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
same delivered over to the secular power to be burned which decree was performed in Smithfield on the 20th day of the same month being 16 days after they had Murthered him to the great grief and disdain of the people Norwithstanding after all this tragical and cruel handling of the dead Body and their fair and colourable shew of Justice yet the Inquest staid not their diligence in searching out the truth and the cause and means of Mr. Hunâ—'s death insomuch that they were called before the Lords Chief-Justices and also before the King himself and his Privy Council about this matter and the determination at last was left to them and after great search and deliberation they found by good proof and sufficient Evidence that Doctor Horsey the Bishop of London's Chancellor Charles Joseph the Sumner and John Spalding the Bell-Ringer had privily and maâ—iciously committed this Murther and therefore indicted them all three as willful Murtherers Notwithstanding by the power of the Bishop of London with Cardinal Woolsey then in great favour the next Sessions the King's Attorney General pronounced the Indictment against Dr. Horsey to be false and untrue and that he was no way guilty of the Murther Being thus freed he went away to Exeter and for shame durst never after appear in London The aforesaid Inquest found by most evident signs that the said Mr. Hun could not have hang'd himself and that his Wrists had-been hard bound with Cords and they found that bis Neck had been broken below the silken Girdle they had â—anged him in and that there were two streams of Blood on his Jacote a great clodder in the lappet of his Coat â—hich could not happen to him after â—e was hanged Besides there was no place for â—im to get up to do the deed But besides these â—roofs Charies Joseph freely confessed of himself â—hat 〈◊〉 those Heresies laid to Mr. Hunn's charge were wrote and invented by the Chancellor and also that he and John the Bell-Ringer together with Dr. Horsey himself who assisted them murthered the said Mr. Hun who was lying on bis Bed and at the bidding of the aforesaid Chancellour who said lay hold on the Thief they fell upon him and broke his Neck and that he the said Charles Joseph put the Girdle about Mr. Hunn's Neck and that John the Bell Ringer helping him to lift the dead Body the Chancellour put the Girdle about the Staple and so left him hanging Thus you may see Godfreying is no new thing among them Murther is their Trade and this was the cruel end of this man only for opposing the Power of the Lordly Priests and which good People you must look for again if ever the Popish Tyranny get footing in this Kingdom Lay it to heart The Martyrdom of John Stillman It would be endless to relate all the troubles the people of God then suffered in the Reign of this King or to enumerate the persons who were forced against their Consciences to abjure in the year 1517. in and about London about 35 persons were compelled to abjure among whom was one George Laud the Prior of St. Sithe Some of them afterwards being troubled in Conscience recanted and suffered death among the rest one John Stillman who about the 24 day of September 1518. was apprehended and brought before Richard Fitz-James then Bishop of London at Fulham and charged for speaking against the worshipping of Images and for that he had commended Wickliff and said he waâ— a Saint in Heaven and that his Book called Wickliff's Wicket was a good and holy Book From thence he was had to the Lollardâ— Tower and or the 22 day of Octob. brought before the Consistory aâ— Paul's and there examined by Thomas Hed the Bishops Vicar General upon several Articles objected against him and he the said John Stillman owning the truth and persevering in the same he was condemned of Heresie and delivered over to the Sheriffs of London on the 25th of the same Month and publickly burnt in Smithfield Thomas Man and Robert Cosin Martyrs The next in order was Thomas Man who the 29. of March 1518. was likewise burned in Smithfield He had for divers years been persecuted and imprisoned forced to abjure and to do Pennance after which they kept him in a Monastery as their servant from whence he escaped his Conscience troubling him for denying the Truth but being retaken he was proceeded against as a relapsed Heretick by the aforesaid Thomas Hed Vicar General who produced false Witnesses against him who swore several Articles that they said were Heresie and though he charged the Witnesses of Adultery and Theft he could not be heard and those they had assigned him for Advocates being Papists betrayed his Cause and wrested his Words to his destruction upon which he was condemned as a relapsed Heretick with these gloseing words Rogamus attentè in Visceribus Jesu Christi ut c. In English thus We desire in the Bowells of the Lord Jesus Christ that the punishment and execution of due severity of thee and against thee in this part may be so Moderated