621. Adam Wallace a Scotchman burnt 1549. as an Heretick He passed over the night of his condemnation in singing and lauding God having learned David's Psalter by heart to his great consolation and being tempted by several to recant he though a poor mean learnned Man said He would adhere to whatsoever could be proved by Scripture but he would consent to nothing that had not Scripture evidence though an Angel from Heaven came to perswade him And on the day of his sufferings he asked whether the fire was fit saying As it pleaseth God I am ready soon or late and so desired the Faithful to remember him to all the Brethren being sure to meet together with them in Heaven As he went to the fire the People said God have mercy on you And on you too said he At the fire he lifting up his eyes two or three times said to the People Let it not offend you that I suffer for the truth's sake for the Disciple is not greater than his Master But he was not permitted to speak and so was burned Vol. 2. p. 623. Rawlins White a Welchman a Fisherman of Cardiff was very superstitious in time of Popery till afterwards through God's Grace he upon the Reformation began to give ear to good Men and searched out the Truth but being a very poor ignorant Person he knew not how to be informed and so resolved to put his Child to learn to read whom he caused when he could read to read every night Summer and Winter after Supper a piece of Scripture or some good Book which profited him so much through God's grace and the blessing of a good memory that he soon became very perfect in Scriptures did see his former errours and was enabled to admonish others by which means he was instrumental for the conversion of many others whom he instructed for which he expected to be apprehended and his Friends desired him to fly but he said No He had learned That if he should presume to deny his Master Christ Christ in the last day would deny and condemn him I will therefore by his favourable Grace bear witness of him before Men that I may find him in Everlasting Life And at last was taken and imprisoned for a year where as oft as his Friends visited him he would spend the time in prayer and Exhortation And after many means of threats and flatteries used by Bishop of Landaffe to bring him to a conformity but in vain he resolved to condemn him yet exhorted he his Fellow-Assistants to pray to God for Grace for Rawlins to convert him Whereat Rawlins rejoyced and commending them said Go and pray and I also will pray After prayer the Bishop asked him If he would recant and he said No. Rawlins ye left me and Rawlins ye find me and by God's Grace Rawlins I will continue Certainly if your petitions were just and lawful God would have heard you but ye honour a false God and pray not as ye ought to pray and therefore hath not God granted your desire but God hath heard my complaint and I trust will strengthen me in his own cause Then the Bishop would have a Mass at which Rawlins went and begg'd the Brethren or but one Brother to bear witness that he did not worship that Idol the Host over the Priest's head and so soon after he was condemned who then sent to his Wife for a Shirt to be burnt in which he called a Wedding-garment And going to the Stake seeing his Wife and Children there who made great lamentation his heart was pierced and he wept but soon after being angry with himself for that infirmity he struck his breast saying Ah Flesh wouldest thou fain prevail Well I let thee do what thou canst thou shalt not through God's grace have the victory And being in the fire he cry'd whilst he could open his mouth O Lord receive my Soul O Lord receive my Spirit Vol. 3. p. 219 220 221. Thomas Watts an Essex Man a Linen-Draper expecting every day to be sent for and imprisoned for the Gospel did dispose of his things and sold and gave to the Poor his Cloath and at length was imprisoned and not recanting by the flatteries and threats of Bishop Bonner he was condemned and going to take leave of his Wife and six Children he said to them thus I must now depart from you therefore henceforth I know you no more but as the Lord hath given you to me I give you again to him whom I charge ye see to obey and beware ye turn not to Popery against which by God's grace I shall anon give my blood Let not the murdering of God's Saints cause you to relent but take occasion thereby to be strong in the Lord's quarrel and I doubt not but he will be a merciful Father to you and so he went to the Stake kissed it and was burned Iune 9. 1555. Vol. 3. p. 268. Christopher Ward burned at Dartford 1555. who coming to the Stake being in a Pitch Barrel fastned to it he held up his hands and eyes to Heaven saying with a chearful and loud voice the last Verse of the 86. Psalm Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me and comforted me and the fire being kindled he cryed with a loud voice but without any impatience Lord Iesus receive my Soul and when his voice could not be heard his hands were held up and continued clasped together and held up towards Heaven even when he was dead and altogether roasted as though they had been stayed up by some Prop which token God granted as it were an answer to his Prayer Vol. 3. p. 382. Thomas Whittle a Priest burnt with six others Ian. 28. 1556. was by the perswasions of the Papists brought to recant but after that he felt such an horrour of Conscience that he did earnestly beg to see again the Bill he had subscribed and seeing it he rent out his Name and then was right glad and in a Letter after his condemnation he said Now I am condemned to dye my conscience and mind is I praise God quiet in Christ and I am willing and content to give this Body to death for a Testimony of his truth against Antichrist In another Letter he thus writes The World I do forsake To Christ I me take And for his Gospel's sake Patiently I Death take My Body to the Dust Now to return it must My Soul I know full well With my God shall dwell Vol. 3. p. 615.621 Ioan Waste of Derby born blind yet by hearing the Word of God did become knowing and purchased a New Testament which she gat sometimes one Prisoner to read and sometimes another by giving them often some Money to read a Chapter or two in it to her by which means she grew understanding in the Scriptures could say much of them by heart and at last was burned for the Gospel August
