the Souldiers in Paris charged to be in Arms at a watch-word so that within three days 10000 of them were slain besides many other in the days following in Paris and the Persecution in other places in a Months time compleated the number of 30000 aforesaid which News being sent to the Pope he solemnly gave thanks for it as a mercy and the French King also did the like and the Messenger of the News had 1000 Crowns for his News but the poor Protestants were much troubled of whom some turned others fled and all had been destroyed had not those in Rochel by God's mercy been courageous and resolved to be stedfast and fight for the Faith which being known the French King besiegeth it and chargeth all his Nobles and Gentry on pain of great punishment to besiege it which was done with great vigour by the whole Force of France and also of the Duke of Anjou Duke of Alanson Navarre and Condee which Forces assaulted it seven times and were resisted so that they lost 122 Captains and at last the Duke of Anjou being made King of Polony which News coming to the Camp they rejoiced whereat the new King treated with them of Rochel and finding them not unconformable made peace with them and prevailed with the French King by Edict to let them have peace and the liberty of Religion in that and other Cities 1573. Vol. 3. p. 1028 to 1030. D D DOrotheus and Gorgoneus persons of Dioclesian's Privy Chamber seeing the sad Torments inflicted on Peter their Houshold Companion said to Dioclesian Why O Emperour do you punish in Peter that Opinion which is in all of us Why is this accounted in him an offence that we all confess we are of that Faith Religion and Iudgment that he is of Wherefore he commanded them to be brought forth and to be tormented almost with like pains to Peter's and afterwards to be hanged Vol. 1. p. 101 102. Iohn Diazius a Spaniard was murthered 1546. by his Brother Alphonsus Diazius who hired a Man with an Hatchet to cleave his own Brother's head as he was reading some Letters under a pretence sent to him by his Brother who was by when the fact was done and forth with fled with the Murtherer But he being the Popes Lawyer and procuring his Companion in Rome on purpose to murther his Brother being a Protestant escaped punishment Vol. 2. p. 109. Dennis a French Martyr 1528. burnt at Melda for saying the Mass is a plain denying of the death of Christ he was wont to have always in his mouth the words of Christ He that denyeth me before men him also will I deny before my Father and to muse on the same earnestly He was burnt with a slow fire and did abide much torment Vol. 2. p. 128. Adam Damlip alias George Bucker a great Papist in his Travels at Rome seeing the great profaneness and impiety of that place where he expected so much goodness loathed Popery and at Calice reforming he preached against it and was at length sentenced to death When the News was told him by the Jaylor of the Marshalsee in London on a Saturday night that on Monday he must for Calice and suffer there he did eat his Supper chearfully insomuch that some asked him how he could do it being to dye so soon to whom he said Ah Masters do you think that I have been God's Prisoner so long in the Marshalsee and have not learned to dye Yes yes and I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein He was at Calice the next Saturday following hanged drawn and quartered as a Traytor in King Henry the Eighth's time And his greatest Enemy who at his death said he would not depart till he did see his heart out one Sir Ralph Ellerken was soon after slain amongst others by the French and his Enemies cutting off his Privy Members cut his heart out of his body which cruelty they did to none other of the company and may be looked on as a just judgment of God on him who so desired to see Damlip's heart Vol. 2. p. 564 565. Iohn Denley a Gentleman of Maidstone in Kent burnt for the Gospel's sake at Uxbridge August 8. 1555. who in the flames sang a Psalm whereat Dr. Story caused one to throw a Faggot at him which hurting his Face did cause him to lay both his hands on it and to leave singing whereupon the Doctor said to him that flung the Faggot You have spoiled a good old Song but Mr. Denley being yet in the flame put abroad his hands again and sang yielding up his spirit into the hands of God Vol. 3. p. 390. Alice Driver a Suffolk Woman and a Labourers Wife persecuted for the Gospel of Christ said that Quen Mary for her persecuting the Saints of God was like Iezebel for which she had her Ears cut off presently which she suffered joyfully and said she thought her self happy that she was counted worthy to suffer any thing for the Name of Christ. Being examined by several Doctors she reasoned with them so and silenced them all She perceiving which said Have ye no more to say God be thanked you be not able to resist the Spirit of God in a poor weak woman I was never brought up at the University but often drave the Plow before my Father yet in the defence of Gods Truth and in the Cause of my Master Christ by his Grace I will set Foot to Foot against any of you in the maintenance of the same and if I had a thousand lives they should all go for the payment of it She being at Stake and a Chain put about her Neck to bind her with she said Here is a goodly Neck-kerchief Blessed be God for it She was burned November 4. 1558. Vol. 3. p. 886 887 888. Iohn Davis a School-boy of twelve years of age was because he had a Bible and had written some things against the Papists betrayed by his Aunt one Mrs. Iohnson in Worcester 1546. with whom he lived and he was imprisoned from August 14. till 7. days before Easter with Fetters and Bolts and one perswading him from burning advised him first to try the Candle who holding his Finger and the other holding a Candle under it a good space he cryed not felt no pain nor was his Finger scorched He was afterwards arraigned and should have been punished with death but that King Henry the 8 th dyed and the Law was thereby out of force Vol. 3. p. 919 920. E E EUlalia a Virgin of Noble Parentage in Eremita a City in Portugal of twelve years of age refusing great Marriages and Dowries being a Christian joined her self with Gods Children under the 10 th Persecution and being kept close by her Parents lest she should hasten her own death she by Night stole out and ran to the Judgment Seat and cryed out I am a Christian an Enemy to your devilish Sacrifices I spurn your Idols all under my Feet I confess God
the people he was strangled and burned Vol. 2. p. 180. Garret a great promoter of Christianity in Oxford was at last Iuly 30. 1541. by Gardner Bishop of Winchester to be burnt who professing his Faith and detesting all Heresies beg'd pardon of God for his sins and of all persons whom he had offended He resigned up his Soul to God whom he believed would through Christ save him and pardon his sins and desired the persons present to pray for him and dyed Christianly with Barus and Hierom. Vol. 2. p. 528. William Gardiner born at Bristow and there dealing in Merchandise under one Mr. Paget a Merchant at 26 years of age sailed to Spain but by chance the Ship arrived at Lisborne the chief City of Portugal where he stayed and merchandised and learning their tongue he acted for many English Merchants and had much knowledge in Scripture and the Reformed Religion And being there and happening to be at the solemnizing of a marriage between the King of Portugal's Son and the King of Spain's Daughter and beholding great Pomp and greater Idolatry acted by the Kings and all the Assembly's adoring the Mass praying kneeling and worshipping the external Sacrament he was much troubled and could he have got near the Altar would have interrupted them but being hindred by the throng of the people he was very sorrowful for his neglect of that opportunity to declare against their Idolatry which neglect he much lamented and contrived how to redeem it to effect which he cast up all his accounts and bad adieu to worldly concerns and giving himself to reading meditating fasting weeping and praying He being cleanly drest the next Sunday when the like Solemnity was to be done he gat to the Altar betimes and there stood with a Testament in his hand till the Cardinal came to solemnize it and till he consecrated sacrificed and lifted up on high the Host shewing his God to the people who with the Kings and Nobles gave great reverence to it and at last when the Cardinal came to begin to toss it to and fro round the Chalice making several Circles this Gardner stept in and with one hand took the Cake and trod it under foot and with the other hand overthrew the Chalice in the presence of the Kings and the Nobles and Citizens which abashed them all and one cut him with a Sword but the King commanded he should be saved and being examined he confessed himself to be an English-man and a Protestant and decryed much against their Idolatry for which after several torments to cause him to confess others he taking all the blame on himself they put a hard roul of Linen with a string into his throat and so often pulled that up and then cut of his right hand which he took in his left and kist then in the Market-place they cut off his left hand and he kneeling down kissed it then was he carried to Execution and being hung on high a fire was made under him and he by degrees let down into it so that only his legs at first felt the fire yet would he not recant and being bid to pray to Saints he said That when Christ leaves off to be our Mediator and Advocate then he would pray to our Lady and the Saints And then he prayed O Eternal God Father of all mercies I beseech thee look down upon thy Servant And the more terribly he burnt the more vehemently he prayed which his Enemies desiring to hinder he said the 43. Psalm before the close of which the Rope was burnt asunder and he fell down into the Fire and was burned to death 1552. whose death was not unpunished for among the King of Portugal's Ships ready to sail being in a Haven hard by one was burnt by a Spark of Fire blown from the Martyrs Fire and within half a Year the Kings Son dyed and the King himself within a Year Vol. 2. p. 745 746 747 748. Robert Glover was apprehended to be burnt at Coventry being very sickly in Prison said he found daily amendment of body and increase of peace in Conscience many consolations from God and sometimes as it were a taste and a glimmering of the life to come But he was much assaulted by Satan from his unworthiness to do or suffer for Christ. Which Objection he answered from Gods mercies and the unworthiness of like Servants in all Ages who have been accepted Yet three days before he was burnt he had a sad dulness of Spirit and was desolate of all spiritual comfort against which he prayed much and earnestly but yet finding no ease nor comfort he told it to his Friend one Austin who advised him to wait God's time for the manifestation of himself and to continue stedfast in the Faith and willing to suffer knowing his Cause to be right not doubting but God in his due time would replenish his heart with spiritual joy requesting him to shew it by some token if he felt any such thing And as he went to burning as soon as he came in sight of the Stake he cryed out being suddenly full of comfort clapping his hands together Austin He is come he is come with so great joy and alacrity as if he had been one risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life and so dyed chearfully in September 1555. Vol. 3. p. 427 428. Bartlet Green a Londoner brought up at Oxford converted from Popery by Peter Martyr Reader of Divinity in Oxford and afterwards he was Student in the Temple and at twenty five years of age Ianuary 28. 