that there be no rigorous Rigour nor yet nodissolute mansuetude but to the health and wealth of thy soul c. This Sentence Thomas Man said was like that of Cajaphas against Christ when he said to Pilate It is not lawfull for us to put any man to death But if thou letst him go thou art not Caesars Friend So they said it was not lawfull for them to take away Thomas Mans life but they delivered him up to the Sheriffs of London who caused him to be burnt without any warrant for the same About the same time one Robert Cosin who had been instructed by Thomas Man in his flight was martyred at Buckingham The chief articles against him were that he had perswaded one Joan Norman after she had bowed a piece of silver to be offered to a Saint for the health of her child not to carry it and told her she needed only to pray to Heaven And that she needed not to confess her self to the Priest but to God and that she might drink as well before she went to Mâ—ss on the Sunday as on any other day For these Perillous Doctrines this poor man was sacrificed to the Lusts of the Popish Priests Much about the same time Christopher Shoemaker was burnt at Newberry for professing the Gospel and Speaking against worshipping of Saints and going on Pilgrimages And in the years 1520 and 1521 many received the Light of the Gospel in and about Newberry Buckingham Henly Amerâ—â—m in the Diocess of London in Essex at Colchâ—ster 〈◊〉 Suffolk and Northfolk and many other places so that it spread very much before Luther appeared Cruel percâ—cution by the Bishop of Lincoln Children Compelled to set fire to their parent About the same year a most Cruel persecution was made against these Gospellers or such as professed according to the Gospel by John Longland Bishop of Lincoln who brought
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
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
their pardons priviledges grants and immunities which all the Holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them And we give over utterly to the power of the Fiend them he or she and let us quench their souls if they be dead this night in the pains of hell fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out then he put out one of the Candles and let us pray to God if they be alive that their Eyes maâ— be put out as this light Candle is with that he puâ— out another Candle let us pray to God and to ouâ— Lady to St. Peter and Paul and all holy Saints that all the senses of their Bodys may fail them and thaâ— they may have no feeling as now the light of thiâ— Candle is gone out and so he put out the 3d Candle except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and make satisfaction to God our Lady St. Peter and the worshipful company of this Cathed Chu as this Holy Cross staff that now falleth down so may they except they repent and shew themselves Then the Cross staff falling down the people gave a great shout and so the Ceremony ended Thomas Bennet was there in presence and could not choose but laugh at their foppery upoâ— which he was laid hold on but not suspected for the Heretick they had cursed contrary to the Doctrine of Christ they let him go again But nâ—â— long after his Boy setting up more Bills on the Churcâ— door he was taken in the Action and then Mâ— Bennet was seized and cast into prison he freely acknowledging the Action and that he would maintain the doing of it upon this they put him into the Stocks with heavy Irons and Bolts many disputeâ— the Priests and Fryers had with him whom he answered with much sobriety and maintained his Assertions with so much learning that they knew not what to say to him But to handle him more Cruelly as also his wife who was a partaker with her husband in his sufferings About a weeks time they endeavoured all they could to cause him to recant but in vains upon which they pronounced him an obstinate Heretick and so Condemned him to be burnt And the writ de Comburendo c. being procured and sent from London they delivered him over to Sir Tho. Denis Sheriff of Devonshire to be burnt and being brought to his Execution in a place called Liverydole without Exeter where he behaved himself with so much moderation and Christian patience making to the people such pithy and godly exhortations at his Death that many of his very enemies could not but say and Confess that he was a good man and a servant of God Yet one of them when he was at the Stake endeavouring to perswade him to pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints he denyed and told them he had but one Advocate Jesus Christ who dyed for us and now sitteth at the right hand of the Father and to him they ought only to pray which this zealous man hearing his name being Barnhouse he was so inraged that taking a furze bush on the end of a pike he set it on fire and thrust it into the Holy Martyrs face At which the Holy man holding up his hands said Sir trouble me not now and presently prayed Pater ignosce illis c. Father forgive