Principal maintainer of good men called by the Popish Priests Lollards who could not bring their consciences to submit to their wicked impieties and gross Idolatries Arundel had caused certain Inquisitors who brought in Articles against the Lord Cobham for being a mighty maintainer of suspected preachers in the Diocess of London Rochester and other places and that he assisted relieved them and that he himself had not a true belief of the Sacrament penance pilgrimages worshiping of Images and of Ecclesiastical power and Jurisdiction Which process was awarded against him as a most pernicious heretick The Lord Cobham being a great man and in favour also with the King these blood thirsty Prelats first make their complaints against him to the King who having heard them spake himself in the behalf of the Lord Cobham desiring them to deal gently with him and to seek to reduce him to the Unity of the Church by fair means promising them his assistance therein And accordingly he sent for that worthy Lord and privately admonished him to submit himself to the Church To whom the Lord Cobham answered that next to God he owed his Obedience to the King as his soveraign and that he should ever obey him as his faithful leige man and all his Laws and ready to fulfil his will in all things but as to this touching the Pope and his Spirituality he did not owe any suit or service for that the Scriptures had taught him that he was the great Antichrist the son of Perdition and open enemie of God which the King hearing and takeing ill from him forsook him and left him a prey to his bloody Adversaries who much desired his Death He was thereupon cited before the Arch-Bishops and not appearing was Excommunicated and then cited again This good Lord finding himself involved in troubles wrote a rehearsal of his Belief and sent it to the King But the King would not receive it but ordered him to be taken into Custody and delivered to his Adversaries his Judges The good Lord beholding himself forsaken offered to bring 100 Knights and Esquires to come in for his purgation to clear him of Heresie and also offered himself to fight for his Life according to the Law of Arms with any man living in the quarrel of his Faith the King and the Lords of his Council only excepted Notwithstanding all this the King suffered him to be summoned in his own privy Chamber upon which he appealed from the Arch-Bishop to the Pope wherewith the King was more highly displeased than before and he was thereupon arrested and carried to the Tower After that he was brought before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The Bishops of London Winchester and others where he strenuously and with great judgment argued his case but at last they pronounced a definitive sentence against him for an Heretick Which done the good Lord fell on his knees and prayed for his enemies and so was carried back to the Tower After that sentence of Death was given against him but by what means is not known he escaped from Sr. â—ob Morley Lieutenant of the Tower and got into Wales where he continued 4 years Not long after the Arch-Bishop had pronounced his sentence upon this Lord he dyed with his tongue swelled in his mouth that he was not able to speak 〈◊〉 and it was looked upon as a judgment of God upon him being a great persecuter of good men The King vext at the escape of the Lord Cobham offered a sum of Money to any that could take him dead or alive and at last after 4 years concealment the Lord Powis whether for gain or his hatred against such professors of the Gospel is uncertain he caught the Lord Cobham and brought him bound to London in the year 1417. the Parliament then sitting the said Lord Cobham being outlawed and excommunicated by the Bishop was brought before his Peers in Parliament and at the Instigation of the Prelats he had sentence passed upon him to be drawn thorow London to the Gallows in St. Giles's and there to be hanged and burnt hanging Tho Treason was pretended against him yet it was for the matter of Religion that he was put to death as Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments sufficiently proves which brought him into the hatred of the Bishops and they brought him into the hatred of the King which occasioned his Death and Martyrdom Much about the time or a little before the Execution of this worthy Lord one John Claydon of London Coriar suffered for the sake of the Gospel being arrested by the Archbishops order upon suspition of heresie which he denyed not but owned his Doctrines for which he was imprisoned by Braybrook Bishop of London and at last sentenced for an Heretick and delivered to the secular power and not long after he was had to Smithfield and there burnt for his Religion 1415. Some say one Richard Turming a Baker was burnt with him Henry Chichley succeeded to Arundel and he following his steps made more new severe Constitutions against the Lollards thinking thereby to suppress them fearing the downfall of their Papal Authority which they sought to maintain with cruelty and Tyranny whereupon a strict Inquisition was made in all parts against those professors of the Gospel and many forced to abjure to save their Lives Among the rest Ralph Munyen being more obstinate was condemned to perpetual imprisonment And in Kent whole families were forced to fly and leave their Habitations the Persecution was so great 16 of