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
years service Jacob asking leave of Laban to return into his own Country he was held there six years more upon another bargain made between him and his Father-in-law Laban for a certain part of his Flock Jacob perceiving the heart burning of Laban and his Sons malice towards him was warned of God to return into his own Country year of the world 2265 which having communicated to his Wives whilst Laban was sheering his Sheep at the latter end of the Spring after his twenty years service getting away unknown to Laban with all his Substance Jacob gets away from Laban unknown to him Wives and Family passed over the River Euphrates Laban three dayes after hearing that his Son-in-law was gone took some of his Friends and Kindred along with him and persued after him seven dayes Journey and at last overtook him at mount Gilead which took its name from this their Meeting there for after many and divers Expostulations which passed there between them making all fair at last Laban following after him and overtaking him came to agreement with him for a Testimony and Monument of their Covenant there made Jacob erected a Pillar with an heap of Stones which Laban the Syrian called Jegar-Sahadutha but Jacob the Hebrew called Gilead that is the heap of a Testimony or Witness between them two Jacob being sent away in peace by Laban He is affrighted with the news of Esau approach but affrighted with the news of his Brother Esau's approach with four hundred men divided his Company into two saying If he smite one then the other Company which is left shall escape and calls upon God saying O God of my Father Abraham Isaac c. which saidest unto me return into thy Country and to thy Kindred and I will deal well with thee deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my Brother Esau Esau having entertained his Brother courteously after much intreaty accepts of his Presents Jacob then went on to Suâ—â—oth and there he built him an House and afterwards passing over Jordan he came into Canaan and pitched his Tent in Salem and there he built an Altar He presents Esau with Presents which he called by the name of El-Elohe-Israel or of the mighty God the God of Israel to wit in the self same place where Abraham had heretofore built his first Altar and where Jacob's Well was I am now come to write of Joseph who being Seventeen Years of Age year of the world 2276 when his Brethren saw that their Father loved him more then all his Brethren they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him The cause why Ioseph's Brethren hated him and Joseph declaring his Dream to them the Lord having shewed him that he should be set above his Brethren and be the chief of his Fathers Family they hated him yet the more and first they conspired his death They conspired his Death at last sold him and at length agreed to sell him away for a Bond slave unto a far Country so drawing him out of the Pit whereinto they had cast him they sold him to the Merchants for twenty pieces of Silver and was by them carried into Aegypt and there sold for a Slave to Potipher Captain of the Guard to Pharaoh He is sold to Captain of the Pharaoh's Guard where he was tempted by Potiphers Wife to Uncleanness and because he refused to do such Evil she by her Lyes instigated Potipher her Husband against him who put him in Prison but the Lord was with Joseph and shewed him mercy and gave him favour in the sight of the Keeper of the Prison and that which he did the Lord made it to prosper Two of the Officers of Pharaoh's Court year of the world 2287 being Imprisoned in the same Prison with Joseph having both of them Dreamed Joseph interpreted their Dreams unto them which came to pass according to his interpretation and saith Joseph to one of them When thou art restored into thy place after thy former manner think on me when it shall be well with thee and shew kindness I pray thee unto me and make mention of me unto Pharaoh and bring me out of this House for indeed I was stolen away out of the Land of the Hebrews and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the Dungeon But when this Officer was restored again into Pharaohs Court he remembered not Joseph Ioseph expert in interpreting the Dreams Two Years after Pharaoh Dreamed two Dreams which seeing he could not get expounded by his own Wise men but hearing of Josephs expertness to enterpret Dreams sent for him being then thirty Years Old who having opened to the King his Dreams first that of the Seven Years of Plenty He interpreeted the Kings Dream then the Seven Years of Famine He added moreover as his councel and advice how to provide out of the store of the first Years of Plenty against the Famine of the other Seven Years of Scarcity Pharaoh advanced Ioseph which were to follow whereupon by the general consent of his Nobles he made him Governor of the Kingdom Seven Year Plenty From the Harvest of this Year being to be counted Seven Years of Plenty wherein Joseph laid up an infinite Treasure of Corn. The Seven Years of the Famine began from the Harvest of this Year year of the world 2296 wherein the forecast and wisdom of Joseph did not only sustain Egypt Seven years of Famine but was a help and relief to other Countries Jacob dispatched away ten of his Sons into Aegypt to buy Corn year of the world 2297 to whom Joseph seeming not to know caused to be taken for Spies and being laid hold on he spake roughly unto them and said Jacob sends his Sons into Egypt to buy Corn and they are taken for Spies Whence came ye and they said From the Land of Canaan to buy Food And Joseph knew his Brethren but they knew not him and he said They were come as Spies to see the Nakedness of the Land they said They were true men and thy Servants are twelve Brethren the Sons of one man in the Land of Canaan and behold the Youngest is this day with our Father and one is not and Joseph said Ye are Spies Ioseph sends all of them away with Corn but one whom he kept Prisoner till they brought their Youngest Brother hereby shall it be proved if ye be true men let one of your Brethren be bound in Prison go ye carry Corn for the Famine of your Houses but bring your Youngest Brother unto me so shall your words be verified and you shall not die and they did so And they said one to the other We are verily guilty 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 speak not I unto you saying Do not
call it Have ye nâ—â— had my Brother Tomkins before you whose hand when you had burned most cruelly ye burn also his body and not only him but a great many of the numbers of Christ men that feared God and lived Vertuously and also the Queens true Subjects and seeing to these Saints you have shewed so little mercy shall it seem to my Lord and this Audience that ye shew me more favour no no my Lord but if you mean as you say why then examine you me of that I am not bound to answer you unto Bonner Well what sayest thou by the Sacrament of the Altar is it not the very body of Christ Flesh Blood and Bone as it was born of the Virgin Smith I have answered that it is none of Gods order neither any Sacrament but mans own vain invention and shewed him the Lords institution But when he was so earnestly before the Audience declaring that we knew nothing bringing out his hoc est Corpus meum to lay in my dish I proved before the Audience that it was a dead God declaring the distinction appointed between the two Creatures of Bread and Wine and that a body without Blood hath no life at which Harpsfield found himself much offended and took the Tale out of my Lords mouth saying Harpsfield I will prove by the Scriptures that you blaspheme God in so saying for it is given in two parts because there is two thing shewed that is to say his Body and his Passion as saith St. Paul and therefore is the Bread his Body and the Wine the representation of his death and blood shedding Smith You falsify the Word and rack it to serve your purpose for the Wine was not only the shewing of his passion but the Bread also for our Saviour saith so oft as you do this do it in remembrance of me and St. Paul saith so oft as you eat of this Bread and Drink of this Cup you shall shew the Lords death till he comes and here is as much reverence given to the one as the other Then rose up the Lord Bishop and the Lord Mayor desired me to save my Soul To whom I answered I hope it was saved through Christ Jesus desiring him to have pity on his own soul and remember whose Sword he carried At which I was carried into the Garden and there abode until the rest of my Friends were Examined and so were we sent away with many foul farewels to Newgate again the Lord Bishop giving the Keeper a charge to lay me in Limbo The Substance of another Examination of Robert Smith before the said Bishop Upon Saturday at Eight of the Clock I was brought to his Chamber again and there by him examined as followeth Bonner Thou Robert Smith sayst that there is no Catholick Church here on Earth Smith You have heard me both speak the contrary and you have written it as a Witness of the same Bonner Yea but I must ask thee this question how sayst thou Smith Must you of necessity begin with a Lye it maketh manifest that you determine to end with the same but there shall no Lyars enter the Kingdom of God nevertheless if you will be answemed ask mine Articles that were written yesterday and they shall tell you that I have confessed a Church of God as well in Earth as in Heaven and yet all one Church and one mans Members even Christ Jesus Bonner Well what sayest thou to Auricular confession is it not necessary to be used in Christs Church and wilt thou not be shriven of the Priest Smith It is not needful to be used in Christs Church as I answered yesterday but if it be needful for your Church it is to pick mens purses and such pick-purse matters is all the whole rabble of your Ceremonies for all is but money matters that ye maintain Bonner How art thou able to prove that Confession is a Pickpurse matter Art thou not ashamed so to say Smith I speak by experience for I have both heard and seen the fruits of the same for first we see it hath been a bewrayer of Kings secrets and the secrets of other mens Consciences who being delivered and glad to be discharged of their sins have given to Priest great sums of money to absolve them and sing Masses for their Souls health and began to tell him an Example of a Gentleman in Norfolk who being bound in Conscience through the perswasion of the Priest gave away a great part of what he had the which thing when his Brother heard he went to London and declaring it to the Council how that by subtilty the Priest had robbed his Wife and Children he recovered a great part again to the value of two or three hundred pounds as I was relating this the Bishop saw it savoured not to his purpose but began to revile me and said By the Mass if the Queens Majesty were of his mind I should not come to talk before any man but should be put into a Sack and a Dog tyed unto the same and so should be thrown into the Water Smith To which I answered again saying I know you speak by practice as much as by speculation for both you and your predecessors have sought all means possible to Kill Christ secretly Witness M. Hunn whom your predecessors caused to be thrust in at the Nose with hot burning needles and then to be hanged and said he hanged himself and also a good Brother of yours a Bishop of your profession having in his Prison an Innocent man whom because he saw he was not able by the Scriptures to be overcome he made him privily to be Snarled and his Flesh to be torn and pâ—â—kt away with a pair of Pinsors and bringing him before the People said the rats had eaten him Thus according to your Oath is all your dealing and hath been and as you taking upon you the Office do not witâ—out Oaths open your Mouths no more do you without Murther maintain your Traditions Bonner Ah you are a Generation of Lyars there is not one true Word that cometh out of your Mouthes Smith Yes my Lord have said that Jesus Christ is dead for my sins and risen for my Justification and this is no Lye Bonner How sayst thou Smith to the seven Sacraments believest thou not that they be Gods order that is to say the Sacrament of c. Smith As for the Sacrament of the Altar and all your Sacraments they may well serve your Church but Gods Church hath nothing to do with them neither have I any thing to do with them nor you to examine me of them Bonner Why is Gods order changed in Baptism in what point do we differ from the Word of God Smith First in Hallowing your Water in Conjuring the same in Baptizing Children with Annointing and Spitting in their Mouths mingled with Salt and with many other lewd Ceremonies of which not one point is able to be proved in Gods order Bonner By the
Estate giving unto them a Commandment of Obedience which was The Commandment given man in his first Creation that they were not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil for in the day they did eat thereof they should dye but of all the rest of the Trees of the Garden they might eat and receiving Comfort there-from might give the Praise and Glory thereof to their Maker to whom it did belong And whilest Man and Woman stood in this Condition they were happy and blessed And now God beheld all that he had made and behold all was Good for Sin had not as yet entered upon man But the Devil envying Gods Honour and Mans Felicity tempted the Woman to Sin by the Serpent The Serpent beguiled Man and Woman by his Subtilty the Woman being beguiled by the Serpent the man was also beguiled by her and brake the Ordinance of God by eating the Forbidden Fruit And thus Man and Woman lost the Dignity and Excellency of their first Creation and were enslaved by the Serpent who by his Wiles and Subtilty had entangled and ensnared them and perswaded them to believe him more then God for God said That in the day they did eat thereof they should die but the Serpent said They should not surely die for God doth know said he that you shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil and thus was man by a lye drawn from the pure Command of his Maker Now after they had sinned in the cool of the day the Lord called unto Adam saying Where art thou and Adam who did hide himself said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and was afraid because I was Naked And God said Who told thee that thou wast Naked hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not Eat And now having brought Guilt and shame upon themselves by Transgression After man had transgressed he first began to make a Covering they began to make them Coverings by sewing fig-leaves to make them Aprons of which it seems they had no need before they had transgressed And now by this all men may see that it was the Serpents work from the beginning and indeed it has been in all Ages his work to beguile Men and Women with his Lyes and Subtilties and to darken their Eyes and polute their Understandings that he may keep them in subjection to himself and from hence doth spring the wicked Thoughts and Actions which all mankind are apt to lean and incline to and have been and are readier to give ear to the Voice of the Serpent and wicked One The Serpent hath ever been the moving cause of all the Wâ— that has come upon Man then to the Voice of God their Maker And this has been the Fountain and Spring-head from whence has come all the Disorders Miseries and Woes that have happened unto all Manking throughout the World in all Ages they have been feeding and delighting themselves in eating the Forbidden Fruit which their Forefathers also delighted in and all Nations upon the Earth are in this State and Condition at this day led away by the Voice of the Serpent from the Purity and Righteousness in which man was first created except a Little Remnant which God hath at this day gathered by his Light and Power to be witnesses to his name And now the Lord having convicted Adam of his evil The Promise of God for the restoring lost man and pronounced several punishments upon him and on Eve his Wife yet with this Promise added That the Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head and now man being put out of the Garden of Eden and a Fiery Flaming Sword being set to keep the Way leading to the Tree of Life man was in an undone condition had not the Lord condescended in his tender Love and Mercy to restore him and make that Promise to him and this was the Lords great Love to open a Door of hope to lost man that he might not be destroyed by Satans Power and now the Power of God by which man was first created appeared again to restore him After the fall of Adam year of the world 130 Cain was the first man that was born of a woman and after Cain his Brother Abel was born and now in process of time these two offered Offerings unto the Lord being without question instructed in Righteousness by their Father Adam after hâ—s restoration but Cains Sacrifice What Sacrafice God accepted and what he rejected being only outward in shew and nothing inward in the Spirit wherein doth consist the true Worship of God the Lord accepted not his Offering but unto Abel and his Offering which was from the Uprightness and Sincerity of his heart the Lord had respect At this Cain was Wrath and being inflamed with Anger rose up against his Brother Abel and in his envy slew him here was the beginning of Persecution and that upon a righteous person for serving God in a pure mind and here the envy of the Wicked one appeared again to extinguish if he could the righteous Seed But now the Lord shewed regard again to mankind and in his tender love repaired this loss for now Abel being slain Adams Wife bare another Son whose name was Seth for God saith she Seth born in the room of Abel bath appointed me another Seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew and this Seth proved a godly man and had a Son called Enos who kept up the holy Seed and true Religion as it is recorded of him that in his dayes men did begin to call on the Name of the Lord now Enos signifies the lamentable condition of all mankind for even then as some men write was the worship of God wretchedly corrupted by the race of Cain whence it came that men were even so distinguished that they who persisted in the true worship of God were known by the name of the Children of God and they which forsook him were termed the Children of men Enochs blameless life The next of the Righteous Stock was Jared to whom was born Enoch another of the Righteous Seed whose life and conversation was so Innocent that it is recorded of him that he walked with God And thus the Reader may see how the Righteous Plants were such who took the Lord to be their Guide in their Actions and Undertakings who were as Patterns of Righteousness in the midst of a perverse Generation and it is the same with all the faithful and upright at this day And now Enoch having this Testimony that he pleased God the Lord as a requital of his faithfulness translated him so that he saw no death and took him to himself The evil the Sons of God were prone to run into And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the Face of the Earth and Daughters were born unto them these Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they
