the Revelation in these words And I saw an Angel descending from Heaven having a key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand and he took the Dragon the old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years and put him into the bottomlesse dungeon and shut him up and signed him with his seal that he should no more seduce the Gentiles till a thousand years were expired and after that he must be loosed again for a little space of time c. The thousand years being now expired Satan let loose he begins again to persecute the Church of God and the professors of the truth in the person of Wickliff in the year of our Lord 1371. in the dayes of Edward the third King of England This Wickliff was an English-man and a Professor of Divinity in Oxford a man of great spirit and of great learning he came to such a degree or erudition that he was thought the most excellent amongst all the Theologians at that time he perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be aduldeâ—at and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops Sects of Monks and dark errors and after long debating and deliberating with himself with many secret sighs and bewalings in his mind the generall ignorance of the whole world could no longer sâ—ffer or abide the same he at the last determined with himself to help and remedy such things as he saw to be wide and out of the way and so he began as from a deep night to draw out the truth of the Doctrine of the Son of God with the purity of the Doctrine which hee taught he also lively touched the abuses of the Popedome in so much that the Locusts that is to say the Monks and begging Friers listed themselves up against him to persecute him with all the rable of the Popish Clergie but the Lord gave him for a Protector King Edward the third the Duke of Lancaster the Kings son and Lord Henery Peircy the Marshaâ—l of England for all the time of King Edwards raign he had great liberty of his profession and that the King carried a speciall favour and good-will to him appears in this that he sent him with his Ambassadour over into the parts of Italy to treat with the Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pope with full commission This King Edward was a good man and hath this commendation that he was Orphanis quasi Pater afflictis compations miseris condolâ—ns oppressis relevaâ—s cunctis indigentibus impendens auxilia opportuna that is to the Orphans he was a Father competient to the afflicted mourning with the miserable releiving the oppressed and to all them that wanted a helper in the time of need c. Pope Gregory being informed of Wickliffs Doctrine that was pred abroad through the land He wrot to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London to cause apprehend the said John Wickliffe and to cast him into prison and that the King and Nobles of England should be admonished not to give any trust to the said John VVickliffe or to his Doctrine in any wayes As also he wrote unto King Edward or rather unto King Richard who succeeded King Edward to persecute this VVickliff but God shortned the rage and fury of this cruel Prelate against him for that in the same year or in the beginning of the next year following the forsaid Pope Gergory the eleventh turn'd up his heels and died Yet the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London did vex trouble him and held sundry meetings of the Clergy against him to condemne him and his Doctrine And here is not to be past over the great miracle of Gods Divine admonition or warning for when as the Archbishop and Suffraganes with the other Doctors and Lawiers with a great company of babling Friers and Religious persons were gathered together to consult as touching John VVickliffs books and that whole sect When as I say they were gathered together at the Gray-friers in London to begin their businesse upon St. Dunstanes day after dinner about two in the cloak the very hour and instant that they should go forward with their businesse a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell throughout all England whereupon diverse of the Suffraganes being feard by the strange and wonderfull demonstration doubting what it should mean thought it good to leave off from their determinat purpose But the Archbishop as the chief Captain of that Army more rash and bold then wise interpreting the change which had happened clean contrary to another meaning and purpose did confirm and strengthen hearts and minds which are almost danted with fear stoutly to proceed and to go forward in their attempted enterprise who then discoursing VVickliffs Articles not according to the sacred Cannons of the Holy Scripture but unto their own private affections and traditions pronounced and gave sentence that some of them were simply and plainly Hereticall other some false erroneous other irreligious some seditious and not consonant to the Church of Rome John VVickliff a long time after this returning again either from his banishment being banished by King Richard or from some other place where he was secretly keeped repaired to his Parish at Lutterworth where hee was Parson and there quyetly departing this mortall Life sleept in peace in the Lord 1384. Here is to be noted in this Man as in diverse others whom the Lord so long preserved in such rages of so many enemies from all their hands even to his old age This VVickliff had written diverse and sundry works the which in the year of our Lord 1410. were burnt at Oxford And not only in England but in Bohemia Likewise the Books of the said VVickliff were set on fire by the Archbishop of Prage who made diligent inquisiition for the same and burned them The numbers of the Volumes which he is said to have burned most excellently written and richly adorned with