1556. he was burnt with six others for the Gospel of Christ. He often repeated as he went to the Stake and at the Stake this Distich Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te Duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee I have none The truth I love and falshood hate by thee my guide alone Vol. 3. p. 627. He wrote to one in a Letter thus Man of Woman is born in Travel to live in misery Man through Christ doth dye in joy and live in felicity he is born to dye and dyes to live whilst here he displeased God when dead he fulfilled his Will Vol. 3. p. 629. Charles Le Roy de Gand once a Fryar Carmelite but reformed had a Canonship promised him by the Magistrate if he would but yield a little to which he said You proffer me a Canonship that I might live quietly and be in security but know Sir that rest is no true rest which is obtained against peace of Conscience and so he was burned at Bruges April 27. 1557. Addit to Vol 3. of Massacre of France p. 5. H H JOHN Husse a Bohemian was burned 1415. about Iuly by the Council of Constance where he often desired to be heard to clear himself of the errours they impeached him of and could not Then he requesting their proving by
at last being to be burned he said to his Friends That when he was imprisoned and almost pin'd away 2 or 3 dayes together he fell into a slumber and one clad in white seem'd to stand by him and comforting him said Samuel Samuel be of good chear and take a good heart to thee for after this day thou shalt never hunger nor thirst more Which thing was effected for from that time to his sufferings he felt neither hunger nor thirst and it is said that his Body when it was in the fire shone as bright and white as new try'd Silver Vol. 3. p. 414 415. Iohn Spicer burnt at Salisbury March 24. 1556. with 2 others At the Stake said This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw Vol. 3. p. 680. Agnes Stanley burned at Smithfield with four more April 12. 1557. she being by Bishop Bonner threatned with death if she would not recant said I had rather every hair of my head were burned if it were never so much worth than that I should forsake my Faith and Opinion which is the true Faith Vol. 3. p. 788. Thomas Spurdance one of Queen Mary's Servants being apprehended for the Gospel and examined at Norwich by the Bishop who bad him submit to the Queen's Laws he said You must know My Lord that I have a Soul as well as a Body my Soul is none of the Queen's but my Body and Goods are the Queen's And I must give God my Soul and all that belongs to it That is I must do the Laws and Commandments of God and may not do Commandments contrary to them for losing of my Soul but muct rather obey God than Man if I save my life I shall lose it and if for Christ 's sake I lose it I shall find it in Everlasting Life And was burned at Bury in November 1557. Vol. 3. pag. 855. William Sparrow of London burnt in November 18. 1557. who being examined said That that which the Papists called Heresie was true and godly and if every hair of his head was a Man he said he would burn them rather than go from the Truth Vol. 3. p. 857. Cuthbert Simpson a Minister in London was wrakt often in one day to discover his Confederates but he would not and at last was burnt He writing to his Wife perswades her to constancy pleading God's promises to help us and that nothing shall befal us but what is profitable to us either a correction of our sins tryal of our Faith to set forth his Glory or for all together Vol. 3. p. 866 867. Archambant Scraphom martyred 1557. in Flanders for speaking that the Pope was the Antichrist St. Paul described And being willed to subscribe his Saying reply'd Yea yea I am ready to sign it with my Blood rather than with Ink. When he looked on his hands he used to say O flesh you must suffer and be burned to ashes till the last day Additions to Vol. 3. concerning the Massacre of France p. 6. T T THeban Souldiers a Legion having Mauritius their Captain being sent for by Maximinus the Emperour under the tenth Persecution to go against and persecute the Christians would not for which every tenth Man was kill'd And being still urged they made a notable Oration to the Emperour declaring Though they were his Souldiers yet were they God's Servants and would not persecute the Christians nor sacrifice to the Emperour 's devillish Idols Whereupon again every tenth Man was slain and afterwards their whole Army totally destroy'd who made no resistance but laid down their armour and gave their naked Bodies to their Enemies fury Vol. 3. p. 104 105. Nicholas and Francis Thressen being brought up in Christianity by their Father Andreas Thressen who flying into England out of Germany from their Mother and two other Children died there and then these two Sons returned into Germany to their Mother and the two Children with her and instructed them in Christianity With whom the Papists laboured to make them recant and the two youngest being not well grounded did so the Mother would not and was condemned to perpetual prison These two Sons inveighed against Popery and despising torments were condemned to the fire and desiring to speak had Gaggs put into their Mouths and balls of wood to hinder it but they with vehemency of speaking drave them out and desiring for the Lord's sake that they might have liberty to speak they sang the Creed with a loud voice and went and were fastened to the Stake praying for their Persecutors and exhorting each other they did abide the fire patiently The one feeling the flame to burn his beard said Ah! what a small pain is this to be compared to the glory to come and so committing their Spirits to the hands of God they died Vol. 2. p. 121. Giles Tilleman a Cutler born at Brussels burned 1544. He received the Gospel at 30 years of age and was very charitable to the poor and so zealous in prayer that he seem'd to forget himself and neither to hear nor see those that stood by him till he was lift up by the arms So patient was he of private injuries that he would not speak again to revilers insomuch that they said he had a dumb devil though in the cause of Religion he had words and Scripture enough When tidings came to him of the Sentence against him he gave hearty thanks to God that the hour was come that he might glorifie the Lord and at the place of burning when the Hangman would have strangled him first he would not let him saying There was no need that his pain should be mitigated For said he I fear not the Fire And lifting up his eyes in the middle of the flames he died Vol. 2. pag. 119. William Tracy of Todington in Glocestershire Esq 1532. in his Will and Testament ordained his Executors not to make any funeral pomp at his Burial neither passed he for any Mass saying He trusted only in God and hoped by him to be saved and not by any Saint He said there was but one Mediator between God and Man Christ Iesus and therefore he gave nothing that any should say or do any thing to help his Soul after his death for which Will he was near two years after his death taken up and burnt as an Heretick by the Archbishop of Canterbury's order to Dr. Parker Chancellor in Worcester Diocese whom King Henry VIII made it cost 300 pound Vol. 2. p. 317 318. William Tyndal of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford removed thence to Cambridge and thence to Glocestershire where in the House of one Welch a Knight he resided sometime disputing with the Clergy Priests and Abbots and refuted them by Scripture evidences so that they hated him and brought him to trouble At last he intending to translate the Bible into English for the good of his Native People and to deliver them from the blind Idolatry and superstition of Popery and finding England would not bear it nor afford
1. 1556. who told the great Doctors that opposed her that if they would take it upon their Consciences to answer for her at the day of Judgment that their Doctrines were true she would embrace it but they would not and burnt her because she would not recant who in the flames while life lasted did continue praying the Prayers she had learned by heart and calling on Christ for mercy Vol. 3. p. 756 757 758. Richard Woodman of Warbleton in Sussex imprisoned for reproving their Priest who preached in Queen Mary's days contrary to his Doctrine in King Edward the VI. time which he then averred to be true and charged his people to believe no other Woodman was imprisoned one year and a half and then dismissed and afterwards sent for again whom the Commissioners found in his Fields at Plough and its news made him tremble and fear but he said he would not go with them they not having their Commission about them And he much reproved himself for his carnal fear thus They can lay no evil thing to my charge and if they kill me for well-doing I may think my self happy And assoon as I was perswaded in my mind to dye I was as merry and as joyful as ever I was But having now escaped them he fled home and for six or seven weeks in a wood near his House he lived under a Tree where he had his Bible Pen and Ink and his provision brought dayly by his Wife to him and then the Country being sought for him he went into Flanders and soon returned again and was betray'd into his Enemies hands by his Father and Brother Being taken he was bound which much rejoyced him he said That he should be bound for Christ's sake and he took leave of his Wife and Children thinking never to see them again because it was said He should not live six dayes yet he said He knew it was not as they would but as God pleased I know said he what God can do but what he will do I know not but I am sure he will work all things for the best for them that love and fear him And so they went away with him Vol. 3. p. 800 801 802 803. X X XYstus Bishop of Rome was martyred under the eighth Persecution with his six Deacons And one Deacon of them named Lawrence following him desired to dye with him to whom Xystus said I am a weak old Man and therefore run the Race of a lighter and easier death but you are young and lusty and after three days you shall follow me And so he did Vol. 1. p. 92. See Lawrence pag. 104 of this Book Y Y FOrty Young Men Souldiers under the tenth Persecution being charged by the Emperour's Officers to disown