ENGLAND'S Remembrancer Setting forth The beginning of Papal Tyrannies bloody Persecutions Plots and inhuman Butcheries exercised on the Professors of the Gospel in England dissenting from the Church of Rome WITH An account of all or most of the Martyrs that were put to death by the cruel Papists in this Kingdom until the Reformation in the Reign of King Edw. 6. and Queen Elizabeth ALSO The first rise of the Writ de Heretico comburendo For Burning of Hereticks Well worth all Protestants perusal that they may unite as one Man against the Hierarchy of the bloodthirsty See of ROME Religio timor Dei solus est qui custodit hominum inter se societatem Lactant. LONDON Printed for E. Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhill 1682. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Protestant Reader FOR such I suppose thee to be who will take the pains to read over these Collections or take a view of this little Tract called Englands Remembrancer wherein we have set forth without any partiality the bloody Persecutions of that Antichristian Church of Rome so we may well call her since Persecution is a certain Mark of the Beast and whatever particular Church takes up that Weapon so far deviates from the true Catholick Church of Christ as it makes use of it being absolutely contradictory to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles The Protestants of the Church of England laid the Foundation of their Reformation with the blood of many Martyrs suffering Death and torments for their Opinions They were all Dissenters from the Church of Rome and they have sufficiently blamed as they justly ought their horrid Persecution for Conscience sake seeking by compulsion to put their heavy yoaks on the necks of others and yet they had Law on their side and their Religion was then established by the Laws of the Land however I think there is no Protestant but doth justly call the putting to death tormenting imprisoning and ruining so many Men and Women for their Opinions Persecution and tho the Church of England hath not law to put any to Death yet no question there may be many so blindly Zealous as would do as much as the Papists have done before them and therefore let them not be angry if that Spirit which some have of late shewed against Dissenters be called Persecution tho they have Laws of their side But this is nothing our dread and fear proceed from a farther prospect of the great hopes the Papists have of once more Establishing their Idolatrous Religion and truly though we believe that God in his mercy may deliver this poor Nation from so great a Scourge yet we cannot say that the Hopes of the Papists are in vain since we our selves do not slackly endeavour to bring ruine on our selves and to be helpful in promoting their designs being ready to set Protestants together by the Ears reviling persecuting and troubling one another insomuch that many have shewn that they had rather join with the Papists than admit of any other Protestant Dissenter to live unmolested and to enjoy their peace opinions and Conscience This Spirit of late blown up by secret boutsers raging as it does makes the subtle Popish Clergy laugh in their Sleeves and begin to believe they need not the help of any damnable and murthering Plot since they perceive we are framing Plots and Designs against our selves and if they let us alone shall readily by our animosities make way for the setting up their Church in this Kingdom which they with all their hellish Artifices could never do Divide impera divide reign is a known Maxim and we are doing that our selves as fast as we can for them At this time therefore I thought there could be nothing more necessary to all sorts of Protestants of what denomination soever than the beholding as in a little mirror the horrid and bloody Persecutions of those of the Romish Church in England when they had power in this Nation and by this Pocket Remembrancer you may be able to perceive to what horrid Tyranny all Professors of the true Gospel of Christ must submit themselves giving their Bodies to be burnt imprisoned tormented and abused or else against their Consciences become Idolaters and damn their Souls Alas there are no Arguments to be used against these men when armed with the Sword of Power what they have done they still do where they reign and will most certainly do the same again if not in a greater and more bloody manner as soon as they should have established their Dominion by the help of a Popish King You therefore who are negligent and careless and act as if you were asleep or are indifferent what Religion is uppermost and you also who are so hot and zealous for persecuting all those who dissent from you and you likewise for such there be who are ready to shake hands with the Papists pleading for them and account them harmless and loyal or at least better than Protestant Dissenters all of you I say read this little Book of their Tyrannies and as sure as Truth you shall feel the Scourge and Scorpionian sting of these men and must draw in their iron Yoak unless you will act against your Consciences the very same Tragedies that were acted before under Popish and bigotted Kings upon others shall be then acted over again upon you your Wives and Children upon your Goods Lives Friends Kindred and Estates Fires will again be inkindled in all quarters of this Land the Tyranny and Cruelty of the Inquisition shall sit upon you the Priest shall Lord it over you and of Freemen you shall become slaves ignorance and superstition shall put down knowledge and Religion by Authority On the other side you who are true professors of the Gospel of Christ may make use of this Remembrancer in which you will behold the great patience meekness of such whom God honoured with Martyrdom and suffering in his Cause that if ever the like persecution be permitted by the Judgment of Heaven in this Nation for our manifold sins and debaucheries which flow thorow the Land and for the Spirit of Rage and Persecution of one another that hath lately gone forth in some measure I say you may be prepared by these examples of holy dying men how to behave your selves and to believe that God will give to such as rely upon him extraordinary Comforts and supports in their Afflictions It may also serve to stir up those lukewarm Protestants who run with the stream or have not heard of or else soon forget the Persecutions and Tyrannies of the Romish Church to have an aversion and horrour to such men and such a Religion as will cut their throats if ever established by Law among us You have here an Epitomy of all Mr. Fox's 3 great Volumes which few can purchase and fewer have time to read therefore I have collected for the Protestant Reader briefly the most material stories of the whole which are
