Paul answering in all respects that of the 1 Tim. 3. and that to Titus Chap. 1. A Bâ—shop must be faultless as becometh a Minister of God Nâ—r Stubborn nor â—â—gry no drunkard sighter nor given to filthy lucre but Charitable a lover of Goodness sober minded righteous temperate cleaving to the truth and able teach or instruct All this he was and that in an high degree He studied much riseing at 5 of the Clock in the Morning Continuing private till 9. from which time â—o Dâ—nner he spent in hearing suitors or minding the King Affairs I shall not goe about to give you the history of this good man's life which was exâ—mplaâ—â— not of â—ll the troubles and persecutions he inâ—â—â—ed from his Enemies the chief being Gardner the Bishop of â—enchesieâ— in this Kings days who alway stood by him and well perceived the Integrity of the Archbishop and the implacable hatred of his Enemies so that in his dayes he was preserved in the Kingâ— Favour and afterwards he was dear to 〈◊〉 Eâ—â—â—rd and one who assisted in the Reformantioâ— of Religion writing his Faith in 5 books concerning the Sacrament But assoon as Queen Mary câ—me to the Crown yoâ— mâ—y be sure she would â—emember what he hâ—d done as to â—eâ— Mothers divorce and was indeed his bitter Enemy tho he was very â—â—rdly brought to subscâ—ibe against her for the Lady Jaâ—â— We have â—lready told you how he was had from the Tower with Bishop Râ—â—ley and Lâ—â—mer to dispute at Oâ—ford and the issue thereupon that he wâ—s condemned and where be continuâ—d a prisonâ—r about 3 years they using all ways an mâ—nner of means to cause him to recant and sinâ—ing thâ—t force and threatning would not do they tryed flattery and fair means but he had resisted all things till aâ— lâ—st resolved they were he should be burnt upon which they degraded him and tho he told them they being but Bishops and â—e their superior they could not rightfully degrade â—im their Archbishop however saying as they were the Popes Delegates and Commissionated by the Queen they had power to do it and so they useâ— all their toâ—pish Ceremonies Bishop Bonner using him roughly and uâ—mâ—nnerly All this needed not said the Archbishop for I had flâ—ng off all this gear long agoe Then being stript to his Jacot they put on him a Beâ—dles old gown and a Townsmans Cap and so delivered â—â—m over to the sâ—cular power Yet for all this being extream desirous to have him recant they afresh set upon him trying all ways to allure him with promise of Life and hopes of Reward and so importunate they were night and day never ceasing to solicitâ— him that at last humanâ— frailty appeared and he was overcome and they got him to sign a Recantation against his Conscience The Queen received it very gladly but bearing Revenge and malice in her heart she nevertheless resolved he should dye and for that End dispatched away Dr. Cole to preach at St. Maries at Oxford and to declare his Recantation Cranmer was now Miserable being tormented in his Conscience for what he had done and too late began to perceive the Malice of his Enemies who thirsted for his Blood Subtilly and treacherously they dealt with him not giving him any notice of his death but still put him in hopes of his Life urging him publickly to make his Recantation in St. Marys for which end they had prepared a stage in the midst of the Church to which place they led him whilst Dr. Cole mounted the Pulpit to make his Oration The Lord Williams and several other Commissioners were there with a multitude of people thinking to hear the Recantation of the Archbishop But things could not be so closely carried tho they kept all people from the Archbishop that might inform him but he began to surmise they intended to put him to Death and at last plainly perceived it when they gave him mony to distribute to the poor as he passed thorow the streets to the Church It was a lamentable spectable to the people to behold the Metropolitan and Primate of England standing with his bald head and reverend gray beard in an old tattered gown on the stage exposed to the Contempt of all men which sight made many weep especially seeing the Tears running down his Cheeks and beard As he thus stood by a pillar he lifted up his eyes and hands toward heaven and prayed privatly to himself till Dr. Cole began his sermon the first part being passed over he turned his whole discourse upon the Archbishop exhorting him to take his Death pariently and to glorifie God with his Conversion from his heresie since it had pleased God to reclaim him saying that before in his prosperity he was not worthy of Life but now since he could not Live he seemed unworthy of Death But he promised that Masses and Dirges should be said in all the Churches in Oxford for the succor of his soul if he continued to dye a good Catholick Cranmer with extream grief of mind heard out his Sermon showing by his Countenance the agitation of his spirit and when he had done and that all men expected he should have read his