them c. upon which fire was put to the Furzes and Wood when Mr. Bennet lifting up his hands and eyes towards heaven He cryed out O Lord receive my Spirit and so Continuing in his prayers never stir'd or mov'd but most patiently abode the Cruelty of the Fire till his Life was ended Great persecution in London About the same time a very great persecution was maintained by Bishâ—p Stokâ—sly in his Diocess of London causeing about 138 several persons to abjure and the Body of one Mr. Tracy to be taken up and burnt for an Heretick because he had spoken against the mass and praying to Saints in his Testament About the same time ten Anabaptists were also put to Death for their Religion But now after that King Henry had marryed Ann of Bullein there was a Cessation of their bloody persecution for a time and the Church had some rest from these Tyrants she favouring those of the Religion this being the Mother of our glorious Queen Elizabeth who was not long after born and now the Popes Supremacy was utterly abolished out of England And many of the High and ranting Popelings now turned their coats and preached publickly against the Supremacy of the Pope for which they before had burnt divers for maintaining it But Sir Tho. More and Bishop Fisher two great persecutors were beheaded Mr. Tyndal Martyred in Flanders In the year 1536 Willam Tyndal who may be called the Apostle of this Nation was Martyr'd in Flanders He was born on the borders of Wales and brought up in the University of Oxford where he was first Converted to the Gospel and after that he removed to Cambridg where he also studied and ripened in the study of Gods Word From thence he went into Glocester Shire and lived with one Welch a Knight of that County as a Tutor to his children where he translated the Enchiridion of Erasmus into English but being there persecuted by the Priests of that Country he was fain to fly to London and thence went into Germany where he Translated the Bible into English being assisted in it by Mr. Coverdale This translation enraged the Popish Priests so that they procured an order to have it burnt desiring to keep the people in Ignorance Afterwards Mr. Tyndal being at Antwerp where he lay was betrayed by one Phillips his own Country man to whom he had been very kind and familiar and took him to be his friend but he was deceived in him carried prisoner to Filford Castle by the Emperors officers where he continued till he was Martyr'd at the procuration of his most Cruel enemies the Priests for no other crime than translating the Bible He was first strangled at a Stake and then burnt to Ashes by the Emperors decree Mr. Tyndal crying at his death O Lord open the King of Englands Eyes The very same year Queen Ann was beheaded Mr. Lambert Martyr The next we shall take notice of is John Lambert Alias Nicholson born and brought up in Northfolk but studied at Cambridg where he was Converted by Mr. Bilney and profited very much both in the Latine and Greek tongues But perceiving the violence of the times to avoyde persecution went over into Germany to Mr. Tyndal where he remained sometime Preacher and Chaplain to an English House in Antwerp till he was disturbed by Sir Tho. Moor and taken and brought thence to London where there was 45 Articles laid to his charge all which he answered in writing He was kept in prison till the death of Archbishop Warham when he was released and kept a privat School in London but not long after he
without Abjuration and all their goods forfeited to the King and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law to deny them without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary The second being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds that it ought not to be given to the Laity The 3d that Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of chastity ought to be observ'd 5. That private Mosses are agreeable to God's Law 6. That auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be received c. and upon these Articles was granted by the same Parliament a bloody and Cruel Inquisition directed to certain persons in every shire and County to enquire into all such Heresies Felonies Contempts c. committed or done by any that they might suffer according to the Law These Articles were opposed openly in Parliament by Cranmeâ— Archbishop of Canterbury who afterwards suffâ—red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary as shall be declared And among these we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who lost his Life in the cause of God by the craft and policy of his Popish Adversaâ—ies but since it had some other shew than that of Religion only we shall let it pass and proceed to others Dr. Barnes Martyr After the Death of the Lord Cromwell Gardner raged against all that opposed the Papal power at his pleasure having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds and now 3 noted Divines suffered together in Smithfield which I shall briefly mention The