he did afore-time opened his windows towards Jerusalem and kneeled down and prayed and gave thanks before his God of which these Persecutors acquainted the King then the King commanded and they cast Daniel into the Den of Lions but the Lord preserved him that the Lions hurt him not because he believed in his God which the King hearing of caused Daniel to be taken up out of the Den A judgment of God upon Persecutors and commanded them that were his Persecutors to be cast into it which was done and they were soon destroyed The Constancy and faithful Suffering of some of the ancient people of the Jews rather then they would be forced to depart from the Laws of their Fathers and not to live after the Laws of God Eleazer one of the principal Scribes an aged man and of a well-favoured countenance was constrained to open his Mouth Eleazer persecuted and to eat Swines Flesh But he choosing rather to dye gloriously then to live stained with such an Abomination spit it forth and came of his own accord to the torment as it behoved them to come that are resolved to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted But they that had the charge of that wicked Feast for the old acquaintance they had with the man taking him aside besought him to bring flesh of his own provision such as was lawful for him to use and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the Sacrifice commanded by the King That in so doing he might be delivered from death and for the old friendship with them find favour But he began to consider discreetly and as became his Age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honour of his gray Head whereunto he was come and his most honest Education from a Child or rather the holy Law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly and willed them strait-wayes to send him to the Grave For it becometh not our Age said he in any wise to dissemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazer being fourscore years old and ten were now gone to a strange Religion and so they through mine hypocrisie and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and I get a stain to mine old Age and make it Abominable For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead wherefore now manfully changing this life I will shew my self such an one as mine Age requireth and leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and couragiously for the honourable and holy Laws and when he had said these words immediatly he went to the Torment they that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred because the foresaid speeches proceeded as they thought from a desperate mind But when he was ready to dye with stripes he groaned and said It is manifest unto the Lord that hath the holy knowledge that whereas I might have been delivered from death I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear him And thus this man dyed leaving his death for an example of a noble Courage and a memorial of vertue not only unto young men but unto all his Nation The Constancy and Cruel Death of seven Brethren and their Mother in one day because they would not eat Swines Flesh at the Kings Commandment Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken and compelled by the King against the Law The Mother and her seven Children persecuted to taste Swines Flesh and were tormented with Scourges and Whips but one of them that spake first said thus What wouldst thou ask or learn of us we are ready to dye ' rather then to transgress the Laws of our Fathers Then the King being in a rage commanded Pans and Caldrons to be made hot which forthwith being heated he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that spake first and to cut off the utmost parts of his Body the rest of his Brethren and his Mother looking on Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the Fire and to be fryed in the Pan and as the vapour of the Pan was for a good space disperced they exhorted one another with the Mother to dye manfully saying thus The Lord God looketh upon us and in Truth hath comfort in us as Moses in his Song which witnessed to their Faces declared saying and he shall be comforted in his Servants so when the first was dead after this manner they brought the second to make a mocking stock and when they had pulled off the skin of his Head with the hair they asked him ' Wilt thou eat before thou be punished ' throughout every member of thy Body but he answered in his own Language and said No wherefore he also received the next Torment in order as the former did and when he was at the last gasp he said Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life but the King of the world shall raise us up who have dyed for his Laws unto everlasting life After him was the third made a mocking stock and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soon holding forth his hands manfully and said couragously ' These I had from Heaven and for his Laws I dâ—spise them and ' from him I hope to receive them again insomuch that the King and they that were with him marvailed at the young mans courage for that he nothing regarded the pains Now when this man was dead also they tormented and mingled the fourth in like manner so when he was ready to dye he said thus It is good being put to death by men to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him as for thee thou shalt have no resurrection to life Afterward they brought the fifth also and mangled him then looked he unto the King and said Thou hast power over men thou art corruptible thou dost what thou wilt yet think not that our Nation is forsaken of God but abide a while and behold his great power how he will torment thee and thy seed After him also they brought the sixth who being ready to dye said Be not deceived without cause for we Suffer these things for our selves having sinned against our God therefore marvelous things are done unto us but think not thou that takest in hand to strive against God that thou shalt escape unpunished But the mother was marvelous above all and worthy of honorable memory for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day she bare it with a good courage because of the hope that she had in the Lord yea she
Persecution against the Christians Orosius lib. 5. and not only in Rome but in all the Provinces thereof thinking thereby to abolish the Name of Christians in all places In this Persecution the Apostle Peter suffered death Hien lib. de viris just with many more Christians as Hierome said Simon Peter the Son of Jona of the province of Galilee and of the Town of Bethsaida the Brother of Andrew about the year 44. after Christ's birth came to Rome to withstand Simon Magus in the time of Nero and was crucified with his Head downwards and his Feet upwards himself so requiring because said he I am unworthy to be crucified after the same manner as the Lord was Paul the Apostle after his great travail and labours in preaching the Gospel in divers Countries at last suffered Martyrdom in this first Persecution under Nero and was beheaded some writers say on the same day on which Peter was Crucified although not in the same year but in the next year following which was the thirty seventh year after the Passion of Christ that which he spake at his death is written as followeth Paul being delivered by Nero bound unto Longimus and Magistus the cheif Officers and Acestus the Centurion that they should lead him without the City and cause him to be beheaded and Paul being full of the holy Ghost spake the words of Eternal life that both Nero and all should believe in Jesus Christ who was King of Heaven and Earth who would destroy the glory of the world with fire when they had led him away Longimus Magistus and Acestus began to say unto him Tell us O Paul where is that King and where will he appear unto you and how will you know him and what will he give unto you or what good will he bestow upon you that you Christians so mightily love him that by no means you will consent unto our Religion that you may live and enjoy the good of this life but rather then all the pleasures of delight to be led to die for him with divers Torments for this seems to us to be a great error to hate this joyfull life and to imbrace with all your desire punishment and death Paul therefore said O ye wise men and flourishing in knowledge depart out of the darkness and error wherein the nobility of your understanding is clouded with darkness lest you should see the Truth which lyeth hid in you return the eyes of your minds to the Eternal true Light that ye may be able first to know your selves and so come to the knowledge of that King with gladness and to be saved from the fire which is to came upon the world and to remain unhurt for we do not War as you think for some earthly King but the living God the Kingdom without end who by reason of the Iniquities that is done in this World he will come a Judge and will judge it by fire happy will that man be who will believe in him he shall have Eternal life and shall live World without end and most unhappy is he who dispising the Riches of his Bounties and long Suffering will not return unto him for he shall Perish Eternally The first Persecution beginning under Nero as aforesaid ceased under Vespatian who gave some rest to the poor Christians after whose reign was moved not long after the second Persecution by the Emperor Domitian Brother of Titus his Tyrany was unmeasurable he put to death all the Nephews of Jude called the Lords Brother and caused to be sought out and to be slain all that could be found of the Stock of David In the time of this Persecution Simon Bishop of Jerusalem after other Torments was Crucified to death In this Persecution John the Evangelist was Banished into Pathmos for the Testimony of the Word and after the death of Domitian in the Reign of Pertinax the Emperor he came to Ephesus being released in the year 100. He lived to a great age some write till he was 120. And this was his constant practice to his dying day when age weakness grew upon him at Ephesus Hierom Comiâ— in C. 6. ad Galat Tom. 9. p. 200. that he was no longer able to Preach to them he used at every Publick Meeting to be led to the Meeting and say no more to them then Little Children love one another He expressed great care for the good of souls unweariedly spending himself in the service of the Gospel and to beget People to the Truth Euseb lib. 3. Chap. 10. p. 92. witness one instance in his visitation of the Churches neer Ephesus he made choice of a young man of goodly body gratious face and fervent mind whom with a special Charge for his Instruction and Education he commited to the Bishop of that place so John returned to Ephesus But in process of time the young man became very dissolute perniciously accompanied himself with idle dissolute persons of ill behaviour who put him in a way to steal and rob so after he forsooke the right way he brought himself unto a bottomless Pit of all misorder and outrage and a rout of Theeves being gathered together he became their Captain which John at his return understanding was sorely troubled and said I have left a wise keeper of our Brothers soul prepare me a Horse and let me have a Guide he hastned and rode in post being come to the place appointed he is straitwayes taken of the Theevish watch he neither fled nor resisted but said bring me to your Captain who in the mean time as he was armed beheld him coming but as soon as he saw his face and knew it was John he was striken with shame and fled away the Old man persued and cryed my Son why fleest thou O Son tender my case be not afraid as yet there remaineth hope of Salvation I will undertake for thee with Christ I will die for thee if need be as Christ did for us which words seized so on the young man that his Countenance changed and he shook off his Armor and trembled and wept bitterly and imbraced the Old man and answered as well as he could for weeping so afterwards the Apostle brought him into the Church again Ex Nicephâ—ro Lib. 3. Chap. 32. Yet notwithstanding all these continual Persecutions and horible Punishments the Christians daily encreased deeply rooted in the Doctrine of the Apostles and watred plentiously with the Blood of Saints as saith Necephâ—rus Everastuâ— persâ—â—â—ed Everastus Bishop of Rome was Martyred under Trajanus in the year 102. after Christ and Ignatius Bishop of Antiâ—ch was Martyred in his Regin with many more Christians This Trajanus was very impious towards the Christian Religion and cruel towards the Christians and caused the Third Persecution in which Persecution Pliny the second a Heathen Philosopher a man learned and famous seeing the lamentable Slaughter of Christians and moved therewith to pity wrot to Trajanus of the
Another Letter of John Rough's written to the Congregation two dayes before he suffered The Spirit of all Consolation be with you aid you and make you strong to run to the fight that is laid before you wherewithal God in all Ages hath tryed his Elect and hath found them worthy of himself by coupling to their Head Christ Jesus in whom who so desireth to live godly the same must needs suffer Persecution for it is given unto them not only to believe but also to suffer and the Servant or Scholler cannot be greater then his Lord or Master But by the same way the Head is entered the Members must follow no life is in the Members which are cut from the Body likewise we have no life but in Christ for in him we live move and have our being dear Hearts now departing this life to my great advantage I make change of Mortallity with Immortallity of Corruption to put on Incorruption to make my Body like to the Corn cast into the ground which except it die first can bring forth no good Fruit wherefore Death is to me great advantage for thereby the Body ceaseth from sin and afterwards turneth into the first Original but after it shall be changed and made brighter then the Sun or Moon what shall I writ of this corporal death seeing it is decreed of God that all men shall once dye happy are they that dye in the Lord which is to dye in the Faith of Christ professing and confessing the same before many Witnesses I praise my God I have past the same Journey by many Temptations the Devil is very busy to perswade the World to entice with promises and fair words which I omit to write least some might think I do hunt after vain glory which is farthest from my heart Lastly the danger of some false Brethren who before the Bishop of London purposed to confess an Untruth to my face yet the God that rul'd Balaam moved their hearts where they thought to speak to my Accusation he made them speak to my purgation what a Journey by Gods power I have made these eight dayes before this day it is above Flesh and Blood to bear but as Paul saith I may do all things in him which worketh in me Jesus Christ My course Brethren have I run I have fought a good fight the Crown of Righteousness is laid up for me my day to receive it is not long to pray Brethren for the Enemy doth yet assault stand constant unto the end then shall you possest your Souls walk worthily in that vocation wherewith you are called comfort the Brethren salute one another in my name be not ashamed of the Gospel of the Cross by me preached nor yet of my suffering for with my Blood I affirm the same I go before I suffer first the baiting of the Butchers dogs yet I have not done what I should have done but my weakness I doubt not is supplyed in the strength of Jesus Christ and your Wisdoms and Learning will accept that small Talent which I have distributed unto you as I trust as a faithful Steward and what was undone impute that to frailty and ignorance and with your love cover that which is and was naked in me God knoweth ye are all tender unto me my heart bursteth for the love of you ye are not without your great Pastour of your Souls who so loveth you that if men were not to be sought out as God be praised there is no want of men he would cause stones to Minister unto you cast your care upon that Rock the Wind of Temptation shall not prevail fast and pray for the dayes are evil look up with your Eyes of hope for the Redemption is not far off And also that which is behind of the blood of our Brethren which shall also be laid under the Altar shall cry for your relief time will not now suffer me to write longer Letters the Spirit of God guide you in and our rising and sitting cover you with the Shaddow of his Wings defend you against the Tyranny of the Wicked and bring you happily unto the Part of eternal felicity where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and you shall alwayes abide with the Lamb. John Rough. The Sufferings and cruel Torments sustained by Cutbert Simson of London at the hands of the cruel Papists This Cuthbert Simsion was a man of a zealous and faithful Spirit for Christ and the true Flock in London Cuthbert Simson Martyr in that day wherein they greatly suffered he ceased not daily to labour and earnestly to endeavour their preservation from the corruption of the Popish Religion his pains zeal travil patience and sidelity was not easily to be expressed as saith the Record A Relation of his cruel Usage in the Tower is as followeth On the 13th day of the Moneth called December he was sent to the Tower by the Councel and on the Thursday following he was called into the Ware-house before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London who prest him to discover the persons he had willed to come to the Meeting he belonged to but he answered he would declare nothing whereupon he was set in the Rack of Iron the space of three hours then they asked him If he would tell them he answered as before then was he loosed and carried to his Lodging and on the day called Sunday following was brought to the same place again before the Lievtenant and Chelmly Recorder of London who again Examined him he answered as before Then the Lievtenant swore by God he should tell and caused his two fore-fingers to be bound together and put a small Arrow betwixt them and drew it threw so fast that the blood followed and the Arrow broke then they Rackt him twice and then carried him to his Lodging again and ten dayes after the Lievtenant asked him If he would confess to whom he answered He had said as much as he would then about five weeks after he sent him to a high Priest who past the Popes curse upon him forbearing Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ When he was brought before Bonner several Articles were objected against him as denying the Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church and for being at several great Meetings Assemblies and Conventicles At the same time there were two other persons Examined before Bonner viz. Hugh Fox Hugh Fox and Jo. Devenish Martyrs and John Devenish against whom the general common Articles were produced and they were condemned and burnt with Cuthbert Simson in Smithfield upon the 28th day of the Moneth called March for whose constancy to the Lord in his Quarrel his Name be exalted for evermore Some Passages wrote in a Letter from Cuthbert Simson to his Wife out of the Cole-house are as followeth Dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ I cannot writ as I do wish unto you I beseech you with my Soul commit your self under the mighty hand of
And now I shall give a short Account of the severe punishment that God inflicted upon several Persecutors of his People from time to time in this Queens reign which are not already inserted in this Book Doctor Dunning Chancellor of Norwich a bloody man who condemned several Innocent persons Chancellor of Norwich in the midst of his rage died suddainly as it is said siting in his Chair Bishop Thornton The like Judgment fell upon Bishop Thornton Suffragan of Dover who after he had exercised great cruelty in Persecuting at length upon a Sunday so called looking upon his men playing at Bowls fell suddainly in a Palsie and being had to Bed was put in mind to remember God Yea said he so I do and my Lord Cardinal too and so died After he was dead the Cardinal ordained another Bishop in his room who being at Greenwich after he had received the Cardinals blessing going down a pair of Stairs from the Chamber he fell down and broak his Neck to these Examples also may be added the terrible Judgment of God upon the Parson at Crundall in Kent who having received the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Poole coming home to his Parish exhorted the People to receive the same saying That he now stood as clear in his Conscience as when he was first born and mattered not if he died the same hour he spoke it whereupon being suddainly stricken by the Hand of God and leaning a little on the one side immediately shrunk down in the Pulpit and so was found dead not speaking one word more Not long before the death of Queen Mary died Doctor Capon Bishop of Salisbury Persecutor about the which time also followed the unprepared death of Doctor Jeffery Chancellor of Salisbury who not long before his death had caused above ninety persons to be summoned to appear before him to the end he might Examine them by Inquisition concerning their Religion but by the Providence of God he was prevented from executing the evil he intended against them for in the midst of his buildings he was suddainly taking away by the mighty Hand of God And now to come from Priests to Laymen where first an Account is given of one Woodrove Woodrove Sheriff of London who was Sheriff of London who rejoyced much at the death of the Innocent and was very cruel in his Office for when one Rogers was going in a Cart towards Smithfield to be burnt and in the way his Children being brought to him because the Car-man stopped his Cart that he might speak to them he caused the Car-mans head to be broke but what happened within a week after this Sheriff came out of his Office he was suddainly smote by the hand of God the one half of his Body being benumed and lay Bedrid and in this infirmity he continued seven or eight years till his dying day The Keeper of Newgate Alexander the keeper of Newgate a cruel Enemy to those that lay there for Religion died very miserably being so swelled that he was more like a Monster then a man and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him this cruel Wretch to hasten the poor Lambs to the Slaughter would go to Bonner Story Cholmley and others Crying out Rid my Prison Rid my Prison I am too much pestered with these Hereticks The Keeper of Newgate Son James the Son of the said Alexander having left unto him by his Father great Substance within three years wasted all to nought and when some marvelled how he spent those goods so fast Oh said he Evil gotten Evil spent and shortly after as he went to Newgate-market he fell down suddenly and there wretchedly died His Son in Law John Peter Son in law to this Alexander an horrible Blasphemer of God and no less cruel to the said Prisoners he commonly when he would affim any thing were it true or false used to say If it be not true I pray God I rot ere I dye accordingly he did rot away and so died most miserably Cardinal Pool The next day after the death of Queen Mary died Cardinal Pool of what disease although it be uncertain to many it was suspected that he took some Italian Physicâ—k that did him no good The sudden death of many more Persecutors might be mentioned who were cut off in this Queens time and before but by what is incerted may be seen that the Lord was against those persecuting Priests and Bishops A Relation of the end of Docter Story a bloody Persecutor of Christs Members Doctor Story This Doctor Story was an Arch-Enemy to and a bloody Persecutor of Gods people when Queen Mary dyed Queen Elizabeth staying the Sword of Persecution from raging any further caused this Docter Story to be apprehended and committed to Prison where after a little while being detained he broke out of Prison and fled beyond Sea where getting into favour and growing familiar with the Duke de Alva in Antwerp of whom he received a special Commission to search for English Books and in this Authority he continued for a time by which means he did much hurt and brought many into trouble and perril of their lives Raging in his persecuting blood-thirsty cruelty but when the measure of Iniquity was full the Lord proceeded against him in Judgment and cut him off which was after this manner Some in England being concerned to hear of his wicked behaviour towards Innocent people sent over one Parker a Merchant to Antwerp who had undertaken some means to convey Story into England Parker arriving at Antwerp got some privately to inform Doctor Story that in such an English Ship he might find store of English Books Story hearing this suspecting nothing made haste towards the Ship as to a prey and coming on board said he came to search for Heretical Books and being between Decks they claped down the Hatches upon him and hoysted up their Sayles and brought him away into England where for saying that he was a sworn Subject to the King of Spain and no Subject to the Queen of England he was condemned to be hanged and accordingly was Executed CHAP. V. The just Judgments of God upon several Persecutors in Forreign Parts IN the English Translation of the History of John Carion Fol. 250. he writeth concerning the Death of John Eckins as followeth Anno. 1553. John Eckins this Year saith he died at Ingeldstate Doctor Eckins a faithful Servant and Champion of the Pope and a Defender of the abominable Papacy But as his Life was full of all Ungodliness Uncleanness and Blasphemy so was his end Miserable Hard and Pitiful for his last words were these In case said he the four thousand Gilders were ready the matter were dispatched dreaming belike of some Cardinal Ship that he should have bought now what an end this was I leave it to the Readers judgment John wanderwarfe a Bastard son of a Stock or Kindred called Warfe John Wanderwarfe a
the hardness of their hearts it accordingly came to pass for Cornelius and Suetonius relate that there were six hundred thousand of the Jews killed in this war between Vespasian the Emperor and the Jews but Josephius a Jew and a Commander in that war writes that ten hundred thousand perished by Sword and Famine and of the rest of the Jews that were dispersed all the World over and put to death divers wayes the number is said to be ninty thousands so Orolius lib. 7. Chap. 9. but I find not the number of six hundred thousand of them that were killed in Suetonius in Josephius lib. 6. belli Chap. 17. the number of Captives is ninty seven thousand but the other number eleven hundred thousand is only the number that perished in the six months seige in Jerusalem and thus did the Lord afflict with Wars and Destruction these Apostatized and stiff-necked people the Jews until they were a scattered and dispersed people as at this day they are throughout the World Part II. Sheweth the corrupt Fruits of the false Church and Seed of the Serpent in the time of Apostacy Darkness Contention and Persecution got up amongst them called Christians ALthough the Sufferings of the Christians were very great after the death of the Apostles for some time and it cannot be denyed but there was a sincerity in some of the Christian Churches yet as John testified in his day he saw the true Church flee into the Wilderness and the Apostle foretold 2. Tim. 3. that there would be a departing from the Faith and Paul saw the Apostacy coming in in his day The Apostles prophesie of the Apostacy and said perillous Times should come and that men should be lovers of themselves Covetous c and reprobate concerning the Truth So it was not long after the Apostles time before these Prophesies were fulfiled for if the Reader peruseth this following Discourse he will find a great Decay and Apostacy from that Life and Power that the Apostles were in and the corrupt Fruits of many of these called Christians brought forth manifested the great Degeneration that was come upon the Christian Church for as Eusebius writes Lib. 4. Chap 6. when Persecution at any time ceased then began Heresie to spring apace among the Christians until at last there was continual Discord and Contention and they broke out into Sects and Opinions and persecuted one another about their several Forms of Faith and became so far degenerated from the Doctrine of Christ which taught to Love Enemies that they became haters of one another and manifested to the World that they had lost the blessed Love and unity that was amongst the Apostles and Brethren of the Christian Church in the beginning but before a perticular Account be given of that its necessary that the Reader understand that the Estate of the Christians in the first Times after the Apostles was their most suffering Times when as yet the Christian Religion was accounted by the Heathen but an upstart thing and therefore they presecuted them greatly as may be seen at large in the Testimony of the Martyrs hereunto annexed But through the tenderness of Adrian the Emperour Cap. 13. Adrians tenderness to the Christians the Christians had some intermission from their Sufferings and they began to be in some request for after Adrians death Antonius Pius succeeding he continued that peace with the Christians he found begun in Adrians last dayes for which he had the name of Pius yet by the peoples tumult without the Emperours consent some were martyred To this Emperour Justin made an Apology on the behalf of the Christians divers other Supplications were also made unto him on their behalf which Supplications produced an Edict from the Emperor remitting the Persecutions against the Christians The Copy of the Edict is as followeth The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antonius Augustus Amenicus Pontifex Maximus The Edict of Aurelius Antonius on the behalf of the Christians fifteen times Trybune thrice Consul unto the Commonalty of Asia sendeth greeting I know the Gods are careful to disclose hurtful persons for they punish such as will not worship them more grievously then you do them you bring in trouble concerning that Opinion which they conceive of you to be wicked and ungodly men it is their desire in Gods quarrel to dye rather then to live so that they became Conquerors yeilding their lives unto the death rather then to obey your Edicts it shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earth-quakes which have and do happen among us that being therewith moved you may compare our Estate with theirs They have more confidence towards God then you have you during the time of your ignorance dispise other Gods condemn the Religion of the Immortal God banish the Christians which worship him and persecute them unto death in the behalf of these men many of the Provintials Presidents have written heretofore unto our Father of famous memory whom he answered in writing again that they were no longer to be molested unless they had practized Treason against the Roman Empire and many have given notice unto us of the same matter whom we answered as our Father did before If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other mens affairs we command that the Accused be absolute and free though he be found such a one I mean faulty and that the Accuser be grievously punished In the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia this Edict was Porclaimed at Ephesus The Edict proclaimed Thus far of Antonius Pius who was so called for his gentile and good disposition of whom it is recorded that this quiet Emperor in Life of all other Emperors of those times dyed the most quietest death But Verus one of his Successors was a wicked and cruel man under whom multitudes of Christians suffered The Christians suffer again as may be seen in my Testimony of the Martyrs which may give the Reader a taste of what they endured who were faithful to give a Testimony concerning their Faith About this time the Christians began to have a little respite and peace again from the Heathens Persecution of them years since Christ 195 and having a little They have respite again peace they now began to jangle about the Celebration of Easter but though they differed in this Ceremony they were not yet grown so bad as to be out of Charity one with another but left it as an indifferent thing in the Church until the time of Victor Now this Victor was so violent set upon upholding the Roman Determination of his former Predecessor as unnecessary that he would Excommunicate all the Bishops and Churcheâ— of Asia unless they would be of his Opinion had not Ireneus restrained him who though he was of Victors Opinion concerning the Celebration of Easter yet seeing Policratus Bishop of Ephesus and divers other Bishops of Asia of another Opinion allegding for their Practice
