a place to do it in he fled to Saxony and there translated the New Testament 1527. And after he translating 5 Books of Moses intending to print at Antwerp to which place he sailing did suffer shipwrack and lost all his labour but he lodged at Antwerp and with the help of one Coverdale performed the five Books and printed them and residing there he was basely betray'd by one Henry Philips an English-man whom he had received lately as an intimate Acquaintance And being so persecuted that though many Letters were for his delivering he was executed who in Prison converted the Keeper his Daughter and others By the testimony of his condemner he was a learned pious good Man who died with this earnest prayer Lord open the King of England's eyes He was martyred at Filford Castle in Flanders 1536. Vol. 2. p. 361 to 367. Robert Testwood about Windsor in King Henry Eight's Reign 1544. for opposing Idolatry and Image-worship was apprehended and persecuted by the Bishop of London Vol. 2. p. 543 544. at last being condemned he suffered with one Filmire and Persons who kissed each other at parting from the Prison and at the Stake drank to each other and then this Testwood lifting up his eyes and hands desired the Lord to receive his Spirit See Persons and Filmire Their Persecutors Symons and Dr. London soon after convicted of Conspiracy against some Nobles and being perjured did ride with Papers on their heads and their faces towards the Horse tails round about Windsor Market-place Vol. 2. p. 555 556. Rowland Taylor Dr. of both Canon and Civil Laws and a perfect Divine Parson of Hadley in Suffolk where he resided calling his People together and preaching to them every Sunday and Holiday when he might He was humble and meek and his life an Example of Piety He was ready to do good to all forgiving all Enemies readily and never sought to do evil to any one To the poor blind lame and sick he was a very Father a careful Patron and diligent provider When Mass was contrived to be set up in his Church he opposed it and said it was against God's Word the Queen's honour and tended to the utter subversion of the Realm of England Whereupon he was sent for up to London by the Bishop of Winchester Stephen Gardiner And his Friends perswaded him not to go saying he could not be heard for himself but must expect imprisonment and death and that Christ advised to fly from one City to another and the People of God would in time want such godly Preachers To whom he said Dear Friends I thank you for your care yet I know my Cause so good and the truth so strong on my side that I will by God's grace go and appear before them and to their beards will resist their false doings God will not forsake his Church but will raise up more fruitful Teachers than I who shall never have again so glorious a call as I now have wherefore I be seech you to pray for me and I doubt not but God will give me strength and his spirit that all my Adversaries shall have shame of their doings And so taking care of his people he and his Man Iohn Hull went towards London but his Man advised him to fly proffering his faithful service to him in all affairs To whom the Doctor replyed Oh John shall I give place to this thy Counsel and leave my Flock in this danger Remember Christ the good Shepherd who not only fed his Flock but dyed for them also Him must I follow and by God's grace will therefore John pray for me and if thou seest me at any time weak comfort me and discourage me not in this godly Enterprize and purpose When he came to Bishop Gardiner who reviled him much and asked him how he durst look him in the face and if he knew who he was Dr. Taylor said Yes I know who you are Dr. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor and yet but a mortal Man I trow but if I should be afraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all How dare ye look any Christian Man in the face seeing you have forsaken the truth denyed Christ and done contrary to your Oath and Writing With what face will ye appear before Christ's Iudgment Seat and answer to your Oath against Popery in King Henry the 8th 's time and in King Edward the 6th 's dayes when you both spoke and wrote against it Vol. 3. p. 167 168 169. When he was condemned with Mr. Bradford and others they joyfully gave thanks and stoutly said to the Bishops That God would require their blood at their hands and that one day they should repent this their Tyranny against the Flock of Christ. p. 174. When Bonner Bishop of London came to degrade him and brought with him the Vestments according to their Popish manner he bad him put them on but Dr. Taylor would not so Bonner caused another to put them on and then Dr. Taylor set his hands by his side and walked up and