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
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
began to dispute about the Sacrament and real presence which brought him into farther trouble For by the Advice of Gardner Bishop of Winchester because the King had Contracted great hatred from the people for his demolishing the Abbies and Monkeries saying he favoured Hereticks and heresie he was resolved to shew the Contrary by his Actings against this John Lambert and therefore after several disputings before the Bishops the King resolves by Gardners advice to hear the matter himself where this Holy man maintained his Arguments with great learning and modesty for 5 hours against 10 Prelates who disputed against him and notwithstanding the Kings fâ—owns and taunts being upholden by the Spirit of God the main thing being the business of the real presence in the Sacrament which he denyed At last it being night and the King willing to be gone asked Mr. Lambert whether he would live or dye for it way yet in his free choyce to which Lambert Answered that he submitted himself wholly unto the will of his Majesty Then said the King commit your self into the hands of God and not into mine my Soul replyed he I Commend into the hands of God but my Body wholly to your Clemency Then said the King if you commit your self to my Judgment you must dye for I will not be a Patron to Hereticks After which he commanded Cromwell to read the sentence of Death upon him which was done to his grief for he was a great favourer of the Gospellers but feared if he should refuse he should incur the Kings displeasure and do him no good But it is said that Cromwel asked him forgiveness before he dyed for reading the sentence against him Lambert having notice of his death prepared for it very cheerfully and it is to be noted that among all these who had suffered at Smithfield there was none that was so cruelly handled as this man for after his Leggs were burned to the stumps withdrawing the fire from him tâ— put him to more torment two that stood one eacâ— side of him pitching their piked halberts into his body lifted him up as high as the chain would permit them when he lifting up his hands all of a flaâ—â— cryed aloud to the people none but Christ none bâ—â— Christ and being let down again into the fire he ended his Life in year 1538. The Murther of Mr. Packington We cannot here pass over the murther of Mr. Robert Packington who was a Burgess in Parliamenâ— for the City of London where it seems he was too free in speaking against the Covetousness and pride of the Clergy for which they Stomached him and knowing him to be a stout resolute man such another as Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and might do them a prejudice they resolved to take him out of the way They had observed that every morning he went to prayers at 5 of the Clock winter Summer to the Church called St. Thomas of Acres now Mercers Chappel being not far from his house dwelling in Cheapside upon which one morning as the said Mr. Packington was Crossing the street to go over to the Chappel being a very misty morning and fit for their black purpose he was shot with a Gun several Neighbours hearing it go off and the Labourers who stood at Soper-lane end saw him fall upon the shot but the Murtherer could not be heard of having dexterously made his escape The blow heard they had not the opportunity of putting or according to our new phrase of shamming the Murther upon himself But God that reveals the close designs of the wicked and brings such horrid Contrivances to Light for his Glory and our Instruction at last brought this Murther to Light for Dr. Incent Dean of St. Pauls being on his Death Bed had such horrors of Conscience that he could not die till he had confessed that he had hired an Italian to murther the said Mr. Packington no doubt as he thought for the good of the Church and thus it came to be known and the horrid malice of the Clergy to all that speak or any way Act against them to be taken notice of Two Mad Men burnt for Hereticks We shall not omit the burning of Mr. Collens a Lawyer who by occasion of the lightness of his Wife whom he passionately lov'd fell mad and besides his senses this man one Sunday going into a Church and seeing the Priest holding the Host up between his hands over his head he took up his Dog and did the like which they taking it done in derision tho he was mad had him Condemned and burned for an Heretick both he and his Dog being burnt in Smithfield the same year 1538. In the same or the next following year one Cowbridg was burnt at Oxford being also mad and out of his right senses and had more need of Physick to restore him to his right mind than punishment and to be sent to Bethlem than to the fire but such was the merciless Cruelty of these persecutors that they would spare none However it was observed that this Martyr being in the midst of the Flames lift up his head towards Heaven and called upon the name of Jesus till he dyed