without Abjuration and all their goods forfeited to the King and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law to deny them without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary The second being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds that it ought not to be given to the Laity The 3d that Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of chastity ought to be observ'd 5. That private Mosses are agreeable to God's Law 6. That auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be received c. and upon these Articles was granted by the same Parliament a bloody and Cruel Inquisition directed to certain persons in every shire and County to enquire into all such Heresies Felonies Contempts c. committed or done by any that they might suffer according to the Law These Articles were opposed openly in Parliament by Cranmeâ— Archbishop of Canterbury who afterwards suffâ—red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary as shall be declared And among these we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who lost his Life in the cause of God by the craft and policy of his Popish Adversaâ—ies but since it had some other shew than that of Religion only we shall let it pass and proceed to others Dr. Barnes Martyr After the Death of the Lord Cromwell Gardner raged against all that opposed the Papal power at his pleasure having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds and now 3 noted Divines suffered together in Smithfield which I shall briefly mention The first was Doctor Robert Barnes who having been bred abroad at Lovain and also at the University of Cambridg was made Prior and Master of the House of the Augustines where much to his praise he advanced the knowledg of good Letters and caused the Epistles of St. Paul to be read causing disputations of the same publickly which seemed strange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars His first Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge the Sunday before Christmass day for which he was accused of Heresie by two Fellows of Kings Hall and Articles drawn up against him and not long after he was publickly arrested by a Serjeant at Arms from London and the University was searched for Luthers Books Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London and brought before Cardinal Woolsie who was then in power After a long discourse with him the Cardinal being highly offended with him for his preaching against his Pomp Power and Dignity seeing he could not cause him to recant but stood in the justification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conscience the Scriptures he sent him to the Fleet from whence he was had again before the Cardinal and by the importunity of Gardner Fox and others he was perswaded at last to abjure and with some of the men of the Stillyard accused also for Lollardy he publickely bore a faggot After which he was remanded to the Fleet and thence was removed to Austins Fryer's in London where being Complained against to the Cardinal by those who sought his Life he was removed again to Austin Fryer's in Northampton with intent to have him burnt But he escaped thence leaving a Letter as if thorow despair h ehad gone to drown himself that they might not pursue him so that whilst they were searching the River for his Body he made his escape to London and thence beyond the seas where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum with a supplication to King Henry There he grew Familiar with Luther Melancthon Pomeran the Duke of Saxony and others and was not long after sent over by the King of Denmark as his Ambassador into England where Sir Tho. Moor sought his Life but Cromwell stood his friend After that in the time of Queen Ann he returned into England and was sent by the King as his Embassador to the Duke of Cleve But Gardner getting into the favour of the King never left till he had undermined Dr. Barneâ— who was at last sent to the Tower together with Thomas Garrat and Mr. Hierom from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom Thomas Garrat and William Hierom Martyrs Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London and having received the knowledge of the truth endeavoured all he could to promote it and haveing a parcel of Tyndols translation of the new Testament and other books treating of the Scriptures he went privately to Oxf rd to sell them there to those he knew well affâ—cted to the Gospel But his Adversarâ—es having their spies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 