Christ. They freely and boldly all with one accord confessed themselves to be Christians and told him their names and being endeavour'd with to win them by fair words as well as by threats of torments they said They desired not Life Liberty honours or dignities or Mony but the Celestial Kingdom of Christ For the love of whom and Faith in God they were ready to endure the Cross Wheel Fire and were sentenced to be all that night in a Pond of water in cold weather and next day to be burnt who when they were putting off their cloaths said We give thanks O Lord that with these our cloaths we may also by thy Grace put off the sinful Man for by means of the Serpent we once put him on and by the means of Jesus Christ we put him off Vol. 1. p. 118. Elizabeth Young apprehended for selling some good Books and was examined many times and punished severely and should have been burnt had not Queen Mary lain irrecoverably sick She being committed to prison and charge being by Dr. Martin that she should have one day Bread and another day Water onely for her provision she said chearfully If ye take away my meat I trust God will take away my hunger Vol. 3. pag. 911. AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF GOD'S IVGMENTS Remarkably shown On many Noted and Cruel PERSECVTORS 2 Thes. 1.6 It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you LONDON Printed for Richard Butler next door to the Lamb and three Bowls in Barbican 1677. An Alphabetical List of Gods Iudgements A A ANtiochus a Persecutor of Agapetus a Martyr suddenly fell down from his Judicial Seat and cry'd that all his inward Bowels burned and so he gave up his breath Vol. 1. p. 76. Alexander the Keeper of Newgate-Prison a cruel enemy to God's People who often hastened their death dyed himself so miserably swell'd and so stinking that none could endure the stench of him And his Son within 3 years spent all his Estate and it being wondred how he could have wasted it so soon he said Evil gotten evil spent And in Newgate-Market he fell down suddenly and dyed miserably And his Son-in-law Iohn Peterson after dyed rotting above ground Vol. 3. p. 257. Arundel Archbishop giving Sentence against the Lord Cobham dyed before him and his tongue was so smitten that he could neither swallow nor speak Vol. 3. p. 960. B B BErry Commissary to the Bishop of Norwich a great Persecutor as he came from Church on a Sunday after Even-song fell down on the ground and never breathed more Vol. 3. p. 870. Blanchenden who would have had a poor Man's Legs cut off who fled from him and others following him to apprehend him for the Gospel's sake was soon after slain by his own Servants Vol. 3. p. 931 932. Burton the Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire a pretended Gospeller in King Edward VI. time but in Queen Mary's dayes a zealous Papist A prophane swearer and one that threatned the Curate there to sheath his Sword in him if he would not say Mass But soon after he riding with a Neighour on the Fenne-bank a Crow flew over him and shit on his nose so that the excrements ran from the top of his nose to his beard which poyson'd scent so annoy'd his stomach that he never ceased vomiting till he came at home and there for extreme sickness went to bed not being able for the stench in his stomach and his painful vomiting to eat any meat and cry'd out of the stink cursing the Crow and soon after dyed desperately Vol. 3. p. 956. Robert Baldwin a Persecutor at the taking of one Seaman was struck with lightning and so pined away Vol. 3. pag. 957. Beaton Archbishop in Scotland a great Persecutor of George Wisehart was soon after slain in his bed and lay seven months unburied and at last was buried like a carrion on a dunghil Vol. 2. pag. 621. Bishop Bonner Bishop of London and the greatest Persecutor in Queen Mary's dayes being imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth died in his bed unrepentant and was deny'd Christian burial being at midnight tumbled into a hole amongst Thieves and murderers Vol. 3. p. 974. C C CAiaphas who wickedly
ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΑΛΦΑΒΕΤΙΚΕ OR AN Alphabetical Martyrology CONTAINING THE Tryals and Dying Expressions OF MANY MARTYRS Of Note since CHRIST Extracted out of Foxe's Acts and Monuments of the Church WITH AN ALPHABETICAL LIST Of GOD'S JUDGEMENTS remarkably shown on many Noted and Cruel PERSECUTORS Together with an APPENDIX of things pertinent to the understanding this MARTYROLOGY By N. T. M. A. T. C. C. These all dyed in the Faith Hebr. 11.13 In all these things we are more than Conquerors Rom. 8.37 LONDON Printed for R. Butler in Barbican and are to be sold by Samuel Wooley Bookseller in Louth in Lincolnshire 1677. ERRATA IN the Epistile Page 3. read 2 Cor. 4 7 8 9. In the Book p. 25. l. 17. read Iames Bainham p. 27. l. 18. put out then p. 9. l. 5. read Pomponius p. 53. l. 21. put out so p. 69. l. 13. read cruel p. 79. l. 2. read sparer in words p. 80. l. 16. read Wind. p. 140. l. 20. read Wounds p. 150. l. 17. read trailed p. 167. l. 22. read must p. 169. and 170. read Thiessen p. 172. l. 24. read confuted p. 185. l. 8. read Fool. p. 224. l. 10. Concerning Dr. London's Punishment in the former part of the Book Add Page 174. p. 226. l. 12. read Maximinus p. 230. l. 7. read Sute ADVERTISEMENT TWO Sermons of Hypocrisie and the vain hope of self-deceiving Sinners A Vindication of Oaths and swearing in weighty cases as lawful and useful under the Gospel And the Quakers Opinion and Practice against Oaths and Oath-taking proved to be unscriptural and without any just Reason as also against their own Principles Both written by Iohn Cheney Minister of the Gospel Printed for R. Butler and are to be sold with the rest of his Works by Iohn Miller at the Rose at the West-end of St. Paul's Church To the Christian READER all encrease of Grace here and all fulness of Glory hereafter SO great an enmity hath Satan evidenced ever since his own Apostasie against Mankind that he must be conceded to have bin very sedulous and vigilant in all Ages to destroy Souls one while alluring them to sin against God by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of worldly or sensual propositions or else deterring them from adhering to God vi armis by his assaults and persecutions the verity of which hath been continuedly evidenced in the successive Ages of God's Church wherein the first member dying dyed a Martyr on the account of his Religion and the several Prophets and Children of God before Christ have been so persecuted sawn asunder cast into Dungeons fiery Furnaces Lyons dens c. That if to these we add the consideration of St. Paul's Martyrology in Heb. 11. we may propose our Saviour's Enquiry Which of the Prophets have they not slain Nor did the fury of Satan and his Instruments terminate there but when Christ the Son of God was incarnated and became Man for our Salvation Satan the Arch-enemy of Man assails him as Tempter but being put to flight so he becomes Accuser and by his Instruments persecuted our dearest Saviour not desisting till they had crucified the Lord of Life Which being effected this Serpentine Seed continued its enmity againg Christ in his Members so that few of Christ's Apostles or Followers have escaped tribulation as the Writings of the Sacred Writ aver and the succeeding pages will much evidence which seem in respect of their matter to be serviceable to the Church of God many wayes 1. In demonstrating the verity of our Religion and the great and sure foundation of our Faith sealed by the Blood of many thousand Martyrs who have as witnesses thereof attested the verity of their Professions by their deaths 2. In evidencing the state of God's People here whose Life is but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a warfare whilst they remain Members of the Church Militant on Earth which may disswade us from singing Requiem's to our Souls and may excite our constant watch 3. In assuring us of the Triumph of Christ the Captain of our Salvation who in himself and Members hath verified that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Seed of the Woman's breaking the Serpent's head in that in the midst of all troubles the Saints of God have experienced joy which may engage our running with patience the Race that is set before us 4. In declaring God's fidelity to his People who in the greatest misery hath shown them the greatest mercy and often then hath most given his People assurance of their living with him when they were going to dye for him which may support our Spirits under pressures in that they cannot separate us from God here or hereafter Rom. 8.38 2 Cor. 7.8 9. 5. In proposing the Examples of many thousands of constant Martyrs who chose rather to suffer than sin and found more joy in dying for Christ than ever they did trouble in serving of Christ. 6. In shewing the sad effects of Apostasie upon many of God's People who found all the wordly enjoyments without a Christ but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitter sweets and have not acquiesced till through God's Spirit they did reassume the Profession of Christ and at last did dye for Christ which may incite our holy jealousie over our selves 7. In setting before us the care of God for his People in their Lives and Death and after death by supplying their wants comforting their Souls mitigating their pains and preserving their Names to succeeding Generations verifying his own assertion That the memory of the Just shall be blessed 8. In representing the efficacy of Christianity and its Champions constancy so as often to have influenced the very Persecutors of it and them not onely to pity them but also to close with their Principles and dye for the same Faith so that we have no need to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. 9. In demonstrating the frustration of the grand design of Christ's Enemies the extirpation of his Faith and Religion by Persecution it being evidently manifested that Christianity hath been more propagated the more it hath been persecuted and it was long since observed that Sanguis Martyrum was Semen Ecclesiae So that against all opposition the Faith of Christ and its Professors have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more than Conquerors nor hath the gates of Hell hitherto prevailed against the Church of Christ. 10. In manifesting God's mercy and justice His Mercy in preserving his true Religion and its Professors amidst all their Enemies and his Iustice in his divers inflictions of punishments upon their Persecutors Insomuch that some have confessedly acknowledged Christ Conqueror his cause true and themselves because Persecutors of it damned This is the matter of the Pages humbly offer'd and unfeignedly recommended to thy perusal And as to the manner of the Epitome an Alphabetical method both as to Sufferers and Persecutors seemed most apt for thy reaping advantage The reasons moving the Epitomizing the voluminous works of the Author were these 1.
Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester caused his Martyrdom he there said I pray God forgive him as heartily and as freely and as charitably and without feigning as ever Christ forgave them that put him to death And then putting off his Cloaths made him fit for the fire and patiently took his death and was burnt with Mr. Garret and Mr. Hierom. Vol. 2. pag. 517. See more Mr. Hierom. George Bucker See Adam Damlip Iohn Bradford a Lancashire man a good Scholar Servant to the Lord Harrington afterwards went to Cambridge and after one years time was made Master of Arts and Fellow of Pembroke Hall and some time after ordained by Bishop Ridley and made Prebend of S. Paul's in London Vol. 3. p. 380. He was a zealous Preacher and a good liver yet in Queen Mary's days silenced and imprisoned although but three days before he appeased the people in London by preaching against Sedition and perswading them to obedience who were incensed much against one Bourn who afterward was made Bishop of Bath who preached against King Edward 6. and pleaded for Popery so that a Dagger was thrown at him till this Mr. Bradford appeared in the Pulpit and then the People cryed out God save thy life O Bradford He slept but four hours in the night and spent most of the other hours in prayer and studying so that he counted that hour lost he said in which he had done none good with Pen study or exhorting he preached twice a day in Prison unless sickness hindred him When the Keepers Wife with sorrow brought him news of his burning next day he said I thank God for it I have looked for the same a long time it comes not on me suddenly but as a thing waited for every day and hour O Lord make me worthy of it When he went from the Counter to Newgate he prayed and gave every Servant and Officer in the House money wishing them to serve God and eschew evil and prayed to God to effect it in them He was imprisoned two years lacking one Month and a half He being upon examination offered mercy if he would recant said Mercy with God's mercy I desire but mercy with God's wrath God keep me from his good will be done life with his displeasure is worse than death and death with his favour is true life Vol. 3. p. 283. One Creswel an acquaintance of his after this came to him and proffered him his service to make suit to the Queen for him To whom he said If the Queen will give me life I will thank her if she will banish me I will thank her if she will burn me I will thank her if she will condemn me to perpetual imprisonment I will thank her Vol. 3. p. 292. At the Stake he freely forgave all persons and beg'd all persons to forgive him He prayed and kissed the Stake and Faggot crying O England England repent thee of thy sins repent thee of thy sins beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists take heed they do not deceive you Vol. 3. p. 307. His Letters were many and pious exhorting to constancy 1. From God's love to us 2. God's power over our Enemies and care for us 3. The necessity of dying once 4. The shortness of the troubles 5. The eternity of our joys 6. Examples of Christians 7. The Conjugal Relation engageth both Soul and Body to Christ 8. All worldly Enjoyments and life it self but tokens of God's love to us and must not be denyed if call'd for by God as tokens of our love to him 9. Death is our due for sin but when for Christ prepares a greater glory 10. God's care over their Children and Families that dye for him 11. Our Cross from God as a Father Vol. 3. p. 307. to 337. Roger Bernard a Suffolk man burned with two others at S. Edmunds-Bury Iune 30. 1556. he being diversly flattery allured to turn yet though a poor Labourer continued constant and when he was threatned with punishments he said Friends I am not better than my Master Christ and the Prophets whom your Fathers served after this sort and I for his Names sake am content to suffer the like at your hands if God shall so permit trusting that he will strengthen me in the same according to his promise in spite of the Devil and all his Ministers And so constantly he endured the flames with Prayer and Praises Vol. 3. p. 710. Agnes Bongeor one of 10 Prisoners at Colchester who with another Woman one Margaret Thurston was not executed with the other 8 because of the mistake of her name in the Writ being there written Bowyer instead of Bongeor which mistake caused much sorrow to the poor woman who was thereupon dejected even almost to despair because she was left and the rest taken and burnt as if God did not think her worthy of that honour in order to the receiving of which she had disposed of a sucking Child that morning to another Nurse and had habited her self fit for the fire But at last with much endeavours she was comforted by a Friend 's proposing the instance of Abraham whose will in offering his Son was by God accepted as if Isaac had been sacrificed and so her desire to have offered up her self had God pleased and also the real offer of her Child disposed of already to another Nurse in order to her self being burnt might be acceptable before God And she being thus comforted in due time September 17. 1557. was also with the said Margaret Thurston burnt at Colchester Vol. 3. p. 849 850. Bergerius being imprisoned for the Gospel's sake met there with one Iohn Chambon a Thief imprisoned also at Lions in France 1553. which Chambon was almost famished for want of food eating only such things as Horses and Dogs refused and was also almost devoured of Lice insomuch that he cryed out against God and cursed his Parents that bare him till by the Prayers and endeavours of this Bergerius he was converted and he declared to divers persons by Letters that his Lice left him the next day after his Conversion so that he had not one and he was sufficiently provided for by the Alms of persons so that he fared very well Vol. 2. p. 140 141. Iohn Badby an English Martyr 1409. martyred for opposing Transubstantiation he though he felt the flames which were immediately quenched and he invited to recant by the Kings eldest Son with promises of great revenues and with threats of being burned if he would not recant could not not be perswaded to recant Vol. 1. p. 681. Guy de Brez Prisoner at Tournay in Flanders 1567. writeth to his Wife thus after the declaring what Conflicts he had with his flesh and the Victory which through Christ he had in order to suffering Be comforted our separation shall not be for ever it will not be long e're we be gathered together under one head Iesus Christ the world is not the place of rest Heaven is our
Omnipotent with heart and mouth Isis Apollo Venus what are they Maximinus himself what is he The one a thing of nought because the work of Mens hands and the other a cast-away because he worshippeth the same work Whereat the Judge incens'd threatned torments but first perswades her to return and offer Incense whereat she spits in his Face spurns abroad with her Feet the Incense and then was miserably tormented scratched and cut to the Bones she singing and praising God saying O Lord I will not forget thee what a pleasure is it O Christ for them that remember thy triumphant Victory to attain to these high dignities and so she was burned Vol. 1. p. 120. Edmund King of Eastangles in the Saxon Heptarchy in Brittain being summoned to submit to Inguar a Dane returned an answer That he a Christian King would not for the love of a temporal life subject himself to a Pagan Duke unless he became a Christian first whereupon he was taken and fixt to a Stake and shot to death Vol. 1. p. 148. F F FRuctuosus Bishop of Tarraconia in Spain being by Emilianus under the Eighth Persecution in the year of Christ 262. to be burned because he would not worship Idols said He worshipped not any dumb God of Stocks and Blocks but one God the Creator of all things And being cast into the fire with his hands tyed behind him his bands were by the fire dissolved his hands unhurt and his body remained whole and he lifted up his hands and praised God praying also that the fire might speedily dispatch him which then was soon done in the mean time a Souldier in the house of Emilianus with the Daughter of Emilianus said they saw the Heavens open and the Martyr to enter in Vol. 1. p. 96. Nicholas Finchman burned in Dornick 1549. who being condemned blessed God which had counted him worthy to be a witness in the cause of his dear and well beloved Son and patiently took his death commending his Spirit unto God in the midst of the fire Vol. 2. p. 124. Iames Faber an old man about the year of Christ 1562. being apprehended said he could not answer or satisfie them in reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the truth of the Gospel and so was martyred Vol. 2. p. 127. Ioannes Filieul or Filiolus and Iulianus Leville suffered both at Sanserre in France 1554. who having their Tongues cut out yet had some utterance given them of God that at their death they said We bid Sin the Flesh the World and the Devil farewel for ever with whom never we shall have to do hereafter Vol. 2. p. 145. Fininus at Ferraria an Italian was burnt 1550. who being apprehended by the perswasion of his Friends he recanted and then was in so great horrour that he almost despaired till he publickly again preached the Gospel for which he being again taken could not by all the solicitations of his Wife and Children be drawn from it but told them that his Lord had commanded him not to deny him for taking care of his Family wherefore he desired them to depart And being afterwards commanded by Pope Iulius the Third to be executed he returned thanks to the Messengers of the News and much rejoiced at it And being asked what would become of his Wife and Children if he so left them he said he had left them to a good Overseer Christ the Lord a faithful Keeper of all committed to him One seeing him so merry before his death asked the Reason since Christ wept and sweat drops of blood before his Passion To whom he answered Christ sustained in his body all the sorrows and conflicts of Hell and death due to us by whose death we are delivered from sorrow and fear of them all And at the Stake after his Prayers to God he meekly gave his neck to the Cord with which he was strangled and was afterwards burned Vol. 2. p. 165 166. Iohn Frith burnt at one Stake in Smithfield 1533. with one Andrew Hewet this Frith willingly embraced the Stake and whenas one Dr. Cooke bad the people pray for them no more than for a Dog he said smiling Father forgive them and the fire being by the wind more blown to his Partner than himself he though in so great torments rejoiced and seeming to feel no torments comforted his fellow-sufferer rather than was careful for himself Vol. 2. p. 309 310. Henry Filmer a Preacher of the Gospel in King Hen. 8. days about Windsor was brought to be burnt by the Envy of Dr. London and the false accusations of his own Brother induced to it by promises of maintenance from the Doctor To which Brother Filmer seeing himself like to suffer by reason of his accusations said Ah Brother what cause hast thou to shew me this unkindness I have been always a natural Brother to thee and is this a Brotherly part to reward me now so God forgive thee it my Brother and give thee grace to repent He suffered with one Testwood and Anthony Persons As he came to his Brothers door as he was going to suffer he called his Brother three or four times but he appeared not and then Filmer said And will he not come then God forgive him and make him a good Man He being with the other two at the Stake drank to each other and Filmer said Be merry for I trust that after this sharp Breakfast we shall have a good Dinner in the Kingdom of Christ. Vol. 2. p. 553 554. Dr. Robert Farrar Bishop of S. Davids in Wales being to be burnt and much pitied by a Knights Son who lamented the painfulness of the death he was to suffer to whom Ferrar said If ye see me once stir in the pains of my burning you shall not believe my Doctrine And as he said so it was for he stood so patiently that he never moved but as he stood holding up his Stumps so he continued till he was struck down by a Staff March 30. 1555. in the Reign of Queen Mary Vol. 3. p. 216. William Flower alias Branch a Cambridgeshire Man brought up a Monk at last was reformed and after removing from place to place he came to Lambeth by London and on an Easter-day went to Westminster and in S. Margarets Church he out of zeal for Gods Cause drew his Hanger and wounded the Priest as he was administring the Sacrament for which he was imprisoned and though he much lamented the Fact as done amiss yet did he justifie his Faith against them And Bishop Bonner threatning him one while and then perswading him by proffers of Gifts he thankt him and said whereas it was in his power to kill or not kill his Body he was contented he should do what he pleased but he knew over his Soul he had no such power but that being separated from the Body is in the hands of no Man but only of God either to save or spill At length he was burnt in Westminster-Abby Yard April