recantation he pulled out of his Bosom a writing which he had prepared and began to read Good people I beseech you all to pray to God for me that he may forgive me my sins and especially one which I â—ominate to you by and by then Kneeling down â—e made a most excellent prayer which being not long I shall here recite O Father of Heaven O Son of God Redeemer of the World O holy Ghost three Persons and one God have mercy upon me most wretched Catif and miserable sinner I have offended both against Heaven and Earth more than my tongue can express Whither then may I go or whither shall I fly To Heaven I may be ashamed to lift up mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or Scucor To thee therefore O Lord do I run to thee do I humble my self saying O Lord my God my sins are great yet have mercy upon me for thy great mercy The great mystery that God became Man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not give thy Son O Heavenly Father unto death for small sins only but for all the greatest sins in the world so that the sinner return to thee with his whole heart as I do here at this present Wherefore have mercy on me O God whose property is always to have Mercy Have mercy upon me O Lord for thy great mercy I crave nothing for mine own merits bâ—t for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake And now therefore our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name c. Then riseing up he desired he might exhort the people before his death that God might be glorified and they edified He then began an excellent Exhortation pressing them
he had been bred a Papist and then liv'd in all manner of sin being absolved by the Priests so that he made no Conscience of committing any crime whilst in their Church for he knew that for a little mony he could be absolved from all his wickedness and begin again anew he could eat flesh on Frydays whore swear drink game and all was well enough so long as he went to Mass but now the he lived a strict and sober life leaving their Idolatry he must be persecuted to death being called by the light of God's Word to Repentance and that by Priests who blaspheme God and lead Scandalous lives without punishment some of them having 6 or 7 Children apiece to his knowledge by four or five sundry women He told them many other crimes and Enormities of their Church to the Bishops face too long to rehearse which so enraged the Bishop that he read the sentence against him nor permitting him to speak any more saying he was one of the mâ—st blasphemous hereticks that ever he heard of He heard his sentence of Condemnation very patiently and when they would have had him away he desired to speak two or three words but the Bishop Cry'd away with him way with him at last some of his friends prevailed not knowing but he might recant and being permitted to speak he thus prophesied I tell you said he that God has now heard the prayers of his servants which have been poured forth with tears for his Afflicted Saints which you dayly persecute as you do us But this I sâ—â—o you moved thereto by his holy Spirit that God will shorten your hand of Câ—uâ—â—â—â—â—d tâ—â—â— nor Bâ—â—threâ— tâ—â—a shâ—rt time will be able to 〈◊〉 â—â—â—e so to â—t you shall not be able to persecute them 〈◊〉 more For mark me after this daâ—â—n this place 〈◊〉 â—â—â—h I 〈◊〉 Bâ—â—thren and fellow Marty â—s are to suffâ—r no more shall undergo the tryâ—â—â— of Fâ—â—e and faggot Upon this Bonner said I â—ow perceive Roger that thou art as mad in thy â—â—â—â—sie as ever was Joan Bâ—â—cher Thou wouldst fâ—â—â— be accounted a railing prophet and tho thou and all the rest of you desire to see me hang'd 〈◊〉 shâ—ll live to burn you yeâ— I will burn all of you 〈◊〉 coâ—â— under my hâ—nds that will not woâ—s◠〈◊〉 blâ—ssâ—d Sacrament of the Altar for alâ—◠〈◊〉 prating And to they haled him away but thâ—â— Hâ—lâ— man was no false prophet for he and his 6 Companions above named wâ—o were burnt with him were the last who suffered in that place for the testimony of the Gospel That day these holy Martyâ—s suffered a proclamation was made that none should dare to speak or talk a word to them or receive any thing from them or touch them on pain of Imprisonment without bad or mainprise Notwithstanding the people cryed out dâ—siteing God to strengthen them When they all came to the Stake Roger Holland embracing it said aloud Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that hast called me from the State of Death unto the Light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of the Saints that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts And Lord into thy hands I Commit my Spirit Lord bless these thy people and save them from Idolatry so being fastned to the Stake with the rest looking up towards Heaven praying and praising God with the rest of his fellow Martyrs he ended his Life and exchanged for a better with great Courage holy resolution and manlike Constancy Six Martyred at Brainford Not long after