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
the Souldiers in Paris charged to be in Arms at a watch-word so that within three days 10000 of them were slain besides many other in the days following in Paris and the Persecution in other places in a Months time compleated the number of 30000 aforesaid which News being sent to the Pope he solemnly gave thanks for it as a mercy and the French King also did the like and the Messenger of the News had 1000 Crowns for his News but the poor Protestants were much troubled of whom some turned others fled and all had been destroyed had not those in Rochel by God's mercy been courageous and resolved to be stedfast and fight for the Faith which being known the French King besiegeth it and chargeth all his Nobles and Gentry on pain of great punishment to besiege it which was done with great vigour by the whole Force of France and also of the Duke of Anjou Duke of Alanson Navarre and Condee which Forces assaulted it seven times and were resisted so that they lost 122 Captains and at last the Duke of Anjou being made King of Polony which News coming to the Camp they rejoiced whereat the new King treated with them of Rochel and finding them not unconformable made peace with them and prevailed with the French King by Edict to let them have peace and the liberty of Religion in that and other Cities 1573. Vol. 3. p. 1028 to 1030. D D DOrotheus and Gorgoneus persons of Dioclesian's Privy Chamber seeing the sad Torments inflicted on Peter their Houshold Companion said to Dioclesian Why O Emperour do you punish in Peter that Opinion which is in all of us Why is this accounted in him an offence that we all confess we are of that Faith Religion and Iudgment that he is of Wherefore he commanded them to be brought forth and to be tormented almost with like pains to Peter's and afterwards to be hanged Vol. 1. p. 101 102. Iohn Diazius a Spaniard was murthered 1546. by his Brother Alphonsus Diazius who hired a Man with an Hatchet to cleave his own Brother's head as he was reading some Letters under a pretence sent to him by his Brother who was by when the fact was done and forth with fled with the Murtherer But he being the Popes Lawyer and procuring his Companion in Rome on purpose to murther his Brother being a Protestant escaped punishment Vol. 2. p. 109. Dennis a French Martyr 1528. burnt at Melda for saying the Mass is a plain denying of the death of Christ he was wont to have always in his mouth the words of Christ He that denyeth me before men him also will I deny before my Father and to muse on the same earnestly He was burnt with a slow fire and did abide much torment Vol. 2. p. 128. Adam Damlip alias George Bucker a great Papist in his Travels at Rome seeing the great profaneness and impiety of that place where he expected so much goodness loathed Popery and at Calice reforming he preached against it and was at length sentenced to death When the News was told him by the Jaylor of the Marshalsee in London on a Saturday night that on Monday he must for Calice and suffer there he did eat his Supper chearfully insomuch that some asked him how he could do it being to dye so soon to whom he said Ah Masters do you think that I have been God's Prisoner so long in the Marshalsee and have not learned to dye Yes yes and I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein He was at Calice the next Saturday following hanged drawn and quartered as a Traytor in King Henry the Eighth's time And his greatest Enemy who at his death said he would not depart till he did see his heart out one Sir Ralph Ellerken was soon after slain amongst others by the French and his Enemies cutting off his Privy Members cut his heart out of his body which cruelty they did to none other of the company and may be looked on as a just judgment of God on him who so desired to see Damlip's heart Vol. 2. p. 564 565. Iohn Denley a Gentleman of Maidstone in Kent burnt for the Gospel's sake at Uxbridge August 8. 1555. who in the flames sang a Psalm whereat Dr. Story caused one to throw a Faggot at him which hurting his Face did cause him to lay both his hands on it and to leave singing whereupon the Doctor said to him that flung the Faggot You have spoiled a good old Song but Mr. Denley being yet in the flame put abroad his hands again and sang yielding up his spirit into the hands of God Vol. 3. p. 390. Alice Driver a Suffolk Woman and a Labourers Wife persecuted for the Gospel of Christ said that Quen Mary for her persecuting the Saints of God was like Iezebel for which she had her Ears cut off presently which she suffered joyfully and said she thought her self happy that she was counted worthy to suffer any thing for the Name of Christ. Being examined by several Doctors she reasoned with them so and silenced them all She perceiving which said Have ye no more to say God be thanked you be not able to resist the Spirit of God in a poor weak woman I was never brought up at the University but often drave the Plow before my Father yet in the defence of Gods Truth and in the Cause of my Master Christ by his Grace I will set Foot to Foot against any of you in the maintenance of the same and if I had a thousand lives they should all go for the payment of it She being at Stake and a Chain put about her Neck to bind her with she said Here is a goodly Neck-kerchief Blessed be God for it She was burned November 4. 1558. Vol. 3. p. 886 887 888. Iohn Davis a School-boy of twelve years of age was because he had a Bible and had written some things against the Papists betrayed by his Aunt one Mrs. Iohnson in Worcester 1546. with whom he lived and he was imprisoned from August 14. till 7. days before Easter with Fetters and Bolts and one perswading him from burning advised him first to try the Candle who holding his Finger and the other holding a Candle under it a good space he cryed not felt no pain nor was his Finger scorched He was afterwards arraigned and should have been punished with death but that King Henry the 8 th dyed and the Law was thereby out of force Vol. 3. p. 919 920. E E EUlalia a Virgin of Noble Parentage in Eremita a City in Portugal of twelve years of age refusing great Marriages and Dowries being a Christian joined her self with Gods Children under the 10 th Persecution and being kept close by her Parents lest she should hasten her own death she by Night stole out and ran to the Judgment Seat and cryed out I am a Christian an Enemy to your devilish Sacrifices I spurn your Idols all under my Feet I confess God
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