notwithstanding to receive him whereupon six Bishops take their oppertunity to left him out of his Bishoprick Athanasius is exiled afterwards by the consent of all the Bishops assembled at Jerusalem to consecrate the Temple built by the Emperor Athanasius is Exiled The thirtieth Year of Constantine was expired while these thing were doing yet he saw no peace among the Christians Arius with his Company returning to Alexandria they set the whole City in an uproar for they were not only disturbed with the return of Arius but the Banishment of Athanasius The Emperor sends for Arius again The Emperor understanding the perverse mind and corrupt purpose of Arius sends for him again to Constantinople to render an account of the Tumult and Sedition he had raised afresh the City being divided into two parts one for the Niceen Creed the other for Arius Arius being come to Constantinople the Emperor demands of him to sign the Niceen Creed His juggle with the Emperor he subscribes it cheerfully he puts him to his Oath he swares it also his juggle is said to be this he wrote his own Opinion in a piece of Paper the same he carries under his Arm in his Bosom coming to the Book he takes his Oath that he verily believed as he had written the Emperor believing he had dealt plainly commanded the Bishop of Constantinople to receive him to communion this was on Saturday saith the History the day after he looked to be received by the Church but see what happened upon his leud and bold enterprize saith the History being departed out of the Emperors Hall passing through the City in great pomp coming nigh Constantine's Market he was suddainly taken with a great lask and faintness and inquiring for a Draught or Jakes being got thither he avoided his Guts and Excrements and immediately dieth like a Dog saith the History and the Jakes was then to be seen when the History was wrote and the Passengers were wont as they went by to point their Fingers thereat in rememberance of the miserable end of Arius Anno. Shortly after the Emperor died but neither with the death of Arius years since Christ 348 nor of Constantine was there an end of the troublesome discord that was among the Christians for a Council being called by both the Emperors at Sardis Socrat Lib. 2. Cap. 16. the Bishops of the East would not come to the Bishops of the west unless they would bare Paulus and Athanasius of their company which the Bishops of the west not brooking the Eastern Bishops departed and at Phillipy a City in Thracia there assembled a private Council and thence-forth openly began to curse the Creed condemning the Clause of one Substance and in writing to sâ—w abroad there Opinion that the Son of God was not of one Substance with the Father The Western Bishops that continued at Sardis first condemned them which fled from the hearing of their Cause next deposed from their Dignities the Accusers of Athanasius afterwards ratified the Creed of the Niceen Council and abrogated the Heretical Opinion which said that the Son was of a different Substance from the Father lastly they set forth more plainly the Clause of one Subance and wrote Letters thereof and sent them throughout the whole World And thus things often changed and altered men having lost that which should give a weighty understanding in these matters and going about to make Faiths and force and compel one another thereto and also to determine and give Judgment in things beyond their reach being in their fallen Wisdom they turned the World upside down in reference to confirmity to their Faith and brake asunder the Bond of Unity and Concord which once flourished among the true Christians But these cruel Divisions Socrat Li. 3. Cap. because of Faith and Doctrines in Relation unto God was not let pass without rebukes from the Lord for the Persians Proclaimed Wars against the Romans and now Constantine the Emperor dyes Constantine dyes Julianus Succeeds him who though he was brought up a Christian Julianus Suc ceeds turn to Paganisme yet had a secret inclination unto Paganism who set open the Idols Temples and Idols Groves and Sacrificed to Pictures and entitled himself a High Priest The Christian suffer again In the reign of this Julian called the Apostate by reason of his inclining to Heathenism the Christians suffered very deeply and saith the History some were run through with Swords some brained with Clubs some Stoned to death some Strangled with Halters some Nailed to Trees casting in their Teeth the Death of the Cross one Friend fell upon another one Brother sought anothers life Parents put their Children to death and to be short one cut the others Throat This blood and murder the Emperor Julian seemed to be troubled at thinking it might give a suddain start to his settlement in the Empire therefore he writes a cruel angry Letter to those of Alexandria shewing his dislike of their enterprize Shortly after Julian puts forth a Proclamation Cap. 11. that such as would not renounce the Christian Faith should Warfare no longer in the Emperoos Palace The Christians no fighters but all should prepare to do Sacrifice that no Christian should bear Office in the Common-wealth for their Law saith he forbiddeth the use of the Sword unto such as deserve death and therefore they were not fit to be Magistrates As a Scourge for Julian who undertook these Enterprizes against the Christians Wars broke out against Julian Wars brake out against him and considering that many inconveniences and evils attended War and great sums of Money were requisite he set a great Fine on the Heads of those that would not Sacrifice so that the Christians were assessed and he wonderfully enriched himself with wonderous heaps of Money unjustly exacted then did the Gentiles insult over the Christians the Phylosophers solemnizing their detestable rights and Ceremonies He oppresseth the Christiant by Assesments making slaughter of Infants sparing neither Sex using their intrales for South-saying they tasted of their tender Flesh these detestable practices were both at Athens and Alexandria and else-where At Marais in Phrygia Amachius the Governor commanded the Temple to be set wide open and to be cleansed Chap. 13. and set himself to the worshipping the Idols which pricked not a little in Conscience saith the History the zealous Christians wherefore Masidonius Theodulus and Tattanus brake in the night-Season into the Temple The Zeal of three Christians against Idols threw down their Idols and stampt them to powder at which when the Governor was exceeding wrath and threatned to execute divers of the Citizens the men aforesaid presented themselves who were the Authors thereof that the guiltless of that act might not suffer and chose to dye themselves for the Truth the Governor commanded them to clear themselves by Sacrifice threatning severely to punish them They are put to cruel
Then said the King commit thy self unto the hands of God and not unto mine Lambort I commend my Soul unto the hands of God but my Body I wholly yield and Submit unto your clemency Then said the King if you do commit your self unto my Judgment you must die for I will not be a patron to Hereticks and so caused the Sentence of Death to be read against him Shortly aâ—â—er he was had to Smithfield and there burnt in the midst of the Flames he cryed unto the people in these words None but Christ none buâ— Christ and so ended his life The aforesaid six Articles being consented unto and concluded by the King and Parliament the Bishops caused further to be enacted that whosoever denyed Transubstantiation or whosoever should be Alders Comforters Counsellors Consentors and A bettors therein should be adjudged Hereticks That every such Offender should have and suffer Judgment Execution and pain of death by way of burning without any Abjuration benefit of the Clergy or Sanctuary and should forfeit to the King all their Land and Tenements Goods and Chattels as in Cases of high Treason And for all such as did preach teach uphold maintain or defend any thing contrary to the five last Articles should be adjudged as Fellons and lose both life and goods as in the Case of Fellony When these Articles were in debate in the Parliament house Doctor Cranmer in favour to the Professors of the Truth earnestly disputed in defence of the Truth against them but notwithstanding all his opposition the Act was past By reason of these fix Articles a great Number were apprehended in London and other Places so that all the prisons in London were too little to hold them and many were imprisoned in Halls Amongst whem was one John Porter of London John Porter died in Prison who for reading to people in a Bible was sent for by Bonner and sharply reproved Porter answered he trusted he had no way offended contrary to the Law thereby Bonner charged him for making expositions upon the Text and for gathering Multitudes about him this Porter denyed yet did Bonner send him to Newgate where he was miserably Loaden with Irons both hands and legs with a great Collor of Iron about his neck whereby he was fastned to the Wall in the Dungeon after a while he sent for a Kinsman of his who by bribing the Keeper obtained that he was put amongst Thieves and Murtherers but Porter hearing and seeing their Wickedness exhorted them to amendment of life giving them good instructions for this he was complained of and carried down into the lowest Dungeon where he was so cruelly oppressed with Bolts and Irons that within few daies after he was found dead In the year 1544. One Robert Testwood living at Windsor being a favourer of the Lutherans Robert Testwood Martyr and seeing People licking and kissing a white Alablaster Image that stood behind the high Altar at which his Zeal was so stirred that with a Key that he had in his hand he struck off the Images nose saying see good People what it is it cannot help it self how then would you have it help you The noise hereof being spred abroad one Simonds a Lawyer took up the Nose and said one day it should be a dear Nose to Testwood And further upon a day whereon every one was to carry a Relick in procession Testwood amongst others had Beckets Rochet proferred him but he pusht it from him saying if they gave it him he would wipe his Tayle with it These doings so offended the Clergy that they said he was a Heretick and would roast a Fagot one day for this geer but notwithstanding their Threats he lived in quiet till the death of the Lord Cromwell and till Winchester had insinuated into the affections of the King and wholly ruled at which time Testwood being sick in bed was fetched out and cast into Prison together with one Anthony Person John Marbeck and Henry Filmer and after a while they were all brought forth to Judgment be fore Doctor Capon â—iâ—â—op of Salsbury and others Testwoods Indictment was for that when the Priest lifted up the Sacrament he said what wilt thou lift it up so high what yet higher take heed that thou let him not fall As also that at such times when the Sacrament was lifted up he used to look down on his Book or another way that he might not see the Sacrament whereupon he said Whereon did he look that marked me so well Marry quoth the Kings Attorney he could not be better Occupied then to mark such Hereticks The Prisoners being Condemned they spent the greatest part of the night before their Execution in prayer that the Lord would strengthen them and enable them with stedfast Faith and power to go through their Exercise About this time there rose a great Persecution in Callice in France which was then under Englands power Persecution in Callice there was at one time twelve persons Imprisoned for their Religion but the Lord Cromwell so called hearing of it wrote immediately to the Commissioners in Callice in the Kings Name requiring that the Hereticks with their Accusers should be sent over into England forthwith the Commissioners loading them with Chains sent them over as soon as Cromwell heard they were arrived he sent for them to his House and smiling upon them said Go your ways to the Fleet and Submit your selves Prisoners there and be of good cheer for if God give me life you shall shortly go home with as much honesty as ye came with shame But it pleased God that shortly after this Cromwell was beheaded so that the poor men then had no hope but in the Providence of their Heavenly Father who comforted them in their deep Troubles that as their Afflictions abounded their joyes and consolations abounded much more for when all hope was past the Lord Audley Chancellor of England sent for them and without any further examination discharged them of their Imprisonment In the year 1541. The King sent out a Commission for apprehending of such as offended against the six Articles and when the Commissioners satâ— at Mercers-Chapple being such as were chosen on purpose they enquired not only for such as offended against the six Articles but of such as came seldom to Church as it s called and received not the holy Bread and Water so that they indicted above five hundred persons most of which had either died in Prison or been burnt in Smithfield but that the King being informed by the Lord Audley that they were indicted of malice granted them his Pardon Richard Meekins Martyr beinâ— a Boy of fifteen years old About the same time one Richard Meekins a boy of fifteen years old was accused for spaking some words against the Sacrament of the Altar and when the first Jury would not find the indictment against him they were soundly ratled by the Bishop of London and another Jury impannelled that found it
his holy Spirit to their Everlasting health both for Body and Soul I now most dear Christians having the Sweet Comfort of Gods saving health and being confirmed with his free Spirit be he only praised therefore am constrained in my Conscience thinking it my very Duty to admonish you as ye tender the Salvation of your Souls by all manner of means to seperate your selves from the Company of the Popes Hirelings considering what is said in the Revelation of St. John by the Angel of God touching all men the words be these If any man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his Mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured into the Cup of his wrath and he shall be punished with Fire and Brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb and the Smoak of their Torment ascendeth up evermore Come out from among them and joyn not your selves to their unlawfull Assemblies yea do not once shew your selves with the least part of your Body to favour their Wicked doings but glorifie God as most right is so well in your whole Body outwardly as inwardly in your Spirit or else you can do neither of both well for your Body doth belong to God as well asyour Spirit at the Dreadfull Day of judgment we shall all receive the Works of our Bodies according to that we have done whether it be good or bad Therefore whatsoever we do we may not bring the Spirit in bondage to the Body but contrary wise we may subdue the Body and the will of the Flesh to the Spirit that the Spirit may freely accomplish the will of God in all things for otherwise we shall never be Partakers of his Promise with the true Children of Abraham for as Paul saith they which are the Children of the Flesh are not the Children of God if we live according to the Flesh we shall die for to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because that the fleshly mind is Emnity to God for it is not obedient to the Law of God neither can be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Now choose you which way you will take either the narrow Way that leadeth to Life which Christ himself and his faithfull Followers have gone through before or else the broad Path-way which leadeth to Destruction which the Wicked Worldlings take their pleasure in for a while I for my part have now written this short Admonition unto you of good will as God be my Witness to exhort you to that Way which at length you your selvos shall prove and find to be best yea and rejoyce thereof And I do not only write this but I will also with the assistance of Gods Grace ratifie confirm and sâ—al the same with the effusion of my Blood when the full time shall be expired that he hath appointed which so far forth as I may judge must needs be within these few dayes Therefore I now bid you all most heartily farewell in the Lord whose Grace be with your Spirit Amen Watch and Pray Watch and Pray Pray Pray so be it John Hullier On the 24th day of April so called there were six men burnt at one fire in Colchester Six men burnt at Colchester where the most part of them did inhabit there names were Christopher Laster of Dingham Husband-Man John Mace of Colchester Apothecary John Spencer Weaver of Colchester Symon Joyne Sawyer Richard Nicholes of Colchester Weaver John Hammond of Colchester Tanner Being had to the Bishops House at Fulham several Articles were objected against them concerning the Sacrament of the Altar and other things the same in effect that were propounded to others that suffered before them to the which they made there several Answers agreeing altogether there in one Truth and standing most firmly unto their Christian-profession though they were by divers wayes and means tryed and proved whether they would revoke their Faith and return to Anti-christs-Church which thing when they refused the Bishop stoutly pronounced the Sentence of condemnation against them committing them unto the temperal power who receiving the writ De Hereticis Comburandis the 28th day of the Mon. called April as aforesaid they cheefully ended their lives to the glory of God and the great encouragment of others The next that suffered were Hugh Laverock of Barking Hugh Laverock and Jo. Apprice Martyrs a Lame man and John Apprice a Blind man They were Accused of some of their Neighbours to the Bishop and others and being sent for by an Officer were brought to the Bishops House where he Examined them upon his nine Common-Articles to the which they having answered were sent to Prison till further Examined which was about nine dayes after in the Consistory at Pauls where he urged them to recant their Opinions against the Sacrament of the Altar Hugh Laverock said I will stand to mine answers and I cannot find in the Scriptures that the Priests should lift up over their heads a Cake of Bread John Apprice said your Doctrine you teach is so agreeable with the World and imbraced by them that it cannot be agreeable with the Scriptures of God The Bishop soon after pronounced the Sentence against them and delivered them to the Temperal Officer and on the 15th day of the aforesaid Month they were carried in a Cart from Newgate to Stratford where most quietly in the Fire they praised God yielding up their Souls into his hands The next day after they were burnt there suffered Death at the Fire in Smithfield three Women viz. Katherine Hut of Bocking Widdow Joan Hornes of Billerica Maid Elizabeth Thackvell of Great-Bursted Maid Three Women burnt in Smithfield Bonner brought his usal form of Articles against them to which when they had answered he past his Sentence upon them Katherine Hut Widdow at her last Examination told the Bishop she denyed their Sacrament to be God because said she it is a dumb God and made with mens hands Joan Hornes said That Way you call Heresie I trust to serve the Lord my God in At the same time there was one Margaret Ellis who for the same Truth was brought in Question and was by Bonner adjudged and condemned but before the time of her burning came she died in Newgate whose Innocent suffering was also thought meet to be recorded with the rest of her Faithfull Friends A Relation of the burning of Thomas Drowry a Blind Boy and Thomas Croker Bricklayer In Examination before Doctor Williams Chancellor of the Consistory Court at Gloucester amongst other Articles Thomas Drowry and Tho. Croker Martyrs he chiefly urged the Articles of Transubstantiation saying Chancellor Dost not thou believe that after the Words of Consecreation spoken by the Priest there remaineth the very real Body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar To whom the Blind Boy answered No that I do not Chancellor
our God trusting in his Mercy and he will surely help us as shall be most unto his Glory and our everlasting comfort being sure of this that he will suffer nothing to come unto us but that which shall be most profitable for us for it is either a Correction for our Sins or a Tryal of our Faith or to set forth his glory or for all together and therefore must needs be well done for there is nothing that cometh unto us but by our heavenly Fathers providence and therefore pray unto our heavenly Father that he will ever give us his Grace to consider it let us give most hearty thanks for these his fatherly corrections for as many as he loveth he correcteth And I beseech you now be of good chear and count the Cross of Christ greater Riches then all the vain-pleasures of England I doubt not but you have Supped with Christ at his Table I mean believed in him for that is the effect and then must you drink of his Cup I mean his Cross for that doth the Cup signifie unto us take the Cup and then shall you be sure to have the good Wine Christ's Blood to thy poor thirsty Soul pray continually in all things give thanks In the Name of Jesus shall every knee bow Cuthbert Simson One thing more I thought meet to mention which I find upon record concerning this Cuthbert Simson which some may hardly believe who are apt to think all things incredible which vary from the common course and order of Nature and may look upon this to be more a Phantasie then a real Vision but I shall relate the matter in short as I find it and so leave it to the tender Reader to judge of it The day before this Cuthbert Simson was condemned he being in the Stocks in the Bishops Cole-house Cluny the Keeper about nine at night according to his usual manner came to see whether his Prisoner was safe and lockt the Doors about two hours after Cuthbert heard one coming in to him first opened the Outward-door then the Inner-door and though there was no Candle yet he saw a great brightness and light most comfortable and joyful to his heart and this he declared to one Austen and others and expressed much joy and solace in declaring of it and the Vision that he saw was comfortable unto him Soon after suffered William Nichol who was burnt for the same cause at Haverfordwest in Wales and William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson suffered in Norfolk William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of twenty six years dwelling in Mendlesham in the County of Suffolk William Seaman Martyr he was persecuted by one Sr. John Terril who searched his house for him by night but missing of him he set his servants to search for him and when they had apprehended him brought him before their Master who asked him why he would not go to Mass and receive the Sacrament Seaman replyed because it was an Idol he would not receive it wherefore Terril sent him to Hopton Bishop of Norwich to deal with him who after he had examined him soon passed his bloody sentence of death against him This Seaman when he died left behind him a Wife and three young Children which her Husband being taken away one would have thought should have moved those pretended Christians to some pity towards her but instead of shewing pity they persecuted her out of the Town of Mendlesham because she refused to hear Mass and one Coles Lord of the said Town caused all her Goods and Corn to be seized and taken away Another of these Sufferers was Thomas Hudson of Ailesham in Norfolk he was thirty years of age by trade a Glover and a very honest poor man having a Wife and three Children and labouring alwayes dilligently in his imployment being zealous for that Truth which bore testimony against the Papists blasphemous preaching who put the Draugh and Darnel for the Wheat and that he might avoid their Idolatries and Superstition he absented from his house and went into Suffolk a long time and there remained traveling from one place to another at last he returned home again to comfort his Wife and Children being troubled at his absence when he was come home he conceiving his continuing there would be dangerous he and his Wife devised to make him a place among his Fagots to hide himself in where he remained all day exercising himself in reading and prayer and thus he continued for about the space of half a year but at last his Zeal and Courage arose and he walked abroad several dayes openly in the Town crying out continually against the Mass and such like trumpery and for three dayes and three nights together refused meat or to talk with any one Berry Vicar of the Town and one of the Bishops Commissaries caused the Officers to watch for him who upon the twenty second day of the Month called April apprehended him by the break of the day and led him to Berry the Commissary who examined him after this manner Doest thou not believe said Berry in the Sacrament of the Altar what is it Hudson replyed it is worms meat my belief is in Christ Berry Dost thou not believe the Mass to put away Sins Hudson No God forbid it is a patcht Monster and a disguised Puppet more longer a piecing then ever was Solomons Temple At which words Berry stamped and fumed and said Well thou Villain I will write to my Good Lord the Bishop Hudson said There is no Lord but God Then he asked Hudson whether he would Recant to which he replyed the Lord forbid I had rather die many deaths then do so This Thomas Hudson and the other two being brought to the Lollards-pit and there standing with Chains about them on a suddain Thomas Hudson came forth from under the Chain which made some to doubt that he would have recanted but his two Companions at the Stake exhorted him and comforted him in the Bowels of Christ but Hudson felt more in his Heart and Conscience then they did conceive was in him for he was compassed with great grief of mind not for his death but for lack of the feeling of Christ for which he kneeled down and prayed earnestly unto the Lord who at last according to his mercies gave him comfort and then he said now I thank God I am strong and so went to the Stake to his Fellows again and they all suffered constantly and joyfully to the Magnifying of the Lords Name Before I proceed to give a further Account of such as suffered Martyrdom its necessary to give a short Account of the said end of this Persecuting Commissary Berry who Persecuted Thomas Hudson and others to death as I find it recorded This Berry in his rage was very fierce against many godly People in the Town of Ailesham he burnt all good Books he could get and persecuted men for their Consciences and compelled many to Idolatry and being
the Country of Sodom and after they were parted the promise both of the Possession of that Land of Canaan and also of his Numberless Posterity was again renewed unto him Abram being now ninety nine years old year of the world 2107 God made a Covenant with him touching the Seed of Isaac who was to be born of Sarai that time twelve month Abrams name changed gave him the Seal of Circumcision changing both their names Abram into Abraham and Sarai into Sarah for a sure pledge and testimony of his Promise When Abraham was now a hundred year of the world 2108 and Sarah ninety years of Age Isaac was born unto them and Abraham instructed his Family in Righteousness for God said I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment By Faith Abraham offered up his son Isaac year of the world 2133 considering with himself that God was able to raise him again from the dead Now Josephius reports that at this time Isaac was twenty five years old By Faith Abraham offers up his Son Isaac Lib. 1. Antiq. 14. Al 22. and that he was at that time of good years may be gathered from this that he was able to carry so much Wood as was to go to the burning and consuming of such a whole burnt-Offering as himself was then intended by Abraham to have been made Sarah being now one hundred twenty seven years of Age dyed in Hebron and as Abraham for his integrity and uprightness to the Lord is recorded to Posterity for the Father of the Faithful so is Sarah for the Mother of the Faithful and she is the only Woman whose full and entire Age is mentioned in Scripture Abraham being also well stricken in Age was careful to get a wife for his son Isaac and careful he was that he might not Marry with any of the idolatrous and corrupt Nations it being looked upon as a great evil by this righteous Stock Abrahams care in getting a good Wife for his Son Isaac that their Sons should marry with the Daughters of men that were corrupted and despisers of the true Religion as it appears by Abrahams care for his son that he should not take a wife of the Daughters of the Canaanites among whom he dwelt and also by the strict charge he gave to his Servant to look out a Wife for him who going by the guidance of God into Mesopotamia where praying to the Lord to shew kindness unto his master Abraham he there obtained for him Rebeka the Daughter of Bethuel Sister to Laban the Syrian whom Isaac receiving for his Wife brought her into the tent of his Mother Sarah and he loved her and had comfort in her after his Mothers death and he was forty years old when he married with Rebeka Abraham when he was a hundred seventy five years old and a hundred years after his coming into Canaan departed this life â—183 and was buried by his two Sons in his Cave at Macpelah with Sarah his Wife he lived fifteen years after the birth of Jacob with whom he is said also to have lived in Tents And now Abraham being dead Isaac was raised up as the next of the righteous Line and Seed of God to whom the Lord often appeared in his divine Power Abraham being dead Isaac walks in the steps of his Father confirming the Covenant that he had made with Abraham his Father for he walked in the steps of his Father in faithfulness to the Lord and when his Fathers Servant brought Rebeka to him they found him meditating in the Field at evening-tide by which it appears his mind was delighted in that which was good when his Wife had continued barren ninteen years after her Marriage Isaac entreated the Lord in the behalf of his Wifes barreness Isaac intreated the Lord for her because she was barren and the Lord was intreated of him and his Wife conceived and when the twins strove in the Womb Rebeka asked counsel of God and the Lord said unto her Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be seperated from thy Bowels and the one People shall be stronger then the other Esau Iacob are born and the Elder shall serve the Younger Being born the Children grew and one of them named Esau was a counning Hunter a man of the Field and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in Tents and Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his Venison but Rebeka loved Jacob. Isaac now grown old year of the world 2245 and blind in the forty fourth year before his death sent Esau his eldest Son to take some Venison for him purposing to Bless him at his return but Jacob the younger Son by the counsel of his Mother coming disguised in his Cloathes and with savory meat in his hand Jacob got the Blessing from Esau stole away the blessing unwiting to his Father and the Blessing though so got God confirmed ever after but Jacob seeing that for so doing his Brother followed him with a deadly hatred and being desirous to avoid his traps willing also to take a Wife of his own Kindred his Father Blessing him he took his Journey to Mesopotamia to his uncle Laban for his Father had charged him not to take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan and in his Journey the Lord appeared unto him by his presence Isaac's care that Iacob should not take a Wife of the Canaantes and renewed the Covenant to him which he had made before to his Father and Grandfather and now the Lord manifesting his presence unto him he covenanted with the Lord saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Rayment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers House in peace then shall the Lord be my God and coming at length to Carron He fell in love with Rachel and continuing a time with Laban fell in love with Rachel his Daughter for whom he served seven years and they seemed to him but a few dayes for the love he had to her Esau had now been married thirty seven Years and was seventy seven Years Old whereas Jacob who was as Old as he had all this while lived unmarried but being now mindful of his Fathers Command he demanded Rachel his Wife to be given to him He is deceived of Rachel after he had served Seven Years for her using this for a reason that his dayes were now full but by the fraud of Laban instead of Rachel Leah the elder Daughter was put in Bed unto him nevertheless Rachel also afterwards was espoused to him upon Covenant of serving seven Years more for her At first Rachel was barren year of the world 2259 but afterwards by the blessing of God proving fruitful bear Joseph unto Jacob at the end of the fourteen