faithfully and truly set down and I hope God will give a blessing to these my true endeavours and this very useful Book at this time that all Protestants of whatsoever denomination may joyn together in the bond of unity to oppose this Bloody Cruel and Common Enemy of all that profess the Truth of the Gospel and to endeavour that the Hierarchy of Rome may never get Power and Dominion in this Land Which I pray God avert and protect us from And to which Prayer let all good People say Amen The Introduction THe Corruptions and great abominations together with the Heretical Idolatrous Impious and Blasphemous Doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome as also its bloody Persecutions abroad have been shewn in several volumes and by several Authors but since what hath been transacted by that Church in our own Kingdom more nearly concerns us I have here given you a true view of the Persecutions of the Papists from the beginning against all such as dissented from them and would not bow down to their Images or Worship God after their way by which you may see what Spirit they are of quite contrary to that of Christ and his Apostles and to what slavery we should be brought if God should permit once more the Papal Authority to get footing in these reformed Kingdoms which for so many years at the expence of blood and the lives of many holy Men and Martyrs have shaken off that Tyrannical Yoak of the See of Rome It is my design not to transcur the Bounds of our own Country for where ever the Papists have set up themselves they have continuâ—lly exercised the like bloody power of the Sword contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the practice of his Successors for some Centuries when the purity of the Gospel was professed in times near the first lighting up of the bright Candle of Christianity But I shall shew and expose to the World in this little Tract the bloody Cruelties and Persecutions of that Idolatrous Church exercised in this Kingdom only against such as dissented from them or that opposed the evil of their Doctrine and practises After that Errors were crept into the Church and that the Romish Church had sought and obtained by many impious practises the supremacy over other Churches she endeavoured to maintain this her usurpt Authority by Tyranny and bloody Persecution as she doth to this Day where ever her rule is permitted That is a most ridiculous Question of some of the Papists to many ignorant Protestants Where was your Religion before Luther All your Forefathers in England were Papists why should you then change your old Religion for many hundred years establish'd in England for one of a new date and but of the other days standing This has taken with some but they are such as are very ignorant or else they may reply to such Querors that though the Name of Protestants be new and came from Germany in Luthers time from protesting against the Romish decrees that were to have been imposed upon them yet the Doctrine and Discipline of the Protestant Churches are as ancient as Christianity itself and nearest to that of Christ and his holy Apostles and Successors in the primitive times before Rome came to challenge a supremacy over other Churches or to pretend to be the Spiritual Head of the World In all Ages and thorow the most Corrupt of times the purity of the Gospel has been preserved like a shining light has manifested itself in its dissent from the evil sinful practises from the false and heretical Doctrines of the Church of Rome and has been still persecuted by it long before the times of Luther as is manifested by the Albingenses and the Waldenses in France as also in Germany and Italy itself where many professing the purity of the Gospel and testifying against the errors and corruptions of the Romish Church fell under the bloody Sword of its Persecution But designing as I have said to speak only of our own Country we shall begin with the earliest Persecutions of the Romanists in this Land who always hated Dissenters from them or such as would not own their unjust Supremacy over their Brethren Christianity began very early in England and a Christian Church was planted here almost as soon as at Rome and continued without any acknowledgment of her Authority all the time of the British Reign for the Brittish Churches never owned any forreign Church supream or above them or suffered any to exercise Dominion or Authority over them but submitted themselves to their Kings and their Metropolitan as their head Austine the Monk was the first who endeavoured to bring into this Land the Authority of Rome and because the Brittish Bishops would not own it he stirred up the Heathen Saxon Kings then Conquerors of this Land to persecute them and others Converted to Christianity and of the Papistical Principles of setting up the Church of Rome above others to kill and destroy the Brittish Christians as dissenters from them But yet till about the year 980 the purity of the Christian Doctrine preserved itself against Popish errors about which time Popery that is the Supremacy of that Church or the owning it to the head over others getting ground in England as well as in other places and with it all the filthinesses and abominations which dissenting Protestants disown and speak against all that any ways opposed this supremacy and erroneous Doctrines were persecuted and troubled by them tho they were not as yet come to fire and faggot wanting not will but power to do it I shall but mention only that good Bishop of Lincoln Robert Grosthead who wrote against the wickedness of the Popish Clergy in the time of King Henry the 3d. which vext them so much that Pope Innocent would have had the Bishops bones after his death to have been dug up and flung out of the Church where he was buried and intending to have wrote to the King of England for that purpose he was strucken by the said Bishop appearing to him in his sleep with his Crosiers staff reproving him of his wicked intention which prohibited him from proceeding therein After which time the Papal wickednesses increasing in this Nation Sathan was let loose and greater Persecutions began to arise against those who made a profession of the Gospel and opposed the Romish Superstition or dissented from it I shall therefore here end this introduction and begin the History of Popish persecutions here in England about the Reign of King Edward the 3d about which time they began more eminently to appear and so God willing I shall briefly prosecute them to our own times thorow that flood of Martyrs blood shed in Queen Maries days A TRUE VIEW OF ALL THE Popish Persecutions AND CRUELTIES IN ENGLAND The First Part. LOng before the namâ— of Protestants gave a distinction of such as dissented from the Corruptions of the Church of Rome and made them subject to
the whose scope of Christian perfection depends And thâ—s being wholly degenerated from the true Catâ—olick institution they fell into all manner of exâ—reâ—m tyranny and persecution changing the poverty and simplicity of Christ into Cruelty and wickedness of Life and manners Thus in these times of horrible Darkness and Ignorance and when there seemed â—o be no manner of spark of Christs pure doctrine left Wickliff by the providence of God sprung up and as a bright and shining light let the world see the errors and impieties of the Church of Rome After he had for a long time professed Divinity at Oxford and perceiving the true Doctrine of the Gospel to be defiled and adulâ—erated with many filthy â—â—rentions and after long debating with himself concerning the danger he should run into by going about to detect these errors so fast embraced by the Râ—mâ—sh Church and in medling with them who had power to crush him yet his mind being inspired of God he could not rest till he had set his study and bent to endeavour a Regulation by his preaching and teaching of these gross errours that were every where taught and maintained But fi st he began warily attempting his Adversaries with Logical and Metaphysicial Qâ—estions of the Formâ— of things and of the intelligible sâ—bâ—tance of the Creatures and such like which begaâ— attention to other matters which he soon began with great Art and learning to dispute of This stir'd up one Kâ—â—inghum a Carmelite to dispute against him by which meâ—n Wickliff fell upon the matter of the Sacrament their errors therein and