Scripture any errour he held they would not but because he held Wicklif's Doctrine they degraded him and left him to the Secular Power to Sigismund King of the Romans by whom he was condemned and burned and all this cruelty against a safe Conduct sealed by the Emperour and promised by the Council When he was to be burned he prayed often and especially for his Enemies and after the kindling of the Fire he sang aloud Iesus Christ the Son of the living God have mercy upon me Vol. 1. p. 821 822. Richard Hunn burned in Smithfield December 20. 1514. sixteen days after he was privately Murdered by the Papists Vol. 2. p. 19. Mr. Hierom was condemned in King Henry the 8 th's time 1541. by Bishop Gardner Bishop of Winchester and at the Stake he confessed his Faith and exhorted all Persons to Duties to God and Man considering what Price Christ paid for us and exciting them to bear their Cross with Christ considering his Example of Patience under sufferings and at last prayed them to pray for him that he Barns and Garret who were all three together burnt might have their Souls leaving these wretched Bodies constantly depart in the true Faith of Christ and so committing his Soul to Christ he dyed These three which at this Fire were burnt together took each other by the hand and kissing each other quietly and peaceably offered themselves to the tormentors hands and took their deaths Christianly and patiently Vol. 2. p. 528 529. Mr. Iohn Hooper Student in Oxford flying in King Henry the 8 th's time beyond Sea because of Persecution for the six Articles was at Zurick acquainted with Mr. Bullinger and Married a Burgonian Woman But in King Edward the 6 th's days he returned and did promise his Friends they should hear from him Though saith he the last News of me I shall not be able to write for there saith he where I shall take most pains there shall you hear of me to be burnt to Ashes Which Prophesie came to effect He preached at London often twice a day but alwayes once a day He was in his Sermons earnest in his Tongue eloquent in Scriptures perfect in pains indefatigable he was spare of dyet sparest of words and sparest of time He was by King Edward the 6 th made Bishop of Glocester and Worcester in both which Diocesses he preached at and visited them and at Worcester his manner was every day to have a certain number of poor Beggars of the Town Dine in his Pallace with whole and wholsome Meat four at a Mess whom he examined or caused to be examined in the Lords Prayer Creed and Ten Commandments before himself sate down to Dinner He was with one Iohn Rogers the two first that were condemned in Queen Mary's days To which Rogers Bishop Hooper said Brother Rogers Must we two begin first to fry these Faggots fear not but God will give us strength He suffered amongst his People at Glocester where Sir Anthony Kingston his old Friend did desire him to accept of life and not dye saying life is sweet and death bitter To whom Bishop Hooper answered True but eternal death is more bitter and eternal life most sweet in respect of which I value not this life Vol. 3. p. 145 146 147. He was after that perswaded much but he said Death to me for Christ's sake is welcome At the fire a Box was set on a Stool before him with the Queens Pardon as it was said if he would turn but he cryed If ye love my Sonl away with it if ye love my Soul away with it He was prohibited to speak to the people and permitted only to pray he begged of the Sheriffs for a speedy fire to dispatch him but when he was to be burnt what through the wetness of the wood and greatness of the frude three fires one after another were made before he was consumed in the first fire he prayed mildly as one without pain Lord Iesus thou Son of David have mercy on me and receive my Soul After the second fire was spent he wiped both Eyes and looking on the people beg'd for Gods sake more fire And in the third fire he cryed out Lord Iesus receive my Spirit Lord Iesus have mercy on me and so spoke no more continuing motion of his lips till they shrank to his gums and beating his breast with his hands till one arm fell off and the other by fat water and blood stuck to the Iron by which he was fastned to the Stake and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 156. In a Letter he wrote out of Prison to divers Friends he undervalues the worldly joyes and troubles in comparison of Hells misery or Heavens glory and exhorts them to constancy thus It was an easie thing to hold with God and Christ whilst the Prince and World held with him but now the World hateth him it is the true tryal who be his Let us not run when it is most time to fight none shall be Crowned but them that fight manfully Beware of beholding the Worlds felicity or misery too much whose love or fear draweth from God Think the felicity of the World good but yet no otherwise than stands with Gods favour It is to be kept yet so as we lose not God of adversity judge the same Imprisonment is painful yet liberty on evil terms worse I must be alone and solitary yet that is better and to have God with us than to enjoy the company of the wicked Loss of goods is great but loss of Gods favour greater I shall dye by the hands of cruel Men but he is blessed that loseth a life full of misery and findeth a life full of eternal ioyes Neither felicity or misery in the World can be great if compared with joys or pains in the World to come Vol. 3. p. 156 157. In another Letter he exhorts the godly to meet often and pray and confer together of their ignorance before their knowledge of God and their state by their knowledge of God in his Word and to compare their Popish Principles with Gods Word being careful to do all things for three ends Gods glory the Churches edification and their Souls profit p. 158 159. In another Letter exhorting to patience under the Cross he saith That our Enemies cruelty hath no further power than God permits and what comes to us by the will of our heavenly Father can be no harm but felicity to us We as Men suffer these evils but as Christians we overcome them nor can they separate betwen Gods love and us they can but last our short life and then must give way to our partaking of eternal joyes Vol. 3. p. 161. Nothing can hurt us that is taken from us for Gods Cause nor can any thing do us good that is kept against Gods Commandment let us surrender goods and life to his will and then it matters not whether we keep or lose it Vol. 3. p. 163. William Hunter an Apprence to
Psalms and being sought for he prayed if it was Gods will he might suffer persecution for the Gospel of Christ and when Persons came to apprehend him he said Welcome Friends welcome you are they that shall lead me to life in Christ and so he went with them And being by Bishop Hopton then Bishop of Norwich his Commissary Berry asked to recant he said God forbid I had rather dye many deaths than do so Then was he sent to Norwich to the Bishop and went as merrily as ever he was and was burned with two more May 19. 1555. And being bound with them to the Stake by a Chain he not feeling the joyes of Christ came from under the Chain being troubled in mind and fell down and prayed earnestly to God who hearing him and restoring to him comfort he arose and went to the Stake again saying Now I am strong and pass not what Men can do unto me Vol. 3. p. 869 870. Roger Holland Son to a Lancashire Gentleman and Apprentice to a Merchant-Taylor in London a zealous Man to whom this Roger was a great trouble being a debauched Lad and a great Papist yet did he trust him with his Accounts but it hapned one night that Roger lost thirty pound at Dice and not being able to pay it resolved next morning to go to France or Flanders but acquainted his Fellow-servant a Maid whose name was Elizabeth a Woman of great Christian profession and practice to whom he gave a Bill to give his Master for the thirty pound that his Master might not acquaint his Friends with it and that if ever he was worth it he would pay it to his Master and so he going to leave the House the Maid having Money by her brought him thirty pound and gave him saying I will take the Bill my self and conceal the thing from your Friends and my Master and you may have this thirty pound to pay my Master on condition that you will throw away your Popish Books and read the Bible and attend all Christian Lectures nor more swear curse drink whore nor play But if you do those things again and I know of it I will then tell my Master of the business But in half a years space Roger was so reformed and so zealous a Protestant that he was admired by his Associates And going into Lancashire to his Friends he was by his Books he carried and by his discourse instrumental that his Father and his Friends began to try the truth of God and to hate Popery And at his return to London his Father gave him fifty pound to set up with and then he paid the Maid Elizabeth her thirty pound and soon after Married her and they lived heavenly together till he was apprehended for the Gospels sake and by Bishop Bonner persecuted to whom he openly told the impurity of their Principles the corrupt tendency of their confessions from his own Practice who cared not what sin he used to commit so long as he was a Papist since the Popish Priest would for Money absolve him And when he was condemned he told Bishop Bonner That his cruelty should be but short nor after that day should he burn any more which came so to pass At the Stake he said Lord I humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the state of death to the light of thy heavenly Word and now into the fellowship of Saints that I may sing and say Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Lord bless these thy People and save them from Idolatry And so praising God he dyed in the flames with two more in Smithfield Iuly 27. 1558. Vol. 3. p. 874. to 878. Bartholomew Hector burnt at Turin in Piedmont Iune 19. 