did David his Father and he built an high place for Chemosh the Abomination of Moab and for these things the Lord was angry with Solomon and said Because thou hast not kept my Covenant I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee yet in thy dayes I will not do it for David thy Fathers sake but after this Solomon repented deeply and made his peace with the Lord Solomon repenteth as may be seen at large in the Book called the Preacher and at last he died when he had reigned forty years Rehoboam the Son of Solomon year of the world 3029 when all Israel met at Sechem to make him King Rehoboam through his unadvisedness turns away the Peoples heart from him by a harsh answer made unto them alienated the hearts of the ten Tribes from him who presently sending into Egypt for Jeroboam the Son of Nebat made him King over them and fell off both from the House of David and also from the true Worship of God in memorial of which sad disaster the Jews afterward kept a Solemn fast yearly upon the twenty third of the third Moneth called Sivan from this dismal rent made in that Kingdom Rehoboam reigned over Judea and Benjamin seventeen years and Jeroboam over Israel that is over the ten Tribes by the space of twenty years And now Jeroboam fearing lest his new-gotten Subjects should revolt from him again Ierâ—â—â—ms Idolatry to divert their thoughts from looking any more after Jerusalem set up a new deviced Form of Religion setting up two Golden Calves the one at Bethell the other at Dan and there he offered Sacrifices to his Calves and the People run a Whoring after his Idolatry At which time a Prophet and Man of God out of Judea went to Bethell and cryed out against the Altar in the Word of the Lord The Prophet is sent of God to reprove him and bore his Testimony against the Kings Idolatry and when the King stretched forth his hand to lay hold on him his hand was dried up and the Prophet foretold That the Altar should be Rent After this Prophet had done his Message he was charged by the Lord not to eat Bread nor to drink Water nor return by the way that he came but being deceived by another who said he was a Prophet and abused the Word of God unto him was unfaithful to Gods Command wherefore The Prophet slain for his disobedience as he was returning homeward he was slain by a Lyon whereof when tidings came to the Prophet which had deceived him he took up his Body and buried it mourning over him year of the world 3030 saying Alas my Brother and assured his Sons that what had been foretold by the man of God should come to pass The Israelites who feared God falling off from Jeroboam to Rehoboam maintained the Kingdom of Juda three years for so long walked they in the wayes of David and Solomon Rehoboam being once settled in his Kingdom year of the world 3046 forsook the Law of the Lord and all Israel and Juda with him Rehoboam forsoke the Lord. for the Jews who by their good Example should have stirred up their Brethren the Israelites to repentance provoked the Lord with their own Sins wherein they offended more then any of their fore-Fathers had done for they made also to themselves High-places Images and Groves upon every high Hill and under every green Tree doing according to all the Abominations of the Gentiles which the Lord had therefore cast out before them After Rehoboam succeeded Abijah year of the world 3046 who putting his trust and confidence in God obtained a great Victory against Jeroboam and slew five hundred thousand men and took Bethel where one of the Idolatrous Calves was set up After the death of Abijah year of the world 3049 Asa his Son succeeded and God gave ten years peace without interuption in the Land and this godly King Asa put away all Idolatry Asa throw down Idolatry and reformed the Kingdom but when Asa dyed though he was good yet a better succeeded in his staâ—d his Son called Jehosaphat who being settled in his Kingdom began with taking away the High-places Iehosaphats good reign and the Groves but when Jehosaphat dyed year of the world 3115 Jehoram his wicked Son slew all his Brethren and many of the Princes of Israel and following the counsel of his wicked Wife Athaliah set up in Juda Iehorams Idolatry and even in Jerusalem it self the Idolatrous worship of Baal after the manner of his Father-in-law Ahab and his house He is reproved by the Prophet for which he was reproved in a letter by the Prophet Elias who foretold him what Calamities should fall upon him because he had not walked in the wayes of his Father but had made Juda and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a Whoring like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab and also had slain his Brethren of his Fathers house The Judgment that God inflicted on him which were better then himself and according to what the Prophet had foretold the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable dissease in the Bowels and he died a miserable death and his Son Achazia succeeded him who also walked in the wayes of the wicked house of Ahab for his Mother was his Counsellour to do wickedly and the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord was his destruction being sick he asked counsel of Baal-zebub the God of the Ekronites concerning his recovery the Prophet Elias told the King plainly that he should dye and accordingly he dyed Athaliab through cruelty possesses her self of the Kingdom The secret Athalia the Daughter of Ahab seeing her own Son Achazia dead destroyed all the Race of the house of Juda and possessed her self of the Kingdom but Jehosheba the Daughter of King Joram and Wife to Jehoida the high Priest took Joash being then an Infant and Son to her Brother Ahazia and him with his Nurse hid six moneths in the Temple preservatien of Joash whilest Athalia ruled and at seven years end brought him forth and anointed him King and caused Athalia to be slain and restored the worship of the True God Athalia slain destroying the worship of Baal Whilst this King had good Counsel he did right This Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the dayes of Jehojada the Priest now after the death of Jehojada the King hearkning to the Princes of Juda they left the house of the Lord God of their Fathers and served Groves and Idols for which Sin the Lord sent his wrath upon them He turns into Idolatry yet he sent his Prophets to testifie against them and to bring them back again but they would not hear and Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada was moved by the Spirit of God to tell them that they had forsaken God The Prophets reproves him and that he had forsaken
Scripture and Example of other Fathers therefore Ireneus still took off the Edg of sharp Contentions and so the Controversy remained free till the time of the Niceen Council Victor the first imposet and other Doctrines of Christian Religion were free till Victors time which was about two hundred years after Christ About this time was one Phillipius made President of Alexandria who had a Daughter Eugenia of rare Beauty years since Christ 259 who to avoid Marriage with a Pagan and Heathen Persecutor fled from her Father The good Patern of Eugenia going in mans Apparel calling her self Eugenius and for her parts was made head of a Society of Christians where a lustful Matron being enamoured with her Beauty supposing her to be a man laboured to draw her unto Uncleanness with her but Eugenia not consenting this Matron accuseth Eugenia to have laboured to deflower her whereupon the matter was brought before Phillipus the President who according to Allegations being about to condemn her to death Eugenia seeing no other evidence would serve discovered her self to Phillipus to be an Innocent Woman and his Daughter and so was restored and received of Phillipus who not long after converted her Father to Christianity who after died also a Martyr and after his death Eugenia returning to Rome was also Martyred Maximinus Persecuted the Christians sorely though at times he would seem to be otherwise minded the hand of God persued him years since Christ 307 so that he was Afflicted with sore Distempers Euseb lib. 3. Cap. 14. whilest the hand of God was on him he pondered with himself the rash Interprizes he had practised against the Worshippers of God wherefore returning unto himself he confessed his sins to God and gave forth command that with all speed they should cease from Persecuting the Christians And now the Christians having a little Ease and Liberty they began to grow in favour in the Emperors Courts The Christians came in favour at Court and to be imployed in the Emperors Palaces and to be eminent in the managment of Publick Affairs whereby they degenerated from the Natural rule of Piety and after that one persued another with open contumely and hatred Bishops against Bishops and People against People raised Seditions which raised Persecution against them again for the Shepherds saith the Historian practised Contention and Schism among themselves but these Persecutions ended when Constantine came to be Emperor who being a Christian and a wise and mighty Prince struck all these Cruelties and Death under foot and gave Peace unto all but as Peace and Rest came still Divisions arose up amongst them and when they had Power they began to impose their Faiths and Forms of worship one upon another as the Heathen did to them No sooner were the Heathen Persecutions laid aside They fell at Variance but these that had joyntly with-stood the force of Heathenish Persecution came now to be at Variance and at length to do the same things one to another as the Heathen had done unto them together And now being at rest and differing among themselves in some things they knew not how to bear one another but being unsensible of the hand that had wrought their deliverance they began to impose one upon another and to enforce their several Faiths with Torments and the Sword which wrote sore Distruction and trouble among them and shamed the Christian Religion Free liberty in Religion allowed by Constantine In the dayes of Constantine free Liberty was given to all men to use what Religion they pleased as by the particular Constitutions and Edicts may be seen at large So that there was Liberty now of Complaints and Synods called to refuit at least take off the Opposition of the contrary but when that the Emperors succeeded which leaned to this or that Party or Confession of Faith or Opinion then force of Arms or carnal Extremities were exercised towards these who were of the contrary dispositions Banishment Torments Death And thus as Religion became National and was required by Laws of men and imposed such were the consequences of it for a difference fell out between Cicilianus Bishop of Carthage and the Bishops with him the one siding against the other in Affrica which occasioned Constantine to summon a Synod of Bishops to meet at Rome Eus lib. 20 Cap. 1.5 for the hearing and reconciling thereof at which something being attempted and the Judgment given by the other Party not being acquiessed in but after the rising of the Synod the difference increasing instead of being ended amongst them a second Synod he called at Orleans in France to the end it might be determined The Christians are Persecuted again As a Scourge and Rebuke unto which Dissentions or the Differences that then arose among the Christians Lucinius who being Emperor and together with Constantine had wrote enjoyning the Liberty of the Christians comes forth and fell upon the Christians under his Dominion who never did him evil practising the same things upon them as those had done whom for so doing he had cut off first he Banished them from his Court and such as would not Sacrifice he spoiled of their Honour and Dignities commanded no Charity to be given to them that were in Prison and in Fetters no not by their Kindred overthro wing the Meetings Places of the Christians to the Ground some of the Bishops his Presidents caused to be Tormented cutting their Bodies into small pieces as Butchers do their Meat casting pieces into the Sea for food for Fishes he revoked sundry good Laws of the Romans brought in barbarous and cruel Laws Unjust and Unlawful making away Noble and Honest Personages whose Youthful and Tender Wives he delivered to his Servants to be shamefully abused for these things Constantine made War against him by which means the the Persecutions against the Christians again ceased and they had rest Now the Christians came to have Rest and Peace again see what Socrates in the Continuation of the History saith They have rest and peace again concerning the Differences that were among the Christians and the Consequences thereof Arius was the first he takes notice of who hearing Alexander Bishop of Alexandria intreating somewhat more curiously of what is called the Trinity in Unity among the Priests that were under him said If the Father begot the Son then had the Son which was begotten a beginning of Essence hereby it is manifest that there was a time when the Son was not and the consequence to follow necessarily that he had his Essence of nothing This began a great deal of reasoning amongst them Arius had his Favourers both of Bishops and others of this his Blasphemous Opinion which beginning at Alexandria spread it self throughout all Egypt Libia and the upper Thebais and at length passed through the rest of the Cities and Provinces the speading of this moved Alexander who calling of a Council of many Bishops deprived Arius and
exhorted every one of them in her own Language filled with couragious spirit and stirred up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach she said unto them I cannot tell how you came into my womb for I neither gave you breath nor life neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you but doubtless the Creator of the world who formed the Generation of man and found out the beginning of all things will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again as you now regard not your own selves for his Laws sake Now Antiochus thinking himself despised and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech whilst the youngest was yet alive did not only exhort him by words but also assured him with Oathes that he would make him both a rich and a happy man if he would turn from the Laws of his Fathers and that also he would take him for his Friend and trust him with affairs but when the young man would in no case hearken unto him the King called his Mother and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life and when he had exhorted her with many words she promised him that she would counsel her Son but she bowing her self towards him laughing the cruel Tyrant to scorn spake in her Country language on this manner O my Son have pity upon me that bare thee nine Months in my Womb and gave thee suck three Years and nourished thee and brought thee up unto this age and endured the troubles of Education I beseech thee my Son look upon the Heaven and the Earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise fear not this Tormentor but being worthy of thy Brethren take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy Brethren While she was yet speaking these words the young man said Whom wait ye for I will not obey the Kings commandment but I will obey the Commandment of the Law that was given unto our Fathers by Moses and thou that hast been the author of all mischeif against the Hebrews shalt not escape the hands of God for we suffer because of our Sins and though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastning and correction yet shall he be at one again with his Servants But thou O Godless man and of all other most wicked be not lifted up without a cause nor puffed up with uncertain hopes lifting up thy hands against the Servants of God for thou hast not yet escaped the Judgment of Almighty God who seeth all things for our Brethren who now have suffered a snort pain are dead under Gods Covenant of everlasting Life but thou through the Judgment of God shalt receive just punishment for thy Pride but I as my Brethren offer up my Body and Life for the Laws of our Fathers beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our Nation and that thou by Torments and Plagues mayest confess that he alone is God and that in me and my Brethren the wrath of the Almighty which is justly brought upon all our Nation may cease Then the King being in a rage handled him worse then all the rest and took it grievously that he was mocked so this man dyed undefiled and put his whole trust in the Lord last of all after the Sons the Mother dyed When her Sons were apprehended she exhorted them in the Hebrew Tongue saying O my most dear and loving Children let us hasten to that Agony which may credit our profession and be rewarded by God with Eternal Life let us fearlessly present our Bodies to those Torments which aged Eleazar endured let us call to mind our Father Abraham who having but one only Son willingly sacrificed him at Gods command and feared not to bring him to the Alter whom with many prayers he had obtained in his old age Remember Daniel the three Children c. Antioch being enraged against her caused her to be stript naked hanged up by the Hands and cruelly whipt then were her Dugs and Paps pulled off and her self put into the Red-hot Frying-pan where lifting up her Hands and Eyes to Heaven in the midest of her Prayers she yielded up her chaste Soul unto God But God suffered not the cruel Tyrant to escape unpunished for in his Wars against the Persians the Lord struck him with Madness his Intrals were devoured with Worms and stinking like a Carrion in the Extreamity of his Torments he gave up the Ghost Part II Containing an Account of the great Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Christians after the coming of Christ and before the Apostacy and Darkness wholy spread over the Church AFter the Jews who were once the People of God and had the Laws Statutes Ordinances and Commands of God made known to them as is before related had apostatized from the holy Spirit or Life they provoked God and soon forgat him shamefully entreated and killed the Servants and Messengers of God yet the Lord had Compassion to mankind and remembred his Promise and in love to the World sent forth his Son who said when he was come he was the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world yet the world knew him not but God sent his Messenger to prepare his Way and the Voice of one cryed in the Wilderness prepare ye the Way of the Lord and make strait Paths for our God and when this Messenger whose name was John was come the hand of the Lord was with him and he preached repentance for the remission of sins and for reproving Herod of his Evils he was shut up in Prison and though Christ testified of him that among those that were born of women there was not a greater Prophet then John Yet this Herod who had married Herodias his brothers wife to whom John said it is not lawfull for thee to have thy brothers wife John Baptist beheaded therefore the persecuting spirit arose in Herodias and she would have killed him but could not yet afterwards she was the cause of John Baptists being beheaded in Prison And when Christ Jesus appeared who is the Light of the world whom John called the Lamb of God Christ Jesus Persecuted and put to death who testified against the apostatized Jews their false worship in their dead Forms saying God a is Spirit they that worship him must worship him in spirit and and truth yet him these Jews rejected and would not receive him that they might have Life and when he said I am the bread of life and I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread that I shall give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world the Jews in their ignorance reasoned saying How can this be can this man give us his flesh to eat and
could not believe in him though he did such great works and miracles amongst them that never man did the like yet they sought to kill him nevertheless they would be accounted of Abrahams seed and called him their Father but saith Christ if ye were Abrahams Children ye would do Abrahams works but now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told you the Truth ye are said he or your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no truth in him And this blessed Lamb of God Christ Jesus did these persecuting Jews put to death crucifying of him as may be read at large in the Scriptures After they had Crucified the Lord of life then they persecuted his Disciples and Apostles as followeth When the Jews heard what Stephen had declared Acts. 7 54â— they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their Teeth but he being full of the holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said behold I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right Hand of God then they cryed out with aloud voice and stopped their Ears and run upon him with one accord and cast him out of the City and stoned him and they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit and he kneeled down and crying with a loud voice Lord lay not this Sin to their charge and when he had said this he fell asleep James the Brother of John Martyred After the Martyrdom of this blessed Stephen the Apostle James suffered next mention of which is in the Acts of the Apostles how that not long after the stoning of Stephen King Herod stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church who slew James the Brother of John with the Sword of this James Eusebius also maketh mention alleadging Clement thus writing a memorable story of him this James saith Clement when he was brought to the Tribunal Seat Euseb Lib. 2. Chap. 9. he that brought him and was the cause of his trouble seeing him to condemned and that he should suffer death as he went to the Execution he being moved therewith in Heart and Conscience confessed himself also of his own accord to be a Christian And so were they led forth together where in the way he desired of James to forgive him that he had done after that James had a little paused upon the matter turning to him said Peace be unto thee Brother and kissed him and both were beheaded together in the Year 36. James the Brother of Christ Martyred James the Brother of Christ was termed a just and perfect man it is said that he took in hand the Goverment of the Church after the Apostles and when many of the Princes were perswaded there arose a Tumult of the Jews Scribes and Pharisees saying It is very dangerous lest the whole People look after this Jesus as though he were Christ and being gathered together they said to James we pray thee stay this people for they err in Jesus as though he were the true Christ We pray thee perswade this people concerning Jesus Euseb Lib. 2. Chap. 23. for we all obey thee yea we and all the people testifie of thee that thou art just and respectest not the person of any man stand therefore upon the Pinacle of the Temple that thou mayst be seen aloft and that thy word may be heard plainly of all the people The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees placed James upon the Pinacle of the Temple and shouted to him and said Thou just man at whose commandment we are all here insomuch as this people are seduced after Jesus who was crucified declare unto us which is the Door or way of Jesus crucified and he answered with a loud Voice why ask ye me of Jesus the Son of man when as he fitteth at the right Hand in the great Power in Heaven When as he had perswaded many so that they glorified God at the Testimony of James and said Hosanna in the highest to the Son of David Then the Scribes and Pharisees said among themselves We have done very ill in causing such a Testimony of Jesus to be brought forth but let us climb up and take him to the end that the people may be striken with fear and so may be brought to renounce his Faith and they shouted saying O O and the just also is seduced so they climbed up and threw Justus down dead long saying let us stone James Justus and they began to throw stones at him for after his fall he was not fully dead and he fell upon his Knees saying I beseech thee Lord God and Father forgive them for they wot not what they do And as they were stoning of him one of the Priests the Son of Rachab the Son of Cherabim spake to them the Testimony which is in Jeremiah the Prophet and cryed out Cease what do you this just man prayeth for you And one of them that were present taking a fullers Club struck Justus on the head and brained him This James was so notable a man that for his justness he was had in honour of all men insomuch that the wise man of the Jews shortly after his Martyrdom did impute the cause of the besieging Jerusalem and other Calamities which hapned unto them to no other cause but unto the violence and injury done to this man also Josephus hath not left this out of his History where he speaketh of him after this manner Jos Lib. 10. these things so chanced unto the Jews for a vengeance because of that Just man James which was the Brother of Jesus for shortly after his suffering Vespatianus the Emperour destroyed the Land of Jury and brought them into Captivity A Relation of the Persecutions raised by the Romans against the Christians in the Primitive Age of the Church dureing the space of three hundred Years Eusebius and the most part of Writers do number the first Persecutions to be Ten wherein great Numbers of the Christians were slain and tormented some slain with the Sword some burnt with Fire some with whips scourged some stabed with Forks of Iron some fastned to the Cross or Gibbet some drowned in the Sea some their Skins pluck off some their Tongues cut out some stoned to death some killed with cold some starved with hunger some their Hands cut off or otherwise dis-membred have been so left naked to the open shame of the World whose kinds of punishment although they were divers yet the manner of constancy in all these Martyrs was one The first of the Ten Persecutions The first of these Ten Persecutions was stired up by Nero Domitias about the year 67. after the Birth of Christ Orosius writeth of Nero that he was the first within Rome did raise up
pitiful Persecution certifying him that there were very many thousands of them daily put to death of which none did any thing contrary to the Roman Laws worthy persecution saving that they used to gather together in the Morning before day and sing Hymns to a certain God whom they worshipped called Christ in all other their Ordinances they were godly and honest and for proof hereof saith he I caused two Maidens to be laid on the Rack and with Torments to be Examined about the same but finding nothing in them but only lewd and immoderate superstition I resolved to surcease farther enquiry till I receive further Instructions from you in this matter Trajan having read this Epistle returned answer that it was his mind that the Christians should not be sought after but if they were brought and convicted that then they should suffer Execution Whereof Tertullian speaking said Oh confussed Sentance he would not have them sought for as men Innocent and yet would have them punished as men guilty This Trajan sent a Command to Jerusalem that whosoever could be found out of the Stock of David should be inquired for and put to death In this Persecution suffered Phocas Bishop of Pontus whom Trajan because he would not worship Neptune caused to be cast into a hot Lime-Kill and afterwards to be put into a scaulding Bath where he ended his life in the cause of Christ Then also Ignatius Bishop of Antioch was apprehended and sent to Rome where he was devoured of wild Beafts and beside these many thousands more were martyred In the Reign of Antolius Verus a great Number of the Christians suffered most cruel punishments and torments Policarpus suffered especially in Asia and France among whom was Policarp Bishop of Smyrna who was burnt at a Stake at Smyrna About this time also suffered Blandina and Ponticus a youth of fifteen years old who defying their Idols and constantly cleaving to Christ were put to all the Torments their inraged Enemies could devise till at last the youth gave up the Ghost Blandina was first pitifully whiped and then thrown to the wild Beasts then tormented on the Gridiron and at last slain Comolus the Emperour upon his Birth day calling the People of Rome together in a great Royalty cloathed in his Lions skin sacrificed to Hercules causing it to be proclaimed that Hercules was the Patron of the City whereupon Vinsencicus Eâ—sebius Perigrenous and Potentionous learned men being stirred up with Zeal went about from place to place converting the Heathen to the Faith of Christ and hearing of the Madness of the Emperour and People they reproved that Idolatrous blindness exhorting them to believe in the true and living God and that forsaking the worship ping of Divels they should honour God alone The Emperour hearing thereof caused them to be Apprehended required them to Sacrifice Hercules which they refusing to do he caused them to be grievously tormented and pressed to death with weights of Lead Severus another Emperour put forth Proclamations that no Christians should be suffered to live hereby a great Persecution was stirred up on every side and an infinite number of Martyrs were slain Potamtena was tormented with boyling Pitch poured upon her Potamtena persecuted and afterwards with her Mother Mersila and Rhais was burnt in the Fire and when Basilides Captain having the Maid to execution as he led her to the place he repressed the raging of the Multitude who followed with raging and reviling which she seeing prayed to the Lord for his Conversion to the true Faith and so with admirable patience suffered Martyrdom Shortly after Basilides being required to give an Oath in the behalf of his fellow Souldiers he denied the same plainly Basilides suffered affirming that he was a Christian and therefore he could not Swear they which heard him thought he jested at first but when he had constantly affirmed it they had him before the Judge who committed him to Ward the Christians wondering at it went to him and inquiring the cause of his Conversion he told them that Potamiena prayed for him and so he saw a Crown put upon his head adding that it should not be long before he received it and accordingly the next day he was beheaded A certain Christian being examined before the Judge and through fear being ready to shrink back there were certain persons standing by who were ready to burst for grief making signs to him by their hands and jestures to be constant which being observed they were ready to be laid hold on but they of their own accord pressed up to the Judge professed themselves to be Christians which much emboldened the weak Christian and terrified the Judge this being done they departed away rejoycing for the Testimony they had given of their Faith The crimes and charges laid to the Christians The Crimes and Accusations that was laid to the charge of the Christians by the Persecutors were That they refused to worship Idols and the Emperours and that they professed the Name of Christ yet besides all the Calamities and evils that happenedin the World as Wars Famine Pestilence c. were imputed only to the Christians But Cyprian and Tertullian confuting these Slanders proved That the special cause of all those Miseries which befel the Empire proceeded from the sheding of the Innocent Blood of the Christians Cyprian was at last condemned to have his Head cut off who patiently and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword Sixtus Bishop of Rome with his six Deacons for the Christian Faith were all beheaded Laurence also another of hiâ— Deacons following Sixtus Laurence Martyred as he went to his Execution complained that he might not suffer with him but that he was seeluded as the Son from the Father to whom the Bishop answered That within three days he should follow him bidding him in the mean time to go Home and if he had any Treasures to distribute them amongst the Poor the Judge hearing mention of Treasures supposing that Laurence had great store in his custody commanded him to bring the same to him Laurence craved three days respit promising then to declare where the Treasure might be had in the mean time he caused a good number of Christians to be gathered together and when the day of his answer was come the persecutors strictly charged him to make good his promise but Valiant Laurence streaching his Arms over the Poor said These are the pretious Treasures of the Church these are the Treasures indeed in whom Christ hath his Mansion c. But the Tyrant in a great fury and madness cryed kindle the Fire make no spare of Wood hath this Villain deluded the Emperour Away with him whip him with Sourges jerk him with Rods buffet him with Fists brain him with Clubs jesteth the Traytor with the Emperour Pinch him with fiery Tongs gird him with burning Plates bring out the strongest Chains and Fire-forks and the Grate of Iron