other abuses in the Church But this bit so sore that it was not to be enâ—ured and a whoâ—e glut of Monks and Fryers fell into a Rage and madness against him fighting for their Gods their Altars their paunches and Bellies Then the Arch-Bishop Simon Sudberry deprived him of his Benefice which he had in Oxford However being befriended by many noblemen and in favour of the King he bare up against the Monks and Fryers his implacabâ—e Enemies and the Arch-Bishop himself till about the year 1377. He had for his special maintainors the great John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Kings Son and the noble Lord Henry Peircy both which were his great Friends embracing the Truth of His Doctrine and perceiving the impurity of that professed by the Roman Clergy together with their most abominable and vicious Life But for the appearing of this noble Duke for the Truth and siding with Wickliff the Romish Clergy perfectly hated him and the Bishop of Winchester most horridly asperses him of Bastardy making the Queen upon her Death bed to Confess it to him that he was not the Kings Son nor hers for lying in at Gaunt the child she had was Smother'd and fearing the Kings displeasure she caused this John of Gaunt being a poor womans Son then newly brought to bed supposititiously to be brought up instead of the dead Prince Thus for his owning Wickliff he had this wicked abuse put upon him by that proud Prelate But the Duke not induring the affront caused him to be condemned by Parliament and his temporalities confiscated and the said Bishop was prohibited to come within 20 miles of the Court But not long after by the means of Alice Pierce the Kings Minion being well brib'd and by the intercession of the whole Company of the Bishops he was again restored But now Wickliff as I said about the year 1377. was forbid to preach any more and cited to appear before the Bishops which was on the 19th of February The Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy both accompanied him and caused out of every order of the Fryers a Batchelour of Divinity to be chosen which were 4 to joyn with Wickliff and to Assist him But so great was the disorder and variance between the Bishop of London Courtney and the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy in the behalf of Wickliff that nothing was done and the Assembly was broke up being held in St. Pauls Church the Duke and the Bishop threatning one another Thus he escaped at this time and Continued unmolested all the time of King Edward the 3d but afterwards in the Reign of King Richard the Second though he was a favourer of Wickliffs Doctrines yet the Duke and Lord Peircy not intermedling in the Affairs of state as before but living privatly the Bishops took their time to trouble him again and exhibited several Articles against him to Pope Gregory the 11th who presently sends his bull to Oxford for the Apprehending of Wickliff and for the silencing him and rooting out his Doctrines and writes also to the King against him The Bishops now hoping to ruine this holy man cite him a Second time who appeared but there came a Command to them from the King not to give any definitive sentence against him so that he by that means escaped them a 2d time Not long after the Rebellion of Jack-straw breaking forth and the Kingdom in a Combustion the Bishops perceiving the Doctrine of Wickliff dayly to increase and that he had many followers they procured the Vicechancellour of Oxford William Barton in the year 1380 to put forth an Edict against Wickliff and his followers which again brought him into trouble not having his former supports to help him and his Articles which he had maintained so stoutly against the force of his Adversaries were condemned as Heretical in 1382. About the same time one Hereford with Rippington and Ashton all Batchelours of Divinity were cited before the Bishops persecuted for holding the tenents of Wickliff and Hereford and Rippington were excommunicated Also one Thomas Hillman a Batchellor of Divinity was at the same time troubled by them for the same cause Hitherto there was no Law to burn any man for Religion and had they been contented with the power of excommunication it had been well and had not stirred up the Civil Magistrate to be their bloody and Cruel executioners so that we may account these first Persecutions but light But now their malice rage being increased the K. being but young and overawed by the Pope and the proud and imperious clergy of the Land who bore great sway they circumvented the King got surreptitiously a statute made without notice of the Commons called an Act of the Parliament holden at Westminster An. 5. Rich. 3. l. in which power was given to Sheriffs and other Civil Magistrates to imprison any for Religion upon the Certificates of the Bishop which caused great Persecutions but this Act was shortly after repealed at the intreaty of the Commons However the Bâ—shops supressed the knâ—wlâ—dge of this Repealing and unjustly under colour of the former Act wrought horrible troubles against all such as opposed them or were fâ—vouâ—ers of Wickâ—iff and they also so wrought upon the King that he sent forth his Letters against Wicâ—â—â—f and for the suppression of his Doctrine both to the Arch-Bishop of
God would not leave his People without Testimony for notwithstanding this cruel Act many maintained the Trâ—ch and among the rest one John Badby an Artificer and Lay-man who w â—â—he next thâ—t suffered in the Year 1409. He was convicted before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbuâ—y with other Bishops his Assistants of certain Articles in which he is said to affirm that the consecrated Wafer was not the real Body of Christ which he averred to be true to the face of all the Bishops and gave his Reasons for the same upon which they pronounced Sentence against him as an Heretick he remaining constant to the Death and could not be wrought upon by any persuasions to give his Conscience the Lye upon which he was delivered over to the secular Power who had got the Kings Writ ad combâ—rendum Haereticum by force of which he was brought to Smithfield and there put into an empty Barrel and bound with Chains to a stake with Fagots a bout him and being in this posture they brought the Sacrament to him in great Pomp asking him how he believed it and whether he would yet recant and save his Life but he told them he believed it to be hallowed Bread and not Gods Body upon which they set Fire to the Fagots upon the seeling of which he cried Mercy and the Prince being present caused the sire to be withdrawn endeavouring to save him and promising him a Pension but he refused all remaining constant inflamed with the Love of God and calling on the name of Jesus the Fire was renewed and he was burnt to Ashes The Statute Ex Officio The Cruelties of the Popish Bishops with their power more and more encreasing by their influence on the said King in the same Parliament they procured the Statute Ex Officio in which it was enacted that no man within the Realm should preach privily or openly without Licence obtained of the Ordinary nor that any should presume to teach preach or write any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith or determination of the holy Church as they then called that of Rome nor keep or frequent any Conventicles or any manner of Schools touching the Sect of the Wickliffians And that any person having any heretical Books Writings or Schrols containing the Wicked Doctrines of Wickliff should within 40 days after Proclamation of this Statute bring them to the