Also the same year was one Puttedew burnt in Suffolk for jesting only with the Priest saying that after he had drunk up all the Wine himself he blessed the people with the hungry Chalice for this he was Condemned and burned for an Heretick And about the same time one William Leiton was burnt at Norwich for speaking against an Idol that they were wont to carry about in Procession and for saying the Lords Supper ought to be administer'd to the Laity in both kinds N. Peke burnt at Ipswich About the same time one N. Peke was burnt at Ipswich who being at the Stake and the Furze and Faggots being set on fire when he was as black as a Coal Dr. Reading being by with a white Wand which he held in his hand he stroke Peke on the shoulder and bid him recant and acknowledge that the Sacrament of the Altar was the very Body of Christ Flesh Blood and Bones and he would absolve him to which he answered I defie both it and thee and with great violence spat blood out of his Body his Veins being broke within him Upon which this Popish Doctor in the Name of the Bishop proclaimed that whosoever cast a stick into the fire towards the burning of that obstinate Heretick should have 40 days pardon upon which many ran and flung sticks into the fire to obtain this pardon such was their blindness and Ignorance Not long after by the cunning devices of Gardner Bishop of Winchester and other Popish Prelates the six Articles were obtained in Parliament The first of which was concerning transubstantiation declaring the Sacrament of the Altar after the Priestly consecration to be the very Body of our Lord with a penalty that those who should deny this Article either by word of mouth or writing should be burnt alive
called to â—â—ke a Benefice in London being Allhallows Bread-â—â—eet which he accepted and being minded to â—â—ve over that in the Country he went thither much about the time that Queen Mary came to the Crown At which time preaching at Northampton â—reat exceptions were taken at his sermon by the Papists for that he inveighed against the Popish Religion as Antichristian After this they had a malicious eye against him and sought for his blood which he perceived but seeing he could not now â—esign his Benefice but into the Hands of a Papist â—e kept both constantly preaching sometimes at â—ondon and sometimes in the Country till the proâ—â—bition came forth which we before mentioned â—et his Conscience not giving him leave to desist tho â—e foresaw the danger he should incurr he continuâ—â—d to preach the Gospel and would not fly the Realm tho advised to it by his friends And it was not long after that preaching at his cure in London he was aâ—prehended by the order of Bishop Bonner and carried out of the Church and brought before him where the Bishop accused him of Treason and Herâ—sie to which Mr. Saunders answered with much sobriety endeavouring to prove he had done nothing against the Laws or spoke contrary to the Dâ—ctrine of Christ and his Apostles After much talk the Bishop bid him to write down his mind concerning Transubstantiation or the Real presence in the Sacrament Mr. Sauâ—ders perceived that Bonner fought his Life my Lord said he you seek Blood and you shall have it I pray God that you may be baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood sucking and become a better man And upon this he wrote his mind boldly not fearing what they could doe being willing to seal to the Testimony of the Gospel with his Death From him he was sent to the Chancellor Gardner who after Examination before him being secretly nipped by Mr. Saunders answers for that he had in the days of King Henry the 8th written a book treating of true obedience in which he openly declared the Princess Mary to be illegitimate sent him to prison from whence he was had before the Council and after several examinations he was condemned after which Mr. Saunders at his goeing away said that he did preach sincerely the word in its purity and thâ— he now was forbidden by them to do it with his mouth yet he doubted not but that his blood would do the same He was sent to prison where he continued a year and 3 months in which time one that was his Bedfellow declared that he had often heard Mr. Saunders say that he felt the power of God upon him wonderfully comforting him insomuch that not only his Spirit but his Body also received a tast of the Communion of Saints whilst he felt 〈◊〉 sweet and pleasant refreshing flow thorow every part and member thereof from the heart ebbing and flowing like a tide of sweet and Spiritual flame thorow his whole body But such was their cruelty that in all this time by the Bishops order they would not suffer his Wife to come to see him she several times attempted it but one day intreating the Keeper with her young Child in her Arms the Keeper took the Child and carried him being a Boy to his father which rejoyced the Heart of Mr. Saunders who said what man would not lay his Life down before he would make such a fine Child a Bastard and its Mother