â—nd immâ—dâ—aâ—â— some were sent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford that they might be both burnt together and after great search he was taken but made his escape intending to fly into the west but was pursued and taken again and imprisoned and after much trouble was forced agâ—inst his Conscience to abjure After which he fled again from place to place for fear of his persecutors but was tâ—kâ—◠〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adversaries and sâ—nt to the Tower from whence he was câ—râ—â—ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome The Death of Barnes Gaâ—ret and Hierom. The 3d Companion in this glorious suffering was Mr William Hierâ—â— who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word for the comfort and edification of the People and had preached divers sermons with intent to implant in the Consciences of men the sincere Truth of Christian Religion and to weed out of mens minds traditions dreams and Popish fansies in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papists who were utter enemies of the Gospel of Christ and for this they sought this good man's Life The occasion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Cross the fourth Sunday in Lent in which speaking of Sarah and Hagar he said those who were born of the free Woman were freely Justified and the one would think nothing of false doctrine or Heresie could be gathered from these words yet he was charged therewith and convented before the King at Westminster for that he had erroneously taught the people that all that were born of Sarah were freely justified absolutely without Condition either of Baptism or Penance c. Several other things were objected against him and he was at last sent to the Tower in order to his Execution we have spoken of these 3 Martyrs severally we shall now joyn them together as fellow sufferers and Martyrs About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell a process was issued out against these three men by means of See Gardner to which they were never brought to Answer but on the 30th of July being Condemned without their knowing the cause and without any hearing were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt Then Dr. Barnes made his protestation against several false
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 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
him coming after him O are you there said he yes said Mr. Latimer I am coming after you as fast as I Can. When they both came to the stake Bishop Ridly holding up both his hands and looking towards heaven prayed and seeing Mr. Latimer come he ran to him and embraced him and Kissed him saying Be of good heart Brother for God will either asswage the fury of the Flame or else streâ—gthen us to abide it With that he Kneeled down at the Stake Kissing it and then fell to prayer and Mr. Latimer behind him both earnestly calling upon God After they arose and talked a little while together when Dr. Smith who in King Ed. days had renounced Popery now embracing it preached to the people on this Text Tho I give my Body to be burnt c. inveighing very much against the opinions of the Lutherans after he had done both Dr. Ridly and Mr. Latimer had a desire to have reply'd to what he had said but as soon as they began to open their mouths some ran to them and stop'd them telling them unless they would recant they should not be suffered to speak Gods will be done then said Bishop Ridly but so long as I have breath in my body I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known truth Then he said with a loud voyce I Commit our cause to Almighty God who will indifferently Judg all Then Mr. Latimer said what is hid shall be revealed They were then Commanded to make themselves ready which they did and were both Chained to the Stake and Dr. Rilleys brother-in-law brought each a Bag of Gunpowder to tye about them which they accepted of as sent them from God Dr. Ridley stripped himself and gave away his things among his friends there being great striving to have some remembrance from this good Man but Mr. Latimer suffered himself to be strip'd by the officers haveing nothing worth bestowing Dr. Ridly being now at the stake prayed saying holding up both his hands O heavenly Father I give thee most hearty thanks for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto Death I beseech the O Lord have mercy upon this Realm of England and deliver the same from all her Enemies Then he made a Request to the Lord Williams to intreat the Queen to be good to several poor people to whom he had let Leases that they mought injoy them which he promised to do but Bishop Bonner like a wretch took them all from them Then fire was put to them when Mr. Latimer said be of good comfort Mr. Ridly and play the Man we shall this day light such a Candle by God's Grace in England as I trust shall never be put out Dr. Ridly when he saw the flame approach him he cryed out In manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine recipe Spiritum meum that is Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit O Lord receive my Spirit which latter part he often repeated in English Mr. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of Heaven receive my Soul Who receiving the flame as it were imbracing it soon dyed with little or no Pain But Bishop Ridly by reason of the fire being ill made endured great torment having all his lower parts burnt before his upper were touched so that he was heard to cry to them often for the Lords sake to put the fire to him I cannot burn and then crying out Lord have mercy upon me he Continued a long time and all one side of him remained untouch'd till aâ—â—â—â—st tâ—â— Gâ—â—â—oweâ—cr â—â—â—k firâ— after which he wâ—◠〈◊〉 seâ—n to move â—y more And this was the eâ—â—â—â—th sâ—â— two â—oly Martyrs Blessed Bishops for the Gospel of Christ's sake by the hands of persecuting Papisis and by the Religion â—hen established by Law The Death of pâ—â—seâ—â—ting Gardner Wit in a wâ—ilt afâ—â—r the B oody persecuting Pâ—â—lâ—â— Stephâ—â— Gâ—â—dâ—â— dyed for that day the last mentioned Mâ—rtyâ—s were put to death tho the Duke of No â—â—hfolk and other persons of Quality came to dine with him he would not go to dâ—nner till 3 or 4 of the Clock expecting to hear of the Death of these wâ—mâ—n and assâ—on as his man riâ—â—â—g post had brâ—â—ght him word of it he began to be merry and sat down to dinner but was emmediately struck with the hand of God the first but â—e put â—nto his mouth being carried from the Table Continuing for â—5 days in great Torments nor being able to evacuate Naturâ— any way and his Tongue that had so often blaspherâ—ed God swollen and black lolling out of his mouth till he dyed Tho he weâ—e dead yet persecution Continued and the Devil found Instruments to do his Work For in the Month of November three flour Champions of Jesus Christ suffer'd in one Fire in Canterbury viz Jâ—hn wâ—bb Gentleman George Roâ—er and Gâ—egory Parke being all condemned to the fire by the Bishop of Dover and Nicâ—oâ—as Harspfield As they went to the plâ—ce of their Martyrdom they sung Psalms two of them were will striâ—ken in years but Râ—per was a younger man of a fresh Complexion going all â—ith whi e Linnen and their gowns upon it They all shewâ—d great Constancy but Râ—per especially who coming to the place leâ—ped for Joy and whâ—n fiâ—e waâ— put to hâ—m he streatched out both his Aâ—ms into â—â—e â—lâ—mes standing like a Cross unmevable and so continued never stirring them till they were both burnt â—ff and afterwards his Body to Ashes Several dyed in Prison in the â—â—llards Tower through the bâ—â—â—arity of the Papists and were Cast into t he open fields for doggs and swine to tear with command that none 〈…〉 hâ—m yet by night some were â—ound to be â—o Câ—â—â—table as to fling Eartâ— over thâ—m Archdeacon Philpot burnt in Smithfield The next 〈…〉 mâ—â—tâ—â—â— Wâ—â—â—â—ought to the stâ—ke by thâ—se blood sâ—â—kâ—â—â— wâ— Mr Jâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Archdeacon â—f Wincâ—â—â—â— â—â—e wâ—â— tâ—e 〈…〉 Gentâ—emaâ—â—f 〈◊〉 goâ—d fâ—â—mâ—ly in 〈…〉 brought up in Nâ—â—â— Coâ—â—cagâ— in Oxâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 died thâ— Civil â—â—ws 6 or 7 yeaâ—s wâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ral Arts 〈◊〉 â—â—ence and â—spâ—â—â—ly 〈…〉 in which he profiteâ— and more 〈…〉 Hebrew He wâ—s of a preâ—anâ—â—â—â—t 〈…〉 and resolution fervent in Religioâ— â—ree from 〈◊〉 â—â—â—tery and hypocrisie and hated â—â—ssiâ—â—ulatiâ—n Fâ—â—m Oxford he went to travel to improve himself going thorow Italy and other parts where he increaâ—â—d his knowledg and lost nor as many do good m nners and Love to God Returning into England he was made Arcâ—dâ—acon of Winchester in King Edwâ—rds days under the Bishop Dr. Poinet who had succeeded Gardner But â—fter that Queen Mary came in and caused a Convocation of Prelates to Assemble about Religion this good man believing they might there speak freely he manfully maintained the cause of the Gospel against all its Adversaries for which he was afterwards â—â—pâ—â—ioned and after a twelve months time or more w s had to be examined before Bâ—shop Gardner