Ordinary of the place And if any shall do contrary to any of these Commands the Ordinary by vertue of this Statute within the precincts of his Diccess may imprison them at his pleasure in his own prisons or any others vehemently suspected to be infected with or a favourer of such Doctrines and heretical Opinions until he or they shall by order of Law purge themselves of such Opinions or else openly recant the same And that also the said Ordinary have power to fine such person or persons for the King and to return such Fines into the Exchequer and further such person or persons convict by the Ordinary and his Commissaries he may keep him or them in their own prisons at his Discretion and further if the said persons so convicted remain obstinate and will not abjure or recant their Opinions that then they shall be delivered over to the secular power and the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers of the County City or Burrough being present after Sentence pronounced against them shall take the persons so offending and sentenced and cause them to be openly burnt in the sight of the people The Arch-Bishops Constitutions This cruel Statute being obtained the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel put forth certain Constitutions to be observed That no man should undertake to preach without a Licence from the Ordinary and they to be limited what to say That none should suffer any to preach in their Churches unless they produce such Authority That whosoever should preach contrary to order should be severely punished by his Ordinary That no School-Masters shall teach Children any thing of Religion nor suffer their Scholars to expound the Scriptures nor permit them to dispute concerning the Catholick Faith the Sacraments c That none of Wickliffs Books be kept in any School house or place nor Sold by any Bookseller That no man dare to undertake to translate the Scriptures or any part of them into English That no publick disputes be made concerning the Sacrament or any other points of the Catholick Faith None to speak against Images processions Tapers Crucifixes c. under penalty of being proceeded against as Hereticks With several others of the like kind which I here omit But by this the Reader may judge what Tyranny oppression and cruelty goes along with the Popish Religion and what we must expect to have here again if ever it comes to be set up in this Realm which God forbid Notwithstanding all this severity many thorowout the Land professed the Gospel some Publickly and others privately some stoutly induring Persecution and others through fear forced against their Consciences to Recant Among the rest one William Thorp was very much persecuted by the Arch-Bishop Arundel who in a very learned manner defended himself wrote a certain book called his Testament in which he fully laid open the corruptions and vices of the Popish clergy What became of this man is uncertain but 't is most likely that he died in their Prisons for they kept many in perpetual durance and obscure that none could tell what became of them So one John Ashton another professor was kept in Prison till he dyed in the year 1382. Poor men doing Pennance John Purvey also had great trouble about the same time by the said Arch-Bishop who at last was forced to Recant to get out of their cruel clutches This proud and imperious Prelat Arundel caused several poor men for neglect of bringing straw to his Stables as they were ordered to undergo penance bare footed and bare headed with each a great burthen of straw at his back going before the procession on which some one wrote these verses These Baggs full of straw we bear on our backs Because my Lords Horse his Litter did Lack If ye be not good to my Lord Graces horse Ye are like to go barefoot before the Cross After the Death of King Henry the 4 in the year of the Reign of his Son King H. 5th the Prelats procured another statute de Comburendo Heretico in which it was ordained that all such who would not abjure these opinions of the Lollards contrary to the received Catholick Faith should after conviction forfeit all their goods and chattels and their bodies openly burnt alive And upon this and the former statute Sr. Roger Acton Knight John Brown John Beverly and others to the number of 36 persons were burnt in St. Gyles's fields in January 1413. The cruel Persecution of the Lord Cobham The next noted man who was persecuted by these Tyrannical bloodsuckers was Sr. John Oldcastle Ld. Cobham who was a favourer
called to â—â—ke a Benefice in London being Allhallows Bread-â—â—eet which he accepted and being minded to â—â—ve over that in the Country he went thither much about the time that Queen Mary came to the Crown At which time preaching at Northampton â—reat exceptions were taken at his sermon by the Papists for that he inveighed against the Popish Religion as Antichristian After this they had a malicious eye against him and sought for his blood which he perceived but seeing he could not now â—esign his Benefice but into the Hands of a Papist â—e kept both constantly preaching sometimes at â—ondon and sometimes in the Country till the proâ—â—bition came forth which we before mentioned â—et his Conscience not giving him leave to desist tho â—e foresaw the danger he should incurr he continuâ—â—d to preach the Gospel and would not fly the Realm tho advised to it by his friends And it was not long after that preaching at his cure in London he was aâ—prehended by the order of Bishop Bonner and carried out of the Church and brought before him where the Bishop accused him of Treason and Herâ—sie to which Mr. Saunders answered with much sobriety endeavouring to prove he had done nothing against the Laws or spoke contrary to the Dâ—ctrine of Christ and his Apostles After much talk the Bishop bid him to write down his mind concerning Transubstantiation or the Real presence in the Sacrament Mr. Sauâ—ders perceived that Bonner fought his Life my Lord said he you seek Blood and you shall have it I pray God that you may be baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood sucking and become a better man And upon this he wrote his mind boldly not fearing what they could doe being willing to seal to the Testimony of the Gospel with his Death From him he was sent to the Chancellor Gardner who after Examination before him being secretly nipped by Mr. Saunders answers for that he had in the days of King Henry the 8th written a book treating of true obedience in which he openly declared the Princess Mary to be illegitimate sent him to prison from whence he was had before the Council and after several examinations he was condemned after which Mr. Saunders at his goeing away said that he did preach sincerely the word in its purity and thâ— he now was forbidden by them to do it with his mouth yet he doubted not but that his blood would do the same He was sent to prison where he continued a year and 3 months in which time one that was his Bedfellow declared that he had often heard Mr. Saunders say that he felt the power of God upon him wonderfully comforting him insomuch that not only his Spirit but his Body also received a tast of the Communion of Saints whilst he felt 〈◊〉 sweet and pleasant refreshing flow thorow every part and member thereof from the heart ebbing and flowing like a tide of sweet and Spiritual flame thorow his whole body But such was their cruelty that in all this time by the Bishops order they would not suffer his Wife to come to see him she several times attempted it but one day intreating the Keeper with her young Child