down saying How do you like me now how say you my Lord am not I a goodly Fool how say you my Masters if I were in Cheapside now should not I have Boys enough to laugh at me and at these Apish toys and toying trumpery So the Bishop performed his Ceremonies of degradation and cursed him To whom Dr. Taylor said Though you curse God will bless you have done me wrong and violence yet I pray God if it be his will forgive you The next day his Wife and Son and Man supped with him and he exhorted his Son to obey God and his Mother and exhorted her to be stedfast in the faith and to shun Popery and then wrote his last farewel to his People of Hadley perswading their stedfastness in the Doctrine he had preached amongst them against Popery Vol. 3. p. 175. The next day after he was carried out towards Hadley to suffer and his Wife and Children suspecting as much lay all night in Botolph's Church-yard and as he went early in the morning she cryed to him Rowland Rowland and came to him who took his Daughter Mary in his arms and then all of them kneeled and said the Lords Prayer then kissed he his Wife saying Farewel my dear Wife be of good comfort for I am quiet in my Conscience and God shall stir up a Father for my Children and kissing his two Daughters Mary and Elizabeth he said God bless you and so praying them all to keep close to God's Word and to flye Idolatry he went on to whom his Wife said God be with thee my dear Rowland I will meet thee at Hadley And after this Speech to his Wife he did see his Son Thomas and his Man Iohn Hull whom he commanded to lift up his Son whom he blessed and prayed for and then gave him again to his Servant At Burntwood as they went they made a Hood for the
Matters of the Commom-wealth but in religious things he was very cruel Vol. 1. p. 57. The Fourth Persecution began by Marcus Antoninus Verus who began to Reign in the 162. year of Christ and was very sharp and severe against Christians which Christians when the Armies of this Emperour were warring against the Vandals and had like to have perished for want of Water five dayes did to the number of a Legion withdraw themselves suddenly from the Camp and prostrated themselves before God and by ardent Prayer obtained of God by and by a double relief Rain for themselves and Lightning discomfiting their Enemies who were many of them put to flight which Miracle so pleased the Emperour that he abated his fury against the Christians grew milder and ordered his Rulers to give thanks to the Christians no less for his victory than for the preservation of himself and also ordered that their Accusers should be burned alive Vol. 1. p. 54. to 66. The Fifth Persecution was raised by Severus the Emperour who in the year of Christ 215. proclaimed and commanded no Christian should be suffered Vol. 1. p. 70. The Sixth Persecution began by Maximinus about 237 years of Christ against the Teachers of the Christians thinking thereby to destroy the rest the sooner Vol. 1. p. 76. The Seventh Persecution was raised by Decius in the 250. year of Christ. Vol. 1. p. 77. The Eighth Persecution was raised by Emilianus President of Egypt 259 years after Christ. Vol. 1. p. 88. The Ninth Persecution was raised by Aurelian in the 276. year of Christ. Vol. 1. p. 98. The Tenth Persecution was raised by Dioclesian in the 308. year of Christ and lasted 10 years This Dioclesian and Maximinian deposed the Emperial Office willingly 309. and lived retiredly Vol. 1. p. 100.105 King Henry 8. King of England by the instigation of Stephen Gardiner and other Popish Prelates was forced to make and decree these 6 Articles to be observed by his Subjects 1540. which were cause of great Persecution 1. That in the Sacrament of the Altar upon the efficacy of the words of Christ exprest by the Priest Christ's natural body is really present Water Bread and Wine and that after Consecration there remains no Bread nor Wine nor any other substance but the substance of Christ God and Man 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary absolutely by the Law of God to all Persons and that in the Flesh under the form of Bread is the very Blood and with the Blood under the form of Wine is the very Flesh as well apart as they were both together 3. That the Priests after the Order of Priesthood may not marry by the Law of God 4. Vows of Chastity and Widowhood advisedly made by the Law of God ought to be kept and exempteth from other liberties of Christian People which else they might enjoy 5. That it is meet and necessary that private Masses be continued in the English Church and Congregation 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained used and frequented in the Church of God The Opposers of those Articles were to be esteemed