them named in the Register of Canterbury The burning of William Taylor Priest King Henry the 5th dying his Son Henry the 6. succeeded of but a year old and in the first year of his reign Wm. Taylor a Priest was burnt for his Religion in Smithfield Anno 1422. being first degraded by the Popish Prelates And on the first of March he suffered with much Christian Constancy In the year 1424. John Florence a Turner in the Diocess of Norwich was disciplin'd Publickly in the Cathedral of Norwich by sentence of the Bishop 3 Sundays one after another and likewise 3 Sundays afterwards in his own parish Church of Shelton for holding several of Wickliff's opinions About the same time several other persons of the same Diocess were persecuted for Lollards and many forced to purge themselves and to swear against their Consciences or run the danger of suffering Death for being Hereticks Many were imprisoned and cruelly handled and some of them burned as Father Abraham of Colchester William White and John Whaddon Priests And about fourscore men and Women in Suffolk and Northfolk forced to abjure contrary to their minds and consciences Others of them were injoyned pennance and publickly disciplined and among the rest one John Beverly was Whipt from the Bishops palace in Norwich and round the Market place cruelly tearing and tormenting his body by order of that persecuâ—ing Prelate Also John Skilly of Flixon miller for receiving into his house White and
began to dispute about the Sacrament and real presence which brought him into farther trouble For by the Advice of Gardner Bishop of Winchester because the King had Contracted great hatred from the people for his demolishing the Abbies and Monkeries saying he favoured Hereticks and heresie he was resolved to shew the Contrary by his Actings against this John Lambert and therefore after several disputings before the Bishops the King resolves by Gardners advice to hear the matter himself where this Holy man maintained his Arguments with great learning and modesty for 5 hours against 10 Prelates who disputed against him and notwithstanding the Kings fâ—owns and taunts being upholden by the Spirit of God the main thing being the business of the real presence in the Sacrament which he denyed At last it being night and the King willing to be gone asked Mr. Lambert whether he would live or dye for it way yet in his free choyce to which Lambert Answered that he submitted himself wholly unto the will of his Majesty Then said the King commit your self into the hands of God and not into mine my Soul replyed he I Commend into the hands of God but my Body wholly to your Clemency Then said the King if you commit your self to my Judgment you must dye for I will not be a Patron to Hereticks After which he commanded Cromwell to read the sentence of Death upon him which was done to his grief for he was a great favourer of the Gospellers but feared if he should refuse he should incur the Kings displeasure and do him no good But it is said that Cromwel asked him forgiveness before he dyed for reading the sentence against him Lambert having notice of his death prepared for it very cheerfully and it is to be noted that among all these who had suffered at Smithfield there was none that was so cruelly handled as this man for after his Leggs were burned to the stumps withdrawing the fire from him tâ— put him to more torment two that stood one eacâ— side of him pitching their piked halberts into his body lifted him up as high as the chain would permit them when he lifting up his hands all of a flaâ—â— cryed aloud to the people none but Christ none bâ—â— Christ and being let down again into the fire he ended his Life in year 1538. The Murther of Mr. Packington We cannot here pass over the murther of Mr. Robert Packington who was a Burgess in Parliamenâ— for the City of London where it seems he was too free in speaking against the Covetousness and pride of the Clergy for which they Stomached him and knowing him to be a stout resolute man such another as Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and might do them a prejudice they resolved to take him out of the way They had observed that every morning he went to prayers at 5 of the Clock winter Summer to the Church called St. Thomas of Acres now Mercers Chappel being not far from his house dwelling in Cheapside upon which one morning as the said Mr. Packington was Crossing the street to go over to the Chappel being a very misty morning and fit for their black purpose he was shot with a Gun several Neighbours hearing it go off and the Labourers who stood at Soper-lane end saw him fall upon the shot but the Murtherer could not be heard of having dexterously made his escape The blow heard they had not the opportunity of putting or according to our new phrase of shamming the Murther upon himself But God that reveals the close designs of the wicked and brings such horrid Contrivances to Light for his Glory and our Instruction at last brought this Murther to Light for Dr. Incent Dean of St. Pauls being on his Death Bed had such horrors of Conscience that he could not die till he had confessed that he had hired an Italian to murther the said Mr. Packington no doubt as he thought for the good of the Church and thus it came to be known and the horrid malice of the Clergy to all that speak or any way Act against them to be taken notice of Two Mad