in her Arms the Keeper took the Child and carried him being a Boy to his father which rejoyced the Heart of Mr. Saunders who said what man would not lay his Life down before he would make such a fine Child a Bastard and its Mother a Whore as I must if I embrace the Religion of Rome At last Bonner came to the prison where he was and degraded him and then delivered him over to the Secular Power after he was Excommunicated to be burnt for an Heretick The Sheriff of London took him and carried him to the Counter in Bread-street his own Parish but he stayed not long there because an order was signed for his burning in Coventry to which place he was carried and put into the Common Goal where he spent the night in prayers and the next day being the 8th of February he was led to execution in the Park without the City going in an old Gown and a shirt bare footed falling often flat on his face and praying to himself When he came to the Stake a pardon was â—ffer'd him if he would recant but he refused it saying it is not I nor my fellow Preachers that hurt â—he Queen or the Realm but such as you speaking to 〈◊〉 officers who resist Gods holy word and I shall never woke the Truth of what I have taught and openly â—â—intained Upon that they cryed our away with â—im to the fire to which he went with a chearfull Countenance nothing daunted and coming to the take Kissed it Crying Welcome Life Welcome the â—ross of Christ After they had chained him fast they â—â—t fire to the fewell which being green smothered â—nd would not burn clearly so that they put this â—oly Martyr to intollerable pain which he yet â—â—â—tained with admirable patience till he fell aâ—â—eep in the Lord at last in the midst of the fire The Martyrdom of Bishop Hooper The next most godly Martyr who suffered for the Gospel of Christ by the cruel and bloody Papists was that most Reverend and Holy Bishop both oâ— Gâ—ocester and Worcester and who was burnt at Gâ—â—câ—ster Feb. 9th 1555. This man was bred a Student in the University of Oxford where he led a pious and sober Life and was a good Schoâ—lar but in the time of persecution in King Hen. 8th days he was forced to leave the University and to become Steward to Sr. Thâ—mas Arundel but Sâ— Thomas being a Papist tho he loved Mr. Hooper yet looking on him as an Heretick he would not keep him buâ— sent him privately to the Bishop of Winchester that he might Convert him but the Bishop not being able to answer Mr. Hoopers solid Arguments seâ—â— him back to his Master but intending to do him 〈◊〉 mischief he being a Constant persecutor of all good People but Mr. Hooper having notice of it left Sr. Tho. Arundels House and service and got overseas to Paris where he stayed not long before he returned for England and was retained by one Mr St. Lowe but he was not long there before notiâ—â— was given of him and he was fain to disguise himself and fly over to Ireland from whence he weâ—â— to France and thorow France into Germany wherâ— he remained both at Basil and at Zurick in thâ— company of several Protestant Ministers who weâ—â— great friends to him and where he Married a wiâ—â— who was a Burgundian Here he stayed till thâ— Reign of the pious King Ed. 6th when desirous tâ—â— see his native Country he took leave of his friendâ— and among the rest the famous Mr. Bullinger whâ— at parting desired him not to forger them when 〈◊〉 prosperity in his own Land tho he should be madâ— a Bishop to whom Mr. Hooper prophetically râ—plyed that he would constantly write to them 〈◊〉 that he should not be
the Persecutions of Papal Authority there were several who by the purer Light of the Gospel had discovered the great errours and many Abominations of that Church increasing in England that durst withstand the wickedness of the Priests Monks and Fryers and by writing and preaching oppose their wicked Actions and horrible doings and shew them to the World for which they were sure to run the risque of cruel and barbarous usage from their Hands suffer for a good Conscience adhering to the Doctrine of the Apostles and their Successors in the Primitive Times before the many Corruptions that now overwhelm the Romish Church were crept in amonâ— them These may be called dissenters from theâ—â— erronious Doctrines vicious Lives and evil pracâ—â—ces Among these in the time of King Edward thâ— third may be accounted the Author of the Ploâ—â—mans Complaint though he was not known whiâ—â— little Treatise put the Monks and Fryers inâ—o a Rage it so plainly laying open all their wickednesâ—â— and evil practices The Persecutions of Armachanâ—â— and the abominable errours and abuses of their Dâ—ctrines This did but whet the Rage of these eâ—â—l men and though they could not shew it to the Author of that wholsom Treatise they expresseâ— iâ— against his writing what they could and â—ad he been known his Life had been in danger The next that publickly owned the Pure light of the Gospel in those dark daies of blind Superstitâ—on and error was Richard Fitzrafe known by the name of Armichanus being by King Edward the 3d made Archdeacon of Litchfeild and then Commisâ—â—â— to the University of Oxford where he was bred â—â—der Bakenthorp and lastly Arch-Bishop of Armâ—â—â— in Ireland He preached in London openly agaâ—nst the Fryers for which he was cited to appear before Pope Innocent the 6th which he did and there to the death most valiantly opposed the Corruptions Crept into the Church both by preaching and writing being several ways persecuted by them He dyed in Avignion after 7 years banishment from his Native Country About this time in King Edw. the 3d's Reign and about the year 1367. That plotting and state coâ—founding Order of the Jesuites began to be knowâ— in the world in the 5th year of Pope Vrban the 5â—â— and the Papal Clergy in England being grown â—o odious to the laity through their vicious Lives aâ—â— evil Manners the Lords in Parliament desired the King that the great Offices of the Crown which were usually executed by the Clergy might be tâ—ken from them which accordingly were removed and put into the Hands of the Temporal Lords This K. also by Parliament holden in the 27th and 38th years of his Reign by statutes made the Popes Supremacy in England was much abated his Jurisdiction in this Realm much lessened and his Papal power restrained causing all Controversies in Law either Spiritual or Temporal to be determined in the Kings Courts and that if any one should appeal or Consent to an appellation made to the Court of Rome should incur the writ of Premunire being put out of the K's Protection Loss of Lands goods imprisonment during the Kings pleasure This begot or rather increased the Hatred of the Romanists against the Kings of England studying their ruin and overthrow for the setting up their arbitrary Papal Jurisdiction in this Land And about this time a certain Hermit disputed in St. Pauls against the Doctrine of the Sacrament for which they imprisoned him and kept him in hold till he dyed It is also to be observ'd that in the 5th year of the said King Ed. the 3d at a Parliament holden at Westminster the 24th April 1376. a Bill was preferred against the Usurpations of the Pope in England attributing thereunto all the Plagues Murrains Famines and Poverty that had invaded the Land and required a redress of many Grievances and incroachments of his usurpations rehearsing many particulars so that the Tyranny and usurpation of Rome was grown in those days intolerable and would now be much more so since they after this shewed an implacablâ— Rage against their opposers and all such who