I will not Urge me no more for do it I will never This I resolve and will herein persever Expose me to the ravenous Lyons paw Yet I 'le not make a rupture in the Law Rip up my Entrails do and when that 's done Fling fling m'into an hate-light Dungeon Pluck out these eyes with Pinsers let the flame Burn me to cinders I 'll be still the same Think not that I 'll recant because I 'm old And feeble no torments shall make me bold I am content to suffer for my God And patiently sustain his chastning rod The zeal I bear is not a zeal that founds It's happiness on such unstable grounds As once to move me or to make me totter No Tyrant were thy fury ten times hotter I 'le laugh death in the face when I lay down This life to take up an immortal Crown Blest I shall be although by thee accurst Tyrant I challenge thee do do thy worst With that the soldiers hale him to the place Of torment strip him whip him and do lace His back with stripes till bloody streams out-gush And in the face of the tormentor blush While he was under the afflicter's hand One stood and cry'd Obey the Kings command But patiently this worthy man endur'd A world of wounds too dang'rous to be cur'd And darting up his venerable eyes He knew for whom he was a sacrifice In whom he did believe then casts a look On his afflicted self and sees a brook A bubbling brook with uncontrouled tides Crimson their passage from his mangled sides And when his sufferance over-flow'd the banks Of torment he admir'd gave God the thanks They loathsome liquor in t ' his nostrils pouring Did then commit him to the flames devouring Yet when his nat'ral life began to fail And his approaching death would take no bail Having his wasting eyes on Heaven laid His dying breath breath'd forth these words said Thou O my God art he who bringest down To th' grave giv'st life and with that life a Crown Behold dear Lord I 'm swallow'd by deaths jaws For the strict keeping of thine own-made Laws Sweet Father hear me O be pleas'd to keep Thy bosome Nation suffer not thy Sheep To be devour'd by Wolves that are too bold To worry them or scare them from their fold O let my death conclude all miserie And grant in dying I may live to thee Now I am found in thee can I be lost He ceas'd and ceasing yeilded up the Ghost The Kings displeasure waxing now more strong Sent for sev'n Hebrew children who being young He thought them weak unable pains to bear He therefore either by entreats or fear Presum'd he should induce them to abjure Their Law and eat what by their Law 's impure The crafty Tyrant ambushing his guile Beholdeth them with a dissembling smile And thus reveal'd himself Admir'd young men I wish your good O do not madly then Shun my Behests prevent the torments due Unto the refractory not to you As for my part I desire nothing more Then to advance you and increase your store Contemn your superstitious vanities And come along our tracts if you be wise T is no such crime if you your Law fulfil not If you neglect ours as I hope you will not With ling'ring deaths I 'll study to torment you You may it may be then too late repent you Am I a King and shall contempt accrue To me a King from such low worms as you Racks Bring forth those Wheels Rods Cauldrons Hooks Grid-irons Cages here 's not all here lacks Let 's see the Engines to torment the hands Gauntlets Auls Bellowes Brass-pots Frying-pans Obey young men if I enforce a fact Not good 't is not your voluntary act You do not sin be prudent then I say Not actively but passively obey The zeal-inflam'd young men do vilify His threats intreats retorting this reply Speak Tyrant say say why art thou so bent To persecute us that are innocent We will observe for all afflictions rod What Moses taught us from the mouth of God Know we detest your sense-deluding shows Nor will we be seduc'd by words or blows No Tyrant no do thou the best you can To do thy worst we will fear God not man Our cause is God's and death is our desire Heaven is our portion yours eternal fire Th' enraged Tyrant after one another Lop'd off these hopeful sprouts the eldest brother Named Macchabons first was stretched out Upon a Rack and beaten round about His naked ribs with a Bulle-pizle till His wearyed tormentors had their fill Of long continued strokes and did desire Rather to leave then he did them require Nor was this all fresh tort'rers have extended Him on a wheel weights at his heels appended While yet his sinews and his entrails brake He call'd on God then to the Tyrant spake Blood-guilty wretch who labor'st to disthrone Gods Majesty it self know I am one Am for the cause of God a sufferer And no witch nor inhuman murtherer When the afflicter with compassion sway'd Bid him submit unto the King he said Accursed ministers of Tyranny Your wheels as yet are not so sharp that I Should thereby be enforced to abjure Heaven wherein is my foundation sure See tyrant see how resolute I am Winde off my flesh with pinsers do and cram Young Vultures with the bits before mine eyes Put put me to the worst of cruelties Rost if you please by a soft fire my flesh And if that will not serve invent a fresh Inflict inflict till there cannot be fonnd A place whereon t' inflict another wound So said thus rack'd into a fire he 's thrown And now his wasting bowels stared on The Tyrants face yet with an unmov'd brest He to his brethren thus himself exprest Beloved brethren learn by my example To scorn the worlds alluring baits and trample All torments under foot obey God rather Then this proud Tyrant God 's a gracious father And when him pleases with a smile or frown Can raise the humble strike the lofty down This torment 's not enough to end his pain For he is snatch'd out of the fire and flame Alive his tongue was plucked out and then His life he ended in a frying pan And now his soul enjoy'd what he desir'd His friends rejoyced and his foes admir'd Then was the second brother Aber call'd Who with the tort'ring Engines unappal'd Refus'd to eat chains did his hands restrain His skin the garment of his flesh was flain From head to knees the tort'rer did devest His intrails peeping from his unglaz'd brest Too grievous to behold and him at last Unto a famine-pined Leopard cast The beast though truculent did onely smell And went her way forgetting to be fell Nor was sh ' injurious to him in the least The Kings displeasure but the more increas'd And Aber grown more constant by his pain Thus thus his dying voice did loudly strain How sweet How pleasant is this death to me Yea