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
them for which Message they stoned him to death at the Commandment of the King The Prophets is stoned to Death thus Joash the King remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada Zachariahs Father had done to him and when the Prophet dyed he said This Kings miserable end the Lord look upon it and require it and now mark what was the end of this King his own Servants conspired against him and slew him in his bed as may be seen more at large in the account given of Gods Judgments against Persecutors Amazia succeeded Joash year of the world 3194 and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart Amaziahs Evil for at last he set up the God of the Children of Seir and bowed himself before them and burnt Incense unto them wherefore the anger of the Lord was Kindled against him and he sent a Prophet unto him to reprove him The Prophets reproves him to whom the King said Art thou made of the Kings Council forbear wherefore shouldest thou be smitten Nevertheless the Prophet said I know God hath determined to destroy thee The King is slain and after the time that this King turned away his heart from the Lord he was slain After him succeeded Uzzia under him did the Kingdom of Juda flourish no less then that other of Israel did under Jeroboam the second and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord The reason of Vzziah his prosperity and he sought God in the dayes of Zachariah and as long as he sought the Lord and applyed his mind to matters of piety God made him to prosper and he subdued the Philistines and other bordering Enemies and thus whilest he was weak and low he was marvellously helped against his Enemies but when he was strong How he came to loss and lookt at his own strength his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgressed against the Lord and burnt Incense wherefore the Lord smote him with Leprosie and he remained a Leper to the day of his death and dwelt in a house several God Judgment on him for he was cut off from the house of the Lord and he being dead Jotham his son reigned and he did that which was right in the fight of the Lord how be it the People did yet do corruptly but he be came mighty because he prepared his wayes before the Lord his God After him reigned Ahaz his Son year of the world 3242 who did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord for he walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel Ahaz his Evil. who made also Moulten Images for Baalim and burnt Incense on the High-places and under every green Tree wherefore the Lord delivered him into the hands of his Enemies and thus the Reader may see He is delivered into the hands of his Enimies how these people and Children of Juda and Israel to whom God had given a commandment that they should fear him and not forget him and that then he would deliver them from their Enemies howbeit they did not hearken but were ready often to back-slide and to serve their graven Images both their Children and their Childrens Children unto this day Ahaz being dead Hezekiah his Son began to reign year of the world 3278 and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his Father David did year of the world 3374 he removed the High places and broke the Images and cut down the Groves Hezckiahs good reign his breaking down Idolatry and brake in pieces the Brazen Serpent that Moses had made for unto those dayes the Children of Israel did burn Incense to it and he called it Nehushtan that is to say a little piece of Brass and thus this good Reformer he trusted in the Lord God of Israel and he left not off throwing down the Altars and High Places until he had Destroyed them all causing a thorow Reformation And his zeal was so great for the Lord that after him as it is recorded was none like him among all the Kings of Iudah nor any that was before him for he clave to the Lord and departed not from following him and the Lord was with him and he prospered him whithersoever he went forth Hezekiah falling sick unto death the Prophet Esaiah being commanded of the Lord year of the world 3291 said unto him Set thine House in order for thou shalt die He tell sick the Prophet foretold his dâ—ath and not live this moved Hezekiah's heart that he wept sore and turning to the Wall prayed unto the Lord saying I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart He ekiah is broken in Tenderness The Lord had compassion on him and have done that which is good in thy sight wherefore the Lord had compassion on him and added fifteen years more to his dayes and Hezekiah dying Manasseh his Son reigned and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord after the Abomination of the Heathen building the High-places which his Father had destroyed and again reared up Alters for Baal His Son is turned to Idolatry and worshipped all the Host of Heaven and served them and used Inchantments and dealing with Familiar-Spirits and Wizards he wrought much Wickedness in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger for which Abomination the Lord sent his Servants and Prophets to foretel that for those Abominations he would bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Juda that whosoever should hear it their Ears should tingle The Prophets Message against the evil of those times The Kings Bondage he is brought into He is humbled under the hand of God and reforms in part and the Lord brought upon Manasseh the Host of the Assyrians which took Manasseh and bound him with Fetters and carried him Captive to Babylon and now being in Affliction he besought the Lord and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers wherefore the Lord restored him again to his Kingdom and then he knew that the Lord was God and he cast out the Altars that he had built and took away the strange Gods and Idols and commanded the People to serve the Lord God of Israel but still the People retained the High-places to Worship in And after his death his Son Amon was punished by the Lord being slain by his Servants in his own House and now these two bad Kings being taken away the Lord raised up another good King The good King Iosiah raised up which was Josiah the Son of Amon who reigned thirty four years in Ierusalem and eaused again a Blessed and thorow Reformation amongst the People of Iuda and Jerusalem making a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and to keep his Testimonies with all his Heart His Covenant with the Lord.
and with all his Soul and he likewise cleansed away the Abominations from the People and again stirred them up to serve the Lord their God and all his dayes they departed not from following the Lord God of their Fathers Nero King of Aegypt year of the world 3394 by Gods Command went against the King of Assyria who at that time made War upon him He unadvisedly assisted the King of Egypt was slain 2 Kings 23.29 2 Chro. 35.20 21. Josiah unadvisedly engaging in this War was slain and now this good King being taken out of the World a World of Miseries grew on upon it and such Lamentations there was that it grew almost a common proverb the Lamentation of Hadadrimon in the Valley of Megiddo His loss gâ—â—â—â—ly â—amenâ—d by all for not only the whole People living wonderfully bewailing the death of Josiah but the Ages following were sencible of the loss of him and the Prophet Ieremiah in rememberance thereof wrote his mournful Book of Lamentations Especiaâ—â—y by the Prophet Jeriemiah wherein bewailing the Calamities which were shortly to befal the People as if he had then presently beheld them using these words The Breath of our Nostrils the ancinted of the Lord is taken in their pits of whom we said under the shaddow of his Wings we shall live among the Heathen After the death of Josiah his Youngest Son was anointed King who presently fell to doing that which was evil in the sight of God His Son walked not in the steps of his Pather but did eâ—il but Nero King of Egypt removed him after he had reigned three Moneths and made Eliakim his Elder Brother King in his room changing his name into Jehojakim that thereby he might testifie to the World that he ascribed the Victory by him gotten against the Assyrians to the Lord only by whom he professed he was formerly sent against them In the Beginning of this Kings reign Jeremiah commanded by God year of the world 3395 went and stood in the Court of the Temple and there exhorted the people to repentance and when they would not Jeremiah exhortes the people he denounced the Judgment of God against them saying that that House should become as Shilo and that City should be cursed among all the Nations of the Earth whereupon he was presently apprehended by the Priests and Prophets and all the people then in the Court and accused as a man worthy of death but was acquitted and set at Liberty by the publick Judgment of the Princes and Elders Vriahs Prophesie He is put to death At this time also Uriah prophesied against Jerusalem and the Land of Juda agreeable to the sayings of the Prophet Jeremiah for which the King put him to death by the Sword and threw his Carcass among the vilest Sepulchers of the comon people yet Ahikam who had formerly been a man of great Authority with King Josiah appeared so much in the behalf of the Prophet Jeremiah that he was not delivered over into the hands of the people to be put to death at that time To these might be added the Prophet Habbakuk to whom when he complained of the stubornness of the Jews God made this answer Habbahkuks prophesie That he would shortly send the Chaldeans into Juda and further declared his purpose concerning this matter in these words I will do a work in your dayes which you will not believe when it shall be told unto you for behold I will stir up the Chaldeans a fierce Nation and a swift which shall walk through the breadth of the Land which is none of theirs as their own Inheritance Jeremiah reproves the Jews In the fourth year of this King Jehojakim the Prophet Jeremiah reproved the Jews for not hearkning to the Word of the Lord which he had spoken unto them from time to time and for not regarding the Exhortations of the Prophets which the Lord had sent unto them and then again told them of the coming of Nebuchadnezar upon them He prophesies of their Captivity and of their being carried away Captives to Babylon and that Captivity to last seventy years long and during the seventy years time of Captivity Daniel prophesied of the coming of the Messiah who should bring in the Law of Everlasting Righteousness and put an end to the Levitical Sacrifices Jehojakim being taken Prisoner by the Chaldeans year of the world 3405 was thrown out without burial that is was buried like an Ass his Carcass being tugged and drawn out without the Gates of Jerusalem according as was foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah though in referance to the common course in nature he also may be said to have slept with his Fathers as he is 2 Kings 24.6 After him came his Son Jehoiachin who was also called Jeconias and reigned three Moneths and ten dayes in Jerusalem who also did evil in the sight of the Lord as his Father had done before him against whom the Lord by his Prophet Jeremiah declared a most dreadful Decree Ieremiahs decree against Ichoiachin He pronounced a Wo against the wicked Pastors saying O Earth Earth Earth hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord write ye this man Childless a man that shall not prosper in his dayes for no man of his Seed shall prosper sitting upon the Throne of David and ruling any more in Juda and pronounced a wo to the Pastors that scattered the Sheep and that had not fed nor visited the People and therefore the Lord would Visit them for the evil of their doing and that he would gather the Remnant of his Flock and would set up Shepherds over them that should feed them and that he would raise unto David a righteous Branch that should execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth and that in his day Juda should be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his Name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness and in the fence of this the Prophet cryed out Mine heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my Bones shake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom Wine hath overcome Isaiahs Prophets of Christ because of the Lord and because of the Word of his Holiness And Esaiah the Prophet had a true sight of the coming of the Blessed Messiah for he said The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to Preach good tydings unto the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of Vengence of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Sion to give unto them Beauty for Ashes the oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness that they might be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that be
