â—â—een Mary sickned 4 Martyrs were burnt togeâ—â—er at St. Edmunds-bury by the Bâ—shop of Norwich â—â—e names of these were James Ashâ—ey a Bâ—tchelor â—â—on Cook is Sawyer Robert â—lâ—â—es a Sheerman and Exander Lane a Wheel-wright In Ipâ—wich on the 4 of November one Alexander â—â—uch and Alice Driver were Martyr'd the aforesaid â—â—â—e Driver having both her ears out off for comâ—ring Queen Mary to Jezabel When they came to â—â—e stake singing of Psalms the Sheriff was so cruel â—â—d churâ—â—sh to them that he interrupted them and â—ould not let them stay to pray but would have â—em fastned to the stake and was enraged to see â—â—y take them by the hand threatning to have them 〈◊〉 prison yet they would not forbear Thus they â—xpressed their malice to these poor wretches but his wicked Sheriff died within 3 weeks after which â—as loâ—k'd on as a just judgment upon so cruel a â—ersecutor In the same month 3 more were burned at Bary â—â—eir names were Philip Hâ—mfreâ— John David â—nd Henry David his Brother At Exeter a poor â—oman was burnt being the wife of one Pâ—â—eâ— of â—bout 56 years of Age and being a silly ignorant â—oman in the esteem of the Priests they thought â—hey should be able to overcome her but they â—â—avelled in vain and all they could do could not â—ervert her being strengthend by the Spirit of â—â—od When the came to the stake she shewed â—â—eat chearfulness and alacrity and said I thank â—ee O God this day I have found what I long â—â—ught â—â—r And being uâ—ged to recant Nay said she God â—â—rbid I shâ—uld lose Eternal Lâ—f for this Carual and â—ort life I will never turn from my heavenly husband â—â—my earthly huâ—band from the fellowshâ—p with Angels to morial Children And if my husband 〈◊〉 hâ—an be faithfull then am I theirs God is my Fâ—â—â— God is my Mother God is my Sister my Brother 〈◊〉 Husband God is my friend most faithfull Fâ—â—â— being put to her she cryed out God be mercifâ—â— me a Sâ—â—ner God be mercifull to me a Sinner as so Continued whilst she had life The last Martyrs burnt in Queen Marys days The last that suffered for the Gospel in the day of Queen Mary and that but 6 or 7 days before her death were three mâ—n and 2 women 〈◊〉 the 10th of November at Canterbury their a mâ—â—â— were Jâ—on Corajord Christopher Brown Joâ—â— Hâ—â—â— Alice Snoth and Kâ—therinâ—◠〈◊〉 an aged woman These Five closed up the rage of Queâ—â—â— Marys persecution for the rest mony of thâ—t wâ—râ— for which so mâ—ny had dyed before and geveâ— their Lives meâ—kly and patiently suffering thâ— violent malice of the Papists The matteâ— for which they were judged to the fire was for believing that the Body Blood 〈◊〉 Bones of Christ was not in the Sacrament of 〈◊〉 Altar Upon which these poor people were 〈◊〉 communicated in these Words In the name 〈◊〉 our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the most migâ—â—â— God and by the power of his Holy Spiâ—it and the Authority of his holy Catholick and Apâ—â—â—lick Church we do hereby give into 〈◊〉 Hâ—â—ds of Sathan to be destroyed the Bodys of all these Blasphemers and hereticks that do maintain c Upon this they were delivered over to the secular power and such was the inveterate malice of these Papists to those who professed the Gospel that although they well knew that the Queen was given over by the Physitians and that the could not live yet they had a mind to dispatch these poor wretches and to rid them of their lives blasphemously making use of the names of God and Christ in their Excommunications to torment the Bodys of the Saints with fire and 〈◊〉 give their Souls to the Devil and all to arâ—â—â—o their bloody ends When these Five came 〈◊〉 the stake they prayed very fervently to God â—â—at he would have mercy on the Nation and â—â—at their Blood migâ—t be the last that should 〈◊〉 shed by the violent Rage of the bloody Papists â—nd so it was that God heard their prayers for â—â—ese were the last who suffered for the Gospel 〈◊〉 her Days for on the 17th of the same month â—he dyed and the glorious and renowned Queen â—hizâ—â—eth her Sister succeeded and put a full peâ—iod to the rage reign and bloody Tyrannie of â—he Church of Rome in England and restored the â—eformed Church as now Established to its splenâ—â—our and purity which having passed the firy â—â—val and drunk so deeply of persecution one would believe should never go about to persecute others But God preserve this Nation from the dreadful Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and let all people heartily say Amen FINIS
the fiery Laws in Execution against these protestant dissenters he was brought before the Bishop and examined and several articles exhibited against him concerning the bodily presence of Christ in the Sacrament which he would in no wise deny but offered to maintain his opinions as truth by the H. Scriptures and when they saw that they could by no means make him recant he was condemned to be burnt and at the same time with John Warren This John Warren was formerly condemned to be burnt in the days of King Henry the 8th with Ann Askew but then pardoned by the King but they now finding him professing the Gospel which he always Constantly did Bonner the cruel persecutor of God's people laid hold of him and had several Articles brought against him which he plainly confessed being only the Truths he had owned and declared and willingly yeilded himself to be put to death for a Testimony of them On the 30th of May they were both brought to the Stake in Smithfield whilst Mr. Cardmaker was in privat conference with the Sheriffs who were perswadeing him to recant and which discourse lasted a long time Mr. Warren was stripp'd fastned to the Stake it was rumour'd by some of the Papists that Cardmaker would turn to save his life and by the long discourse he had with the Sheriffs the People began to Suspect it would prove true but when at last they saw him depart from them and strip himself to his shirt kneel down at the Stake shouting aloud they cryed out God be praysed the Lord strengthen thee Cardmaker The Lord Jesus receive thy Spirits and this continued till the Executioner put fire to them that they both with great constancy alacrity of Spirit passed thorow the flame to everlasting rest and peace among God's holy Martyrs to enjoy the Crown of Victory prepared for them Two more burnt in Essex On the 29th of the same month was also Condemned John Simson and John Ardley both husbandmen of Essex and in Bonners Diocess who soon dispatch'd them for their Conscience sake tho they offered to save their lives all their estates or what ever they had so their Consciences might be free but nothing but their blood would serve their turns and therefore they were sent into Essex where about the 10th of June they both suffered the fire in several places Simson at Rochford and Ardley on the same day at Railey in which places both finished their Martyrdom most quietly in the quarrel of Christ's Gospel Mr. Hawks burnt in Essex On the same day was burned Mr. Tho. Hawks whom we have formerly mentioned to have been Condemned with 5 other Martyrs whose storys we have given you but this Gentleman for he was one and bred a Courtier haveing served the Earl of Oxford all the time of King Edward was respited till this time in hopes to prevail with him to recant tho in vain for he was most constant and resolute not to deny his Faith for he boldly told the Bishop that if he had an hundred lives and an hundred bodys he would give them all to be torn to pieces reather than abjure and recant He was first taken because he had kept his child 3 weeks without Christning it because it was against his Conscience to yeild to their Popish Ceremonies as their Oyl Salt Cream Spittle Candle and conjuring Water which he decalred was not of divine Institution but mens foolish Inventions For this he was had before the Bishop and he being a man of parts and a gentleman much pains was taken with him and he was much pittied for that he was a very