Scripture any errour he held they would not but because he held Wicklif's Doctrine they degraded him and left him to the Secular Power to Sigismund King of the Romans by whom he was condemned and burned and all this cruelty against a safe Conduct sealed by the Emperour and promised by the Council When he was to be burned he prayed often and especially for his Enemies and after the kindling of the Fire he sang aloud Iesus Christ the Son of the living God have mercy upon me Vol. 1. p. 821 822. Richard Hunn burned in Smithfield December 20. 1514. sixteen days after he was privately Murdered by the Papists Vol. 2. p. 19. Mr. Hierom was condemned in King Henry the 8 th's time 1541. by Bishop Gardner Bishop of Winchester and at the Stake he confessed his Faith and exhorted all Persons to Duties to God and Man considering what Price Christ paid for us and exciting them to bear their Cross with Christ considering his Example of Patience under sufferings and at last prayed them to pray for him that he Barns and Garret who were all three together burnt might have their Souls leaving these wretched Bodies constantly depart in the true Faith of Christ and so committing his Soul to Christ he dyed These three which at this Fire were burnt together took each other by the hand and kissing each other quietly and peaceably offered themselves to the tormentors hands and took their deaths Christianly and patiently Vol. 2. p. 528 529. Mr. Iohn Hooper Student in Oxford flying in King Henry the 8 th's time beyond Sea because of Persecution for the six Articles was at Zurick acquainted with Mr. Bullinger and Married a Burgonian Woman But in King Edward the 6 th's days he returned and did promise his Friends they should hear from him Though saith he the last News of me I shall not be able to write for there saith he where I shall take most pains there shall you hear of me to be burnt to Ashes Which Prophesie came to effect He preached at London often twice a day but alwayes once a day He was in his Sermons earnest in his Tongue eloquent in Scriptures perfect in pains indefatigable he was spare of dyet sparest of words and sparest of time He was by King Edward the 6 th made Bishop of Glocester and Worcester in both which Diocesses he preached at and visited them and at Worcester his manner was every day to have a certain number of poor Beggars of the Town Dine in his Pallace with whole and wholsome Meat four at a Mess whom he examined or caused to be examined in the Lords Prayer Creed and Ten Commandments before himself sate down to Dinner He was with one Iohn Rogers the two first that were condemned in Queen Mary's days To which Rogers Bishop Hooper said Brother Rogers Must we two begin first to fry these Faggots fear not but God will give us strength He suffered amongst his People at Glocester where Sir Anthony Kingston his old Friend did desire him to accept of life and not dye saying life is sweet and death bitter To whom Bishop Hooper answered True but eternal death is more bitter and eternal life most sweet in respect of which I value not this life Vol. 3. p. 145 146 147. He was after that perswaded much but he said Death to me for Christ's sake is welcome At the fire a Box was set on a Stool before him with the Queens Pardon as it was said if he would turn but he cryed If ye love my Sonl away with it if ye love my Soul away with it He was prohibited to speak to the people and permitted only to pray he begged of the Sheriffs for a speedy fire to dispatch him but when he was to be burnt what through the wetness of the wood and greatness of the frude three fires one after another were made before he was consumed in the first fire he prayed mildly as one without pain Lord Iesus thou Son of David have mercy on me and receive my Soul After the second fire was spent he wiped both Eyes and looking on the people beg'd for Gods sake more fire And in the third fire he cryed out Lord Iesus receive my Spirit Lord Iesus have mercy on me and so spoke no more continuing motion of his lips till they shrank to his gums and beating his breast with his hands till one arm fell off and the other by fat water and blood stuck to the Iron by which he was fastned to the Stake and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 156. In a Letter he wrote out of Prison to divers Friends he undervalues the worldly joyes and troubles in comparison of Hells misery or Heavens glory and exhorts them to constancy thus It was an easie thing to hold with God and Christ whilst the Prince and World held with him but now the World hateth him it is the true tryal who be his Let us not run when it is most time to fight none shall be Crowned but them that fight manfully Beware of beholding the Worlds felicity or misery too much whose love or fear draweth from God Think the felicity of the World good but yet no otherwise than stands with Gods favour It is to be kept yet so as we lose not God of adversity judge the same Imprisonment is painful yet liberty on evil terms worse I must be alone and solitary yet that is better and to have God with us than to enjoy the company of the wicked Loss of goods is great but loss of Gods favour greater I shall dye by the hands of cruel Men but he is blessed that loseth a life full of misery and findeth a life full of eternal ioyes Neither felicity or misery in the World can be great if compared with joys or pains in the World to come Vol. 3. p. 156 157. In another Letter he exhorts the godly to meet often and pray and confer together of their ignorance before their knowledge of God and their state by their knowledge of God in his Word and to compare their Popish Principles with Gods Word being careful to do all things for three ends Gods glory the Churches edification and their Souls profit p. 158 159. In another Letter exhorting to patience under the Cross he saith That our Enemies cruelty hath no further power than God permits and what comes to us by the will of our heavenly Father can be no harm but felicity to us We as Men suffer these evils but as Christians we overcome them nor can they separate betwen Gods love and us they can but last our short life and then must give way to our partaking of eternal joyes Vol. 3. p. 161. Nothing can hurt us that is taken from us for Gods Cause nor can any thing do us good that is kept against Gods Commandment let us surrender goods and life to his will and then it matters not whether we keep or lose it Vol. 3. p. 163. William Hunter an Apprence to
ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΑΛΦΑΒΕΤΙΚΕ OR AN Alphabetical Martyrology CONTAINING THE Tryals and Dying Expressions OF MANY MARTYRS Of Note since CHRIST Extracted out of Foxe's Acts and Monuments of the Church WITH AN ALPHABETICAL LIST Of GOD'S JUDGEMENTS remarkably shown on many Noted and Cruel PERSECUTORS Together with an APPENDIX of things pertinent to the understanding this MARTYROLOGY By N. T. M. A. T. C. C. These all dyed in the Faith Hebr. 11.13 In all these things we are more than Conquerors Rom. 8.37 LONDON Printed for R. Butler in Barbican and are to be sold by Samuel Wooley Bookseller in Louth in Lincolnshire 1677. ERRATA IN the Epistile Page 3. read 2 Cor. 4 7 8 9. In the Book p. 25. l. 17. read Iames Bainham p. 27. l. 18. put out then p. 9. l. 5. read Pomponius p. 53. l. 21. put out so p. 69. l. 13. read cruel p. 79. l. 2. read sparer in words p. 80. l. 16. read Wind. p. 140. l. 20. read Wounds p. 150. l. 17. read trailed p. 167. l. 22. read must p. 169. and 170. read Thiessen p. 172. l. 24. read confuted p. 185. l. 8. read Fool. p. 224. l. 10. Concerning Dr. London's Punishment in the former part of the Book Add Page 174. p. 226. l. 12. read Maximinus p. 230. l. 7. read Sute ADVERTISEMENT TWO Sermons of Hypocrisie and the vain hope of self-deceiving Sinners A Vindication of Oaths and swearing in weighty cases as lawful and useful under the Gospel And the Quakers Opinion and Practice against Oaths and Oath-taking proved to be unscriptural and without any just Reason as also against their own Principles Both written by Iohn Cheney Minister of the Gospel Printed for R. Butler and are to be sold with the rest of his Works by Iohn Miller at the Rose at the West-end of St. Paul's Church To the Christian READER all encrease of Grace here and all fulness of Glory hereafter SO great an enmity hath Satan evidenced ever since his own Apostasie against Mankind that he must be conceded to have bin very sedulous and vigilant in all Ages to destroy Souls one while alluring them to sin against God by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of worldly or sensual propositions or else deterring them from adhering to God vi armis by his assaults and persecutions the verity of which hath been continuedly evidenced in the successive Ages of God's Church wherein the first member dying dyed a Martyr on the account of his Religion and the several Prophets and Children of God before Christ have been so persecuted sawn asunder cast into Dungeons fiery Furnaces Lyons dens c. That if to these we add the consideration of St. Paul's Martyrology in Heb. 11. we may propose our Saviour's Enquiry Which of the Prophets have they not slain Nor did the fury of Satan and his Instruments terminate there but when Christ the Son of God was incarnated and became Man for our Salvation Satan the Arch-enemy of Man assails him as Tempter but being put to flight so he becomes Accuser and by his Instruments persecuted our dearest Saviour not desisting till they had crucified the Lord of Life Which being effected this Serpentine Seed continued its enmity againg Christ in his Members so that few of Christ's Apostles or Followers have escaped tribulation as the Writings of the Sacred Writ aver and the succeeding pages will much evidence which seem in respect of their matter to be serviceable to the Church of God many wayes 1. In demonstrating the verity of our Religion and the great and sure foundation of our Faith sealed by the Blood of many thousand Martyrs who have as witnesses thereof attested the verity of their Professions by their deaths 2. In evidencing the state of God's People here whose Life is but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a warfare whilst they remain Members of the Church Militant on Earth which may disswade us from singing Requiem's to our Souls and may excite our constant watch 3. In assuring us of the Triumph of Christ the Captain of our Salvation who in himself and Members hath verified that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Seed of the Woman's breaking the Serpent's head in that in the midst of all troubles the Saints of God have experienced joy which may engage our running with patience the Race that is set before us 4. In declaring God's fidelity to his People who in the greatest misery hath shown them the greatest mercy and often then hath most given his People assurance of their living with him when they were going to dye for him which may support our Spirits under pressures in that they cannot separate us from God here or hereafter Rom. 8.38 2 Cor. 7.8 9. 5. In proposing the Examples of many thousands of constant Martyrs who chose rather to suffer than sin and found more joy in dying for Christ than ever they did trouble in serving of Christ. 6. In shewing the sad effects of Apostasie upon many of God's People who found all the wordly enjoyments without a Christ but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitter sweets and have not acquiesced till through God's Spirit they did reassume the Profession of Christ and at last did dye for Christ which may incite our holy jealousie over our selves 7. In setting before us the care of God for his People in their Lives and Death and after death by supplying their wants comforting their Souls mitigating their pains and preserving their Names to succeeding Generations verifying his own assertion That the memory of the Just shall be blessed 8. In representing the efficacy of Christianity and its Champions constancy so as often to have influenced the very Persecutors of it and them not onely to pity them but also to close with their Principles and dye for the same Faith so that we have no need to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. 9. In demonstrating the frustration of the grand design of Christ's Enemies the extirpation of his Faith and Religion by Persecution it being evidently manifested that Christianity hath been more propagated the more it hath been persecuted and it was long since observed that Sanguis Martyrum was Semen Ecclesiae So that against all opposition the Faith of Christ and its Professors have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more than Conquerors nor hath the gates of Hell hitherto prevailed against the Church of Christ. 10. In manifesting God's mercy and justice His Mercy in preserving his true Religion and its Professors amidst all their Enemies and his Iustice in his divers inflictions of punishments upon their Persecutors Insomuch that some have confessedly acknowledged Christ Conqueror his cause true and themselves because Persecutors of it damned This is the matter of the Pages humbly offer'd and unfeignedly recommended to thy perusal And as to the manner of the Epitome an Alphabetical method both as to Sufferers and Persecutors seemed most apt for thy reaping advantage The reasons moving the Epitomizing the voluminous works of the Author were these 1.
