vnder the same Ordinarie in the foresaid dioces of Canterburie Now as touching their accusers and maner of apprehension and their priuate cōflicts with the aduersaries I finde no great matter comming to my hands saue only of Edmund Alen some intimation is geuē men how his trobles came what was his cause and aunsweres before the Iustices as here consequently ye shall vnderstand The examination of Edmund Alen. THis Allen was a milner of the parish of Frytenden in Kent and in a deare yere when as many poore people were like to starue he fed them and solde his corne better cheape by halfe then others did and did not that only but also fedde them with the foode of life reading to them the scriptures and interpreting them This being known to the popish priests there abou ts dwelling by the procurement of them namely of Iohn Tailor parson of Fritenden and Thomas Henden parson of Stapleherst he was eftsones cōplained off to the Iustices and brought before syr Iohn Baker Knight who first sending for them committed both him and his wife to Ward but not long after they were let out I know not how so went ouer vnto Calice Whereafter that he had continued a certaine space he began to be troubled in conscience there meeting with one Iohn Web of the same parish of Fritēden who was likewise fled from the tirāny of sir Iohn Baker and parson Tailor said vnto him that he could not be in quiet there what soeuer the cause was for God saide he hadde some thing to do for him in Englād thus shortly he returned home again to the parish of Fritenden Where was a cruel Priest there Parson called Iohn Tailor This parson Tailor being infourmed by his brother Sertan that Edmund Allen the Miluer his wife were returned and were not at masse time in the churche as he was the same time in the midst of his masse vpon a Sonday a little before the eleuation as they terme it euen almost at the lifting vp of his Romish God he turned him to the people in a great rage and commanded them with all spede to go vnto their house and apprehend them and he wold come to them with as much hast as might be possible Which promise he well performed For he had not so soone made an end of Ite missa est and the vestments of his back but by and by he was at the house and there laying hande of the said Alen caused him againe to be brought to sir Ih. Baker with a greuous complaint of his exhorting reading the scriptures to the people and so was he his wife sent to Maidstone prison Witnessed by Richard Fletcher Uicare of Crambroke and Iohn Webbe of Fritenden They were not so soone in prisone but maister Baker immediately sent vnto their house certaine of his mē Ih. Doue Thomas Best Thomas Linley Perciuall Barbel with the foresaide Iohn Tailor parson of Fritenden and Thomas Henden Parson of Stapleherst to take an inuentorie of all the goodes that were in the house Where they found in the bedstraw a casket locked with a padlocke so cutting the wist therof opened it and founde therein a sackecloth bagge of money containing the summe of 13. or 14. pound partly in gold partly in siluer Which money after they had told and putte in the bagge againe like good caruers for themselues they caried away with them Besides also they found