might be glorified and they shall build the old wastes they shall raise up the former Desolations and they shall repair the Waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations And thus the Reader may see the many glorious Dispensations and manifestations of Gods Love unto mankind to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets in all Generations and now we are come according to what the Prophets foretold to the day of the Appearance of that great Saviour of the World whose Dispensation far exceeded all others in Glory being that eternal Substance which ended all Types Shaddows and Figures And thus these Jews who had been the true Worshippers being apostatized and degenerated from their primitive glory and institutions and their Worship becoming meerly outside for it s said they drew neer to God with their Mouthes and honoured him with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him the Prophets were raised up and sent from the Lord to Cry against them and to foretel the Desolation and distruction that was to come upon them which accordingly came to pass as will be seen anon and in this condition did Christ at his coming find these Antient people the Jews to whom God had formerly committed his Laws and Commands and given his Oracles but they were wholy apostatized from them as will appear by their fruits in the following Discourse The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ The year of Christ AFter the Jews had Apostatized according as the Prophets had foretold and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn Christ is born the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men The great rejoycing at his Birth The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger and they published that which was told them concerning the Child and they returned Praising and Glorifying God but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her Heart The Child was called Jesus which signifies a Saviour which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. He is called Jesus The Wise men from the East the Star being their Guide coming to Herod to Jerusalem and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea they went thither and entering into the House which was shewed them by the Star which stood over it they found the little Child and Mary his Mother and falling down worshipped him and having opened their Treasures they offered unto him Gold Frankinseence and Myrhe Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod they departed into their own Country another way And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man who had waited for the Consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms Simeons Testimony concerning that and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People a Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel and Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him and Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against In the same moment came Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel she also openly acknowledged the Lord and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee unto their own City Nazareth The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream sheweth him that he should flee into Egypt that he might provide for the life of the Child and escape the Devices of Herod Herods Cruelty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus who being awakened took the Young Child and his Mother by night and departed into Aegypt where he remained until the death of Herod Herod thinking the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem that he might Destroy him among the rest killed all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under according to the time of the Star first seen in the East that he had enquired of the Wise-men Herod shortly after dyed Miserably being dead the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt and commanded that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod he feared to go thither and being warned of God in a dream he departed into the parts of Galilee and there dwelt in the City Nazareth from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene and the Christians of Nazarenes In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover year of Christ 12 Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem his Parents returning home he stayed behind His Mouth was first opeâ—ed to oppose the Doctors at twelve years old they not knowing where he was sought him three dayes and found him in the Temple sitting in the midest of the Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth and was obedient unto them and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ year of Christ 30 John came forth in his Ministry Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his Pathes streight Iohn Ministry what it was and opening the acceptable year of the Lord or the time of his divine pleasure preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns and his food was Locus and wild Hony And now Jesus being
preached by Christ and his Apostles pag 20. Part IV. Containing an Account of such as suffered Persecution and Martyrdom under Episcopacy c. pag. 235. An Account of the Just Judgments of God inflicted upon Persecutors wherein is shewed the Wicked Lives and most Horrible Vntimely Deaths of many of the Persecutors of Old pag. 248. A Christian-Plea against Persecutors for the Cause of Conscience grounded upon Scripture Reason Experience and Testimonies of Princes and Learned Authors Published for general Service Part I. Containing the History of the Persecutions and great Sufferings sustained by the faithfull Servants of the Lord hoth before and after the Jews Apostacy and before the Coming of Christ THe great Enemy to all mankind is that wicked Spirit of Persecution Abel persecuted by Cain it moved Cain against his righteous Brother Abel The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his Offering but unto Cain and his Offering he had not respect and Cain rose up against his Brother Abel and slew him and the Lord said unto Cain where is Abel thy Brother and he said I know not And the Lord said A Fugitive and a Vagabond shalt thou be in the Earth and Cain said unto the Lord My punishment is greater then I can bear And Pharach afflicted the People of God a long time The Children of Israel persecuted in Egypt which grieved the good Spirit of God in his People but they Cryed out to the Lord in their Oppressions for the Egyptians made the Children of Israel to serve with rigour and they made their Lives bitter with hard Bondage the King commanding the Midwives to slay all the male Children yet the Lord delivered his people out of all these afflictions with a mighty hand and he poured out his Judgments upon Pharach and upon the Egyptians that oppressed his people and he set his people free for while the People of God had a sence of their Bondage and Sufferings and Cryed unto the Lord through the multitude of their Oppressions the Lord heard and answered them and delivered them by the hand of his servant Moses by whom he gave them Laws which they were to obey and which they submitted to then God was with them as a mighty Defence and in this time of sufferings they kept nigh to the Lord and he was with them and was as a Rock of Defence unto them And because Mordecai the servant of the Lord could not bow Mordecai and the Jew persecuted by Haman nor do reverence to proud Haman Haman was full of wrath and he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone wherefore he sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole Kingdom of Abasuerus even the People of Mordecai And Haman said unto King Abasuerus There is a certain People scattered abroad and dispersed among the People in all the Provinces of thy Kingdom and their Laws are diverse from all People neither keep they the Kings Laws therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them If it please the King let it be written that they may be destroyed and I will pay ten thousand Talents of Silver And the King said the Silver is given to thee the People also to do with them as seemeth good to thee and Letters were sent to the Rulers of all the Provinces to destroy all both young and old little children and Women and to take the spoil of them for a prey Thus this Proud Persecutor endeavoured to have destroyed this People A just judgment against a persecutor had not Queen Esther made supplication the King on their behalf and by that means a stop was put to the wicked design and he was hanged on the Gallows that he prepared for Mordecai And Jezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord but Obadiah who was Governour of Ahab's house being one that feared the Lord greatly he took an hundred of the Prophets 1 Kings 18.4 and hid them by fifty in a Cave and fed them with Bread and Water And Ahab persecuted Elijah and said to him Art thou he that troubleth Israel Elijah persecuted he answered I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy fathers House in that you have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and thou hast followed Baalim And Jezebel persecuted Elijah so that he fled into the Wilderness And Manasses persecuted the Prophet Isaiah for reproving him Jeremiah persecuted Jer. 29. and caused him to be sawn a sunder with a wooden Saw And Jeremiah for declaring the word of the Lord to all the Cities of Judah and saying Thus saith the Lord If you will not hearken to me to walk in my Law which I have set before you c. Then will I make this House like Shiloh and will make this City a Curse to all the Nations of the Earth for this Testimony he was persecuted and all the people were gathered against him in the House of the Lord and the Priests and Prophets said unto the Princes and People This man is Worthy to dye for he hath prophesied against this City Jeremiah said The Lord sent me to Prophesie against this House and against this City As for me said he behold I am in your hands do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you Chap. 23.2 But know for a certain that if ye put me to death you shall surely bring Innocent blood upon your selves and upon this City And Jeremiah was shut up in the Court of the Prison which was in the King of Judahs house And in the 37 Chap. verse 15. the Princes were wrath with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in Prison into a Dungeon Nebuchadnezzar persecuted Shadrach Meshach and Abednego because they would not bow to the Golden Image he had set up The three Children persecuted Dan. 3.23 the King told them that if they would not worship the Image which he had made they should be cast into the burning fiery Furnace they answered O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter if it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery Furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King but if not be it known unto thee O King we will not serve thy Gods c. then was he full of fury and commanded the Furnace to be heat seven times more then it was wont to be and commanded that they should be bound with their Hats and Coats on and cast into it but the Lord preserved them in the Flames so that the Fire had no power over them The Princes under Darius also persecuted the Prophet Daniel against whom they confessed they could find no occasion except it were concerning the Law of his God Daniel persecuted wherefore they perswaded the King to make a Decree That whosoever should ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty dayes save of the King should be cast into the Den of Lions But Daniel as
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
Christ of necessity Christ must be the true God for that there be many Gods we Children cannot believe The Captain amazed at this said Thou young Villain and Traytor where and of whom learnest thou this Lesson of my mother said he with whose milk I sucked in this Lesson that I must believe in Christ The mother was called and she gladly appeared the Tyrant commanded the Child to be horsed up and scourged the Standers by beholding this merciless act could not refrain from tears the joyful and glad mother alone stood by with dry cheeks yea she rebuked her sweet Babe for desiring a cup of cold water charging him to thirst after the cup that the Babes of Bethlem once drunk of she willing him to remember little Isaac who willingly offered his neck to the dint of his fathers Sword c. Then did the cruel Tormentor pull of the skin hair and all from the crown of the Childs head the mother Crying Suffer my Child anon thou shalt pass to him that will adorn thy head with a Crown of Eternal glory Thus the mother counselleth and encourageth the Child is encouraged and receiveth the strips with a smilling countenance The Captain seeing the Child invincible and himself vanquished commanded him to be cast into the stinking Prison whilest the Torments of Romanus were renewed and encreased then was Romanus brought forth again to receive new strips upon his old sorts the flesh being torn and the bare bones appearing yet the cruel Tyrant raging like a mad man quarrelled with the tormentors for dealing so mildly with him commanding them to cut prick and punch him and then he passed sentence upon him together with the Child to be burned to death to whom Romanus said I appeal from this unjust sentence of thine to the righteous Throne of Christ that upright Judge not because I fear thy cruel Torments and merciless handling but that thy Judgments may be known to be cruel and bloody When they came to the place of Execution the Tormentors required the Child of his mother for she had carried it in her Arms from the Prison she kissed it delivered it to them and as the Execution or was striking off his head she said farewel my sweet Child All Laud and praise with heart and Voice O Lord we yeild to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be The Childs head being cut off the mother wrapt it in her garment laid it to her brest and so departed Then was Romanus cast into a mighty Fire which being quenched with a great storm of Rain the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out and afterwards caused him to be strangled in the Prison Gordius a Centurion in Cesarea in the heat of this Persecution left his charge living a sollitary Life in a Wilderness for a long time at last when a solemn Feast was celebrated to Mars in that City and multitudes of People were assembled in the Theatre to see the Games he came and got up into a conspicuous place and with a loud Voice said behold I am found of those that sought me not The Multitude hereupon looked about to see who it was that spoke this and Gordius being known he was immediatly brought before the Sheriff and being asked who and what he was and why he came thither he told him the whole Truth professing that he believed in Christ valued not their threatings and chose this as a fit time to manifest his Profession in Then did the Sheriff call for Scourges Gibbets and all manner of Torments to whom Gordius answered That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers Torments and Punishments for Christ and his Cause The Sheriff more incensed hereby commanded all those Torments to be inflicted on him with which Gordius could not be overcome but sang The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do unto me and I will fear no evil because thou Lord art with me c. Then did he blame the Tormentors for favouring him provoking them to do their uttermost the Sheriff not prevailing that way sought by flattery to seduce him promising him Preferment Riches Treasures Honour c. if he would deny Christ but Gordius deriding his foolish Madness saying That he lookt for greater preferment in Heaven then he could give him here upon Earth Then was he condemned and had out of the City and burnt Multitudes followed him and some kissing him with Tears intreated him to pity himself to whom he answered Weep not I pray you for me but for the Enemies of God which fight against the Christians weep I say for them which prepare a Fire for us purchasing Hell-fire thereby for themselves in the day of Vengeance and cease I pray you thus to molest my quiet and setled mind for truly For the Name of Christ I am ready to suffer a Thousands deaths c. Others perswaded him to deny Christ with his mouth and to keep his Conscience to himself my Tongue saith he which by Gods goodness I have cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of the same for with the Heart we believe unto righteousness and with the Tongue we confest unto Salvation and thus perswading and encouraging the People to be willing to dye in the like cause with an unappalled countenance he willingly gave himself to be burnt Basil in one of his Orations relates a Story of one Julitta from whom one of the Emperours Officers took all her Goods Lands and Servants contrary to all Equity whereupon she complained to the Judges and a day of hearing was appointed where the spoiled Woman lamentably declared her Case but the wicked Villain that had robbed her said that her Action was of no force for she was an Outlaw for not observing the Emperours Gods and that she was a Christian His Allegation was allowed Incense was prepared for her to offer to the Gods which if she refused she should neither have protection nor benefit of the Emperours Laws nor continue her life she hearing this in the mighty Strength of God said Farwel Riches welcome Poverty Farwel Life welcome Death all that I have were it a Thousand times more would I lose rather then speak one wicked word against God my Creator I yeild thee most hearty thanks O my God for this gift of Grace that I can condemn and dispise this frail and transitory World esteeming the Profession of Christ above all Treasures And thence forth when any Question was proposed to her her answer was I am the Servant of Jesus Christ her Kindred and Friends earnestly solliciting her to change her mind but she constantly refused with detestation of their Idolatry Then did the cruel Judge condemn her to be burnt which Sentence she embraced joyfully as a thing most sweet and delectable and so she addressed her self to the Flames in countenance jesture and words declaring the Joy of her Heart coupled with singular