first was Doctor Robert Barnes who having been bred abroad at Lovain and also at the University of Cambridg was made Prior and Master of the House of the Augustines where much to his praise he advanced the knowledg of good Letters and caused the Epistles of St. Paul to be read causing disputations of the same publickly which seemed strange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars His first Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge the Sunday before Christmass day for which he was accused of Heresie by two Fellows of Kings Hall and Articles drawn up against him and not long after he was publickly arrested by a Serjeant at Arms from London and the University was searched for Luthers Books Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London and brought before Cardinal Woolsie who was then in power After a long discourse with him the Cardinal being highly offended with him for his preaching against his Pomp Power and Dignity seeing he could not cause him to recant but stood in the justification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conscience the Scriptures he sent him to the Fleet from whence he was had again before the Cardinal and by the importunity of Gardner Fox and others he was perswaded at last to abjure and with some of the men of the Stillyard accused also for Lollardy he publickely bore a faggot After which he was remanded to the Fleet and thence was removed to Austins Fryer's in London where being Complained against to the Cardinal by those who sought his Life he was removed again to Austin Fryer's in Northampton with intent to have him burnt But he escaped thence leaving a Letter as if thorow despair h ehad gone to drown himself that they might not pursue him so that whilst they were searching the River for his Body he made his escape to London and thence beyond the seas where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum with a supplication to King Henry There he grew Familiar with Luther Melancthon Pomeran the Duke of Saxony and others and was not long after sent over by the King of Denmark as his Ambassador into England where Sir Tho. Moor sought his Life but Cromwell stood his friend After that in the time of Queen Ann he returned into England and was sent by the King as his Embassador to the Duke of Cleve But Gardner getting into the favour of the King never left till he had undermined Dr. Barneâ— who was at last sent to the Tower together with Thomas Garrat and Mr. Hierom from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom Thomas Garrat and William Hierom Martyrs Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London and having received the knowledge of the truth endeavoured all he could to promote it and haveing a parcel of Tyndols translation of the new Testament and other books treating of the Scriptures he went privately to Oxf rd to sell them there to those he knew well affâ—cted to the Gospel But his Adversarâ—es having their spies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 â—nd immâ—dâ—aâ—â— some were sent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford that they might be both burnt together and after great search he was taken but made his escape intending to fly into the west but was pursued and taken again and imprisoned and after much trouble was forced agâ—inst his Conscience to abjure After which he fled again from place to place for fear of his persecutors but was tâ—kâ—◠〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adversaries and sâ—nt to the Tower from whence he was câ—râ—â—ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome The Death of Barnes Gaâ—ret and Hierom. The 3d Companion in this glorious suffering was Mr William Hierâ—â— who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word for the comfort and edification of the People and had preached divers sermons with intent to implant in the Consciences of men the sincere Truth of Christian Religion and to weed out of mens minds traditions dreams and Popish fansies in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papists who were utter enemies of the Gospel of Christ and for this they sought this good man's Life The occasion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Cross the fourth Sunday in Lent in which speaking of Sarah and Hagar he said those who were born of the free Woman were freely Justified and the one would think nothing of false doctrine or Heresie could be gathered from these words yet he was charged therewith and convented before the King at Westminster for that he had erroneously taught the people that all that were born of Sarah were freely justified absolutely without Condition either of Baptism or Penance c. Several other things were objected against him and he was at last sent to the Tower in order to his Execution we have spoken of these 3 Martyrs severally we shall now joyn them together as fellow sufferers and Martyrs About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell a process was issued out against these three men by means of See Gardner to which they were never brought to Answer but on the 30th of July being Condemned without their knowing the cause and without any hearing were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt Then Dr. Barnes made his protestation against several false