a Whore as I must if I embrace the Religion of Rome At last Bonner came to the prison where he was and degraded him and then delivered him over to the Secular Power after he was Excommunicated to be burnt for an Heretick The Sheriff of London took him and carried him to the Counter in Bread-street his own Parish but he stayed not long there because an order was signed for his burning in Coventry to which place he was carried and put into the Common Goal where he spent the night in prayers and the next day being the 8th of February he was led to execution in the Park without the City going in an old Gown and a shirt bare footed falling often flat on his face and praying to himself When he came to the Stake a pardon was â—ffer'd him if he would recant but he refused it saying it is not I nor my fellow Preachers that hurt â—he Queen or the Realm but such as you speaking to 〈◊〉 officers who resist Gods holy word and I shall never woke the Truth of what I have taught and openly â—â—intained Upon that they cryed our away with â—im to the fire to which he went with a chearfull Countenance nothing daunted and coming to the take Kissed it Crying Welcome Life Welcome the â—ross of Christ After they had chained him fast they â—â—t fire to the fewell which being green smothered â—nd would not burn clearly so that they put this â—oly Martyr to intollerable pain which he yet â—â—â—tained with admirable patience till he fell aâ—â—eep in the Lord at last in the midst of the fire The Martyrdom of Bishop Hooper The next most godly Martyr who suffered for the Gospel of Christ by the cruel and bloody Papists was that most Reverend and Holy Bishop both oâ— Gâ—ocester and Worcester and who was burnt at Gâ—â—câ—ster Feb. 9th 1555. This man was bred a Student in the University of Oxford where he led a pious and sober Life and was a good Schoâ—lar but in the time of persecution in King Hen. 8th days he was forced to leave the University and to become Steward to Sr. Thâ—mas Arundel but Sâ— Thomas being a Papist tho he loved Mr. Hooper yet looking on him as an Heretick he would not keep him buâ— sent him privately to the Bishop of Winchester that he might Convert him but the Bishop not being able to answer Mr. Hoopers solid Arguments seâ—â— him back to his Master but intending to do him 〈◊〉 mischief he being a Constant persecutor of all good People but Mr. Hooper having notice of it left Sr. Tho. Arundels House and service and got overseas to Paris where he stayed not long before he returned for England and was retained by one Mr St. Lowe but he was not long there before notiâ—â— was given of him and he was fain to disguise himself and fly over to Ireland from whence he weâ—â— to France and thorow France into Germany wherâ— he remained both at Basil and at Zurick in thâ— company of several Protestant Ministers who weâ—â— great friends to him and where he Married a wiâ—â— who was a Burgundian Here he stayed till thâ— Reign of the pious King Ed. 6th when desirous tâ—â— see his native Country he took leave of his friendâ— and among the rest the famous Mr. Bullinger whâ— at parting desired him not to forger them when 〈◊〉 prosperity in his own Land tho he should be madâ— a Bishop to whom Mr. Hooper prophetically râ—plyed that he would constantly write to them 〈◊〉 that he should not be
to the fire When he came to the stake he kissed it and then spake to the Lord Rich these words My Lord beware beware for you do against your own Conscience and without you repent the Lord will revenge it for you are the cause of my death After which he suffered the fire as the rest and no doubt received his Reward in Heaven On the 14th of June the same year Nicholas Chamberlin was burnt at Colchester and on the 15th Thomas Osmond was burnt at Maintree and William Bamford alias Butler the same day at Harwich all which sealed to the Testimony of the Gospel with their blood I shall now proceed to give you briefly the History of the noted Mr. Bradfood a godly Preacher and holy Martyr for the Gospel of Christ Mr. John Bradford was born at Manchester in Lancastershire being brought up in Learning by his parents attaining to great perfection in the Latin tongue in ready writing and in Accounts which preferred him to the service of Sr. John Harrington Knight who was Treasurer of the Kings Camp and buildings by him Mr. Bradford was imployed both at home and abroad beyond seas and he was in a thriving way and ready for great preferment But God having otherwaies designed this then young Man called him to the Gospel and to the study of the H. Scriptures Finding a call in himself he immediatly embraced it looking upon it as the Spirit of God that prompted him to forsake worldly Riches preferment and Honour in the way he was following and to retire to Cambridge for the benefit of his studies and to sit him for the Ministry He had not been in the University above a year but he obtained the Degree of Mr. of Arts and not long after he had a fellowship given him in Pembroke Hall Where the