Because many who probably would read those greater Volumes either cannot acquire them being scarce or cannot purchase them being dear or perhaps have not time to peruse them being great to occur all which this abstract may suffice 2. The Chief things in these Volumes desired by the Vulgar whose instruction is chiefly designed hereby is the Lives and deaths the Constancy and Comforts of the Martyrs which here are briefly contained as to the most remarkable Martyrs ever since Christ's time which being portable may serve as a Manual to be oft in our hands to be perused till we get their experiences on our hearts And although in these Halcyon dayes of the Church which God long continue these endeavours way seem to some supervacaneous yet if we consider that while we are in the World we must expect troubles it is no small prudence to prepare for it However the ten premised Reasons may plead for thy acceptance of what is humbly tendred and sincerely published for God's Glory and thy Soul 's good by Thine in the Service of GOD N. T. AN Alphabetical Martyrology A A ANdrew the Apostle and Brother of Peter being conversant in a City called Patris in Achaia brought many to the Faith of Christ. Egeas the Governour hearing of it resorted to him and with threats of the Cross disswaded him by his Proconsul but Andrew said he would not have preached the honour and glory of the Cross if he had feared the death of the Cross. And being condemned when he saw the Cross he said O Cross most welcome and long looked for with a willing mind joyfully and desirously I come to thee being the Scholar of him who did hang on thee because I have always been thy Lover and have coveted to embrace thee And so being crucified he gave up the ghost the last of November See Vol. 1. pag. 42 43. One Alexander under the Tenth Persecution standing near the Bar at the Examination of the Christians beckned to them with signs to confess Christ which the multitude perceiving made it known to the Judge who examining what he was and being answered by him I am a Christian condemned him to be devoured of wild Beasts And he having endured sad Torments never sighed but from the bottom of his heart praised and prayed to the Lord. Vol. 1. p. 62. Apollinia an ancient Virgin under the Seventh Persecution having her Teeth dashed out and being threatned to be cast into a great fire made before her unless she would blaspheme with them and deny Christ she paused a while and suddenly leaped into the fire and was burned Vol. 1. p. 80. Ammonarion an holy Virgin told the persecuting Judge That for no Punishment she would yield to his request and constantly she performed her words under very severe Torments and was at last slain with a Sword Vol. 1. pag. 80 81. Alban the first English Martyr under the Tenth Persecution did receive a Clerk into his House flying for Religion by whose Precepts and Precedents he of a Pagan became a Christian and when the Emperour sent to apprehend the Clerk Alban put on the Clerks Habits and offered himself to the Souldiers as the Clerk and so was had away and being commanded on pain of death by the Emperour to sacrifice to Idols he said I am a Christian and worship the true and living God who created all the World and the Sacrifices offered to Devils can neither help them that offer them nor can they accomplish the desires of their Supplicants but they whoever they be that offer Sacrifice to Devils shall receive everlasting pains of Hell for their portion Whereupon he was cruelly beaten and at last beheaded Vol. 1. pag. 115. Agnes a Virgin of Rome in the Tenth Persecution of Noble Parentage before she was marriageable she was dedicated to Christ and boldly resisted the wicked Edicts of the Emperour who by fair and foul ways induced her to renounce her Faith yet she remained constant and courageous and offered her body to suffer any torment or pain not refusing to suffer whatsoever it should be though death it self But the Tyrant threatned to expose her Chastity to danger by sending her to the Stews unless she would ask Minerva pardon Whereupon she inveighed against Minerva and said Christ is not so forgetful of those that are his that he will suffer violently to be taken from them their golden and pure Chastity Thou shalt saith she bathe thy Sword in my blood if thou wilt but thou shalt not defile my body with filthy lust for any thing thou canst do After which the Tyrant commanded her to be set naked in the open Street to the shame of himself and all present who went from her and she returned God thanks for this deliverance of her Chastity And an Executioner being sent to kill her she willingly met him and prayed O God vouchsafe to open Heavens Gates once shut up against all the Inhabitants of the Earth and receive O Christ my soul that seeketh thee And so she was beheaded Vol. 1. p. 121 122. Anselm an Italian born and brought up in the Abby of Beck in Normandy and afterwards made Archbishop of Canterbury said he had rather be in Hell without sin than in Heaven with sin Vol. 1. p. 240. Augustinus a Barber about Hennegow in Germany being an embracer of the Gospel yet naturally so timerous that he fled twice when he was sought for was so bold when he was apprehended that he confounded all Opposers And being desired to pity his Soul and recant he said he evidenced his pity to his Soul in giving his Body rather to be burned than to do any thing contrary to his Conscience And being set at the Stake and the Fire kindled he heartily prayed unto the Lord and patiently departed 1549. Vol. 2. pag. 124. Aymond de Lavoy at Bourdeaux in France a Preacher of the Gospel being persecuted and sent for his People and Friends perswaded him to flye to whom he said He had rather never have been born than so to do it was the Office of a good Shepherd not to flye in time of danger but rather to abide the peril lest the Flock be scattered or lest some scruple might by his flight be left in their minds that he had fed them with Dreams and Fables contrary to Gods Word wherefore beseeching them to move him no more therein he told them he feared not to yield up both Body and Soul in the quarrel of the truth which he had taught saying He was ready with S. Paul Acts 21. not only to be bound but also to dye for the Testimony of Christ. And when the Sumner came to apprehend him being in the City of Bourdeaux three days Aymond preached each day a Sermon and in his defence the People flew upon the Sumner till Aymond desired them not to stop his Martyrdom since it was the will of God he should suffer for him Being apprehended his greatest Accusation was that he denyed
Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester caused his Martyrdom he there said I pray God forgive him as heartily and as freely and as charitably and without feigning as ever Christ forgave them that put him to death And then putting off his Cloaths made him fit for the fire and patiently took his death and was burnt with Mr. Garret and Mr. Hierom. Vol. 2. pag. 517. See more Mr. Hierom. George Bucker See Adam Damlip Iohn Bradford a Lancashire man a good Scholar Servant to the Lord Harrington afterwards went to Cambridge and after one years time was made Master of Arts and Fellow of Pembroke Hall and some time after ordained by Bishop Ridley and made Prebend of S. Paul's in London Vol. 3. p. 380. He was a zealous Preacher and a good liver yet in Queen Mary's days silenced and imprisoned although but three days before he appeased the people in London by preaching against Sedition and perswading them to obedience who were incensed much against one Bourn who afterward was made Bishop of Bath who preached against King Edward 6. and pleaded for Popery so that a Dagger was thrown at him till this Mr. Bradford appeared in the Pulpit and then the People cryed out God save thy life O Bradford He slept but four hours in the night and spent most of the other hours in prayer and studying so that he counted that hour lost he said in which he had done none good with Pen study or exhorting he preached twice a day in Prison unless sickness hindred him When the Keepers Wife with sorrow brought him news of his burning next day he said I thank God for it I have looked for the same a long time it comes not on me suddenly but as a thing waited for every day and hour O Lord make me worthy of it When he went from the Counter to Newgate he prayed and gave every Servant and Officer in the House money wishing them to serve God and eschew evil and prayed to God to effect it in them He was imprisoned two years lacking one Month and a half He being upon examination offered mercy if he would recant said Mercy with God's mercy I desire but mercy with God's wrath God keep me from his good will be done life with his displeasure is worse than death and death with his favour is true life Vol. 3. p. 283. One Creswel an acquaintance of his after this came to him and proffered him his service to make suit to the Queen for him To whom he said If the Queen will give me life I will thank her if she will banish me I will thank her if she will burn me I will thank her if she will condemn me to perpetual imprisonment I will thank her Vol. 3. p. 292. At the Stake he freely forgave all persons and beg'd all persons to forgive him He prayed and kissed the Stake and Faggot crying O England England repent thee of thy sins repent thee of thy sins beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists take heed they do not deceive you Vol. 3. p. 307. His Letters were many and pious exhorting to constancy 1. From God's love to us 2. God's power over our Enemies and care for us 3. The necessity of dying once 4. The shortness of the troubles 5. The eternity of our joys 6. Examples of Christians 7. The Conjugal Relation engageth both Soul and Body to Christ 8. All worldly Enjoyments and life it self but tokens of God's love to us and must not be denyed if call'd for by God as tokens of our love to him 9. Death is our due for sin but when for Christ prepares a greater glory 10. God's care over their Children and Families that dye for him 11. Our Cross from God as a Father Vol. 3. p. 307. to 337. Roger Bernard a Suffolk man burned with two others at S. Edmunds-Bury Iune 30. 1556. he being diversly flattery allured to turn yet though a poor Labourer continued constant and when he was threatned with punishments he said Friends I am not better than my Master Christ and the Prophets whom your Fathers served after this sort and I for his Names sake am content to suffer the like at your hands if God shall so permit trusting that he will strengthen me in the same according to his promise in spite of the Devil and all his Ministers And so constantly he endured the flames with Prayer and Praises Vol. 3. p. 710. Agnes Bongeor one of 10 Prisoners at Colchester who with another Woman one Margaret Thurston was not executed with the other 8 because of the mistake of her name in the Writ being there written Bowyer instead of Bongeor which mistake caused much sorrow to the poor woman who was thereupon dejected even almost to despair because she was left and the rest taken and burnt as if God did not think her worthy of that honour in order to the receiving of which she had disposed of a sucking Child that morning to another Nurse and had habited her self fit for the fire But at last with much endeavours she was comforted by a Friend 's proposing the instance of Abraham whose will in offering his Son was by God accepted as if Isaac had been sacrificed and so her desire to have offered up her self had God pleased and also the real offer of her Child disposed of already to another Nurse in order to her self being burnt might be acceptable before God And she being thus comforted in due time September 17. 1557. was also with the said Margaret Thurston burnt at Colchester Vol. 3. p. 849 850. Bergerius being imprisoned for the Gospel's sake met there with one Iohn Chambon a Thief imprisoned also at Lions in France 1553. which Chambon was almost famished for want of food eating only such things as Horses and Dogs refused and was also almost devoured of Lice insomuch that he cryed out against God and cursed his Parents that bare him till by the Prayers and endeavours of this Bergerius he was converted and he declared to divers persons by Letters that his Lice left him the next day after his Conversion so that he had not one and he was sufficiently provided for by the Alms of persons so that he fared very well Vol. 2. p. 140 141. Iohn Badby an English Martyr 1409. martyred for opposing Transubstantiation he though he felt the flames which were immediately quenched and he invited to recant by the Kings eldest Son with promises of great revenues and with threats of being burned if he would not recant could not not be perswaded to recant Vol. 1. p. 681. Guy de Brez Prisoner at Tournay in Flanders 1567. writeth to his Wife thus after the declaring what Conflicts he had with his flesh and the Victory which through Christ he had in order to suffering Be comforted our separation shall not be for ever it will not be long e're we be gathered together under one head Iesus Christ the world is not the place of rest Heaven is our