to Preach is the true Character of the Beast and Antichrist And that the Court of Rome is the Chief Head of Antichrist And that no Reprobate is a Member of the Church His books being examined were condemned as heretical to be burnt in the Fire and Sentence of Condemnation was past upon him by the Arch-Bishop and he was delivered to the secular Power by whom he was carried into Smithfield and there burnt with one Richard Turning a Baker The next year after the burning of these men the Prelates of England seeing the daily increase of the Gospel and fearing the ruin of their papal Kingdom took counsel together with what deligence they could to maintain the same Wherefore to make their State and Kingdom sure by Statutes Laws Constitutions and Terror of Punishment Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop in his Convocation holden at London maketh another Constitution against the poor Lollards which was sent abroad Anno 1416. to be straitly executed in which their Officials or Commissaries were required twice every year at least to make diligent enquiry after such persons as were suspected of Heresie and Parishoners were to be sworn upon the Evangelifts to discover whether they knew any frequenting privy Conventicles or differing in their life and manners from other Common Catholick men or that should have any Books in the English Tongue After the setting out of this Constitution aforesaid great inquisition hereupon followed in England and many good men who began to have a love to the Gospel were much troubled and great Sufferers John Gale of London was summoned before the Arch-Bishop for having a Book in English entituled A Book of the new Law Ralph Mungin for the same Doctrine was condemned to perpetual imprisonment William White a follower of John Wickliff he was of a devout holy life is recorded as a Morning Star in the midst of a Cloud a man well learned an upright man and well spoken for the love of the Truth he gave over his Preisthood but not his preaching for he continually laboured to advance the glory of God by reading writing and preaching The chief matters charged against him were that he held That men should seek for the forgiveness of their sins only at the band of God That the Pope was an Enemy unto Christs Truth That men ought not to Worship Images That the Romish Church was the Figg-Tree which Christ Cursea because it brought forth no Fruit of the true Beleif That such as wear Câ—ules or be Annointed or Shorn are the Souldiers of Lucifer And that all such because their Lamps are not burning shall be shut out when as the Lord shall come He was apprehended for preaching and teaching such like Doctrine in Norfolk and being had before the Bishop of Norwich he was convicted condemned and burnt in Norwich in the 7th Moneth 1424. When he was at the Stake beginning to open his mouth to speak to the People to exhort them and confirm them in the Truth one of the Bishops Servants struck him in the mouth thereby to force him to keep silence And thus this good man received the Crown of Martyrdom and ended this Mortal life to the great grief of all good men in Norfolk his wife Joane following her Husbands steps A Woman Preacher according to her power teaching and sowing abroad the same Doctrine confirmed many in Gods Truth wherefore she suffered much trouble and punishment the same year at the hands of the said Bishop John Goose 1473. being called before the Bishops and accused for Heresie being condemned and delivered to Robert Beâ—â—isdon one of the Sheriffs of London to see him burnt in the afternoon the Sheriff like a charitable man had him home to his house and there exhorted him to deny his Errors he desired the Sheriff to be content for he was satisfied in his Conscience The Sheriff giving him some meat he being very hungry did eat so freely as if the hour of his death had not been known to be so nigh saying to the Standers by leat now a good and competent Dinner for I shall pass a little sharp Shower ere I go to Supper and having dined he required that he might be led to the place where he should yield up his spirit unto God About this time there being a war begun by the Turks against the Christians so called there was great invasions and victories obtained by the Turks against them insomuch that the Turks in the space of Thirty years subdued Arabia got Palestina Phenetia Siria Egypt and Persia raging with their Armies throughout all Asia and Europe Conquering as they passed The causes of which Invasions and Victories as is recorded were the dissention discord falshood idleness unconstancy greedy avarice lack of Truth and fidelity amongst Christian men of all states and degrees both high and low for by the wilful defection and back-sliding of the Christians the Turkish power did exceedingly encrease and them called Christians were by multitudes destroyed and as it is written there was hardly a Town City or Village in all Asia and Grecia also in a great part of Europe and Africa whose streets did not flow with the Blood of the Christians whom these cruel Turks Murthered after an inhuman manner Men and Women being by them cut in Pieces Children stuck upon Poles and Stakes till they gored them to death in the sight of their Parents draging some at their Horse tails till they famished them to death tearing some in Pieces tying their Arms and Legs to four Horses treading the aged and feeble under their Horses feet The Princes of Rasia had both their Eyes put out with Basons red hot set before them cuting some asunder in the midst and with other Torments putting many to death insomuch that the streets and ways of Chalrides did flow with Blood of them that were slain The Pretors Daughter of which City being the only Daughter of her Father and noted to be of singular beauty A remarkable story and worthy noâ—ing was saved out of the slaughter and brought to Mahumet the Turk to be his Concubine but she denying to consent to his Turkish filthiness was commanded therefore to be slain it would be long to recite and incredible to bâ—lieve the cruel and horrible slaughters and miserable tortures inflicted upon the Christians by these Turks in most parts of Asia and Africa but especially in Europe And during all these Wars and Slaughters the Pope ceased not continually calling upon Christian Kings and Princes and Subjects to take the Cross and to War against the Turks lest he should lose all whereupon in that time of Darkness and Popery many took Voyages to the holy Land and many Baâ—tails were fought for the winning the holy Cross and yet no success neither ever came it prosperoufly forward whatsoever the Pope attempted against him what the cause was may be easily judged if the Reader considers the gross Idolatry prophaness and degeneration those called Christians were fallen into having wholy
give them in that Quarrel then was he thrice put to the Pin-bank and Tormented most miserably to utter his Setters on then they past sentence against him and this was executed First he was drawn from the Castle of Dornick to the Market place having a ball of Iron put in his mouth then he was set upon a Stage where his Right hand was Crusht and prest between two hot Irons with sharp Iron edges fiery red in the like manner they served his right foot which Torments he endured with marvelous constancy that done they took the ball of Iron out of his mouth and cut out his Tongue notwithstanding his Tongue was cut out he still called upon God as well as he could whereby the hearts of the people were greatly moved whereupon the Tormentors thrust the Iron ball into his mouth again from thence they brought him down to a lower Stage where his legs and hands were bound behind him with an Iron Chain going about his body and so he was let down flat upon the Fire the Governer standing by caused him to be plucked up again and so down and up again till at last the whole body was consumed to Ashes James Faber and three others Martyrs James Faber and three others suffered at Valens James Faber being an old man said that though he could not answer nor saisfie them in Reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the Truth of the Gospel Godfry Hamell Martyr Godfry Hamell a Taylor taken and condemned at Dornick when they had condemned him by the Name of an Heretick nay said he not an Heretick but a Servant of Jesus Christ when the Hangman went about to Strangle him to diminish his punishment he refused saying that he would abide the Sentence that the Judges had given Besides these that suffered in Germany before mentioned a great number there was both in the Higher and Lower Countries of Germany which were put to death for Religion many of them were burnt some buryed alive some secretly drowned many of their Names are mentioned in the Acts and Monuments but little of the circumstances of their Tryal and Execution being mentioned I have omitted them for brevities sake Sufferers in France for bearing the like Witness to the Gospel Dennis Renix Martyr Denis Renix at Melde in the year 1558. Was burnt for testifying against the Mass he was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the Words of Christ He that denyeth me before men him wiâ—â— I also deny before my Father he was burnt in a slow Fire and did abide much Torments Note upon a complaint made to the Council called Le Chamber Ardante that the Judges suffered Hereticks to have their Tongues Immediately thereupon a Decree was made that all which were to be burned unless they recanted at the fire should have their Tongues cut off which Law afterwards was diligently observed Stephen Polliard Martyr Stephen Polliard coming out of Normandy in the year 1546. where he was born unto Meux tarried there not long but he was compelled to flee and went to a Town called Fera where he was apprehended and brought to Paris and there cast into a foul and dark Prison in which Prison he was kept in Bonds and Fetters a long time where he saw almost no Light at length being called for before the Senate and his sentence given to have his Tongue cut out and to be burnt alive his Satchell of Books hanging about his neck O Lord said he is the World in blindness and darkness still for he thought being in Prison so long that the World had been altered from its old darkness to better knowledge at last with his Books about his neck he was burnt to death Florent Venote Martyr Florent Venote remained a Prisoner in Paris four years during which time he was put to divers Torments one kind of Torment was he was put in a narrow place so straight that he could neither stand nor lie which they called the Hose or Boots because it was strait below and wide above in this he remained seven weeks where the Tormentors affirm that no Thief or Murtherer could ever endure 15 days but were in danger of Life or Madness and at last on the 9th of the Moneth called July he was burnt to death with divers other Martyrs who were burnt as a Spectacle at the Kings coming into Paris The next that suffered was a poor Taylor in Paris who for working upon Holy-days so called and denying to observe them A poor Taylor in Paris Martyred was clapt in Prison the King hearing of it sent for him before him and some of his Peeres being before the King he answered with great boldness wit and memory defending the cause of Christ neither flattering their Persons nor fearing their threats which struck the King in a great damp in museing in his mind which the Bishops seeing committed the poor Taylor again to the hands of the Officer saying he was a stubborn Fellow and fitter to be punisht then to be marvelled at within few days after he was condemned to be burnt alive The next year two men for friendly admonishing a certain Priest which in his Sermon had abused the Name of God were both burned another young man of the Age of eighteen years for rebuking a man in Paris for Swearing being suspected to be a Lutheran was apprehended and brought before the Council at Paris who committed him to Prison where he was so cruelly Racked and Tormented that one of the Persecutors seeing it could not but turn his back and weep when he was brought and put in the Fire he was pluckt up again upon the Gibbet and asked whether he would turn to whom he said that he was in his way towards God and therefore desired them to let him go John Joyer and his Servant being a young man in the year 1552. coming from Geneva to their Country with certain Books John Joyer and his Servant and his Servant Martyrs were apprehended by the way and had to Tholouse where the Master was first condemned the Servant being young was not so prompt to answer but directed them to his Master to answer them when they were brought to the Stake the young man first going up began to weep the Master fearing lest he should recant ran to him and he was comforted as they were in the Fire the Master standing upright to the Stake shifted the Fire from him to his Servant being more carfull for him then for himself and when he saw him dead he bowed down himself in the flame and so expired Mathias Dimonetus Merchant at Lyons in the year 1553. having been a man of a Vicious and detestable life Mathias Dimonetus Martyr was notwithstanding through the Grace of God brought to the knowledge and Savour of his Truth for a Testimony to which he was soon after Imprisoned being in Prison he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own Flesh but especially with the temptation
of his Parents Brethren and Kinsfolks and the great sorrow of his Mother nevertheless the Lord so assisted him that he endured to the end and was burnt to death In the year 1558. the fourth day of the Month called September there being a Company of the Faithful to the number of three or four hundred met together at Paris in a certain House in the beginning of the night they were discovered by some Priests the House was soon beset and the City in an uproar many being in an extream rage furiously seeking to have their blood at the suddenness of this thing the poor people were strucken in great fear and fell to prayer about six or sevenscore of them having Weapons escaped thorow the Multitude save only one who was knockt down with Scones and destroyed the Women remaining in the House were taken by the Magistrates and had to Prison in their passing to the Prison they were plucked and haled by the rude Multitude who tore their Garments and pulled of their Hoods and disfigured their Faces with dirt they were accused to the King by a Priest that they put out the Candles in their Meetings and went together Jack and Gill and that they maintained there was no God and denyed the Divinity and Humanity of Christ the Immortallity of the Soul and the Resurrection of the Body c. these things a lying Doctor charged on them without any proof moving the King People to destroy them and shortly after a Commission was directed out by the King to certain Councellors to try and give Judgment upon the aforesaid Sufferers a particular Relation of whose Execution is at large inserted by my Author but there being little material circumstances either in their Tryal or Execution wherefore I thought not meet here to insert them A Relation of the manner of the Spanish Inquisition About this time many suffered Martyrdom under the cruel and bloody Inquisition in Spain first began by King Fardinandus and Elizabeth his wife the Spainsh Priests do hold the holy and sacred Inquisition as they call it cannot err and that the holy Fathers the Inquisitors cannot be deceived if any be apprehended as favourers of Hereticks he is carried and put into a horrible Prison and none permitted to come to him but there he is kept alone in a place where he cannot see so much as the ground and often Whipt Scourged Irons put upon him Tortured and Racked sometimes brought out and shewed in some higher place to the People as a Spectacle of rebuking Infamy and thus some are detained there many years and murdered by long Torments in which is more cruelty executed then if they were at once slain by the Hangman during all their time of imprisonment whatsoever process is done against them no person knoweth it but only the holy Fathers and Tormentors which are sworn to execute the Torments all the proceedings of the Cour of that Execrable Inquisition are done in hugger mugger the Accuset is secret the Crime secret and the witness secret by the rigour of which Inquisition many good men have been destroyed both in Spain and Italy In the Kingdom of Naples in the year 1560. in the time of Pope Pius the fouth was begun a hot Persecution against the Protestants many men and their wives being slain Likewise the same year in Calabria the number of Eighty eight Persons both old and young suffered for the Protestant Religion by the Papists Eighty eight person Butchered for Religion in Calabria all which were put together in one House and taken out one after another and laid upon the Butchers Stall like the Sheep in the Shambles with one bloody Knife they were all killed one after another a Spectacle most tragical for all Posterity to remember and almost incredible to believe but that it is confirmed by two Epistles of sufficient credit which are at large incerted in the Book of Martyrs The next matter to be treated on is the great Persecution and Destruction of the People of Merindol and Cabries in the Country of Province where not a few persons but whole Villages and Townships with the most part of all the Country both Men Women and Childen were put to all kind of cruelly and suffered Martyrdom for the profession of the Gospel From the year 1200. they had refused the Bishop of Rome's Authority Persecuted in Merindol and Cabries for this cause they were often accused and complained of to the King as Contemners and Dispisers of the Magistrates and Rebels wherefore they were called by divers names according to the Countries and places where they dwelt for in the Country about Lions they were called the poor People of Lions in the borders of Sarmatia and Livâ—nia and other Countrys towards the North they were called Lollards in Flanders and Artois Turrelupines of a Desart where Wolves did haunt in Dolphine with great dispite they were called Chagnars because they lived in places open to the Sun without House or harbour but most commonly they were called Waldoys of Waldo who first instructed them in the Word of God as before is related which name continued till the name of Lutherans come up which above all others was most hated and abhorred Notwithstanding in these most spiteful Contumelies and Slanders the People dwelling at the foot of the Alpes and also in Merindol and Cabries alwayes lived so Godly so uprightly and justly that in all their life and conversation there appeared to be in them a great fear of God and that little Light of true Knowledge which God had given them they laboured by all means to kindle and encrease daily more and more sparing no charges whether it were to purchase the Scriptures in their own Language or to encourage one another in Godliness travelling into other Countries even to the furthest parts of the Earth where they had heard that any Light of the Gospel began to shine But the more zealous these people were for a Reformation in their Religion the more did the fury and rage of Persecution stir in the Bishops Priests and Monks in all Province against them amongst the rest one Jo. de Roma a Monk obtaining a commission to examine those that were suspected to be of the Waldoys or Lutherans profession forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kinds of Cruelty that he could devise or imagine The Cruelty of the Papists amongst other most horrible Torments this was one which he most delighted in and most commonly practised he filled Boots with boyling Grease and put them upon their Legs tying them backward to a Form with their Legs hanging down over a small Fire and so he examined them thus he tormented very many and in the end most cruelly put them to death this cruelty coming to the French Kings ear he was much disgusted wherefore he wrote to the Parliament at Province that the Monk might be apprehended and punisht but he conveyed himself away but the Lord
