the Persecutions of Papal Authority there were several who by the purer Light of the Gospel had discovered the great errours and many Abominations of that Church increasing in England that durst withstand the wickedness of the Priests Monks and Fryers and by writing and preaching oppose their wicked Actions and horrible doings and shew them to the World for which they were sure to run the risque of cruel and barbarous usage from their Hands suffer for a good Conscience adhering to the Doctrine of the Apostles and their Successors in the Primitive Times before the many Corruptions that now overwhelm the Romish Church were crept in amonâ— them These may be called dissenters from theâ—â— erronious Doctrines vicious Lives and evil pracâ—â—ces Among these in the time of King Edward thâ— third may be accounted the Author of the Ploâ—â—mans Complaint though he was not known whiâ—â— little Treatise put the Monks and Fryers inâ—o a Rage it so plainly laying open all their wickednesâ—â— and evil practices The Persecutions of Armachanâ—â— and the abominable errours and abuses of their Dâ—ctrines This did but whet the Rage of these eâ—â—l men and though they could not shew it to the Author of that wholsom Treatise they expresseâ— iâ— against his writing what they could and â—ad he been known his Life had been in danger The next that publickly owned the Pure light of the Gospel in those dark daies of blind Superstitâ—on and error was Richard Fitzrafe known by the name of Armichanus being by King Edward the 3d made Archdeacon of Litchfeild and then Commisâ—â—â— to the University of Oxford where he was bred â—â—der Bakenthorp and lastly Arch-Bishop of Armâ—â—â— in Ireland He preached in London openly agaâ—nst the Fryers for which he was cited to appear before Pope Innocent the 6th which he did and there to the death most valiantly opposed the Corruptions Crept into the Church both by preaching and writing being several ways persecuted by them He dyed in Avignion after 7 years banishment from his Native Country About this time in King Edw. the 3d's Reign and about the year 1367. That plotting and state coâ—founding Order of the Jesuites began to be knowâ— in the world in the 5th year of Pope Vrban the 5â—â— and the Papal Clergy in England being grown â—o odious to the laity through their vicious Lives aâ—â— evil Manners the Lords in Parliament desired the King that the great Offices of the Crown which were usually executed by the Clergy might be tâ—ken from them which accordingly were removed and put into the Hands of the Temporal Lords This K. also by Parliament holden in the 27th and 38th years of his Reign by statutes made the Popes Supremacy in England was much abated his Jurisdiction in this Realm much lessened and his Papal power restrained causing all Controversies in Law either Spiritual or Temporal to be determined in the Kings Courts and that if any one should appeal or Consent to an appellation made to the Court of Rome should incur the writ of Premunire being put out of the K's Protection Loss of Lands goods imprisonment during the Kings pleasure This begot or rather increased the Hatred of the Romanists against the Kings of England studying their ruin and overthrow for the setting up their arbitrary Papal Jurisdiction in this Land And about this time a certain Hermit disputed in St. Pauls against the Doctrine of the Sacrament for which they imprisoned him and kept him in hold till he dyed It is also to be observ'd that in the 5th year of the said King Ed. the 3d at a Parliament holden at Westminster the 24th April 1376. a Bill was preferred against the Usurpations of the Pope in England attributing thereunto all the Plagues Murrains Famines and Poverty that had invaded the Land and required a redress of many Grievances and incroachments of his usurpations rehearsing many particulars so that the Tyranny and usurpation of Rome was grown in those days intolerable and would now be much more so since they after this shewed an implacablâ— Rage against their opposers and all such who professed the purer Light of the Gospel or found fault with their erronious Doctrines and wicked Lives But the most eminent Light by God raised up in those daies and appearing bright and shining above the rest detecting the foul errors of the Romish Church was the famous John Wickliff from whom his followers dissenting from the Church of Rome were called Wickliffians whose story I shall give you in Brief In the reign of King Edir the 3d and much about the year of our Lord 1371. this Wickliff flowrished He was a Publick Reader of Divinity in the University of Oxford and reputed among them all for a great Clerk and man of learning and parts a deep Schoolman and well studied in the points of Divinity and also of Philosâ—phy of all kinds And with his strong Arguments and sound reasoning he confounded his opposers and made his very enemies acknowledge his abilities He was a man in great esteem of that valiant and prudent Princeâ—â—ing Edward being by him sent with Commission joyned with other Lords and Ambassadors into Iâ—aly to treat with he Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pâ—pe The Chief business was that the Bishop of Rome should no more intermeddle in the Distribution of Benefices within his Kingdom but that all Bâ—shâ—ps that were under his Dominion should enjoy their former and ancient Liberty and be confirmed of their Metropolitans as had been in the Ancient times This set the Pope and Pâ—pish Clergy a raging and Wickliff being in this Matter nâ— small obstacle to them Confounding them with hâ—s learned Arguments so that they term'd him Heâ—â—ick as they still do all that stick fast to the rules of the holy Scriptures to the purer Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they set themselves against him and endeavoured their utmost to ruine him Those days wherein he lived were daies of thick Eâ—â—pâ—â—â— Darkness and gross Ignorance and the people only retained the name