â—ashforâ—â— being the d ngâ—â—er â—f onâ— Robert Lâ—shford a Cutler who dying her Mother married John Warren an Upholster of whose Maâ—â—yâ—dom and also her Mothers Elizabeth Warreâ— we hâ—â—â— spoken and now the dâ—ughter was also broâ—ght to the Stake she was a maid of about 20 years of Age and was brought before Bonner that â—â—mercâ—fal Butcher before whom she Confessed her saith â—nd told him she could not goe to Mass nor acknowledg the bodily presence in the Sacrament and hâ— seeing he could by no Perswasions make her turn from her Religion she was condemned and suffer'd in the same fâ—â—e with the rest leâ—ling her faith with her blood And thus these 7 blessed Martyrs ended theiâ— lives in the flames being sent to heaven in a fiâ—ry Chariot On the 31 of the same mâ—â—th and yeer no less than 5 more viz. 4 women and one man suffered in one fire at Canâ—â—â—â—â—y Their names were Jâ—hn Lâ—mns a young man Ann Albâ—ight Joâ—n Câ—â—more Agâ—is Sâ—â—th a widdow and Jâ—â—n Sole a Married wife all of them being condemned for the same things denying the Popish Mass to be a Sacrament but Idolatry for which they all joyfully received their Martyrdom with â—reat constancy when they were in the midst of the Flames they all fâ—ll to singing of Psalms to the â—reat amâ—â—â—n 〈◊〉 of their persecutors some of them weeâ—ing to bâ— hoâ—â—â—hem Archbishop Cranmer Marâ—â—'d 〈◊〉 Oxford In pursuance 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 view of â—â—â—istical persecutions we shall â—â—â—e yoâ— a very â—â—â—â—â—nct Relation of the Life and 〈◊〉 of that â—â—st worthy and Religious Prelate Dr. 〈◊〉 Arâ—hbishop of Canterbury who suffered for the Gospel sake at Oxford On the 21th of March 〈◊〉 He was born in Notâ—â—ghamshire of a very 〈◊〉 â—â—mily bred up carefully at School and sent to the University of Cambridg where he profited wâ—ll in his Studies and was at last made Fellow of 〈◊〉 Colledg When he was Master of Arts and Fellow of the Colledg he married a gentlemans daughter and so lost his Fellowship and was made thereupon Reader in Buckingham Colledg But not long after his wife dying in Childbed his old Companions desirous of his Company chose him again Fellow of the Colledg where he grew in great repute and Commenced Dr. in Divinity and was commonly appointed one of those who were to examine such as were to take the Degrees of Batchelours or Doctors of Divinity now he favouring the knowledg of the Scripture often put by such whom he found ignorant in the History of the Scripture which extreamly enraged the Priests and Fryers many of which Mass-mongers could not tell who was Solâ—mons Father so little were they acquainted with the History of the Bible studying other Authors to little purpose This First begat the envy of the Papists against him He was however chosen to be one of the Fellows of the Cardinal 's new founded Colledg at Oxford which he refused not without the great indignation of that proud Prelate But it hapned that whilst he Continued at Cambridg the plague raging in the University that he removed to a friends at Waâ—tham and the King passing that way some of his followers as Gardner his secretary and Fox his Almoner lying at the same house with Dr. Cranmer whom they knew had accidentally some discourse of the Kings scruple of Conscience for marrying his Brother's wife and upon the Divorce he had sued for at Rome and the proceedings thereupon which was the general Discourse at that time Dr. Cranmer without any design declared his mind so to the purpose telling them that he thought they did not goe the ready way to work by prosecuting the Laws Ecâ—lesiastical when it had been more proper to have 〈◊〉 the point discoursed by Divines and the auâ—â—ority of the Word of God in the Scripture which â—â—ght be better done in England and in the Univer … than at Rome This being told to the King he caused Dr. Cranmer to be sent for to him to London to the Doctors great trouble not desiring to interest himself in the business but the King sending his peremptory command he was forced to obey against his mind and having by several discourses well satisfied the King he commanded him to write his mind fully on the point and ordered the Earle of Wiltshire to entertain him in his house at Durham place and to let him have Books and what ever he wanted Accordingly Doctor Cranmer wrot his mind fully and delivered it to