Kent in the same month And on the 22d of the same month at Lewis in Sussex was burned Dirick Carver who was a man of small learning yet blessed by God with temporal Riches which yet was no hindrance to him in professing the Gospel tho after he was imprisoned the Ravenous Harpies left little for his wife and children After he had been several times before the Bishop and his confession read to him he owned it and being asked if he would recant or stand to the same he replyed That he would stand to his confessions for your doctrine is Poyson and Sorcery and if Christ were here said he you would put him to a worse Death than he was put to before You say you can make a god you can make a Pudding as well Your Ceremonies in the Church are full of poyson and beggerly rudiments auricular confession is contrary to Gods Word with divers others the like which made the Bishop hasten his condemnation When he came to the Town of Lewis in order to his burning the people called upon him beseeching God to strengthen him in the Faith of Jâ—sus Christ He thanked them and prayed unto God that he of his mercy would strengthen them in the like Faith When he came to the stake he kneeled down and made his prayers After he had done they took his book and threw it into the pitch'd barrel And assoon as he had stript himself he went into the barrel prepared for him himself and taking up his book he flung it among the people but the Sheriff commanded them in the Queens name on pain of Death to throw it in again that it might be burnt Then the blessed Martyr lifting up his voice said Brethren and Sisters witness all of you that I am come here this day to seal with my blood Christ's Gospel because I know it is truth It has been here truly preached but now is not Because I will not deny God's Gospel and be obedient to Man's Laws I am Condemned to dye As many of you as believe upon the Father Son and holy Spirit unto everlasting Life see you do the works appertaining to the same And as many of you as believe on the Pope of Rome you believe to your utter Cond mnation except the great mercy of God help you Immediately the Sheriff said If thou dost not believe on the Pope thou art damned both body and Soul Speak to thy God said he that â—e may deliver thee now or else strike me down to the example of the People But the Martyr reply'd the Lord forgive you your sayings Then with a loud voyce he said to the people Dear Brethren I ask you all to forgive me if I have offended any of you in word or in deed Then he prayed and said O Lord my God thou hast written He that will not forsake Wife Children House and all that ever he hath and take up thy Cross and follow thee is not worthy of thee But Lord thou knowest I have forsaken all to come unto thee Lord have mercy upon me for to thee I commend my Spirit and my Soul rejoyceth in thee When the fire was put to him he gave a spring up into the flame and cryed O Lord have mercy upon me and so ended his Life Stening and Iveson Martyrs On the 23d of the same month was also burnt at Stening another named John Launder of God-Stone in the County of Surry one of the same Town a Carpenter named Thomas Iveson was burnt in the same month at Chichester And on the 2d of August one James Abbies a young man being by the Bishop of Norwich wrought upon him to recant and gave him mony which so burthened his Conscience that he could have no rest till he had carried the Bishop his mony and owned his opinions for which on the day aforesaid he was burnt at Bury Greater and hotter the persecution grew dayly and they began now to be flesh'd in blood tho nothing satiated but still greedy of more On the 8th day of August the same year one Mr. Denly a Gentleman was Martyred at Vxbridge having been Condemned by the bloody Butcher Bonner When fire was put to him he fell a singing a psalm which Doctor Story a Popish persecutor hearing he bid one of the Sheriffs Officers fling a fagot in his face to stop his mouth which the fellow did and hit him so full in the face that the blood ran down upon which Mr. Denly was silent clapping both his Hands upon his face Then said the Popish Doctor to the fellow Thou hast marr'd a good old song At last the holy Martyr spreading his hands abroad in the midst of the flames sung again and so yeilded up his spirit into the Hands of God rejoycing On the 28th of the same month in the same place one Patrick Packington condemned by Bonner was burnt being urged to recant he told them no their Church was the Church of Satan and he would never turn to it At the same time one John Newman was Condemned by Bonner and burnt at Saffron Walden for that he argued against the bodily