Pope Al'xander the third his wrath did smoke When they shook off his Antichristian yoke He them condemn'd as Het'ticks yet they spred And many potent Towns inhabited Nay many Lords and Earls did with them side Against the Pope and constantly deny'd The Romish faith and resolutely spake Their willingness to suffer for Christs sake Beziers was stormed by the Pilgrim train And in it sixty thousand persons slain The Legat saies Souldiers kill old and young For why God knoweth those to him belong The Catholicks besieg'd and batter'd down On the inhab'tants heads Carcasson Town When Baron Castle was surpriz'd th' enclos'd Of th' Albigenses were disey'd disnos'd Then sent to Cab'ret with an one-ey'd guide Yet still like gold that 's in a furnace tri'd The Saints appear'd their sparkling zeal like fire Blown by afflictions bellows blaz'd the higher Now Luther rose the Antichristian terror And those that were seduc'd reduc'd from error SECT XXI The Persecution of the Church of God in Bohemia which began Anno Christi 894. BOrivojus Duke of Bohemia Entring the confines of Moravia By a strange providence was Christianiz'd And with him thirty Pal'tines were baptiz'd At his return he raised from the ground Churches and Schools and all the Country round Flock'd thither many of the Noble race As well as Commons did the Truth embrace Malicious Satan env'ing the progress The Gospel made gainst those that it profess Rais'd persecution up Borivojus Is sent into exile Sanguineous Drahomira ' the Christian temples locks Forbidding Ministers to tend their flocks And in the silent night three hundred lives Pay'd tribute to the bloody cut-throats knives But Gods just Judgement Drahomira follow'd The opening earth her and her Cart up swallow'd The Popish party having got the day Did all the obvious Bohemians slay At Cuttenburge four Thousand souls were thrown Into the Metal-Mines O hearts of stone The Priests cry out Blow out good people blow These sparks before into a flame they grow Water is us'd the more they did endeavour To drown the Saints they flamed more then ever Many are scourg'd some sent into exile Two German Merchants brought unto the pile Exceedingly encourag'd one another One sayes Since Christ hath suffered dear brother For wretched us let 's do the same likewise For him and such a high-bred savour prize That we are counted worthy so to die For his sweet sake the other did reply The joy that in my Marriage-day I found Was small to this O this doth more abound Both cry'd aloud the Faggots set on fire Blest Christ thou in thy torments didst desire Thine en'mies peace the like we also crave Forgive the King let not the Clergy have Thy scalding vengeance O forbear to plague The poor misled inhabitants of Prague O be thou pleas'd to let them Scot-free go For Ah! poor souls they know not what they do Their hands are full of blood they pray'd and wept And wept and pray'd till in the Lord they slept On Noble-men intolerable Fines Were laid two hundred eminent Divines Are exil'd some are burned others brain'd Some shot to death with blood the earth 's destain'd The Martyrs one by one that were in hold Are called forth who resolutely bold Hast to their sufferings with as great content As if they had unto a banquet went When one was called for he thus exprest Himself in taking leave of all the rest Farewel dear friends Farewel the Lord support Your spirits that you may maintain the fort Against the common foe and make you stout And resolute to keep all batt'ry out That what you lately with your mouths profest You may by your so glorious death attest Behold I lead the way that I may see My Saviours glory you will follow me To the fruition of my fathers sight O how my soul is ravish'd with delight This very hour all sorrow bids adieu To my glad heart O now my joyes renew Transcendent joyes heaven and eternity Is mine is mine Then did the rest reply God go along with you O heaven we pray Assist thy servant in his thorn-pav'd way O may the willing Angells come to meet Thy obvious body and direct thy feet Into thine and our Fathers Mansion Go go dear brother go and we anon Shall follow after and be all receiv'd To bliss through Christ in whom we have believ'd Farewel farewel let equal joyes betide To us that follow and to you our guide First the Lord Schlick a man as wise as grave Condemned to be quarter'd did behave Himself most gallantly and said My doom Me pleaseth well what care I for a Tombe A Sepulchre is but an easie loss Fear death not I welcom my crown my cross Let let these limbs be scatter'd here and there I have Gods favour and I do not fear The worst that foes can do see how the Sun Displaies his shining beams Jesuites be gon And build not Castles in the empty air For I dare die for Christ I that I dare Be pleas'd blest Jesus thorough deaths dark night To Manu-duct me to eternal light Eternal light O what a happy sound That word reports my soul at a rebound Catch heaven catch heaven no sooner had he spoke