Fellons and to lose both life and goods which occasioned great and cruel Persecutions Vol. 2. p. 441. These Articles and all other Popish Articles were repealed by King Edward the 6 th Vol. 2. p. 654. FINIS Books printed for and sold by R. Butler next Door to the Lamb and three Bowls in Barbican 1. A Skirmish made upon Quakerism being a brief Confutation of a most gross Principle or Point of Doctrine published and maintained by one William Penne a Quaker in two Sheets 2. The Shibboleth of Quakerism or that which they call The pure Language proved as used amongst us to be only a matter of indifferency and not of absolute necessity as you-ing and thou-ing and the naming the Days and the Months c. in two Sheets 3. One Sheet against the Quakers detecting their error and mis-practice in refusing to reverence Men outwardly by Word and Behaviour after the manner in use among us which is proved to be good and lawful 4. Quakerism proved to be gross Blasphemy and Antichristian Heresie in four Sheets all stitch'd together price Nine-pence
Laurence a Deacon of Xystus Bishop of Rome seeing him going to be martyred earnestly desired to die with him and cry'd out to him saying Oh dear Father whither goest thou without the company of thy dear Son hast thou proved me unnatural Now try whether thou hast chosen a faithful Minister or no Grant that the Body of thy Scholar may be sacrificed whose mind thou hast beautified with good Letters To whom Xystus said He should follow him after 3 dayes And when this Laurence was to be persecuted he being as Deacon Treasurer of the Church and commanded by his Persecutors to produce the Treasure caused a number of poor People to come together and said These were the Church's riches in whom Christ dwells Whereat the Persecutors raged and caused the fire to be kindled and he was laid on a hot burning Iron-bed or Grid-Iron and held down with hot forks who said to the Tyrant This side is roasted enough turn up O Tyrant that assay whether roasted or raw thou thinkest the better meat This was done under the 8 th Persecution Vol. 1. pag. 92 93. Simon Laloe burned at Dyon in France 1553. shew'd such faith and constancy that his Executioner Iames Silvester seeing it was so compuncted with repentance and fell into such despair that they had much adoe with all their promises of the Gospel to recover any comfort in him at last through Christ's mercy he was comforted and converted and he with his Family removed to Geneva Vol. 2. pag. 142. Iohn Lambert being much examined concerning the Sacrament and released by reason of the death of Archbishop Warham was at last by the malice of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester brought before King Henry the VIII and many Nobles and ten Bishops caused to dispute him 1538. and against reason by Popish instigation the King was perswaded to condemn him and he was burned in Smithfield who was very chearful the day of his sufferings and when in the fire his legs were burned to the stumps the Tormentors withdrew the fire so that a small fire and coals were left under him and two Persecutors ran their Halberts into him then he lifting up that hand he had with fingers flaming cry'd out None but Christ none but Christ and so being let down from their Halberts fell into the fire and died Vol. 2. pag. 427. Iohn Lacels Servant to King Henry VIII was burnt with Mrs. Anne Askew about Iune 1546. who in a Letter against Transubstantiation subscribed himself thus Iohn Lacels late Servant to the King and now I trust to serve the Everlasting King with the testimony of my Blood in Smithfield Vol. 2. pag. 581. Iohn Lawrence burnt at Colchester March 29. 1555. he was so badly used in Prison that he could not go to the Stake but was carried in a Chair and burnt sitting Whilst he was burning the young Children came about the fire and cry'd as well as they could speak saying Lord strengthen thy Servant and keep thy promise Lord strengthen thy Servant and keep thy promise Vol. 3. pag. 200. Hugh Lawrence a Kentish Man being August 2. 