1556. being bound to the Stake and Gunpowder and Brimstone placed about him he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and said Lord how sweet and welcome are these to me Addition to Vol. 3. concerning Massacres in France p. 5. Philibert Hamelin a Minister in Tournay being perswaded to fly said No I esteem it altogether unbeseeming for a Man called to preach the Gospel to others to run away for fear of danger but rather to maintain its truth even in the midst of the flaming Fire And he was executed 1557. at Tournay Additions to Vol. 3. of Massacres of France p. 5. Iohn Herwin a Souldier of Flanders of very dissolute prophane life but coming over to England was by means of a Beer-brewer in London with whom he was a Servant converted and became a zealous Protestant and a pious liver And afterwards returning to Flanders he was apprehended for the Gospel and imprisoned which he took patiently and chearfully and in Prison he sang Psalms and testified his inward joy by a Letter to the Brethren whom he exhorted to persevere constant in the Faith After sentence of death he blessed God for that honour to dye for Christ and being led out to execution he said See how the wicked World rewards the poor Servants of Christ. Whilst I gave my self to Drinking Carding Dicing and such like Vices I was let alone and accounted a Good-fellow and who but I And no sooner began I to look after a godly life but the World wars on me imprisons me persecutes me and will put me to death At the Stake he sang the 30. Psalm and said to the people I am now going to be sacrificed follow ye me when God of his goodness shall call you to it He was burned at Honscot November 4. 1560. Additions to the 3. Vol. concerning Massacre in France and Flanders p. 18. I I JAMES the Son of Zebedee and Brother of Iohn brought by a Person to the Tribunal Seat of Herod and condemned the Person seeing he should now suffer death being moved therewith in heart and conscience did confess himself of his own accord a Christian and as he and Iames were led together he desired Iames to forgive him what he had done After that Iames had a little paused with himself upon the matter turning to him Peace saith he be to thee Brother and kissed him and both were Beheaded together Anno Christi 36. Vol. 1. p. 42. Iames the Brother of our Lord who was Bishop of Ierusalem called for his holiness Iames the just had Knees like Camels Knees by praying being by the Iews set upon the Pinacle of the Temple to give testimony concerning as they expected against Jesus he declared Jesus to be the Christ whereupon the Iews threw him down and he not being dead they came to stone him who turned on his Knees and prayed saying O Lord God Father I beseech thee forgive them for they know not what they do Yet they stoned him and at last with a Fullers Instrument struck him on the Head and he dyed Vol. 1. p. 43 44. Iohn the Evangelist was banished into Pathmos the 97. Year of Christ and after the death of Domitian was recalled by Pertinax the Emperour and being
first in her days a great Papist till the burning of one Laurence Saunders by the Papists for the Mass which put her upon an enquiry into it and she consulting some persons about it declined it nor would frequent Mass for which she was punished and at last condemned And when in the morning before she suffered the Sheriff told her of it after one years imprisonment giving her but one hours time to prepare for it she said Your message is welcome to me and I thank God that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel Going to the Stake she prayed against Popist Idolatry and drank to all them that truly believed the Gospel In the fire she neither struggled nor stirred but only held up her hands to Heaven and so dyed soon Vol. 3. p. 839. Mrs. Elizabeth Lawson an ancient Gentlewoman of 60 years of age of Bedfield in Suffolk was sent to Berry Goal 1556. because she would not go to Mass and at last she was condemned to be burnt She continued in Prison two years and three quarters in which time her Son and many more were burnt and she hearing of it said often Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy Children Well good Lord thy blessed will be done and not mine But by the death of Queen Mary she was delivered Vol. 3. p. 916. M M MArtyrs to the Number of 300 at Carthage under the 8 th Persecution being offered near Lime-kills either to offer Incense to Iupiter or to go into the Furnace of Lime did all together rush into the Kill and were there with the dusty smoak of the Lime smothered Vol. 1. p. 94. A Mother exhorted her Child of seven years of age suffering under the 7 th Persecution to suffer joyfully and while it was tormenting and slaying she sang to God thus All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know most dear to be Vol. 1. p. 116. Mary See Ursula Michael Michfote a Taylor in France burned 1547. being apprehended for the Gospel's sake and put to his choice whether he would turn and be beheaded or not turn and be burnt he said God who had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Vol. 2. p. 134. Lodovicus Marsac being with two others at Lyons in France apprehended and condemned 1553. they all sang Psalms and the other two having a Rope put about their Necks and he having not one did desire that he might have one of those precious Chains about his Neck in honour of his Lord which request was granted and they all three were cast into the fire Vol. 2. p. 141. 88 Martyrs murthered at Calabria in Italy 1560. whom the Executioner bringing out one by one with a Muster on a Stage before the People took a Knife and slew by cutting the Throat of one and leaving him half dead bleeding went for another and so served every one till the 88 were murthered which sight amazed the people and shamed even some of the Romanists Vol. 2. p. 184.188 Walter Mille a Scotch Man 1558. was condemned to be burnt whom the Popish Party could neither affright with threats nor allure with proposals but he said to them I am accused of my life I know I must dye once and therefore ye shall know I will not recant the truth I am Corn not Chaff I will not be blown away with the Wind nor burst with the Flail but will abide both and at the Stake the Bishops being constrained by the People to give him liberty to speak he made his humble supplication to God on his Knees and then said to the people Dear friends I suffer this day not for any Crime laid to my charge albeit I be a miserable Sinner before God but only for the defence of the faith of Christ Iesus for which I praise God that he hath this day called me of his mercy amongst the rest of his Servants the Martyrs to seal up his truth with my life which as I received on him so I willingly offer it to his glory and so he dyed and was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for Religion Vol. 2. p. 626. George Marsh of Deane in Lancashire married and was a Farmer but after his Wife's death he went to Cambridge to study and was a Minister of Gods Word and zealous against Popery for which he was imprisoned His Mother and divers other Friends advised him to fly To whose Counsel saith he My Flesh would gladly have consented but my Spirit did not fully agree Whereupon he prayed earnestly to God for direction and unexpectedly in the Morning he had a Letter from a Friend whose Bearer said to him before he looked on the Letter That his Friends advice was not to flee but to abide boldly and confess the Name of Christ which he did He was many wayes and much sollicited to turn upon the account of his Children whom he said he would gladly keep could it be with a pure Conscience and he would have accepted of Queen Mary's mercy should he not thereby by denying Christ win everlasting misery He was burned April 24. 1555. with a Firkin of Pitch over his head which melting and dropping on him added much to his torments yet after much misery when they thought him to be dead he spread his hands saying Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 228. Menas an Egyptian under the 10 th Persecution lived a retired life a great while at length returning to the City Cotis in the open Theatre at a time of Pastimes he loudly proclaimed himself a Christian and being brought to Pyrrhus the President and demanded of his Faith he said It is convenient I should confess God citing Rom. 10.10 And being most painfully pinched and tormented he said in the midst of his torments There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the price of one Soul and said I have learned of my Lord and King not to fear them who kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul And being sentenced to be beheaded he said I give thee thanks my Lord God which hast so accepted me to be found a partaker of thy precious death and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure Faith to my life's end Vol. 1. p. 117 118. N N SAintinus Nivet being a Cripple burnt at Paris 1546. when apprehended and asked if he would stand to what he said he asked his Judges if they dare be so bold to deny what was so plain in express words of Scripture and did so little regard his own life that he desired his Judges for Gods sake that they would rather take care of their own Souls and lives and consider how much innocent blood
the Countrey of Brisgois 1525. a vigilant Preacher and a peaceable good Man often reconciling differences with great prudence and much lamenting the corruptness of Principles and Practises of the Popish Monks and especially their Vow of single Life and its consequents which moved him to marry for which crime chiefly he was afterwards apprehended and condemned to die And being led to Execution he answer'd all Persons gently but desir'd the Monks to let him alone who troubled him with their babling about Confession when he was striving in his Spirit against the horror of death and making his prayer to God to whom he said also that he had confessed his sins to God not doubting but he had received absolution and forgiveness of them And I said he shall be an acceptable sacrifice to my Saviour Jesus Christ for I have done no such things whereof I am condemned which might displease my God who in this behalf hath given me a good and quiet Conscience Saying also he being very lean It is all one for I must shortly have forsaken my Skin which scarce cleaves to my bones I know I am a mortal and corruptible worm I have oft desired my last day and have made my request that I might be delivered out of this mortal Body to be joyned with my Saviour Jesus Christ. I have deserved through my sins my Cross and my Saviour hath born the Cross and for my part I will not glory in any other thing but in the Cross of Christ. Presently he was cast into the River he strugling a while in it the water was red with blood which the People looked to be a miraculous sign to shew that innocent blood was that day shed This was done at Enshesheim 1525. Vol. 2. p. 111 112. Wolfgangus Schuch a German at St. Hyppolite 1525. a Town in Lotharing a Reverend and godly Pastor there preached he Justification through Christ by Faith He was apprehended willingly offering himself to Tryal by Scripture rather than to see the Town of St. Hyppolite be exposed to the danger threatn'd to it by Anthony Duke of Lorrain for his sake and being apprehended he was imprisoned in sad misery a year where disputing with divers Friars he confounded them all by Scripture At last he was condemned to be burnt at which Sentence he sang and being at the place of Execution he sang the 51. Psalm till smoke and fire choak'd him Vol. 2. pag. 112. George Scherler a German Preacher near Saltzburg was taken and imprisoned and condemned to be burnt alive but at last it was granted he should be first beheaded He going to his death said That ye may know that I die a true Christian I will give you a manifest sign Which he did by God's power for after his head was off his body falling on his belly and so lying a good while it easily turn'd it self on the back and crossed the right foot over the left and the right hand over the left at which sight the Spectators marvelled and the Magigistrates burned not but buried the Body amongst the Christians and many were hereby brought to believe the Gospel Vol. 2. p. 117. Peter Serre was burned 1553. in France who having his tongue cut out stood so quiet looking up to Heaven at the time of his burning as though he had felt no pain bringing such admiration to the People that one of the Parliament of France that condemned him said That way was not best to bring Lutherans to the fire for that would do more hurt than good Vol. 2. p. 143. Mrs. Smith near Coventry condemned and burnt for having the Lord's Prayer in English April 4. 