they spilled daily in fighting against Christ and his Gospel He suffered at Paris Vol. 1. p. 133. Noblemen 100 and others of Alsatia were burned and martyred the 1212. year of Christ under Pope Henricus 3. for holding every day was free for eating Flesh so it be done soberly and that they did wickedly who restrained Priests from their lawful Wives Vol. 1. pag. 336. Iohn Noyes a Shoe-maker of Laxfield in Suffolk burned 1557. in September when he came to the place of Execution he kneeled down and sang the 50 th Psalm and being bound at the Stake he said Fear not them that kill the Body but fear him that can kill both Body and Soul and cast it into everlasting fire And seeing his Sister weeping he desired her not to weep for him but for her sins Having a Faggot thrown at him he kissed it and said Blessed be the time that ever I was born to come to this And in the fire he said Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Son of David have mercy upon me He wrote a Letter to his Wife containing nothing but consolation from Texts of Scripture and bidding her farewell he desired his Wife and Children to leave worldly care and see that they were diligent to pray Vol. 3. p. 850 851 852. Nichaise of Tombe born in Tournay martyred for the Gospel being condemned he said Praised be God At the Stake he said Lord they have hated me without a cause and prayed thus Eternal Father have pity and compassion on me according as thou hast promised to all that ask the same of thee in thy Sons Name And so he continued praying until his last gasp Additions to Vol. 3. of the Massacre in France and Flanders p. 33. O O ORigen at 17 Years old wrote to his Father Leonides to encourage him to suffer martyrdom under the fifth Persecution began the 205. Year of Christ. He wrote about 7000 Volumes as much as 7 Notaries and as many Women could pen. Vol. 2. p. 70. Cicely Ormes Wife of Edward Ormes a Worsted-Weaver in Norwich was burnt September 23. 1557. at Norwich She was an ignorant simple Woman yet zealous in the Lord's cause and being threatned by the Chancellor of Norwich she said He should not be so desirous of her sinful flesh as she would by God's grace be content to give it in so good a quarrel Being condemned at the Stake she pray'd and repeated her Faith and then said to the People I would not have you think that I believe to be saved in that I offer my self here unto death for Christ 's cause but I believe to be saved by the death of Christ 's passion and this my death is and shall be a witness of my Faith unto you all Good People as many as believe of you I pray you pray for me And then she coming to the Stake she kissed it and said Welcome sweet Cross of Christ and so was bound to it and in the fire she said My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour and so she yielded up her Life Vol. 3. p. 833. Robert Oguier of the City Lile in Flanders his Wife and two Sons Bardicon and Martin were apprehended 1556. and first the Father and Bardicon suffer'd who upon examination confessed their Faith and Bardicon being apprehended as he went said O Lord assist us with thy Grace not onely to be prisoners for thy sake but so as to seal with our bloods thy Truth And told the Emperor's Commissioners the tenour of their prayers in their Meetings for God's glory and the Empires and Emperors felicity And then he and his Father submitted themselves to the Judges while Martin his Brother chose to accompany his Mother who was still detained in Prison And these two were by their Judges condemned to be burnt which sentence being past they returned to Prison rejoycing that the Lord had honoured them to enroll them amongst the number of Martyrs The day of Execution being told them they blessed God who delivering their Bodies out of Prison would receive their Souls into his Kingdom The Father being advised to pity his Soul said You see what pity I have of it when for the Name of Christ I willingly abandon my Body to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise At the Stake he and his Son sang the 16. Psalm and being chained the Son said to his Father Be of good comfort the worst will be past by and by And often repeated these words O God Father Everlasting accept the Sacrifice of our Bodys for thy wel-beloved Son Jesus Christ 's sake And lifting his Eyes to Heaven he spoke to his Father saying O Father behold I see the Heavens open and millions of Angels ready to receive us rejoycing to see us thus witnessing our truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of Heaven are set before us Fire being kindled he oft repeated to his Father thus Yet a little while and we shall enter into the Heavenly Mansions And their last words were Jesus Christ thou Son of God into thy Hands we commend our Spirits And within 8 dayes the Mother Iane Oguier and Martin her Son were brought forth but in Prison Iane by the Papists was perswaded to recant and to endeavour her Son's return to Popery who hearing of it said to her Oh Mother what have you done have you denyed him that redeemed you What evil hath he done you that you should requite him with so great an injury Ah good God! that I should live to see this day which pierceth my heart And his Mother hearing his words and seeing his tears began to renew her strength in the Lord and with tears cry'd Father of mercies be merciful to me miserable sinner and cover my transgressions under the Righteousness of thy Blessed Son Lord enable me to stand to my first Confession and to abide stedfast in it to my last breath And when the Papists came to her again she said Avoid Satan get thee behind me for hence forth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of my God stand to my Confession and if I may not sign it with Ink I will seal it with my Blood And so she and her Son were condemned to be burnt and their ashes to be cast into air who rejoyced at the Sentence and accounted it a day of Triumph over their Enemies and Martin being profer'd an hundred pound if he would recant said He would not lose an Eternal Kingdom for it Addition to Vol. 3. of Massacres of France pag. 1. to 5. P P PHilip the Apostle after he had much laboured amongst the Barbarous Nations in preaching the Word of Salvation to them at length he suffer'd in Hierapolis a City of Phrygia being there crucified and stoned to death where also he was buried and his Daughters with him Vol. 1. pag. 42 43. Peter the