But he submitted to the fatal stroke His right hand and his head lop'd off his shoulders Are hung on high to terrify beholders The Lord Wenceslaus seventy years old B'ing next was asked why he was so bold In Fred'ricks cause he said My conscience run Along with me and what is done is done My God lo here I am dispose of me Thine aged servant as best pleaseth thee O send that grim-look'd messenger that staies For none to end these miserable dayes May I not see the ruines that do wait Upon our sinking our declining State Behold this Book my Paradise was never So cordial as now Judges persever In sucking Christian blood but know Gods ire Shall smoak you for 't Up starts a cowled Fryer And said Your Judgement errs With this reply He answer'd him I on the truth rely And not on bare opinion Christ's the Way The Truth the Life in him I cannot stray Then stroaking his prolixed beard he said My gray hairs honour serves you having pray'd And giv'n his soul to Christ his Saviour His cut-off head was fixed on the Tower Lord Harant next was call'd who bravely said I 've travell'd far and many journeys made Through barb'rous countries and escaped dangers By sea and land yet was my life by strangers Surrepted not b'ing safe returned home My friends and Country-men my foes become For whom I and my Grandsires have let fall And wasted our estates our lives and all Forgive them father I O Lord have grounded My faith in thee let me not be confounded Then on the Scaffold thus O Lord I give My spir't into thine hands in hope to live By Christ his death according to thy word And so he yielded to the murth'rous sword Sir Caspar Kaplitz eighty six years old Said to the Minister
time forward in the Latin tongue c. John a Lasco Peter Martyr and more Protestant forr'ners were exil'd this shore And many godly-minded English fly To Friez land Cleavâ—land Basil Germany Where through God's mercy they were kept from dangers And all found favor in the eyes of strangers The number of these Peregrines encreas'd Unto eight hundred persons at the least Then to the Tower Lady Elizabeth Was sent and bore afflictions worse then death Latimer Cranmer Ridly Bishops spent Much time at Oxford in imprisonment One Mr. Sanders crying down the Mass Became close pris'ner Doctor Tailour was To London sent for up Henry Lord Gray Of Suffolk Duke condemn'd was brought to pay His sought for life where having open broke His sealed lips he to the people spoke I have displeas'd the Queen contrair'd her Laws Take notice Christians that 's the onely cause I suffer so and seeing they are bent T' a bridge my fleeting dayes I am content And do beseech you all bear me record I die in the true faith of Christ my Lord And for salvation on his merits rely Not on inefficacious trumpery For me and all true penitents beside Who in him stead fastly believe Christ dy'd Repent I do and do desire you all To pray for me that when my body shall Resigne its breath God will be pleas'd to take My soul unto himself for Christ his sake Forgive me yee whom I offended have Saies Dr. Weston then As he doth crave The Queen hath done him thus the throng rebuke God send thee such forgiveness So the Duke Kneel'd down and prai'd concluding I resigne My soul O Lord into those hands of thine Then made he preparation to embrace The bloody blow and having veil'd his face With his own handkerchief he kneeling said The Lords pray'r over down his head he laid Venting these latest words Christ look upon me Have mercy Jesus O have mercy on me And now the stroke was fetch'd he being cast At the black bar of death breath'd out his last Divers of all degrees who bought or sold Some good religious books were kep'd in hold As Bonner past his Visitation He charg'd all Sacred sentences upon The Church-walls painted should be washed out And Visitors he also sent about The Universities to bring therein All Popish trash to turn out they begin The ablest men some of themselves forsook Their fellowships while worth-less persons took Their places up to the great hinderance Of learning and religions advance By this 't was bruited over all the land The Queen went quick with child upon command Thanks were returned to Almighty God In ev'ry Church and after all abroad Prayers were made that she might have e're long A male child fair wise valiant and strong The Godly Min'sters before Winchester In and about the City must appear Who ask'd them If they would recant and so Have pardon from the Queen All answer'd No Yea all of them unan'mously agreed To stand to what they taught the Bishop's speed Made them close prisoners and did divorce Their friends from interchangable discourse Mr. James George one of them there did yield His spir't up whom they bury'd in the field Then Mr. Hooper Rogers Bradford hated And Sanders too were excommunicated And Pious Dr. Tailour Ferrar Crome Did all of them with them receive their doom Commissions and inquisitors were sent Throughout the Realm great multitudes from Kent From Essex Suffolk Norfolk and elsewhere VVere brought to London and encloyftred there Part of them dead in prison out were turn'd To dunghills and the flames a many burn'd Also Hanks Hunter Pigot Laurence brought Before the Bishops were for no just fault When Stephen Gard'ner saw that what h'assail'd By threats hard usage not at all prevail'd To make men shake off truth he did begin As utterly discouraged therein The business in hand for to renounce Meddling no more with condemnations But unto Bishop Bonner them referr'd Who in that trust imposed so bestirr'd Himself that sending for all in great hast Th'above nam'd parties he upon them past Death's final sentence Dr. Ferrar quick He sent down to St. Davids Bishoprick Within the Cambrian country there