the Martyrdom of these 7 last mentioned in Smathfield viz. on the 14th of July following Six more suffered in one fire at Brainford Their names were Robert Wills Stephen Coltâ—n Robert Dynes Stephen White John Slade and William Pikes a Tanner All these were condemned By Bonner and ordered to be burnt at the place aforesaid When they came to the stake they made their prayers with great humility like so many Lambs prepared for the slaughter thâ—n and resâ—ing themselves they went joyfully to the stake to which they were bound and the fire being put to them and flaming about them they yield 〈◊〉 their Bodies Lives and Souls into the hand of Jesus for whose cause they suffer'd The last mentioned William Pikes being a very godly holy and religious man not long before he was taken as he was reading the Bâ—ble of Mr. Rogers his translation in his Garden 4 drops of blood fell down upon the Bible from whence he could not tell except it came out of the Element upon which he called his wife and shewed her the prodigy blotting out one of the drops with his finger At last he said I perceive the Lord will have blood his will be cone and give me grace to abide the tryal And it was not long after that be was apprehended The same man being in Newgate fell extreamly sick so that none looked he could have lived 6 hours being given over for a dead man upon which he prayed and desired of God that he might glorifie his name at the stake which came to pass accordingly God hearing his prayers The Cruel Whipping of Thomas Hinshaw by Bonner This Bloody Bonner who in a matter of 3 years space had destroyed one way or other about 200 Martyrs for the Gospel haveing one Thomas Hinshaw an Apprentice in London before him in Examination at Fulham and not receiving satisfactory Answers to his mind he set him in the stocks all night with bread and water only the next day he sent his Archdeacon Harpsfield such another persecutor as himself who calling this young man who was about 19 or 20 years of Age Prevish boy asking him whether he thought he went about to dams his Soul or no unto which the said Thomas answered that he was perswaded they laboured to maintain their dark and devilish Kingdom and not for any Love to Truth This put the Archdeacon into a Rage and away he goes to Bonner who furned and fretted not being able to have his will of a young man presently he sends for him into an Arbour in his Garden untrussing him he caused the young man to Kneel down and to lye over a bench where with his own Episcopal hands he wore out a willow Rod upon him who bore it all patiently till this sâ—â—uâ— whipping Bishop who had none of St. Pauls Characters in him could lay on no longer for want of Bâ—eath With this and other ill â—suâ—ge this poor young is an fell sick and so continued in a â—â—ngring Stâ—knâ—ss till he was treed by the Death of this Popish Persecuting Queen Mary The Whipping of John Wills by Bonner Besides this young man there was another named John Wills a Capper and was brother to the above mentioned Robert Wills Martyr'd at Brainford he was kept for some time in Bonners cole hole at Fulham and put into the Stocks being taken at a meeting in the fields at Islington Bonner
Canterbury and to the Vicâ—châ—ncellor of Oxford Robert Riggs who was himself a fâ—vourer of Wickliff and for which he was afterwards displaced As to Wickliff himself he was fâ—in to sly and hide himself from the persecution of the Popish Prelats but God preserved him from their Malice and at last repairing to his parish of Luttâ—rworth where he was Parson he quietly and in Peace departed this Life about the beginning of the year 1384. But though they could not fully reak their malice on him whilst he lived yet when dead they shewed all the spite imaginable against his Books and Bones for at Oxford they caused all his Books they could light on to be publickly burnt They say he had wrote 200 volumes being a most painful sedulous writer as well as preacher of whom and of whose holy and godly life and Conversation the whole University of Oxford gave a publick Testimony under their hands and Seal in the Year 1406. Whose Doctrines also were publickly defended by John Hus of Bohemia who was martyred for the same But for all this the Popish Clergies inveterate malice against Wickliff appeared 41 years after he was buried for by a Decree of the Synod of Constance they caused this holy mans Bones to be dug out of his Grave and burnt and the Ashes to be flung into the River The Doctrine of Wickliff notwithstanding daily increased to the no small grief of the Popish Clergy and his Followers or those professing his Doctrines which were contrary to those of the corrupt Romish Church and many of them or most of them such as the Protestants now hold began then to be called Lollards for they had then Nick-names as well as now for such as profest the purer Light of the Gospel After Wickliff was gone they set themselves to suppress these Lollards as they called them the Pope