handsom man of a fine make and sweet Countenance and of an excellent sweet nature But all this was nothing to the Love he bore to God for whose sake he forsook all the offers and pleasures of the world to undergo a rigorous Death After his Condemnation aforesaid he was sent into Essex and delivered over to the Lord Rich to see him burnt who brought him guarded to the place of execution which was at Coxhall in Essex A little before the time he used much exhortation to his Friends to be stedfast in the Faith some of which were greatly confirmed by him both by his talk and example but much more by his death for some of them who feared the sharpness of the punishment and thought it was intollerable to the flesh desired of him if he were able to give them a privat sign when he was burning if it were to be born which he promised to do and if that the pain were tollerable and might be quietly born he would lift up his hands over his head before he gave up the Ghost After he came to the place with fervent prayers made to God he with great patience and meekness addressed himself for the Fire being bound to the Stake with a chain an innumerable company of people encompassing him and lamenting him After he had spoken many things to the Lord Rich concerning their shedding thus the innocent blood of Gods Saints and that his prayers were ended they set fire to him in which he continued long and when that his speech was taken away with the violence of the fire and his skin shrivled and drawn together and his fingers ends consumed in the flame and the rest of his Arms and body burning so that all men thought he had been certainly dead suddenly and contrary to all expectation being mindful of his promise to his friends he reached up his hands over his head burning of a light fire and as it were rejoyceing clapt them together 3 times to the amazement of all the people upon which arose such an out-cry or shout especially by those who understood the sign that the like had not been heard After which this blessed Martyr sinking down into the fire gave up the Ghost being a most Constant and faithful witness of the Gospel Thomas Wats Martyr'd as Chelmsford with 3 others in Essex Thomas Wats also of Essex having been sent up to the bloody Bishop Bonner after many examinations and appearances he was condemned to the fire and sent down to Chelmsford in Essex to be Martyr'd the Lord Rich being ordered to see him executed where his wife and 6 Children came to him to whom he said My dear Wife and children I must now depart from you and hence forth know you no more but as the Lord hath given you to me so I give you again unto the Lord whom I charge you to obey and fear and beware you turn not to this abominable Papistry against which by God's Grace I shall anon give testimony with my blood Let not the Murthering of God's saints cause you to relent but take an occasion thereby to grow stronger in the Lords quarrel and I doubt not but he will be a merciful Father to you Two of his weeping Children offer'd themselves to be burnt with him but he kissing and Hesting them bad them farewel and so was carried
to brotherly Love and shewing the Vanity of the world exhorting to Alms and obedience to the Queen with many other excellent things and at last He made a short Confession of his Faith repeating the Articles of the Creed continuing I believe every Article of the Catholick Faith every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Jesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the new and old Testament anâ— now said he I am come to the great thing th t so much troublâ—th my Conscience more than â—ny â—oing thâ—t ever I did or said in my whole Late and that is the sâ—ttiâ—g my hand to a writing C ntrary to Truth which I now renounce being done only for fear of Death and for as much as my hand offended against my heart this my hand shall be first of all punishâ—d for it and assâ—on as I can coâ—e to the fire shall be first burâ—t As for the Pope I refusâ— him as Câ—riâ—â—s Eâ—â—my and Antichrist with all his f â—sâ— Dâ—ctrinâ— As for the Sacrament I believe is as I have taughâ— it in my Book against the Bishâ—p of Wincâ—ester which shall stand at the last dâ—y before the Judgment of God where the Papistiâ—â— Doctrine Contrary thereto shâ—ll be never able to appear All the people being amazed looked one upâ—â— another and all the Priests and Fryers were in an uprore seeing their great expectation frustrated and Cole bellowed from the Pulpit stop the Heretick Mouth pull him down pull him down Upon which the rabble of Priests and Fryers laid hands on Cranmeâ— and pull'd him off the stage and all things being prepared for his burning in the same place where the Martyrs Râ—â—ey and Latâ—mer suffered they haled and drâ—gged him thither to which place all the coâ—â—any râ—n yelping and hauling at the good Archbishâ—p When he came to the place he kneeled down making but short prayerâ— seeing them so â—ager to have his Life and putting off his garments to his shâ—rt which hung down to his seer which were â—â—re as likewise his head being thus stript they fâ—sâ—ned the holy Martyr to the Stake with a chain and after several of them â—ad tryed in vain to move him to recant and saw that he was stedfast they caused fire to be set to him into which assoon as iâ— began to burn he thrust his right hand which had signed the Recantation which he hâ—ld therein stedfastly and unmoved sâ—eing that once therewith being of a stâ—me be wipeâ— his face that all men might see his hand was burned before his body was touched His body aboad the burning and torment of the Flame with such Constancy and stedfastness that he was not seen to stir or move any more than the stake to which he was fastned shewing to their amazement a noble Constancy of mind and heroick fortitude His eyes were seen to be lifted up towards Heaven and he was heard oftentimes to repeat whilst his hand was burning O unworthy right hand at last in the greatest of the flame he gave up the Ghost useing these his last words O Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This was the end of this blessed Martyr Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered about the middle of the Reign of the Cruel Queen Mary Two women burnt at Ipswich About the same time suffered in the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk two simple women â—he one named Agâ—es Potten the other Joan Trunchfeild the wife of a Shoemaker both for that they denied the bodyly presence of Christ in the Sacrament they both dyed with wonderful Constancy exhorting the people at their death today hold on and believe the word of God and to despise the ordinances of the Romish Antichrist and after fire was set to them they stood holding up their hands and calling on the name of God in the midst of the flames till they dyed In the same Month of march on the 24th day three men were burnt in one fire without Salisbury in Wiltshire for the same cause as other Martyrs before them for denying the Popes Supremacy Purgatory and that murthering Article of the bodily presence their names were John Mandrel an husbandman who had long professed the truth and in King Henry 8. days had done penance William Coberly a Taylor and John Spicer a free-mason all 3 Companions both before and at their Deaths They died with great fortitude and when the Sheriff offered them pardon if they would turn one of them replyed not for all Salisbury And John Spicer said O Mr. Sheriff must you be the Butcher of these Papists and be made guilty of Shedding innocent blood before the Lord Coberly was longer in burning than the other and when his Arms were burnt off and his body hung over the chain black and shrunk up so that all thought he had been dead he suddenly rose up again and then fell down and dyed Six men Martyred in Smithfeild About the 23d of April 1556. were burnt in one fire in Smithfield no less than 6 blessed Martyrs two of them being Ministers viz Robert Drakes Minister