to be Condemn'd and executed crueltie To th' Queen in Mr. Coverdale's behalf Twice wrote the King of Denmark for his safe Release from prison but with much ado To him the Queen permitted him to go One Thomas Tomkins Weaver by his trade An humble man and one that conscience made Of what he did who would begin his labour With servent prayers and to his needy neighbour So charitable was that he 'd disburse Unto them all the mony in his purse If any came to borrow of him when His creditors would bring it home agen He u'sd to bid them keep it longer yet Till they more able were to pay the deb This man was kept in pris'n a half years space By Benner's means who beat him on the face With livid blows and plucked off a piece Of his fast beard yet this did but increase His patience more the Bishop then affail'd When other tearms nothing at all prevail'd With gentle words to win him but the trial Succesless prov'd Tomkins return'd denial The Bishop having by a flaming Torch Took Tomkins by the fingers and did seorch His hand therewith afterwards Tomkins told A friend of his that whilst Bonner did hold His hand to burn he felt no pain at all Such consolation from God's spirit did fall Nor shrunk he in the least until his veines The fire contracted fire you know constreines And sinewes crack'd again and water spurt On Dr. Harpsfield's face as from a squirt Who was so pityful compassionate As to beseech the Bishop to abate His cruel minde O be not so so rough Said he have you not tryed him enough Into the Bishops consistory brought Examined he was whether he thought Christs real body in the Sacrament Was present yea or no to which he sent This answer that he verily believ'd The Sacrament by a true faith receiv'd Was onely its remembrance with the High'st The very body and the blood of Christ In heaven is and nowhere else being ask'd If he 'd recant God hath said he unmask'd His truth to me in such corruscancy That in it I resolve to live and die The Bishop then death's sentence on him past And to the Sheriffs deliv'red him who cast Him into Newgate prison in Smithfield The truth in fine with his dear blood he seal'd And in the Lord slep'd sweetly Then William Hunter that had scarce out-worn The nineteenth year of Godly Parents born VVho him instructed in Religion's truth And plac'd him out in London this good youth VVas charg'd by special command to go To Mass break bread which he refus'd to do Hunter when threatened that this should come Unto the Bishop's ear leave got went home To Burnt-wood and did with his Parents stay About six weeks And going on a day Into the Chappel there which pleas'd him well He
don 't hear that false Prophet's talk Ah! naughty Hypocrite dar'st thou produce A Scripture-proof for so profane a use I have heard your already-quoted text But look immediately what follows next Do this for my Remembrance then streight-way The Priest stood still not knowing what to say The fire was kindled Rawlins in the flame Bathed his aged hands till in the same The sinews shrunk the fat drop'd out and all That while he cried out Lord let my fall Mount me to thee Receive this soul of mine O Lord receiv't his spirit he did resign It was observ'd of him that whereas through Infirmity of age he round did go And with dejected countenance he now Went bolt upright t' his death his smoother brow As clear as day his speeches and behaviour Of courage vigour very well did favour And now the Queen restor'd the Abbey-lands She late possess'd A Pope-sent Bull commands All do the like but none therein was seen T' obey the Pope or imitate the Queen A Popish Priest at Crondale impious fool Boasted that he had bin with Card'nal Pool Who cleans'd him from his sins the Bull sent o're He prais'd fell down and never spake word more Some burn'd because they on their necks did tie This Motto Fear God fly Idolatry George Marsh one William Flower John Cardmaker John Simpson and John Warne were each partaker Of life by suff'ring death climb'd heavens story Death is the ladder to immortal glory Bonner for many things John Ardly accus'd To whom John Ardly such expressions us'd My Lord not you nor any of your breed Are of the true Catholick Church indeed Your faith is false and when you most depend Upon it it will fail you in the end You have shed much too much innocuous blood And are not weary yet Can this be good Were ev'ry hair upon my head a man So many lives I 'd part with rather than Lose the opinion I am in so said In Essex burnt a joyful end he made One Thomas Hauks a Courtier comly tall VVas greatly admired and belov'd of all For his rare qualities in Edward's dayes But in Queen Maries Reign Religion's rayes Waxing more dull he left the Court home went And practis'd Godliness t' his great content While thus he staid at home a son he got But in the Popish way baptiz'd it not By using oil cream spittle salt absurd Nowhere enjoyned in the holy Word Told Bonner so the Bishop left him than A while and Mr. Darbisher began You are too curious and on none will look Unless your little pretty God's good book Sir is not that sufficient to save Yes but not to instruct that I may have Salvation to my God I humbly sue As for instruction that I leave to you Shall your child be baptiz'd you not look o're I had such councel given me before Why we can have it done if we be bent True but you never shall with my consent I 'd Gladly do thee good save thee from hell I am thy pasture and would teach thee well I 'll stand to what I said you shall not finde My resolutions waver like the winde I am the bread of life the Scripture saith And this bread is my flesh is this thy faith 'T is so I will believe what Scriptures say Well let 's to Evensong H. There I 'll not pray I 'm best when furthest