interpreting the Word from Lollum Cocle or Darnel and one William Swinderly a Priest in 1389. was brought into great trouble by these men for holding and preaching some of Wickliff's Doctrines and was condemned by the Bishop of Hereford for an Heretick but Swinderly appealed to the King and to the Parliament and during King Richard's Reign he was protected from their Violence but it is thought he suffered Martyrdom afterwards in the days of King Hen. 4. when the Popish Clergy had got more power About the same time also they persecuted Walter Brute a Lay-Man but bred up in the Vniversity at Oxford and a graduate there accusing him of Heresie and for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was not the very Body of Christ but a sign and memorial of him and that he had avouched the Pope to be Antichrist and that the Sentence given against Swinderly was unjust For these things he is brought before the Bishop of Hereford where he learnedly maintained his Assertions against them but being put to horrible Trouble and Vexation was forced at last to make a Submission which was that he submitted to the Censure of the Gospel the Church and General Councils and to St. Augustine Jerom Ambrose and Gregory and to his Bishop as his Subject And so he escaped at that time but whether he suffered afterwards is uncertain About this time Pope Boniface the 9th made a Bull against the Lollards and sent it to King Richard 2d who by the Instigation of Courtney then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford the Popes Legat issued out his Letters against the Lollards as Hereticks so that by this means many were forced to do Pennance and to abjure many were imprisoned and evilly intreated but during his Reign none were burnt The manner of doing Pennance The Town of Leicester was interdicted and many of them forced to do Pennance which was after this manner They went about the Cross bare-footed and bare-headed and nothing on their Bodies both Men and Women but their Shifts in one Hand a Crucifix in the other a large Wax Taper lighted and from thence marched to the Cathedral where they stood after they had made a procession about the Church all the time of Mass this also to be done three times during the Market After this manner they sought to punish such as made profession of the Gospel And about the same time the Londoners favouring one Peter Pateshull an Austin-Friar who having embraced the Doctrines of Wickliff preached against the corruptions of his Order many of them were converted by him and the Doctrines of Wickliff spread very much in the City For which they were malic'd by the Bishops and complained oâ— to the King who was so incensed against the Mayor and Sheriffs that he removed them from their Office and made Sir Edward Darlington Warden of the City and then removed his Court and the Terms to York thinking thereby to dispight the Londoners But this so alienated their Hearts that by losing their Love he also not long after lost his Crown and Life to Henry Duke of Lancaster called Henry the 4th The first Act for burning of Hereticks William Sawtry the first that was burnt Henry the 4th being but an Usurper and Tyrant was fain to comply with the Prelatical Clergy who had a great stroke in deposing their lawful Prince that he might the better assure himself of the Crown which he had unjustly taken Till now the Sufferings and Persecutions of the Lollards or such as made a profession of the purer Light of the Gospel was but slight in comparison of what they now began to suffer for there was as yet no Law for to put an Heretick to Death though they had made use of the afore-mentioned Statute in the 5th Year of King R 2d to molest trouble and imprison good and pious men but now in the 2d Year of this King Henry the 4th they obtained a Law or Statute for the burning alive such as were convict of Heresie made especially against the Lollards and the first that so suffered upon this Statute was William Sawtry the Parish Priest of St. Scithes in London who had preached against worshipping the Cross and the Images of Saints against Pilgrimages and Transubstantiation and other Popish Heresies for which he was cited before the Bishops and convicted of as they called it Heresie and then publickly degraded of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments aâ—d made a Lay-man and then delivered over to the secular Power to be put to death according to the new made Law which they had with great joy obtained for the extirpating the Lollards Thus the King who had deposed his lawful Prince and usurpt the Crown was the first that put men to death for Religion in England by the unmerciful burning of their Bodies at the Instigation of the cruel Popish Prelates And this William Sawtry was the first that so suffered for the Gospel by the Papists in England who was burnt Anno 1400. The burning of John Badby Taylor After this unusual Exeâ—ution of Sawtry a great fear and dread fell upon all the People but yet