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
their pardons priviledges grants and immunities which all the Holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them And we give over utterly to the power of the Fiend them he or she and let us quench their souls if they be dead this night in the pains of hell fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out then he put out one of the Candles and let us pray to God if they be alive that their Eyes maâ— be put out as this light Candle is with that he puâ— out another Candle let us pray to God and to ouâ— Lady to St. Peter and Paul and all holy Saints that all the senses of their Bodys may fail them and thaâ— they may have no feeling as now the light of thiâ— Candle is gone out and so he put out the 3d Candle except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and make satisfaction to God our Lady St. Peter and the worshipful company of this Cathed Chu as this Holy Cross staff that now falleth down so may they except they repent and shew themselves Then the Cross staff falling down the people gave a great shout and so the Ceremony ended Thomas Bennet was there in presence and could not choose but laugh at their foppery upoâ— which he was laid hold on but not suspected for the Heretick they had cursed contrary to the Doctrine of Christ they let him go again But nâ—â— long after his Boy setting up more Bills on the Churcâ— door he was taken in the Action and then Mâ— Bennet was seized and cast into prison he freely acknowledging the Action and that he would maintain the doing of it upon this they put him into the Stocks with heavy Irons and Bolts many disputeâ— the Priests and Fryers had with him whom he answered with much sobriety and maintained his Assertions with so much learning that they knew not what to say to him But to handle him more Cruelly as also his wife who was a partaker with her husband in his sufferings About a weeks time they endeavoured all they could to cause him to recant but in vains upon which they pronounced him an obstinate Heretick and so Condemned him to be burnt And the writ de Comburendo c. being procured and sent from London they delivered him over to Sir Tho. Denis Sheriff of Devonshire to be burnt and being brought to his Execution in a place called Liverydole without Exeter where he behaved himself with so much moderation and Christian patience making to the people such pithy and godly exhortations at his Death that many of his very enemies could not but say and Confess that he was a good man and a servant of God Yet one of them when he was at the Stake endeavouring to perswade him to pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints he denyed and told them he had but one Advocate Jesus Christ who dyed for us and now sitteth at the right hand of the Father and to him they ought only to pray which this zealous man hearing his name being Barnhouse he was so inraged that taking a furze bush on the end of a pike he set it on fire and thrust it into the Holy Martyrs face At which the Holy man holding up his hands said Sir trouble me not now and presently prayed Pater ignosce illis c. Father forgive them c. upon which fire was put to the Furzes and Wood when Mr. Bennet lifting up his hands and eyes towards heaven He cryed out O Lord receive my Spirit and so Continuing in his prayers never stir'd or mov'd but most patiently abode the Cruelty of the Fire till his Life was ended Great persecution in London About the same time a very great persecution was maintained by Bishâ—p Stokâ—sly in his Diocess of London causeing about 138 several persons to abjure and the Body of one Mr. Tracy to be taken up and burnt for an Heretick because he had spoken against the mass and praying to Saints in his Testament About the same time ten Anabaptists were also put to Death for their Religion But now after that King Henry had marryed Ann of Bullein there was a Cessation of their bloody persecution for a time and the Church had some rest from these Tyrants she favouring those of the Religion this being the Mother of our glorious Queen Elizabeth who was not long after born and now the Popes Supremacy was utterly abolished out of England And many of the High and ranting Popelings now turned their coats and preached publickly against the Supremacy of the Pope for which they before had burnt divers for maintaining it But Sir Tho. More and Bishop Fisher two great persecutors were beheaded Mr. Tyndal Martyred in Flanders In the year 1536 Willam Tyndal who may be called the Apostle of this Nation was Martyr'd in Flanders He was born on the borders of Wales and brought up in the University of Oxford where he was first Converted to the Gospel and after that he removed to Cambridg where he also studied and ripened in the study of Gods Word From thence he went into Glocester Shire and lived with one Welch a Knight of that County as a Tutor to his children where he translated the Enchiridion of Erasmus into English but being there persecuted by the Priests of that Country he was fain to fly to London and thence went into Germany where he Translated the Bible into English being assisted in it by Mr. Coverdale This translation enraged the Popish Priests so that they procured an order to have it burnt desiring to keep the people in Ignorance Afterwards Mr. Tyndal being at Antwerp where he lay was betrayed by one Phillips his own Country man to whom he had been very kind and familiar and took him to be his friend but he was deceived in him carried prisoner to Filford Castle by the Emperors officers where he continued till he was Martyr'd at the procuration of his most Cruel enemies the Priests for no other crime than translating the Bible He was first strangled at a Stake and then burnt to Ashes by the Emperors decree Mr. Tyndal crying at his death O Lord open the King of Englands Eyes The very same year Queen Ann was beheaded Mr. Lambert Martyr The next we shall take notice of is John Lambert Alias Nicholson born and brought up in Northfolk but studied at Cambridg where he was Converted by Mr. Bilney and profited very much both in the Latine and Greek tongues But perceiving the violence of the times to avoyde persecution went over into Germany to Mr. Tyndal where he remained sometime Preacher and Chaplain to an English House in Antwerp till he was disturbed by Sir Tho. Moor and taken and brought thence to London where there was 45 Articles laid to his charge all which he answered in writing He was kept in prison till the death of Archbishop Warham when he was released and kept a privat School in London but not long after he
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