bosses of Gold and coverings as Aeneas Silvius writes were about the number of two hundred Great was the testimony given out by the Vniversity of Oxford touching the commendation of the great Learning and good Life of John VVickliff as also great was the testimony and commendation of Master John Hus concerning John VVickliff who affirmed that he was no Heretick and yet the Counsel of Constance condemned him for an Heretick and caused his Body and Bones to bee raised and burnt 41. years after his Death and took his Ashes and threw into the River thinking thereby utterly to extinguish and abolish both the Name and Doctrine of VVickliff for ever for though they digged up his Body and burnt his Bones and drowned his Ashes yet the Word of God and truth of his Doctrine with the fruit and successe thereof they could not burn which yet to this day for the most part of his Articles do remain After the Death of Pope Gregory
also apprehended for religion into the temple of St. Mary at Rome either to revoke or to be burned There sate on them six Cardinals in high seats beside the Judge before whom preached a dominick-Frier which cruelly inveying against the poor prisoners incensed the Cardinalls with all the vehemency he might to their condemnation the poor man stood holding a burning Taper in their hands of whom some for fear of death revolted But this Doctor Mollius with a weaver of Perusium remained constant Then Mollius began an earnest sermon in the Italian tongue wherein he confirmed the articles of faith by the sacred Scriptures declaring also that the Pope was not the successor of Peter but Antichrist and his sectaries do figure the whore of Babylon Moreover he cited them up to the tribunal seat of Christ and they being replenished with anger condemned him with the weaver to the fire and commanded them to be had away So were they carried incontinent to the camp or field called Florianum where they remained chearfull and constant first the weaver was hanged Mollius then willing the hangman to execute his office likewise upon him began to exhort the people to beware of idolatry and to have no other Saviour but Christ alone for he only is the Mediator between God and man and so also he was hanged commending his soul to God and afterward laid in the fire and burned The people having diverse judgments upon him some said he died an heretick some said he was a good man Furthermore in the same citie of Rome and about the same time in the Monastery of St. Augustine were found two monks in their Celles with their tongues and heads cut off only for rebuking the immoderat and outragious excesse of the Cardinals Such was the cruelty then of the malignant adversaries In Pope Pius the fourth his time was hot persecution in all the territories of the church of Rome against them which were suspected for Lutherans whereupon insued great trouble and persecution in the Kingdom of Naples in such cruel sort that many Noble Men with their wives and others are reported there to bee slain in Calabria beyond Naples in Italy likewise the same time suffered a great number of Christs welbeloved Saints both old and young put together in one house to the number of 88. persons all which one after another were taken out of the house and so being laid upon the Butchers stall like the sheep in the shambless with one bloody knife were all killed in order a spectacle most tragicall for all posterity to remember and almost incredible to believe beside also a great number condemned Now to return again to the Isse of Brittain to England and Scotland and to take a view of the affairs of the Churches there And first to begin with England In the reign of King Henry the eight at Coventree there were seven apprehended and burnt for the gospell of Christ to wit Mistresse Smith widow Robert Hatchers a Shoemaker Wrigsham a glover Lansdale a Hosier Archer a shoemaker Hawkings a shoemaker Thomas band shoemaker The principal cause of the apprehension and burning of these persons was for teaching their children and family the Lords prayer and ten commandments in English the children were sent for to the Gray-friers in Coventree before the Warden of the said Friers called Frier-Stafford who straitly examining them of their beliefe and what Heresie their Fathers had taught them charged them upon pain of suffering such death as their Fathers should in no wayes to medle any more with the Lords prayer the Creed and the ten Commandments in English Thomas Harding dwelling at Cheâ—ham in the County of Euchingham with Alice his Wife was first abjured by Wiâ—â—am Smith Bishop of Lincoln with diverse others moe which the same time were taken and compelled some to beat Faggots some were burned in the check with hotirons some condemned to perpetual prison some threstinto Monasteries and spoyled clean of all their goods some compelled to make pilgrimage to the great Block otherwise called our Lady in Lincoln some to one part some to another Harding for reading upon English booâ—s waa condemned for relâ—pse to be burned to ashes and was burnt being of the age of threescore years Many simple people in the Diosie of Lincoln were vexed afflicted and persecuted for then Religion the Son was compelled to testifie against the Father the Father against the son the wife against the Husband and the husband against the wife the sister against the brother A Brief Discourse concerning the story and Life of Thomas Volsey laâ—e Cardinal of York wherein is to be seen and noted the express Image of the proud vain glorious Church of Rome how fare it differeth from the true Church of Jesus Christ. THis Cardinall Volsey and the Popes Legat of Rome was so puft up in pride that he thought himself equal with the King And when hee had said Masse he made Dukes and Earies to