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 upon private conference together the King called him Knave Arrent Beast and Fool withal commanding him out of his Presence The King after his departure returned to the Queen who perceiving him to be much chafed with Sweet words endeavoured to qualifie his displeasure saying that though she knew not what might be the cause he was Offended but desired him if it were not hainous that for her sake he would pass it by Ah poor Soul said the King little dost thou know how ill he deserves this Grace at thy hands on my word Sweet Heart he hath been towards thee an Arrant Knave and so let him go And thus the Queen through Gods Providence and the Kings Favour escaped the Hands of her bloody Persecutors who sought to have destroyed her Persecuted in Scotland In the year 1534. the Arch-Bishop of Andrews convented before him David Stratton and one Norman Gourlay the first of these having a Fisher-boat that went to Sea the Bishop of Murray demanded Tythe-Fish of him to whom he answered That if they would have Tythe of that which his Servants caught in the Sea they should take it in the Place where it was caught and so caused his Servants to throw the tenth Fish into the Sea again All this while he had nothing in him for Religion But when hereupon he was summoned to answer for Heresie it troubled him exceedingly and then he began to frequent the company of such as were godly and here appeared a Wonderful change in him so that whereas before he despised the Scriptures now all his delight was in hearing them read to him and he became a vehement Exhorter of all men to peace and concord and contempt of the World he much frequented the company of the Laird of Dun Ariskin whom God in these dayes had marvelously illuminated and hearing that Text read for he could not read himself He that denyeth me before men or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked Generation I will deny him before my Father and holy Angels at those words being suddenly as one revived he fell upon his Knees and stedfastly lifting up his Eyes and Hands at length he burst out into these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayst thou withdraw thy Grace from me But Lord for thy Mercies sake let me never deny thee nor thy Truth for fear of Death or any Corporal Pain soon after Norman and he were brought to Judgment to Holy Rood house the King himself being present much means was used to draw this David Stratton to make a Recantation but he persevered in his constancy still denying that he had offended and so they were both condemned to the Fire and after dinner they were both first hanged and then burnt Not long after the burning of these two there was one Thomas Forret a Dean who used to preach every first day to his Parishoners the Epistles and Gospels this was counted a great Novelty in those time for none used to preach but the Fryers and therefore they envying him accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden for an Heretick and one that re rad the Mysteries of Scriptures to the vulgar People the Bishop instigated by the complaint of the Fryers called the said Thomas Forret before him to whom he said My joy Dean Thomas I love you well and therefore I must give you Council how to govern your self The Dean thanked him and then he proceeded My joy Dean Thomas I am informed that you preach the Epistles and Gospels every Sunday to your People and that you take not your Dues from them which is very prejudicial to the Church-men and that therefore my joy Dean Thomas I would have you to take your Dues or else it s too much to preach every Sunday for by so doing you make the People think that we should do so also Thomas answered My Lord I presume none of my Parishoners complain for my not taking my Dues and whereas you say it s too much to preach every Sunday I think it is too little and wish that your Lordship would do the like Nay nay Dean Thomas said the Bishop let that be for we are not ordained to preach and Dean Thomas go your wayes and let all these Fancies be for if you persist herein you will repent you when it is too late I trust said the Dean my cause is good and just in the presence of God and therefore I care not what follows thereupon and so went away but shortly after he was summoned to appear before the Cardinal by whom he was condemned and burned for a chief Heretick and Teacher of Heresie But notwithstanding their bloody Tyranny the Knowledge of God did Wonderfully encrease in this Country partly by reading and partly by brotherly Conference which in those dangerous dayes were much used to the Comfort of many which so enraged the Popish Party that in the year 1538. there were burned in one Fire four Persons The year after Jeremy Russel and Alexander Kenedy were apprehended and brought before the Bishop the said Jeremy being a man of a meek and quiet Nature Alexander was a young man about eightteen years old Alexander at first was faint and would fain have recanted but when all place of Repentance was denyed him the Spirit of God began to refresh him yea the inward Comfort began to burst forth as well in his Vissage as in his words and he cryed in prayer to God Oh Eternall God how Wounderful is thy Love and Mercy who hast made me to feel Heavenly Comfort which takest from me that ungodly fear which before I was oppressed with now I defie death do with me what you please I praise God I am ready Then did they rail upon him and Jeremy who also said unto them This is your hour and power of darkness Now sit ye as Judges and we stand wrongfully Accused and more wrongfully to be Condemned but the day will come when our Innocency will appear and ye shall see your own blindness to your Everlasting Confusion Go forward fulfill the measure of your Iniquity Shortly aft'r th'y were Condemned to die as they went to Execution Jeremy comforted Alexander saying to him Brother fear not greater is he that that is in us then he that is in the World the pain that we are to suffer is short and shall be light but our Joy and Consolation shall never have end Let us therefore strive to enter into our Master and Saviours Joy by the same Strait Way which he hath taken before us Death cannot hurt us for it is already destroyed by him for whose Sake we now Suffer And thus they constantly continued stedfast in the Flaming Fire till they finished their Course by Death In the year 1543. George Wiseheart a man of a Courteous Modest and Temperate Behaviour fearing God and hating Covetousness very charitable and moderate in his Apparel and Diet and for his Innocency was a man well beloved he was
that they had a Child that could lose his Life for Christ's sake Many people resorted to the Inn to see him whom he exhorted to leave the Abomination of Popisn Superstition and Idolatry At his Execution he desired the people to pray for him Justice Brown that first apprehended him standing by said I will pray no more for thee then I would for a Dog William answered Now you have what you sought for I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the last day I forgive you Brown said I ask no forgiveness of thee William If God forgive you not I shall require my Blood at your Hands The Fire being kindled William said I am not afraid and lifting up his Hands said Lord receive my Spirit and so sealed his Testimony with his Blood to the praise of God Justice Brown commanded an Officer to take Robert Hunter William's Brother and put him in the Stocks until he came back from the burning of Higbed at Hornden on the Hill on the same day after he was taken out of the Stocks and brought before the Justice he askt him If he would do as his Brother had done Robert Hunter answered If I do as my Brother hath done I shall have as he hath had Thou mayest be sure of that said the Justice But after some further Examination he bid him go home Higbed and Canston Martyr The next that suffured were Higbed and Canston both of Essex two men so fervent for Religion that in these blind and Idolatries times could not lie long hid in obscurity but were constrained to bear their Testimony though it were by Death Bonnet perceiving these men were men of repute in their Country and such as were called Gentlemen was so much the more concerned to bring them off their Profession that he went down to Colchester himself to seek to reclaim them sometimes using fair Promises and flattering Enticements other times threatning them with high words to terrifie them in fine seeing them both constant and unmoveable in their Zeal for their Religion he caused them and some others at the same time and for the same cause apprehended in that Country to be brought up to London Prisoners where they were committed close Prisoners where they were first privately examined and urged by all means to forsake their Opinions by the Bishop and his Chaplain But when the Bishop saw that way would work no alteration he caused them to be brought to open Examination at the Consistory at Pauls the seventeenth day of the Mouth called February 1555. where being further pressed to Recant of the Errors they said they held and to return to the unity of the Church which they still refused whereupon a great List of Articles were delivered them and their Answers thereunto the next day required of them At the second time of their publick appearance and tryal their Answers were read and Canston being first called was exhorted again to be conformable to the unity of the Church into which they said they were ready to receive him He replyed you lay Snares and Gins to catch us but mark what measure you meet shall be measured to you again Then Higbed was called to whom the like perswasions were used but to as little purpose as the other for he told them he had been sixteen years in that mind he was then in and should not alter now At their last appearance before them the Prisoners declared calling God to record that their persisting in that stedfastness was not in wilfulness as some might judge but for Conscience sake for said they we sought the Lord that we might do nothing contrary to his blessed Word and in that he hath shewed his Power in our weakness we cannot but praise him unto whom we give thanks through Christ Jesus our Lord. When they had thus spoken the Bishop began to pronounce the Sentence against Canston to whom Canston said it was a rash Judgment without Love and Mercy Then was sentence also pronounced against Higbed and both delivered to the Sheriffs who sent them to Newgate where they remained fourteen dayes contiunally praising God not so much concerned at their Afflictions as rejoyced in their Consolations praying and earnestly desiring they might persevere to the end to the praise of the Eternal God and Comfort of the Brethren The fourteen dayes being expired they were by four a Clock in the Morning led from Newgate to Algate and there delivered to the Sheriff of Essex who conveyed them to the places where they were Executed viz. Higbed to Hornden on the hill and Thomas Canston to Rayly where they both with great constancy finished their Testimonies in the Fire greatly rejoycing and giving the glory to God The next that suffered were William Pyget Stephen Knight and John Lawrence Pyget Knight Lawrenâ— Martyr at their Examinations it was demanded of them to declare their Opinion concerning the Sacrament of the Altar to which they answered to this effect That in the Sacrament of the Altar under the forms of Bread and Wine there is not the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ This Answer being given the Bishop caused Articles to be read against them to which they answered The second time they were brought before him he prest them to recant which they refusing saying They should stick to their Faith Wherefore the third time being brought before him he past Sentence upon them and committed them to the Custody of the Sheriffs of London who sent them to Newgate where they remained in much Joy and comfort and at last were had down to Essex and there burnt When Stephen Knight came to the Stake which was at Maulden he kneeled down and prayed some Sentances of which Prayer are as followeth O Lord Jesus Christ for whose Love I leave willingly this Life and desire rather the bitter Death of the Cross with the loss of all Earthly things then to abide the Blasphemy of thy most holy Name or to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandment Thou seest O Lord that where I might live in Wordly Wealth to Worship a false God and honour thine Enemy I choose rather the Torment of the Body and the loss of this Life and have counted all things but Vile Dust and Dung that I might Win thee which Death is Dearer unto me then thousand of Gold and Silver such Love O Lord hast thou laid up in my Breast that I Hunger for thee as the Deer that is Wounded desireth the Soil send thy holy Comforter O Lord to Aid Comfort and Strengthen this Weak piece of Earth which is empty of all strength of it self Thou rememberst O Lord that I am â—ut 〈◊〉 therefore as thou of thy Love hast bidden me to this Banquet and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own Cup amongst thine Elect even so give me strength O Lord that so through me strength of thy holy Spirit I may pass through the rage of this fire into thy Bossom according to