of Tundersley in Essex and William Tymes Curate of Hookley in the same County This Tymes upon his examination before Bonner one of his Articles being for denying the Popes Supremacy told him that he owned no more than what his Lordship had maintained in print Where have I written any thing against the Church of Rome said the Bishop angrily In your Preface replyed Tymes to the Chancellors Book Stephen Gardner which he wrot purposely against the authority of the Romish Church where also you in your preface inveigh against the Bishop of Rome reproving his Tyranny and falshood calling his power false and pretended only and this is still extant This much abashed the Bishop and made him speak more gently afterwards saying it was done in perilous times and when it was death to have declared otherways but that the Chancellour and himself had since owned their errors as he would now have him to do but Mr. Tymes told him that would be against his Conscience and he would never do it for what he himself had wrote against the Popes Supremacy was according to the Scriptures and he would prove it upon which he entred on his proofs was much too hard for them all in the Scriptures but at last he was condemned with the rest whose names were Richard Spurge Sheerman Thomas Spurge Fuller John Cavel Weaver and George Ambrose Fuller all of Essex and of the Diocess of London and so condemned by Bonner and suffered together in one Fire in Smithfeild with the true Constancy of other holy and blessed Martyrs In the same Month of April at Rochester suffered John Harpool and Joan Bench in one fire Also in the same month suffered at Cambridg John Hullier a Minister brought up at Eaton School and afterwards Scholar and Conduct in Kings Colledg in Cambridge where he at last suffered being condemned by the Bishop of Ely for preaching the truth and owning the Gospel and disavowing
fire was kindled and begun to take hold of their Bodys they lifted up their hands towards Heaven and quietly and chearfully as if they felt no pain cry'd Lord Jesus Strengthen us Lord Jesus assist us Lord Jesus receive our Souls And thus they all ended their Lives without any strugling only Julius when that all people thought him dead being almost burnt to pieces he was on a sudden seen as if awaked out of a sleep to move his tongue and Jaws and heard to pronounce softly the name of Jesus and so being burnt to Ashes yeilded to God his soul Three burnt in Garnsey with a child which came out of the Mothers belly I did not intend to mention any out of England that were Martyr'd but these in Garnsey being our Kings subjects and the Example profoundly Barbarous I could not refrain mentioning it On the 18th of July this year Katherin Cawches Guillemine Gilbert her daughter and Perotine Massey another daughter were burnt together in one fire for the Gospel the Mother in the midst between her two daughters and the youngest Perotine being big with Child the fire seising on the belly of the Martyr it burst on a sudden and the Child sprung out alive thorow the flames being a fine boy and was taken and lay'd on the grass but the wicked bayliff caused it to be flung into the fire again and to be burnt with the Mother for an Heretick So that this Infant was baptised in its own blood was born and dy'd a Martyr About the same time 3 more were burnt at Greenstead in Sussex 2 men and 1 woman their names were Thomas Dungate John Foreman and Mother Tree Not long before a poor Simple man named Thomas Moor was burnt at Leicester for saying he believed his Maker to be in Heaven and not on the Altar On the 22d of August following Joan Waste a blind woman suffered in Darby And on the 8th of September following Edward Sharp an aged and devout person was Martyrd at Bristow And on 25th another who was a Carpenter suffered in the same place On the 24th of the said September 4 more received Martyrdom at Mayfield in Sussex two of their names were John Hart Thomas Ravensdale the one was a Shoemaker the other a Currier Also one John Horn and a woman about the same time were burnt at Wâ—tten Vnder-Hedge in Glocestershire On the 11th of October a Shoo-maker suffered at Northampton With several others who dyed in prisons in several places that are not mentioned Five were starv'd to Death in November in Canterbury Castle who were condemned to be burnt Their names were John Clark Dunsten Chittenden William Forster Alice Pothins and John Arches Dear Protestant Reader I doubt thou art almost tyred with the Continuance of these tragical Histories I shall therefore hast to a conclusion God not permitting any long Reign to this bloody persecuting Queen We are now come the year 1557 in the beginning of which Cardinal Pool visits the University of Cambridg where he causes on the 9th of Jan. the bones of the famous Bucer and Paulus Phagius professors of the Gospel to be taken up and with a solemn procession to be publickly burnt with all their Books Thus devillishly mallicious are these Papists that they will not let men lye in quiet in their Graves At Oxford this Cardinal in his visitation did the like by Peter Martyrs wife whose bones he caused to be taken up and despitefully buried in a dunghill About the 15th of this Month of January 6 men were burned at Canterbury in one fire their names were Kemp Waterer Powling Lowick Hudson and Hai. Two more Stephens and Philpot at Wye and on the 16th one Final and Bradbridg were burnt together at Ashford in the same county In February following as if the Magistrates and Bishops were slack in â—estroying Gods people whom they called Hereticks a new bloody Commission is sent abroad and new Inquisitors are made to torment and burn the professors of the Gospel And not long after out of Essex that fruitful place of holy Martyrs were sent to London from Colchester no less than 22 persons at one time men and women all bound with ropes one to another and so guarded up to London after a strange manner On the 12th of April 5 were burned in Smithfield whose names were Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thirtel Margaret Hide and Agnes Stanly In May following 3 others viz Morant Gratwait and King were burnt in Southwark On June the 18th 5 women and 2 men were burnt at Maidstone in Kent their names were Joan Bradbridg Joan Mannings Elizabeth a blind maid Walter Appleby and Petronel his wife Edmund Allin and Katherine his wife On the 30th of the same month were burnt at Canterbury 3 men and 4 women I shall but name them John Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardo Barbara Final a Widdow the wife or Widdow of Bradbride formerly mentioned and Mariyt'd the wife of one Wilson and the wife of Benden All these suffered for the Gospel The horrible usage of these poor Creatures in the Bishops Prison is unspeakable where they lay upon straw and had but 3 farthings a day apiece allowed them a halfpeny for Bread and a farthing for bear on which God enabled them to Live On the 22th of June no less than ten Martyrs suffered together in one fire at Lewis in Sussex their names were Richard Woodman George Stevens W. Mainnard Alexander Hosman his servant Thomasin Wood his maid Margâ—ry Morris James Morris her Son Deâ—is Burgis The wife of Ashden and of Groves On the 13th of July Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich on the 2d of August suffered no less than ten Martyrs at Colchester Six in the Morning 4 in the afternoon Their names were Bongeor Purcas Benold Agnis Silverside Helen Eâ—rine Eliz. Folks In the afternoon were burnt W. Munt and Alice his wife Râ—se Allin their daughter and John Johnson When Munt and his wife were taken the woman being sick in bed desired her daughter to fetch her some drink and as she was passing thorow the room one Tyrril of the race of that Tyrril who Murthered King Edward the 5th met her and bid her to give her Father and Mother good Counsel to whom the maid repyled Sir they have a better instructor than I am For the holy Ghost doth reach them who will not suffer them to err Thou naughty huswise said Tyrril art thou of that mind 't is time to look to such Hereticks That which you call heresie replyed Rose is the true Worship of the living God Then Gossip said this persecutor I perceive you will burn for company with the rest not for companies sake but for Christ's sake who I hope in his Mercy will enable me to bear it if I am compelled thereto returned the Maid to him again with that this cruel Tyrril took the candle which she had in her hand burning and held the back of her hand over it