professed the purer Light of the Gospel or found fault with their erronious Doctrines and wicked Lives But the most eminent Light by God raised up in those daies and appearing bright and shining above the rest detecting the foul errors of the Romish Church was the famous John Wickliff from whom his followers dissenting from the Church of Rome were called Wickliffians whose story I shall give you in Brief In the reign of King Edir the 3d and much about the year of our Lord 1371. this Wickliff flowrished He was a Publick Reader of Divinity in the University of Oxford and reputed among them all for a great Clerk and man of learning and parts a deep Schoolman and well studied in the points of Divinity and also of Philosâ—phy of all kinds And with his strong Arguments and sound reasoning he confounded his opposers and made his very enemies acknowledge his abilities He was a man in great esteem of that valiant and prudent Princeâ—â—ing Edward being by him sent with Commission joyned with other Lords and Ambassadors into Iâ—aly to treat with he Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pâ—pe The Chief business was that the Bishop of Rome should no more intermeddle in the Distribution of Benefices within his Kingdom but that all Bâ—shâ—ps that were under his Dominion should enjoy their former and ancient Liberty and be confirmed of their Metropolitans as had been in the Ancient times This set the Pope and Pâ—pish Clergy a raging and Wickliff being in this Matter nâ— small obstacle to them Confounding them with hâ—s learned Arguments so that they term'd him Heâ—â—ick as they still do all that stick fast to the rules of the holy Scriptures to the purer Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they set themselves against him and endeavoured their utmost to ruine him Those days wherein he lived were daies of thick Eâ—â—pâ—â—â— Darkness and gross Ignorance and the people only retained the name of Christians having nothing of the nature of Christ in them or following his Example in any thing They were Idâ—latrous and taught by their Pâ—iests to worship nothing but what they saw Images and Cracifixes and indeed there was scarce any thing they saw that they did not worship as Reliques of Saints Consecrated Beads Aâ—â—us Dei's and such trumpery The Doctrine and Office of Christ was utterly unknown to the people noâ— the use of the Law and benefit of the Scriptures the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost Free Grace Justification by Faith Remission of Sins and the like were never treated of Learâ—ing and Divinity was utterly unknown to the Priests and preaching fryers and those among them who seemed learned were meer Sophisters studying Aquinas and Scotus instead of St. Peter and Paul and led the blind and ignorant people into superstition Ceremonies and human Traditions which they taught iâ—stead of the Scripture in which
Canterbury and to the Vicâ—châ—ncellor of Oxford Robert Riggs who was himself a fâ—vourer of Wickliff and for which he was afterwards displaced As to Wickliff himself he was fâ—in to sly and hide himself from the persecution of the Popish Prelats but God preserved him from their Malice and at last repairing to his parish of Luttâ—rworth where he was Parson he quietly and in Peace departed this Life about the beginning of the year 1384. But though they could not fully reak their malice on him whilst he lived yet when dead they shewed all the spite imaginable against his Books and Bones for at Oxford they caused all his Books they could light on to be publickly burnt They say he had wrote 200 volumes being a most painful sedulous writer as well as preacher of whom and of whose holy and godly life and Conversation the whole University of Oxford gave a publick Testimony under their hands and Seal in the Year 1406. Whose Doctrines also were publickly defended by John Hus of Bohemia who was martyred for the same But for all this the Popish Clergies inveterate malice against Wickliff appeared 41 years after he was buried for by a Decree of the Synod of Constance they caused this holy mans Bones to be dug out of his Grave and burnt and the Ashes to be flung into the River The Doctrine of Wickliff notwithstanding daily increased to the no small grief of the Popish Clergy and his Followers or those professing his Doctrines which were contrary to those of the corrupt Romish Church and many of them or most of them such as the Protestants now hold began then to be called Lollards for they had then Nick-names as well as now for such as profest the purer Light of the Gospel After Wickliff was gone they set themselves to suppress these Lollards as they called them the Pope interpreting the Word from Lollum Cocle or Darnel and one William Swinderly a Priest in 1389. was brought into great trouble by these men for holding and preaching some of Wickliff's Doctrines and was condemned by the Bishop of Hereford for an Heretick but Swinderly appealed to the King and to the Parliament and during King Richard's Reign he was protected from their Violence but it is thought he suffered Martyrdom afterwards in the days of King Hen. 4. when the Popish Clergy had got more power About the same time also they persecuted Walter Brute a Lay-Man but bred up in the Vniversity at Oxford and a graduate there accusing him of Heresie and for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was not the very Body of Christ but a sign and memorial of him and that he had avouched the Pope to be Antichrist and that the Sentence given against Swinderly was unjust For these things he is brought before the Bishop of Hereford where he learnedly maintained his Assertions against them but being put to horrible Trouble and Vexation was forced at last to make a Submission which was that he submitted to the Censure of the Gospel the Church and General Councils and to St. Augustine Jerom Ambrose and Gregory and to his Bishop as his Subject And so he escaped at that time but whether he suffered afterwards is uncertain About this time Pope Boniface the 9th made a Bull against the Lollards and sent it to King Richard 2d who by the Instigation of Courtney then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford the Popes Legat issued out his Letters against the Lollards as Hereticks so that by this means many were forced to do Pennance and to abjure many were imprisoned and evilly intreated but during his Reign none were burnt The manner of doing Pennance The Town of Leicester was interdicted and many of them forced to do Pennance which was after this manner They went about the Cross bare-footed and bare-headed and nothing on their Bodies both Men and Women but their Shifts in one Hand a Crucifix in the other a large Wax Taper lighted and from thence marched to the Cathedral where they stood after they had made a procession about the Church all the time of Mass this also to be done three times during the Market After this manner they sought to punish such as made profession of the Gospel And about the same time the Londoners favouring one Peter Pateshull an Austin-Friar who having embraced the Doctrines of Wickliff preached against the corruptions of his Order many of them were converted by him and the Doctrines of Wickliff spread very much in the City For which they were malic'd by the Bishops and complained oâ— to the King who was so incensed against the Mayor and Sheriffs that he removed them from their Office and made Sir Edward Darlington Warden of the City and then removed his Court and the Terms to York thinking thereby to dispight the Londoners But this so