of Christians having nothing of the nature of Christ in them or following his Example in any thing They were Idâ—latrous and taught by their Pâ—iests to worship nothing but what they saw Images and Cracifixes and indeed there was scarce any thing they saw that they did not worship as Reliques of Saints Consecrated Beads Aâ—â—us Dei's and such trumpery The Doctrine and Office of Christ was utterly unknown to the people noâ— the use of the Law and benefit of the Scriptures the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost Free Grace Justification by Faith Remission of Sins and the like were never treated of Learâ—ing and Divinity was utterly unknown to the Priests and preaching fryers and those among them who seemed learned were meer Sophisters studying Aquinas and Scotus instead of St. Peter and Paul and led the blind and ignorant people into superstition Ceremonies and human Traditions which they taught iâ—stead of the Scripture in which
faithfully and truly set down and I hope God will give a blessing to these my true endeavours and this very useful Book at this time that all Protestants of whatsoever denomination may joyn together in the bond of unity to oppose this Bloody Cruel and Common Enemy of all that profess the Truth of the Gospel and to endeavour that the Hierarchy of Rome may never get Power and Dominion in this Land Which I pray God avert and protect us from And to which Prayer let all good People say Amen The Introduction THe Corruptions and great abominations together with the Heretical Idolatrous Impious and Blasphemous Doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome as also its bloody Persecutions abroad have been shewn in several volumes and by several Authors but since what hath been transacted by that Church in our own Kingdom more nearly concerns us I have here given you a true view of the Persecutions of the Papists from the beginning against all such as dissented from them and would not bow down to their Images or Worship God after their way by which you may see what Spirit they are of quite contrary to that of Christ and his Apostles and to what slavery we should be brought if God should permit once more the Papal Authority to get footing in these reformed Kingdoms which for so many years at the expence of blood and the lives of many holy Men and Martyrs have shaken off that Tyrannical Yoak of the See of Rome It is my design not to transcur the Bounds of our own Country for where ever the Papists have set up themselves they have continuâ—lly exercised the like bloody power of the Sword contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the practice of his Successors for some Centuries when the purity of the Gospel was professed in times near the first lighting up of the bright Candle of Christianity But I shall shew and expose to the World in this little Tract the bloody Cruelties and Persecutions of that Idolatrous Church exercised in this Kingdom only against such as dissented from them or that opposed the evil of their Doctrine and practises After that Errors were crept into the Church and that the Romish Church had sought and obtained by many impious practises the supremacy over other Churches she endeavoured to maintain this her usurpt Authority by Tyranny and bloody Persecution as she doth to this Day where ever her rule is permitted That is a most ridiculous Question of some of the Papists to many ignorant Protestants Where was your Religion before Luther All your Forefathers in England were Papists why should you then change your old Religion for many hundred years establish'd in England for one of a new date and but of the other days standing This has taken with some but they are such as are very ignorant or else they may reply to such Querors that though the Name of Protestants be new and came from Germany in Luthers time from protesting against the Romish decrees that were to have been imposed upon them yet the Doctrine and Discipline of the Protestant Churches are as ancient as Christianity itself and nearest to that of Christ and his holy Apostles and Successors in the primitive times before Rome came to challenge a supremacy over other Churches or to pretend to be the Spiritual Head of the World In all Ages and thorow the most Corrupt of times the purity of the Gospel has been preserved like a shining light has manifested itself in its dissent from the evil sinful practises from the false and heretical Doctrines of the Church of Rome and has been still persecuted by it long before the times of Luther as is manifested by the Albingenses and the Waldenses in France as also in Germany and Italy itself where many professing the purity of the Gospel and testifying against the errors and corruptions of the Romish Church fell under the bloody Sword of its Persecution But designing as I have said to speak only of our own Country we shall begin with the earliest Persecutions of the Romanists in this Land who always hated Dissenters from them or such as would not own their unjust Supremacy over their Brethren Christianity began very early in England and a Christian Church was planted here almost as soon as at Rome and continued without any acknowledgment of her Authority all the time of the British Reign for the Brittish Churches never owned any forreign Church supream or above them or suffered any to exercise Dominion or Authority over them but submitted themselves to their Kings and their Metropolitan as their head Austine the Monk was the first who endeavoured to bring into this Land the Authority of Rome and because the Brittish Bishops would not own it he stirred up the Heathen Saxon Kings then Conquerors of this Land to persecute them and others Converted to Christianity and of the Papistical Principles of setting up the Church of Rome above others to kill and destroy the Brittish Christians as dissenters from them But yet till about the year 980 the purity of the Christian Doctrine preserved itself against