he was a person distracted and knew not what he said and yet burned for an Heretick who in the midst of the flames lifting up his Head to Heaven soberly and discreetly called upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and so departed Vol. 2. p. 437. Roger Clarke a Suffolk Man taken at Ipswich and judged 1546. with one Kerby by my Lord Wentworth who after Sentence given talked with another Justice on the Bench a good while to whom Clarke said My Lord speak out and if you have done any thing contrary to your Conscience ask of God mercy and we from our hearts do forgive you speak not in secret for ye shall come before a Iudge and then make answer openly even before him that shall judge all Men. He was burn'd at Berry and at Stake kneeled down and said My Soul doth magnifie the Lord c. Vol. 2. p. 569. Dirick Carver a Beer-Brewer in Bright-Hamsted in Sussex an ancient and pious Man though not understanding a Letter of the Book was apprehended for having with some others been at Prayer in his House and after his apprehension he so improved his time in Learning though ancient that before he suffered through Gods blessing he could read any English printed Book At the Stake in Lewis Iuly 22. 1555. he went into the Barrel having stript himself and there spake to the People Dear Brethren and Sisters witness to you all that I am to seal with my Blood Christs Gospel because I know it is true and because I will not deny Gods Gospel and be obedient to Mens Laws I here am condemned to dye Dear Brethren and Sisters as many as believe on the Father Son and Holy Ghost unto everlasting Life see ye do the works pertaining to the same I ask ye all whom I have offended forgiveness for the Lords sake as I heartily forgive all you who have offended me in thought word and deed Lord have mercy upon me for unto thee do I commend my Soul and my Spirit doth rejoice in thee And so the Fire being kindled he said Oh Lord have mercy upon me and sprang up in the Fire calling on the Name of Jesus and so ended Vol. 3. p. 386. Richard Colliar of Ashford in Kent being examined and condemned for the Gospels sake as soon as he was condemned he sang a Psalm and was afterwards burnt with five more Kentish Men at three Stakes in one Fire in August 1555. Vol. 3. p. 394. Tho. Cranmer a Gentleman of a Family ancient as the Conquest born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshire brought up at School and at Cambridge was Fellow of Iesus Colledge and afterwards one of the Heads of the University used to examine all Graduates in Divinity who would not admit any to be Batchellors or Doctors in Divinity but those who were well read in the Scriptures whereby he refused many Fryars some of whom by being thereby brought to consult the Word of God were converted and afterwards returned him thanks This Cranmer was afterwards by King Hen. 8. made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for his Service to him in endeavouring to satisfie his Conscience about the divorce of his Queen Catherine his first Wife the Widow of his late deceased Brother He was of a mild Nature soon reconciled to his Enemies and so ready to do them good that it grew Proverbial Do my Lord of Canterbury a displeasure and then you may be sure to have him your Friend whilst he lives Vol. 3. p. 637. He was by many endeavours tempted to recant and after much resistance did at last recant chiefly out of a design to compleat an Answer against a Papish Book which he had begun but though he subscribed the Papists were ordered to burn him March 21. at Oxford by the Queen who had ordered Doctor Cole to have a Funeral Sermon in readiness against that day and accordingly at the day appointed the Doctor did preach and Cranmer was had to the Church not knowing the design but as he was perswaded to publish his Recantation publickly and after Sermon when it was expected he should declare his Recantation he with many tears and earnest desires did entreat the People to pray for him to God for pardon of his sins amongst which none troubled him more than his subscribing to Popery with his hand which he hated in his heart But saith he for as much as my hand hath offended it shall be first punished for may I come to the Fire it shall first be burnt and so he began to cry against the Papists and Popery whereby the Papists expectation were frustrated and they grew mad at him stopping his Mouth and pulling him down and led him forthwith to the Town-ditch to be burnt where in the Fire he put forth his right hand into the flames as soon as they came near him and held it there till it was burnt his body being unburnt often saying Oh unworthy right hand and saying often Lord Iesus receive my spirit he stood immovable in the flames and dyed March 21. 