Omnipotent with heart and mouth Isis Apollo Venus what are they Maximinus himself what is he The one a thing of nought because the work of Mens hands and the other a cast-away because he worshippeth the same work Whereat the Judge incens'd threatned torments but first perswades her to return and offer Incense whereat she spits in his Face spurns abroad with her Feet the Incense and then was miserably tormented scratched and cut to the Bones she singing and praising God saying O Lord I will not forget thee what a pleasure is it O Christ for them that remember thy triumphant Victory to attain to these high dignities and so she was burned Vol. 1. p. 120. Edmund King of Eastangles in the Saxon Heptarchy in Brittain being summoned to submit to Inguar a Dane returned an answer That he a Christian King would not for the love of a temporal life subject himself to a Pagan Duke unless he became a Christian first whereupon he was taken and fixt to a Stake and shot to death Vol. 1. p. 148. F F FRuctuosus Bishop of Tarraconia in Spain being by Emilianus under the Eighth Persecution in the year of Christ 262. to be burned because he would not worship Idols said He worshipped not any dumb God of Stocks and Blocks but one God the Creator of all things And being cast into the fire with his hands tyed behind him his bands were by the fire dissolved his hands unhurt and his body remained whole and he lifted up his hands and praised God praying also that the fire might speedily dispatch him which then was soon done in the mean time a Souldier in the house of Emilianus with the Daughter of Emilianus said they saw the Heavens open and the Martyr to enter in Vol. 1. p. 96. Nicholas Finchman burned in Dornick 1549. who being condemned blessed God which had counted him worthy to be a witness in the cause of his dear and well beloved Son and patiently took his death commending his Spirit unto God in the midst of the fire Vol. 2. p. 124. Iames Faber an old man about the year of Christ 1562. being apprehended said he could not answer or satisfie them in reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the truth of the Gospel and so was martyred Vol. 2. p. 127. Ioannes Filieul or Filiolus and Iulianus Leville suffered both at Sanserre in France 1554. who having their Tongues cut out yet had some utterance given them of God that at their death they said We bid Sin the Flesh the World and the Devil farewel for ever with whom never we shall have to do hereafter Vol. 2. p. 145. Fininus at Ferraria an Italian was burnt 1550. who being apprehended by the perswasion of his Friends he recanted and then was in so great horrour that he almost despaired till he publickly again preached the Gospel for which he being again taken could not by all the solicitations of his Wife and Children be drawn from it but told them that his Lord had commanded him not to deny him for taking care of his Family wherefore he desired them to depart And being afterwards commanded by Pope Iulius the Third to be executed he returned thanks to the Messengers of the News and much rejoiced at it And being asked what would become of his Wife and Children if he so left them he said he had left them to a good Overseer Christ the Lord a faithful Keeper of all committed to him One seeing him so merry before his death asked the Reason since Christ wept and sweat drops of blood before his Passion To whom he answered Christ sustained in his body all the sorrows and conflicts of Hell and death due to us by whose death we are delivered from sorrow and fear of them all And at the Stake after his Prayers to God he meekly gave his neck to the Cord with which he was strangled and was afterwards burned Vol. 2. p. 165 166. Iohn Frith burnt at one Stake in Smithfield 1533. with one Andrew Hewet this Frith willingly embraced the Stake and whenas one Dr. Cooke bad the people pray for them no more than for a Dog he said smiling Father forgive them and the fire being by the wind more blown to his Partner than himself he though in so great torments rejoiced and seeming to feel no torments comforted his fellow-sufferer rather than was careful for himself Vol. 2. p. 309 310. Henry Filmer a Preacher of the Gospel in King Hen. 8. days about Windsor was brought to be burnt by the Envy of Dr. London and the false accusations of his own Brother induced to it by promises of maintenance from the Doctor To which Brother Filmer seeing himself like to suffer by reason of his accusations said Ah Brother what cause hast thou to shew me this unkindness I have been always a natural Brother to thee and is this a Brotherly part to reward me now so God forgive thee it my Brother and give thee grace to repent He suffered with one Testwood and Anthony Persons As he came to his Brothers door as he was going to suffer he called his Brother three or four times but he appeared not and then Filmer said And will he not come then God forgive him and make him a good Man He being with the other two at the Stake drank to each other and Filmer said Be merry for I trust that after this sharp Breakfast we shall have a good Dinner in the Kingdom of Christ. Vol. 2. p. 553 554. Dr. Robert Farrar Bishop of S. Davids in Wales being to be burnt and much pitied by a Knights Son who lamented the painfulness of the death he was to suffer to whom Ferrar said If ye see me once stir in the pains of my burning you shall not believe my Doctrine And as he said so it was for he stood so patiently that he never moved but as he stood holding up his Stumps so he continued till he was struck down by a Staff March 30. 1555. in the Reign of Queen Mary Vol. 3. p. 216. William Flower alias Branch a Cambridgeshire Man brought up a Monk at last was reformed and after removing from place to place he came to Lambeth by London and on an Easter-day went to Westminster and in S. Margarets Church he out of zeal for Gods Cause drew his Hanger and wounded the Priest as he was administring the Sacrament for which he was imprisoned and though he much lamented the Fact as done amiss yet did he justifie his Faith against them And Bishop Bonner threatning him one while and then perswading him by proffers of Gifts he thankt him and said whereas it was in his power to kill or not kill his Body he was contented he should do what he pleased but he knew over his Soul he had no such power but that being separated from the Body is in the hands of no Man but only of God either to save or spill At length he was burnt in Westminster-Abby Yard April