1555. examined by the Bishop of Dover Dr. Thornton and Dr. Harpsfield stood constantly against Popery being required to subscribe to their Articles he took a pen and writ Ye are all of Antichrist and him ye fol. intending to write as appears follow but was prevented condemned and burned with 5 more Kentish Men at 3 Stakes in one fire Vol. 3. p. 393. Hugh Latimer writing to Bishop Ridley saith Pray for me for sometimes I am so fearful that I would creep into a Mouse-hole sometimes God doth visit me again with his comfort so he cometh and goeth to teach me to fell and to know my infirmity Vol. 3. p. 441. He was a Leicester-shire man and went to Cambridge at 14 years of age he was a zealous Papist till by Gods will and Mr. Bilney's endeavours he was converted and then he became a zealous Protestant p. 450. and openly preached against Popery in Cambridge and other places for which he was imprisoned p. 456 457. yet was he by God long preserved and by the Lord Cromwell in King Henry the 8 th's days made Bishop of Worcester p. 460. but some years after he lost his Bishoprick because he would not comply to the six Articles and when his Rotchet was pulled off he leaped for joy of being lightned of so great a burden as his Bishops Office he was usually studying both Summer and Winter by Two of the Clock in the morning p. 462. he was a great Prophet foretelling most Plagues that came on England and used to say his preaching the Gospel would cost him his life as it also did he prayed earnestly and often so that being aged he could not get up again from his knees in his prayer he much and earnestly desired the restoring the Gospel again to England which God granted in a short time by Queen Elizabeth he also beg'd that as God had called him to be a Minister of the Gospel he might have grace to stand for it to death and to give his hearts blood for it which God answered and effected for at the Stake in the greatest extremity he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and with an amiable countenance said God is faithful who hath promised not to suffer us to be tempted above our strength and by and by fire breaking his body the blood of his heart was shed for Christ in such abundance that the standers by did marvel as if all the blood of his body was gathered to his heart p. 463. The Bishops according to Custom presenting the King each New-years-day with a Gift he being Bishop of Worcester whilst others presented Gold Silver c. presented King Henry the 8 th with a New Testament with a Napkin having this Poesie Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge pag. 486. He being at the Stake in his shirt to be burned in Oxford with Bishop Ridley the Executioner brought a Faggot kindled with fire and laid it at Ridley's feet to whom Latimer said Be of good comfort Mr. Ridley and play the man we shall light such a Candle this day by Gods grace in England as I trust shall never be put out and in the flame he cryed Oh Father of Heaven receive my Soul receiving the flames as it were embracing them he soon dyed feeling little or no pain Vol. 3. p. 503. Hugh Laverock a lame man of 68 years of age going on Crutches and one Apprice a blind man were burned 1556. by Bishop Bonners command and at the Stake this Laverock the Cripple threw away his Crutches and turning to Apprice did comfort him saying Be of good comfort my Brother for my Lord of London is our good Physician he will heal us both shortly thee of thy blindness and me of my lameness And so they both suffered Vol. 3. p. 701. Mrs. Ioice Lewis a Gentlewoman of Manceter was burnt for the Gospel in Queen Maries days who was at
that I will not God forbid I should lose Life Eternal for this carnal and short Life I will never turn from my Heavenly Husband to my Earthly from the fellowship of Angels to my mortal Children And if my Husband and Children be faithful I am theirs God is my Father God is my Mother God is my Brother God is my Sister my Kinsman my Friend most faithful And at the Stake she continued crying Lord be merciful to me a sinner Vol. 3. p. 890 891. Peter Chevet burnt at Maubert near Paris March 11. 1559. being threatned to suffer he said Truly I do not think to escape your hands and though ye scorch and roast me alive yet will I never renounce my Christ. Being asked by the Official If he would not be absolved he said It is a question Oh poor Man whether thou canst save thy self and wilt thou take upon thee to save others Who being thereat angry threatned him with longer imprisonment to whom the Martyr said Alas alas though I should rot in Prison yet shall you find me still the same Man And at the Stake having his Cloaths pull'd off he said How happy how happy Oh how happy am I with eyes lift up to Heaven and so he died Additions to Vol. 3. concerning Massacre in France pag. 9. R R ROmanus a great encourager of the Christians in Antioch when they were persecuted in the 10 th Persecution was himself by Galerius then Emperour called out apprehended and sentenced to all the torments the Christians should have undergone who said O Emperour I joyfully accept of thy Sentence I refuse not to be sacrificed for my Brethren and that by as cruel a means as thou may'st invent then he was scourged and under the lashes he sang Psalms and laughed to scorn the Heathens Gods affirming the Christian's God to be the only true God before whose judicial Seat all Nations should appear then was his