Shortly after were four others burnt at Canterbury viz. John Bland John Frankish Nicholas Shetterden and Humfrey Middleton all condemned for their denying the real Presence in the Sacrament Shetterden being at first illegally committed when he was brought before the Chief Priâ—sts and examined upon certain Articles he required 〈◊〉 see their Commission which they shewed and read to him whereby he perceived that upon suspition they might examine upon two Aâ—â—ieles viz. â—hather Christs real Presence were in the Sacrament so called and whether the Church of England were Christs Catholick Church Whereupon Shâ—â—terden said I have been a Prisoner three quarters of â—â—â—ar and as I think wrongfully reasâ—n would therefore that I should answer to those things wherefore I was first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ed. The Susâ—â—agan said his Commission was You mâ—st ansâ—er directly yea or â—â—y Shâ—tterden This Commission was not general to examine whom you woodd bâ—t upon just sâ—spâ—â—ion Susâ—ragan said You are suspected and presented to me Shetterden I require the Accusation may be shewed Suffr I am not bound to shew it Shetterden For what I have done I ask no favour but as I am a Subject I require Justice Suffr You are suspected Shetterden Prove vour suspition or shew the cause of it Suffr Thou wast cast into Prison for that cause Shetterden Because I was cast into Prison contrary to the Law of God must I now to make me amends be examined upon suspition with uâ—a cause to hide all the wrong done to me before Then said the Bishop I my self do suspect thee Whereby said Shetterden Suffr It isâ—nâ— matter whereby you are suspected Shetterden It is not meet for you to be my Accuser and my Judge If I have offended the Law let me be punished I ask no favour Then said they You are obstinate and will not answer Shetterden Because you greedily seek Blood I will answer only to what you have against me Suffr No we seek not thy Blood but thy Conversion Shetterden That we shall sâ—e if you first prove that you have against me before you condemn me upon suspition Shâ—râ—ly after he was had before the Bishop of Winchester Bishop I have sent for you because I hear you are indictedof Heresâ—â—â— and being called before the Commissioners you will not answer nor submit your self Shetterden I did not refuse to answer but did plainly answer that I had been in Prison a long time and I thought it was but reason that I should bâ— charged or discharged for that and not to be examiced upon Articles to hide my wrong imprisonment neither did I know any Indictment against me if there were any it could not be just for I was not abroad since this Law was made Bishop Yet if you be suspected you ought to clear your self Shetterden I thought it sufficient to answer to my Offences c. Bishop If thou wilt declare thy self thou shalt go and then thou wayst have a Writ of wrong Imprisonment Shetterden I am not minded to sue but require Justice to be done me and if I have offended the Law let me be punished and after some other discourse the Bishop departed Middleton being examined who was one of the four burnt at this time concerning his belief in the Sacrament he said he believed in his own God my living God and no dead God After their Examinations they were condemned by the Bishop of Dover the five and twentith day of the Month called June 1555. and were delivered to the secular power and all burnt in one Fire at Canâ—erbury Nicholas Shetterden before his death prayed to this Effect O Lord my God and Saviour which art Lord in Heaven and Earth Maker of all things visible and invisible I am thy Creature and Work of thy Hands Lord God look upon me and other thy People which at this time are oppressed of the Worldly minded for thy Lawes sake Yea Lord thy Law it self is now trodden under foot and mens Inventions exalted above it and for that cause do I and many thy Creatures refuse the Glory Praise and Commodity of this Life and do choose to suffer adversity and to be banished yea to be burnt with the Books of thy Word for the hopes sake that is laid up in store for Lord thou knowest if we would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word we might by their permission enjoy these Comodities that others do as Wife Children Goods and Friends all which I acknowledge to be thy Gifts given to the end I should serve thee and now Lord that the World will â—ot suffer me to enjoy them except I offend thy Laws behold I give unto thee my whole Spâ—rit Soul and Body I leave all the pleasures of this life in hopes of Eternal life purchased by Christs Blood for all them that are content to suffer with him for the Truth In the conclusion of his Prayer he cryed Lord Jesus receive my Spirit into thy Hands Amen In the same Month next after the suffering of the aforesaid Kentish men Nicholas Hall and Christopher Waid Martyrs followed the death and Martyrdom of Nicholaâ— Hall Bricklayer and Christopher Waid of Dartford both condemned by the Biship of Rochester about the last day of the Mouth called June upon Articles much to the same effect as the Kentish mens were As that they should hold and maintain that in the Sacrament of the Altar under the forms of Bread and Wine is not the very Body and Blood of Christ and that the Mass was nought and Abominable Three others burnt in Kent In the Month called July three others were condemned by the same Bishop whose names were Joan Beech widdow John Harpolt of Rochester and Margery Polly Derick Carver John Launder Martyrs The twenty second day of the same Month Derick Carver was burnt at Lewis in the County of Sussex and the next day John Launder was burnt at Stenning in the same County they were first apprehended by one Edward Gage as they were at prayer within the dwelling house of the said Derick Carver and by him sent up to the Council who after examination sent them to Newgate and shortly after were examined privately by Bonner who used many fair words to perswade them to recant of their Religion who when he saw that way would not do he caused them to be brought to the publick Consistory at Pauls where the Bishop first beginning with Derick Carver causing his Articles and Answers to be openly read asking him whether he would stand to the same to whom Derick replyed he would for said he your Doctrine is Poyson and Sorcery and if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before your Ceremonies are beggerly and your Auriculer Confession is very Poyson The Bishop seeing his constancy and that neither his accustomed flatteries nor yet his cruel threatnings could once move him to encline to their Idolatry he pronounced his usual Sentence against him and also
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
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
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
and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty For neither Eye hath seen nor the Ear hath heard neither can it enter into the heart of man what good things the Lord hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. Ye are brought neither with Silver nor Gold but with the pretious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. There is none other Name given to men wherein we must be saved Acts 4. So fare ye well Wife and Children and leave worldly care and see that ye be dilligent to pray Take no thought saith Christ Mat. 6. saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothed for after all these things seek the Gentiles for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things but seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be ministred unto you The Sufferings of Cicely Ormes Wife of Edmund Ormes of Norwich Worsted-Weaver burnt about the twenty third day of September The occasion of her first apprehending was for that she being persent at the death of two Martyrs burnt in the Lollards-pit Ciâ—ely Ormes Martyr without Bishops-gate in Norwich for that she said she would pledge them of the same Cup that they drunk of she was apprehended and had before the Chancellor who Examining her concerning the Sacrament of the Altar He askt her What it was the Priest held over his head she replyed It was Bread and if said she you make it any better it is worse Whereupon the Chancellor with threatning words sent her to the Bishops Prison shortly after she was brought before him again who offered her If she would go to Church and keep her Tongue she should be at liberty but she refusing his offer he past Sentence of Death upon her and delivered her to the Sheriff to see her burnt when she came to the Stake she said Welcome the sweet Cross of Christ and when the Fire was kindled about her she said My Soul doth Magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour and so finished her Testimony in patience At this time the rage of Persecution was very hot in many Counties and many were Persecuted at Litchfield and about seventeen were put to death in Sussex in the Diocess of Chichester a particular Relation whereof there is little left upon record to make manifest but the Popes Tyranny was great in many Counties in England in this Queens time The Examination of Thomas Sprudence before the Chancellor of Norwich Chancellor askt him Whether he had been with a Priest and confest his sins Tho. Spancer Martyr He replyed I have confest my sins to God and that is sufficient for me Then said the Bishop Wilt thou be sworn to the Pope as supream head of the Church No said he not as long as I live for you cannot prove by the Scripture that the Pope is head of the Church Yes said the Bishop As the Bell-weather which weareth the Bell is head of the Flock of Sheep even so is the Pope the head of the Church of Christ and now good fellow thou hast wandered long out of thy way like a scattred Sheep therefore hear this Bell-weather and come home with us to thy Mother the true Church again Thomas answered All this is but Natural reason and no Scripture Oh said the Bishop I see you are stout and will not be answered therefore you shall be compelled by Law Thomas replyed So did your Fore-fathers intreat Christ and his Apostles they had a Law and by their Law they put him to death and likewise you have a Law which is Tyranny and by that you would force me to believe as you do but I trust the Lord will assist me against all your beggerly Ceremonies and make your Foolishness known to all the World Then said the Bishop When were you at Church Thomas said Never since I was born How old are you then said the Bishop I think said he about forty Then the Bishop not well understanding him he explained himself saying never since I was born anew for Christ said unto Nicodemus Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Then the Bishop told him He was a stubborn Fellow and an Heretick and speaking to him of Obedience to the Laws of the Realm Thomas relyed You must consider that I have a Soul and a Body and my Soul is none of the Queens but my Body and Goods is the Queens and I must give God my Soul and all that belongeth unto it that is I must obey the Laws and Commandments of God and whosoever commandeth obedience to Laws contrary to Gods Laws I may not obey them lest I loose my Soul but must rather obey God then man and further told the Bishop that their graven Images and Ceremonies were but the Inventions and Imaginations of their own brain Then one standing by said to the Prisoners Are you wiser then all men Will you willingly cast away your selves My Lord would fain save you therefore chuse some man where you will and take a day my Lord will give it you Then Thomas replyed If I save life I shall lose it and if I lose my life for Christs sake I shall find life Everlasting and if I take a day when the day cometh I must say then even as I say now except I will lye and therefore that needeth not Well then said the Bishop Have him away and after he had been kept some time a Prisoner in Bury in Saffolk he was burnt in November In the same Moneth were three persons put to death in Smithfield viz. John Hallingdal William Sparrow and Richard Gibson Three persons burnt in Smithfield they were several times brought before Bonner who produced several Articles against them and used Arguments to perswade them to recant before he past Sentence upon them to which John Hallingdal replyed Because I will not come to your Babylonical Church therefore you go about to condemn me then the Bishop askt him Whether he would persevere in his Opinions He replyed He should persist in them until the death whereupon Bonner read the bloody Sentence against him William Sparrow being asked the same Question by the Bishop he made answer to this effect That way which you call Heresie is good and godly and if every hair of my head were a man I would burn them all rather then go from the Truth and said their Laws and Mass was naught and abominable whereupon the Bishop Immediately read the Sentence of death against him and delivered him to the Secular Power who sent him again to Prison After the Bishop had ministred several Articles against Rich. Gibson the said Richard proposed several Articles to him to answer yea or nay or else to say he could not tell viz. Whether any man by the holy Ordinance of God ever was is or shall be Lord over mens faith And by what Lawfull Authority any man of what
dignity Estate or calling by Office soever he or they be may use Lordship or Power over any man for Faith or Conscience-sake By what lawful authority or power any man of what dignity estate or calling soever he or they be may be so held as to alter or change the holy Ordinances of God or any of them or any part of them By what evident tokens Anti-christ and his Ministers may be known seeing it is written that Satan can change himself into the simillitudo of an Angel of Light What is the Beast which maketh War with the Saints of God and doth not only kill them but also will suffer none to buy nor sell but such as worship his Image or receive his mark in their right-hands or in their fore-heads his Name or the number of his Name or do worship his Image which by the just and terrible Sentence of God already decreed shall perish in Fire and Brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb and they shall have no rest day nor night but the smoke of their torment shall ascend up for evermore Also what is the Gordious Glittring Whâ—re that sitteth upon the Beast with a Golden Gup in her hand full of Abominations with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabitants of the Earth and she her self also is drunken with the blood of the Saints which is the Wine of her Fornication whose flesh the â—orns of the Beast shall tare in pieces and burn her with Fire At the last time of his appearing at the Consistory before the Bishop the Bishop asking him If be knew any cause why Sentence should not be past against him He answered That they had nothing against him justly to condomn him for the Bishop replyed saying He was an evil man Richard Gibson answered I may say so of you also Then the Bishop hastning on to his Sentence Admonisht him to remember himself and save his Soul Gibson told the Bishop He would not hear his babbling and said further blessed am I that am cursed at yours hands and so the Sentence was read against him and he was committed to Prison and shortly after was burnt with the two before mentioned At the bottom of his Articles he incerted these two Scripture following Ascribe unto the Lord Oh ye mighty ascribe unto the Lord worship and strength give unto the Lord the Honour of his Name and bow your selves to the Majesty of the Lord. I will hearken what the Lord God will say for he shall spake peace unto his people that they turn not themselves unto foolishness April the 6th 1557. By me Richard Gibson John Rough Margaret Mearing Martryrs In this furious time of Persecution J. Rough and Margaret Mearing were also burnt at London on the 22th day of the Moneth called December this John Rough was born in Scotland and in his zeal for the Truth he abhorred the Idolatry and Superstition in Religion practiced in that Country and therefore traveled into England where after the death of King Edward the sixth perceiving the alteration that was like to be in Religion and the Persecution that would thereupon arise and looking at his own weakness fled with his Wife into Freezland where they laboured with their hands for their maintenance but shortly after he returned again into England and arriving at London he heard of a Society of godly People that assembled privately in Religious Exercise to whom he joyned himself and continued Exercising his gift in preaching unto them until he was through the treachery of a false Brother betrayed and apprehended by the Vice-Chamberlain of the Queens House being taken at a religious Meeting at the Sarrisons head in Islington after Examination before the Council he was sent to Newgate and his Examination in a Letter to Bonner to proceed against him as an Heretick Bonner being minded to make quick dispatch with him within three dayes after the receipt of the Letter sent for him from Newgate to his Palace at London where he had several Articles ready drawn up against him for denying the seven Sacraments the Latine Service and the Popes Supremacy c. After he had answered to these Articles he was dismissed till next day and then he was brought again before the Bishop and others who perceiving his constancy to his profession they ordered him to be brought the next day to the open Consistory and there condemned him as an Heretick and delivered him to the Secular Power who sent him to Newgate and shortly after he was burnt in Smithfield Q. Mary An. 1558. at half an hour past five a clock in the morning A Letter written by John Rough unto certain of his Friends confirming and strengthening them in the Truth The comfort of the holy Ghost make you able to give consolation unto others in these dangerous dayes when Satan is let loose but to the tryal only of the chosen when it pleaâ—eth our God to sift his Wheat from the Chaff I have not leasure and time to writ the great Temptations I have been under I speak to Gods Glory my care was to have the sences of my Soul opened to perceive the voice of God saying Whosoever denyeth me before men him will I deny before my Father and his Angels and to save the life Corporal is to lose the life Eternal and he that will not suffer with Christ shall not reign with him therefore most tender Ones I have by Gods Spirit given over the Flesh with the fight of my Soul and the Spirit hath the victory the Flesh shall now ere it be long leave off to sin the Spirit shall reign Eternally I have chosen the death to confirm the Truth by me taught what can I do more Consider with your selves that I have done it for the confirmation of Gods Truth pray that I may continue unto the end the greatest part of my assault is past I praise my God I have in all my assaults felt the present aid of my God I give him most hearty thanks for it look not back nor be ashamed of Christs Gospel nor of the Bonds I have suffered for the same thereby you may be assured it is the true Word of God the holy Ones have been sealed with the same Mark. It s no time for the loss of one man in the Battel for the Camp to turn back up with mens hearts blow down the daubed Walls of Heresie let one take the Banner and another the Trumpet I mean not to make corporal resistance but pray and ye shall have Elias's defence Elizeas Company to right for you the cause is the Lords Now my Brethren I can write no more time will not suffer and my heart with Pangs of Death is assaulted but I am at home with my God yet alive pray for me and satute one another with a holy Kiss the Peace of God rest with you all Amen From Newgate Prison in haste the day of my Condemnation John Rough.