Christian World as before is related And Pope Alexander the third being informed that divers persons in Lyons questioned his Soveraign Authority over the whole Church cursed Valdo and his Adherents commanding the Arch-Bishop to proceed against them by Ecclesiastical censures to their utter extirpation whereupon they were wholly chased out of Lyons Valdo and his followers were called Waldenses who afterwards spread themselves into divers Countries and Companies and for their Religion many of them were Burnt to death and fleeing into Germany and other Countries many of them were put to death Pope Alexander 〈◊〉 de a Decree that these Gospellers and all their Favourers should 〈◊〉 comunicated and that none should sell them any thing or buy 〈◊〉 â—hing of them 〈◊〉 the Waldenses notwithstanding all the Popes Curses continued publishing that the Pope was Antichrist the Mass an Abomination the Host an Idol and Purgatory a Fable whereupon Pope Innocent the third Anno 1198. seeing that the other remedies were not sufficient to suppress these Hereticks as he called them authorized certain Monks Inquisitors who by process should apprehend and deliver them to the secular power by a far shorter but much more cruel way then was used formerly for by this means they were by thousands delivered into the Magistrates hands and by them to the Executioners whereby in a few years all Christendom was moved with compassion to see so many burnt and hanged that did trust only in Christ for Salvation And from the year 1170. to the year 1470. many noble Witnesses were raised up in England and elsewhere to write against the Popes pride calling him Antichrist c. and to bear a publick Testimony in these dark times against the corruption and abominable Idolatry which was crept into the Church with the hazard of their Lives and Liberties amongst which were the Lollards of the increase of whom the Pope had often complained in Richard the second 's time but could not prevail and King Henry the fourth coming to the Crown by Usurpation to ingratiate himself with the Clergy made a Law that Lollards should be burnt at the discretion of the Bishops whereupon divers suffered Martyrdom as followeth William Sawtery of London in the year 1400. William Sawtery Suffered was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury VVilliam Sawtry desired his cause might be heard by the Parliament then sitting for the commodity of the whole Realm but the Bishops would not allow it but caused him to be brought before them who examined him upon eight Articles the last whereof was about Transubstantiation to which he answered that after the words of Consecration there remained very bread the same bread which it was before the words were spoken whereupon he was condemned by Robert Hall the Bishops Chancellour after which they got a warrant from the King directed to the Mayor and Sheriff of London for his burning William Thorp for the same cause was examined and imprisoned and after a long examination before the Arch-Bishop was committed to another foul bad Prison where he never was before of which place he writeth as followeth After I was brought to Prison when all men were gone forth from me the Prison doors fast being by my self I began to Think on God and to thank him for his goodness and I was then greatly comforted not only for that I was then delivered for a time from the presence of the Scorning and from the Menacing of my Enemies but much more I rejoyced in the Lord because that through his Grace he kept me so both among the flattering especially and among the menacing of mine Adversaries that without heaviness and anguish of my Conscience I passed away from them In his examination the Bishop told him that it was certified against him that he preached openly and boldly in Shrewsoury that Priests have no title to Tythes the substance of his Answer was There was one came to Prison to me and asked what I said of Tythes to whom I said ask the Priests and Clerks of the Town the man replyed our Prelates say they are cursed that withdraw their Tythes I said I wonder any Priest say men are cursed without the ground of Gods Word and put the man to enquire of the Priest of that Town where the sentence of cursing them that Tythed not was written in Gods Law and I said further in the old Law which ending not fully till Christ rose up from death to life God commanded Tythes to be given to the Levites but the Priests were to have but the tenth part of those Tythes given to the Levites now said I in the new Law neither Christ nor any of his Apostles took Tythes of the People nor commanded the People to pay Tythes but Christ taught the People to shew works of mercy and I said not of Tythes but of pure Almes of the People Christ and the Apostles lived when they were so busie in preaching the word to the People that they could not otherwise work to get their livelihood Then the Bishop said thou preachedst openly at Shrowsbury that it is not lawful to swear in any case Thorp said by the Authority of the Epistle of James and by witness of divers others The Martyr against swearing oâ— a Book I have preached openly in one place or other that it is not lawful for any to swear in any case by any Creature Then the Clerk asked him whether it were not lawful for a Subject at the command of his Prelate to kneel down and touch the holy Gospel book and kiss it saying so help me God and this holy Dome Thorp said Ye speak full largly what if a Prelate command his Subject to do an unlawful thing should he obey Arch-Bishop a Subject ought not to suppose that his Prelate will bid him do an unlawful thing Thorp But to our purpose related the Opinion of a master in Divinity in the matter of Swearing who said it was not lawful either to give or take any such charge upon a Book for every Book is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made of Therefore to sware upon a Book is to swear by Creatures and this swearing is ever unlawful this Sentence saith Thorp witnesseth Chrysostom plainly blaming them greatly that bring forth a book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any Body to sware whether they think a man to sware true or false Then the Arch-Bishop scorned me and threatened me with sharp and great Punishment except I left this Opinion of swearing Thorp said It is not only my opinion but the opinion of Christ James and Chrysostom and divers others The Clerk said Wilt thou tarry my Lord longer submit thee here meekly to the Ordinance of holy Church and lay thy hand upon a Book touching the holy Gospel of God promising not only with thy Mouth but also with thine Heart to stand to my Lords ordinance Thorp said have I not told you here how that I
this is in Spite of all holy Saints and in Spite of our most holy Father the Pope Gods Viccar here in Earth and in Spite of the reverend Father in God John our Diocesian and the Worshipfull Cannons Masters Priests and Clarks which serve God daily in this Cathedral Church fixed up with wax such Cursed and Heretical Bills full of Blasphemy upon the Doors of thâ—s and other holy Churches within this City Excommunicate be hâ— she or they plaenally and delivered over to the Devil as perpetual Malefactors and Schismaticks accursed they be and given Body and Soul to the Devil Cursed be they he or she in Cities and Towns in Fields and Wayes in Houses and out of Houses and all other places standing lying or rising walking running waking sleeping eating drinking and whatsoever thing they do besides we seperate them him or her from the Threshold and from all the good Prayers of the Church from the participation of the holy Mass from all Sacraments Chappels and Altars from Holy Bread and Holy water from all the Merrits of Gods Priests and religious men and from all their Cloisters from all their Pardons Priviledges Grants and Immunities which all the holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them and we give them over utterly to the power of the Devil and let us quench their Souls if they be dead this night in the pains of Hell-fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out and with that he put out one of the Candles and let us pray to God if they be alive that their ey 's may be put out as this Candle light is so he put out another Candle let us pray to God and to our Lady and to Saint Peter and Paul and all holy Saints that all the Sences of their bodies may fail them and that they may have no feeling as now the Light of this Candle is gone and so he put out the third Candle except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and by repentance as in them shall lie make satisfaction unto God our Lady Saint Peter and the Worshipfull Company of this Cathedrall Church Thomas Bennet being not able to digest these Fopperies writ other Bills and caused them to be set up upon the Gates of the Grave yard but the person that set them up being taken in the action Thomas Bennet was thereby discovered and being apprehended confest they were his Bills and that he could do it again to discover the Abominable Blasphemy of their Anti-christ the Pope and to let people see that he is the Bâ—ar come out of the Wood which destroyeth and throweth down the Hedges of Gods Church Whereupon he was committed to Prison and the next day was had to the Bishop who committed him to Prison again where he was kept in the Stocks with strong Irons with as much favour as a Dog should find then his Houâ—e was Searched for Books and his wife shamefully abused which she bore with patience being contented to bare the Cross with her Husband and to fare hardly with him and eat Course meat and drink A gray Fryar possessing Thomas Bennet with the many dangers that he was lyable to fall into in that condition Thomas replyed my life is not dear to me I had rather by death which I know is not far off depart this Life then to partake of your detestable Idolatries and Superstitions or be subject to Anti-christ your Pope During the time of his imprisonment the hate of the people through ignorance was great against him notwithstanding they could never move his patience during his imprisonment his wife provided Sustenance for him when she Lamented he Comforted her and gave her many good and godly Exhortations and desired her not to move him to comply with his Adversaries After the Clergy saw they could by no means cause him to recant they Condemned him to be burnt and delivered him to the Sheriff of Devonshire to see him Executed the mild man rejoycing to see his end approach so near as the Sheep before the Shearer yielded himself with all humbleness to abide and suffer the Cross of Persecution being brought to his Execution in a place called Livery Dole without Exeter he gravely and soberly spake to the people to seek the honour of God and the knowledg of him and to leave the devices and immaginations of mens inventions and saying Oh Lord receive my spirit patiently endured the Cruelty of the Fire untill his life was ended Thus the Reader hath an Account of such as sustained death for Christs Cause through the rigorous Proclamation aforesaid set out in the name of the King but indeed procured by the Bishops and by them so strictly Executed that no good man could peep out with his head never so little but he was caught by the back and either brought to the fire or else forced to abjure their Religion a great number of which are particularly mentioned in Foxe's Acts and Monuments which for Brevity sake are here omitted Thomas Phillip being one of them that was prosecuted and being asked by the Bishop whether he would abjure or not he said except ye shew me cause wherefore I should abjure I will not say yea or nay to it but will stand to my appeal then the Bishop read openly the Bill of Excommunication against him charging all men to have no company or any thing to do with him after this Excommunication what became of him whether he was burnt or died in the Tower no mention is made in the Register I mention him because a Letter that was found in his Pocket and the substance of one Tracy's Will are worth the taking notice of which are as followeth A Letter directed to Thomas Phillip in the name of the Brethren and given him by the way going to the Tower is as followeth The favour of him that is able to keep you that you fall not and to confess your name in the Kingdom of Glory and to give you strength by his Spirit to confess him before all his Adversaries be with you ever Amen The Brethren think that there be divers false Brethren craftily crept in among them to seek out their freedom in the Lord that they may accuse them to the Lords Adversaries as they suppose they have done you wherefore if it be so that the Spirit of God move you thereunto they as Councellers desire you above all things to be stedfast in the Lords Truth without fear for he shall and will be your help according to his promise so that they shall not diminish the least hair of your head without his will unto the which will submit your self and rejoyce for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation and how to reserve the Unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punisht and therefore cast all your care on him for he careth for you and in that you suffer as a Christian man be not ashamed but rather glorifie God on
and so the poor Boy was burnt in Smithfield Persecuted at Callice By reason of the diligent preaching of Adam Damplip and one William Smith at Callice the Devil raised up his Instruments to Persecute them and others their Hearers and Letters were wrote over to the Council in England suggesting that by the means of Damplip they were infected with horrible Heresies and Errors Persons accused were Thomas Brooke Ralph Hare James Cock and James Barber who were sent for over and committed to Prison at VVestminster afterwards they were brought before the Bishops grievous Letters were written against them from Callice by their Adversaries so that if God had not preserved them they had all certainly Perished One of these viz. Ralph Hare though so unlearned that he could scarce read yet was very zealous and so holy and inofensive in his life that none of his Adversaries could accuse him of evil he was charged for speaking against Auricular Confession holy Bread holy Water as also for that he would not Swear nor use any Pastime but used to be in a Corner by himself looking on his Book when others were at Liberty Thus being charged he said to the Commissioners I take God to Witness I would not willingly maintain any Error or Heresie wherefore I beseech you let my Accusers come before me face to face for if they charge me with that I have spoken I will not deny it and if it be Truth I will stand to it if an Error I will with all my heart forsake it I mean if it be against Gods holy Word for the Lord is my Witness I daily pray to God that I may know the Truth and shun Errors and I hope God will preserve me from them The Bishop of Winchester said I perceive now thou art a naughty Fellow Alas said Hare what evil have I spoken Bishop replyed Marry Sir you said the Lord the Lord and that is Symbolum Hereticorum what is that said Hare Thou art naught thou art naught said the Bishop and further said I pity thee for I think thou art a good simple man and meanst well enough if thou hadst not bad bad School-masters and then Thomas Brook was called for who was charged with sedition and that he had contributed towards maintaining Adam Damplip and that he should say that what the Priest held up at Mass was not the Body of Christ Brook denyed the charge and after some debate was for that present dismissed The Suffering and Martyrdom of Anne Askew Anne Askew being apprehended for her Religion and examined before one Christopher Dare an Inquisitor who asked her if she did not believe the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real Body of Christ To this question she refused to answer Then he told her that she was accuâ—ed for reading that God dwelt not in Temples made with haâ—ds thereupon she shewed him the 7 and 17. Chapters of the Acts for it Then he asked her how she understood those texts she answered that she would not cast Pearls before Swine Then he charged her for saying that she had rather read five lines in her â—ible then hear a Mass she said the reason was because one did greatly edifie her and the other did not and after other questions askt her he had her before the Mayor of London The Mayor after some discourse with her ordred her to be had to Prison she askt if Sureties would not serve turn he said he would take none but after some time she was released from that imprisonment but not long after was apprehended again and carried before the Kings Council where the Chancellor askt her her Opinion about the Sacrament she said that she believed that so oft as she received the Bread in remembrance of Christs death she received therewith the frâ—â—â—s of his most glorious Passion the Bishop of Winchester bid her answer directly she answered she would not sing the Lords Song in a strange Land The Bishop told her she was a Pariat To which she replied that she was willing not only to recâ—â—ve rebukes from him but whatsoever should follow besides and that gladly after much other debate she was imprisoned until the next day at which time they asked her again what she said to the Sacrament she answered that she had said what she could say Then the Bishop of Winchester said he would speak with her familiarly she said so did Judas when he unfriendly betrayed Christ Then desired the Bishop to speak with her alone but she refused he asked hâ—r Why she said that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every matter should stand after Christ and Pauls Doctrine Then the Chancellor began to examine her again of the Sacrament Math. 18.2 Cor. 13. she askt him how long he would halt on both sides then would be needs know where she found that she said in the Scripture then he went his way Then the Bishop told her she would be burnt she answered 3 Kings 18. that she had searched all the Scriptures and could never find that either Christ or his Apostles put any Creature to death and told them God would laugh their threatings to scorn After much other arguing wherein she answered them wifely and holily they dismissed her a few dayes after she was taken very sick like to die in which extremity of her sickness they sent her â—o Newgate After a time she was brought to her Tryal at Guild-hall where she was required to recant or else she was condemned by the Law for an Heretick she answered she was no Heretick neither deserved death by the Law of God Then they asked if she would deny the Sacrament to be Christs Body and Blood she said yea They wished her to shrive her self to a Priest at which she smiled and said she would confess her faults to God for she was sure he would bear her with favour Then they would know of her whether the Bread in the Box were God or no she said God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth After she was Condemned she wrot a few liâ—es to the King to this effect I Anne Askew of good memory although God hath given me the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Trouble yet be it known that for asmuch as I am by the Law condemned as an Evil Doer here I take Heaven and Earth to record that I shall die in my innocency and as I said at first I say at last I utterly abhor and detest all Heresies and concerning the Supper of the Lord I believe so much as Christ hath said therein which he confirmed with his most blessed Blood I believe so much as he willed me to follow for I will not forsake the Commandment of his holy Lips but look what God hath charged me with his Mouth that have I shut up in my Heart and thus briefly I end Anne Askew Shortly after she was sent from Newgate to the sign of the Crown where she said one
Rich and the Bishop of London used all their power by flattering words to perswade her from God but they prevailed not with her one Nicholas Shaxton counselled her to recant as he had done she told him it had been good for him he had never been born then Rich sent her to the Tower to be racked where first he and one of the Councel examined her telling of her that the King was informed that if she would she could name a great number of her Sect she answered that the King was as well deceived in that as he was in other Matters The manner of her Racking was thus she was first lead down into a Dungeon where the Lievtenant of the Tower commanded the Goaler to pinch her with the Rack which being done so much as he thought sufficient he went about to take her down but Wristley the Chancellor not contented that she was loosed so soon confessing nothing but lay still and did not cry commanded the Lievtenant to strain her on the Rack again which because he denyed to do tendering the weakness of the Woman the Chancellor threatened him he would signifie his disobedience to the King Then Rich and the Chanceller took pains to Rack her themselves till she was near dead first asking her whether she was with Child to whom she answered you â—hall not need to spare for that but do your wills upon me and so quietly and patiently praying unto the Lord she abode their Tyranny till her Bones and Joynts were almost pluckt assunder after she was loosed from the Rack she swooned but they recovered her again and she was carried away in a Chair to a house and laid in a bed with weary and painful Bones the Chancellor sent her word that if she would leave her Opinion she should want for nothing if she would not she should be forthwith sent to Newgate and so be burned she sent him word again that she would rather die then break her Faith The Prayer of Anne Askew before her Death O Lord I have more Enemies now then there be Hairs on my Head yet Lord let them never overcome me with vain words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my Care with all the spite they can imagine they fall upon me which am thy poor Creature yet Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight and Lord I heartily desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most merciful Goodness forgive them that Violence which they do and have done unto me open also thou their blind Hearts that they may hereafter do that thing in thy Sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set forth thy Truth aright without all vain Fantasie of sinful men So be it O Lord so be it The day of her Execution being appointed she was brought into Smithfield in a Chair because she could not go on her feet by means of her great Torments when she was brought to the stake she was tied by the middle with a Chain that held up her Body and so encompassed with the Flames of Fire as a blessed Sacrifice unto God she resigned up her life in the Year 1546. leaving behind her a singular example of Christian-Constancy for all men to follow there was at the same time three others burnt with her in Smithfield After the death of this Woman the Ponish Clergy consulted together how they might further proceed to keep the Truth under and down and to that end obtained another Proclamation in the Kings name for the abolishing the Scriptures in English and all other English Books which might give any light to the People which made sore work and caused Persecution for a time but it was not long that it continued by reason of the Kings death which was shortly after But before there be a full Conclusion of the Transactions in this Kings reign its necessary a short Account be given of the rise and fall of Thom is Cromwel of whom mention is made before especially seeing he was a man so Zealous for Reformation of both Church and Common-wealth He was born at Putney his Father being a Smith as is before related in his youthful dayes it is said he had little regard to God and Religion but travelled beyond Seas and for a time was there a Souldier at length getting the New Testament in English by often reading in it he began to be touched and something opened in his understanding and coming into England again Cardinal Woolsey entertained him in his service where after some yoars remaining he was preferred to be Solicitor to the Cardinal After the fall of Cardinal Woolsey he was by the Master of the Roles preferred to the King who had then to do against the Pope as a fit person to be imployed by him and being brought to the King at his Garden in Westminster where he possessed the King that his Authority was abused by the Clergy and by being sworn to the Pope they had run themselves into a Premunire and that now the King had an Opertunity to inrich himself To this the King gave ear and liked well his advice and admited him into his service and sent him to the Convocation-house amongst the Bishops where he made a Speech to this effect that in asmuch as they had sworn to the Pope contrary to their Fealty due to the King they had forfeited all their Goods Chattels Lands Possessions to the King c. This amazed the Bishops at first but after a little pause they began to shrink and before they could be quit of the Premunire by Act of Parliament it cost them to the King no less then One hundred eighteen thousand eight hundred and forty pounds After this Cromwel grew greatly in favour with the King and was made one of his Privy Council and Master of the Rolls and afterwards Knight of the Garter and Earl of Essex and now being come into such Authority and seeing the Superstition Blindness Hypocrisie and Idolatry of the Monks and Fryars and Papists whose filthy stink did breath up a most pestiferous fume as Matthew Paris said in the like case of Rome Wherefore Cromwel like a Champion was raised up to root them up which while the King favoured him he prosecuted with effect as before is related but when the Popish Bishops saw the Popes power abolished out of England they never gave over using all their uttmost Endeavours and Politick Contrivances till they had laid a Plaister to his Wounded Head It would be too long to recite what benefit this Cromwel by his Prudence and Zeal wrought in a little time for the publick good what good Orders he established what Wickedness and Vices he suppressed what Corruptions he reformed what Abuses he brought to light and Popish Idolatry and Images he suppressed One called The Rood of Grace wherein a man stood inclosed with a hundred Wyres within the Rood to make the Image goggle its Eyes