alienated their Hearts that by losing their Love he also not long after lost his Crown and Life to Henry Duke of Lancaster called Henry the 4th The first Act for burning of Hereticks William Sawtry the first that was burnt Henry the 4th being but an Usurper and Tyrant was fain to comply with the Prelatical Clergy who had a great stroke in deposing their lawful Prince that he might the better assure himself of the Crown which he had unjustly taken Till now the Sufferings and Persecutions of the Lollards or such as made a profession of the purer Light of the Gospel was but slight in comparison of what they now began to suffer for there was as yet no Law for to put an Heretick to Death though they had made use of the afore-mentioned Statute in the 5th Year of King R 2d to molest trouble and imprison good and pious men but now in the 2d Year of this King Henry the 4th they obtained a Law or Statute for the burning alive such as were convict of Heresie made especially against the Lollards and the first that so suffered upon this Statute was William Sawtry the Parish Priest of St. Scithes in London who had preached against worshipping the Cross and the Images of Saints against Pilgrimages and Transubstantiation and other Popish Heresies for which he was cited before the Bishops and convicted of as they called it Heresie and then publickly degraded of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments aâ—d made a Lay-man and then delivered over to the secular Power to be put to death according to the new made Law which they had with great joy obtained for the extirpating the Lollards Thus the King who had deposed his lawful Prince and usurpt the Crown was the first that put men to death for Religion in England by the unmerciful burning of their Bodies at the Instigation of the cruel Popish Prelates And this William Sawtry was the first that so suffered for the Gospel by the Papists in England who was burnt Anno 1400. The burning of John Badby Taylor After this unusual Exeâ—ution of Sawtry a great fear and dread fell upon all the People but yet
his own house where he kept him 4 Months not suffering any of his friends to come near him or to give him any relief and where he suffer'd great hardships the Porter was commanded to take notice of any that came but to enquire after him and to give theiâ— names to the Bishop so that many were afraid of being brought into trouble for asking after him From the Bishop he was had before the Earl of Darby who examined him after which perceiving he was not able to bring him to his bent he committed him to another prison being a cold windy stone house without bed to lye on only a few Canvas lent Cloathes where he continâ—ed in this manner for some time seeing no man but the keeper who brought him meat and drink After this he was again examin'd before the said Earl yet Mr. Marsh very prudently and warily answered their intrapping questions concerning the Sacrament saying he believed Christ present in the Sacrament which so inraged them seeing he would give no other answer that they sent him to Lancaster Goal where he was put among the Felons and 3 times caused to hold up his hand at the bar with bolts upon his Leggs tho they had nothing to object against him He used to preach and exhort the prisoners for which he was threatned and reproved and the Bishop coming to Lancaster caused him to be more straitly kept and cruelly handled several times was he had before the Bishop and examined and Articles were put in against him one of which was that among other most damnable and Schismatical Heresies he had said that the Church and Doctrine taught and set forth in King Edwards time was the true Church and that the Church of Rome was not the true and Catholick Church At last the Bishop read the sentence of Condemnation against him and after he had done now said he I will pray for thee no more than for a dog But I will pray for you said the holy Martyr He was then delivered to the Sheriffs who put him into an hole or dark dungeon where none were suffered to come at him or speak to him When the time came of his execution he was led forth to the place being without the City of Westchester and being come to the Stake a black Box was shewed him in which they said there was the Queens pardon if he would recant He told them that he had no desire to dye and would accept of her Graces mercy being her true Leige man but if he could not have it without such Conditions which tended to pluck him from God he would not receive it After that he began to speak to the people but the Sheriffs told him there must be no Sermoning there so afraid were they of hearing the Truth upon which Mr. Marsh Kneeling down sell to prayer which done he stript himself to his shirt and so was chained to the post and the faggots put about him Over his head they had placed a firkin with pitch and Tar and by reason the wind blew hard and the fire did not dispatch him but melting the pitch it fell upon him and put him to intollerable torment notwithstanding he bore it patiently standing a long time without moveing haveing all his flesh so broyled and puffed up that they thought he had been dead when on a sudden spreading his hands abroad he cryed out aloud Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so yielded up his Spirit into the hands of the Lord All the people saying he dyed with admirable patience and was a Martyr He was burnt in April 1555. The story of William Flower Martyr at Westminster On the 24th day of April the same year one William Flower was Martyred in the Church yard of St. Margarets Westminster where it seems in his zeal he had struck a Priest that had been saying mass and had wounded him for which he himself was afterwards troubled but said he had such an impulse then upon him that he could not forbear tho he confessed it was not according to the Doctrine of Christ to smite any man He knew the fact would bring his Life into jeopardy and he was prepared for it being resolved not to deny the Gospel he had professed This William Flower lived then at Lambeth haveing a Wife and children tho he was bred first a Monk of Ely till his eyes being enlightned by the Gospel he left that life and became a Secular Priest preaching in divers places at last marrying he studyed physick and taught School in several places when at last living at Lambeth his zeal against Idolatry carryed him forth too furiously for which he was had before Bishop Bonner who sent him prisoner to the Gate house where after some time he was again brought before the Bishop who sought all ways to make him recant his opinions but in vain for he resolutely told him That the Heavens should assoon fall as he recant his opinions but for his assault of the Priest he was sorry and submitted himself to his Lordship and the punishment he would inflict But this would not serve the Bishop turn for after several Articles exhibited against him and witnesses produced he was condemned degraded and delivered over to the secular power to be burnt On the 24th of April aforesaid he was brought to the place of his execution in St. Margarets Church-yard where after he had prayed audibly and servently he desired all People to forgive him and all that he had any ways offended for he forgave all the World This done his right hand was first fastned to the Stake and Cut off at which they could not perceive that he so much â—s shrunk only a little moved his shoulders Then being fastned to the Stake fire was set to him which burning about him he cryed with a loud voyce O son of God have mercy upon me O Son of God receive my soul three times till his Speech was taken from him then lifting up his stump and his other Arm he stood his lips moving till he was stricken down to the ground where he lay with the neither parts of his body burnt and the upper only scorched for want of fire his lips still being seen to move till they dispatched him Mr. Cardmaker and Mr. Warren burnt in Smithfeild you see scarce a day passes without burning and destroying Gods people in one place or other for on the 30th of May following one Mr. Cardmaker who had been an observant Fryer before the dissolution of the Abbies and afterwards a Prehend in the Church of Wells and after that in the time of King Edwards he married and was a Minister being made Reader at St. Pauls which very much incensed the Papists against him and one Mr. John Warren an Upholster in London were both burnt in one fire in Smithfeild Assoon as the tyde turned Mr. Cardmaker was clapt into Newgate and assoon as popery was setled and they had got the Act for their purpose in putting