first in her days a great Papist till the burning of one Laurence Saunders by the Papists for the Mass which put her upon an enquiry into it and she consulting some persons about it declined it nor would frequent Mass for which she was punished and at last condemned And when in the morning before she suffered the Sheriff told her of it after one years imprisonment giving her but one hours time to prepare for it she said Your message is welcome to me and I thank God that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel Going to the Stake she prayed against Popist Idolatry and drank to all them that truly believed the Gospel In the fire she neither struggled nor stirred but only held up her hands to Heaven and so dyed soon Vol. 3. p. 839. Mrs. Elizabeth Lawson an ancient Gentlewoman of 60 years of age of Bedfield in Suffolk was sent to Berry Goal 1556. because she would not go to Mass and at last she was condemned to be burnt She continued in Prison two years and three quarters in which time her Son and many more were burnt and she hearing of it said often Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy Children Well good Lord thy blessed will be done and not mine But by the death of Queen Mary she was delivered Vol. 3. p. 916. M M MArtyrs to the Number of 300 at Carthage under the 8 th Persecution being offered near Lime-kills either to offer Incense to Iupiter or to go into the Furnace of Lime did all together rush into the Kill and were there with the dusty smoak of the Lime smothered Vol. 1. p. 94. A Mother exhorted her Child of seven years of age suffering under the 7 th Persecution to suffer joyfully and while it was tormenting and slaying she sang to God thus All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know most dear to be Vol. 1. p. 116. Mary See Ursula Michael Michfote a Taylor in France burned 1547. being apprehended for the Gospel's sake and put to his choice whether he would turn and be beheaded or not turn and be burnt he said God who had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Vol. 2. p. 134. Lodovicus Marsac being with two others at Lyons in France apprehended and condemned 1553. they all sang Psalms and the other two having a Rope put about their Necks and he having not one did desire that he might have one of those precious Chains about his Neck in honour of his Lord which request was granted and they all three were cast into the fire Vol. 2. p. 141. 88 Martyrs murthered at Calabria in Italy 1560. whom the Executioner bringing out one by one with a Muster on a Stage before the People took a Knife and slew by cutting the Throat of one and leaving him half dead bleeding went for another and so served every one till the 88 were murthered which sight amazed the people and shamed even some of the Romanists Vol. 2. p. 184.188 Walter Mille a Scotch Man 1558. was condemned to be burnt whom the Popish Party could neither affright with threats nor allure with proposals but he said to them I am accused of my life I know I must dye once and therefore ye shall know I will not recant the truth I am Corn not Chaff I will not be blown away with the Wind nor burst with the Flail but will abide both and at the Stake the Bishops being constrained by the People to give him liberty to speak he made his humble supplication to God on his Knees and then said to the people Dear friends I suffer this day not for any Crime laid to my charge albeit I be a miserable Sinner before God but only for the defence of the faith of Christ Iesus for which I praise God that he hath this day called me of his mercy amongst the rest of his Servants the Martyrs to seal up his truth with my life which as I received on him so I willingly offer it to his glory and so he dyed and was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for Religion Vol. 2. p. 626. George Marsh of Deane in Lancashire married and was a Farmer but after his Wife's death he went to Cambridge to study and was a Minister of Gods Word and zealous against Popery for which he was imprisoned His Mother and divers other Friends advised him to fly To whose Counsel saith he My Flesh would gladly have consented but my Spirit did not fully agree Whereupon he prayed earnestly to God for direction and unexpectedly in the Morning he had a Letter from a Friend whose Bearer said to him before he looked on the Letter That his Friends advice was not to flee but to abide boldly and confess the Name of Christ which he did He was many wayes and much sollicited to turn upon the account of his Children whom he said he would gladly keep could it be with a pure Conscience and he would have accepted of Queen Mary's mercy should he not thereby by denying Christ win everlasting misery He was burned April 24. 1555. with a Firkin of Pitch over his head which melting and dropping on him added much to his torments yet after much misery when they thought him to be dead he spread his hands saying Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 228. Menas an Egyptian under the 10 th Persecution lived a retired life a great while at length returning to the City Cotis in the open Theatre at a time of Pastimes he loudly proclaimed himself a Christian and being brought to Pyrrhus the President and demanded of his Faith he said It is convenient I should confess God citing Rom. 10.10 And being most painfully pinched and tormented he said in the midst of his torments There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the price of one Soul and said I have learned of my Lord and King not to fear them who kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul And being sentenced to be beheaded he said I give thee thanks my Lord God which hast so accepted me to be found a partaker of thy precious death and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure Faith to my life's end Vol. 1. p. 117 118. N N SAintinus Nivet being a Cripple burnt at Paris 1546. when apprehended and asked if he would stand to what he said he asked his Judges if they dare be so bold to deny what was so plain in express words of Scripture and did so little regard his own life that he desired his Judges for Gods sake that they would rather take care of their own Souls and lives and consider how much innocent blood