serve him of Wine with a say taken and to hold the basen at the Lavatories Furthermore as he was Ambassadour sent to the Emperor at Eruxels he had over with him the great Seal of England and was served with his Servitours kneeling on their knees and many Noble men of England waiting upon him to the great admiration of all the Germans that beheld it such was his monstruous pomp and pride That glorious Cardinal in his tragicall doings did exceed so far all measure of a good subject that he became more like a Prince then a priest for although the King bare the sword he bare the strok making in a manner the whole Realm to bend at his beck and to dance after his pipe Such practises and fetches he had that when he had well stored his own Coffers first he fetched the greatest part of the Kings Treasure out of the Realm in twelve great barrels full of gold and silver to serve the Popes wars And as his avaritious mind was never satisfied in getting so his restlesse head was so busie rufling in publick matters that he never ceased before he had set both England France Flanders Spain and Italy together by the ears for his pride and avarice he was hated of all men At what time Pope Clement was taken prisoner Cardinal Volsey wrote tot he Emperor to make him Pope but when he returned an answer wherein he was not pleased he waxed furious mad and sought all means to displease the Emperor writeing very sharply unto him many minacing letters that if he would not make him Pope he would make such a ruffling between christian Princes as was not this hundreth years before to make the Emperor repent year though it should cost the whole Realm of England Whereupon the Emperor answering biddeth him look well about him lest through his doings and atempts he might bring the matter in that case that it should cost him the Realm of England indeed The King finding himself deluded by Cardinal Campegius and Cardinal
the left arm was on fire and burned he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell from his body and he continued in prayer to the end without moving At the burning of James Baynham a Lawier appeared a miracle and wondrous work of God that as he was at the stake in the midst of the flamming fire which fire had half consumed his arms and legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold ye look for miracles and hear now may yee see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain then I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses These words spake he in the midst of the flamming fire when his legs and arms as I said were half consumed William Tracie a worshipful Esquire in Glocester and then dwelling at Todingtown made in his will that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying neither passed he upon masse and he further said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saved and not by any Saint This Gentleman died and his Son as Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury to prove which he shewed to the Convocation and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground and burnt as an Heretick This Commission was sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocesse of Worcestâ—r to execute their wicked of sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing his Subject to be taken out of the ground two years after his death and burnt without his knowledge or order of the Law sent for the Chancellor and laid high offence to his charge who excused himselâ— by the Archbishop of Canterbury which was late dead but in conclusion it cost him three hundred pound to have his pardon And as many were burnt at this time for the profession of the truth so multitudes both of men and women were compelled to abjure and recant and to do pennance and to bear faggots So great was the trouble of these times for either they were driven out of the Realm or were cast out from their goods and houses or brought to open shame by abjuration Such decrees and injunctions then were set â—orth by the Bishops such Laws and Proclamations were provided such watch and narrow search was used such wayes were taken by force of oath to make one detect another so subtilly that unneth any good man could or did escape their hands that either his name was known or else his person was taken yet neverthelesse so mightily the power of Gods Gospel did work in the hearts of good men that the number of them did no lessâ—lâ—ssen for all the violence or policy of the adversaâ—ies but rather increased King Henry is divorced from Lady Cathrene Dowager and married with Lady Annâ—â—ullen which was the fiâ—st occasion and beginning of a publick Refoâ—mation The King had married Prince Arthur hiâ— Bâ—others wife the Pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Julius the second by whose dispensation this Marriage which neither sense of nature would admit nor Gods Law would bear was concluded approved and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any doubt or scruple near the space of twenty years thereafter there arose doubts and scruples about the lawfulnesse of his Marriage that first hindered the Emperour to marry Lady Mary the Kings Daughter and upon the same doubt the King of France refused to marry the said Lady Mary the Kings daughter The King being herewith perplexed anent the lawfulnessâ— of his Marriage consulted the Universities of all Christendome by whom it was discussed to be unlawfull whereupon ensued a divorce between the King and the Queen In the Parliment in the year 1533. the commons gave in a supplication complaining of the strait dealing of the Clergy in their proceeding exofficlo this wicked act was broken by the King for the King having more clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy and in special