Popish errors about which time Popery that is the Supremacy of that Church or the owning it to the head over others getting ground in England as well as in other places and with it all the filthinesses and abominations which dissenting Protestants disown and speak against all that any ways opposed this supremacy and erroneous Doctrines were persecuted and troubled by them tho they were not as yet come to fire and faggot wanting not will but power to do it I shall but mention only that good Bishop of Lincoln Robert Grosthead who wrote against the wickedness of the Popish Clergy in the time of King Henry the 3d. which vext them so much that Pope Innocent would have had the Bishops bones after his death to have been dug up and flung out of the Church where he was buried and intending to have wrote to the King of England for that purpose he was strucken by the said Bishop appearing to him in his sleep with his Crosiers staff reproving him of his wicked intention which prohibited him from proceeding therein After which time the Papal wickednesses increasing in this Nation Sathan was let loose and greater Persecutions began to arise against those who made a profession of the Gospel and opposed the Romish Superstition or dissented from it I shall therefore here end this introduction and begin the History of Popish persecutions here in England about the Reign of King Edward the 3d about which time they began more eminently to appear and so God willing I shall briefly prosecute them to our own times thorow that flood of Martyrs blood shed in Queen Maries days A TRUE VIEW OF ALL THE Popish Persecutions AND CRUELTIES IN ENGLAND The First Part. LOng before the namâ— of Protestants gave a distinction of such as dissented from the Corruptions of the Church of Rome and made them subject to
the whose scope of Christian perfection depends And thâ—s being wholly degenerated from the true Catâ—olick institution they fell into all manner of exâ—reâ—m tyranny and persecution changing the poverty and simplicity of Christ into Cruelty and wickedness of Life and manners Thus in these times of horrible Darkness and Ignorance and when there seemed â—o be no manner of spark of Christs pure doctrine left Wickliff by the providence of God sprung up and as a bright and shining light let the world see the errors and impieties of the Church of Rome After he had for a long time professed Divinity at Oxford and perceiving the true Doctrine of the Gospel to be defiled and adulâ—erated with many filthy â—â—rentions and after long debating with himself concerning the danger he should run into by going about to detect these errors so fast embraced by the Râ—mâ—sh Church and in medling with them who had power to crush him yet his mind being inspired of God he could not rest till he had set his study and bent to endeavour a Regulation by his preaching and teaching of these gross errours that were every where taught and maintained But fi st he began warily attempting his Adversaries with Logical and Metaphysicial Qâ—estions of the Formâ— of things and of the intelligible sâ—bâ—tance of the Creatures and such like which begaâ— attention to other matters which he soon began with great Art and learning to dispute of This stir'd up one Kâ—â—inghum a Carmelite to dispute against him by which meâ—n Wickliff fell upon the matter of the Sacrament their errors therein and other abuses in the Church But this bit so sore that it was not to be enâ—ured and a whoâ—e glut of Monks and Fryers fell into a Rage and madness against him fighting for their Gods their Altars their paunches and Bellies Then the Arch-Bishop Simon Sudberry deprived him of his Benefice which he had in Oxford However being befriended by many noblemen and in favour of the King he bare up against the Monks and Fryers his implacabâ—e Enemies and the Arch-Bishop himself till about the year 1377. He had for his special maintainors the great John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Kings Son and the noble Lord Henry Peircy both which were his great Friends embracing the Truth of His Doctrine and perceiving the impurity of that professed by the Roman Clergy together with their most abominable and vicious Life But for the appearing of this noble Duke for the Truth and siding with Wickliff the Romish Clergy perfectly hated him and the Bishop of Winchester most horridly asperses him of Bastardy making the Queen upon her Death bed to Confess it to him that he was not the Kings Son nor hers for lying in at Gaunt the child she had was Smother'd and fearing the Kings displeasure she caused this John of Gaunt being a poor womans Son then newly brought to bed supposititiously to be brought up instead of the dead Prince Thus for his owning Wickliff he had this wicked abuse put upon him by that proud Prelate But the Duke not induring the affront caused him to be condemned by Parliament and his temporalities confiscated and the said Bishop was prohibited to come within 20 miles of the Court But not long after by the means of Alice Pierce the Kings Minion being well brib'd and by the intercession of the whole Company of the Bishops he was again restored But now Wickliff as I said about the year 1377. was forbid to preach any more and cited to appear before the Bishops which was on the 19th of February The Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy both accompanied him and caused out of every order of the Fryers a Batchelour of Divinity to be chosen which were 4 to joyn with Wickliff and to Assist him But so great was the disorder and variance between the Bishop of London Courtney and the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy in the behalf of Wickliff that nothing was done and the Assembly was broke up being held in St. Pauls Church the Duke and the Bishop threatning one another Thus he escaped at this time and Continued unmolested all the time of King Edward the 3d but afterwards in the Reign of King Richard the Second though he