accused on several Articles by the Bishops and afterwards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt when he came to the fire he said Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands and then turned him to the People and said these Words I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affliction and Torments which you see already prepared for me but I Exhort you that you Love the Word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort Moreover I pray you shew my Brethren and Sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor lâ—â—ve off the Word of God which I taught unto them after the Grace given to me for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World which lasts not and shew unto them that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable after the Constitution made by men and if I had taught mens Doctrine I had gotten great thanks of men but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men not sorowfully but with a glad Heart and Mind for this cause I was sent that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake this grim Fire I fear not and so I pray you to do if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake and fear not them that Kill the Body and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee Father of Heaven to forgive them that have through Ignorance or an evil Mind forged Lyes against me I forgive them with all my heart and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly So being first Hanged he was then burnt many People bewailing his death VVabter Mille amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland his Constancy is not to be past over with silence out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland many Articles were drawn up against him for which he had sentance pronounced against him that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge and punisht as an Heretick which was to be burnt Now when all things were ready for his death and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire Andrew Olifant Judge that past sentence upon him bad him Go to the Stake he said Nay except thou pull me up with thy hand for I am forbidden by the Law of God to lay hands of my self then Olifant put him up with his hand thereupon he went gladly saying I will go to the Altar of God and desired that he might have time to speak to the People which his Executioner denyed saying That he had spoken over-much and that the Bishops were oâ—fended that the matter was so long continued but some young men that stood by desired him to speak what he please so after he had prayed he rose up and standing upon the Coles said on this wise Dear Friends the Cause why I suffer this day is not for any Crime laid to my Charge but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus for which as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves being assured after the Death of their Bodies of Eternal Felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his Mercy among the rest of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Life which as I received it of him so willingly I offer it to his Glory Therefore as you will escape the eternal death be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests Monks and Bishops and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his Mercy that you may be delivered from Condemnation All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his Patience Stoutness Boldness and Constancy were not only moved and stirred up but their hearts also were so inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake and being in the Fire he said Lord have Mercy on me pray People while there is time and so be constantly departed The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth Henry the Eighth being dead Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years he was a Youth of a meek nature and disposition much inclined to Clemency and Mercy yea so much that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie all the Council could not move him to set his hand saying to Cranmer what will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error Doctor Cranmer perswaded him with much ado at last to put his hand to whom he said He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord. But though this King was of so mild a Nature and a Person inclining to love Religion from a Child being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church abolishing the Mass c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset a man also very Zealous for Reformation and an Encourager of such as profest the Gospel but in the midst of these meek and gentle times on the other hand the Pâ—pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecution and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle inclinable to yet the most of this Kings Reign which was but short the Sword was taken out of their hands so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign yet some there were that suffered for Religion viz. Joan of Kent an English woman and one George a Dutchman and one Thomâ—s Dobb who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass and committed to Prison where he died The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion and as it is recorded of him a man so Innocent that he was like a Dove without any Gall or Bitterness and more apt to receive Injury then do wrong to any one It happened that as he was passing by Pauls in London seeing the Priest at Mass being at the Elevation as he passed by the young man filled with godly Zeal pitying the Ignorance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up was not able to forbear but opened his Mouth and turning to the People exhorted them testifying against their Idolatry for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet where falling sick he soon after died In this Kings time there was also one John Hume a servant to one Lewnax accused by his Master of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real
laughed and so departed About this time about thirty Men and Women were taken at a Religious Assembly in Bow-yard in Cheapside and were Committed to Prison their Preacher one Rose was had before the Bishop of VVinchester S. Gardner and by him Committed to the Tower Cranmer Ridley and Latimer apprehended Shortly after Cranmer Ridley and Latimer three Bishops were sent to the Tower and from thence Conveyed to Oxford there to Dispute with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion but especially of the Eucharist the Oxford men were Cole Chadsey Pye Harpsfield Smith and Weston Prolocutor the Cambridge men were Young Seaton Watson Fecknam Atkinson and Sedgwick the matter was so carried by these twelve men that it went against the Prisoners and after the Disputation was ended the Prisoners were brought again upon the Stage and demanded whether they would persist in their Opinion or recant They affirming they would persist they were all three adjudged Hereticks and Condemned to the Fire but their Execution was not till a year or two after John Rogers Martyr In the mean time we have an account of John Rogers who was the first Martyr in this Queens time who was burnt in London after a long and fore suffering by Imprisonment Soon after him was burnt Lawrence Saunders Lawrence Saunders Martyr who was by order kept straitly in Prison and none suffered to speak with him not so much as his Wife suffered to visit him in his Examination the Chancellor threatning him that he should not live many dayes Saunders said Welcom shall the Will of God be either Life or Death for I have learned to die but I Exhort you to beware of shedding Innocent blood Truly it will Cry As the Officers were leading him away from his Examination he exhorted the People to Repentance warning them to defie Anti-christ Sin Death and the Devil that they might receive blessing and favour from the Lord being Condemned he was carried down to Coventry to be burnt where he was put into the common Goal where he slept little but spent the Night in Prayer and instructing others and the next day was burnt during the time of his Imprisonment he wrote several good Epistles to comfort and strengthen such as were under the like Suffering with him I shall only insert the Substance of one to his Wife by which may be perceived the seriousness and Zeal that was stirred up in him against his Adversaries forbidding his Wife to seek any way for his delivery Lawrence Saunders his Letter to his Wife Grace Mercy and Peace in Christ our Lord entirely beloved Wife even as unto mine own Soul and Body so do I daily in my Prayer wish unto you daily remembring you And I do not doubt dear Wife but that both I and you as we be written in the Book of Life so we shall together enjoy the same Everlastingly through the Grace and Mercy of God our dear Father in his Son Christ and for this present life letâ— us wholy appoint our selves to the Will of our God to glorifie him either by Life or by Death the Lord make us worthy to Honour him either way as pleaseth him I am cheerful I thank God in Christ in whom and through whom I know I shall be able to fight a good fight and finish a good Course and then receive the Crown which is laid up in Store for me and all the true Souldiers of Christ wherefore Wife let us in the Name of our God fight to overcome the Flesh the Devil and the World what Weapons are used in this fight look in the sixth Chap. of the Ephesians and pray c. I would that you make no suit for me in any wise thank you know whom for her most sweet and comfortable putting me in remembrance of my Journey whither I am passing I have too few such Friends to further me in that Journey which is indeed the greatest friendship the blessing of God be with you all Amen A Prisoner in the Lord Lawrence Saunders John Hooper and Rowland Taylor Martyr Shortly after were burnt for Religion John Hooper and one Rowland Taylor the one at Gloucester and the other at Hadley The time of Rowland Taylor 's Execution drawing nigh his Wife and Son coming to see him and one John Hâ—â—â— that had been his Servant after he had supt he turned to his Son saying Thomas my dear Son God Almighty bless thee see that thou fear God always and flee from Sin and wicked living be vertuous and apply thy self to thy Book and in any wise see thou be obedient to thy Mother love her serve her be ruled by her in thy Youth and follow her good Counsel in all things Beware of Lewd Company of Young men that fear not God but follow their lewd lusts flee from Whoredom and hate all filthy living and when thy Mother is old forsake her not but provide for her to thy power and see that she lack nothing then will God bless thee and give thee long Life upon Earth and Prosperity To his Wife he said my dear Wife continue stedfast in the fear and Love of God keep your self undefiled from Poposh Idolatries and Superstitions I have been unto you a faithful Yoke-fellow and so have you been to me for which I doubt not dear Wife but God will reward you Now the time is come that I shall be taken from you The Lord gave you unto me and the Lord will take me from you Blessed be the Name of the Lord I believe they are blessed which die in the Lord The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom then shall I fear God is he that justifieth who is he that can condemn In thee O Lord I have trusted let we never be confounded On the next day by two of the Clock in the Morning he was taken out of the Compter by Officers and had to Chelmsford and there was he delivered to the Sheriff of Suffolk who was commanded to see him burnt The suffering of Hailes About this time One St. James Hailes on of the Justices of the Common-Pleas at an Assizes in Kent giving charge upon the Statutes of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth in derogation of the primacy of Rome when he was before the Chancellor in Westminster Hall being there among other Judges to take his Oath the Chancellor said Chancellor I am informed you have Indicted certain Priests in Kent for saying Mass Hailes I Indicted none but certain Indictments of that Nature were brought before me at the Assizes in Kent and I did according to Law therein and according to Conscience and if it were to do again I could do no less then I did Chancellor Your Conscience is known well enough Hailes You may do well to search your own Conscience for mine is better known to my self then to you This and other talk at that time so displeased the Bishop that not many dayes after this discourse in
Westminster Hall Judge Hailes was by the Commandment of the Bishop committed to the Kings Bench where he remained some time and then was committed to the Compter in Bred-Street and from thence carried to the Fleet being in the Fleet some endeavoured to perswade him to Compliance how far he yielded to those Perswasions and Assaults of the Enemy it was not known but shortly after he fell into a great horrour and terrour in his Conscience and in the anguish of his Spirit stabbed himself with his Pen-Knife and so thought to end his misery but through providence he was disappointed of destroying himself at that time But this Action being noised abroad as it was occasion of great sorrow and trouble to many that had a great Esteem of him being reputed so worthy a Judge and so just a man so it also opened the Mouth of his Adversary the Bishop who openly in the Star-Chamber blasphemed against such as profest the Truth calling the Doctrine of the Gospel the Doctrine of Desperation But it was not long before the Judge was set at Liberty but he had not been long at home but his trouble encreasing upon him he watch an apportunity and drowned himself in a shallow Water neer his House Now Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester having got the Law and outward Sword on his Side he thought to Rule as he pleased and having taken off either by Imprisonment or Death most of the principal Preachers of those he counted Sectaries he concluded the rest would be thereby terrified and kept under but his Expectations herein were frustrated For within a few Weeks after the Apprehension and Execution of the aforesaid persons The apprehending of Thomas Tomkins and five others there were six more raised up to testifie against the Popish Idolatry then established by a Law their names were William Piggot a Butcher Stephen Knight a Barber Thomas Tomkins a Weaver Thomas Hawkes John Lawrence and William Hunter these Persons being brought before B. Gardner he was so concerned to see his former devices so little effect the end he intended that he refused to Act any more against them but being wholy discouraged turned them over to Bonner Bishop of London who Prosecuted all that were brought before him to the utmost of his power not sparing to act his cruelty as from time to time he had an opportunity to the uttermost They were all condemned by Bâ—nnor Upon the 8th day of the Moneth called February 1555. The aforesaid six persons were brought before Bâ—nner at the Consistory at Pauls where nhe next day he past Sentence of Death upon them shewing himself a rash and cruel Judge to pass Sentence so suddainly upon so many Innocent mens Lives but he gave them a little time before they were put to death which was till the Moneth following The most remarkable Passages that I find at their Tryals and Examinations are briefly related as followeth Thomas Tomkins a Weaver dwelling in Shoreditch a man accounted by such as were acquainted with him Zealous and Godly The Examination of Thomas Tomkins much given to Prayer during the time of his Imprisonment which was half a year the Bishop Bonner beat him sorely about the Face and pluckt him by the Beard being long and caused his Beard to be Shaved off but though the rage of the Bishop was great the constancy and patience of the poor man was as great for he was not moved at the Bishops cruelty the Bishop seeing the course he had taken would no wayes prevail he fell from Beating to Burning for having a great Candle burning in his Hall at Fulham he took Tomkins by the Fingers ends holding his hand over the flame of the Candle trying him whether he would Recant but with patience he bore this cruelty also until Doctor Harpsfield standing by moved with pity told Bonner he had tryed him enough and then Bonner let his Fingers go The last time Thomas Tomkins appeared before Bonner there were several other Bishops present one of which earnestly exhorted him to leave off his Opinions to whom he answered I was Born and brought up in Ignorance until of late years and now I know the Truth I shall continue in the same until Death which Bonner hearing thought it time to pass Sentence upon him and as he had begun to burn his Hand so sentenced his Body to be burnt delivering him to the Sheriff of London who carried him to Newgate where he remained untill the 16th day of the Moneth called March and then sealed his Faith in the Flames The 26th day of the aforesaid Moneth followed the Martyrdom of another of these six persons viz. VVilliam Hunter a Zeal ous Young man for Religion William Hunter Martys who was about the Age of ninteen years when he suffered he was born of godly Parents by whom he was not only Instructed in godliness but also confirmed by them until Death William Hunter being an Apprentize in Coleman-Street in London with one Thomas Taylor a Silk-weaver the beginning of his trouble was for refusing to hear Mass and to receive their Eucharist for which the Priest of the Parish threatned to have him before the Bishop his Master fearing lest he should come to suffer by reason of Williams not conforming desired him to depart from him whereupon William went home to his Fathers to Burntwood in Essex where after he had remained a little time happening to go into the Chappel of Burntwood and finding a Bible lying upon a Desk he read therein while he was reading one Atwell a Sumner coming in reproved him saying Wherefore meddlest thou with the Bible William answered I read in it for my comfort Atwell replyed It was never a good World since the Bible came abroad in England William answered say not so it liketh me well and I pray God we may have the Bible amongst us continually Atwell I perceive you are one of them that mislikes the Queens Laws and therefore you came from London but you must turn another Leaf or else you will Broyl for it and in a fury went away saying he would fetch one that should talk with him and went to an Ale-house hard by and fetch out the Viccar of Soutweld who coming into the Chappel and hearing William read said Sirrah who gave thee leave to read in the Bible William answered I read for my Comfort and shall read while I Live and told the Viccar He ought rather to encourage then discourage people in reading the Scriptures Viccar Doth This become thee to tell me what I have to do thou Heretick William Hunter said I am no Heretick Vâ—ccar What sayst thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar believest thou in it and that the bread and wine is transubstantiated into the very Body and Blood of Christ William Hunter I learn no such thing in the Scriptures as you speak of you understand Christs Words much like the Carnal Cappernâ—tes who thought that Christ would have given them his
can no man lay then that which is already laid which is Jesus Christ if any man build on this Foundation Gold Silver Pretious-Sones Timber Nay Stubble every mans work shall appear for the day shall declare it and it shall be shewed in Fire and the Fire shall try every mans work what it is if any mans work which he hath builded upon abide he shall receive a Reward if any mans work burn he shall suffer Loss but he shall be saved himself yet as it were through Fire By Fire here the Apostle understands Persecution and Trouble for they which do truely preach and profess the Word of God which is called the Word of the Cross shall be railed upon and abhorred hated thrust out of the Company persecuted and tryed in the Furnace of Adversity as Gold and Silver are tryed in the Fire By Gold Silver and pretious Stones he understandeth them that in the midst of Persecution abode stedfast in the Word By Timber Hay and Stubble are meant such as in the time of Persecution do fall away from the Truth and when Christ doth purge his Floor with the Wind of Adversity these scatter away like Chaff which shall be burnt with unquenchable Fire Wherefore my beloved give diligent heed that ye as living Stones be built upon this sure Rock and be made a spiritual House and holy Preistood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ for we are the true Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in us if so be that we continue in the Doctrine of the Gospel we are also a holy and Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices and Oblations And thus I commend you Brethren unto God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you further and to give you an Inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified beseeching you to help me and all them that be in bonds for the Gospel sake with your Prayers to God for us that we may be delivered from all them that believe not and from unreasonable and froward Men and that this our Imprisonment and Affliction may be to the glory and profit of our Christian Brethren in the World and that Christ may be magnified in our Bodies whether it be by death or by life Amen Salute me to all the faithful Brethren let them hear my Letters the Grace of our Lord be with you all Amen George Marsh In another Letter dated from Lancaster the thirtieth of August 1555. directed to his Friends at Manchester he writeth thus Confider what I say the Lord give us understanding in all things Brethren the time is short it remaineth that ye use this World as though you used it not for the fashions of this World vanisheth away see that ye Love not the World neither the things that are in the World but set your affections upon heavenly things be meek and long suffering serve and edifie one another with the gift that God hath given you beware of strange Doctrine lay aside the old conversation of greedy Lusts and walk in a New Life beware of uncleanness covetousness and foollish talking rejoyce and be thankful towards God and submit your selves one to another cease from sin be sober and apt to pray be patient in trouble love each other and let the Glory of God and profit of your Neighbour be the only mark you shoot at in all your doings repent ye of the life that is past and take better heed to your doings hereafter Another Letter to a Friend Grace be with you and Peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus the Lord. After hearty Commendations and Thanks to you for your large token but much more for your loving Letters full of Consolation to me as touching my person unknown to you these shall be to certifie you that I rejoyce greatly in the Lord when I perceive to see the minds of my Friends stirred up to bear part with me in this my costly imprisonment sending me things not only necessary for this persent life but also comfortable Letters encouraging exhorting me to continue grounded and established in the Faith and not to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel whereof according to my small Tallent I have been a Minister and daily I call and cry unto the Lord in whom is all my trust and without whom I can do nothing that he which hath begun a good work in me would go on with it until the day of Jesus Christ being surely certified in my Conscience of this that he will so do for as much as he hath given me that not only I should believe on him but also suffer for his sake The Lord strengthen me with his holy Spirit that I may be one of the number of those Blessed which enduring to the end shall be saved And whereas you say that my suffering of Persecution with Christ is a thing to you most comfortable I answer that in all my Adversities and Necessities nothing on your behalf is greater Consolation unto me then to hear of the Faith and Love of others and how they have good remembrance of us alwayes even as the Apostle said by the Thessalonians Now are we alive if ye stand stedfast in the Lord be strong let your hearts be of good comfort and wait ye still for the Lord he tarrieth not that will come look for him therefore and faint not and he will never fail you Yours George Marsh The next that suffered were John Cordmaker John Cordmaker and three other Martyrs John warn Upholster of London John Ardly and John Simson of Wigborrough in Essex husbandmen against these four persons many Articles were drawn up for not conforming to the Doctrine of the Popish Church according to common course of the Consistory Court they were several times called and the Articles against them read which Articles were much alike against them all and for refusing to recant they were all condemned and burat about the Month of May. The Examinations Sufferings and Martyrdom of Thomas Hawkes called a Gentleman written by himself The said Thomas Hawkes Thomas Hawkes Martyr was condemned when Thomkins and the rest with him were condemned which was in the Month called February but his Execution was not till the Month called June following and now coming in order to that Month it falls in course to relate his Tryals and Sufferings as followeth As touching his Education he was born in Essex of an honest stock and bred up a Courtier his Person and Stature very comly and his mind endued with excellent qualities a man of a gentle behaviour and of a fervent love to true Religion and godliness he was also singularly adorned with valour and courage whose Example therein was a good president to the rest of his Brethren and as it is recorded of him few men stood more notably or triumphed more gloriously then this young man for he was so wise in the Cause of God
Apostle saith is builded upon the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus being the head Corner-Stone which Church in all her words and works maintaineth the Word and bringeth the same for her Authority and without it doth nothing nor oughâ—â—â— do of which I am assured I am by Grace made a Member Bonner You shall understand that I am bound when my Brother offendeth and will not be reconciled to bring him before the Congregation now if your Church be the same where may a man find it to bring his Brother before the same Smith It is written in the Acts of the Apostles that when the Tyranny of the Bishops was so great against the Church in Jury they were fain to Congregate in Houses and private places as they now do and yet were they nevertheless the Church of God and seeing they had their matters redressed being shut up in a Corner may not we do the like now adayes Bonner Yea their Church was known full well for St. Paul writ to the Corinthians to have the man punished and Excomunicated that had committed evil with his Fathers Wife whereby we may well perceive it was a known Church but yours is not known Smith Then could you not Persecute it as ye do but as ye say the Church of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and Paul even so is this Church of God in England whom ye Persecute both known to God and also even to the very Wicked although they know not nor will not know their Truth nor Conversation yea and your sinful number have professed their Truth and maintained the same a long season Bonner Well Thou sayest that the Church of God was only at Corinth when Paul writ unto them and so will I put in Writing shall I Smith I do marvel greatly that you are not ashamed to lay Snares for your Brethren on this manner this is now the third Snare you have laid for me first to make me confess that the Church of England is not the Church of Christ Secondly to say it is not known Thirdly to say the Church of God is not Universal but Particular and this is not the office of a Bishop for if an Innocent had come in your way you would have done your best I see to have intangled him Harpsfield Well Friend quoth one of the Chaplains you are no Innocent as appeareth Smith By the Grace of God I am that I am and this Grace in me I hope is not vain Bonner Laughing said tell me how sayest thou of the Church Smith I told you whereupon the true Church is builded and I affirm in England to be the Congregation of God and also in Omnem Terram as it is written their sound is gone forth into all Lands and that is the afflicted and persecuted Church which ye cease not to Imprison Slay and Kill And in Corinth was not all the Congregation of God but a number of those holy and elect People of God for neither Paul nor Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote and yet were they of the Church of God as many thousands more which also Communicate in that holy Spirit Bonner What call you Catholick and what call you Church Smith Catholick is universal and Church is a Congregation knit together in unity Then after much like vain talk it was laid to his charge that his fellow and he spoke one thing whereof he praised God and was sent again to the Garden where after a while as his Brother Harwood and he had been together came one of the Chaplains that much desired to commune with him demanding first if he were a Prisoner Smith I am in this flesh a Prisoner and subject to my Master and yours but I hope yet the Lords Free-man through Christ Jesus Doctor I do much desire to talk with you lovingly because you are a man that I much lament with many other sweet words To which I answered sub melle lates venenum and after much ado about his God I compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the Belly and so fall into the draught to which he answered Doctor What deragation was it to Christ when the Jews spit in his Face Smith If the Jews being his Enemies did but spit in his Face and we being his Friends throw him into the draught which of us have deserved the greatest Damnation Then by your Arguments he that doth injury to Christ shall have a most Plenteous Salvation Then start he away and would have his humanity in comprehensible making a comparison between our Soul and the Body of Christ bringing in to serve his turn which way Christ came in among his disciples the Doors being shut Smith Although it be said that when he came the doors were shut yet have I as much to prove that the doors opened at his coming as ye have to prove he came through the door for that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prison which yet when search came were found shut was able to let Christ in at the door although it were shut and yet it maketh not for your purpose for they saw him heard him and felt him and so cannot we say ye do at which answer he made many scoffs and departed and we were carried into my Lords Hall where we were baited of my Lords Band almost all the day until our Keeper seeing their misorder shut us up in a fair Chamber while my Lord went into his Sinagogue to condemn M. Dealy and John Newman Rob. Smith brought again before the Bishop and the L. Mayor Then brought they up the Lord Mayor to hear our matter above in the Chamber and I first of all was called into the Chamber where the Bishop intended to Sup where the Lord Mayor being set with the Bishop and one of the Sheriffs Wine was walking on every side I standing before them as an outcast which made me remember how Pilate and Herod were made Friends but no man was sorry for Josephs hurt but after the Bishop had well drunk my Articles were sent for and read and he demanded whether I said not as was written Smith That I have said I have said and what I have said I do mean utterly Bonner Well my Lord Mayor your Lordship hath hard somewhat what a stout Heretick this is and that his Articles have deserved death yet nevertheless for as much as they do report me for to seek Blood and cast me Bloody Bonner whereas God knoweth I never sought any mans blood in all my life I have stayed him from the Consistory this day whether I might have brought him justly and yet here before your Lordship I desire him to turn and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble and this I profess before your Lordship and all this Audience Smith Why do you put on this fair visor before the Lord Mayor to make him believe that ye seek not my Blood to Câ—oâ—k your Murthers through my stoutness as you