two Thieves even so when the Priest is at mass and hath lifted the Host over his Head he there hangeth between two Thieves except he be one that preaches the Word of God truly That he had said to the people that they should not eat and tear the flesh of Christ with their teeth c. For Christ said This is my Body which was the Word of God which was to be broken to the people with such like to which he gave his particular Answers But a Commission was sent down for the tryal of these persons according to the Act of the six Articles and the aforesaid persons clapt into the Jayle Testwood being sick and in bed was haled thence and forced into prison going upon Crutches The chief Judges who sat on these men were Doctor Capon Bishop of Salisbury Sr. William Essex Knight Sr. Tho Bridges Sr. Humphry Foster Mr. Franklin Dean of Windsor and Mr. Fachell of Reading After very unjust doings packing of the Jury being strangers and not of the neighbourhood and all of them farmers belonging to the Colledg of Windsor and some of them Contrary to the Statute had but one witness appearing against them yet they were all of them found guilty by the Jurie and condemned to dye the next day by the Court Fatchell giving the Sentence There came a pardon for Marbeck the rest seeing their hard lot comforted one another knowing that they dyed in a good Cause All night they spent in fervent prayer to God to strengthen them that they might be stedfast in their torments praying also for their persecutors that God would forgive them since they did what they did through blind Ignorance and zeal The next day being Fryday their execution was respired but on the Saturday when they were to dye desiring to receive the Sacrament it was denyed them for they said it was not to be granted to Hereticks but they might be Confessed if they would As they passed thorow the Streets they prayed all good people to pray for them and Filmer who was Condemned from the testimony of his own Brother only as he past by his door called several times on him that he mought see him but he would not appear however Filmer most Christian like desired God to forgive him for he had restified wrongfully against Him When they were come to the Stake Mr. Persons with a chearful Countenance embracing the Stake in his Arms and Kissing it said Now welcom my own sweet Wife for this day shall thou and I be married together in the Love and peace of God Being all bound to the post a certain young man of Filmers acquaintance brought him a pot of drink which he drâ—nk of to his Companions who pledged him at when drinking their Adversaries made a jesting reporting afterwards that they were all drunk and knew not what they said After they had drank Mr. Filmer said my Brethren let us be merry in the Lord for I trust in God that after this sharp Breaâ—fast we shall have a good dinner in the Kingdom of Christ our Lord and Redeemer At which words the Fire being set to the straw Testwood lifting up his Hands and eyes to Heaven desired God to receive his spirit And Mr. Persons pulling the straw to him put a good handful on his Head saying This is Gods Hat now am I dressed like a true Souldâ—ers of Christ by whâ—se merits onâ—y I trust this day to enter into his Joy And so they yeilded up their souls to God like meek Lambs with so much patience and tranquillity and so great stedfastness that amazed the people many wished that they had been so happy as to have dyed with them The Persecutors disgraced Not long after the whole Conspiracy of the Bishop of Winchester Dr. London Simone and Okeham came to be revealed by Gods Providence and how unjustly they had dealt with these poor men haveing also lay'd a design against several of the Kings Privie Council and many Knights and Gentlemen as favourers of Heresie which being made known to the King he withdrew his Favour from Gardner and London Simmons and Okeham Perjurie being proved against them rode thorow Windsor with their faces to the Horses tails and papers of their Crimes pinned on their breasts and Okeham the like at Newberry where he stood in the pillory Thus God by his secret Judgment brought the wickedness of these malicious Papists to light and their persons to disgrace being ever hated of all men About the same time great persecution was made at Calice where one Adam Damlip Dod and several others were Martyred And likewise in Scotland suffered many Martyrs in the latter end of the reign of King Henry the 8th of England as Mr. Wisehart Walace Sr. John Borthwick and divers others so that many there as well as in England sealed to the truth of the Gospel with their Blood But we shall omit forreigners and speak only of those of our own nation as we have at first proposed having enough and too many executed and tormented by the bloody Papists Kerby and Clark Martyr'd in Suffolk In the year 1546 Mr. Kerby and Clark were burned for their religion in Suffolk passing over one Henrie and his servant burnt at Colchester and also one Sary a Priest who was hang'd privatly in the Bishop of Winchesters Porters lodg and that not without the privity of the Bishop himself as it was thought for indeed it would be too long to enumerate all the publick and private Murthers of these bloody Papists But as to the Story of Kerby and Clark in brief it was this Kerby and Clark of Mendelsham in the County of Suffolk were apprehended for Gospellers and thrown into the Goal and a Commission was sent down to try them the chief of the Commissioners was the Lord Wentworth Being brought before them having in Secret prayed to themselves a while with hands eyes lifted up they hearkned to their charge which were certain Articles put in against them concerning the Sacrament and being there publickly demanded if that after the words of Consecration spoken by the Priests the breed did not then become the very flesh blood and bones of Jesus Christ as he was born of the Virginâ— they answered No That they did not believe it but that it was a sign to put us in mind of Christs Death for the remission of our sins Upon his after they had used 〈◊〉 â—â—gâ—mentâ— perswasions and threats to thes poor men to make them alter thâ—ir minds in vain sentence was given against them Kerby to be burnt in Ipswich the next Saturday following and Roger Clark at Bury before Gang Munday ensuing Kirby having received his sentence holding up his hands with humble reverence bowing himself he said Praysed be Almightie God and then stoâ—d still saying no more And Clark at pâ—rting from the Judgment seat said with some Vehemency Fight for your God for he hath not long to coâ—tinue which was a Prophesie of the Reformation