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
his own house where he kept him 4 Months not suffering any of his friends to come near him or to give him any relief and where he suffer'd great hardships the Porter was commanded to take notice of any that came but to enquire after him and to give theiâ— names to the Bishop so that many were afraid of being brought into trouble for asking after him From the Bishop he was had before the Earl of Darby who examined him after which perceiving he was not able to bring him to his bent he committed him to another prison being a cold windy stone house without bed to lye on only a few Canvas lent Cloathes where he continâ—ed in this manner for some time seeing no man but the keeper who brought him meat and drink After this he was again examin'd before the said Earl yet Mr. Marsh very prudently and warily answered their intrapping questions concerning the Sacrament saying he believed Christ present in the Sacrament which so inraged them seeing he would give no other answer that they sent him to Lancaster Goal where he was put among the Felons and 3 times caused to hold up his hand at the bar with bolts upon his Leggs tho they had nothing to object against him He used to preach and exhort the prisoners for which he was threatned and reproved and the Bishop coming to Lancaster caused him to be more straitly kept and cruelly handled several times was he had before the Bishop and examined and Articles were put in against him one of which was that among other most damnable and Schismatical Heresies he had said that the Church and Doctrine taught and set forth in King Edwards time was the true Church and that the Church of Rome was not the true and Catholick Church At last the Bishop read the sentence of Condemnation against him and after he had done now said he I will pray for thee no more than for a dog But I will pray for you said the holy Martyr He was then delivered to the Sheriffs who put him into an hole or dark dungeon where none were suffered to come at him or speak to him When the time came of his execution he was led forth to the place being without the City of Westchester and being come to the Stake a black Box was shewed him in which they said there was the Queens pardon if he would recant He told them that he had no desire to dye and would accept of her Graces mercy being her true Leige man but if he could not have it without such Conditions which tended to pluck him from God he would not receive it After that he began to speak to the people but the Sheriffs told him there must be no Sermoning there so afraid were they of hearing the Truth upon which Mr. Marsh Kneeling down sell to prayer which done he stript himself to his shirt and so was chained to the post and the faggots put about him Over his head they had placed a firkin with pitch and Tar and by reason the wind blew hard and the fire did not dispatch him but melting the pitch it fell upon him and put him to intollerable torment notwithstanding he bore it patiently standing a long time without moveing haveing all his flesh so broyled and puffed up that they thought he had been dead when on a sudden spreading his hands abroad he cryed out aloud Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so yielded up his Spirit into the hands of the Lord All the people saying he dyed with admirable patience and was a Martyr He was burnt in April 1555. The story of William Flower Martyr at Westminster On the 24th day of April the same year one William Flower was Martyred in the Church yard of St. Margarets Westminster where it seems in his zeal he had struck a Priest that had been saying mass and had wounded him for which he himself was afterwards troubled but said he had such an impulse then upon him that he could not forbear tho he confessed it was not according to the Doctrine of Christ to smite any man He knew the fact would bring his Life into jeopardy and he was prepared for it being resolved not to deny the Gospel he had professed This William Flower lived then at Lambeth haveing a Wife and children tho he was bred first a Monk of Ely till his eyes being enlightned by the Gospel he left that life and became a Secular Priest preaching in divers places at last marrying he studyed physick and taught School in several places when at last living at Lambeth his zeal against Idolatry carryed him forth too furiously for which he was had before Bishop Bonner who sent him prisoner to the Gate house where after some time