perfect VVord which is to me so dear Lay up thy Laws within my heart to keep me still in fear Aed rob me of that great rebuke which I do fear full sore For all thy Judgments and thy Law endure for evermore Behold O Lord in thy precepts is all my whole delight O quicken me in all thy Wayes that I may walk aright The Substance of an Epistle written by Robert Smith to the Persecuted Flock of Christ To all which Love God unfainedly and intend to lead a godly life according to his Gospel and to persevere in his Truth unto the end Grace and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Be not afraid most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ at these most perilous dayes wherein by the suffering of God the Prince of Darkness is broken loose and rageth in his members against the Elect of God withal cruelty to set up again the Kingdom of Anti-christ against whom see that ye be strong in faith to resist his most devilish Doctrines with the pure Gospel of God arming your selves with patience to abide whatsoever shall be laid to your charge for the Truths sake knowing that thereunto you are called not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him Oh how happy are ye that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the Testimony of Christ quit therefore your selves O my loving Brethren and rejoyce in him for whom ye suffer for unto you do remain the unspeakable Joyes which neither the Eye hath seen nor the Ear hath heard neiâ—â—â—r the heart of man is able to comprehend in any wise Be not â—â—â—raid of the bodily Death for your names are written in the Book of Life and the Prophets do record that in the sight of the â—â—â—d pretious is the Death of his Saints Watch therefore and pray that ye be not prevented in the day of Temptation now cometh the day of your Tryal wherein the Waters rage and the Stormy Winds blow now shall it appear whether you have builded upon the fleeting Sand or upon the unmovable Rock Christ which is the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles whereon every House that is builded groweth into an holy Temple of the Lord by the mighty working of the holy Ghost now approacheth the day of your Battel wherein it is required that you shew yourselves the valiant Souldiers of Christ Jesus with the Armour of God that ye may be able to stand fast against all the crafty assaults of the Devil Christ is your Captain anâ— you are his Souldiers whose Cognisance is the Cross to the which he willingly humbled himself even unto the Death and thereby spoiled his Enemies and now triumpheth he over them in the glory of his Father making intercession for them that do here remain to suffer the Aâ—â—lictions that are to be fulfilled in his mystiâ—al Body it behoveth therefore every one that will be accounted his Schollor to take up his oâ—n Cross and follow him as yâ—u have him for Example and â—ssure you that he being on your side nothing shall be able to prevail against you and that he will be with you even to the Worlds â—nd you have his promise in the 28th of Matthew he will go forth with his Host as a Conqueror to make a Conquest he is the man that siâ—â—eth on the white Horse crowned with Immortality and ye Brethren are his Fellowship whereof he is the Head he hath your hearts in his hand as a bow bent after his godly will he shall direct the same according to the riches of his glory into all spiritual and heavenly Cogitation he is faithfull and will not suffer you to be further assâ—â—â—ced then he will give you strength to overcome and in the most danger he will make a way that you may be able to bear it Shrink not therefore dear â—earts when ye shall be called to answer for the hope that is in you for â—ebâ—â—e the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which was sent from the Heavens to teach us he shall speak in us he shall strengthen us what is he then that shall be able to confound us Nay what Tyrant is he that now boasteth himself of his strength to do mischief whom the Lord shall not with his Spirit by the Moâ—th of his Servants strike down to Hell-fire yea suddainly will the Lord bring down the glory of the Proud Philistians by the hands of his Servant David their strength is in Shield and Spear but our help is in the Name of the Lord which made both Heaven and Earth he is our Buckler and our Wall a strong Tower of defence he is our God and we are his People he shall bring the counsels of the ungodly to nought he shall take them in their own Net he shall destroy them in their own Inventions the Right Hand of the Lord shall work this Wonder his Power is known amongst the Children of men their Fathers have felt it and are confoundeâ— in like manner shall they know that there is no counsel against the Lord when their secrets are opened to the whole World and are found to be against the Living God work they never so craftily builâ—â—hey never so strongly yet down shall their Babel fall and the Builders themselves shall then be scattred upon the face of the Earth as Accursed of God the Just shall see this and be glad and praise the Name of the Lord that so Marvelously hath dealt with his Servants as to bring their Enemies under their feet then shall the fearfull Seed of Cain Tremble and Quake then shall the mocking Ishmâ—elites be cast out of the Door then shall the Proud Nemborth see his labour lost then shall the Beast of Babylon be trodden under foot then shall the Scribes and Pharisees for madness fret and rage then shall their painted Wisdom be known for extream folly then shall the bloody Dragon be void of his prey then shall the Whore of Babylon receive double Vengence then shall they scratch their Crowns for the fall of their Mistress Harlot whom they now serve for filthy lucre when no man shall buy their Wares any more then shall the Popish Priesthood cry Weal away with care even when the Lord shall help his Servants which day is not far off the day wherein the Kingdom of Anti-christ shall have an end and never raise any more in the mean time abide in certain and sure hope cleaving unto the promises of God which in their own time shall be fulfilled What better Quarrel can you have to give your lives for then the Truth it self That man that giveth his life for the Truth taketh the readiest way to life he that hath the Popes curse for the Truth is sure of Christs Blessing Well then my Brethren what shall now let but that you go forwards as ye have begun Nay rather run with the Runners that ye may obtain the appointed glory hold on the right
Hereticks Philpot God hath appointed a day shortly to come in the which he will surely Judge us with righteousness howsoever you judge of us now After some further discourse with him he was with four others had to the Keepers House in Paster-noster-row where the Arch Deacon of Londons Servant Q. Mary An. 1555 in his Masters name offered John Philpot a Bed for that night To whom he gave thanks but said it would be a grief to him to lie well one night and the next night worse wherefore said he I will begin as I am like to continue and take such as my Fellows do whereupon they were brought to the Bishops Cole-house unto which is joyned a little blind house with a pair of Stocks where they found one person sitting with his hand and foot in At his fifth Examination as he was going to the Cole-house he met with Bonner who said to him Philpot If there be any pleasure I can shew you in my house I pray you require it and you shall have it Philpot The pleasure that I require of you is to hasten my Judgment which is committed unto you and to dispatch me forth of this miserable World unto my Eternal rest Note for all this fair Speech I could never attain hitherto this fortnight space neither Fire nor Candle nor good Lodging Another time being sent for before Bonner Bonner said I charge you to answer to such Articles as my Chaplain and my Register have from me to object against you Philpot Omnia Judicia debet esse publica All Judgment ought to be publick therefore if you have any thing to charge me lawfully withal let me be in Judgment lawful and openly called and I will answer otherwise in Corners I will not At which the Bishop was angry and called him foolish Knave and bid them put him in the Stocks Philpot Indeed you handle me with others like Fools and we must be content to be made Fools at your hands Stocks and Violence is your Bishop like Almes so he was put in the Stocks alone in the house seperate from his Fellows for which he praised God that he thought him worthy to suffer any thing for his Names sake Not long after the Bishop coming to view the Cole-house saying he was never there before and his coming then was for no good for he thought the place too good for John Philpot and called for the Keeper and caused him to put the said John Philpot in another place by himself where the Keeper pluckt off his Gown and searched him and took away his Pen and Ink and Papers At another Examination the fourth of December Chadsey said You shall be constrained to come to us at length whether you will or no. Philpot said Hold that Argument fast for it is the best you have for you have nothing but violence Soon after Bonner pronounced the Sentence against him and then delivered him to the Sheriffs whose Officers had him to Newgate in his way he said Ah good People Blessed be God for this day At Newgate he was cruelly handled by the Keeper having Irons put on because he had not wherewithal to satisfie the unreasonable Goalers demand for Fees Upon the 17th day of December the Sheriff sent a Messenger to him to bid him make ready for the next day he should suffer and be burnt at a Stake He answered I am ready God grant me strength so he went into his Chamber and poured out his Spirit unto the Lord God giving him thanks that he of his mercy had made him worthy to suffer for his Truth and when he came into Smithfield he kneeled down saying these words I will pay my Vows in thee O Smithfield and so died a constant Martyr The death of the Persecuting Bishop of Winchester About this time died one of the great Persecutors viz. Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester at his House in Southwark of whose death its memorable that the same day in which Ridley and Latimer suffered at Oxford he would not go to Dinner till four a Clock in the after-noon though the old Duke of Norfolk was come to Dine with him the reason was because he would first hear of their being burnt and as soon as word of that was brought him he presently said now let us go to Dinner where sitting down and eating merrily upon a suddain he fell into such an Extreamity that he was fain to be taken from the Table and carried to his Bed where he continued fifteen dayes without voiding any thing either by urine or otherwise which caused his Tongue to swell in his Mouth and so he died â—556 Seven Martyrs burnt in Smithfield About the 27th of January were burned in Smithlfield London these seven persons hereafter following viz. Thomas VVhittle Bartelet Green John Tudson John VVent Thomas Browne Isabel Foster Joane VVarren alias Lashford At which seven as they were burned together in one Fire so were they likewise upon one sort and form of Articles condemned in one day This Thomas VVhittle one of these Sufferers was the person that Jo. Philpot found in the Stocks when he was put into the Bishops Cole-house Thomas Whittle was sorely beaten and heardly used by the Bishop for two nights he lay on a Table without Bed or Straw the Bishop telling him he should be fed with Bread and Water the Bishop sometimes giving him fair words and sometimes threatning him and Doctor Harpsfield perswaded him very much to forsake his Opinions Thomas answered he held nothing but the Truth but he had made a Bill for Thomas to subscribe to this effect that he should detest all Errours and Heresie against the Sacrament of the Altar and other Sacraments and to believe the Faith of the Catholike Church and live accordingly Now after he had signed it he was under great condemnation as appears by this Testimony under his hand the Substance of which is as followeth To the Bill I did indeed set my hand being much desired and counselled so to do and the Flesh being alwayes desirous to have liberty I considered not throughly the inconveniences that might come thereupon and respite I desired to have had but earnestly they desired me to subcribe Now when I had so done I had little joy thereof for by and by my Mind and Conscience told me I had done evil by such a slighty means to shake of the sweet Cross of Christ and yet it was not my seeking as God he knoweth but altogether came of them O the crafty Subtilty of Sathan in his Members let every man that God shall deliver into their hands take good heed and cleave fast to Christ for they will leave no corner of his Conscience unsought but will attempt and guilefull and subtil means to corrupt him to fall both from God and his Truth The night after I had subscribed I was sore grieved and for sorrow of Conscience could not sleep for in the deliverance of my Body out of Bonds which
hand This John Fortune was a man of a Zealous Spirit and ready in the Scriptures in Christs Cause Stout and Valiant and no less patience in his wrongful Suffering then constant in his Doctrine The Examination is as followeth First Doctor Parker asked How I believed in the Catholick Faith Fortune I asked him which Faith he meant whether the Faith that Stephen had or the Faith of them that put Stephen to death Parker being moved said What a naughty Fellow is this you shall see anon he will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar and said How sayest thou by the blessed Mass Fortune And I stood still and made no answer Then said one Foster Why speakest thou not and make the Gentleman an answer Fortune I said Silence is a good answer to a foolish Question Parker I am sure be will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Fortune I said I knew none such Parker You deny the order of the seven Sacraments and why dost thou not believe in the Sacrament of the Altar Fortune Because it is not written in Gods Book Foster You shall be Whipped and Burnt for this Fortune If you knew how these words do rejoyce my heart you would not have spoken them Away with him said he for he is ten times worse then Samuel and so he was carried away to Prison again At the second Examination Bishop asked me If I did not believe in the Catholick Church Fortune I believe that Church whereof Christ is the head Bishop Dost thou not believe that the Pope is Supream head of the Church Fortune No Christ is Head of the true Church Fortune Then I asked him whether the Pope were a Spirtual Man To which he said Yea. Fortune I said They are spightfull men for in seventeen Months there were three Popes one Poisoned another for that presumptous seat of Anti-chhist Bishop It is Malishiously spoken for thou must obey the power and not the man well said he What say you to the Ceremonies of the Church Fortune All things that are not planted by my heavenly Father shall be blucked up by the roots saith Christ Bishop They are good and godly and necessary to be used Fortune Paul called them weak and beggerly At the third Examination Bishop How believest thou in the Sacrament of the Altar Dost thou not believe that after the Consecration there is the real substance of the Body of Christ Fortune That is the greatest Plague that ever came into England Bishop Why so Fortune If I were a Bishop and you a poor man as I am I would be ashamed to ask such a Question for a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learn Bishop Is it Idolatry to Worship the blessed Sacrament or no Fortune God is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth At another Examination Bishop asked me If I would stand to my Answers that I had made him before Fortune Yea for I have spoken nothing but the Truth And after that he made a great Circumstance upon the Sacrament Then I desired him to keep to the Text and he read the Scripture which said I am the Bread which came down from Heaven believest thou not this Fortune Yea truly Bishop Why dost thou deny the Sacrament Fortune Because your Doctrine is false Bishop How can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture Fortune Christ said I am the Bread and you say the Bread is he therefore your Doctrine is false Bishop Dost not thou believe the Bread is he Fortune No. Bishop I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fortune Hold that fast for that is the best Argument you have yet Bishop Thou shalt be burnt like an Heretick Fortune Who shall give Judgment upon me Bishop I will judge a hundred such as thou art and never be shreven for it Fortune Is not there a Law for the Spirituality as well as for the Temporality Clement Higham said Yes what meanest thou by that Fortune When a man is perjured by the Law he is cast over the Bar and sitteth no more in judgment and the Bishop is a perjured man and ought to sit in Judgment of no man Bishop How provest thou that Fortune Because you took an Oath in King Henry's dayes to resist the Pope so both Spiritual and Temperal are perjured that here can be no true Judgment Bishop Thinkest thou to escape Judgment by that no for my Chancellor shall judge thee he took no Oath for he was then out of the Realm Clement Higham It is time to Weed out such Fellows as you be indeed The Bishop commanded the Bailiff to take him away thus much touching the Examination of this man but whether he died by Fire or were otherwise prevented by Death is not recorded only his Sentence of Condemnation was drawn up and registred by the Register of Norwich but most certain it is he never recanted John Careless Examined before Doctor Martin Martin askt him Where he was born Careless said John Careleses Examination At Coventry Martin said How camest thou hither Careless By a Writ Martin Thou art a hansom man and its pity but thou shouldest do well and play the Wise mans part Careless I put you out of doubt that I am most sure and certain of my Salvation by Christ Jesus so that my Soul is safe already whatsoever pains my Body suffer here for a little time After much more discourse between them about predestination Martin said The Lord knows that I would gladly make some means to preserve thy life but thou speakest so much of the Lord the Lord How sayest thou wilt thou be content to go into Ireland and serve the Queen there Careless I am ready to do service to the Queen or her Officers but if they require me to do any thing contrary to Christs Religion I am ready also to do my service in Smithfield for not observing it as other my Brethren have done He endured Imprisonment two whole years in Coventry and the Kings-Bench where at last he died and was buried in a Dunghill in the Fields Sentences taken out of a Letter written by John Careless in the time of his Suffering and Imprisonment To my most dear and faithful Brethren in Newgate condemned to die for the Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth The Everlasting Peace of God in Christ Jesus the continual Joy Strength and Comfort of his most pure Holy and Mighty Spirit with the increase of Faith and lively feeling of his Eternal Mercy be with you my most dear and faithful loving Brother Tyms with all the rest of my dear hearts in the Lord you faithful fellow Souldiers and most constant Companions in bonds yea of men Condemned most cruelly for the sincere Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth to the full finishing of that good work which he hath so gratiously begun in you all that the same may be to his glory the commodity of his poor afflicted Church and to your Everlasting comfort in him
am in the true Faith and will never forsake it and I do wish I were more stronger in it and the second time being called before the Bishop she said I will not depart from my sayings till I be burned Agnes Stanley said I had rather every hair of my head were burned if it were never so much worth then that I should forsake my faith which is the true Faith After they had been twice called and Examined they were condemned and about the 12th day of the Moneth called April were all burnt in one Fire in Smithfield After these in the Moneth called May three others suffered in Georges-fields in Southwark viz. William Morrant Stephen Gratwick and one King This St. Gratwick in his Examination was very hardly and illegally deal with for first he was condemned by the Bishops of Winchester and Rocester to whose Diocess he did not belong Secondly when he made his appeal from these incompetent Judges to the Bishop of the Diocess he lived in his appeal would not be allowed when they had no other shift to colour their inordinate proceedings withall they procured a Priest to counterfeit himself to be Bishop of Chester and brought him to sit as Judge over him When he was before the Bishop of Winchester in Mary-Overs Steeple-house because the People cryed out God strengthen thee the Bishop threatned saying Now let me see him here that dare open his Mouth to bid God strengthen thee he shall die the death that thou shalt die Gratwick answered I know your cruelty doth extend more largly then your pity They further shewed their injustice against him in that they brought in Articles against him which were not grounded upon his own Examinations and Confessions and because he refused to answer to them though they had no other just matters against him but only for saying these words viz. That which I have said I have said they proceeded to read the Sentence of Death against him When he was asked whether he would recant he said My Faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a moment it s no process of time can alter me unless my faith were as the Waves of the Sea When the Sentence was read the Bishop delivered him into the hands of the Sheriff to be carried Prisoner to the Marshalsea whereupon the Prisoner with a loud voice desired God that he would not lay his blood to their charge if it were his will and as he was passing away because he spake to the People his Persecutors cryed out Cut his Tongue out Stop his Mouth and so he was had to to the Marshalsea and put in Irons and shortly after was burnt in Georges-Fields with one Morrant and one King about the later end of the Moneth called May. Seven persons burnt at Maidstone in Kent By reason of a Proclamation published in the Moneth called February the Storm of Persecution grew rather greater in many places then before but especally in the Diocess of Canterbury whereupon the 18th day of the Moneth called June seven Persons were burnt at Maidstone the Relation of whose Apprehension Examination and Execution is not registed excepting something concerning Edmund Allen of Frytenden in Kent Miller who for reading the Scriptures and expounding upon them was complained of by John Taylor Parson of the Parish to the Justice who sending for him committed both him and his Wife to Prison but not long after they were set at liberty and went over to Callice where his Conscience being troubled after some time the Lord discovered to him that he had work for him to do in England and thereupon he and his Wife shortly after returned home to Kent Parson Taylor hearing of their return although he was in the midst of his Mass when the News was brought him he turned to the people and commanded some with all speed to go and apprehend them when his Mass was over he went and apprehended the said Allen and had him before one called Sr. John Baker a Justice who sent him to Prison and caused an Inventory to be made of his Goods and they took thirteen pounds in Money away from him when he was brought before Baker the Justice The Justice said Who gave thee Authority to Preach Allen Give me leave to answer I am perswaded that God hath given me this Authority as he hath given to all other Christians Why are we called Christians if we do not follow Christ nor read his Laws Is not Christ our Father shall not the Son follow the Fathers steps Is not Christ our Master and shall the Scholler be hindered from Learning and Preaching his Precepts Is not Christ our Redeemer and shall we not praise his Name and serve him that hath Redeemed us from Sin and Damnation did not Christ being but of twelve years of Age dispute with the Doctors and interpret the Prophet Isaiah although he was not of the Tribe of Levi which were Priests but of the Royal Tribe of Judah neither had taken any outward Priesthood wherefore if we be Christians we must do the same One Collins standing by said to the Justice What a Knave is this that compareth himself with Christ Justice Baker Let him alone he will pump out an infinite heap of Heresies hast thee any more to say for thy self Allen Yea that I have Adam was Licensed of God and Abraham was commanded to teach his Children and Posterity and David teacheth in divers Psalms and Soloman also preached to the People as the Book of the Preacher proveth where he teacheth that there is no immortal felicity in this Life and Noah taught them that were disobedient in his days and therefore is called the eighth Preacher of Righteousness Moses chose seventy Elders to help him to teach and Rule the People Eldad and Medad preached in their Tents wherefore Josuah being Offended complained to Moses that Eldad and Medad did preach without License to whom Moses answered I would all the People could do the like Justice Baker Thou saidst thou didst feed the People both Bodily and Spiritually Allen We are all Kings to rule our Affections Priests to Preach out the virtues of God and lively Stones to give light to others for as out of Flint-Stones cometh forth that that is able to set all the World on fire so out of Christians should spring the Beams of the Gospel which should inflame all the World what availeth it a man that hath Meat and will eat none and Apparel and will ware none Is not every Christian a Follower of Christ And doth not Paul forbid quenching the Spirit Doth he prohibit any man that hath gifts that they shall not exercise the same The Justice askt him Why he refused to Worship the Sacrament of the Altar Allen Because it is an Idol Baker Away with him and then was he carried to Prison and shortly after burnt at Maidstone The 30th day of the Moneth called June there were four men and three Women more burnt at Canterbury Alice
own hand which being large I could not avoid abreviating them for the benefit of the Reader as followeth Woodman Rich. Woodman apprehended the 15th day of the Moneth call'd March 1556. Reader hereby you shall see how the Scriptures are partly fulfilled on me being one of the least of his poor Lambs first you may understand that since I was delivered out of the Bishop of London's hands which was the 18th day of December 1555. which was the same day Philpot was burnt I lay in his Cole-house eight weeks lacking one day and before that I was almost a year and a half in the Kings-Bench after my first apprehending for reproving a Preacher in the Pulpit in the Parish of Warbleton where I dwelt for which I was had to two Sessions before I was sent to Prison and carried to two more Sessions while I was in Prison twice before the Bishop of Chichester and five times before the Commissioners and then sent to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house and many times called before him as it appeareth by my Examinations which the Bishop of Chichester now hath for they were found in my House when I was taken also several had Copies of the same of me when I was in the Cole-house And it pleased God to deliver me with four more out of the Butchers hands requiring nothing else of us but that we should be honest men and Members of the true Catholick Church which we affirmed we were Members of and purposed by Gods help therein to die hereupon we were delivered and he wisht us several times to speak well of him and no doubt he was worthy to be praised because he had been so faithfull a helper in his Master the Devils business for he had burnt John Philpot the same morning in whose blood his heart was so drunk that he could not tell what he did as it appeared to us Q. Mary An. 1556. both before and after for but two dayes before he promised us that we should be condemned that same day we were delivered and the next day after he had delivered us he sought earnestly to take some of us again he waxed dry after his great drunkenness wherefore he is like to have Blood to drink in Hell as he is worthy if he repent not with speed the Lord turn all their hearts if it be his Will After I was delivered the Papists said I had consented unto them rejoycing thereat the which I praised God was not the least in my thoughts but they perceived the contrary in a little time for I went from Parish to Parish and talked with them to thirteen at least and that of the chiefest in the County which so angered them that the Commissioners complained against me to Sr. John Gaye Lord Chamberlain who sent out four or five Warrant to apprehend me but having warning of their laying in wait for me I kept out of their way so that the Bailiffs mist of their prey and were much displeased but three dayes after the Lord Chamberlain sent three of his men to apprehend me I being at Plough with my Folks in the way coming to my House not mistrusting them came to them and spake to them they said that they Arrested me in the King and Queens Name and that I must go with them which suddain words made my Flesh to Tremble and Quake yet I answered them that I would go with them and desired them to go to my House first they said I should Then I remembered my self saying in my heart why am I thus afraid they can lay no evil to my charge if they Kill me for well doing I may think my self happy I remembred how I was formerly contented and glad to die in that Quarrel and so had continued ever since and should I now fear to die God forbid that I should for then were all my Labour in vain then I praised God I was satisfied having considered it was but the frailty of my Flesh which was loath to leave Wife Children and Goods I saw nothing but present Death before mine Eyes and as soon as I was perswaded in my mind to die I had regard of nothing in this World but was as joyfull as ever I was This Battel lasted not a quarter of an hour but I dare say it was sharper then Death it self for the time When I had got my Breakfast I desired them to shew me their Warrant thinking thereby I might see wherefore I was Arrested that I might be the better able to make my defence but one of them answered they had not their Warrant there at which words God put it into my minde that I need not to go with them unless they had their Warrant and I said it 's much you 'l come to take a man without a Warrant and therefore set your hearts at rest I will not go with you unless you carry me by force and so I rose up from the Board and stept into my Chamber thinking to go from them if I could possible seeing God had made the way so open for me I meant to play Peters part with them but God would not have it so but sent a fear amongst them that before I came out of my Chamber again they were gone out of my House When I saw that I knew it was Gods doing to set me at liberty once again yet I was compelled to spake to them saying if you have a Warrant I desire you to shew it me and I will go with you if not I defire you to depart in peace for surely I will not go without the order of the Law I have been too simple in such things already for when I was sent first to Prison the Justices sent for me by one of their men without any Warrant and I went gently to them to two Sessions and they sent me to Prison and kept me there almost a year and three quarters contrary to right and equity and it seemeth strange to me that I should be thus evilly handled therefore I will go to none of them hence forward without legal order Then one of them said we have not the Warrant here but it is at my House the worst is you can but make us fetch it Then said I fetch it if you will and so I shut my door and before they came back with a Constable as God would have it I was gone forth but they searched every corner of my House and at night there came seven men and a Constable to search again but I kept abroad and because I supposed they would lay wait for me and thinking they would not mistrust that I dare be nigh home I told my Wife I would make my Lodging in a Wood near my House as I did under a Tree and there had my Bible Pen and Ink and other necessaries and there I continued six or seven weeks then there came word into the Country that I was seen and spoken with in Flanders whereupon they left laying