of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same In the same parliament it was enacted and decreed that no man should appeal to the court of Rome even the Parliament decreeth the popes Annats to cease c. All exactions and sums of money used to be payed to the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peter Pence should utterly surcease As touching these Peter Pence they were first brought in imposed by King Iva about the year of our Lord 70. Which Iva king of the West Saxons caused thâ—ough all his dominion in every house having a Chimney a penny to be collected and payed to the Bishop of Rome in the name of Peter and thereof were they called Peter Pence And the said Peter Pence ever since or for the most part have used of along custom to be gathered and summoned by the Popes Collectors here in England from the time of Iva to this present Parliament The oath of the Clergy-men which they were wont to make to the Bishop of Rome now pope quondam was abolished and made void by stature and a new oath ministred and confirmed for the same wherein they acknowledged the King to be supream head under Christ in this Church of England these oaths were the occasion that the pope lost all his interest and jurisdiction in England within short while after In this Parliament amongst other diverse statutes most graiously and by the blessed will of God it was enacted that the Pope and all his Colledge of Cardinals with his Pardons Indulgences which so long had clogged this Râ—al n of England to the miserable slaughter or so manny good men and which never could be removed â—way before was never abolished eradicat and exploded out of this land and sent home â—gâ—in to their own country of Rome from whence they came God be everlastingly praised therefore Amen An act was made concerning the Kings highnesse to be the suppream head of the Church of England and to have authority to reform and redresse all errors heresies and abuses in the same When all other the Kings subjects and the learned of the Realm had taken and accepted the oath of the Kings supreamacy only Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor refused to be sworn who therefore falling into the danger of the Law were committed unto the Tower executed for the same This Fisher with Sir Thomas Moor were great persecutors of the saints of God Tindal betrayed be Henry Philips was delivered into his enemies hands and burnt in Flanders by Filfoord castle The worthy vertues and doings of this blessed Martyr who for his painfull travels and singular zeal to his country may be called in these our days an Apostle of England it were long to recite Among many other this because it seemeth to me worthy of remembrance I thought it not in silence to overpasse which hath unto me credibly been testified by certain grave Merchants and some of them also such as were present the same
lay heavy upon him nor could he ever after this again recover his former favour with the Queen Anno. 1566. the 19. of June betwixt nine and ten of the Clock in the evening the Q. was brought to bed of a son to the exceeding joy of the Subjects for which the Nobles and whole people assembled the next day in the Church of St. Geils gave solemn thanks to God The Queen waxing strong went by water to Allaway a house belonging to the Earl of Mar and keeped private a fâ—w dayes In that place brake out first her displeasure against the King her husband for he followed her thither was not suffered to stay but commanded to be gone And when at anytime after he came to Court his company was so loathsome unto her as all men perceived she had no pleasure nor content in it such a deep indignation had possessed her mind because of the disgrace offered to her in the slaughter of her man Davie the envy whereof was all laid upon the King as she would never digest it Preparation is made for the Princes Baptism he is baptized in Stirling the 15. day of December 1566. Ambassadors were sent from France to be Gossips and witnesses to the Baptisme The Earle of Bedford is sent from the Queen of England who brought with him a Font of Gold weying two stone weight with a Basen and Ewer for the Baptism 's the King was neither admitted to come to the Baptism nor suffered to come to the feast the Ambassadors had a watch word given them not to see nor salute him the King all this time keeped his Chamber his Father hearing how he was used writ to him to repair unto him who soon after went without goodnight toward Glasgow to his Father he was hardly a mile out of Stirling when the poyson which they had given him wrought so upon him that he had very great pain and dolour in every part of his body At length being arrived at Glasgow the blisters brake out of a blewish colour so the â—â—â—ysicians presently knew the disease to come by Poyson he was brought â—o low that nothing but death was expected yet the strength of his youth at last did surmount the poyson The Queen hearing that the King was recovered she went to Glasgow to visite him and thereafter goes with her to Edinburgh where he is murthered by Bothwell and the house where he lay burned with powder about twelve of the clock in the night his body was cast forth in a yaird without the Town wall adjoyning close by there was a servant likewise murthered beside him who had been also in the Chamber with him he had been King but 18. Months he was of a comly stature and none was like unto him within this Island he died under the age of 21. years The Earl of Lennox in the mean time wrote to the Queen to cause punish Bothwell with his other complices for murthering the King A day is appointed for his triall by an assyle he is acquite of the murther by the Jury yet the suspicions of the people were nothing diminished Bothwell is devorced from his wife