was a favourer of Wickliffs Doctrines yet the Duke and Lord Peircy not intermedling in the Affairs of state as before but living privatly the Bishops took their time to trouble him again and exhibited several Articles against him to Pope Gregory the 11th who presently sends his bull to Oxford for the Apprehending of Wickliff and for the silencing him and rooting out his Doctrines and writes also to the King against him The Bishops now hoping to ruine this holy man cite him a Second time who appeared but there came a Command to them from the King not to give any definitive sentence against him so that he by that means escaped them a 2d time Not long after the Rebellion of Jack-straw breaking forth and the Kingdom in a Combustion the Bishops perceiving the Doctrine of Wickliff dayly to increase and that he had many followers they procured the Vicechancellour of Oxford William Barton in the year 1380 to put forth an Edict against Wickliff and his followers which again brought him into trouble not having his former supports to help him and his Articles which he had maintained so stoutly against the force of his Adversaries were condemned as Heretical in 1382. About the same time one Hereford with Rippington and Ashton all Batchelours of Divinity were cited before the Bishops persecuted for holding the tenents of Wickliff and Hereford and Rippington were excommunicated Also one Thomas Hillman a Batchellor of Divinity was at the same time troubled by them for the same cause Hitherto there was no Law to burn any man for Religion and had they been contented with the power of excommunication it had been well and had not stirred up the Civil Magistrate to be their bloody and Cruel executioners so that we may account these first Persecutions but light But now their malice rage being increased the K. being but young and overawed by the Pope and the proud and imperious clergy of the Land who bore great sway they circumvented the King got surreptitiously a statute made without notice of the Commons called an Act of the Parliament holden at Westminster An. 5. Rich. 3. l. in which power was given to Sheriffs and other Civil Magistrates to imprison any for Religion upon the Certificates of the Bishop which caused great Persecutions but this Act was shortly after repealed at the intreaty of the Commons However the Bâ—shops supressed the knâ—wlâ—dge of this Repealing and unjustly under colour of the former Act wrought horrible troubles against all such as opposed them or were fâ—vouâ—ers of Wickâ—iff and they also so wrought upon the King that he sent forth his Letters against Wicâ—â—â—f and for the suppression of his Doctrine both to the Arch-Bishop of
Canterbury and to the Vicâ—châ—ncellor of Oxford Robert Riggs who was himself a fâ—vourer of Wickliff and for which he was afterwards displaced As to Wickliff himself he was fâ—in to sly and hide himself from the persecution of the Popish Prelats but God preserved him from their Malice and at last repairing to his parish of Luttâ—rworth where he was Parson he quietly and in Peace departed this Life about the beginning of the year 1384. But though they could not fully reak their malice on him whilst he lived yet when dead they shewed all the spite imaginable against his Books and Bones for at Oxford they caused all his Books they could light on to be publickly burnt They say he had wrote 200 volumes being a most painful sedulous writer as well as preacher of whom and of whose holy and godly life and Conversation the whole University of Oxford gave a publick Testimony under their hands and Seal in the Year 1406. Whose Doctrines also were publickly defended by John Hus of Bohemia who was martyred for the same But for all this the Popish Clergies inveterate malice against Wickliff appeared 41 years after he was buried for by a Decree of the Synod of Constance they caused this holy mans Bones to be dug out of his Grave and burnt and the Ashes to be flung into the River The Doctrine of Wickliff notwithstanding daily increased to the no small grief of the Popish Clergy and his Followers or those professing his Doctrines which were contrary to those of the corrupt Romish Church and many of them or most of them such as the Protestants now hold began then to be called Lollards for they had then Nick-names as well as now for such as profest the purer Light of the Gospel After Wickliff was gone they set themselves to suppress these Lollards as they called them the Pope interpreting the Word from Lollum Cocle or Darnel and one William Swinderly a Priest in 1389. was brought into great trouble by these men for holding and preaching some of Wickliff's Doctrines and was condemned by the Bishop of Hereford for an Heretick but Swinderly appealed to the King and to the Parliament and during King Richard's Reign he was protected from their Violence but it is thought he suffered Martyrdom afterwards in the days of King Hen. 4. when the Popish Clergy had got more power About the same time also they persecuted Walter Brute a Lay-Man but bred up in the Vniversity at Oxford and a graduate there accusing him of Heresie and for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was not the very Body of Christ but a sign and memorial of him and that he had avouched the Pope to be Antichrist and that the Sentence given against Swinderly was unjust For these things he is brought before the Bishop of Hereford where he learnedly maintained his Assertions against them but being put to horrible Trouble and Vexation was forced at last to make a Submission which was that he submitted to the Censure of the Gospel the Church and General Councils and to St. Augustine Jerom Ambrose and Gregory and to his Bishop as his Subject And so he escaped at that time but whether he suffered afterwards is uncertain About this time Pope Boniface the 9th made a Bull against the Lollards and sent it to King Richard 2d who by the Instigation of Courtney then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford the Popes Legat issued out his Letters against the Lollards as Hereticks so that by this means many were forced to do Pennance and to abjure many were imprisoned and evilly intreated but during his Reign none were burnt The manner of doing Pennance The Town of Leicester was interdicted and many of them forced to do Pennance which was after this manner They went about the Cross bare-footed and bare-headed and nothing on their Bodies both Men and Women but their Shifts in one Hand a Crucifix in the other a large Wax Taper lighted and from thence marched to the Cathedral where they stood after they had made a procession about the Church all the time of Mass this also to be done three times during the Market After this manner they sought to punish such as made profession of the Gospel And about the same time the Londoners favouring one Peter Pateshull an Austin-Friar who having embraced the Doctrines of Wickliff preached against the corruptions of his Order many of them were converted by him and the Doctrines of Wickliff spread very much in the City For which they were malic'd by the Bishops and complained oâ— to the King who was so incensed against the Mayor and Sheriffs that he removed them from their Office and made Sir Edward Darlington Warden of the City and then removed his Court and the Terms to York thinking thereby to dispight the Londoners But this so alienated their Hearts that by losing their Love he also not long after lost his Crown and Life to Henry Duke of Lancaster called Henry the 4th The first Act for burning of Hereticks William Sawtry the first that was burnt Henry the 4th being but an Usurper and Tyrant was fain to comply with the Prelatical Clergy who had a great stroke in deposing their lawful Prince that he might the better assure himself of the Crown which he had unjustly taken Till now the Sufferings and Persecutions of the Lollards or such as made a profession of the purer Light of the Gospel was but slight in comparison of what they now began to suffer for there was as yet no Law for to put an Heretick to Death though they had made use of the afore-mentioned Statute in the 5th Year of King R 2d to molest trouble and imprison good and pious men but now in the 2d Year of this King Henry the 4th they obtained a Law or Statute for the burning alive such as were convict of Heresie made especially against the Lollards and the first that so suffered upon this Statute was William Sawtry the Parish Priest of St. Scithes in London who had preached against worshipping the Cross and the Images of Saints against Pilgrimages and Transubstantiation and other Popish Heresies for which he was cited before the Bishops and convicted of as they called it Heresie and then publickly degraded of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments aâ—d made a Lay-man and then delivered over to the secular Power to be put to death according to the new made Law which they had with great joy obtained for the extirpating the Lollards Thus the King who had deposed his lawful Prince and usurpt the Crown was the first that put men to death for Religion in England by the unmerciful burning of their Bodies at the Instigation of the cruel Popish Prelates And this William Sawtry was the first that so suffered for the Gospel by the Papists in England who was burnt Anno 1400. The burning of John Badby Taylor After this unusual Exeâ—ution of Sawtry a great fear and dread fell upon all the People but yet
God would not leave his People without Testimony for notwithstanding this cruel Act many maintained the Trâ—ch and among the rest one John Badby an Artificer and Lay-man who w â—â—he next thâ—t suffered in the Year 1409. He was convicted before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbuâ—y with other Bishops his Assistants of certain Articles in which he is said to affirm that the consecrated Wafer was not the real Body of Christ which he averred to be true to the face of all the Bishops and gave his Reasons for the same upon which they pronounced Sentence against him as an Heretick he remaining constant to the Death and could not be wrought upon by any persuasions to give his Conscience the Lye upon which he was delivered over to the secular Power who had got the Kings Writ ad combâ—rendum Haereticum by force of which he was brought to Smithfield and there put into an empty Barrel and bound with Chains to a stake with Fagots a bout him and being in this posture they brought the Sacrament to him in great Pomp asking him how he believed it and whether he would yet recant and save his Life but he told them he believed it to be hallowed Bread and not Gods Body upon which they set Fire to the Fagots upon the seeling of which he cried Mercy and the Prince being present caused the sire to be withdrawn endeavouring to save him and promising him a Pension but he refused all remaining constant inflamed with the Love of God and calling on the name of Jesus the Fire was renewed and he was burnt to Ashes The Statute Ex Officio The Cruelties of the Popish Bishops with their power more and more encreasing by their influence on the said King in the same Parliament they procured the Statute Ex Officio in which it was enacted that no man within the Realm should preach privily or openly without Licence obtained of the Ordinary nor that any should presume to teach preach or write any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith or determination of the holy Church as they then called that of Rome nor keep or frequent any Conventicles or any manner of Schools touching the Sect of the Wickliffians And that any person having any heretical Books Writings or Schrols containing the Wicked Doctrines of Wickliff should within 40 days after Proclamation of this Statute bring them to the Ordinary of the place And if any shall do contrary to any of these Commands the Ordinary by vertue of this Statute within the precincts of his Diccess may imprison them at his