declare what the Tree is for a good Man or Woman out of the good Treasure of their hearts bringeth forth good Fruits Wherefore dear Sister let our Faith be made manifest to the World by our deeds and in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation as St. Paul saith Let your Light shine as in a dark place O dear hearts now is the Gospel of God overwhelmed with many black and troublesome Clouds of Persecution for the which cause very few go about to have their Eyes made clear by the true light of the Gospel for fear of loosing their Treasures of this World which are but vain and shall Perish Let us not therefore be like unto them which light their Candle and put it under a Bushel but let us set our Candle upon a Candlestick that it may give light unto all them that are in the House that is to say let all the People of the Houshold of God see our good works in suffering all things patiently that shall be laid upon us for the Gospel sake if it be Death it self for Christ died for us leaving us an Example that we should follow his steps and as he hath given his Life for us so ought we to give our Lives for the Defence of the Gospel to the comfort of our Brethren How is it then that some will say that their Faith is good and yet they do all the deeds of Anti-christ the Devil St. Paul saith To believe with the heart justifieth and to confess with the Mouth maketh a man safe Here may all see that no man or woman can have a true Faith unless they have deeds also and he that doubteth is like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about of the Wind and can look for no good thing at the Lords hands Now is the acceptable time that Christ spoke of yea even now is the Ax put to the Root of the Tree that so every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit must be hewn down and cast into the Fire Now is the Lord come with his Fan in his hand to try the Wheat from the Chaff the Wheat he will gather into his Barn and the Chaff he will burn Now is the time come that we must go meet the Bridegroom with Oyle in our Lamps we are also bidden to the Feast let us make no excuses our Master hath delivered Talents unto us Now is the Lord come to see if there be any Fruit upon his Trees if he find none he will serve us as he did the wild Fig-Tree that is Never Fruit shall grow on him more If we go to meet the Bridegroom without Oyle in our Lamps and should go to buy the doubt is we should be served as the Foolish Virgins were to whom God said Depart I know you not If we use not our Talents well they shall be taken from us and given to others and all such unprofitable Servants shall be cast into Hell where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of teeth May not all People now perceive that this is the time that our Master Christ speaketh of that the Father should be against the Son and the Son against the Father and one Brother against an other that the Brother shall deliver the Brother to death yea and that the Wicked shall say all manner of Wicked sayings against us for his Name sake the which I have found by experience I praise God that gave me strength to bear it I have no mistrust but that the World shall see and know my Blood shall not be dear in my own sight whensoever it please God to give my Adversaries leave to shed it I do earnestly believe that God which hath begun this good work in me will perform it to the end for when I have been in Prison sometimes wearing Blots and Shackles lying on the bear ground and sometimes sitting in the Stocks and bound with Cords that my Body was swelled and I like to be overcome with pain sometimes lying in the Woods and Fields wandring to and fro brought before Justices Sheriffs Lords Doctors and Bishops called Dog Devil Heretick Whoremonger Traytor Thief Deceiver and such like Yea even they that did eat of my Bread that should have been most my Friends by Nature have betrayed me yet for all this I praise God that hath seperated me from my Mothers Womb all this that hath happened unto me hath been easie for I praise God they are not able to prove one tittle of their sayings to be true but that way which they call Heresie I serve my Lord God and at all times before whomsoever I have been brought God hath given me Mouth and Wisdom against which my Adversaries have not been able to resist wherefore dear Sister be of good comfort with all your Brethren and Sisters and take no thought what you shall say for it shall be given you the same hour according to the promises as I have alwayes found and as you and all others of Gods Elect shall well find when the time is full come and whereas I and many others have hoped that this Persecution would have been at an end ere this time now I perceive God will have a further Tryal to Root out all Dissemblers that no man should rejoyce in himself but he that rejoyceth should rejoyce in God wherefore if Prophecy should fail and Tongues should cease yet Love must indure for fear hath painfulness but a perfect Love casteth out all fear which Love I have no mistrust but God hath poured it upon you so abundantly that nothing in the World shall be able to seperate you from God neither High nor Low Rich nor Poor Life nor Death shall be able to put you from Christ but by him I trust you shall enter into New Jerusalem there to live forever After his Examination Sentence was past upon him and upon the 22th day of the Moneth called June he and nine more were burnt at Lewis as mention is made before The next Moneth following Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich S. Miller Elizabeth Cooper Martyrs This Simon Miller dwelt in Lyn he was a zealous man for the Lord and his Truth in those dayes detesting and abhoring the forced Religion of the Papists going from Lyn to Norwich and standing in the press of People as they were coming from their Popish service he spake some words to them at which some marvelled to hear and see his boldness but shortly after he was brought before Dunning Chancellor of Norwich when he was before him having his Confession of his Faith written and put in his Shoe part of which appearing was taken out which the Chancellor perusing askt him If he would stand to that Faith to which he said he should whereupon he was committed to Ward and shortly after was by the Bishop of Norwich and his Chancellor condemned and burnt with the â—â—â—esaid Elizabeth Cooper When Elizabeth first felt the Fire the shrunk and cryed out Simon Miller put his
you so far off Answ I am near enough and a little too near and further said I have done with you Chancellor What shall I tell my Lord of you Answ If you have nothing to tell him your Arrant will be the sooner done Chancellor Will you turn from this wicked Error you have been an evil example by your wicked reading you have perswaded simple women to this Error and you shall have mercy Answ I ask mercy of God whom I have offended and not of you Chancellor When were you at your Parish Church you have been Excommunicated this two years and therefore you are condemned and so past Sentence upon him and he was shortly after burnt at Norwich The next that suffered was one Joyce Lewis Wife to Thomas Lewis of Manchester this Joyce Lewis was a woman finely brought up in the pleasures of the World Joyce Lewis Martyr she was turned from the Popish Religion by seeing the great Sufferings and Death of Lawrance Saunders at Coventry and being afterwards inflamed with the love of God she purposed to abstain from those things that displeased him but her Husband being furious against her compelled her to go to Mass but being there in Testimony against their Idolatry when they sprinkled the holy Water she turned her back toward it for which she was shortly after accused before the Bishop the told the Bishop by refusing their holy Water she neither offended God nor his Laws the Bishop thereat was offended and bound her Husband in a hundred pound Bond for her appearance a Moneth after the Moneth being ended her unnatural Husband carried her himself to the Bishop who asked her Why she would not go to Mass and receive the Sacraments She answered because she found them not in the VVord needfull for mens Salvation wherefore she was condemned after her condemnation she continued a year in Prison where her behaviour both in word and deed was such that her death was greatly lamented when the Sheriff brought her news of the hour of her death she said to him your Message is welcome to me when the Fire was set to her she never struggled nor strived but ended her life patiently Four persons burnt at Islington About the seventeenth day of September were burnt at Islington Ralph Allerton James Austoo Margery Austoo his Wife and Richard Roth. Ralph Alerton after his apprehending was kept a whole year in Prison before he was condemned he was first accused before the Lord Darsey of Chichester for not conforming to the Idolatry and Superstition of the times and for praying and exhorting the People of the Parish where he lived not being a Priest before he was apprehended he kept himself in Woods and Barnes and other solitary places and at last being apprehended was sent up to the Councel and from them to Bonner Bishop of London in his Examination he told the Bishop there were three Religions in England then said Bonner Which be these Allerton replyed The first is that which you hold the second is clean contrary to the same and the third is a Neuter Then said Bonner Of which of these three art thou of Allerton said I am of that which is contrary to that which you teach to be believed on the pain of death after some other discourse between them the Bishop in a rage called him Knave and Whorson Prick-louse and demanded what he had to say why he should not pronounce the Sentence of condemnation against him to which he answered You ought not to condemn me for I am a Christian but do as you have determined for I see right and truth are suppressed and cannot appear upon the Earth these words ended the Bishop pronounced the Sentence of death against him and delivered him to the temperal Officers who on the day aforesaid caused him and the other three to be burnt There is not much Recorded what past in the Tryal of the other three only James Austoo when he was brought upon Examination before the Bishop in his Chappel at Fulham the Bishop said to him Dost thou know where thou art and before whom to which he replyed I know where I am for I am in an Idol-temple whereupon the Bishop past Sentence against him and his Wife who suffered deeply a Prisoner in the Bishops House being kept in his Dog-kennel under a pair of Stairs One Article against Richard Roth one of the four that was burned was that he was a Comforter to Hereticks and to that end had VVrit a Letter to certain Persons that were burnt at Colchester The Substance of which Letter written by him and directed to his Brethren and Sisters in Christ condemned at Colehester and ready to be burned for the Testimony of the Truth is as followeth Oh dear Brethren and Sisters how much have you to rejoyce in God that he hath given you such Faith to overcome this blood thirsty Tyrant thus far and no doubt he that hath begun that good work in you will fulfill it unto the end Oh dear hearts in Christ what a Crown of Glory shall ye receive with Christ in the Kingdom of God Oh that it had been the good will of God that I had been ready to have gone with you for I lye in my Lords little ease in the day and in the night I lye in the Cole-house from Ralph Allerton or any other and we look every day when we shall be condemned for he said that I should be burnt within ten dayes before Easter but I lye still at the Pools-brink and every man goeth in before me but we abide patiently the Lords leisure with many Bonds in Fetters and Stocks by the which we have received great joy in God And now fare you well dear Brethren and Sisters in this World Oh Brother Munt with your Wife and my dear Sister Rose how blessed are you in the Lord that God hath found you worthy to suffer for his sake with all the rest of my dear Brethren and Sisters known and unknown Oh be joyfull even unto death fear it not saith Christ For I have overcome death saith he Oh dear hearts seeing that Jesus Christ will be our help Oh tarry you the Lords leisure be strong let your hearts be of good comfort and wait you still for the Lord he is at hand yea the Angel of the Lord pitcheth his Tent round about them that fear him and delivereth them which way he seeth best for our lives are in the Lords hand and they can do nothing unto us before God suffer them therefore give all thanks to God Oh dear hearts you shall be clothed with long white Garments upon Mount Zion with the multitude of Saints and with Christ Jesus our Saviour which will never forsake us Oh blessed Virgins you have plaid the wise Virgins part in that you have taken Oyle in your Lamps that you may go in with the Bridegroom when he cometh into the everlasting joy with him but as for the Foolish they shall be
shut out because they made not themselves ready to suffer with Christ neither go about to take up his Cross Oh dear hearts how pretious shall your death be in the sight of the Lord for dear is the death of his Saints Oh fare you well and pray the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Amen pray pray pray By me Râ—chard Roth written with my own Blood I mentioned before how that ten persons suffered at Colchester amongst whom was one Agnes Bengeer who should have suffered with them six that went out of Mote-hall but her Execution was suspended for a time her name being mistaken in the Writ and instead of Agnes Bengeer called Agnes Boyer this poor woman when she saw she was seperated from her Prison-fellows and sent back to Prison and might not suffer with them for she had given up her self to suffer having provided a Nurse for her sucking Child and provided all things necessary for her suffering but when she saw she was put back she wept bitterly and made pitious mâ—an to her self esteeming her self as naked and desolate and bemoaning her condition when she was seperated from her Companions and this is written that the Reader may see how zealous these persons were in those dayes who esteemed death rather then life for their Testimonies sake but shortly after a Writ came down from London wherein her name was rightly incerted and she was burnt at Colchester Shortly after one John Noyes of Lacksfield in the County of Suffolk Shoe-Maker John Noyes Martyr he was apprehended for not going to their publick Service and Mass by one Thomas Levell and others who beset his House on both sides where they found John Noyes in his backside going forth one of the Persecutors seeing of him called to him and said Whether goest thou John replyed to my Neighbours the Persecutor said Your Master hath deceived you you must go with us now John replyed Take heed your Master deceive not you so they apprehended him and had him before the Justices next day who committed him to the Dungeon where he lay for some time and then he was had to Norwich before the Bishop and soon after Sentence of death was pronounced against him when he was bound to the Stake he speak these words Fear not them that can kill the Body but fear him that can kill both Body and Soul and cast them into Everlasting Fire And seeing his Sister weep and make moan for him he bid her that she should not weep for him but weep for her sins and so he yielded up his life Whilst he was burning one John Jarvis standing by said How the Sinews of his Arms shrink up two of the Sheriffs men hearing of him speak apprehended him and having him before the Justices they affirmed he should say what Villianous Wretches are these Whereupon the Justices commanded that he should be set in the Stocks next Market day and whipt about the Market naked but the Constable in friendship to him did not set him in the Stocks till that called Sunday morning and in the afternoon they whipt him about the Market with a Dog-whip having three Cords and so they let him go Whilst John Noyes was Prisoner his Wife desiring him to send her some tokens of Rememberance of him thereupon he sent her several Sentences of Scripture for a Rememberance as followeth Dearly beloved be not troubled with this heat that is now come among you to try you as though some strange thing had happened unto you but rejoyce insomuch as you are partakers of Christs Sufferings that when his glory appeareth you may be glad if ye be railed on for the Name of Christ happy are you for the Spirit of Glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you It is better if the will of God be so that you suffer for well-doing then for evil-doing 1 Pet. 3. So 1 Pet. 4. See that none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or an Evil-door or as a Busie-body in other mens matters but if any man suffer as a Christian-man let him not be asham'd but let him glorifie God in this behalf for the time is come that Judgment must begin at the House of God If it first begin at us what shall the end of them be that believe not the Gospel of God Wherefore let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit their Souls to him in well-doing St. Paul saith 2 Tim. 3. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution St. John saith 1 John 2. See that ye love not the World neither the things that are in the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the World as the lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World which vanisheth away and the Lust thereof but he that fulfileth the Will of God abideth forever St. Paul saith Collos 3. If ye be risen again with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on things that are above and not on things which are on Earth Our Saviour Christ saith Math. 18. Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the Sea The Prophet David saith Psal 84. Great are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all fear the Lord ye his Saints for they that fear him lack nothing When the Righteous cry the Lord heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles but misfortune shall slay the ungodly and they that hate the Righteous shall perish Hear Oh my People I assure thee Oh Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me there shall so strange God be in thee neither shalt thou Worship any other God Oh that my People would obey me for if Israel would walk in my wayes I would soon put down their Enemies and turn my hand against their Adversaries Our Saviour Christ saith The Disciple is not above his Master nor yet the Servant above his Lord it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master is and that the Servant be as his Lord is if they have called the Master of the House Belzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold so fear not them therefore St. Paul saith 2 Cor. 4. Set your selves therefore at large and bear not a strangers Yoke with the Unbelievers for what fellowship hath Righteousness with Unrighteousness What Company hath Light and Darkness Either what part hath the Believer with the Infidell c Wherefore come out from among them and seperate your selves now saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing so will I receive you and I will be a Father unto you and you shall be my Sons
Rich and in great Authority he had the more power to Persecute he divorced many men and women for Religion he was a great Swearer and given to Women to write saith the History how many Concubines and Whores he had would be incredible but mark what Judgments the Lord brought upon him for his wickedness On a time a poor man speaking a word to him he struck him such a blow with the swingle of a staile that he presently died thereon for which as is said Berry held up his hand at the Bar. And shortly after one Alice Oxes of the Parish of Ailesham coming into his House and going into the Hall he met her and being before moved smote her with his fist whereby she was fain to be carried home and the next day was found dead in her Chamber When this Priest heard that Queen Mary was dead and that the glory of their triumph quailed the day called Sunday following he made a great Feast A Judgment of God upon a Persecutor and had one of his Concubines there present with whom he was in his Chamber after Dinner until he went to that he called his Evening-song where he Ministred Baptism and as he was going home between the Grave-Yard and his House he fell down suddainly to the ground with a heavy graon and never stirred after and thus the Judgments of God was evidently seen to be Executed upon him by all that beheld him In the same Moneth that the aforesaid three suffer'd at Norwich there was two men and one woman burnt at Colchester viz. William Harris Richard Day and Christian George In the next Moneth being the Moneth called June a short but sharp Proclamation came forth to prohibit the spreading several good Books therein condemned under the title of Heresie and Sedition laying the injunction so strickt that whosoever should be found to have any such Books in their custody after the Proclamation came forth should be reputed as Rebels and to be Executed forthwith according to the order of Martial Law Shortly after several persons were apprehended being assembled in a religious exercise in a back Close near Islington two and twenty of whom were committed to Newgate and there remained seven weeks before they were Examined seven of these two and twenty were afterwards burnt in Smithfield and six at Brainford One of them viz. Reginald Eastland being required by the Bishop to answer upon Oath to the Articles charged against him refused saying an Oath was to end strife but to begin strife said he and Oath is not lawful and therefore choosed rather to suffer what punishment they would inflict upon him then to swear the matter against himself After Bonner had past Sentence upon Roger Holland one of them that was burnt in Smithfield Roger spoke to this effect I am said he Moved by the Spirit of God to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty and after this day in this place shall there not be any put to the Tryall of Fire and Faggot and as he was speaking and exhorting the People the Bishop turned back and charged the Keeper that none should speak with him without leave being brought to the Stake he spake after this manner Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the state of Death unto the Light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of thy Saintâ— 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 Amongst these persons apprehended at Islington some of them were Scourged or Whipped by Bonner with his own hands upon his deformed Effigies in Whipping them one made some Latine Verses the which in English are as followeth Muse not so much that Natures work is thus deformed now With belly blown and head so swoln for I shall tell you how This Canibal in three years space two hundred Martyrs slew They were his food he lov'd so blood he spared none he knew It should appear that blood feeds fat if men lye well and soft For Bonners belly waxt with blood though he seem'd to fast oft Oh bloody Beast bewail the death of those that thou hast slain In time repent since thou canst not their lives restore again Thomas Hinshaw and John Wills were taken and sent to the Cole-house and from thence Wills was had to Fulham and there was kept eight dayes in the Stocks in which time Bonner much abused him oftentimes raping him on the head with a Stick and flirting him under the Chin saying He looked down like a Thief and then had him into his Orchard and in an Arbour where he Whipt Tho. Henshaw he Whipt him first with a Willow-rod and then with a Birchenrod labouring and dealing his blows so long as his fat panch could endure with breath oftentimes the Bishop speak to Wills to this effect They call me said he bloody Bonner I would fain be rid of you a vengeance on you you have a delight in burning If I might have my will said he I would sow up your Mouthes and put you into a Sack and drown you and thus much concerning the two and twenty taken at Islington Rich Yeoman Martyr The next that suffered was Richard Yeoman after the Persecution arose at which time he was put out of his Living he was put to great straits so that he was forced to travel from place to place selling Pins and Laces to get a livelihood to maintain his Wife and Children at last was apprehended by order from one called Justice Moyle who set him in the Stocks a day and a night but having no evident matter to charge him with let him go again and returning home to Hadley Persecution against him was so hot that his Wife kept him privately a whole year in a Room lockt up all day where he carded Wool to get Bread for his Family although he was Seventy Years Old at last the Priest of the Town one Newall having intelligence of it searched his House one night and took him out of his Bed and put him in the Cage and in the Stocks until day At the same time the said Newall had caused to be put into the Stocks one John Dale and there had kept him two or three dayes for speaking to him in the time of his Executing the Romish Service and saying O Miserable Blind Guides will ye ever be Blind Leaders of the Blind Will ye never amend Will ye never see the Truth Will neither Gods Threats nor Promises enter into your Hearts VVill the Blood of Martyrs nothing mollifie you O Crooked and Perverse Generation Out of the Stocks they were both taken and bound like Thieves and set on Horse-back and their Legs bound under the Horses belly and so carried to the Goal at Bury where they were put in Irons and thrown into the lowest Dungeon where John Dale fell sick and died after he
I am content to be a Witness of Christ's death And I pray you make no longer delay with me for my heart is fixed and I will never turn to your superstitious doings Then the Bishop said The Devil did lead her No said she it is the Spirit of God which leadeth me and which called me in my Bed at Midnight and opened his Truth to me Then the Priests and others Shouted and laughed at her When the Sentence was read against her and she was condemned to be burnt to death she lifted up her Voice and said I thank thee my Lord my God this day have I found that which I have long sought for At which words They mockt her and so being brought to the Stake she was as lively and cheerful in her Countenance as if she had been prepared for that day of her Marriage to meet the Lamb and so she ended this Mortal Life She was a Woman very patient in her Words and Answers in her Apparel Meat and Drink moderate and sober and would never be Idle and was a great comfort to such as talked with her and in her trouble she refused to take Money saying whilst I am here God has Promised to feed me and I am going to a City where there is no need of Money And in the time of her suffering she forsook Husband Children who Persecuted her because she would not stoop to Idolatry and when after Sentence and Judgment was given against her they offered her that if she would recant and turn her life should be spared Nay said she God forbid that I should lose life Eternal for this life I will never turn from my heavenly Husband to my earthly Husband from the fellowship of Angels to Mortal Children If my Husband and Children were faithful then am I theirs God is my Father my Sister my Brother and my Friend most faithful Five persons burnt at Canterbury We are now come to a stop of the Issue of Blood and the rage of Persecution for the Testimony of Truth in Queen Maryes time and the last that suffered in her time were five that were burnt at Canterbury about six dayes before her Death viz. John Cornford of wortham Christopher Browne of Maidstone Jo. Hurst of Ashford Alice Sloth Katherine Tynley which five persons being in the custody of the Arch-Deacon of Canterbury who being at London and understanding the danger of the Queens dying Posted home to dispatch them out of the way in the which fact the Tyranny of this Arch-Deacon seemeth to exceed Bonner's cruelty for several that were under his custody were delivered by the Death of the Queen after they had suffered many great Exercises and Tryals Here followeth an Account of such who suffered Tryals and Imprisonments for their Profession of the Truth and who in all likelihood had also been burnt for the same had not God through his Mercy and Providence preserved them by the Death of the Queen At this time divers there were in many places of the Realm Imprisoned whereof some were but newly taken and not Examined some begun to be Examined but were not condemned several were Examined and condemned but no Writ being sent down escaped others were condemned and the Writ sent down for there burning but the Bishop Chancellor and Queen happning to die together about one time they were Marvelously preserved amongst whom was one John Hunt and Richard white both Imprisoned at Salisbury and other places This Examnation was on the 26th of April 1557. where they lay above two years and were often troubled by Priests and Bishops Richard White being brought before Capon Bishop of Salisbury and Brookes Bishop of Gloucester and a great number of other Priests Bishop Brookes said Is this the Prisoner and said Friend wherefore comest thou hither VVhite I trust to know the cause for the Law saith in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses things must stand Dr. Capon Did not I Examine thee of thy faith VVhite No you did not Examine me but commanded me to the Lollards Tower and that no man shoeld speak with me and now I do require mine Accuser say what I have said and I will answer you Then the Chancellor said Thou shalt corfess thy Faith ere then depart and my Lord of Gloucester shall Examine thee VVhite I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God to Salvation to all that believe and St. Peter saith If any man do ask thee a reason of the hope that is in thee make him a direct answer and that with meekness And being referred to the Bishop to Examine him he said Will you take the pains to wet your Coat in my blood Be not Guilty thereof I warn you and that before hand Brookes I will do nothing contrary to our Law declare thy faith said he concerning the Sacrament of the Altar VVhite What is a Sacrament I find not that word Sacrament in the Scriptures Much discourse they had concerning the Sacrament of the Altar which for brevities sake is omitted and at last the Bishop cryed Away with him to the Lollards Tower and dispatch him as soon as you can this was the Substance of his Examination The occasion of his and his Companions long detainment in Prison and not Executed was the moderation of the Under-Sheriff who when he had received the Writ to burn them said I will not be guilty of these mens blood and immediately burnt the Writing within few dayes after the said John Hunt and Richard White being in a low and dark Dungeon in an Evening fell upon their knees to prayer but could not utter words for weeping and tenderness of Heart and so continued a great while in tears the next morning news was brought them that the Chancellor their great Enemy was dead who died about the same time that they were in such a weeping frame however they there continued in Prison till the coming in of Queen Elizabeth and then were set at Liberty At this time also was delivered by the Providence of God one John Fetty a poor Taylor of Clarkenwel whom his Wife complained of to the Priest of the Parish for that he would not go to Mass and be partaker of their Idolatry notwithstanding this unkind fact of his Wife yet did he cherish her and provide well for her but notwithstanding his gentle dealing with her and that she had recovered her health having been ill did again accuse him whereupon he was apprehended and by one of the Queens Commissioners sent to the Lollards Tower where he was put into the painful Stocks and had a dish of Water set by him with a Stone put in it after he had layn there about two weeks hanging in the Stocks sometimes by one Leg and one Arm and sometimes by the other and sometimes by both it happened that one of his Children a Boy of the Age of about eight or nine Years came to the Bishops House to see if he could