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
able to write them the laâ—â— news of his death for that where he should taâ—â— most pains he should be burned to Ashes bâ— that you will hear of me said he tho I shall 〈◊〉 be able to write it to you After he was returnâ— to England he preached constantly once and mâ—â— times twice a day being much beloved and followed He had a grave and austere look eloquent of tongue Constâ—nt in his teaching not altered by any promotion nothing could corrupt him pure of life and unspotted of reputation of unblemish'd manners of great patience sparing in diet yet liberal in his house keeping At last he was called to preach before the King who liked him so well that he made him Bishop of Glocester and afterwards of Worcester both which Bishopricks he held at one time It is observed that when he was made a Bishop he took for his Arms or else it was prophetically given him by the Heralds A Lamb in a fiery Bush and the sun beams deseending from heaven upon the Lamb which was an Hierogliphic of his suffering by fire which afterwards came to pass He continued in his Diocess of Gloucester till ater the Death of King Edward and that Q Mary came to the Crown when being sent for up to London by the Queens order his friends Counselled him to fly but he refused it saying tho he formerly did so when he bad no charge yet now being called to be a shepherd of souls it became not a Bishop to fly from his flock and tho he knew the danger of staying yet he would willingly seal to that Doctrin he had taught with his Blood Being come to London he was had into examination by the Council where his Marriage was urged against him which he maintained to be Lawful by the Law of God Then they examined him upon the 6 Articles especially that of the real presence in the Sacrament which he denyed and shewed his Arguments for his opinion according to the holy Writ alledging this Text Quem â—portet coelum c. Whom the Heavens shall contain until the Restauration of all things But this did â—ot satisfie he had several disputes with the Bishops and Doctors upon this point and was several times examined before them keeping him in prison almost 18 months He was kept in the Fleet so strictly that none of his friends were suffered to come to him and the more to torment him Babington the then Warden put him into a room over the Common shore which stunk like Carion gave him the Sciatica and other diseases where he had nothing to lye on but a pad of Straw and an old Coverlet to throw over him and when the Warden was told by some of the Warders that they thought he would dye he groaned so much let him dye said he if he will there will be a good rid dance of him and so Commanded the doors to be kept fast lock'd upon him At last after many Conferences and Examinations seeing they could not bring him over to them Articles being exhibited against him he was at last Condemned and delivered over to the Sheriffs he being first deprived of his Bishopricks and after he had been some time in Newgate Bishop Bonner with his Assistants came and formally degraded him After which an order was granted for the writ de Comburendo c. and that he should be burnt at Gloucester which did not a little rejoyce this good man that he should die in his own Diocess and there confirm the Doctrine he had taught with his blood On the 5th of Febuary early in the morning he was delivered to some of the Queens Guards who conducted him on horseback to Gloucester and delivered him to the Sheriffs there in order to his Execution the next Day the Lord Chandois and several others being made Commissioners for that purpose That night before his death he went to bed early and having had his first sleep which was sound he spent the rest in prayer having desired of the Sheriffs that he might not be disturbed by any till they came to have him away which was granted and about 8 of the Clock the next morning with a great Guard they fetched this good man to carry him to his burning to which he walked on foot in a borrowed Gown multitudes of people bewailing him crying and wringing their hands But he exhorted them to patience and told them he came not to dye as a Traytor but because he would not account that Heresie and false Doctrine which he preached to them when he was their Pastor He look'd very chearfully as he went and more ruddy than usually but he was Commanded not to speak to the people so they stop'd his mouth which he was fain to submit to tho it grieved him to see the people weep so bitterly but lifting his eyes to heaven he prayed to himself when he came to the Stake and the preparation was made for him near unto the great Elme near the Colledg of Priests where he used to preach to the people he kneeled down beckning to several that he knew to hearken to his prayers but the Officers did all they could to keep the people at a distance that they might not hear him In the midst of his prayer a Box was brought and lay'd before him in which they said was his pardon if he would recant at which he cryed out if you Love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it defiring them not to interrupt his prayers Then said the L. Chandois seeing there is no remedy dispatch him quickly At which the good man speaking to the Sheriffs told them all the favour he desired of them was that he might make an end of his prayers and that he might have a quick fire His prayers being finished he pulled off his Gown and gave it to the Sheriffs to be delivered to him that lent it and stripping himself to his doublet breeches he thought to be burned in them but the Sheriffs made him strip all off to his shirt which he submitted to and taking a poynt from his Hose he trussed up his Shirt between his leggs where they caused about a pound of Gunpowder in a bagg to be placed and as much under either Arm then they brought Iron hoops to put about his leggs neck and middle but he refused them saying that he knew God would give him strength to indure the torment of the fire without them yet at last he was perswaded to suffer one about his middle his belly being swell'd and big by lying in prison it pinch'd him much After he was placed he look'd about and saw the people round him bitterly weeping but not being suffered to speak to them he lifted up his eyes towards Heaven and prayed to himself After he had done the executioner came to ask him forgiveness to whom he said he knew not that he had ever offended him to whom he replyed I am appoynted to set fire