learned Bucer being acquainted with him stirred him up to the Ministry And Dr. Ridley Bishop of London made him a Deacon giving him licence to preach and made him also a Prebendary in his Cathedral Church of St. Pauls In this office constantly preaching he continued 3 years sharply reproving sin declaring Christ crucified oppugning Heresies and Papistical Errours earnestly perswaded all to a godly Life But after Queen Mary came to the Crown and had introduced the abolished Popery Idolatry Superstition he flinched not neither would he fly as many did but continued his diligent preaching until deprived of that Liberty by the Queen and Council on the 13th of August in the first year of Queen Mary Dr. Bourn Bishop of Bâ—â—â— preaching at Pauls Cross in the behalf of Popery the people were all in an uprore at his sermon and one among the rest flung a dagger at him as he stood in the Pulpit and narrowly mist him He seeing his life in danger desired Mr. Bradford who was ner him to pacifie the people which he readily did stepping forth spake to them in such sort and sheltrinâ— the Bishop that he saved his Life for it was verily thought that if it had not been for Mr. Bradford the people had torn the Bishop to peices they were so much incensed by his sermon At which time oâ—â— called to him and said Mr. Bradford Mr. Bradford you now save him who will shortly help to buâ—â— you which proved true enough for from this very Act of Charity finding how much he was beloved by the people and fearing his Doctrine and abilities they called this sedition and a Commotion and he was sent for before the Queen and Council where his preaching was objected against him and was aâ— last committed to the Tower and then into other prisons as the Kings Bench the Counter and Newgate into all which he was cast for his conscience sake because he would not embrace the Romish superstition All the time he was in prison he preached almost continually and when in Newgate would gâ—â— once a week among the Felons Thieves preachinâ— to them and exhorting them doing a great deal 〈◊〉 good amongst them Preaching reading and praying seem'd to be his whole Life He eat but one meal a day and that but little He was almost continually on his Knees Often museing and bitterly weeping to himself He was somewhat tall of person of a sanguine complexion with an awbourn hair and beard He seldom slept above 4 hours in a night and alwaies read in his bed till sleep came He counted that hour ill spent in which he did not some good He was very Charitable and Liberal to his fellow prisoners He was much beloved through his winning carriage even of his Keepers who gave him such liberty that he might have got away if he would nay they often let him go forth on his word which they were sure of he being alwaies most punctual He was several times brought before the Chancellor and before Bonner and other Bishops and much pains was taken by several of the most learned among them to bring him over to them but in vain for he so confounded them with the Scriptures and manifested the Truth to them concerning the presence of Christ in his Sacrament that they knew not what to say to him but having the power in their hands they condemned him as an Heretick to be burnt and reading the sentence to him when the Chancellor came to the word Johannes Bradford Laicus ha Said he is he no Priest to which Mr. Bradford replyed no he never was Priest nor beneficed nor Married nor a Preacher till publick Authority had Established Religion After which he fell down on his Knees and heartily thanked God that he counted him worthy to suffer for his name sake They had kept him near 2 years in prison and he was now condemned on the last of January from which time to the 1st of July they kept him in prison where they had several conferences with him but he still kept constant and unshaken in his faith Not long before his burning he dreamed all the order of it as it afterward happened They had an intent to have sent him to Manchester to have been burnt there but their minds altering they order'd it to be done in Smithfield One afternoon as he was walking in his Chamber the Keepers wife came runing to him almost out of Breath amazed and crying O Mr. Bradford I come to bring you heavy news What is that said he That you must be burned your chain is now buying Mr. Bradford pulling off his Gap and lifting up his eyes towards heaven said I thank God for it I have looked for it a long time it is no unexpected thing the Lord make me worthy of it The rumor of Mr. Bradfords burning soon spread thorow the City and by 4 a clock in the morning people began to gather together in the streets As he was passing between Nowgate and Smithfield his Brother in Law came and took him by the hand to take his last leave of him for which Woodriff the dogged Sheriff struck him over the head
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
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
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