Men burnt for Hereticks We shall not omit the burning of Mr. Collens a Lawyer who by occasion of the lightness of his Wife whom he passionately lov'd fell mad and besides his senses this man one Sunday going into a Church and seeing the Priest holding the Host up between his hands over his head he took up his Dog and did the like which they taking it done in derision tho he was mad had him Condemned and burned for an Heretick both he and his Dog being burnt in Smithfield the same year 1538. In the same or the next following year one Cowbridg was burnt at Oxford being also mad and out of his right senses and had more need of Physick to restore him to his right mind than punishment and to be sent to Bethlem than to the fire but such was the merciless Cruelty of these persecutors that they would spare none However it was observed that this Martyr being in the midst of the Flames lift up his head towards Heaven and called upon the name of Jesus till he dyed Also the same year was one Puttedew burnt in Suffolk for jesting only with the Priest saying that after he had drunk up all the Wine himself he blessed the people with the hungry Chalice for this he was Condemned and burned for an Heretick And about the same time one William Leiton was burnt at Norwich for speaking against an Idol that they were wont to carry about in Procession and for saying the Lords Supper ought to be administer'd to the Laity in both kinds N. Peke burnt at Ipswich About the same time one N. Peke was burnt at Ipswich who being at the Stake and the Furze and Faggots being set on fire when he was as black as a Coal Dr. Reading being by with a white Wand which he held in his hand he stroke Peke on the shoulder and bid him recant and acknowledge that the Sacrament of the Altar was the very Body of Christ Flesh Blood and Bones and he would absolve him to which he answered I defie both it and thee and with great violence spat blood out of his Body his Veins being broke within him Upon which this Popish Doctor in the Name of the Bishop proclaimed that whosoever cast a stick into the fire towards the burning of that obstinate Heretick should have 40 days pardon upon which many ran and flung sticks into the fire to obtain this pardon such was their blindness and Ignorance Not long after by the cunning devices of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and other Popish Prelates the six Articles were obtained in Parliament The first of which was concerning transubstantiation declaring the Sacrament of the Altar after the Priestly consecration to be the very Body of our Lord with a penalty that those who should deny this Article either by word of mouth or writing should be burnt alive
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
Christ and his Gospel He was therefore much afraid of his companion seeing him so meek and humble lest he should yield to their perswasions but he held out with great Constancy Wolsey had so great a desire to the Crown of Martyrdom that being sick in prison he was so afraid of dying that he was extreamly troubled being overjoyed when the day of his execution came which he called his Glad day When they were at the Stake they sung 106 psalm and so joyfully received their Martyrdom with great Constancy praysing God On the very same Day Month and year in which the last mentioned two Martyrs were burnt viâ— the 16th of Oâ—tober 1555. suffer'd at Oxford thosâ— two great pillars and lights of the Protestant Church and true profe sors of Christs holy Gospel Doctor Nicholas Ridly Bishop of London and the ever famous Mr Hugh Latimer of whose disputing and Condemnation at Oxford together with the Arch-Bishop of Canterburtes Doctor Cranmer their fellow sufferer we have already spoken but here we shall as briefly as we can give you the History oâ— their Lives and Martyrdom The History of Bâ—shop Ridly Martyr Doctor Ridly descended from a right worshipfâ—â— stock in Northamptonshire was brought up at Schooâ—â— and thence translated to the Universiâ—y of Cambridgâ— where he extreamly profited in his Studies being one of great memory acute wit and profounâ— Judgment so that he attained to great Learning and became famous becoming head of Pembrocâ—â— Hâ—ll where he commenced Doctor in Divinity After this he travelled to Paris and at his returâ— was made Chaplain to King Hen. 8th and afterwards promoted to the Bishoprick of Râ—chester and from thence in King Edward's days was translated to the see of London where he Continued preaching and teaching the true and wholsom Doctrine of Christ to his flock except hindred by extraordinary occasions most Holy days Sundays he preached some where or other in his Diocess the people every where swarming after him like Bees so sweet was his eloquence But he not only taught diligently but also liv'd holily teaching them as well by his Life as Doctrine He was a straight upright man both in Body and Mind of an handsom mâ—ke and good Complexion gentle and meek to all men and a lover of his Relations He bore malice to none and was apt to forgive Injuries He loved and cherished Goodness where ever he found it and hated evil tho in his nearest Kindred He was very Conversant in prayer and meditation in his greatest prosperity for assoon as his Cloaths were on he prayed by his bed side on his Knees for half an â—our and thence he went to his Study where he Continued till 9 of the