to you to burn you In that said Mr. Hooper thou dost nothing offend me God forgive thee thy sins and do thy office Then the reeds being put about him he took them in his Arms and Kissed them giving order how they should be placed presently fire was ordered to be put to him but by reason the faggots were green and also very few they put this holy man to intollerable torments and the wind being also strong blew the flame from him so that he was only scorched by the fire Then they fetch'd some dry faggots and made a new fire but all the reeds being gone they burnt his neither parts and never reach'd his upper parts only scorch'd and Shriffled his Skin and burnt his hair All which time this holy Martyr was heard to pray as one without pain O Jesus the son of David have mercy upon me and receive my soul After this second fire was spent he wiped his eyes with his hands and beholding the People he said with an indifferent loud voyce For God's Love good People let me have more fire and all the while his neither paris were burning Then they made a 3d fire more extream than the other then the bladders of Gunpowder broke which did not much good by reason the wind was so Violent then he prayed with a loud voyce Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my Spirit these were the last words he was heard to speak but when his lipps and mouth were black as a Coal and his tongue swelled they were perceived to move till his lips were quire burnt away Then he knocked his breast with his hands till one of his Arms fell off and then he knocked it still with the other whilst water fat and blood fryed out at his fingers ends at last they renewed the fire when bending his body over the hoop of Iron he yeilded up his Spirit On the same day that this last mentioned holy Martyr suffered at Gloucester Dr. Rowland Taylor the Constant Martyr of Jesus Christ in the behalf of his Gospel was burnt at Hadley in suffolk where he had been the Parson all the Reign of King Edward the 6th and upon the bringing in of Popery under Queen Mary he was disturbed at his own Church thrust out and Popish Mass Celebrated before his Face but he endeavouring all he could to hinder it complaint being made to Gardner Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he sent for Dr. Taylor by his Letters missive to come before him at London which he readily obey'd But his friends knowing the Cruelty of that persecutor advised him to fly and save his Life but he utterly refused it saying Tho he knew they had neither Justice or Equity on their side and that he looked for nothing at his Popish Adversaries hands but Imprisonment or Cruel dearn yet since he knew his cause to be good and Righteous and Truth upon his side he would not flinch but appear and be willing to dye in so good a cause for that he was satisfied in his Conscience that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome led them to Idolatry Superstition Errors Hypocrisy and Lies After he came to London He was examined before the cruel Chancellor who called him Knave Villain Fool and such like unchristian expressions for which the Doctor humbly reproved him and seeing he could not make him turn to his Idolatry he sent him prisoner to the Kings Bench where he lay almost two years At his going away from the Bishop he kneeled down on the floor and lifting up both his hands with a loud voyce he say'd From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors Idolatries and abominations Good Lord deliver us When in prison he so preached to the rest of the prisoners there and used such godly exhortations and discourses leading also so strict and holy a life that he wrought upon many and converted them from their Superstitious errors He was also very Charitable while he had it relieving others tho he had a Wife and 9 Children but they soon deprived him of his benefice so that he had nothing to support him but the charity of good people which with Gods providence he found sufficient Several examinations he had before the Bishops where he strenuously maintained his positions for the Clergies Marriage and against the Corporeal presence of Christ in the Sacrament but at last they overcame him with their Temporal Weapon persecuting power backt by Statute Law and by it they Condemned him with Mr. Bradford and others to death as Hereticks to be burnt alive After this sentence he was degraded by Bishop Bonner in prison and they were compelled by main force to put on their Popish Trinkets upon his back he refuseing to do it himself and after they had notch'd his Hair and pair'd orscrap'd his fingers ends and with all their foppish Ceremonies stript him of his Popish habiliments when the Bishop should have struck him on the Breast with his staff seeing the sturdiness of the Doctor who was a portly bigg man Bonner was afraid and omitted that last Ceremony lest the Dr. should have struck him again The next day after this his degradation which is like the last unction for the burial at two of the Clock in the morning the Sheriffs took him and delivered him to his Guards who were to Conduct him to Hadley to be burnt there at which he rejoyced being willing to seal the Doctrine he had there preached with his blood His Wife fearing they would have him away by night for they feared daylight and the people she watched all night with two Children in the Porch of St. Buttolphs Church near Algate which way she knew he must pass and about 3 of the Clock it being very dark she heard the noise of the guard at which she ran out to her husband where was such a moaning and pathetick greeting or rather separation that the Sheriffs wept but forced her to depart and led him to the sign of the Woolsack where he was put on horseback with a hood over his face a place made for his Eyes to look out at and a slit for his Mouth that he might breath After this manner they carried him along that he might not be known all which he patiently suffered When he was come to Suffolk many of the Gentry and Justices of the peace met him of his friends and acquaintance all endeavouring to perswade him to save his Life by Recantation offering him not only pardon for his Life but great promotions even a Bishoprick But this good and constant professor of the Gospel strengthned by Gods holy Spirit refused all those Temptations coming to Hadley he rode thorow the Town where the poor people were assembled with grievous Moans and Tears Kneeling down and with lifted up hands prayed to God to strengthen him to whom he sayd That he had preached to them Gods Word the Truth and that he was now come to seal it
till the blood ran down his face which grieving Mr. Bradford he desired him to remember him to his Mother and others of his friends and so dismist him This sheriff was a great persecutor of Gods Saints rejoycing much at their sufferings whereas his brother never saw their Martyrdoms with dry eyes much pitty and Commiseration But God met with him for not long after Mr. Bradfords burning he was suddenly struck with a dead palsie so that for 8 years till he dyed he could not turn in his Bed but as he was helped When Mr. Bradford came to the place he fell flat on his face and prayed to himself a good space At the same time there was to suffer with him for the same cause one John Leaf a London Apprentice to a Tallow-Chandler a mere stripling of 18 or nineteen years of Age at the most who had most stoutly and resolutely confessed his Faith touching the Sacrament before Bishop Bonner touching auricular confession other points to which he argued very orthodoxically having been well grounded therein by the Holy Martyr Mr Rogers whose Schollar he was After he had been condemned whilst in prison the Bishop sent to him a Recantation in writing and also his confession bidding him to choose which he would sign the one was for his Life the other his Death The young man could not write nor read therefore caused the writings to be read to him and when he had heard the recantation he disliked it and said he would not sign it but hearing his own confession read he said he approved that and thereupon pricked his finger with a needle he took of his blood and made a mark on the paper and bid them tell the Bishop that he had already signed that with his Blood This young Man having undauntedly signed this Bill was the same day brought with Mr. Bradford to the stake where he also lay flat on his face on the ground praying on the other side of the stake till the Sheriff bid them dispatch for that the press of the people was great At which words they both stood up when Mr. Bradford taking a faggot in his hands he Kissed it as likewise the stake then stripping himself he went stood by the stake and said O England England repent thee of thy sins repent thee of thy Sins Beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists take beed they do not deceive you Upon this the Sheriff bid them bind him and tye his hands if he would