the banes of Bothwell with the Queen asked Mr. John Craig protesteth against it notwithstanding of his opposition the marriage went on and was celebrated the 15. of May by Adam B. of Orkney in the Abbey of Halyrudhouse after the manner or the reformed Church yet was no sooner finished then the ill fruits thereof began to break out The Qâ—een by Bothwels perswasion taking purpose to visite the Borders and having chaâ—g d the Subjects to accompany her thither with a provision for 15. dayes it was publickly rumoured that these forces were gathering for some other businesse and that the intention was to have the Prince her Sone in her own custody and taken out of the Earie of Mar his hands The Noble men that had combined themselves at Stirling took Arms Bothwell flieth and the Qâ—een rendereth her self to the Lords she is sent prisoner to Lochlevin and Bothwell was declared by open proclamationâ— not only the murtherer of the King but also the committer of it with his own hand and a thousand crowns were offered to any man that would bring him in Bothwell taketh the sea and there he playes the Pirat and made spoyl of all that came in his way he is pursued by Grange with five ships well manned who comming upon him unlooked for as he lay in one of the Creeks of Orkney gave him the chase and had certainly taken him if they had not been hindered by Rocks and shallow waters Shortly after hee was taken upon the coast of Norroway and conveyed to Denmark where being detected by some Scotish Merchants he was put in a vile and loathsome prison and falling in a frensie which keeped him 14. years made an ignominious and desperat end such as his wicked and flagitious life had deserved The Q. is moved to make resignation of the Crown the King is Crowned at Stirling the Earle of Murray is elected Regent Few dayes after the commitment of the Quenn the Earle of Glencairn with his domesticks went to the Chapell of Halyrudhouse where he brake down the Altars and the Images which fact as it did content the zealous Protestants so it did highly offend the Popish affected The Bishop of Orkney was conveened before the Generall Assembly of the Church and deposed from his function and Office for marrying the Queen and Bothwell and the Countesse of Argyle ordained to make publick satisfaction for giving her presence at the Princes baptisme at the Papistical rites there used At this time John Hepburn called Bolton John Hay younger of Tallow and two chamber boyes of Bothwells Powry and Dalgleish were brought to triall for the Kings murther and found guilty by their confessions being entised to the said wicked fact by Bothwell The Queen after eleven months imprisonment escapeth out of Lochlevin The Queens resignation is decerned null being extorted by fear and proclamations made in her name commanding all the Leeges to meet is Armes at Hamilton for pursuing the Rebels that had usurped the Royal Authority Many of the Nobility took her part The Regent assembleth his Forces there gathered to him about 40â—0 The Queens power was much greater The Earle of Argyle was Lievtenant on the Queens part the battel between them was foughten at Langside the 13. of May 1568. The Queen who stood a mile off from the battell on a little height perceiving the field lost made towards the borders the rest that escaped fled the readiest way they could find every man to his own house the number of the slain was about 300. Many were taken prisoners amongst whom the most eminent was Lord Seaton Rosse the Mrs. of Cassels and Eglinton Sir James Hamilton of Evendale and Sherifts of Air and Linlithgow Of the Regents side one only was slain the Lords Hoome and Ochilerie wounded all the rest with few escaped that followed the chase too
and of my seat All the earth is my Diocesse and I the ordinary of all menâ— having the authority of the King of all Kings upon subjects I am all in all and above all so that God himself and I the Vicar of God hath but one Consistory and I am able to do almost all that God can do clavenon errante It is in my power to alter and abrogate Lawes to dispence with all things yea with the precepts of Christ and in a word I declare and pronounce to stand upon necessity of salvation for every humanâ— creature to be subject to me And as their pride so their avarice is insatiable in exacting and gathering of money of all under their jurisdiction putting it into their treasury for Petrarch recordeth that in the Treasury of Pope John the 22. were found after his death 250 Tuns of gold And of Boniface the 8. It is storied that when he was taken by Phâ—lip the fair King of France and his Palace rifled there was more Treasure found then all the Kings of the earth were able to shew again What hudge summes of money did Thecelius and his companions take together out of Germany for indulgences and pardons The Pope had yearly out of England above nine Tuns of Gold Otto one of the Popes Muscipulatores mice catchers as the story calls departing out of England left not so much money in the whole Kingdome as he either carried with him or sent to Rome before him It was trulie an trimly said by Pope Innocent the fourth Vere enim hortus deliciarum Papis fuit tum Anglia puteus in exhaustus England was then a gallant garden to the Pope and a Wel-spring of wealth that could not be drawn drie Cardinal Volsey emptied the land of Twelve score thousand pound to relive and ransome Pope Clement the seventh imprisoned by the Duke of Burbon The Apostle Paul in the 2. to the Thes foretells of the nature and manners of those wicked men and their destruction and by speaking of one he pointeth out the body of that tyrannous and persecuting Church hee calls him that man of sin that breathing Devill so portentuously so peerlesly vitious Vtejus nomen non hominis