pleasure in his own prisons or any others vehemently suspected to be infected with or a favourer of such Doctrines and heretical Opinions until he or they shall by order of Law purge themselves of such Opinions or else openly recant the same And that also the said Ordinary have power to fine such person or persons for the King and to return such Fines into the Exchequer and further such person or persons convict by the Ordinary and his Commissaries he may keep him or them in their own prisons at his Discretion and further if the said persons so convicted remain obstinate and will not abjure or recant their Opinions that then they shall be delivered over to the secular power and the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers of the County City or Burrough being present after Sentence pronounced against them shall take the persons so offending and sentenced and cause them to be openly burnt in the sight of the people The Arch-Bishops Constitutions This cruel Statute being obtained the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel put forth certain Constitutions to be observed That no man should undertake to preach without a Licence from the Ordinary and they to be limited what to say That none should suffer any to preach in their Churches unless they produce such Authority That whosoever should preach contrary to order should be severely punished by his Ordinary That no School-Masters shall teach Children any thing of Religion nor suffer their Scholars to expound the Scriptures nor permit them to dispute concerning the Catholick Faith the Sacraments c That none of Wickliffs Books be kept in any School house or place nor Sold by any Bookseller That no man dare to undertake to translate the Scriptures or any part of them into English That no publick disputes be made concerning the Sacrament or any other points of the Catholick Faith None to speak against Images processions Tapers Crucifixes c. under penalty of being proceeded against as Hereticks With several others of the like kind which I here omit But by this the Reader may judge what Tyranny oppression and cruelty goes along with the Popish Religion and what we must expect to have here again if ever it comes to be set up in this Realm which God forbid Notwithstanding all this severity many thorowout the Land professed the Gospel some Publickly and others privately some stoutly induring Persecution and others through fear forced against their Consciences to Recant Among the rest one William Thorp was very much persecuted by the Arch-Bishop Arundel who in a very learned manner defended himself wrote a certain book called his Testament in which he fully laid open the corruptions and vices of the Popish clergy What became of this man is uncertain but 't is most likely that he died in their Prisons for they kept many in perpetual durance and obscure that none could tell what became of them So one John Ashton another professor was kept in Prison till he dyed in the year 1382. Poor men doing Pennance John Purvey also had great trouble about the same time by the said Arch-Bishop who at last was forced to Recant to get out of their cruel clutches This proud and imperious Prelat Arundel caused several poor men for neglect of bringing straw to his Stables as they were ordered to undergo penance bare footed and bare headed with each a great burthen of straw at his back going before the procession on which some one wrote these verses These Baggs full of straw we bear on our backs Because my Lords Horse his Litter did Lack If ye be not good to my Lord Graces horse Ye are like to go barefoot before the Cross After the Death of King Henry the 4 in the year of the Reign of his Son King H. 5th the Prelats procured another statute de Comburendo Heretico in which it was ordained that all such who would not abjure these opinions of the Lollards contrary to the received Catholick Faith should after conviction forfeit all their goods and chattels and their bodies openly burnt alive And upon this and the former statute Sr. Roger Acton Knight John Brown John Beverly and others to the number of 36 persons were burnt in St. Gyles's fields in January 1413. The cruel Persecution of the Lord Cobham The next noted man who was persecuted by these Tyrannical bloodsuckers was Sr. John Oldcastle Ld. Cobham who was a favourer
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
Whaddon who were Martyr'd and for holding several of Wickliffs opinions was Condemned to be imprisoned for 7 years and to eat nothing but bread and water every Fryday during that time and also in the beginning of every Lent and Maunday Thursday to do open pennance Several others were forced to abâ—ure and to do open pennance None can imagine â—he grievous sufferings that the people of God indured in those days and it would be too tedious to â—numerate some of them being accused for having a â—ible in their house And in the year 1430. one â—ohn Hovedon a wool winder and Citizen of London â—as burnt near the Tower as Fabian writes About the same time Nicholas Canon in Northfolk was forced to abjure and had 3 publick disciplines about the Cloysters of the Cathedral of Norwich and imprisoned besides In the year 1431. Thomas Bagley Priest an adherent to Wickliffs Doctrine was burnt in Smithfield about the midst of Lent after he had been degraded And also Paul Craw was burnt the same year Anno 1439. one Richard Wich was burnt who being a priest was first degraded and then burnt on Tower-Hill for an Heretick He was esteemed a very holy man in so much that after his Death the people went to the place where he was burnt and there prayed and reared an heap of stones and set up a cross in his Memory which troubled the clergy and made them get a prohibition from the King to hinder and punish such as should resort thither as to Pilgrimage And not long after by reason of the malice of the Cardinal of Winchester and other Prelates the good Duke of Gloucester was arrested in