the King in which he shewed by the Authority of the Scripture and of general Councels and ancient Writers that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority whereby he might dispence with the word of God and the Holy Scripture This opened the Kings eyes and rejoycingly he asked the Dr. if he durst stand by it which he told him he would even to the Popes face at Rome if he would be pleased to send him thither whereupon the King sent the question to most of the Universities of Europe to be disputed on and by most it was Concluded that no such Matrimony could be Lawful by the Word of God or Authority of the H. Scripture The King also sent Dr. Cranmer to dispute the point at Bonnonie where the Pope then was with his Ambassador the Earl of Wiltshire and several other Doctors and learned men in company When they came before that proud Antichristian Bishop he sat inthroned in great State under a Canopy in Rich Robes and Sandals on his feet which in a proud manner he held out to the Earl to Kiss but he disdaining it stood still but his spaigniel by what instinct we know not ran to his held up foot and caught it in his mouth so rudely and unmannerly that the old Bishop was somewhat afrâ—ghted which made the English men smile But after the first Complement the Earl told him from his Master that he had brought with him certain learned men who were there ready to prove that no man jure divino could or ought to marry his brothers wife and that the Bishâ—p of Rome could or ought noâ— to dâ—spence to the Contrary Promâ—se was made that the point should be discussed but thâ— old fox after many put offs and delays â—â—ut them away without aâ—â—â—ing so ingrareful a dispute The Eâ—â—bâ—â—s dot and the rest returned home but Dr. Câ—â—mer by order went to Vienna to the Emperor to answer what the Emperors learned Council could say against it and he so satisfied the greâ—t and Learned Corâ—â—â—tus â—grâ—ppa with his reasons that no publick Disputation would be suffered to be had for which that learned mâ—n fell into the Emperors displeâ—suâ—â— Upon his return home having done to the King such singular service and Archbishop Wâ—rren then dying the King made Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Câ—â—â—â—buâ— in his place Here he got the Envy of all the Popish Prelates his enemies for oppugning the Popes authority but this good and worthy man shewed himself a Bishop according to the Rule of St.
fire was kindled and begun to take hold of their Bodys they lifted up their hands towards Heaven and quietly and chearfully as if they felt no pain cry'd Lord Jesus Strengthen us Lord Jesus assist us Lord Jesus receive our Souls And thus they all ended their Lives without any strugling only Julius when that all people thought him dead being almost burnt to pieces he was on a sudden seen as if awaked out of a sleep to move his tongue and Jaws and heard to pronounce softly the name of Jesus and so being burnt to Ashes yeilded to God his soul Three burnt in Garnsey with a child which came out of the Mothers belly I did not intend to mention any out of England that were Martyr'd but these in Garnsey being our Kings subjects and the Example profoundly Barbarous I could not refrain mentioning it On the 18th of July this year Katherin Cawches Guillemine Gilbert her daughter and Perotine Massey another daughter were burnt together in one fire for the Gospel the Mother in the midst between her two daughters and the youngest Perotine being big with Child the fire seising on the belly of the Martyr it burst on a sudden and the Child sprung out alive thorow the flames being a fine boy and was taken and lay'd on the grass but the wicked bayliff caused it to be flung into the fire again and to be burnt with the Mother for an Heretick So that this Infant was baptised in its own blood was born and dy'd a Martyr About the same time 3 more were burnt at Greenstead in Sussex 2 men and 1 woman their names were Thomas Dungate John Foreman and Mother Tree Not long before a poor Simple man named Thomas Moor was burnt at Leicester for saying he believed his Maker to be in Heaven and not on the Altar On the 22d of August following Joan Waste a blind woman suffered in Darby And on the 8th of September following Edward Sharp an aged and devout person was Martyrd at Bristow And on 25th another who was a Carpenter suffered in the same place On the 24th of the said September 4 more received Martyrdom at Mayfield in Sussex two of their names were John Hart Thomas Ravensdale the one was a Shoemaker the