sed vitii esse videatur as Lipsius saith of one Tubulus a Roman Praetor that sin it self can hardly be more sinfull next he cals him the son of perdition destined to destruction even to be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimston Rev. 19.29 Well might Pope Marcellus the second strike his hand upon the Table and say Non video quomodo qui locum hunc altissimum tenent salvari possunt I see not how any Pope can be saved when I was first in order said Pope Pius Quintus I had some good hope of Salvation when I wae made a Cardinal I doubted but now that I am Pope I almost despaire Again the Apostle calls him an adversary and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped all men know who hee is that saith he can shut up heaven and open it at his pleasure and take upon him to be Lord Master above all Kings and Princes before whom Kings and Princes fall down and worship honouring that Antichrist as a God And he sitteth as God in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God In the year 1540. Pope Paul the third suffered himself to be thus blasphemously flattered Paulo tertio optimo maximo in terris Deo In the year 1610. Books were printed at Bononi and at Naples with this Inscription Paulo 5. Vice Deo christianae reipublicae Monarchae invictissimo pontificiae omnipotentiae conseruatori acerrimo To Paul the 5. Vice-god most invincible Monarch of Christendom most stout defender of the Papal Omnipotency The Pope can do all that Christ can do of wrong he can make right of vice vertue of nothing something saith Bellarmine he is lifted above the Angels so that he can excommunicate them he can dispence against not only the law of nature but against all the Evangelists Prophets Apostles saith Pope John c. In Extract One of his parasits clawed him thus Oraclis vocis mundi moderaris habenas Et merito in terris diceris esse Deus He is cried up for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and that hath both the swords throughout the World and an illimited Empire over all resonable creatures duliae adorandus c. Ye see then what kind of men thir Popes are who call themselves universal Bishops and that the charge and government of Christs universal Church is committed to them that they are the Vicars of Christ and the successors of Peter yet they are the greatest enemies that Christ and his Church have they are subverters and overthrowers of his Kingdome what cruell and bloody practises they have used throughout Christendom to subvert the Gospel and the professors thereof what innocent blood they have shed the Book of Martyrs doth abundantly testifie and this small ensuing Treatise doth compendiously declare but God will bring down their intollerable pride and Tyrranny and lay them low and consume them with the breath of his mouth as saith the Apostle And as for Rome the Seat of Antichrist which is called Babylon shall come to fearfull ruine and destruction as St. John in the 18. Rev. foretells it is fallen It is fallen Babylon that great City and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of all soul Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull bird for all Nations have drunken of the wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her that is spirituall whoredom which is Idolatry the Merchants of the Earth which were inriched with the pomp and luxuriousnesse of it shall weep and wail c. But all the Elect shall rejoice for the just vengeance that God hath taken on her Also the Emperor Frederick is reported to have foretold the ruine of Rome in this distick Roma diu titubans variis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput But not to trouble Thee Gentle Reader with longer preface I rest Thine in the Lord to serve thee Mr. ROBERT YOUNG A BREVIARY OF THE LATER PERSECUTIONS Of the Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS under the Romish and Antichristian Prelats THe Persecution of the Christians in the Primitive Church under the Heathen Emperors and Tyrants of Rome continued the space of three hundred years after the passion of Christ to the seventh year of Constantine the great who stayed the Persecutions and setled peace in the Church so that there was no set or universall persecution in the Church for the space of a thousand years thereafter for all that time Satan was tyed and bound up and his rage restrained against the Professors of the Gospel thereafter was Satan let loose again for a time to vex and trouble the Church as we have it in the 20. of
Volsey anent the question of his Marriage the decision whereof was referred to them by the Pope but nothing in it by them done Volsey tell from the Kings favour so that after that time he never came more to the Kings presence for he was mightily offended with him whom he before so highly exalted and promoted to so many great dignities as to the Archbishoprik of York the Bishoprick of Winchester of Durham the Abbee of St. Albons besides the Chancelorship of England and many other high dignities and preferments in the Realm He is deprived of his Chancelorship and it is given to Sr Thomas More There are sundry Articles given in against the Cardinal he is arrested and brought up toward London he fell sick by the way and by immoderat Purgations killed himself This was the end of this vain glorious Cardinal It is recorded of one Humfrey Mummuth Alderman of London much troubled for his Religion a notable example of Christian patience In the Sermons of Master Latimer which the said Latimer heard in Cambridge of Master George Stafford Reader to the Divinity Lecture in that University who expounding the place of St Paul to the Romans that we shall overcome our enemie with well-doing and so heap hot coals upon his head brought in this example saying that he knew in