few days after found dead in his Bed About the year 1456. when Thomas Burrscheer was Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester a good man was brought into trouble and persecuted by his fellow Prelates for holding several opinions contrary to their Romish Doctrines and for his faith and profession of the Gospel After he had been cited before the Arch-Bishop and other prelates and much pains and endeavours used to bring him from his opinions they at last drew up a form of Recantation which they forced him to declare to the people by many menaces and hard usage for all which he was detained in prison and what became of him was not known The Burning of John Goose and others We have briefly gone thorow the reigns of those Princes since the Clergy obtained the Writ de Comburendo for the burning of Hereticks and none has scaped that cruel punishment more or less in any of their reigns since King Rich. 2d and for ought we can see is rather likely to increase than decrease for in the Reign of King Ed. 4th of the Line of York who succeeded King Hen. 6th whom he caused to be murdered we find Anno 1473 one Jehn Goose a godly servant of Jesus Christ was condemned to the fire and burnt on Tower Hill in the month of August Being delivered over to the secular power into the hands of Sheriff Belisdon he endeavoured all he could to cause him to renounce his opinions to save his Life but this constant Martyr would not hearken to the Temptation but desiring the Sheriff to let him have some victuals to refresh him the Sheriff commanded the same and he eating a very hearty Dinnet as if he were unconcerned and giving God thanks for his meal and refreshment he said that he should pass a sharp showr e're he should go to supper after which being led to the place of Execution he dyed with great Constancy and praysing the Lord yeilded up his Spirit to God Ex polychron The Burning of several others In the reigns of King Ed. 5th and his Bloody Uncle and Usurper King Rich. 3d we do not find any Martyr'd their Reigns being but short and full of Trouble but in the Reign of King Hen. 7th about the year 1494 there was a very ancient Lady about 80 years of Age named Joan Boughten burnt in Smithfield for holding the opinions of Wickliff She dyed on the 28 of April being very constant and returned to the menaces of Bishops that she knew her self beloved of God and his holy Angels and that she feared not the Fire and in the midst thereof she cryed to God to receive her Soul She was much beloved and her Ashes were carried away by such as secretly professed the Gospel and kept as a Relick In the year 1497 several were forced to do pennance bare footed and bare headed with faggots on their shoulders before St. Paul's Cross during the procession and Sermon there And in the following year 1498 in the beginning of May a priest was burnt And the same year in Northfolk was burnt a very Godly man named Brabram and another in July that year burnt in Smithfield In the year 1499. above 60 persons in Buckinghamshire in the Diocess of Lincoln William Smith being then Bishop were forced to pennance with faggots on their shoulders for the Gospels sake And at Amersham in the same County was burnt one Wiliam Tylsworth a godly Martyr in a Close called Stanly Anno 1506. He was about 60 years of Age who being bound to the Stake and the Faggots about him ready to suffer the barbarous Papists caused his only daughter being a Marryed woman to set fire to her own Father her Husband John Clark doing pennance at the same time with a Faggot before the fire with many others And the next day after one Father Roberts was Martyr'd at Buckingham At whose burning there were 9 Persons forced to bear Faggots for pennance And two or three years after at the same Town of Amersham were burnt Thomas Bernard an Husbandman and James Morden a labouring man both in one fire And at the same time there were thirty more who bare Faggots and were burned in the right cheek The manner thus Their necks were tyed fast with Towels to a Post and their hands bound that they could not stir and so the Iron being hot was clapt to their cheeks being stigmatized for the Gospels sake And this we must look for again whenever Popery comes to have Dominion in this Kingdom At the same time one Father Rogers was kept in the Bishops Prison for 14 weeks night and day and so cruelly handled with cold hunger and Irons that when he was let forth of prison he could never go upright as long as he liv'd The Cruel handling and Murder of Thomas Chase In the same year 1506 at Amersham also one Thomas Chase of that town was cruelly handled in the Bishops prison being a man of a very Godly and Sober behaviour speaking against the idolatry and superstition of the Papists for which he was condemned to the Bishops prison at Wooborn called little ease where he lay bound and manacled with Gyves Fetters Chains and Irons pinched with hunger and thirst having nothing given him but by Chaplains who mingled with their Alms bitter tants scoffs
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
â—ashforâ—â— being the d ngâ—â—er â—f onâ— Robert Lâ—shford a Cutler who dying her Mother married John Warren an Upholster of whose Maâ—â—yâ—dom and also her Mothers Elizabeth Warreâ— we hâ—â—â— spoken and now the dâ—ughter was also broâ—ght to the Stake she was a maid of about 20 years of Age and was brought before Bonner that â—â—mercâ—fal Butcher before whom she Confessed her saith â—nd told him she could not goe to Mass nor acknowledg the bodily presence in the Sacrament and hâ— seeing he could by no Perswasions make her turn from her Religion she was condemned and suffer'd in the same fâ—â—e with the rest leâ—ling her faith with her blood And thus these 7 blessed Martyrs ended theiâ— lives in the flames being sent to heaven in a fiâ—ry Chariot On the 31 of the same mâ—â—th and yeer no less than 5 more viz. 4 women and one man suffered in one fire at Canâ—â—â—â—â—y Their names were Jâ—hn Lâ—mns a young man Ann Albâ—ight Joâ—n Câ—â—more Agâ—is Sâ—â—th a widdow and Jâ—â—n Sole a Married wife all of them being condemned for the same things denying the Popish Mass to be a Sacrament but Idolatry for which they all joyfully received their Martyrdom with â—reat constancy when they were in the midst of the Flames they all fâ—ll to singing of Psalms to the â—reat amâ—â—â—n 〈◊〉 of their persecutors some of them weeâ—ing to bâ— hoâ—â—â—hem Archbishop Cranmer Marâ—â—'d 〈◊〉 Oxford In pursuance 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 view of â—â—â—istical persecutions we shall â—â—â—e yoâ— a very â—â—â—â—â—nct Relation of the Life and 〈◊〉 of that â—â—st worthy and Religious Prelate Dr. 