contrary to all Law Equity and Conscience where they alone are the Plantiffs the Accusers the Judges and the Executioners of their most fearful and barbarous Tyranny They should not by the Laws of this Land go any further in Cases of Religion then their own Ecclesiastical Censure and then refer us to the Civil power their Fore-fathers Gardner Bonner and Story dealt thus equally and we crave but this Equity Oh let her Excellent Majesty our Soveraign and your Wisdoms consider and accord unto this our just Petition for Streams of Innocent Blood are like to be spilt in secret by these Blood-thirsty-men except her Majesty and your Lordships do take order with their most cruel and inhuman proceedings We crave for all of us but the Liberty either to die openly or to live openly in the Land of our Nativity If we deserve death it beseemeth the Majesty of Justice not to see us closely murthered yea starved to death with hunger and cold and stifled in loathsome Dungeons If we be guiltless we crave but the benefit of onr Innocency viz. That we may have peace to serve our God and our Prince in the place of the Sepulcher of our Fathers Thus protesting our Innocency complaining of Violence and Wrong and crying for Justice on the behalf and on the name of that righteous Judge the God of Equity and Justice we continue our Prayers unto him for her Majesty and your Honours whose hearts we beseech him to incline towards this our most equal and just Suit This complaint was Penned by H. Barrow and is by me truly Copied Verbatim out of my Author through CHRIST JESUS our Lord. And now I find that besides many that ended their dayes in loathsome Prisons there were six executed who sealed up their Testimonies with their blood the six that were executed are these viz. Henry Barrow and John Greenwood at Tyburn John Penry at Thomas a Waterings neer London William Dennis at Thetford in Norfolk and Câ—ppin and Elias at Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk I have here inserted as followeth two Letters of John Penry which was all I could meet with by which Letters the Reader may see what a Zeal and religious Courage was stirring in these people at this day To the distressed faithful Congregation of Christ in London and all the Members thereof whether in bonds or at liberty these be delivered my beloved Brethren M. F. Johnson M. D. M. S. M. S. M. G. I. M. I. M. H. M. B. M. S. R. B. M. R. M. K. N. B. M. B. I. M. N. P. W. C. P. A. my Brethren M. I. C. W. B. A. P. M. M. M. E. C. C. D. G. M. A. B. with the rest of you both men and women as if particularly I named you all which stand members of this poor afflicted Congregation whether at liberty or in bonds Jesâ—â— Christ that great King and Prince of the Kings of the Earth bless you coâ—fâ—â—t you with his invinceable Spirit that you may be able to bear and over come these great Tryals which you are yet and I with you if I â—â—â—e to undergo for his Names sake in this Testimony Beloved let us think our Lot and Portion more then blessed that now are vouchsafed the favour not only to know and to profess but also to suffer for the sincerity of the Gospel and let us remember that great is our reward in Heaven if we endure unto the end I testifie unto you for mine own part as I shall answer before Jesus Christ and his Elect Angels that I never saw any Truth more clear and undoubted then this witness wherein we stand First Against false Offices Secondly The callings Thirdly The works Fourthly The maintenance left and retained in this Land by and from Popery Fifthly Against the obedience which spiritually either in Soul or in Body is yielded and the communion that is had with these inventions of darkness Sixthly The mingling of all sorts in these Assemblies Seventhly The worship done but scant in one of the three parts of the Commission given by our Saviour scant done I say in one of the three parts of the Commission by the best Teachers of this Land and I thank my God I am not only ready to be bound and banished but even to die in his Cause by his strength yea my Brethren I greatly long in regard of my self to be dissolved and â—o live iâ— the blessed Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus Christ and his Angels with Adam Enoch Noah Abraham Moses Job David Jeremiah Daniel Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles and with the rest of the holy Saints both men and women with the glorious Kings Prophets and Martyrs and Witnesses of Jesus Christ that have been from the beginning of the World particularly with my two dear Brethren Master Henry Barrow and Master John Greenwood which have last of all yielded their Blood for this pretious Testimony confessing unto you my Bretheren and Sisters that if I might live upon the Earth the dayes of Methusala twice told and that in no less Comfort then Peter James and John were in the Mount and after this life might be fure of the Kingdom of Heaven that yet to gain all this I durst not go from the former Testimony wherefore my Brethren I beseech you be of like mind herein with me I doubt not but you have the same pretious faith with me and are Partakers also of far more glorious Comfort then my barren and sinful Soul can be strive for me and with me that the Lord our God may make me and all us able to end our Cause with joy and patience strive also that he may stay his blessed hand if it be his good pleasure and not make any further breach in his Church by the taking away of any more of us as yet to the discouraging of the weak and the lifting up of the horn of our Adversaries I would indeed if it be his good pleasure live yet with you to help you to bear that grievous and hard Yoke which yet ye are like to sustain either here or in a strange Land and my good Brethren seeing Banishment with loss of goods is likely to betide you all prepare your selves for this hard entreaty and rejoyce that you are made worthy for CHRIST's Cause to suffer and bear all these things And I beseech you in the Bowels of Jesus Christ that none of you in this case look upon this particular Estate but regard the general state of the Church of God that the same may go and be kept together whithersoever it shall please God to send you Oh the Blessing will be great that shall ensue this care whereas if you go every man to provide for his own House and to look for his own Family first neglecting poor Sion the Lord will set his Face against you and scatter you from the one end of Heaven to the other neither shall you find a resting place for the Soles of your Feet or a
11. Joseph's Brethren were punished by Famine and Distress Josephs Brethren who persecuted their righteous Brother Joseph in that they hated him and sold him for twenty pieces of Silver to the Ishmaelites as is confest and acknowledged by themselves to be justly come upon them for that thing We are very guilty say they one to another concerning our Brother in that we saw the anguish of his Soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this Distress come upon us and Ruben answered them saying Spake I not unto you saying Do not sin against the Child and ye would not hear therefore behold also his blood is required Gen. 37.4.28 King Pharaoh and the Aegyptians the great Persecutors of the Children of Israel Pharaoh and the Aegyptians who kept them long in Captivity in Aegypt the House of Boundage who by all the Wisdom they had studdied how to Vex and Torment them by Task-Masters to Afflict them by Burthens and make them serve with Rigour and thereby made their Lives most bitter unto them with heard Bondage in Mortar and Brick to be made without Straw and yet exacting upon them the full tail of Bricks as when they had Straw and beating of them if they did not fulfil the number of their wonted daily Task and lastly by commanding all their Male-Children to be slain and killed and would not let them go to do Sacrifice unto the Lord their God but for all this they did not go unpunished but the Lord most justly and most severelly punisned them for all their Cruelty and Wicked Persecution For First their Water was all turned into Blood insomuch that their Fish died and they themselves could not drink of it Secondly They were plagued with Frogs in their Houses and in their Chambers in their Beds in their Ovens and in their kneeding-troughs and upon himself and his People Thirdly Their Dust was turned into Lice and they were upon Man and Beast and in their Houses and they covered the Ground Fourthly They were plagued with swarms of Flies in like manner Fifthly With the Murrain among their Beasts Sixthly With Blaines and Boyles upon man and Beast Seventhly With grievous Hail mingled with Fire killing men and Beast that it fell upon and every Herb of the Field throughout the Land and every Tree Eighthly With grievous Locusts which went over all the Land covering the Face of the whole Earth so that the Land was Darkened and they did eat every Herb of the Land and all the Fruit of the Trees which the Hail had left Ninthly With thick Darkness over all the Land even darkness that may be felt for three dayes together so that they saw not one the other neither rose any from his place for three dayes but the Children of Israel had light in their dwellings all the while Tenthly The Lord did out off all the First-born in the Land from the First-born of Pharaoh that sits upon the Throne to the First-born of the Maid-Servant that was behind the Mill and all the First-born of Beasts Then Lastly the Lord drowned them all in the midst of the Red-Sea even Pharaoh and all the Aegyptians with all their Chariots and Horse-men and all his Host so as there remained not one of them Thus was the Judgment of God executed upon cruel Persecuting Pharaoh and all the Aegyptians The Wicked King Ahab who sold himself to work Wickedness a great Persecutor and Hater of good Micah a true Prophet of the Lord King Ahab who for speaking the truth in the Name of the Lord when commanded by the King so to do though it were against the King himself was for that by him commanded to be put in Prison and fed with Bread and Water of Affliction and suffered him to be smitten on the Face by Zedekiah in his presence without reproof was at last met with by the hand of Justice and true Judgment according to the Word of the Lord spoken by the said Prophet for he was slain in Battel by a Dart snot out of a Bow at venter which smote him the King of Israel between the joynts of the harness whilst he was in his Chariot and was fain to be carried out of the Battel and at Evening about Sun-set he died 2 Chron. 18.7 26 33 34. Jezabel that cursed Woman and great Persecutor of the Saints who slew and cut off many of the Prophets of the Lord Jezabel Queen who caused Naboth to be accused falsly of Blasphemy that so he might be Stoned to Death as he was so that King Ahab her Husband who thristed for poor Naboths Vineyard might take possession thereof as he did She threatned the man of God and Prophet of the Lord Elijah in Swearing by her Gods She would cause him to be slain by to morrow this time and make his life as the life of one of the Prophets of Baal which he had slain was most justly rewarded at the Hand of the Lord according as the Prophet of the Lord Elijah had aforetold who said the Dogs should eat Jezabel by the Wall of Jezreel which was the very Wall of Naboth's Vineyard which she caused to be taken most wickedly from him as aforesaid for when she reckoned with her self to set out her self in the most sumptions manner she could to the liking of the King by triming and decking her self by painting her Face and tiring her Head to look out of the Window upon the King then did King Jehu command her to be thrown down out of the Window and so they threw her down out of the Window and shed her blood and trampled her under their Feet and when he would have buried this cursed Woman as he called her because she was a Kings Daughter they found that the Dogs had lickt up her Blood and had eaten her Flesh so that there remained only her Skull her Feet and the Palmes of her Hands Then said the King when he heard of it This makes good the Word of the Lord which he spake by his Servant Elijahâ— the Tishbite saying In the Portion of Jezreel shall Dogs eat the Flesh of Jezabel and the Carkass of Jezabel shall be as Dung upon the Face of the Fields in the Portion of Jezreel so that they shall not say this is Jezabel 1 King 18.4 13. 1 Kings 21.8 16 21 23. 2 Kings 9.33 36 37. King Joash when he began to Reign Ruled well King Joash and so continued while he had good Councellors about him but when he began to hearken unto evil Councellors viz. The Princes of Judah his chief good Councellor Jehoida the Priest being dead and took their evil Council they drew away his Heart and inclined it to Idolatry and to Persecution so that when Zachariah the Son of Jehoida came to him from the Lord being filled with the Spirit to bear Testimony against him and their Idolatry and against his and their Transgressions and to reprove him and them for it they conspired
Death at length being put in mind and in rememberance that his disease was sent of God he began to bethink himself of the wickedness that he had done against the Saints of God and coming unto himself confesseth his sins to God and sets forth his Edicts to command all men to cease from Persecuting the Christians desiring the Christians to pray to their God for him and this occasioned the very Infidels themselves to extol the only true God of the Christians and not long after by the very Violence of his Disease he ended his life Acts and Mon. 115.116.122 Maxentius was vanquished by Constantine and drowned in Tyber Acts and Mon. pag. 51. Lycinius being overcome by Constantine the great was deposed from his Empire and afterwards slain of his Souldiers Ibid. CHAP. III. The Just Judgments of God that befel some under Officers and Ministers of state and others that did execute the several Tyrannical Persecutions of the afore said Emperors upon the Christians for Conscience sake during the time of the aforesaid Ten Persecutions Informers justly rewarded CErtain men of the Jewish Nation Informers had accused the Martyr Symon Son of Cleophas and reputed nephew to Christ for being a Christian and one of the Stock of David against whom Trajanus the Emperor had given forth a Commandment that whosoever could be found of the Stock of David This Trajanus Emperor was the beginner of the Third persecution Anno. 100. or 108. see Acts and Mon. 57. Clae Gen. Martyr 35. he should be inquired out and put to death of which Stock upon inquiry these his Accusers were found to be and so right justly were put to Execution themselves which sought the destruction of another though it was not long after but the good man Simon after he had been scourged many dayes bearing it with singular constancy when he was a hundred and twenty years old was Crucified and put to death finishing his course in the Lord Acts and Mon. 65 66. Three other wicked evil-disposed persons Informers seeing the soundness grave constancy and vertuous life of Narcissus then Bishop of Jerusalem aged an hundred and sixty three years accused him as being guilty of a hainous crime Perjured Informers that he was clear of and having laid it to his charge they the better to make their Accusation seem more probable before the People they bind it with a great Oath one wishing to be destroyed by Fire if he said not true the other to be consumed with a grievous sickness the third to loose both his Eyes if they did Lye Narcissus although having his Conscience clear yet not able being but one man to withsland their Accusation bound with such Oathes gave place and removed himself from the Multitude into a solitary Desert by himself where he continued many years in the mean time to them which so willingly and wickedly forswore themselves this happened The first by casualty of one little small sparkle of Fire was burnt with his goods and all his Family The Second was taken with a great sickness from the top to the toe and devoured with the same The Third hearing and seeing the punishment of the other confessed his fault but through great Repentance poured out such tears that he lost both his Eyes and thus was their false perjury punished and Narcissus after long absence returned home again was by this means both cleared of the Fact and received into his Bishoprick again Acts and Mon. 80. An Executioner Antiochus Tormentor and Executioner of extreame torments under Alexander Severus the Emperor and Persecutor of the Christians upon a young youth called Agapitus of the Age of fifteen years who suffered Martyrdom for not Sacrificing to Idols after he had been assayled with sundry Torments viz. First with whips scourged This Alexander Severus was the beginner of the Fifth Persecution Anno. 195. then hanged by the feet after having hot water poured upon him at last cast to the wild Beasts with all which Torments when he could not be hurt finally with the Sword was beheaded This said Antioclius in the Executing the aforesaid Torments suddenly fell down from his Judicial Seat crying out that all his inward Bowels burned within him and so gave up the Ghost Hen. de Erfordia lib. 6. ch 29. Acts and Mon. 85. The like severity of Gods terrible Judgments is also to be noted in Claudius his President Perfident to Claudius this President and Minister of his Persecutions who was possessed and vexed with a Devil in such sort that he biting off his own Tongue in many small pieces so ended his life Hen. de Erfordia Acts and Mon. 105. CHAP. IV. The Just Judgments of God upon Persecutors in Queen Maryes Reign AFter the death of Queen Mary the bloody work ceased although a stop there was before her Death in London in some measure for as Roger Holland had declared to Bonner that the Lord would shorten their hands of cruelty and as he foretold there was not one burnt in Smithfield for Religion after him for though the vehement zeal of this Queen was such for the setting up of Popery in England as if she intended to establish it forever yet the secret hand of Providence had a regard to his suffering Seed and put a period to her cruelty and it is an evident token that the Religion she endeavoured to settle did not please God although it pleased her since we see the bad effects it brought forth for had it been as godly as it was bloody no doubt the success would have been better and the strict Hand of Gods Judgments would not have been executed upon the bloody Persecutors of such as dissented as evidently appears they were by the many Examples of divine Justice shewed from time to time and the unprosperous success of this Queen in all her affairs are a full assurance the Lord disliked her effusion of so much blood in the matter of Religion neither in all her undertaking had she any good success for though she endeavoured to restore again the Monks and Nuns Abbyes Fryars c. which were partly dissolved in her Fathers time yet she was frustrated in her designs and how unprosperous she was in her State affairs may be read at large in the Chronicle for she lost Callice which had been won by the valour of Edward the Third and marrying with Philip of Spain a Papist by him she had no Issue and though she promised to her self great felicity in him but it proved otherwise for he withdrew first his affection from her and at last his company also and thus the Almighty ordered things but no Admonitions would take place with her to cause her to revoke her bloody Laws nor to stop the Tyranny of these bloody Priests and Bishops but the Servants of God were drawn by heaps as Sheep to the Slaughter and so it continued till by death she was taken away after she had reigned Five Years and Five Moneths
man of a cruel nature and of a perverse and corrupt judgment a sore Persecutor of Christs Flock with greediness seeking and shedding Innocent Blood having drowned divers good men and women for which of some he was called A blood-Hound of others Sheltade that being of a short grundy and little stature he did commonly ride with a broad Hat as a Churl of the Country On a time having been at Antwerp at a Feast and being loaden with Wine riding home over a Bridge the Wagon was blown over the Bar into the Town-Ditch where his neck was broken and his Wife being with him was taken up alive but died within three dayes after the truth of this was Witnessed by several Merchants of Antwerp Erasmus in his Apology maketh mention of a Noble man who having purposed before his Death to go see Jerusalem and setting things in order for his Journey An. 1558. leaving the care of his Wife who was great with Child and of his Lordships and Castles to an Arch-Bishop as to a must sure and trusty Father to make short it happened this Noble man died in his Journey as soon as the Arch-Bishop hard of it instead of a Father he became an Enemy and Destroyer seizing into his hands all his Lordships and Possessions neither was he therewith contented but he laid seige against a strong Fort into which the Wife of the Noble man was fled for safe-guard where in the conclusion she with the Child she went withal was miserably slain By this Example the Reader may see what the effects of this mans blind Superstition was and what ill Fruits his rash vows to defend Idolatrous Pilgrimage did produce therefore saith my Author it is rightly said of Hierome To have been at Jerusalem is no great matter but to live a Godly and Virtuous life that is a great matter indeed In the Town of Gaunt in Flander An. 1565 The Provost of Gaunt one william D'waver was accused and Imprisoned by the Provost in Gaunt who had in his Cloister a Prison and place of Execution being with several others set in Judgment Seat in Examination and Trial of the said D'weavâ—â— where he charged him with denying to pray to Saints and denying Purgatory on a suddain the said Provost was smitten with a Palsie that his Mouth was drawn almost to his Ear and so he fell down and never speak word more and the next day about ten a clock he died nevertheless they burned the said William D'weaver within three hours after the same The like Example of the Lords Judgement was shewed upon another great Persecutor called Sir Garret Triest Aâ—â—56◠〈…〉 who had long promised to the Regent to bring down the Preachers for which the â—â—gent promised to make him an Earl the said Gerret being at Gaâ—â—â— â—e with other of the Lords received a Commission from the Regent 〈◊〉 sware the Lords and Commons unto the Romish Religion Garret being at Supper speak to his Wife to call him an hour sooner then he use to rise for that he should have much business to swear the People in the Town-house the next day but see what happened the said Garret going to Bed in good health and his Wife calling him in the morning according to his appointment found him dead by her and so not able to prosecute his wicked purpose However the Lords of Gaunt coming to the Town-house proceeded to give the Oath according to their Commission but Martin de Pâ—â—â—â—â— the Secratary being appointed to tender the Oath at the first â—an he offered it to the said Secratary was stricken with present Death and fell down and was carried away in a Chair and never speak more and to witness the Truth hereof my Author produceth ten persons Names A Letter translated out of French into English written to Henry the Second French King declaring and proving out of divers Histories what Afflictions and Calamities from time to time by Gods Righteous Judgments have fallen upon such as have been Eâ—â—micâ— to his People and have resisted the free passage of his Truth Consider I pray you Sir and you shall find that all your 〈◊〉 â—â—ous have come upon yon since you have set your self against 〈◊〉 which are called Lutherans when you made the Edict of 〈…〉 â—â—ant God sent you wars but when you ceased the 〈…〉 said Edict and as long as you were Enemies to the Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ing into Armain for the defence of the liberty of the Germans â—â—â—â—ed for Religion your Affairs prospered as you could wish or desire On the contrary what hath come upon you since you joyned with the Pope again having received a Sword from him for his own safe-guard and who was it that caused you to break the Truce God hath turned in a moment your Prosperity into such Afflictions that they touch not only the state of your own person but of your Kingdom also To what end came the enterprise of the Duke of Guise in Haly going about the service of the Enemy of God and purposing after his return to destroy the Valleys of Piedmont to offer or sacrifice them to God for his Victories the event hath well declared that God can turn upside down our Counsels and Enterprizes as he overturned of laâ—e the Enterprize of the Constable of France at S. Quintinis having Vowed to God that at his return he would go and destroy Geneva when he had gotten the Victory Have you not heard of L' Pouchet Arch Bishop of Towers who made suit for the erection of a Court called Chamber Ardent wherein to condemn the Protestants to the Fire who afterwards was stricken with a disease called The Fire of God which began at his feet and ascended upwards that he caused one Member after another to be cut off and so died miserably without any Remedy Also one Castillanus who having inriched himself by the Gospel and forsaking the pure Doctrine thereof and returning to his vomit again went about to persecute the Christians at Orleans and by the Hand of God was stricken in his Body with a sickness unknown to the Physitians the one half of his Body burning as hot as Fire and the other as cold as Ice and so most miserably crying and lamenting ended his life There be other infinite Examples of Gods Judgments worthy to be remembered as the death of the Chancellor and Legate Duprat which was the first that opened to the Parliament the knowledge of Heresies and gave out the first Commissions to put the faithful to death who afterward died in his House at Natcilet Swearing and horribly Blaspheming God and his stomack was found pierced and knawn assunder with Worms also John Ruse Councellor in the Parliament coming from the Court after he had made report of the process against the poor Innocents was taken in a burning in the lower part of his Belly and before he could be brought home to his House the fire invaded all his secret parts and so he died
miserably Also one named Claude De Astes a Councellor in the said Court the same day he gave his Opinion and Consent to burn a faithful Christian albeit it was not done indeed as he would have it after he had dined committed Whoredom with a Servant in the House and even in doing the Act was stricken with a disease called an Apoplexia whereof he died out of hand Peter Lyset chief President of the said Court and one of the Authors of the aforesaid burning Chamber was deposed from his Office for being known to be out of his right wit and bereaved of his understanding Also John Moren Lievtenant Crimnel of the Provost of Paris after he had been the cause of the Death of many Christians was finally stricken with a disease in the Legs called the Wolves whereby he lost the use of them and died also out of his wits many dayes before denying and blaspheming God Likewise John Andrew Book-Binder of the Palace a spie for the President Liset and of Bruseard the Kings Soliciter died in a Fury of Madness The Inquisitor John De Roma in Province his flesh fell from him by piece-meal and so stinking that no man might come near him for the smell thereof Also John Minerius of Province who was the cause of the death of a great Number of Men Women and Children at Cabriers and at Merindol died with bleeding in the lower parts the Fire having taken his Belly blaspheming and despising God besides many other whereof we might make recital which were punished with the like kind of death It may please your Majesty to remember your self that ye had no sooner determined to set upon us but new troubles were by and by moved by your Enemies with whom ye could make no Agreement which God would not suffer forasmuch as your Peace was grounded upon the Persecution which ye pretended against Gods Servants as also your Cardinals cannot let through their cruelty the course of the Gospel which hath taken such root in your Realm that if God should give you leave to destroy the Professers thereof you should be almost a King without Subjects Tertullian hath well said that the blood of Martyrs is the Seed of the Gospel wherefore to take away all these evils coming of the riches of the Papists which cause so much Whoredom Sodomitry and Incest wherein they wallow like Hogs feeding their idle Bellies the best way were to put them from their Lands and Possessions as the Old Sacrificing Levites were according to the express Commandment given to Joshua for as long as the Commandment of God took place and that they were void of Ambition the purity of Religion remained whole and perfect but when they began to aspire to Principallity Riches and worldly Honours then began the Abomination of Desolation that Christ foretold It was even so in the Primitive Church for it flourished and continued in all pureness as long as the Ministers were of small wealth and sought not their particular profit but the Glory of God only but since the Pope began to be Prince like and to usurp the Dominion of the Empire under the colour of a false Donation of Constantine they have turned the Scriptures from their true sence and have attributed the service to themselves which we owe to God wherefore your Majesty may seize with good right upon all the Temperallities of the Benefices and that with a safe Conscience to Employ them to their true and right use First For the finding and maintaining of the faithful Ministers of the Word of God for such Livings shall be requisite for them according as the case shall require Secondly For the entertainment of your Justices that give Judgment Thirdly For the relieving of the poor and Maintenance of the Colledges to instruct the poor Youths in that which they shall be most apt unto and the rest which is infinite may remain for entertainment of your own Estate and Affairs to the great easment of your poor People which alone bear the Burden and possess in manner nothing In this doing an infinite Number of men and even of your Nobility which live of the Crucifex should imploy themselves to your Service and the Common Wealths so much the more diligently as they see that ye recompence none but those that have deserved whereas now there is an infinite Number of men in your Kingdom which occupy the chiefest and greatest Benifices which never deserved any part of them c. And thus much touching the Superfluous Possessions of the Popish Lordly Clergy Now proceeding further in this Exhortation to the King thus the Letter importeth But when the Papists see they have not to alledg for themselves any reason they say to make odious to your Majesty the Lutherans as they call us and say if their sayings take place ye shall be fain to remain a private person and that there is never change of Religion but there is also change of Princedom a thing as false as when they accuse us to be Sacramentaries and that we deny the Authority of Magistrates under the shaddow of a certain furious Anabaptist which Sathan hath raised in our time to Darken the Light of the Gospel for the Histories of the Emporors which have begun to receive the Christian Religion and that which is come to pass in our time shew the contrary Was there ever Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine in receiving the Christian Religion Was he therefore put from the Empire No he was thereby the more confirmed and established in the same and also his Posterity which ruled themselves by his Providence but such as are fallen away and followed mens Traditions God hath destroyed and their Race is no more known in the Earth so much doth God detest them that forsake him and in our time the late Kings of England and Germany were they constrained in reproving Superstitions which the wickedness of the time hath brought in to forsake their Kingdoms and Princedoms All men see the contrary and what honour fidelity and obedience of the people in our time that have received the Reformation of the Gospel do under their Princes and Superiours yae I may say that the Princes knew not before what it was to be obeyed at that time when the rude and ignorant people received so readily the dispensations of the Pope to drive out their own Kings and Natural Lords The true and only remedy Sir is that ye cause to be holden a holy and free Council where ye should be chief and not the Pope and his who ought but only to defend their causes by the holy Scriptures that in the mean while ye may seek out men not corrupted suspected nor partial whom ye may charge to give report faithfully unto you of the true sence of the holy Scriptures and this done after the Example of the good King Jehosaphat Hezekias and Josiâ—â— ye shall take out of the Church all Idolatry Superstitions and Abuse which is found directly