London a great rich Merchand meaning this Humfrey which had a very poor neighbour yet for all his poverty he loved him very well and sent him money at his need and let him come to his Table whensoever he would Now the Rich Man began to be a Scripture-man he began to smell the Gospel the poor man was a Papist still It chanced on a time when the rich man talked of the Gospel at the Table where he reproved Popery and such kind of things This poor man being there present took a great displeasure against the rich man in so much that he would come no more to his house he would borrow no more money of him as he was wont to do before-times yea and conceived such hatted and malice against him that he went and accosed him before the Bishops Now the rich man not knowing of any such displeasure offered many times to talk with him and to set him at quiet It would not be The poor man had such a stomack that he would not vouchsafe to speak with him If he met the rich man in the street he would go out of his way On a time it happened that he met him so in a narrow street that he could not avoid but come near him yet for all that this poor man I say had such a stomack against the rich man that he was minded to go forward and not to speak with him The rich man perceiving that caught him by the hand and asked him saying Neighbour What is come into your heart to take such displeasue with me What have I done against you Tell me and I will be ready at all times to make you amends Finally he spake so gently so charitably so lovingly and friendry that it wrought so in the poor mans heart that by and by he fell down upon his knees and asked him forgivennesse The rich man forgave him and so took him again to his favour and they loved as well as ever they did before Agree with thine enemy while thou art in the way with him Mat. 5. Great was the courage and constancy of Thomas Bilney in his Martyredome The night before his execution one of his friends comming to him finding him at his repast with such a chearfull heart and quiet mind said that he was glad to see him at that time so shortly before his heavy and painful departure so heartily to refresh himself whereunto he answered Oh said he I follow the example of the husband men of the countrey who having a ruinous house to dwell in yet bestow cost so long as they may hold it up And so do I now with this ruinous house of my body and with Gods creatures in thanks to him to refresh the same as ye see Then sitting with his said friends in godly talk to their edification some put him in mind that though the fire which he should suffer the next day should be of great neat to his body yet the comfort of Gods spirit should coole it to his everlasting refreshing At this word the said Thomas Bilney putting his hand toward the flamme of the candle barning before then as also he did diverse times besides and feeling the heat thereof O said he I feel by experience and have known it long by Phâ—losophy that fire by Gods ordinance is naturally hot but yet I am perswaded by Gods holy word and by the experience of some spoken or in the same that in flamme they felt no heat and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantly believe that howsoever the stuble of this my body shall be wasted by it yet my soul and spirit shall be purged thereby a pain for a time whereon notwithstanding followes joy unspeakeable At the comming forth of the said Thomas Bilney preacher out of the prison doors one of his friends came unto him and with few words as he durst speak to him and prayed him in Gods behalf to be constant and take his death as patiently as he could Whereunto the said Bilney answered with a quiet and milde countenance ye see when the Mariner is entered his ship to sail on the troublous sea how he for a while is tossed in the billows of the same but yet in hope that he shall once come to the quiet haven he beareth in better comfort the perrels which he feeleth So am I now toward this sailing and whatsoever storms I shall feel yet shortly after shal my ship bee in the haven as I doubt not thereof by the grace of God desiring you to help me with your pâ—ayers to the same effect And going forth into the streets he gave much almes by the way by the hands of one of his friends Doctor Warner taking his leave of Thomas Bilney he said pasce gregem tuum pasce gregenituum ut cum venerit Dominus inveniat te sic facientem that is feed your flock feed your flock that when the Lord cometh he may find you so doing When Richard Byfield was degraded kneeling upon the highest step of the Altar the Bishop of London took his crosier staffe and smote him on the breast that hee threw him down backwards and brake his head that he sowuned and when he came to himself again he thanked God he was delivered from the Malignant church of Antichrist and that he was come into the true sincere church of Jesus Christ Militant here on earth and I trust anone said he to be in heaven with Jesus Christ and the Church triumphant for ever and so he was led to the fire in his apparell manfully and joyfully and there for laik of a speedy fire was half an hour alive and when
