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
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
would produce her hid-up gold He 'd rost her quick and after throw her down From the sublimest tower in the town VVell said she though I fall yet shall I stand Supported by the Lord Almightie's hand He made her drink his piss then in her face Flung the remainder and withall the glass He claps her up more torments to abide Her friends redeem'd her but she shortly did The Prot'stants of Valougne their dear lives lost And souldiers in their houses rul'd the rost In Mascon Bonnet Bor a rare Divine Scoff'd beaten drown'd Lamp-like in heav'n doth shine Monsieur Valongues a Minister they kill'd And spurn'd his naked corps the Mass-Priests fill'd His mouth and wounds with Bible-leaves and said Preach thou Gods truth now invocate his aid Monluc at Reim brain'd sucking infants then The mothers hang'd above five hundred men They sprinkled salt upon the bleeding wounds Of one poor mangled man Monluc confounds The Protestants in fight the prisoners He hangs especially the Ministers Captain Lamoths he stabs that will not do He thrusts him with a rapier through and thro And his blasphemous mouth these words lets fly Villain thou in despite of God shalt die He prov'd a lyar though the man endur'd Such mortal wounds yet was he strangely cur'd In Limoux Grenoble Beann Cisteron Normay and Aurange many undergon Hard usage Ah! what hearts what tongues what Quills Can think can speak can write those worst of ills Females were ravish'd others drown'd some kill'd Their houses with unruly souldiers fill'd Hundreds of women nay and children too Like harmless sheep unto the slaughter go Those to blaspheme that would not be constrain'd Were with the butt-end of a musket brain'd Or hewn as small as herbs unto the pot Others rhrown out at windowes others shot A fair young woman after much disgrace Was ravished before her husbands sace Then forc'd to hold a rapier wherewith One made her her own husband kill A Smith Because he would not give the devil his soul B'ing on his anvil laid they beat his poul In pieces with great hammers some were crush'd To death with weights others were har quebush'd They dash'd brest-sucking babes against the walls And slew the crazy in the hospitals No sex nor age nor quality they let Go free all all was fish that came to net The Massacre at PARIS Anno 1571. WHen the third Civil War in France was ended A Massacre at Paris was intended And put in execution first of all They set upon and slew the Admiral The watch-word was the tolling of a bell Which rang by break aday the cut-throats fell On the attendants of the King of Navar And Prince of Conde not the least of favour Was shew'd to any they knock'd down and brain'd Ten thousand persons Sein'c swift streams were With the effused blood the streets were pav'd stain'd With mangled bodies not a man was sav'd These blood-hounds met with Pistols Poiniards Knives Curtlaces Pikes did make away with lives The Muskets bouncings Oh the horrid tones Of howling murth'rers mix'd with dying grones The Lords and Gentlemen were murthered Some on their houses roofs and some in bed In France this persecution so encreas'd Were thirty thousand Massacred at leaft But let 's to some particulars descend One Monsieur de la Place was brought t' his end And Peter Ramus with his life did part The Kings Professor in that subtile Art Thrown from the chamber window trail'd about The streets and whip'd his bowels falling out A villain snatched up a little child Who toy'd and played with his beard and smil'd But he hard hearted wretch not mov'd at all Drew out his sword and stabbed it withall And cast it all gore-blood into the river This gnaws an infant's heart and he the liver Such protestants as did through fear revolt Must in the fore-front give the first assault Or else be kill'd themselves Some had their grease Try'd out and sold They us'd such blasphemies Where 's now your God are Psalmes and Prayers come To this sure he is either deaf or dumb Let him come save you if he can they cry'd Kill kill them all and let 's the spoil divide What fearfull shrikes and outeries were there then Caus'd by these Devils in the shapes of men What breaking up of doors what noise of guns At Orleance was there heard confusion runs In ev'ry street what trampling of War-Horses Rumbling of Carts that bore away dead coarses The Papists in this massacre confess'd That they slew eighteen thousand at the least Some of them boasted in the streets aloud Th'nad dy'd their doublets in the Hug'nots blood At Tholouse they the call'd-out pris'ners slay Not suffring them to speake much less to pray VVhen the Parisian massacre was known At Bourdeaux the like cruelty was shown How sad was it to see poor Protestants VVander now here now there and none their wants Supply Alas unparalelled woes Rejected by their friends destroy'd by foes SECT XXIX The siege of Sancerte Anno Christi 1573. THe Chastrian Lord besieging Sancerre town His thundring cannons play'd and batter'd down Her stony walls the shiver'd timber flew Continually about yet none it slew Some had their hats breeches and coats through shot Themselves not hurt nor prejudic'd one jot The siege endured long at last through want Horse-flesh was turn'd to food which growing scant The Twons-men fed on dogs cats rats mice moles Hides parchments halters Lantera-horns roots coals Their bread was made of straw-meal they did boyl Them pottage of old Oyntments grease and Oyl And when these fail'd they pounded nutshels slates Eat mens dung fry'd ho these were precious cates A lab'rer and his wife were put to th'slaughter For feeding on their famin-starved daughter Some little corn by stoldred brought to town Each pound was valued at half a crown The sword did but eighty four persons slay The famine half a thousand swept away Many chose rather to resign their breath At the swords point then famish'd be to death The parents look'd upon with grief of heart Their children but could no relief impart A boy of five years old neer spent with hunger Did run about the streets but when no longer His feeble feet could bear him down he fell Before his parents sight 't is sad to tell The horrour of their souls and how their eyes Ran down when they did feel his with'red thighs Then said the child Father and mother dear What mean you so to weep for Gods sake spare Those needless drops and do'nt my cause bemone I ask no bread as knowing you have none But since it is Gods will that I should rest By such a death as this his name be blest Have not I mother in my Bible read Of Laz'rus wants and that was all he said At last God flirr'd up the Polonians To free the poor distress'd Sancerrians They with their arms and goods might go away And such as would might without trouble stay The siege of Rochel Anno 1573. ROchel
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
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