〈◊〉 Arâ—hbishop of Canterbury who suffered for the Gospel sake at Oxford On the 21th of March 〈◊〉 He was born in Notâ—â—ghamshire of a very 〈◊〉 â—â—mily bred up carefully at School and sent to the University of Cambridg where he profited wâ—ll in his Studies and was at last made Fellow of 〈◊〉 Colledg When he was Master of Arts and Fellow of the Colledg he married a gentlemans daughter and so lost his Fellowship and was made thereupon Reader in Buckingham Colledg But not long after his wife dying in Childbed his old Companions desirous of his Company chose him again Fellow of the Colledg where he grew in great repute and Commenced Dr. in Divinity and was commonly appointed one of those who were to examine such as were to take the Degrees of Batchelours or Doctors of Divinity now he favouring the knowledg of the Scripture often put by such whom he found ignorant in the History of the Scripture which extreamly enraged the Priests and Fryers many of which Mass-mongers could not tell who was Solâ—mons Father so little were they acquainted with the History of the Bible studying other Authors to little purpose This First begat the envy of the Papists against him He was however chosen to be one of the Fellows of the Cardinal 's new founded Colledg at Oxford which he refused not without the great indignation of that proud Prelate But it hapned that whilst he Continued at Cambridg the plague raging in the University that he removed to a friends at Waâ—tham and the King passing that way some of his followers as Gardner his secretary and Fox his Almoner lying at the same house with Dr. Cranmer whom they knew had accidentally some discourse of the Kings scruple of Conscience for marrying his Brother's wife and upon the Divorce he had sued for at Rome and the proceedings thereupon which was the general Discourse at that time Dr. Cranmer without any design declared his mind so to the purpose telling them that he thought they did not goe the ready way to work by prosecuting the Laws Ecâ—lesiastical when it had been more proper to have 〈◊〉 the point discoursed by Divines and the auâ—â—ority of the Word of God in the Scripture which â—â—ght be better done in England and in the Univer … than at Rome This being told to the King he caused Dr. Cranmer to be sent for to him to London to the Doctors great trouble not desiring to interest himself in the business but the King sending his peremptory command he was forced to obey against his mind and having by several discourses well satisfied the King he commanded him to write his mind fully on the point and ordered the Earle of Wiltshire to entertain him in his house at Durham place and to let him have Books and what ever he wanted Accordingly Doctor Cranmer wrot his mind fully and delivered it to the King in which he shewed by the Authority of the Scripture and of general Councels and ancient Writers that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority whereby he might dispence with the word of God and the Holy Scripture This opened the Kings eyes and rejoycingly he asked the Dr. if he durst stand by it which he told him he would even to the Popes face at Rome if he would be pleased to send him thither whereupon the King sent the question to most of the Universities of Europe to be disputed on and by most it was Concluded that no such Matrimony could be Lawful by the Word of God or Authority of the H. Scripture The King also sent Dr. Cranmer to dispute the point at Bonnonie where the Pope then was with his Ambassador the Earl of Wiltshire and several other Doctors and learned men in company When they came before that proud Antichristian Bishop he sat inthroned in great State under a Canopy in Rich Robes and Sandals on his feet which in a proud manner he held out to the Earl to Kiss but he disdaining it stood still but his spaigniel by what instinct we know not ran to his held up foot and caught it in his mouth so rudely and unmannerly that the old Bishop was somewhat afrâ—ghted which made the English men smile But after the first Complement the Earl told him from his Master that he had brought with him certain learned men who were there ready to prove that no man jure divino could or ought to marry his brothers wife and that the Bishâ—p of Rome could or ought noâ— to dâ—spence to the Contrary Promâ—se was made that the point should be discussed but thâ— old fox after many put offs and delays â—â—ut them away without aâ—â—â—ing so ingrareful a dispute The Eâ—â—bâ—â—s dot and the rest returned home but Dr. Câ—â—mer by order went to Vienna to the Emperor to answer what the Emperors learned Council could say against it and he so satisfied the greâ—t and Learned Corâ—â—â—tus â—grâ—ppa with his reasons that no publick Disputation would be suffered to be had for which that learned mâ—n fell into the Emperors displeâ—suâ—â— Upon his return home having done to the King such singular service and Archbishop Wâ—rren then dying the King made Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Câ—â—â—â—buâ— in his place Here he got the Envy of all the Popish Prelates his enemies for oppugning the Popes authority but this good and worthy man shewed himself a Bishop according to the Rule of St.
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