presence of Christ in the Sacrament they told him tho he could not see it with his bodily eyes yet it was there under the forms of Bread and wine and that the Bread and Wine was only a Quality or Accident to whom the Martyr reply'd that if they could shew him a Quality or Accident without a Subsâ—â—nce hâ— would believe them not else Besides he used this Argument so them That if the Body of Christ were really and Bodily in the Sacrament then whosoever received the Sacrament received also the Body But the wicked receiving the Sacrament receive not the Body of Christ Therefore the Body of Christ is not really in the Sacrament Tho they knew not how to answer this they knew how to burn him for his opinion which they did endeavouring to convince him with Fire and faggot This man was a Pewterer by trade Much about the same time one Richard Hook was burnt at Chichester in Sassex for the same cause About the latter end of August Six more whose names were William Coker Wiâ—â—iam Hopper Henry Lawrence Richard Collier Richard Wright and William Steer were all burnt together in one fire at Canterbury for the Gospels sake by the Papists unmercifull Tyranny Elizabeth Warren Widdow and others Martyred Towards the latter end of A gust also Elizabeth Warren the widdow of John Warren the Upholster who was Martyr'd before was burnt at Stratford Bow being persecuted by her Kinsman Dr. Story who was so Zealous as not to spare his own kindred for the cause of the Popish Church The chief Article against her was that of the real presence which she Constantly deny'd for being urged to recant she told them she never would do what they could for said she If Christ be in an error then I am in an error upon â—hâ—ch she was Condemned and suffered as above said George Tankerfeild
shine as bright as new tryed Silver to the great amazement of the beholders He suffered on the 31th day of August Anno 1555. About the beginning of September following one William Allyn a labouring man but very upright and honest of an unblemish'd reputation was Martyr'd at Walsingham for denying to fall down before the Cross and to follow in procession when he went to the Fire By reason of his former upright coversation he was suffer'd to go untyed and when he came to suffer and the chain was fastned about him he shewed such constancy that he stood quietly without the leâ—st noise or shrinking till he dyed Roger Coo and Thomas Cob Martyrs In the same Month of September Roger Coo of Milford in Suffolk Sheerman was brought into trouble and brought before the Bishop who had a long dispute with this poor man among other his discourses he asked him if he would not obey the Kings and Queens Laws To which he replyed as far as they were agreeable to the word of God he would Whether they agree with the word of God or not said the Bishop we are bound to obey them if the King were an Infidel Mark the large Conscience of this Popish Bishop To which this honest Martyr repâ—y'd If Shadrac Mesac and Abednego had so done Nebâ—chadnezzar had never confessed the living God But in the end after many troubles and afflictions he was Condemned and suffered at Yexford in Suffolk where being very aged this blessed Martyr ended his days The same month was burnt in the Town of Thetford one Thomas Cob a Butcher being condemned to the fire by the Bishop of Norwich his bloody Chancellor Dunnings In the same Month also at Canterbury about the 6th day five persons were burnt in one fire their names were George Catmir Robert Streater Anthony Burward George Brodbridge and James Tuttâ— Condemned by the Bishop of Dover upon the Arâ—icles of the Sacrament It will be too tedious to give you the relation of all that suffered for now bonfires were made of mans flesh by these Tyrannous Papists almost thorow out England but fell more or less in those places where the Bishops were more or less merciful or tyrannical and we find the chief persecution and havock to be made in London and the Counties about it as Essex Northfolk Suffolk Kent Surry and the like yet in other places we find several Martyr'd for about the midst of this month Thomas Hayward and John Goreway were Condemned and burnt at the Town of Litchfield Robert Glover and Cornelius Bongey Martyrs On the 20th of September two blessed Martyrs to wit Robert Glover and Cornelius Bongey were burnt at Coventry Robert Glover was the Son of a Gentleman of good estate whose elder Brother John Glover lived in Coventry and was one who professed the Gospel for which the Bishop of that Diâ—câ—ss sent to apprehend him but the Major being his friend gave him timely notice of it so that with another Brother he made his escape leaving Râ—bert in his Chamber who by reason of a long sickness was not able to go out of it or scarce from his Bed yet these Papistical Catch-poles full of all manner of cruelty not finding the prey they look'd for violently haled this Martyr out of the House and carried him before the Sheriffs who knowing he was not the person