off from such resort And so he walked forth into the Court What thinke you of the Altar's Sacrament Excuse me for I nere knew what it meant But we will make you know 't when we begin Faggots shall make you do'â— H. Faggots a pin For all your faggots you no more can do Then God permits you and no further go Much more was said in prison he at last Was for his bold judicious answers cast Nor could that move him in the least to doubt What 's bred in the bone will not eas'ly out Being his sentence read to Coxshal sent In Essex he exhorted as he went His friends and at the stake as he had spoken That he would do he gave to them a token By lifting up his hands all in a flame Above his head and clapping of the same To let them understand that he was able To ' bide the pain not too intolerable Then gave the people an unusual shout And so this blessed Lamp all burnt went out One Thomas Watts in Essex who defended The truth so much oppos'd was apprehended Condemn'd and after sent to Chilm'ford where The little time he had he spent in pray'r Come to his wife and his six child'ren small He said Wife and my hopeful branches all I now must leave you all henceforth therefore Alas I cannot know you any more As unto me at first the Lord did send you So I unto the Lord do recommend you Him I command you to obey and fear As long as life shall last see you beware Of this loath'd papistry which I withstood And shall against it give my dearest blood By God's grace by and by Let not the number Of bleeding Saints discourage or incumber Your active faith and move you to relent But thereby take occasion to be bent For greater service in Jehovah's fight 'T is happy dying for a cause that 's right I do not doubt nor have you cause to fear But he which strikes will give you strength to bear He 'll be unto the widdow in distress Husband and father to the fatherless Farewel said he farewel gave each a kiss So past he through the fi'ry blaze to bliss One Bainford Osmund Osborne overturn'd Unto the Sec'lar power in Essex burn'd Mr. John Bradford and John Leafe did climbe Up fiety stairs to heaven about this time The next day after at Maidstone in Kent One Mr. Minge dy'd in imsprisonment Mr. John Bland God's faithful Minister Was for the truth a constant sufferer John Frankish Humphry Middleton two men Of admirable worth were martyr'd then John Fettie's child such cruel whippings feels That the gore blood ran down about its heels The father put in the tormenting stocks Must see his Lamb misus'd O hearts of rocks One Nicholas Sheterden being brought Him Doctor Harpsfield asked what he thought That passage This my Body is should mean Said Sheterden This cannot well be seen By carnal eyes thus much I gather thence It must be taken in a spirituall sence Else when This Cup 's my blood's so understood The substance of the Cup must needs be blood Nicholas Hall Christopher Waide Joan Beach John Harpool Marg'ry Boley who did reach At the despised truth and Popery spun'd Condemn'd at Rochester in Kent were burn'd Dirick Carver a Surrey Gentleman Call'd to the stake unto his God began His servent pray'r which having done he strip'd Himself and so into the barrel skip'd They threw his book in also but in vain For to the throng he flung it out again I charge you
said the Shrieffe in the Queen's name To fling that Vip'rous book into the flame Then spake he with a cheerful voice and said Dear friends bear witness I am not affraid To seal Christ's Gospel with my dearest blood Knowing 't is true and was of late your food Though now surrepted from you and because I 'll not deny it to obey mans laws Condemn'd I be to dy see that you walk In answer to the truth of which you talk And as for those that do the Pope believe Hell 's theirs without Gods merciful reprieve Except said then the Sheriffe believe thou do The Pope th' art damn'd both soul and body too Pray to thy God that he may set thee free Or strike me down The Lord forgive said he Your temerarious words Dear Lord thou knowst How I left all to come to thee thou dost Draw with Magnetick-love to thee I fly For shelter Ah! but when my serious eye Darts on thy power and on my self looks down I fear the wrath of a condemning frown What shall I shrink no now the flames surround me I 'll trust my God although my God confound me Christ Jesus help Christ Jesus look upon me He cry'd and dy'd with Lord have mercy on me Iveson said All the treasure in the nation Should never draw him to a recantation I to the mercy of my God appeal And would be none of your Church for a deal Yea though an heaven-sent Angel came t' expound Unto me other Doctrine I 'm not bound For to receive it hereupon condemn'd And put into the fire he death contemn'd James Abbes a Godly man did shift about From place to place for safeties sake found out At last they carri'd him to Norwich town VVhere by the Bishop's threats he did disown VVhat he profess'd the Bishop seeing so Gave him some money and dismiss'd him too But conscience bringing him upon the rack The Bishops money he returned back Repenting e're he took it then again The Bishop strove to gain him but in vain Though Peter-like he fail'd now to persever Resolve he did and stood more fast then ever Even to his last-drawn breath the Bishop's fury Condemn'd him to be burn'd he burn'd at Bury John Denly Newman Partrick Packingham Dy'd constant Martyrs for their Saviours name Wright Coker Collier Hooper Stere and more Besides in Canterbury faggots bore Robert Smith Stephen Harwood Thomas Fust And William Hale dy'd for the truth their trust Eliz'beth Warne condemned to be burn'd By Bonner unto Bonner soon return'd These words Do what you will with me for why If Christ was in an errour so am I Otherwise not but Christ spake true I know Therefore then was she burn'd at Stratford-Bow About this very time George Tankerfield Did at St. Albanes to their rancour yield George King John Wade and Tho. Leyes with sore Usage fell sick and dy'd in Lollards tower In Suffolk Mr. Robert Samuel Of Barfold Min'ster who instructed well The flock committed to his charge was tost To Norwich goal there chained to a post And so erect that 's body did command For some small ease induc'd his tip-toes stand Hunger and thirst bad helpers are procur'd VVhat tongue can tell what he poor man endur'd At last brought to be burn'd an easie pain To what he felt before he did detain Some friends in telling them a most strange story Of what fell out while he was us'd so sory VVhen I much want said he had undergon I slept and then me thought appeared one Cloath'd all in white who whisp'red in mine ear Samuel Samuel be of good cheer Take heart to grass man thou hast past the worst Henceforth thou shalt nor hunger feel nor thirst VVhich came to pass such consolation did Sweeten his woes that modesty forbid Him tell the same So as he went along To execution amidst the throng A maid there was who after scap'd did fall About his neck and kissed him withall The while his body burn'd it shin'd as bright As new-try'd Silver or as Cynthia's light Next day Anne Potten and Joan Trunch field come From Ipswich prison unto Martyrdome Thomas Cob William Allen Roger Coo Death for the sake of Christ did undergo In Coventry and Litchfield-Diocess One Mr. Robert Glover did profess The Gospel he surprized had his doom To be confined to a narrow room And dark withall next to the dungeon Scarce having straw enough to lie upon No chair nor stool to fit on none might look To him though sick pen paper ink nor book Was not allow'd him yet a Teftament And Prayer-book by stealth he getting spent Most of his time in pray'r and meditation On Gods great love in working mans salvation Yea said he health began to come my peace Of conscience did more and more encrease God's spir't reviv'd me I had sometimes some Glimm'ring reflections of the life to come All for his own Son's sake to him alwayes Be Glory Honour and Obedience Praise Two dayes before his death he found his heart Less lightsome then it was and fear'd the smart Would too much try his patience for his pray'rs God heard not he unbosomed his fears Unto a Godly Minister his friend Who wish'd him to be constant to the end O play the man your cause is just and true God will appear anon I 'll warrant you The stake in fight he said I see him whom I call'd for Austin Oh he 's come he 's come And look'd so cheerful e'en as though new breath He should receive and not a painful death Cornelius Bongey Capper also came With him and burned in the self-same flame Mr. John Glover now was troubled sore Seeing his brother took for him therefore He would have suff'red in his brother's stead But by his friends importunings he fled Into the neighbouring Woods did there abide Till he with cares and cold sickned and dy'd His body privately was buri'd in The Church-yard they his bones dig'd up agin A twelvemonth after threw them out Opains For to be trampled on by Horses Wains And thus though in his life he scaped from Their rage yet after 's death on him they come William the third brother in Shropshire dead Might not by their consent be buried Wolsey and Pigot suff'red in the Isle Of Ely And within a little while Bishop Ridly and also Latimer Burned at Oxford Stephen Gardiner That day to dine till almost night deferr'd Th' old Norfolk Duke then with him having heard Word of their deaths he with a smiling brow Said to the Duke let us to dinner now The Table fill'd as merry as a Buck The Bishop was but on a sudden struck Two bits scarce eaten carry'd from the table To bed he was his pains intolerable Nature he could not ease for fifteen dayes His tongue was swoln and black his mouth 's assaies Could giv 't no house-room his pin'd body all Sadly enflam'd he gasp'd and gave a sprawl And now John Webbe George Roper Greg'ry Parke At Canterbury burn'd not
of thine Amidst these flames their spirits did ascend To glory which shall never have AN END Gloria Deo in Excelsis SECT Vlt. God's Judgements upon the Persecutors of hic Church and children SInce first the Gospel in the Ears did ring Of England under Lucius the King Never did King or Queen the Land so stain With Christian blood as in her four years reign Queen Mary did she burned in her fury An Arch-Bishop and he of Canterbury Four Bishops twenty one Divines or more Eight Gentlemen Artis'cers eighty soure Husbandmen Servants and poor Labouring men Five score Wives twenty six Widdowes twice ten to Nine Maids two Boyes and two young Babes heaven VVere sent in all two hundred seventy seven Sixty four more for Jesus Christ his sake VVere persecuted sore which could not shake Their heaven-built faith seven whereof were strip'd Stark naked and most mercilesly whip'd Sixteen in prison perishing had dung After the Nabathoean custom flung Upon their outcast bodies Some did lie In captivated chains condemn'd to die But were deliv'red from approaching death By th' happy entrance of Elizabeth Our glorious Queen our Pallas and Astraea Of Grace and Virtue the divine Idea Many did spend by reason of exile Their dayes in trouble and their years in toile But as Queen Mary lavished the blood Of her best subjects and the truth withstood Unto the utmost of her power so God Scourged her soundly with his flaming rod Both in her life and death for whilst she liv'd What did she prosper in which she atchiev'd To instance in a few particulars And first her fair'st and greatest man of War Unmatch'd i' th' Christian world cal'd the great Harry Was burnt by