1519. Vol. 2. p. 225. Hellen Stirk a Scottish Woman seeing her Husband go to the Stake 1543. for Christ's cause and being her self condemned did desire to suffer with her Husband but when it was not permitted she went to him and exhorted him to perseverance and with a kiss parted saying Husband rejoyce for we have lived many a joyful day together but this day in which we must die together ought to be most joyful unto us both because we must have joy for ever therefore I will not bid you good night for we shall suddenly meet with joy in the Kingdom of Heaven And after that she parting with her sucking Child from her breast recommended her self to God and the Child to Nurse and so was drowned Vol. 2. pag. 615 616. Laurence Saunders brought up at Eaton and then at King's Colledge in Cambridge three years then by his Mother having a great Estate was bound Apprentice in London to a Merchant Sir William Chester but he not liking his Apprentiship his Master gave him his Indentures perceiving his inclinations to Study and being himself a good Man he wrote Letters to his Mother and Friends who were great Persons about it whereby he went again to King's Colledge and after several years was a Minister in Leicestershire and then in London till Queen Mary's dayes when he had two Livings not being permitted to lay down either of them by reason of the troubles and as well as he could he Preached at both though at length at London he going to Preach was disswaded for fear of danger but he would not cease and Preaching he did as he often had speak against Popish Tenets for which he was examined by Bishop Bonner and Gardiner and at last imprisoned he prayed much and in all spiritual assaults he prayed and found present relief and he said while Bishop Gardiner examined him he found a great consolation in spirit and also in body he received a certain taste of the Communion of Saints whilst a pleasant refreshing issued from all parts of his body to his heart and thence did ebb and flow to and fro He in a Letter to Bishop Gardiner proved Popery a Whoreish and ravening Religion robbing God of his honour and worship in truth and also our Consciences of peace and true comfort He disswaded his Wife and Friends from sueing for his liberty He in his Letters spoke much of his own experience through God's grace of Christ's sweetness and how loath his Flesh was to go forward in God's Path and also his hopes with the godly to be shortly singing Halelujah in Heaven and as he saluted those to whom he wrote with grace and mercy and peace and assured them of his Prayers for them so also he generally begg'd their Prayers ending his Letters with pray pray pray and after 15 months imprisonment he was condemned who said My dear Lord Iesus Christ hath begun to me a more bitter Cup than mine can be and shall not I pledge my most sweet Saviour yes I hope As he went to Stake he oft fell down and prayed and at the Stake he took it in his arms and kissed it saying Welcome the Cross of Christ welcome everlasting life and so being fastned was burned with green Wood to make his torments greater yet he stood quietly and slept sweetly in the fire
621. Adam Wallace a Scotchman burnt 1549. as an Heretick He passed over the night of his condemnation in singing and lauding God having learned David's Psalter by heart to his great consolation and being tempted by several to recant he though a poor mean learnned Man said He would adhere to whatsoever could be proved by Scripture but he would consent to nothing that had not Scripture evidence though an Angel from Heaven came to perswade him And on the day of his sufferings he asked whether the fire was fit saying As it pleaseth God I am ready soon or late and so desired the Faithful to remember him to all the Brethren being sure to meet together with them in Heaven As he went to the fire the People said God have mercy on you And on you too said he At the fire he lifting up his eyes two or three times said to the People Let it not offend you that I suffer for the truth's sake for the Disciple is not greater than his Master But he was not permitted to speak and so was burned Vol. 2. p. 623. Rawlins White a Welchman a Fisherman of Cardiff was very superstitious in time of Popery till afterwards through God's Grace he upon the Reformation began to give ear to good Men and searched out the Truth but being a very poor ignorant Person he knew not how to be informed and so resolved to put his Child to learn to read whom he caused when he could read to read every night Summer and Winter after Supper a piece of Scripture or some good Book which profited him so much through God's grace and the blessing of a good memory that he soon became very perfect in Scriptures did see his former errours and was enabled to admonish others by which means he was instrumental for the conversion of many others whom he instructed for which he expected to be apprehended and his Friends desired him to fly but he said No He had learned That if he should presume to deny his Master Christ Christ in the last day would deny and condemn him I will therefore by his favourable Grace bear witness of him before Men that I may find him in Everlasting Life And at last was taken and imprisoned for a year where as oft as his Friends visited him he would spend the time in prayer and Exhortation And after many means of threats and flatteries used by Bishop of Landaffe to bring him to a conformity but in vain he resolved to condemn him yet exhorted he his Fellow-Assistants to pray to God for Grace for Rawlins to convert him Whereat Rawlins rejoyced and commending them said Go and pray and I also will pray After prayer the Bishop asked him If he would recant and he said No. Rawlins ye left me and Rawlins ye find me and by God's Grace Rawlins I will continue Certainly if your petitions were just and lawful God would have heard you but ye honour a false God and pray not as ye ought to pray and therefore hath not God granted your desire but God hath heard my complaint and I trust will strengthen me in his own cause Then the Bishop would have a Mass at which Rawlins went and begg'd the Brethren or but one Brother to bear witness that he did not worship that Idol the Host over the Priest's head and so soon after he was condemned who then sent to his Wife for a Shirt to be burnt in which he called a Wedding-garment And going to the Stake seeing his Wife and Children there who made great lamentation his heart was pierced and he wept but soon after being angry with himself for that infirmity he struck his breast saying Ah Flesh wouldest thou fain prevail Well I let thee do what thou canst thou shalt not through God's grace have the victory And being in the fire he cry'd whilst he could open his mouth O Lord receive my Soul O Lord receive my Spirit Vol. 3. p. 219 220 221. Thomas Watts an Essex Man a Linen-Draper expecting every day to be sent for and imprisoned for the Gospel did dispose of his things and sold and gave to the Poor his Cloath and at length was imprisoned and not recanting by the flatteries and threats of Bishop Bonner he was condemned and going to take leave of his Wife and six Children he said to them thus I must now depart from you therefore henceforth I know you no more but as the Lord hath given you to me I give you again to him whom I charge ye see to obey and beware ye turn not to Popery against which by God's grace I shall anon give my blood Let not the murdering of God's Saints cause you to relent but take occasion thereby to be strong in the Lord's quarrel and I doubt not but he will be a merciful Father to you and so he went to the Stake kissed it and was burned Iune 9. 1555. Vol. 3. p. 268. Christopher Ward burned at Dartford 1555. who coming to the Stake being in a Pitch Barrel fastned to it he held up his hands and eyes to Heaven saying with a chearful and loud voice the last Verse of the 86. Psalm Shew some good token upon me for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me and comforted me and the fire being kindled he cryed with a loud voice but without any impatience Lord Iesus receive my Soul and when his voice could not be heard his hands were held up and continued clasped together and held up towards Heaven even when he was dead and altogether roasted as though they had been stayed up by some Prop which token God granted as it were an answer to his Prayer Vol. 3. p. 382. Thomas Whittle a Priest burnt with six others Ian. 28. 1556. was by the perswasions of the Papists brought to recant but after that he felt such an horrour of Conscience that he did earnestly beg to see again the Bill he had subscribed and seeing it he rent out his Name and then was right glad and in a Letter after his condemnation he said Now I am condemned to dye my conscience and mind is I praise God quiet in Christ and I am willing and content to give this Body to death for a Testimony of his truth against Antichrist In another Letter he thus writes The World I do forsake To Christ I me take And for his Gospel's sake Patiently I Death take My Body to the Dust Now to return it must My Soul I know full well With my God shall dwell Vol. 3. p. 615.621 Ioan Waste of Derby born blind yet by hearing the Word of God did become knowing and purchased a New Testament which she gat sometimes one Prisoner to read and sometimes another by giving them often some Money to read a Chapter or two in it to her by which means she grew understanding in the Scriptures could say much of them by heart and at last was burned for the Gospel August