he was again brought before the Bishop who sought all ways to make him recant his opinions but in vain for he resolutely told him That the Heavens should assoon fall as he recant his opinions but for his assault of the Priest he was sorry and submitted himself to his Lordship and the punishment he would inflict But this would not serve the Bishop turn for after several Articles exhibited against him and witnesses produced he was condemned degraded and delivered over to the secular power to be burnt On the 24th of April aforesaid he was brought to the place of his execution in St. Margarets Church-yard where after he had prayed audibly and servently he desired all People to forgive him and all that he had any ways offended for he forgave all the World This done his right hand was first fastned to the Stake and Cut off at which they could not perceive that he so much â—s shrunk only a little moved his shoulders Then being fastned to the Stake fire was set to him which burning about him he cryed with a loud voyce O son of God have mercy upon me O Son of God receive my soul three times till his Speech was taken from him then lifting up his stump and his other Arm he stood his lips moving till he was stricken down to the ground where he lay with the neither parts of his body burnt and the upper only scorched for want of fire his lips still being seen to move till they dispatched him Mr. Cardmaker and Mr. Warren burnt in Smithfeild you see scarce a day passes without burning and destroying Gods people in one place or other for on the 30th of May following one Mr. Cardmaker who had been an observant Fryer before the dissolution of the Abbies and afterwards a Prehend in the Church of Wells and after that in the time of King Edwards he married and was a Minister being made Reader at St. Pauls which very much incensed the Papists against him and one Mr. John Warren an Upholster in London were both burnt in one fire in Smithfeild Assoon as the tyde turned Mr. Cardmaker was clapt into Newgate and assoon as popery was setled and they had got the Act for their purpose in putting
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
him coming after him O are you there said he yes said Mr. Latimer I am coming after you as fast as I Can. When they both came to the stake Bishop Ridly holding up both his hands and looking towards heaven prayed and seeing Mr. Latimer come he ran to him and embraced him and Kissed him saying Be of good heart Brother for God will either asswage the fury of the Flame or else streâ—gthen us to abide it With that he Kneeled down at the Stake Kissing it and then fell to prayer and Mr. Latimer behind him both earnestly calling upon God After they arose and talked a little while together when Dr. Smith who in King Ed. days had renounced Popery now embracing it preached to the people on this Text Tho I give my Body to be burnt c. inveighing very much against the opinions of the Lutherans after he had done both Dr. Ridly and Mr. Latimer had a desire to have reply'd to what he had said but as soon as they began to open their mouths some ran to them and stop'd them telling them unless they would recant they should not be suffered to speak Gods will be done then said Bishop Ridly but so long as I have breath in my body I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known truth Then he said with a loud voyce I Commit our cause to Almighty God who will indifferently Judg all Then Mr. Latimer said what is hid shall be revealed They were then Commanded to make themselves ready which they did and were both Chained to the Stake and Dr. Rilleys brother-in-law brought each a Bag of Gunpowder to tye about them which they accepted of as sent them from God Dr. Ridley stripped himself and gave away his things among his friends there being great striving to have some remembrance from this good Man but Mr. Latimer suffered himself to be strip'd by the officers haveing nothing worth bestowing Dr. Ridly being now at the stake prayed saying holding up both his hands O heavenly Father I give thee most hearty thanks for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto Death I beseech the O Lord have mercy upon this Realm of England and deliver the same from all her Enemies Then he made a Request to the Lord Williams to intreat the Queen to be good to several poor people to whom he had let Leases that they mought injoy them which he promised to do but Bishop Bonner like a wretch took them all from them Then fire was put to them when Mr. Latimer said be of good comfort Mr. Ridly and play the Man we shall this day light such a Candle by God's Grace in England as I trust shall never be put out Dr. Ridly when he saw the flame approach him he cryed out In manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine recipe Spiritum meum that is Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit O Lord receive my Spirit which latter part he often repeated in English Mr. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of Heaven receive my Soul Who receiving the flame as it were imbracing it soon dyed with little or no Pain But Bishop Ridly by reason of the fire being ill made endured great torment having all his lower parts burnt before his upper were touched so that he was heard to cry to them often for the Lords sake to put the fire to him I cannot burn and then crying out Lord have mercy upon me he Continued a long time and all one side of him remained untouch'd till aâ—â—â—â—st tâ—â— Gâ—â—â—oweâ—cr â—â—â—k firâ— after which he wâ—◠〈◊〉 seâ—n to move â—y more And this was the eâ—â—â—â—th sâ—â— two â—oly Martyrs Blessed Bishops for the Gospel of Christ's sake by the hands of persecuting Papisis and by the Religion â—hen established by Law The Death of pâ—â—seâ—â—ting Gardner Wit in a wâ—ilt afâ—â—r the B oody persecuting Pâ—â—lâ—â— Stephâ—â— Gâ—â—dâ—â— dyed for that day the last mentioned Mâ—rtyâ—s were put to death tho the Duke of No â—â—hfolk and other persons of Quality came to dine with him he would not go to dâ—nner till 3 or 4 of the Clock expecting to hear of the Death of these wâ—mâ—n and assâ—on as his man riâ—â—â—g post had brâ—â—ght him word of it he began to be merry and sat down to dinner but was emmediately struck with the hand of God the first but â—e put â—nto his mouth being carried from the Table Continuing for â—5 days in great Torments nor being able to evacuate Naturâ— any way and his Tongue that had so often blaspherâ—ed God swollen and black lolling out of his mouth till he dyed Tho he weâ—e dead yet persecution Continued and the Devil found Instruments to do his Work For in the Month of November three flour Champions of Jesus Christ suffer'd in one Fire in Canterbury viz Jâ—hn wâ—bb Gentleman George Roâ—er and Gâ—egory Parke being all condemned to the fire by the Bishop of Dover and Nicâ—oâ—as Harspfield As they went to the plâ—ce of their Martyrdom they sung Psalms two of them were will striâ—ken in years but Râ—per was a younger man of a fresh Complexion going all â—ith whi e Linnen and their gowns upon it They all shewâ—d great Constancy but Râ—per especially who coming to the place leâ—ped for Joy and whâ—n fiâ—e waâ— put to hâ—m he streatched out both his Aâ—ms into â—â—e â—lâ—mes standing like a Cross unmevable and so continued never stirring them till they were both burnt â—ff and afterwards his Body to Ashes Several dyed in Prison in the â—â—llards Tower through the bâ—â—â—arity of the Papists and were Cast into t he open fields for doggs and swine to tear with command that none 〈…〉 hâ—m yet by night some were â—ound to be â—o Câ—â—â—table as to fling Eartâ— over thâ—m Archdeacon Philpot burnt in Smithfield The next 〈…〉 mâ—â—tâ—â—â— Wâ—â—â—â—ought to the stâ—ke by thâ—se blood sâ—â—kâ—â—â— wâ— Mr Jâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Archdeacon â—f Wincâ—â—â—â— â—â—e wâ—â— tâ—e 〈…〉 Gentâ—emaâ—â—f 〈◊〉 goâ—d fâ—â—mâ—ly in 〈…〉 brought up in Nâ—â—â— Coâ—â—cagâ— in Oxâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 died thâ— Civil â—â—ws 6 or 7 yeaâ—s wâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ral Arts 〈◊〉 â—â—ence and â—spâ—â—â—ly 〈…〉 in which he profiteâ— and more 〈…〉 Hebrew He wâ—s of a preâ—anâ—â—â—â—t 〈…〉 and resolution fervent in Religioâ— â—ree from 〈◊〉 â—â—â—tery and hypocrisie and hated â—â—ssiâ—â—ulatiâ—n Fâ—â—m Oxford he went to travel to improve himself going thorow Italy and other parts where he increaâ—â—d his knowledg and lost nor as many do good m nners and Love to God Returning into England he was made Arcâ—dâ—acon of Winchester in King Edwâ—rds days under the Bishop Dr. Poinet who had succeeded Gardner But â—fter that Queen Mary came in and caused a Convocation of Prelates to Assemble about Religion this good man believing they might there speak freely he manfully maintained the cause of the Gospel against all its Adversaries for which he was afterwards â—â—pâ—â—ioned and after a twelve months time or more w s had to be examined before Bâ—shop Gardner