heavenly flames Then would she marry Spanish King Philip so expose to dangers Poor England under barb'rous foes and strangers She labour'd much but never could attain To joyn the English to the Spanish Raign Then did she set about the restauration Of Abbey-lands throughout the British nation Her self began according to the Popes Directions yet frustrate were all her hopes God o're her land then such a famine spred That her poor subjects upon Acorns fed Then Calice where the English did remain During eleven Kings reigns from her was ta'in Which loss so griev'd her as she did impart That Calice was engraven in her heart Again in child-birth never woman had S'unfortunate success as she so bad For if she was with child and had e're been In travel why why was it never seen If not why was the Kingdom so beguild Some in the Pulpit for her new-born child Returning thanks thus her desires b'ing crost She then th' affections of her husband lost She could not him enjoy nor might she smother This her first love by marrying another Although she did so many Judgements feel Yet would she not her bloody Laws repeal She had no minde to stop the opened vain Or close the bleeding Orifice again Of dying Saints At last the Lord did please To strike her with a languishing disease VVhereof she dy'd and having held the crown Five years and five months onely laid it down Horrible tempests mortal sicknesses Plagues famines burning fevers did perpess The grieved land the fourth year she did sway And swept a multitude of folks away So that in six weeks space in London there Dy'd seven Aldermen VVheat that same year Yielded four marks the Quarter Mault a Peck Fourty four shillings as much Pease did make Two pound six shillings eight pence to a crown The following year a Peck of VVheat came down Four shillings eight pence Mault of Ry a Strike Take for a groat you may if it you like In her fifth year a thundring tempest came And batt'red down two towns neer Notingham Flung sheets of lead abroad bells from the steeple Tore trees up by the roots slew divers people c. Also a great mortality was known In Autumn then Corn stood unreap'd unmown And rotted in the fields hence did ensue Great scarcity the lab'rours being few So much of her nor must my Muse pass by Her chiefest Instruments of cruelty First to begin with Stephen Gard'ner then Bishop of Winchester whose end my pen Disdains to mention twice I will therefore Add onely this That lying at the door Of merc'less death and being put in minde Of Peter his denying Christ he whin'd This answer out VVith Peter I deny'd The Lord but there is somewhat else beside VVanting in me Alas I never spent A tear nor can as Peter did repent Morgan St. Davids Bishop who high base Condemned Ferrar and usurp'd his place Did vomit up his meat through mouth and nose O horrible until his life did close Then Mr. Leyson high Sheriffe set away This Martyrs Cattel int'his own ground they No meant would eat nor touch a blade of grass But bellowed and roar'd till death Alas One Justice Morgan who condemned had Lady Jane Grey within a while fell mad Nothing but Lady Jane his voice did sound The Lady Jane Oh! how her name did wound The Lady Jane the Lady Jane O take The Lady Jane away no more he spake Dunnings the Norwich Chancellour for 's hate To the truth dy'd as in his chair he sate Berry of Norfolk Commissary one Burn'd harmless Saints fell with an heavy groan Down to the ground and never did recover One Bishop Thornton Suffragan of Dover A cruel man while on a Sabbath-day He looked o're his men to see them play At Bowles on him did the dead palsey fall Carry'd to bed he was defir'd to call The Lord to minde Yea said he so I do Not onely so but my Lord Card'nal too So desperately dy'd Another tool Of Hell at Greenwich went to Card'nal Pool To get his blessing but returning fast He fell down stairs and brake his neck for hast Grimwood a wretch who had himself forsworn Being in Harvest stacking of his corn His bowels suddenly fell out These two Capon and Jeff'ry Doctors undergo At Salsbury sudden deaths Mr. Woodroffe Sheriffe of London dyed soon enough One Clerk who did the Godly Saints devour Hanged himself at last in London-Tower Cox a Promoter going well t' his bed When the next morn arose was found stone dead Dale dy'd of lice One Troling Smith a great Foe to the truth dy'd suddenly â—'th'street Paul London Town-Clerk an accursed wretch Did voluntarily an halter stretch A lightning stroke did Robert Baldwin kill Cardinal Pool of an Italian Pill Dy'd as 't was thought Dr. Foxford Blomefield And Leland too to sudden deaths did yield One Dr. Williams Chanc'llour of Glocester Died the death before he was a ware One Lever said he had at Oxford been And that ill-favour'd knave Latimer seen Tooth'd like an horse but mark we what did follow His son soon hang'd himself One William Swallow Lost all his hair off all his nails did pill And 's wife was taken with the falling ill Brown Lardin Potto en'mies of George Eagles D'yd a dogs shameful death three pretty