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
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
pray to his God and preach if he could the Priests stuffing the dead Mouth with the leaves of Bibles and said to the dead Corps Preach the Truth of your God and call upon him now to help you A Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerp full of Consolation against the fear of Persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and Peace from God the Father and from his Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Well beloved Brother and Sister whom I love dearly for the Truths sake and for your Faith in Christ Jesus these are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort of a good Conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to encrease the same more and more by the powerful Operation of his holy Spirit whosoever they be that will forsake this present evil World and become Followers of their Captain Christ must make account to meet with many Persecutions and Afflictions for Christ hath told us afore-hand That we should be Hated Persecuted and Banished out of the for his Names sake An. 1562. and this they will do saith he Because they have neither known the Father nor me but be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the World St. Paul also Witnesseth the same thing saying All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution And again To you it is given for Jesus Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake And doth not our Lord Jesus Christ say Blessed are you when men persecute you and speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my Names sake Rejoyce therefore and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Jesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle Saint Peter leaving us an Example that we should walk in his steps who also endured the Cross and despised the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became Poor to make us Rich 2 Cor. 8 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that state of Grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the Glory of God knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience c. Wherefore dear Brother and Sister be not afraid of the fiery Tryal which is now sent among us to prove us for what Father loving his Child doth not correct it Even so doth the Lord chastice those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction whereof all true Christians are partakers then were we Bastards and not Sons And therefore Solomon faith My Son despise not the Chastning of the Lord neither faint when thou art corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth fear not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the Head and we are his Members even as Christ then hath obtained full Joy and Glory by suffering of Anguishes and Sorrows so we also according to his Example must through many Tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the New Jerusalem Let us then say with Saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O wretched Creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this Body of Death See here how the Faithful have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an Eye to that holy City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Let us then my beloved cheerfully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our Souls by Patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Jeremiah both to hope and quietly to wait for the Salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to bear the Yoke in his Youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his Salvation Lo here dear Brother and Sister what Consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy Word for us I say whose desire it is to fear the Lord and to trust in his Grace and Mercy for the Salvation of the Righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in the time of Trouble wherefore giving all diligence let us add to Faith Virtue and to Virtue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Love for if these thing be in us and abound An. 1567. they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sons sake our Lord Amen Out of my Hole December the 11th 1562. Wouter Oom Prisoner for the Truth A Relation of such things as fell out under the Goverment of Alva And of many men put to death Anno 1567. The Afflictions of the Protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplyed this year under the Dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well known that the Spaniards using all their endeavorus to rule over this Country at their pleasures had no better opertunity to accomplish their designs then to establish among them their Inquisition thereby todomineer over the goods honors and lives of every one the noble Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his Royal presence that hearing once their Complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great Importance alledging to this end the Example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a business far inferiour to this adventured himself with much diligence to pass through the Enemies Country who were but a while before reconciled only to stay some Mutinies begun in the City of Cand. These things had so moved the King that he made them a promise by Letters of his coming but his intentions were broken of by such as were the upholders of the Inquisition that so they might with the more facility attain the end of their desires instead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his Entrance found the Prisons replenished with Gentlemen and other Personages of note whom the Dutchess of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long did they languish in this Captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by fair promises dissembled a kind of meek and gentle carriage of mind towards them giving them some hope of a General pardon proceeding from the Kings Clemency that thus he might catch the Lords and Governours the more cunningly into his Nets whereof the Lord Lemoral Earl of Egmond Prince of Gaud Governour of Planders and Artois and others of quality gave but too Lamentable experience who being led with vain hopes were at length inhumanly put to death The
Servants of Christ falsly called Brownists unto the High-Court of Parliament The most high God Possessor of Heaven and Earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdoms right honourable his own Cause his own People his own Sworn and most treacherous Enemies together with the most shameful Usage of his Truth and Servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed Peace and Tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your Consideration and Defence in our Profession and Persons His Enemies and their Out-rage against his Truth and Servants in the Persons and Bloody Proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices We profess the same Faith and Truth of the Gospel with her Majesty which your honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day do hold and Maintain We go beyond them being our only fault even in the Judgment of our tyrannical and most savage Enemies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearful Anti-christian Religion and draw nearer in some Points by our practice unto Christs holy Order and Institution this is our Faith this is our cause Right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinful hands For the Profession and Maintenance of which Faith the fore-named Enemies of God detain in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Goals throughout the Land about threescore and twelve persons Men Women Young and Old lying in Cold in Hunger in Dungeons and in Irons of which Number they have taken the Lords day last being the third day of the fourth Moneth 1592. about some sixteen persons hearing the Word of God truly taught praying and praising God for his favours shewed unto us unto her Majesty your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be Merciful to us unto our Gracious Prince and Country being employed in these holy Actions and no other as the Parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the Persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like Exercise in Queen Maryes dayes The former Number are now unbailable committed by the Prelatel or Bishop of London unto whose close for the most part several Prisons as Bridewel the Limboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Fleet the Marshalsea the Counters the Clynk the Gatehouse the Whitelyon c. wherein we willingly acknowledge the Lot and Inheritance in this Life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyrs of the former Age and the entailed Aceldama or Bloody Succession of the See of London and that whole Linage Well here our Brethren lie How long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in Hunger in Cold in Nakedness and all outward distress for these Bloody men will allow them neither Meat Drink Fire Lodging nor suffer any whose Hearts the Lord would stir up for their relief to have any access unto them purposing belike to imprison them unto death as they have done Seventeen or Eighteen others in the same noisome Goals within these Six Years The Husband and Wife being now taken by them they permit not to be in the same but have sent them to be close kept in other Prisons VVhat the poor Family doth at home in the mean time your Lordships may consider and justly pity Som of this Company had not one Penny about them when they were sent into close Prison nor any thing being abroad which is the case of most of them if not all to procure themselves and their poor Families any Maintenance save only their handy Labours and Trades whereby it is come to pass that these Enemies of God do not only starve and undo a number of men in the Prisons but even a lamentable Company of poor Orphans and Servants abroad their unbrid led slanders their Lawless privy searches their Violent breaking open and rifling of our Houses their lamentable and barbarous Usage of VVomen and Young Children in these hostile assaults their Uncontrouled Thievery Robbing and taking away of whatsoever they think meet from us in this case their unappeased and merciless pursuit of us from our Houses Trades Wives Children especially from the holy Society of the Saints and Church of God We are inforced to omit lest we should be over tedious to your Lordships but their dealing this way towards us is so woful right honourable as we may truly demand with grief of heart whether the forreign Enemy or our native Country men do possess and bear rule over us in our dear and native Country Their whole dealing herein is most Barbarous most Inhumane but especially most Unchristian and such as exceeds the cruelty of the Heathen and Popish Professed Tyrants and Persecutors the Records of the Heathen Persecution under Nero Trajan Decius Galienus Maximinian c. can scant afford us any Examples of the like cruelty and havock for the Heathen Romans would Murder Openly and Professedly These godless men have put the Blood of War about them in the day of the Peace and Truth which this whole Land professeth to hold with Jesus Christ and his Servants Bishop Bonner Story Wesâ—â—n dealt not after this sort for those whom they committed close they would also either feed or permit to be fed by others and they brought them in short space openly into Smithfield to end their misery and to begin their never ending joy Whereas Bishop Elinar Q. Eliz. An. 1592. Dr. Stanhope and Mr. Justice Young with the rest of that Persecuting and Blood thirsty faculty will do neither of these No Fellows no Murderers no Traytors in this Land are so dealt with There are many of us by the Mercies of God still out of their hands The former holy Exercise and Profession we purpose not to leave by the Assistance of God We have as good Warrant to reject the Ordinances of Anti-christ and labour for the recovery of Christs holy Institutions as our Fathers and Brethren in Queen Maryes dayes had to do the like and we doubt not if our cause were truly known unto her Majesty and your Wisdoms but we should find greater favour then they did whereas our Estate now is far more lamentable And therefore we humbly and earnestly crave of her Majesty and your Lordships both for our selves abroad and for our Brethren now in miserable Captivity but just and equal Tryal according unto her Majesty's Laws if we prove not our Adversaries to be in a most Pestilent and godless course both in regard of their Offices and their Proceedings in them and our selves to be in the right Way we desire not to have the benefit of her Majestyes true and faithful Subjects which of all earthly favours we account to be one of the greatest Are we Malefactors Are we any wise undutiful unto our Prince Maintain we any Errours Let us then be judicially convicted thereof and delivered to the Civil Authority but let not these bloody men both Accuse Condemn and closly Murther after this sort
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
against him and Stoned him with Stones at the Commandment of the King in the Court of the House of the Lord and slew him but the Lord soon according unto this good mans Prayer at his Death lookt upon this evil and required it at his and their hands by executing Judgment upon the King and his evil Councellors for at the end of that Year the Lord sent the Host of Assyria against him even but a small Company and destroyed all the Princes of the People the Kings evil Councellors first from among the People and sent the spoil of them to the King of Damascus and delivered a very great Army into their hands Because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers and so they executed Judgment against Joash the King and when they had departed from him having left him in great Diâ—tress by reason of great Diseases his own Servant conspired against him for the blood of the Sons of Jehoida and slew him on his Bed that he died 2 Chron. 