nominated in the warrant would have dismissed him but the Bishops Catch-poles would right or wrong though in a very weak condition have him before the Bishop which they did who examining him and finding that he also held the same opinions with his Brother and also learnedly disputed the same with the Bishop being a Master of Arts of the University of Cambridge he was sent to prison mark the Bishops Charity and put into a Cold place next the Dungeon in Lichfeild without bed only a pad of straw to lye on which in his condition was enough to have kill'd him had not God in his great mercy supported him From thence he was had to Coventry where he was kept in prison strictly without letting his relations come at him and without Pen Ink and Paper or any Books but a Latin Testament Prayer book he had about him unknown to them After he was condemned and the writ for his burning came down he found himself very heavy and lumpish at which being troubled he complained to a friend nâ—med Austin fearing that God had forsaken him His friend bid him to wait the Lord's pleasure which he did fervently praying that God would send him comfort yet he Continued heavy pensive and without alacrity tho not distrusting till the day he went to be burnt and he was no sooner in sight of the Stake but he was suddenly replenish'd with the power and Love of God feeling such comfortable and heavenly Joyes that he Clapt his hands together crying out O Austin Austin He is come he is come with such joy as if he had escaped some eminent danger rather than going to dye such was the wonderful change of this good man With him was Burned Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Coventry condemned by the same Bishop and both patiently dye I together praysing the Lord. As for John and William the other Brothers who fled they both not long after dyed the latter in Shropshire the Former some where in the Country near Coventry being often sought for so that by lying in the woods he caught cold and an Ague which kill'd him he was privatly inter'd in a Church-yard without Parson or Clark but it coming to the Ears of the Bishops Chancellor he sent a Command to the Parson to have him taken up and his body to be thrown into the high way the Parson returned answer that the body was by this time putrified and stunk that none could come near it he then sent word that he should lye for a year and that then his bones should be dug up and thrown into the high way for horses to trample on them and that then he would come and hallow the Church yard Williams body lay two dayes and a night without burial being cast out in the fields till some Charitable people buryed it by night in a broom feild several others they served after the same manner and taking up the bones of others not letting them rest quiet in their Graves On the 9th of October following were condemned on the 16th burnt at Ely two more the one named Râ—b Pigot a painter the other Wâ—â—liam Wolsey both of Wishbich These two tho burnt together were of different tempers the former was meek gentle and humble saying often to his adversaries he would yeild to them if they could convince him by the Scriptures but he could not do any thing against his Conscience the other was bold stout and vehement detesting their doings and shewing a great aversion of Spirit against them knowing he should receive nothing from them but Cruelty unless he would prove an Idolater like them and forsake
their Idolatry and Superstition Essex was fruitful in Martyrs the fires were so frequent that we can but just name them to you On the 28th of April Six were burnt together at Colchester being condemned to the fire by the Bishop of London or rather Butcher of London Bonner chearfully ending their lives to the glory of God's name and the great incouragement of others This bloody Bonner had mercy on none all went to pot who came under his Clutches one Hugh Lavercock a Painter by trade of the Parish of Barkin 68 years of Age and a Cripple and John Apprice a poor blind man were both accused to the Bishop who sent for them to examination which was about the Sacrament the bodily presence of Christ in the same which they denyed and Lavercock told him that their Doctrine was contrary to the Scriptures and the Blind Man said you are not of the Catholick Church for ye make Laws to Kill men and then make the Queen your Hangman This so enraged the Bishop that he immediatly caused the definitive sentence of excommunication to be pronounced against them and so delivered them over to the secular power to be burnt they were carryed from the Bishop to Newgate and on the 15. of May 1556. were both drawn thorow London to Stratford le Bow when they were come to the stake after they had put the Chain about them the Cripple flung away his Crutch merrily saying to the blind man his fellow sufferer Be of good cheer Brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will shortly heal us both thee of thy blindness and me of my lamenest And so