Behold behold Me a decrepit wretch whose frequent pray'rs Have beg'd deliverance from this vale of tears But all in vaine for to be gaz'd upon By the worlds eyes I 'm kept God's will be done Not mine my death to mortal eyes may seem Disgraceful but 't is rich in Gods esteem Oh Lord my God my trembling feet support For fear my sudden fall occasion sport To my observing foes The Minister Perceiving that the excutioner Could not perform his office as he meant His crookedness b'ing an impediment Bespake him thus My Noble Lord as you Commended have your soul to Christ so now Advance your hoary head to God he try'd What he could do his head struck off he dy'd Then the Lord Oito a judicious man Having receiv'd the sentence thus began And do you then O Caesar still think good For to stabilitate your throne with blood Can God be pleas'd with this say Tyrant say How will you answer 't at that dreadful day Kill this my body do let my blood fill Your veins disperse my members where you will Yet this is my belief My loving father Will be so pleas'd as them together gather And cloath them with their skin these very eyes Shall see my Lord where e're my body lies These ears shall hear him and this very tongue Ring peals of joy his praises shall be sung By this same heart of mine I must confess I was perplex'd at first but now I bless My God I finde a change I was not troubled So much but now my joyes are more redoubled I fear not death now death hath lost her sting To die with joy O 't is a pious thing Am nor I sure Christ and his Angels will Guide me to heaven where I shall drink my fill Of those Celestial cups those cups of pleasure And measure drinking though not drink by measure Shall then this death have power to divide My soul from him the heavens open wide See where my finger points The standers by Beheld eye-dazeling cortuscancy After a silent prayer made he spake Lord save thy servant Oh some pity take I am thy creature O let me inherit Christ-purchas'd glory Lord receive my spirit Next Dionysius Zervius that storm'd Against the saints but when he was inform'd Of Gospel-truths how Christ procured rest For those believ'd he forthwith smote his brest And fetch'd a sigh while tears ran down did cry This is my faith and in this faith I 'll die Through Christ alone I can acceptance finde Yet God will not despise my contrite minde Upon these knees these bended knees I call For mercy mercy Lord although I fall Help me to rise in thee My foes controul May hurt my body but not hurt my soul An aged man b'ing brought both these commended Their souls unto the Lord so their lives ended Next was the Lord of Rugenice arraign'd Who said I have a greater priv'ledge gain'd Then if the King had spar'd me and augmented My restor'd substance and am more contented God is our witness that we onely sought Religions Liberty for that we fought Who though w' are worsted and must end our days The Lord is righteous in all his ways His Truth we must defend as he sees good Not by our naked Swords but by our Blood What is the cause my God O tell me why So soon as others do I may not die For ah thou knowst thou knowst that I resign My self unto thee and am wholly thine Put not thy servant off with long delay But take me hence sweet Jesu come away The Sheriff came for him he rejoycing said Blessed be God then towards him he made Upon the Scaffold he himself did chear With that of Christ Father I will that where I am thy servants may there also be That they may my heaven-given glory see I haste to lose this life so transitory That I may be with Christ and see his glory Climbe up my soul climbe up to be embrac'd In Christ his arms and so he breath'd his last Valentine Cockan spake to this effect Upon the Scaffold Gracious Lord direct My feeble steps O let deaths valley be A Pasport to the clearer view of thee For why thy word hath bin my hidden treasure O what satiety of joy and pleasure Take residence with thee there 's nothing can Afford my soul more satisfaction than Thy self's fruition Lord my spirit flies Into thy Courts so having said he dies Next Toby Steffick's brought a man whose heart Walk'd upright with his God though like a cart Press'd with afflictions sheaves to heaven he heav'd His wasted eyes and said I have receiv'd From the beginning of my life till now Good things of God and shall not I then bow My will to his but his chastisements shun I will not no God's holy will be done Can I poor dust and ashes have the face To plead with God I chearfully embrace Thy pleasure Lord I come to bear the cross O be thou pleas'd to purge away my dross Calcine my soul obliterate my sins And make me pure against that day begins He pray'd and having drunke the lethal cup His spirit into heaven ascended up Doctor Jessenius after him was Martyr'd His tongue cut out head off his body quarter'd Citing the saying of Ignatius Chears his co-sufferers We are Gods corn Sown in the Churches field and must be torn By beasts to fit us for our Masters use But here 's our comfort one a bloody sluce The Church is founded and hath been augmented By blood nor shall the opened vein be stented The blow must now be fetch'd his soul he gave To heav'n his body to the gaping grave Then being call'd to execution I come said he a pious resolution Takes up my heart I 'm not asham'd nor sory To suffer these nay worse things for his glory I have I have by my heav'n-borrow'd force Fought faith's good fight and finished my course Then praying Father in thy hands I leave My spir't he did a Martyrs crown receive John Shunlt is while he on the Scaffold stood Said thus Leave off this melancholy mood Dejected soul O be not so cast down Hope thou in God though for a time he frown Yet will he smile again and thou shalt yet Praise him though Nature do receive her debt The righteous are among the dead enrold By fools whenas they rest Behold behold I come sweet Jesus O some pity take Unon thy creature for thy promise sake Cast me not off my misery condole My sins O pardon and receive my soul Make no long tarriance come Lord Jesus come And so he underwent his Martyrdome Next Maximilian Hoslialeck Whom Learning Worth and Piety did deck After the sentence past one asked him The reason why he look'd so dull so grim And sadder then the rest To rell the truth The sins said he I acted in my youth Come now afresh into my minde for though I know that no remainder can o'rethrow Them which with Jesus Christ have made a close