other a Currier Also one John Horn and a woman about the same time were burnt at Wâ—tten Vnder-Hedge in Glocestershire On the 11th of October a Shoo-maker suffered at Northampton With several others who dyed in prisons in several places that are not mentioned Five were starv'd to Death in November in Canterbury Castle who were condemned to be burnt Their names were John Clark Dunsten Chittenden William Forster Alice Pothins and John Arches Dear Protestant Reader I doubt thou art almost tyred with the Continuance of these tragical Histories I shall therefore hast to a conclusion God not permitting any long Reign to this bloody persecuting Queen We are now come the year 1557 in the beginning of which Cardinal Pool visits the University of Cambridg where he causes on the 9th of Jan. the bones of the famous Bucer and Paulus Phagius professors of the Gospel to be taken up and with a solemn procession to be publickly burnt with all their Books Thus devillishly mallicious are these Papists that they will not let men lye in quiet in their Graves At Oxford this Cardinal in his visitation did the like by Peter Martyrs wife whose bones he caused to be taken up and despitefully buried in a dunghill About the 15th of this Month of January 6 men were burned at Canterbury in one fire their names were Kemp Waterer Powling Lowick Hudson and Hai. Two more Stephens and Philpot at Wye and on the 16th one Final and Bradbridg were burnt together at Ashford in the same county In February following as if the Magistrates and Bishops were slack in â—estroying Gods people whom they called Hereticks a new bloody Commission is sent abroad and new Inquisitors are made to torment and burn the professors of the Gospel And not long after out of Essex that fruitful place of holy Martyrs were sent to London from Colchester no less than 22 persons at one time men and women all bound with ropes one to another and so guarded up to London after a strange manner On the 12th of April 5 were burned in Smithfield whose names were Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thirtel Margaret Hide and Agnes Stanly In May following 3 others viz Morant Gratwait and King were burnt in Southwark On June the 18th 5 women and 2 men were burnt at Maidstone in Kent their names were Joan Bradbridg Joan Mannings Elizabeth a blind maid Walter Appleby and Petronel his wife Edmund Allin and Katherine his wife On the 30th of the same month were burnt at Canterbury 3 men and 4 women I shall but name them John Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardo Barbara Final a Widdow the wife or Widdow of Bradbride formerly mentioned and Mariyt'd the wife of one Wilson and the wife of Benden All these suffered for the Gospel The horrible usage of these poor Creatures in the Bishops Prison is unspeakable where they lay upon straw and had but 3 farthings a day apiece allowed them a halfpeny for Bread and a farthing for bear on which God enabled them to Live On the 22th of June no less than ten Martyrs suffered together in one fire at Lewis in Sussex their names were Richard Woodman George Stevens W. Mainnard Alexander Hosman his servant Thomasin Wood his maid Margâ—ry Morris James Morris her Son Deâ—is Burgis The wife of Ashden and of Groves On the 13th of July Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich on the 2d of August suffered no less than ten Martyrs at Colchester Six in the Morning 4 in the afternoon Their names were Bongeor Purcas Benold Agnis Silverside Helen Eâ—rine Eliz. Folks In the afternoon were burnt W. Munt and Alice his wife Râ—se Allin their daughter and John Johnson When Munt and his wife were taken the woman being sick in bed desired her daughter to fetch her some drink and as she was passing thorow the room one Tyrril of the race of that Tyrril who Murthered King Edward the 5th met her and bid her to give her Father and Mother good Counsel to whom the maid repyled Sir they have a better instructor than I am For the holy Ghost doth reach them who will not suffer them to err Thou naughty huswise said Tyrril art thou of that mind 't is time to look to such Hereticks That which you call heresie replyed Rose is the true Worship of the living God Then Gossip said this persecutor I perceive you will burn for company with the rest not for companies sake but for Christ's sake who I hope in his Mercy will enable me to bear it if I am compelled thereto returned the Maid to him again with that this cruel Tyrril took the candle which she had in her hand burning and held the back of her hand over it