patiently fire being put to them these two poor men but holy Martyrs suffered in the fire and praising God yeilded up their Souls into his hands whose name to the end they Constantly confessed The very next day after these suffered being the 16th of May 3 women were Martyred in Smithfield a fourth was condemned with them by Bonner whose name was Margeret Ellis but she dyed in Newgate before the day of their execution the names of the other 3 were Katherin Hut a widdow Joan Hornes a maid and Elisabeth Thackvel These being examined upon several Articles but especially that of the Sacrament which chiefly touched their Lives Katherine Hat told the Bishop that she deny'd it to be God because it was a dumb God and made with mens hands and Joan Horns said If you can make your god bleed or shew any Condition of a living Body I will believe you and not else And as for the Romish See I forsake all its abominations from which good Lord deliver us Those 3 innocent women were condemned for the cause of the Gospel had to Smithfield and willingly gave their Bodyes to be burnt dying more joyfully in the flames than many in their beds such a Lord is God glorious and wonderfull in all his Saints A blind Boy and a Bricklayer burnt at Gloucester In the same month of May at Gloucester suffered one Thomas Croker a Bricklayer and a blind boy named Thomas Drowrie who had been much confirmed in the Faith by Bishop Hooper This boy being examined upon the Article of the Sacrament by Dr. Williams the Bishops Chancellor and being asked if he believed the bodyly presence in the Sacrament the boy answered boldly no he did not believe it Then being asked who taught him that heresie That did you said the boy in the Pulpit of this Church where you told us in your Sermon That the Sacrament was to be received Spiritually by Faith and not Carnally and really as the Papists have heretofore taught At this the Dr. was vext but says he to the Boy do you as I have done repent and you shall live or else be burnt Tho you said the Boy can so easily dispense with your self and mock God the World and your Conscience yet I can't nor will do so Then said the Chancellor I will read the sentence against thee Gods will be done reply'd the blind boy And so he was condemned with the other before mentioned and delivered over to the secular power both of them in one fire Constantly and Joyfully yeilding their souls into the hands of the Lord Jesus On the 21st of the same month of May three men were burnt together at Beckles in Suffolk their names were Thomas Spicer a Labourer John Denny and Edmond Pool whom they were so hasty to put to Death that they burnt them before the writ de Comburendo came from London When they were at the stake they prayed and recited the belief and when they came to the Article of belief in the Catholick Church a Knight that was by said that is well 't is the best word you have said yet To which Pool answered Tho we believe in the Catholick Church we do not believe in the Romish Church Then fire being put to them they praised God in the midst of the flames with such an audible voyce that it seem'd wonderful to all those who stood by and heard them But some were so wicked that they bid the people to fling faggots at them to stop their mouths which however none would do Several other Martyrs and 13 in one fire In the next Month of June on the 6th day 4 more were burnt in Lewis in Sussex after long Imprisonment their names were Tho. Harland a Carpenter John Oswald an Husbandman Thomas Avington a Turner and Thomas Read In the same month in the same Town was burned Thomas Wood a Minister and Thomas Mills a lay man Several dyed in prisons which we do not mention We shall now mention a large malfire of humane flesh no less than 11 men and two women burnt together at Stratford on Bow condemned by Bonner three more were condemned but reprieved by the Cardinal these on the 27th of June were drawn from Newgate to the place aforesaid most of them being of Essex their names were Henry Adlington a Sawyer Lawrence Parnam a Smith Henry Wye a Brewer William Hallywell a Smith Thomas Bowyer a Weaver George Searles a Taylor Edmund Hurst a Labourer Lyon Cawch a Broker Ralf Jackson a serving man John Derifal a Labourer John Routh a Labourer Elizabeth Pepper the wife of a weaver and Agnes George the wife of an husbandman whose husband was afterwards condemned but saved by the Death of the Queen When they were brought to the place they were divided and put a while apart into two several Rooms then the Sheriff going to one company told them their companions had recanted and had saved their Lives advising them to do the like but they answered That their Faith was not builded on man but on Christ Crucified The Sheriff finding no good to be done with them he went to the other company telling them the same lye to whom they answered as their brethren had done that their Faith was not built on man but on Christ and his Word c. These 11 men were tied to 3 stakes