not be quiet O Mr. Sheriff I am quiet said Mr. Bradford God forgive you To which one of his Officers reply'd you had best hold your peace if this be your learning you are a Fool. Mr. Bradford saw how it was that he might not be permitted to speak he answered not but saying as he forgave all the world so he asked forgiveness of all men and desired the people to pray for him Then turning his head to the young man who suffered with him he said be of good comfort Brother for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night then embracing the Reeds he said Strait is the way and narrow is the Gate that leadeth to eternal Salvation and few there be that find it Then fire being put to them they both with great patience and constancy ended their lives in the Fire without any alteration in their countinances being voyd of all fear hoping to obtain as no doubt they did the heavenly reward for all their sufferings The next day after Mr. Bradford suffered in Smithfield one William Minge a Priest should have suffered at Maidstone but that he dyed in prison On the 3d of July one James Trevisam in Lothbury parisâ— dyed a prisoner being lame and ill used and wheâ— he was dead because he was an Heretick as they termed him they would not let his wife bury him in the Church-yard nor have so much as a Coffin to put him in but was forced to carry him on a Table into the fields and bury him there without Moorgate On the 12th day of July 4 men viz. John Bland Minister of the parish of Adisham in Kent John Frankish Vicar of Rolvindon Nicholas Shetterden and Humphry Middleton all of the same County were long imprisoned at Canterbury and after several examinations and Articles exhibited against them they all standing firm to the Truth for the Gospels sake suffered all in one fire at two several Stakes in the City of Canterbury In the same month of July Nicholas Hall a Bricklayer was Condemned by the Bishop of Rochester for maintaining that under the forms of Bread and wine was not the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ after Consecration but that the Body of Christ was in Heaven only with some other things concerning the Superstition of the Mass for which he was burnt at Rochester about the 19 of July Christopher Waid was of Dartford in the County of Kent a Linnen weaver Condemned also upon the like Articles by the aforesaid Bishop of Rochester and burnt at Dartford in the same month of July at a place called the Brimth without the town the Common place of Execution of Felons As he was goeing to his Martyrdom one Margery Pooly of the Town of Tunbridg a widdow who was afterwards Martyr'd said to him you may rejoyce Waid to see such a company gathered to celebrate your Marriage this day Being come to the place he stript himself put on a fair white shirt delivered to him by his wife when coming to the Stake he took it in his arms and embraced it and Kissing it he set his back to it and was fastned to it with an Iron hoop standing in a Pitch'd Barrel being thus setled he spake with a clear and chearful voyce the last verse of the 86 Psal Shew some good token upon me O Lord that they who hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me and Comforted me Near to the Stake was a little Hill where stood a Fryar with a Book in his hand ready to speak to the People but Wade cryed out so eagerly to the People to beware of the Doctrine of Antichrist that the Friar went away amated and said nothing The Sheriff bid him to be quiet and dye patiently then puting the reeds before his mouth he made a hole with his hands that his voyce might be heard but some flung faggots at the hole and hurt his face when at last fire being put to him he cryed out often Lord Jesus receive my Soul without any sign of Impatience at last holding up his hands above his head he continued in that posture without moving them even after he was dead as if they had been propped up with Stakes being a token to his Enemies according to his prayer of his Constancy to their shame and Confusion Margery Pooly and Dirick Carver Martyrs Margery Pooly a widdow was also Condemned by the aforesaid Bishop of Rochester and suffered at Maidstown in
Paul answering in all respects that of the 1 Tim. 3. and that to Titus Chap. 1. A Bâ—shop must be faultless as becometh a Minister of God Nâ—r Stubborn nor â—â—gry no drunkard sighter nor given to filthy lucre but Charitable a lover of Goodness sober minded righteous temperate cleaving to the truth and able teach or instruct All this he was and that in an high degree He studied much riseing at 5 of the Clock in the Morning Continuing private till 9. from which time â—o Dâ—nner he spent in hearing suitors or minding the King Affairs I shall not goe about to give you the history of this good man's life which was exâ—mplaâ—â— not of â—ll the troubles and persecutions he inâ—â—â—ed from his Enemies the chief being Gardner the Bishop of â—enchesieâ— in this Kings days who alway stood by him and well perceived the Integrity of the Archbishop and the implacable hatred of his Enemies so that in his dayes he was preserved in the Kingâ— Favour and afterwards he was dear to 〈◊〉 Eâ—â—â—rd and one who assisted in the Reformantioâ— of Religion writing his Faith in 5 books concerning the Sacrament But assoon as Queen Mary câ—me to the Crown yoâ— mâ—y be sure she would â—emember what he hâ—d done as to â—eâ— Mothers divorce and was indeed his bitter Enemy tho he was very â—â—rdly brought to subscâ—ibe against her for the Lady Jaâ—â— We have â—lready told you how he was had from the Tower with Bishop Râ—â—ley and Lâ—â—mer to dispute at Oâ—ford and the issue thereupon that he wâ—s condemned and where be continuâ—d a prisonâ—r about 3 years they using all ways an mâ—nner of means to cause him to recant and sinâ—ing thâ—t force and threatning would not do they tryed flattery and fair means but he had resisted all things till aâ— lâ—st resolved they were he should be burnt upon which they degraded him and tho he told them they being but Bishops and â—e their superior they could not rightfully degrade â—im their Archbishop however saying as they were the Popes Delegates and Commissionated by the Queen they had power to do it and so they useâ— all their toâ—pish Ceremonies Bishop Bonner using him roughly and uâ—mâ—nnerly All this needed not said the Archbishop for I had flâ—ng off all this gear long agoe Then being stript to his Jacot they put on him a Beâ—dles old gown and a Townsmans Cap and so delivered â—â—m over to the sâ—cular power Yet for all this being extream desirous to have him recant they afresh set upon him trying all ways to allure him with promise of Life and hopes of Reward and so importunate they were night and day never ceasing to solicitâ— him that at last humanâ— frailty appeared and he was overcome and they got him to sign a Recantation against his Conscience The Queen received it very gladly but bearing Revenge and malice in her heart she nevertheless resolved he should dye and for that End dispatched away Dr. Cole to preach at St. Maries at Oxford and to declare his Recantation Cranmer was now Miserable being tormented in his Conscience for what he had done and too late began to perceive the Malice of his Enemies who thirsted for his Blood Subtilly and treacherously they dealt with him not giving him any notice of his death but still put him in hopes of his Life urging him publickly to make his Recantation in St. Marys for which end they had prepared a stage in the midst of the Church to which place they led him whilst Dr. Cole mounted the Pulpit to make his Oration The Lord Williams and several other Commissioners were there with a multitude of people thinking to hear the Recantation of the Archbishop But things could not be so closely carried tho they kept all people from the Archbishop that might inform him but he began to surmise they intended to put him to Death and at last plainly perceived it when they gave him mony to distribute to the poor