the Countrey of Brisgois 1525. a vigilant Preacher and a peaceable good Man often reconciling differences with great prudence and much lamenting the corruptness of Principles and Practises of the Popish Monks and especially their Vow of single Life and its consequents which moved him to marry for which crime chiefly he was afterwards apprehended and condemned to die And being led to Execution he answer'd all Persons gently but desir'd the Monks to let him alone who troubled him with their babling about Confession when he was striving in his Spirit against the horror of death and making his prayer to God to whom he said also that he had confessed his sins to God not doubting but he had received absolution and forgiveness of them And I said he shall be an acceptable sacrifice to my Saviour Jesus Christ for I have done no such things whereof I am condemned which might displease my God who in this behalf hath given me a good and quiet Conscience Saying also he being very lean It is all one for I must shortly have forsaken my Skin which scarce cleaves to my bones I know I am a mortal and corruptible worm I have oft desired my last day and have made my request that I might be delivered out of this mortal Body to be joyned with my Saviour Jesus Christ. I have deserved through my sins my Cross and my Saviour hath born the Cross and for my part I will not glory in any other thing but in the Cross of Christ. Presently he was cast into the River he strugling a while in it the water was red with blood which the People looked to be a miraculous sign to shew that innocent blood was that day shed This was done at Enshesheim 1525. Vol. 2. p. 111 112. Wolfgangus Schuch a German at St. Hyppolite 1525. a Town in Lotharing a Reverend and godly Pastor there preached he Justification through Christ by Faith He was apprehended willingly offering himself to Tryal by Scripture rather than to see the Town of St. Hyppolite be exposed to the danger threatn'd to it by Anthony Duke of Lorrain for his sake and being apprehended he was imprisoned in sad misery a year where disputing with divers Friars he confounded them all by Scripture At last he was condemned to be burnt at which Sentence he sang and being at the place of Execution he sang the 51. Psalm till smoke and fire choak'd him Vol. 2. pag. 112. George Scherler a German Preacher near Saltzburg was taken and imprisoned and condemned to be burnt alive but at last it was granted he should be first beheaded He going to his death said That ye may know that I die a true Christian I will give you a manifest sign Which he did by God's power for after his head was off his body falling on his belly and so lying a good while it easily turn'd it self on the back and crossed the right foot over the left and the right hand over the left at which sight the Spectators marvelled and the Magigistrates burned not but buried the Body amongst the Christians and many were hereby brought to believe the Gospel Vol. 2. p. 117. Peter Serre was burned 1553. in France who having his tongue cut out stood so quiet looking up to Heaven at the time of his burning as though he had felt no pain bringing such admiration to the People that one of the Parliament of France that condemned him said That way was not best to bring Lutherans to the fire for that would do more hurt than good Vol. 2. p. 143. Mrs. Smith near Coventry condemned and burnt for having the Lord's Prayer in English April 4. 1519. Vol. 2. p. 225. Hellen Stirk a Scottish Woman seeing her Husband go to the Stake 1543. for Christ's cause and being her self condemned did desire to suffer with her Husband but when it was not permitted she went to him and exhorted him to perseverance and with a kiss parted saying Husband rejoyce for we have lived many a joyful day together but this day in which we must die together ought to be most joyful unto us both because we must have joy for ever therefore I will not bid you good night for we shall suddenly meet with joy in the Kingdom of Heaven And after that she parting with her sucking Child from her breast recommended her self to God and the Child to Nurse and so was drowned Vol. 2. pag. 615 616. Laurence Saunders brought up at Eaton and then at King's Colledge in Cambridge three years then by his Mother having a great Estate was bound Apprentice in London to a Merchant Sir William Chester but he not liking his Apprentiship his Master gave him his Indentures perceiving his inclinations to Study and being himself a good Man he wrote Letters to his Mother and Friends who were great Persons about it whereby he went again to King's Colledge and after several years was a Minister in Leicestershire and then in London till Queen Mary's dayes when he had two Livings not being permitted to lay down either of them by reason of the troubles and as well as he could he Preached at both though at length at London he going to Preach was disswaded for fear of danger but he would not cease and Preaching he did as he often had speak against Popish Tenets for which he was examined by Bishop Bonner and Gardiner and at last imprisoned he prayed much and in all spiritual assaults he prayed and found present relief and he said while Bishop Gardiner examined him he found a great consolation in spirit and also in body he received a certain taste of the Communion of Saints whilst a pleasant refreshing issued from all parts of his body to his heart and thence did ebb and flow to and fro He in a Letter to Bishop Gardiner proved Popery a Whoreish and ravening Religion robbing God of his honour and worship in truth and also our Consciences of peace and true comfort He disswaded his Wife and Friends from sueing for his liberty He in his Letters spoke much of his own experience through God's grace of Christ's sweetness and how loath his Flesh was to go forward in God's Path and also his hopes with the godly to be shortly singing Halelujah in Heaven and as he saluted those to whom he wrote with grace and mercy and peace and assured them of his Prayers for them so also he generally begg'd their Prayers ending his Letters with pray pray pray and after 15 months imprisonment he was condemned who said My dear Lord Iesus Christ hath begun to me a more bitter Cup than mine can be and shall not I pledge my most sweet Saviour yes I hope As he went to Stake he oft fell down and prayed and at the Stake he took it in his arms and kissed it saying Welcome the Cross of Christ welcome everlasting life and so being fastned was burned with green Wood to make his torments greater yet he stood quietly and slept sweetly in the fire