24. Proud Haman Persecutor Haman the Persecutor who persecuted Mordecai because he would not bow unto him and do him reverence according to the Kings Command who therefore sought to destroy all the Jews that were in the Kingdom promising to pay into the Kings Treasure ten thousand Talents of Silver if he would grant his Writing for their Destruction unto which the King consented to and in the mean time Haman builds a Gallows fifty Cubits high to hang Mordecai upon for not moving nor rising up nor doing reverence unto him but the Righteous God the Judge of Heaven and Earth who seeth all things soon overtook this Persecutor in his furious Pride and Blood-thirstiness and put a stop to his intended Persecution by turning the Kings Heart against him by the intercession of Esther the Queen whereby he came to be hanged himself upon the same Gallows he had set up for Mordecai the Jew Esther 3. Nebuchadnezar humbled Nebuchadnezzar that Proud Persecuting King of Babylon and Caldea how did the Lord humble him for his pride and cruelty exercised towards the three Children in casting then into the Fiery-Furnace which he caused to be heat seven times hotter then ordinary for them because they would not Worship the Golden Image which he had set up by renting his Kingdom from him and driving him from Men and making his dwelling with the Beasts of the Field and to eat grass as an Ox till seven times past over him and that his hands grew like Eagles Feathers and his nails like Birds Clawes that he and all might know that the Lord only changes times and seasons and Rules the Kingdoms of men and giveth to whomsoever he will and that his Wayes Works and Judgments are Truth as he afterwards confessed and that those that walk in pride he is able to abase Dan. 3.14 to the 18th verse The Executioners executâ—ed Those chosen men that were the most mighty men of all that King Nebuchadnezar had in his whole Army that were the appointed Executioners of the Kings cruelty in fulfilling his Commands in binding the three Children and casting them into the burning Fiery Furnace soon tasted the just Judgment of God for their frowardness to obey such commands of cruelty for the flames of the Fire slew those men that took the three Children up while the Saints of the most high themselves though bound in their Coats Hosen Hats and other Garments being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace where they fell down bound into the midst of it yet upon their Bodies the Fire had no power nor was one hair of their head singed neither were their Coats changed nor the smell of Fire past on them Dan. 3.20 Those Presidents and Princes of Media and Persia that were the Persecutors of Daniel in King Darius his time that sought the occasions to find something against Daniel The Presidents and Princes of Mâ—dia and Persâ—a that they might accuse him to the King concerning the Kingdom but could find no occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was Faithful neither was there any error or fault found in him save only in that matter concerning the Law of his God against whom that they might have something against him in that matter also they are constrained to procure a Degree that whosoever shall ask a Petition of any God or Man for three dayes save only the King he should be cast into the Den of Lions which he the said Daniel even as they thought would not obey but immediately as soon as he be understood it was signed he went into his House his Windows being opened in his Chamber towards Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before God as he did before time for which those men aforesaid accused him before the King by whose means according to the said Decree he was cast into the Lions Den but God sent his Angels and shut the Lions Mouthes that they could not hurt him for no manner of hurt was found upon him because he was Innocent and believed in God but his Persecutors soon felt the just and righteous hand of God upon them for their so wicked persecuting the Innocent for Conscience sake for the King commanded those men to be brought that had accused Daniel and they cast them their Wives and their Children into the Lions Den and the Lions had the Mastery of them and break all their bones in pieces ere they came to the bottom of the Den Dan. 6. King Antiochus King Antiocuâ— surnamed Epiphanes a great Persecutor of the Jews who committed great Evils at Jerusalem and took all the Vessels of Gold and Silver that were therein and sent to destroy the Inhabitants of Judea without a cause and as himself confessed who in a Proud and insolent manner protested he would make Jerusalem a common burying place and the Streets thereof run with the blood of Gods People was by Gods just Judgment plagued with a grievous sickness having a remediless pain in his Bowels and an intolerable Torment in his inward parts his Body bred abundance of Worms which continually crawled out of the same yea he so rotted above ground that by reason of an intolerable stink no man could endure to come neer him neither could he himself endure the same but in a flood of extream Misery ended his dayes which as he confessed came upon him for the evil aforesaid see the Life of Judas Maccabees in Clarkes Martrol page 13. as also the first Book of Maccabees Chap. 1 10. and Chap. 6 8 c. Sennacrib King of Assyria murthered by his own Sons Sennacrib King of Assyria the great Oppressor and Persecutor of Israel and Judah and horrible blasphemer and reproacher of the Living God the God of Israel and Judah though they were left of him for a time for their forsaking him and falling to Idolatry and a great Defyer of him by the Mouth of wicked
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
before and he was buried with his Fathers after he had been the avenger of the Israelites twenty years The Israelites being grievously oppressed by the Philistines year of the world 2908 Sampson being dead Samuel was raised up of the Lord to be a Prophet unto them who by his faithfulness was found a true Prophet Samuel the Prophet is raised up and by his word he was known to be faithful in Vision he exhorted them to turn unto the Lord with all their hearts and to put away their strange Gods and to prepare their hearts unto the Lord and to serve him only and then he would deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines Then the Children of Israel did put away their Gods His care to turn the People from Idolatty and served the Lord only and the Philistines came no more to envade the borders of the Israelites because they saw the Hand of the Lord was against them all the dayes of Samuel till Saul came to be King under whom they returned again and grievously oppressed Israel Samuel taking his Sons to help to Judge the People they walked not in the way of their Father and Samnel being now grown old took to him his two Sons to be his Assistants to Judge the People and his Sons walked not in his wayes but turned aside after lucre and took Bribes and perverted Judgment wherefore the Israelites were offended and desired Samuel that they might have a King to Rule them as other Nations had this displeased Samuel and he prayed unto the Lord At which the people being offended desire they might have a King and the Lord said Hearken unto the People for they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them Whereupon God gave them a King in his Wrath to wit Saul and now began the Israelites trouble again for the Amorites besiege them Saul being given for a King he reigned but a short time and Saul reigned but a short time until he was put from the Kingdom by the Philistines and the Israelites were again grievously enthroaled by them Jesse the Ephrathite in his old age had his youngest Son David born at Bethlehem year 2919 which was afterwards therefore called the City of David thirty years before he succeeded Saul in the Kingdom God having now rejected Saul year 2941 and debarred his Race and Family from succeeding in the Kingdom sent Samuel after his long mourning for Saul to Bethlehem there to anoint David to be King forty years before the Rebellion of Absolom who being a lovely keeper of a lovely Flock was called from keeping his Fathers Sheep and prefered before his Elder Brethren and being anointed in their presence he incurred their envy no lest then Joseph did of his Brethren David is anointed King and at last was set over the Tribe of Juda at the same age that Joseph was made Ruler over all Egypt mean while from the very day of his anointing the Spirit of God came upon him to wit the Spirit of Courage and Wisdom in both which respects even whilst Saul lived he was made Captain over Israel and withal grew a great Warrior to Fight the Lords Battel and besides was a Prophet and made the sweet Singer of Israel as one who by his divine Psalms should teach and instruct the People of God Davids Combate with the Philiâ—â—ine The Armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to Battel Caliah of Gath the Philistine their great Champion defied the Armies of Israel wherefore David being stirred in his Zeal said who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defie the Armies of the living God but Eliab Davids eldest Bother hearing him was offended and askt him with whom he had left the Sheep in the Wilderness and told him he knew his Pride and naughtiness of his heart and saith he thou art come down that thou mayst see the Battel David said what I have now down is there not a Cause Saul being acquainted with Davids words sent for him and David told Saul he would fight the Philistine Saul replyed Thou art not able to fight him he is a man of War and thou art but a Youth David tells him whilst he was keeping his Fathers Sheep he had killed a Lyon and a Bear and that this uncircumcised Philistine who had defied the Armies of the living God should be as one of them then Saul bid him go and said the Lord be with thee and armed him with his Armour which David put off again and took only his Staff and five smooth Stones out of the Brook and put them in his Shepherds bag and with his Sling in his hand he drew neer to the Philistine The Philistine defied his coming so meanly armed David said Thou comest with Sword Spear and Shield I come in the Name of the Lord of Host and all thy Assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with Sword and Spear for the Battel is the Lords And David slew the Philistine with a Stone and a Sling and Saul taking notice of David's Valour enquired whose Son the Stripling David was and David brought the Philistines Head to Saul which he had cut off with the Philistines own Sword having first slain him with a Stone he Sling at him and David told Saul whose Son he was and after this David went out whithersoever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely The cause of Sauls anger against David And David returning from the Slaughter of the Philistine because it was said Saul hath Slain his thousands and David his ten thousands Saul was very wroth with David from that day forwards and an evil Spirit entered Saul and the Lord departed from him and he was affraid of David David well beloved of the People because he saw the Lord was with him and David behaved himself wisely and all Israel and Juda loved him but especially Jonathan the Son of Saul who made a Covenant with David because he loved him as his own Soul and David fearing he might at last fall into Sauls hands fled for Saul became Davids Enemy continually And now David being fled and the Armies of the Philistines invading the Land Saul fell into a fear sought counsel from the Lord Sauls Evil course in going to the Witch of Endor and what the effects thereof proved to him but receiving no answer from him neither by Dream nor by Urim nor by Prophets he went to Endor by night to consult with a Witch where by Vision he saw Samuel who told Saul God shall deliver Israel together with thy self into the hands of the Philistines for the Lord hath rent the Kingdom out of thine hand and given it to thy Neighbour even to David because thou obeyed not the Voice of the Lord nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalcek The Host of Israel being routed the Sons of Saul were all slain and Saul killed himself when David heard it
David Lamenteth the death-of Saul and Jonathan he much lamented the Death of Saul and Jonathan saying Tell it not in Gath publish it not in the Streets of Askelon lest the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce left the Daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and further he said I am distressed for thee my Brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy Love to me was wonderful passing the love of Women David having now built him an House of Cedar and living in a full and perfect peace imparted unto Nathan the Prophet year of the world 2960 Davids purpose to build a House for God but put by it and why the purpose he had of building an House for God but was answered from God that this was a work which should be done not by him because he was a man of Blood but by his Son Solomon a man of Peace which should be born unto him Now David subdued the Philistines the Edomites the Amalekites the Moabites the Ammonites and the Syrians and the Bounds of Israel were stretched out to the outmost part of all that Land which had been formerly promised to the Seed of Abraham but never before possessed so fully by any of them as by David and Solomon his Son year of the world 2969 David's great sin At the end of this year whilest David took his ease at Jerusalem he there defiled by Adultery Bathsheba the Wife of Uriah the Hittite who was then in the Army and in consequence thereof procured the Husband to be slain by the hands of the Ammonites â—eing convinced of his evil by the Prophet repented when the Child so gotten in Adultery was born David being convinced by Nathan the Prophet of his evil acknowledged his Transgression saying My sin is ever before me and repented of his sin as may be seen at large in Psalm 51. yet the new born Babe was taken away by death year of the world 2971 Bathsheba being now his Wfe bare David a Son unto whom Solomon born as to one who should prove a man of Peace God gave the name of Solomon as to one beloved of God the Name of Jedidia year of the world 2987 The Lord was angery with David and why David for numbring the People kindled the Wrath of God against the Israelites wherefore Gad the Prophet told David thus saith the Lord Chuse one of them that I may do unto thee viz. whether Famine Sword or Pestilence and David said I am in great streight and his Heart smote him David chose to fall into the hands of God for he saw the evil he had done in Numbering the People and said Let us now fall into the Hands of the Lord for his Mercies are great and let me not fall into the hands of men So the Lord sent the Pestilence upon Israel and there died seventy thousand men in one day David being now seventy years of age year of the world 2989 and broken with continually Cares and Wars David grown old grew weak and feeble and Adonias his Son seeing his Father thus declining by the counsel and advice of Joah and Abiathar the high Priest Adonias his Son strives for the Kingdom David causeth Solomon to be anointed King made himself King whereof when David was advertized by Bathsheba and Nathan he presently caused his Son Solomon to be anointed King by Zadock the Priest and Nathan the Prophet and Benajah the Son of Jehojada in Gihon which so soon as Adonias heard he presently fled and afterwards laying hold on the Horns of the Altar was pardoned by the favour of Solomon and set at liberty Whereupon Adonias flies and now David assembling all the Governours and chief of Israel together with his Sons and Servants exhorted them all to fear and worship God David departed this life year of the world 2990 having reigned in Hebron seven years and and six Moneths David dies and thirty three years in Jerusalem over all Israel Solomon loved the Lord year of the world 2991 and walked in the Statutes of David his Father Solomons Uprightness to walk before the Lord. and in Gibeon the Lord appeared to him in a Dream and bid him ask and chuse what he would and it should be given him and Solomon said Thou hast shewed unto thy Servant David my Father great mercy according as he walked before thee in Truth and Righteousness and now O Lord my God thou hast made thy Servant King instead of David my Father and I am but a little Child I know not how to go out or come in He asketh Wisdom and he asked Wisdom and an Understanding Heart to be given him of God and the Speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing God therefore gave him Wisdom from above Wherefore God gave him Wisdom beyond any before or after The first experience of Solomons Wisdom exceeding any that was before him or should come after him and of his Wisdom the first Experiment was made in deciding the Controversie between the two Women about the Child which first gave him an esteem among the People when they saw the Wisdom of God was in him to do Judgment Solomon having according to his Fathers direction in whose heart it was to build an House for the Name of the Lord God of Israel built the Temple year of the world 2012 which was seven years and a half in building How long the Temple was building in the building of which there was neither Hammer nor Ax nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House whilst it was in building and now Solomon having built the Temple he placed there the Ark wherein was the Covenant of the Lord which he made with the Children of Israel when he brought them out of the Land of Aegypt and Solomon stood before the Altar of the Lord and in the Presence of the People said Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee in Heaven above or in Earth beneath who keepest Covenant and Mercy with thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart and he made a long prayer for the Preservation of the People desir'd the Lord would be with them Solomons Prayer for he People as he was with their Fathers and not leave them nor forsake them and that he would incline their Hearts unto him to walk in all his Wayes and to keep his Statutes and Judgments which he commanded their Fathers Thus was Solomons beginning Solomons heart drawn away from the Lord. but it was not long after until he was drawn away by many strange Women who towards his latter dayes drew away his Heart into Idolatry and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as was the Heart of David his Father for he went after the Abominations of the Amonites and he did evil in the sight of the Lord The Lord angry with Solomon and went not fully after the Lord as