Clock and from thence he came to the Common prayers read in his Family before Dinner and this he dayly Continued His â—able was free but chast all discourses there being grave and edifyint after dinner he sometimes played at Chess and unless business called him abroad â—e went again to his Study till 5 of the cloâ—k when â—e again went to prayers with his family After supper he would recreate himself for an hours space and then retire again to his Study where he continued till 11 of the Clock at night the usual time of his going to Bed which he never did without praying to God on his Knees by his bedside as in the Morning And that we may see the diffeâ—erce between a good an evil Bishop or between this man and Bonner and to shew the latters wicked ingratitude we shall mention how kind Bishop Ridly had been to Bonners Relations cherishing his Mother and sister as if they had been his own For all the time he was at Fulham he never would sit down till he had sent for his Mother Bonner as he called her being Bishop Bonners own Mother and dwelling in the Town and when come allways placed her at the upper end of the Table let what persons of quality soever dine with him and would make an excuse and say that was his Mother Bonners place and would seat her there giving her the same respect as if she had been his own mother and that he had been born of her Body the like he did by one Mrs. Bungie Bonners own Sister whom he cherished as if she had been his own yet the ungrateful Butcher Bonner when he was restored to his Bishoprick by Queen Mary prov'd the bloody persecutor of this good Man to death and not only of him but dealt cruelly and unjustly by all his Relations extorting from them all that they had and had not some stood between he had taken away the Life of Bishop Ridleys own sisters husband such difference is there between a good Bishop according to the Gospel and an evil persecuteing papistical Bishop according to the Popes Doctrine The first occasion of this good Bishops conversion to the truth was by reading of Bertrams book of the Sacrament and by his conferring with Doctor Cranmer and Peter Martyr who confirmed him and in which he continued to his Death and sealed with his blood You have already heard how this Bishop together with Dr. Cranmer and Mr. Latimer were condemned at Oxford after their several learned disputes there with the Papistical Doctors where they were kept prisoners in several places till they came to dye Dr. Ridley and Mr. Latimer being burnt in one fire as we shall relate only first a word or two of the education of this good man Mr. Hugh Latimer The History of Mr. Latimer Martyr This champion of Christs cause was the Sun of Hugh Latimer of Thirkesson in the County of Leicester an husbandman of good repute being his only Son he bred him at School and being very prompt at 14 years of Age he was sent to the University of Cambridg where he gave himself to the Study of Divity Being made a priest he was a most zealous observer of all the Popish superstition believing if be were a Fryer he should never be damn'd with other superstitious fantasies observing servilly all the Popish decrees and in his blind zeal a great enemy to to the professors of the Gospel thus he continued till it pleased God to convert him to himself by the means of Mr. Bilney whom we have spoken of After he was converted he soon left his old manner of Life and began publickly to own and preach the Gospel for which he was for a time silenced by the Bishop of Ely but getting a Licence he continued there for 3 years teaching and preaching both publickly and privately and with that applause and power that his very enemies could not but admire him for the Bishop himself one day coming in and hearing him was compelled to commend him wishing that he had the likâ— Giâ— At last he was cited before the Cardiâ—al and accuâ—ed by his Adversaries by several Articles about the worshiping of Saints which be dery'd and praying to the Virgin Mary Purgatory and several other Popish tenents for
to brotherly Love and shewing the Vanity of the world exhorting to Alms and obedience to the Queen with many other excellent things and at last He made a short Confession of his Faith repeating the Articles of the Creed continuing I believe every Article of the Catholick Faith every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Jesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the new and old Testament anâ— now said he I am come to the great thing th t so much troublâ—th my Conscience more than â—ny â—oing thâ—t ever I did or said in my whole Late and that is the sâ—ttiâ—g my hand to a writing C ntrary to Truth which I now renounce being done only for fear of Death and for as much as my hand offended against my heart this my hand shall be first of all punishâ—d for it and assâ—on as I can coâ—e to the fire shall be first burâ—t As for the Pope I refusâ— him as Câ—riâ—â—s Eâ—â—my and Antichrist with all his f â—sâ— Dâ—ctrinâ— As for the Sacrament I believe is as I have taughâ— it in my Book against the Bishâ—p of Wincâ—ester which shall stand at the last dâ—y before the Judgment of God where the Papistiâ—â— Doctrine Contrary thereto shâ—ll be never able to appear All the people being amazed looked one upâ—â— another and all the Priests and Fryers were in an uprore seeing their great expectation frustrated and Cole bellowed from the Pulpit stop the Heretick Mouth pull him down pull him down Upon which the rabble of Priests and Fryers laid hands on Cranmeâ— and pull'd him off the stage and all things being prepared for his burning in the same place where the Martyrs Râ—â—ey and Latâ—mer suffered they haled and drâ—gged him thither to which place all the coâ—â—any râ—n yelping and hauling at the good Archbishâ—p When he came to the place he kneeled down making but short prayerâ— seeing them so â—ager to have his Life and putting off his garments to his shâ—rt which hung down to his seer which were â—â—re as likewise his head being thus stript they fâ—sâ—ned the holy Martyr to the Stake with a chain and after several of them â—ad tryed in vain to move him to recant and saw that he was stedfast they caused fire to be set to him into which assoon as iâ— began to burn he thrust his right hand which had signed the Recantation which he hâ—ld therein stedfastly and unmoved sâ—eing that once therewith being of a stâ—me be wipeâ— his face that all men might see his hand was burned before his body was touched His body aboad the burning and torment of the Flame with such Constancy and stedfastness that he was not seen to stir or move any more than the stake to which he was fastned shewing to their amazement a noble Constancy of mind and heroick fortitude His eyes were seen to be lifted up towards Heaven and he was heard oftentimes to repeat whilst his hand was burning O unworthy right hand at last in the greatest of the flame he gave up the Ghost useing these his last words O Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This was the end of this blessed Martyr Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered about the middle of the Reign of the Cruel Queen Mary Two women burnt at Ipswich About the same time suffered in the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk two simple women â—he one named Agâ—es Potten the other Joan Trunchfeild the wife of a Shoemaker both for that they denied the bodyly presence of Christ in the Sacrament they both dyed with wonderful Constancy exhorting the people at their death today hold on and believe the word of God and to despise the ordinances of the Romish Antichrist and after fire was set to them they stood holding up their hands and calling on the name of God in the midst of the flames till they dyed In the same Month of march on the 24th day three men were burnt in one fire without Salisbury in Wiltshire for the same cause as other Martyrs before them for denying the Popes Supremacy Purgatory and that murthering Article of the bodily presence their names were John Mandrel an husbandman who had long professed the truth and in King Henry 8. days had done penance William Coberly a Taylor and John Spicer a free-mason all 3 Companions both before and at their Deaths They died with great fortitude and when the Sheriff offered them pardon if they would turn one of them replyed not for all Salisbury And John Spicer said O Mr. Sheriff must you be the Butcher of these Papists and be made guilty of Shedding innocent blood before the Lord Coberly was longer in burning than the other and when his Arms were burnt off and his body hung over the chain black and shrunk up so that all thought he had been dead he suddenly rose up again and then fell down and dyed Six men Martyred in Smithfeild About the 23d of April 1556. were burnt in one fire in Smithfield no less than 6 blessed Martyrs two of them being Ministers viz Robert Drakes Minister of Tundersley in Essex and William Tymes Curate of Hookley in the same County This Tymes upon his examination before Bonner one of his Articles being for denying the Popes Supremacy told him that he owned no more than what his Lordship had maintained in print Where have I written any thing against the Church of Rome said the Bishop angrily In your Preface replyed Tymes to the Chancellors Book Stephen Gardner which he wrot purposely against the authority of the Romish Church where also you in your preface inveigh against the Bishop of Rome reproving his Tyranny and falshood calling his power false and pretended only and this is still extant This much abashed the Bishop and made him speak more gently afterwards saying it was done in perilous times and when it was death to have declared otherways but that the Chancellour and himself had since owned their errors as he would now have him to do but Mr. Tymes told him that would be against his Conscience and he would never do it for what he himself had wrote against the Popes Supremacy was according to the Scriptures and he would prove it upon which he entred on his proofs was much too hard for them all in the Scriptures but at last he was condemned with the rest whose names were Richard Spurge Sheerman Thomas Spurge Fuller John Cavel Weaver and George Ambrose Fuller all of Essex and of the Diocess of London and so condemned by Bonner and suffered together in one Fire in Smithfeild with the true Constancy of other holy and blessed Martyrs In the same Month of April at Rochester suffered John Harpool and Joan Bench in one fire Also in the same month suffered at Cambridg John Hullier a Minister brought up at Eaton School and afterwards Scholar and Conduct in Kings Colledg in Cambridge where he at last suffered being condemned by the Bishop of Ely for preaching the truth and owning the Gospel and disavowing