and the women were put in amongst them loose Elizabeth Pepper being at the same time 11 weeks gone with child These poor Creatures shewing great love one to another and such Constancy in their Martyrdom for the sake of their Saviour that all the beholders marvailed very much thus resigned their Souls and Bodys into the Hand of their Creator Roger Bernard and others Martyr'd at Norwich No less valiantly on the 30th of June suffered the pains of Martyrdom by fire at St. Edmunds-bury Roger Bernard a Labourer Adam Foster an husbandman and Robert Lawson a Weaver condemned by the Bishop of Norwich These ended their Lives most triumphantly shewing their Constancy in their Faith and making a most Joyful end to the praise of God and incouragment of others in the same Quarrel Julius Palmer Martyred at Newberry In July following the 16th day suffered that memorable Martyr Mr. Julius Palmer with two others in one fire at Newberry whose History I shall briefly relace This Julius was born in Coventry of good parentage his father being an Upholster and a Merchant and had been Mayor of that City he was bred at School and sent to Oxford where he profited much in the tongues and Philosophy and many times supplyed the place of the Gr. Reader in Magdalin Colledg where he became Batchellor of Art and became at last Fellow of the said Colledg when he began to study divinity He was of a very civil behaviour courteous pleasant and chearful without affectation and of great simplicity not knowing how to dissemble an indefatigable Student riseing at 4 of the clock every morning to his Studies and sitting up till 11 at night so that in a little time he profited much He was admitted to the office of a Reader in Logick and thus Continued a stiff and zealous Papist till the Reformation and then owned the cause of the Pope so far that he was expelled the Colledg and was fain to go and teach School privatly Continuing thus all the Time of King Edward and when Papistry was restored by Queen Mary he was also restored to his fellowship in the Colledg having for his Religion undergone much hardship yet see the providence of God to bring this man home to himself for it was the blood of the Martyrs which is the seed of the Church and their Constant sufferings which made him first to begin to look into the Doctrine they professed and it so pleased God to open his eyes that in a short time he began to see clearly the Superstition and Idolatry of the Popish Church and being one who knew not how to dissemble against his Conscience he was soon taken notice of and seeing they began to have â—n eviâ— eye upon him lest they should expel him the Colledg he voluntarily left it The cursing with excommunication burnâ—ng hanging drowning racking Scourging and persecuting men for Religion made him see and know it could not be of Christ who Commands the quite Contrary and this made him cry out when he heard of the Constant Death of Bishop Hooper Ridley Latimer and others O Raging Cruelty O Tragical Tyranny and more than Barbarous Being about to leave the University growing dayly more fervent in the Truth one of his intimate Friends asked him whither he would go to whom he Answered I know not But the Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof Let God do as he please I will commit my self to him and to the wide World And being advised by another to beware of the fire for it was no easy matter to burn he reply'd I have yet escaped it but I verily believe it will be my end at last welcome be it by the grace of God it will be easie to be suffered by the grace of God He for some time kept School at Reading in Barkshire but after a time being found to be a Gospeller he was forced to fly thence and repairing to his own Mother who was a Papist and had heard of his turning from their Religion hoping to obtain some monys due to him by his fathers will and asking her blessing as he used to do the unnatural Mother Cry'd out thou shalt have Christs Curse and mine where ever thou goest being troubled at this heavy greeting amazed for a time he at last said ah Mother you may give me your curse which God Knows I never deserv'd but God's Curse you Cannot give me for he hath already blessed me With that she reviled him giving him most bitter taunts calling him Renegade and one who had embraced a new upstart Doctrine It is not new said he but as old as Christ and his Apostles with that she charged him to go out of her sight and never see her afterwards flinging to him a piece of Gold and so leaving him to his sorrows But being sought after it was not long e're he was taken and cast into prison in a Dungeon prepared for thieves and Murtherers and there left for a time hanging by the hands and feet in a pair of Stocks so high that no part of his Body could touch the Ground in this Cave or Dungeon he remained 10 days under the Tyranny of an unmerciful Keeper After this he was several times examined before the Mayor of Reading and before the Bishop of Sarums Chancellor from Reading he was had to Newberry and clapt in the Jail there where he found two others namely John Guin and Thomas Askin poor simple men who were Martyred with him Here he had his last examination and was condemned with the two aforesaid Persons by Dr. Jeffrey Many endeavours were try'd to make him recant and great proffers of preferments to tempt him but nothing would move him and he also confirmed his fellow sufferers in their Faith Happy are you when men revile you and persecute you for Righteousness sake Rejoyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven Fear not them that can kill the Body but are not able to touch the soul God is faithful will not let us be tempted further than we can bear We shall not end our lives but make a change only for a better life With the like comfortable speeches he cheared his fellow Martyrs and caused tears to fall from others who heard him When they came to the place of execution they fell all 3 on their faces and prayed and Mr. Paimer recited aloud the 31 Psalm After that two Popish Priests urged him to recant but he cry'd to them away away tempt me no longer Away I say from me all yee that work Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my Tears Forthwith they stripped themselves went to the stake Kissed it and were bound to it then Mr. Palmer said Good people pray for us that we may persevere to the end And for Christ's sake beware of Popish teachers for they deceive you with that one of the Officers threw a faggot at him and hit him on the face that all the blood ran down When the