side launched till the Bones appeared yet he still Preached Christ and exhorted them to adore the living God then were his Teeth knockt out his Eye-lids torn his Face cut and he said I thank thee that thou hast opened to me many Mouths whereby I may Preach my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ look how many Mouths I have so many Mouths I have lauding and praising God After that he was brought to new wounds and stripes and distongued who still spake and said He that speaketh Christ shall never want a Tongue At length he was had to Prison and there strangled When some pleaded he was of Noble Parentage and it was not lawful to put such a one to an un-noble death he said He required them not to spare him for Nobility-sake for said he not the blood of my Progenitors but Chrstian Profession maketh me Noble Vol. 1. p. 116 117. Iohn Rogers a Cambridge Scholar and Chaplain to the Merchants of Brabant beyond Sea where he was acquainted with Mr. Tindal and helped him and Mr. Coverdale in the Translation of the Bible he threw off the Yoak of Popery and becoming a Protestant he married and went to live at Wittenberg in Saxony Vol. 3. p. 119. and there learning the Dutch Tongue he had a Congregation committed to his charge where he staid till King Edward the 6 th's time and then being orderly called came into England and Preached there and was by Bishop Ridley made Prebend of Paul's but in Queen Mary's days he suffered much and was burned Feb. 4. 1555. He was the first that suffered in Queen Mary's days he Prophesied of Rome's downfall and that e're long in England true Gospel Ordinances should be again restored and the poor people of England should be brought to as good or a better state His Wife and ten Children that could go and one at her Breast met him going to burn but he was not moved but continued constant and suffered Vol. 3. p. 130 131. Bishop Ridley born in Northumberlandshire had his education in Newcastle was Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge Vol. 1. p. 432. then Chaplain to King Henry the 8 th who made him Bishop of Rochester and in King Edward the 6 th's days he was made Bishop of London He Preached every Sunday and Holyday in some place or other if not hindred by great affairs he was kind and affable one that presently forgave injuries and was wont to tell his Relations that if they acted evil he should esteem them as strangers to him and they who did honestly should be to him as Brothers and Sisters As soon as he was ready each morning he alwayes prayed for half an hour and then spent most part of the day and night in study he not going to Bed usually till eleven of the Clock and then praying He did read every day a Lecture in his Family gave every one of his Family a new Testament and hired them to learn several Chapters especially the 13. of the Acts. He being advised by one that was his Chaplain formerly to consult others and to turn Papist he said I would have you know that I esteem nothing available for me which also will not further the glory of God Vol. 3. p. 447. He being condemned at Oxford was kept close Prisoner in Mr. Irish the Major's House where he being at Supper the night before he was to suffer he was very merry and invited the Guests at the Table to his Wedding next day for to morrow saith he I shall be married which the Major's Wife hearing wept to whom he said You love me not now I see for I perceive you will not be at my Wedding nor are contented with my marriage but quiet your self though my Breakfast be sharp and painful yet I am sure my Supper shall be more pleasant and sweet Vol. 3. p. 502. And at the Stake he suffering with Mr. Latimer he chearfully ran to him embraced him kissed him and said Be of good chear Brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flames or else strengthen us to abide it and then he went to the Stake and kissed it and prayed effectually Being stript into his Shirt he held up his hands and said O heavenly Father I give thee most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a Professor of thee even to death And fire being kindled he often said Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit Lord Lord receive my spirit but through the badness of the fire he burned on one side and below on the legs a great while and yet his upper parts were not burned so that he leaped under the Faggots and calling to the Lord for mercy did call on the Persons by to let the fire come to him for he could not burn he said and shewed them one side clean Shirt and all untouched whole and the other burnt p. 504 505. he writing to his Friends and taking leave of them desires them not to be astonished at the manner of his sufferings and said I assure you I esteem it