Prince of Spain and Mary Queen of England were married together by the Bishop of Winchester in the presence of a great number of Noblemen of both the Realms in the year of God 1554. Cardinal Pool is sent legate to the King and Queen to reconcile England to their mother Church Rome the Parliament suâ—mit themselves to the Pope his authority is restored which was matter of great joy to Rome Great was the bloody murthering of Gods Saints in the time of Queen Mary And first to begin with Master John Rogers he is condemned of the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor for two articles first for that he affirmed the Romish Catholick Church to be the Church of Antichrist and that he denied the reality of their Sacrament he cursed him to be disgraded and condâ—mned and put into the hands of the Lâ—itie and so he gave him over into the Shireffs hand which were much better then his 2. That in the Sacrament of the Altar there is not substantially nor really the natural body and blood of Christ After that this John Rodgers had been long and straitly imprisoned by the space of an year and an half at New-gate amongst Theeves often examined and very uncharitably entreated and at length unjustly and most cruelly by wicked Winchester condemned Such was the Bishop of Winchester and Boner Bishop of London their charity that he could not obtain of them that favour as to talk a little with his wife before his burning for his wife and children being eleven in number ten able to go and on sucking on her breast met him by the way as he went towards Smithfield this sorrowfull sight of his own flesh blood could nothing move him but that he constantly and chearfully took his death with wonderful patience in the defence and quarrel of Christs Gospel As he was going to Smithfield he said the Psalm Miserere by the was all the people wonderfully rejoycing at his constancy with great praises and thanks to God for the same A littâ—e before his burning at the stake his pardon was brought if he would have recanted but he utterly refused it so he was burned into ashes washing his hands in the flamme as he was in burning he was the first Protomartyr of all that blessed company that suffered in Queen Maries time that got the first adventure upon the fire he was viccar of St. Pulchers and Reader of Pauls in London After that Mâ—ster Rodgers had broken the yce here under Queen Mary there suffered in like sort an Archbishop four Bishops twenty one Divines eight Gentlemen eighty four Artificers one hundred Husband-men Servants and Labourers twenty six Wives twenty Widows nine Virgins two boyes and two Infants with many moe yea it is recorded that in lesse then four years they sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents here to their Idols in Queen Maries daies We shall take a view of them that are most memorable Lawrence Sanders Preacher a man of worshipfull Parentage was burned for the defence of the Gospel at Coventree being led to the place of Execution he went in an old Gown and a Shirt bare-footed and oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed When he came to the fire he fell to the ground and prayed he rose up again and took the Stake to which he should be chained in his arms and kissed it saying welcome the Crosse of Christ welcome everlasting life and being fastned to the Stake and fire put to him full sweetly he sleeped in the Lord. Mr. John Hooper Bishop of Worchester and Glocester was burnt for the defence of the Gospel at Glocester he was a worthy Bishop endued with these qualities that St. Paul requires in a Bishop he was condemned at London and degraded by Bishop Winchester and others and sent to Glocester to be burnt As he went to the fire he was led between two Sheriffs as it were a Lamb to the place of slaughter in a Gown of his Hosts his Hat upon his head and a staff in his hand to stay himself withall for the grief of the Sciatica which he had taken in prison caused him sometimes to halt All the way he was straitly charged not to speak the people mourned bitterly for him After he was entred into his prayer a Box was brought and laid before him upon a Stool with his pardon or at the least wise it was fained to be his pardon from the Queen if he would he at the sight thereof cryed if ye love my soul away with it if ye love my soul away with it the Box being taken away the Lord Shandois said seeing there is no remedy dispatch him quickly Mr. Hooper said God my Lord I trust your Lady will give me leave to make an end of my prayers Then said the Lord Shandois to Sir Edmund Bridges take heed that he do nothing else but pray if he do tell me and I shall quickly dispatch him so he prayed in these words following Lord said he I am hell but thou art heaven I am swill and a stink of sin but thou art a gracious God and a merciful Redeemer have mercy therefore upon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thy inestimable goodnesse Thou that art ascended into heaven receive me hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with tâ—y Father for well knowest thou Lord whereof I am come hither to sâ—ffer and why the wicked do â—â—â—secute this thy poor servant not for my sins and â—â—â—sgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the denyall of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy Spirit to instruct me the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch might being thereto called I have set forth to thy glory And well seest thou my Lord and God what terrible pains and cruel torments be prepared for thy creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to bear or patiently to passe but all things that are impossible with man are possible with thee Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I break-not the rules of patience or else aswage the terrour of the pains as shall seem most to thy glory After he had done he was put to the fire and he abode three quarters of an hour in the fire for it was slow in burnning and thrise it was kindled before he was consumed In the midst of the fire he prayed with a loud voice Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my spirit and these were the last words that he was heard to utter But when he was black in the mouth and his tongue swollen that he could not speak yet his lips went til they were shrunk to the Gams and he knocked his breast with his hands untill one of his arms fell off and then knocked