set upon Christ was deposed from the High-Priest's room by Caligula Vol. 1. p. 40. Clarke a great Persecutor hanged himself Vol. 3 p. 957. Coxe a great Promoter in King Edw. VI. and in Queen Mary's dayes going well to bed at night was found dead next morning Vol. 3. p. 957. D D DR Dunnings Chancellor in Norwich a great Persecutor in the midst of Queen Mary's Reign and his rage died suddenly in a Chair in Lincolnshire Vol. 3. p. 954. Dale a great Papistical promoter was eaten into his Body with Lice and so died Vol. 3. p. 967. E E EMperours who were Authors of Persecution against Christians all of them came to sad ends either staying themselves or being slain by others or dying by unheard of deaths Vol. 1. p. 41. Sir Ralph Ellerken a Knight at Calice who at the martyrdom of Adam Damlip said He would not stir till he see his heart out had his own heart soon after cut out of his Body by the French See Damlip pag. 51 of this Book and see Vol. 2. p. 564 565. Robert Edgar Executing the Office of a Parish Clerk against his Conscience was bereft of his Wits and kept in chains many years Vol. 3. p. 960. F F DR Foxford Chancellor to Bishop Stoksely in King Henry the 8 th's dayes and a great Persecutor dyed suddenly Vol. 3. p. 957. Bishop Fisher Bishop of Rochester who with Bishop Warham caused one Iohn Brown to have his feet heated and burnt to the Bones by coals to make him recant his Religion was soon after beheaded for opposing Kings Supremacy Vol. 3. p. 957. with Sir Thomas Pure another great Papist See Iohn Brown pag. 19. of this Book The Wife of Iohn Petty of Clerkenwel Parish in London being the occasion of her own Husband 's taking was immediately struck mad Vol. 3. p. 960. A Dominick Fryar inveighing in the Pulpit against the Gospel was suddenly struck with lightning and so ended his Life Vol. 3. p. 964. G G GRimwood a false witness against one Iohn Cooper a Suffolkman whereby the poor Man was proved guilty of Treason falsly and was hang'd drawn and quartered and his Wife and nine Children turned out of their Estate was afterwards sadly and suddenly afflicted for in Harvest time as he was stacking Corn and was very well fearing no evil his bowels suddenly fell out of his body and he dyed most miserably Vol. 3. p. 955. Bishop Gardiner a cruel Persecutor dyed despairing and having a Bishop with him who put him in mind of Peter's denying his Master he said I have denyed with Peter but never repented with Peter Vol. 3. p. 957. He rejoycing at the News of Bishop Ridley's and Latimer's burning at a Dinner that day was that instant struck sick denyed the use of Nature either by Urine or otherwise for fifteen days and then dyed with a sad inflamed body Vol. 3. p. 527. H H Herod the murtherer of Iohn Baptist and condemner of Christ was by Caligula Caesar condemned to perpetual banishment where he dyed miserably Vol. 1. p. 40. Hoeimester an Arch-Papist going to Ratisbon to dispute against the defenders of the Gospel dyed suddenly and miserably in his Journey with roaring and crying Vol. 3. p. 963. I I JEws who refused Christ and also were Persecutors of him were forty years after Christ's Passion destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his Father to the Number of 1100000 besides them which Vespasian slew in subduing Galilee and them which were sold and sent into Egypt and other Provinces to vile slavery to the Number of 17000 and 2000 were brought with Titus in tryumph of which part were devoured by Wild Beasts and part of them were otherwise cruelly slain Vol. 1. p. 40 41.17 L L THomas Leland a Justice of Peace in Lancashire sitting in his Chair talking with his Friends fell down dead suddenly not moving a joint He was so great an Enemy to Christians that he was called Persecuting Tho. Leland Vol. 3. p. 925. Leyson Sheriff at the burning of Bishop Farrar fetched the Bishop's Cattel into his own Ground but many of them would not eat but continued bellowing till they dyed Vol. 3. p. 954. Iacobus Latomus having at Brussels made an Oration against Luther and being in his publick Lecture at Lovane he fell into an open fury uttering words of blasphemy and despair that the Divines there did carry him away and shut him up who to his last breath said nothing but that he was damned and rejected of God and that there was no hopes of Salvation for him because he wittingly and willingly withstood the manifest truth of God's Word Vol. 3. p. 964. Dr. Leyson a Civilian a Justice of Peace who would not let Bishop Farrar speak a word at the Stake about half a year after died and in his sickness when he would have spoken his mind could not Vol. 3. p. 1002. Dr. London Persecutor punished See the former Part of this Book Queen Mary while she promised her protection of the Gospel she prospered and by the help of the Gospellers she gat the Crown but after she breaking her promise and bringing in of Popery and burning of God's People for the Gospel's sake she and her Nation was much punished She was especially punisht these several wayes 1. Her best Ship yea the best Ship in all Europe called The great Harry was burned 2. She was opposed in her endeavours to restore the Abby-lands 3. Her Subjects suffered almost a Famine so that the Poor for Famine were forced to eat Acorns instead of Bread 4. She lost Calice in France which had been the English King 's Right through the Reign of eleven Kings 5. She was deprived of Children which she greatly desired and the whole Nation were cheated in the rumors of her bringing forth a Son 6. She having married Philip King of Spain and so subjugated her Subjects to a stranger with whom she promised her self much felicity was very unhappy by his withdrawing from her Vol. 3. p. 953. M M MAlicia accusing Eugenia who for fear of the 8 th Persecution had put on Mans Apparel to preserve her life and chastity and called her self Eugenius to Philippus the Judge and Father of the unknown Eugenius that he would have deflowered her the said Malicia the falsity was made apparent by Eugenia's discovering her self to be a Woman in Mans habit and Malicia the accuser was doubly ashamed and was smitten with Lightning Vol. 1. p. 95. Iohn Martin of Briqueray boasting he would cut off the Nose of a Minister of Angrogn one of the Waldenses 1555. had his own Nose bitten off by a Woolf so that he dyed thereof mad Vol. 2. p. 202. Maximus the great Persecutor of the Christians in the 10 th Persecution was smitten with a dreadful Ulcer in his Privities and Entrails so that the Physicians durst not come near him nor could they cure him for which he caused them to be slain And being put in mind of God's judgment herein for