as he passed thorow the streets to the Church It was a lamentable spectable to the people to behold the Metropolitan and Primate of England standing with his bald head and reverend gray beard in an old tattered gown on the stage exposed to the Contempt of all men which sight made many weep especially seeing the Tears running down his Cheeks and beard As he thus stood by a pillar he lifted up his eyes and hands toward heaven and prayed privatly to himself till Dr. Cole began his sermon the first part being passed over he turned his whole discourse upon the Archbishop exhorting him to take his Death pariently and to glorifie God with his Conversion from his heresie since it had pleased God to reclaim him saying that before in his prosperity he was not worthy of Life but now since he could not Live he seemed unworthy of Death But he promised that Masses and Dirges should be said in all the Churches in Oxford for the succor of his soul if he continued to dye a good Catholick Cranmer with extream grief of mind heard out his Sermon showing by his Countenance the agitation of his spirit and when he had done and that all men expected he should have read his recantation he pulled out of his Bosom a writing which he had prepared and began to read Good people I beseech you all to pray to God for me that he may forgive me my sins and especially one which I â—ominate to you by and by then Kneeling down â—e made a most excellent prayer which being not long I shall here recite O Father of Heaven O Son of God Redeemer of the World O holy Ghost three Persons and one God have mercy upon me most wretched Catif and miserable sinner I have offended both against Heaven and Earth more than my tongue can express Whither then may I go or whither shall I fly To Heaven I may be ashamed to lift up mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or Scucor To thee therefore O Lord do I run to thee do I humble my self saying O Lord my God my sins are great yet have mercy upon me for thy great mercy The great mystery that God became Man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not give thy Son O Heavenly Father unto death for small sins only but for all the greatest sins in the world so that the sinner return to thee with his whole heart as I do here at this present Wherefore have mercy on me O God whose property is always to have Mercy Have mercy upon me O Lord for thy great mercy I crave nothing for mine own merits bâ—t for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake And now therefore our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name c. Then riseing up he desired he might exhort the people before his death that God might be glorified and they edified He then began an excellent Exhortation pressing them
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
he had been bred a Papist and then liv'd in all manner of sin being absolved by the Priests so that he made no Conscience of committing any crime whilst in their Church for he knew that for a little mony he could be absolved from all his wickedness and begin again anew he could eat flesh on Frydays whore swear drink game and all was well enough so long as he went to Mass but now the he lived a strict and sober life leaving their Idolatry he must be persecuted to death being called by the light of God's Word to Repentance and that by Priests who blaspheme God and lead Scandalous lives without punishment some of them having 6 or 7 Children apiece to his knowledge by four or five sundry women He told them many other crimes and Enormities of their Church to the Bishops face too long to rehearse which so enraged the Bishop that he read the sentence against him nor permitting him to speak any more saying he was one of the mâ—st blasphemous hereticks that ever he heard of He heard his sentence of Condemnation very patiently and when they would have had him away he desired to speak two or three words but the Bishop Cry'd away with him way with him at last some of his friends prevailed not knowing but he might recant and being permitted to speak he thus prophesied I tell you said he that God has now heard the prayers of his servants which have been poured forth with tears for his Afflicted Saints which you dayly persecute as you do us But this I sâ—â—o you moved thereto by his holy Spirit that God will shorten your hand of Câ—uâ—â—â—â—â—d tâ—â—â— nor Bâ—â—threâ— tâ—â—a shâ—rt time will be able to 〈◊〉 â—â—â—e so to â—t you shall not be able to persecute them 〈◊〉 more For mark me after this daâ—â—n this place 〈◊〉 â—â—â—h I 〈◊〉 Bâ—â—thren and fellow Marty â—s are to suffâ—r no more shall undergo the tryâ—â—â— of Fâ—â—e and faggot Upon this Bonner said I â—ow perceive Roger that thou art as mad in thy â—â—â—â—sie as ever was Joan Bâ—â—cher Thou wouldst fâ—â—â— be accounted a railing prophet and tho thou and all the rest of you desire to see me hang'd 〈◊〉 shâ—ll live to burn you yeâ— I will burn all of you 〈◊〉 coâ—â— under my hâ—nds that will not woâ—s◠〈◊〉 blâ—ssâ—d Sacrament of the Altar for alâ—◠〈◊〉 prating And to they haled him away but thâ—â— Hâ—lâ— man was no false prophet for he and his 6 Companions above named wâ—o were burnt with him were the last who suffered in that place for the testimony of the Gospel That day these holy Martyâ—s suffered a proclamation was made that none should dare to speak or talk a word to them or receive any thing from them or touch them on pain of Imprisonment without bad or mainprise Notwithstanding the people cryed out dâ—siteing God to strengthen them When they all came to the Stake Roger Holland embracing it said aloud Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that hast called me from the State of Death unto the Light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of the Saints that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts And Lord into thy hands I Commit my Spirit Lord bless these thy people and save them from Idolatry so being fastned to the Stake with the rest looking up towards Heaven praying and praising God with the rest of his fellow Martyrs he ended his Life and exchanged for a better with great Courage holy resolution and manlike Constancy Six Martyred at Brainford Not long after the Martyrdom of these 7 last mentioned in Smathfield viz. on the 14th of July following Six more suffered in one fire at Brainford Their names were Robert Wills Stephen Coltâ—n Robert Dynes Stephen White John Slade and William Pikes a Tanner All these were condemned By Bonner and ordered to be burnt at the place aforesaid When they came to the stake they made their prayers with great humility like so many Lambs prepared for the slaughter thâ—n and resâ—ing themselves they went joyfully to the stake to which they were bound and the fire being put to them and flaming about them they yield 〈◊〉 their Bodies Lives and Souls into the hand of Jesus for whose cause they suffer'd The last mentioned William Pikes being a very godly holy and religious man not long before he was taken as he was reading the Bâ—ble of Mr. Rogers his translation in his Garden 4 drops of blood fell down upon the Bible from whence he could not tell except it came out of the Element upon which he called his wife and shewed her the prodigy blotting out one of the drops with his finger At last he said I perceive the Lord will have blood his will be cone and give me grace to abide the tryal And it was not long after that be was apprehended The same man being in Newgate fell extreamly sick so that none looked he could have lived 6 hours being given over for a dead man upon which he prayed and desired of God that he might glorifie his name at the stake which came to pass accordingly God hearing his prayers The Cruel Whipping of Thomas Hinshaw by Bonner This Bloody Bonner who in a matter of 3 years space had destroyed one way or other about 200 Martyrs for the Gospel haveing one Thomas Hinshaw an Apprentice in London before him in Examination at Fulham and not receiving satisfactory