set upon Christ was deposed from the High-Priest's room by Caligula Vol. 1. p. 40. Clarke a great Persecutor hanged himself Vol. 3 p. 957. Coxe a great Promoter in King Edw. VI. and in Queen Mary's dayes going well to bed at night was found dead next morning Vol. 3. p. 957. D D DR Dunnings Chancellor in Norwich a great Persecutor in the midst of Queen Mary's Reign and his rage died suddenly in a Chair in Lincolnshire Vol. 3. p. 954. Dale a great Papistical promoter was eaten into his Body with Lice and so died Vol. 3. p. 967. E E EMperours who were Authors of Persecution against Christians all of them came to sad ends either staying themselves or being slain by others or dying by unheard of deaths Vol. 1. p. 41. Sir Ralph Ellerken a Knight at Calice who at the martyrdom of Adam Damlip said He would not stir till he see his heart out had his own heart soon after cut out of his Body by the French See Damlip pag. 51 of this Book and see Vol. 2. p. 564 565. Robert Edgar Executing the Office of a Parish Clerk against his Conscience was bereft of his Wits and kept in chains many years Vol. 3. p. 960. F F DR Foxford Chancellor to Bishop Stoksely in King Henry the 8 th's dayes and a great Persecutor dyed suddenly Vol. 3. p. 957. Bishop Fisher Bishop of Rochester who with Bishop Warham caused one Iohn Brown to have his feet heated and burnt to the Bones by coals to make him recant his Religion was soon after beheaded for opposing Kings Supremacy Vol. 3. p. 957. with Sir Thomas Pure another great Papist See Iohn Brown pag. 19. of this Book The Wife of Iohn Petty of Clerkenwel Parish in London being the occasion of her own Husband 's taking was immediately struck mad Vol. 3. p. 960. A Dominick Fryar inveighing in the Pulpit against the Gospel was suddenly struck with lightning and so ended his Life Vol. 3. p. 964. G G GRimwood a false witness against one Iohn Cooper a Suffolkman whereby the poor Man was proved guilty of Treason falsly and was hang'd drawn and quartered and his Wife and nine Children turned out of their Estate was afterwards sadly and suddenly afflicted for in Harvest time as he was stacking Corn and was very well fearing no evil his bowels suddenly fell out of his body and he dyed most miserably Vol. 3. p. 955. Bishop Gardiner a cruel Persecutor dyed despairing and having a Bishop with him who put him in mind of Peter's denying his Master he said I have denyed with Peter but never repented with Peter Vol. 3. p. 957. He rejoycing at the News of Bishop Ridley's and Latimer's burning at a Dinner that day was that instant struck sick denyed the use of Nature either by Urine or otherwise for fifteen days and then dyed with a sad inflamed body Vol. 3. p. 527. H H Herod the murtherer of Iohn Baptist and condemner of Christ was by Caligula Caesar condemned to perpetual banishment where he dyed miserably Vol. 1. p. 40. Hoeimester an Arch-Papist going to Ratisbon to dispute against the defenders of the Gospel dyed suddenly and miserably in his Journey with roaring and crying Vol. 3. p. 963. I I JEws who refused Christ and also were Persecutors of him were forty years after Christ's Passion destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his Father to the Number of 1100000 besides them which Vespasian slew in subduing Galilee and them which were sold and sent into Egypt and other Provinces to vile slavery to the Number of 17000 and 2000 were brought with Titus in tryumph of which part were devoured by Wild Beasts and part of them were otherwise cruelly slain Vol. 1. p. 40 41.17 L L THomas Leland a Justice of Peace in Lancashire sitting in his Chair talking with his Friends fell down dead suddenly not moving a joint He was so great an Enemy to Christians that he was called Persecuting Tho. Leland Vol. 3. p. 925. Leyson Sheriff at the burning of Bishop Farrar fetched the Bishop's Cattel into his own Ground but many of them would not eat but continued bellowing till they dyed Vol. 3. p. 954. Iacobus Latomus having at Brussels made an Oration against Luther and being in his publick Lecture at Lovane he fell into an open fury uttering words of blasphemy and despair that the Divines there did carry him away and shut him up who to his last breath said nothing but that he was damned and rejected of God and that there was no hopes of Salvation for him because he wittingly and willingly withstood the manifest truth of God's Word Vol. 3. p. 964. Dr. Leyson a Civilian a Justice of Peace who would not let Bishop Farrar speak a word at the Stake about half a year after died and in his sickness when he would have spoken his mind could not Vol. 3. p. 1002. Dr. London Persecutor punished See the former Part of this Book Queen Mary while she promised her protection of the Gospel she prospered and by the help of the Gospellers she gat the Crown but after she breaking her promise and bringing in of Popery and burning of God's People for the Gospel's sake she and her Nation was much punished She was especially punisht these several wayes 1. Her best Ship yea the best Ship in all Europe called The great Harry was burned 2. She was opposed in her endeavours to restore the Abby-lands 3. Her Subjects suffered almost a Famine so that the Poor for Famine were forced to eat Acorns instead of Bread 4. She lost Calice in France which had been the English King 's Right through the Reign of eleven Kings 5. She was deprived of Children which she greatly desired and the whole Nation were cheated in the rumors of her bringing forth a Son 6. She having married Philip King of Spain and so subjugated her Subjects to a stranger with whom she promised her self much felicity was very unhappy by his withdrawing from her Vol. 3. p. 953. M M MAlicia accusing Eugenia who for fear of the 8 th Persecution had put on Mans Apparel to preserve her life and chastity and called her self Eugenius to Philippus the Judge and Father of the unknown Eugenius that he would have deflowered her the said Malicia the falsity was made apparent by Eugenia's discovering her self to be a Woman in Mans habit and Malicia the accuser was doubly ashamed and was smitten with Lightning Vol. 1. p. 95. Iohn Martin of Briqueray boasting he would cut off the Nose of a Minister of Angrogn one of the Waldenses 1555. had his own Nose bitten off by a Woolf so that he dyed thereof mad Vol. 2. p. 202. Maximus the great Persecutor of the Christians in the 10 th Persecution was smitten with a dreadful Ulcer in his Privities and Entrails so that the Physicians durst not come near him nor could they cure him for which he caused them to be slain And being put in mind of God's judgment herein for
persecuting the Christians he ordered their peace yet after he again commanded their torments ascribing plenty and peace to Iupiter and war and pestilence and famine as caused by the Christians but it did happen contrary for famine war and pestilence destroyed most of his heathenish Subjects while the Christians amongst them relieved one another and them also and were preserved to the enjoyment of peace for Maximus was afterwards forced to acknowledge the true God and being oppressed by his Disease he repented and glorified the Christians God and made an absolute Law for the Christian's safety and welfare Vol. 1. p. 106. to 113. Bishop Morgan Bishop of S. David's who usurped Bishop Farrar's place after he had condemned him was so afflicted that his Meat would not go down but rise up and come out of Mouth and Nose and so he continued to death Vol. 3. p. 954. Morgan the Justice that condemned the Lady Iane Grey fell mad not long after and so dyed having ever in his Mouth Lady Iane Lady Iane. Vol. 3. p. 954. Domitius Nero began to Reign the 56. year of Christ Reigned 14 years with great Tyranny he slew most part of the Senators set Rome on fire and laid it to the Christians and caused them to be persecuted at last he was by the Senate declared a publick Enemy to Mankind and commanded to be drawn from the City and whipt to death for fear whereof he fled into the Country to a Mannor of his Servants and slew himself Vol. 1. p. 40. P P A Person being hired by Pope Hildebrand to murther Henricus the 4 th Emperour of Germany as he was at Prayers by throwing a great Stone upon him from a place directly over him As the Person moved the Stone to do this horrid Act he broke the Plank he stood on and fell down the Stone falling on him and so was killed by that Stone he designed to slay the Emperour by the Emperour being safe Vol. 1. p. 229. Pilate under whom Christ suffered was apprehended under Tiberius Nero and accused at Rome deposed and banished to Lyons and at length slew himself Vol. 1. p. 40. A Persecutor seeking three dayes for Dionisius that he might be persecuted was struck with blindness Vol. 1. p. 81. Portugal King and his Son who persecuted William Gardiner dyed soon after See p. 73. of this Book A Persecutor of one Iames Abbyes a Martyr in Berry told the People that Abbyes was a Mad-man not to be believed After that Abbyes was burnt this reviling Persecutor being one of the Sheriff's Men pulled off his Cloaths and was struck with a Frenzy running about and crying Abbyes was a good Man and is saved but I am damned and though the Sheriff did endeavour what he could to bring him to his right senses yet could it not be done but he alwayes cryed out to his dying day Abbyes was a good Man and saved but I am damned Vol. 3. p. 956. Iohn Peters Son-in-Law to one Alexander the Keeper of Newgate Prison who dyed miserably did also dye sadly for his use in all his affirmations was to say If it be not true I wish I rot e're I dye and so he did rot away and dyed miserably Vol. 3. p. 957. Ponchet an Arch-bishop of Towres made sure to erect a Chamber to be called Chamber Ardent therein to condemn the Protestants to the fire and he was soon after stricken with such a Disease called the fire of God which began at his feet and burned upwards that he caused one Member after another to be cut off and so he dyed miserably without any Remedy Vol. 3. p. 967. S S SCribes and Pharisees who refused Christ and chose rather to be subject to Caesar were at length destroy'd by their own Caesar when as Christ's Subjects were preserved Vol. 1. pag. 39. Smith a great Papist and Persecutor fell down suddenly in the street and dyed Vol. 3. p. 957. William Swallow a cruel tormentor of one George Egles shortly was so plagued that all his hair came off his nails of fingers and toes came off his eyes were near closed that he could not see and his Wife was stricken with the Falling-sickness which she never had before Vol. 3. p. 960. Symons a Persecutor of Robert Testwood soon after was convicted of Conspiracy and rode round about Windsor Market-place with his face towards the Horses tail See 174 page of this Book T T TArtarians Army of 5000000 waring against Polonia 1241. and having killed old and young of both sexes were discomfited by Thunder and Lightning at the instance and prayers of God's People Vol. 1. p. 442. Twiford in London an Executioner of several Martyrs and a Suborner of false Witnesses against one Merial at last died rotting above ground so that none could abide him Vol. 2. p. 603. Bishop Thornton Suffragan of Dover a cruel Persecutor coming to Canterbury on a Saturday on Sunday seeing his Men playing at Bowls was taken with a Palsey and had to bed and being bid to remember the Lord he said Yes so I do and my Lord Cardinal too and so soon died Vol. 3. p. 954. V V Valerian the Butcher of the Christians in the eighth Persecution was taken in Wars against Persia and Sapores King of Persia made him his Foot-stool for him to mount on horseback by to his Life's end Vol. 1. p. 96. W W Woodriffe a Sheriff in London a cruel Persecutor was not above a week out of his Office before he was smitten with a lameness all on one side that he lay bed-rid 7 or 8 years untill his dying day Vol. 3. p. 955. AN APPENDIX OF Things pertinent to the understanding the preceding Martyrology Containing the Times and Authors of the ten Persecutions and other remarkable Occurrences necessarily to be explained LONDON Printed for R. Butler next door to the Lamb and three Bowls in Barbican An Appendix c. THE First Persecution was raised by Nero Domitius the 6 th Emperour of Rome who thought by raising a Persecution in all his Provinces to abolish the Name of Christians It was done in the year of Christ 67. Vol. 1. p. 44. The Second Persecution began in the 69. year of Christ by Domitian who began mildly yet did after so rage in pride that he commanded himself to be worship'd as God He slew most of the Nobles and all of the Seed of David He intending to destroy all of the Seed of David lest Christ should come and cast him out of his Empire And sending for two Nephews of Iude the Brother of Christ who were then alive and demanding of them concerning Christ's Kingdom upon their information that it was not an earthly Kingdom but an heavenly Kingdom to be manifested in the consummation of the World when he should come again to judge the quick and dead Domitian stayed the Persecution and dismissed them Vol. 1. p. 48. The Third Persecution began by Trajan 100 years after the other He was a very just Man in