Answers to his mind he set him in the stocks all night with bread and water only the next day he sent his Archdeacon Harpsfield such another persecutor as himself who calling this young man who was about 19 or 20 years of Age Prevish boy asking him whether he thought he went about to dams his Soul or no unto which the said Thomas answered that he was perswaded they laboured to maintain their dark and devilish Kingdom and not for any Love to Truth This put the Archdeacon into a Rage and away he goes to Bonner who furned and fretted not being able to have his will of a young man presently he sends for him into an Arbour in his Garden untrussing him he caused the young man to Kneel down and to lye over a bench where with his own Episcopal hands he wore out a willow Rod upon him who bore it all patiently till this sâ—â—uâ— whipping Bishop who had none of St. Pauls Characters in him could lay on no longer for want of Bâ—eath With this and other ill â—suâ—ge this poor young is an fell sick and so continued in a â—â—ngring Stâ—knâ—ss till he was treed by the Death of this Popish Persecuting Queen Mary The Whipping of John Wills by Bonner Besides this young man there was another named John Wills a Capper and was brother to the above mentioned Robert Wills Martyr'd at Brainford he was kept for some time in Bonners cole hole at Fulham and put into the Stocks being taken at a meeting in the fields at Islington Bonner
and the women were put in amongst them loose Elizabeth Pepper being at the same time 11 weeks gone with child These poor Creatures shewing great love one to another and such Constancy in their Martyrdom for the sake of their Saviour that all the beholders marvailed very much thus resigned their Souls and Bodys into the Hand of their Creator Roger Bernard and others Martyr'd at Norwich No less valiantly on the 30th of June suffered the pains of Martyrdom by fire at St. Edmunds-bury Roger Bernard a Labourer Adam Foster an husbandman and Robert Lawson a Weaver condemned by the Bishop of Norwich These ended their Lives most triumphantly shewing their Constancy in their Faith and making a most Joyful end to the praise of God and incouragment of others in the same Quarrel Julius Palmer Martyred at Newberry In July following the 16th day suffered that memorable Martyr Mr. Julius Palmer with two others in one fire at Newberry whose History I shall briefly relace This Julius was born in Coventry of good parentage his father being an Upholster and a Merchant and had been Mayor of that City he was bred at School and sent to Oxford where he profited much in the tongues and Philosophy and many times supplyed the place of the Gr. Reader in Magdalin Colledg where he became Batchellor of Art and became at last Fellow of the said Colledg when he began to study divinity He was of a very civil behaviour courteous pleasant and chearful without affectation and of great simplicity not knowing how to dissemble an indefatigable Student riseing at 4 of the clock every morning to his Studies and sitting up till 11 at night so that in a little time he profited much He was admitted to the office of a Reader in Logick and thus Continued a stiff and zealous Papist till the Reformation and then owned the cause of the Pope so far that he was expelled the Colledg and was fain to go and teach School privatly Continuing thus all the Time of King Edward and when Papistry was restored by Queen Mary he was also restored to his fellowship in the Colledg having for his Religion undergone much hardship yet see the providence of God to bring this man home to himself for it was the blood of the Martyrs which is the seed of the Church and their Constant sufferings which made him first to begin to look into the Doctrine they professed and it so pleased God to open his eyes that in a short time he began to see clearly the Superstition and Idolatry of the Popish Church and being one who knew not how to dissemble against his Conscience he was soon taken notice of and seeing they began to have â—n eviâ— eye upon him lest they should expel him the Colledg he voluntarily left it The cursing with excommunication burnâ—ng hanging drowning racking Scourging and persecuting men for Religion made him see and know it could not be of Christ who Commands the quite Contrary and this made him cry out when he heard of the Constant Death of Bishop Hooper Ridley Latimer and others O Raging Cruelty O Tragical Tyranny and more than Barbarous Being about to leave the University growing dayly more fervent in the Truth one of his intimate Friends asked him whither he would go to whom he Answered I know not But the Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof Let God do as he please I will commit my self to him and to the wide World And being advised by another to beware of the fire for it was no easy matter to burn he reply'd I have yet escaped it but I verily believe it will be my end at last welcome be it by the grace of God it will be easie to be suffered by the grace of God He for some time kept School at Reading in Barkshire but after a time being found to be a Gospeller he was forced to fly thence and repairing to his own Mother who was a Papist and had heard of his turning from their Religion hoping to obtain some monys due to him by his fathers will and asking her blessing as he used to do the unnatural Mother Cry'd out thou shalt have Christs Curse and mine where ever thou goest being troubled at this heavy greeting amazed for a time he at last said ah Mother you may give me your curse which God Knows I never deserv'd but God's Curse you Cannot give me for he hath already blessed me With that she reviled him giving him most bitter taunts calling him Renegade and one who had embraced a new upstart Doctrine It is not new said he but as old as Christ and his Apostles with that she charged him to go out of her sight and never see her afterwards flinging to him a piece of Gold and so leaving him to his sorrows But being sought after it was not long e're he was taken and cast into prison in a Dungeon prepared for thieves and Murtherers and there left for a time hanging by the hands and feet in a pair of Stocks so high that no part of his Body could touch the Ground in this Cave or Dungeon he remained 10 days under the Tyranny of an unmerciful Keeper After this he was several times examined before the Mayor of Reading and before the Bishop of Sarums Chancellor from Reading he was had to Newberry and clapt in the Jail there where he found two others namely John Guin and Thomas Askin poor simple men who were Martyred with him Here he had his last examination and was condemned with the two aforesaid Persons by Dr. Jeffrey Many endeavours were try'd to make him recant and great proffers of preferments to tempt him but nothing would move him and he also confirmed his fellow sufferers in their Faith Happy are you when men revile you and persecute you for Righteousness sake Rejoyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven Fear not them that can kill the Body but are not able to touch the soul God is faithful will not let us be tempted further than we can bear We shall not end our lives but make a change only for a better life With the like comfortable speeches he cheared his fellow Martyrs and caused tears to fall from others who heard him When they came to the place of execution they fell all 3 on their faces and prayed and Mr. Paimer recited aloud the 31 Psalm After that two Popish Priests urged him to recant but he cry'd to them away away tempt me no longer Away I say from me all yee that work Iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my Tears Forthwith they stripped themselves went to the stake Kissed it and were bound to it then Mr. Palmer said Good people pray for us that we may persevere to the end And for Christ's sake beware of Popish teachers for they deceive you with that one of the Officers threw a faggot at him and hit him on the face that all the blood ran down When the