1556. Vol. 3. p. 670 671. Iohn Carter a Weaver of Coventry dyed in the Kings-Bench a Prisoner for the Gospel who expected and desired to have been burnt In a Letter to Mr. Philpot he writes thus My Friends report me to be more worthy to be burnt than any that was burnt yet God's blessing on their hearts for their good report God make me worthy of that dignity and hasten the time that I might set forth his glory He wrote divers Letters of encouragement to the persecuted Brethren and in one Letter to his Wife he begs and chargeth her to rejoice with him in this his state of sufferings for Christ's sake Vol. 3. p. 716. c. Peter Chevet See Peter Mrs. Gertrude Crockhay Wife to Mr. Robert Crockhay at St. Katherines by the Tower in London being for the Gospel persecuted fled 1556. to Gelderland beyond Sea to look after some Estate that should fall to her Children by a former Husband but there also she was betrayed and came to trouble at Antwerp where at the request of her Friends she was set at liberty and she came for England where she was infested again by the Papists and being very sick They told her Daughter that unless her Mother would receive the Sacrament she should not be buried with Christian burial who hearing the same said Oh how happy am I that I shall not rise with them but against them The Earth is the Lords and all the fullness thereof and therefore I commit the matter to him Soon after she dyed and was buried in her Husbands Garden Vol. 3. p. 1013 1014. Christians to the number of 30000 slain in the Massacre at Paris in France 1572. which was effected by the French King 's inviting the chief Captains of them and all other that would to the Wedding between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings Sister at which being kindly received some of them after the compleating of that Marriage were slain and all
the people he was strangled and burned Vol. 2. p. 180. Garret a great promoter of Christianity in Oxford was at last Iuly 30. 1541. by Gardner Bishop of Winchester to be burnt who professing his Faith and detesting all Heresies beg'd pardon of God for his sins and of all persons whom he had offended He resigned up his Soul to God whom he believed would through Christ save him and pardon his sins and desired the persons present to pray for him and dyed Christianly with Barus and Hierom. Vol. 2. p. 528. William Gardiner born at Bristow and there dealing in Merchandise under one Mr. Paget a Merchant at 26 years of age sailed to Spain but by chance the Ship arrived at Lisborne the chief City of Portugal where he stayed and merchandised and learning their tongue he acted for many English Merchants and had much knowledge in Scripture and the Reformed Religion And being there and happening to be at the solemnizing of a marriage between the King of Portugal's Son and the King of Spain's Daughter and beholding great Pomp and greater Idolatry acted by the Kings and all the Assembly's adoring the Mass praying kneeling and worshipping the external Sacrament he was much troubled and could he have got near the Altar would have interrupted them but being hindred by the throng of the people he was very sorrowful for his neglect of that opportunity to declare against their Idolatry which neglect he much lamented and contrived how to redeem it to effect which he cast up all his accounts and bad adieu to worldly concerns and giving himself to reading meditating fasting weeping and praying He being cleanly drest the next Sunday when the like Solemnity was to be done he gat to the Altar betimes and there stood with a Testament in his hand till the Cardinal came to solemnize it and till he consecrated sacrificed and lifted up on high the Host shewing his God to the people who with the Kings and Nobles gave great reverence to it and at last when the Cardinal came to begin to toss it to and fro round the Chalice making several Circles this Gardner stept in and with one hand took the Cake and trod it under foot and with the other hand overthrew the Chalice in the presence of the Kings and the Nobles and Citizens which abashed them all and one cut him with a Sword but the King commanded he should be saved and being examined he confessed himself to be an English-man and a Protestant and decryed much against their Idolatry for which after several torments to cause him to confess others he taking all the blame on himself they put a hard roul of Linen with a string into his throat and so often pulled that up and then cut of his right hand which he took in his left and kist then in the Market-place they cut off his left hand and he kneeling down kissed it then was he carried to Execution and being hung on high a fire was made under him and he by degrees let down into it so that only his legs at first felt the fire yet would he not recant and being bid to pray to Saints he said That when Christ leaves off to be our Mediator and Advocate then he would pray to our Lady and the Saints And then he prayed O Eternal God Father of all mercies I beseech thee look down upon thy Servant And the more terribly he burnt the more vehemently he prayed which his Enemies desiring to hinder he said the 43. Psalm before the close of which the Rope was burnt asunder and he fell down into the Fire and was burned to death 1552. whose death was not unpunished for among the King of Portugal's Ships ready to sail being in a Haven hard by one was burnt by a Spark of Fire blown from the Martyrs Fire and within half a Year the Kings Son dyed and the King himself within a Year Vol. 2. p. 745 746 747 748. Robert Glover was apprehended to be burnt at Coventry being very sickly in Prison said he found daily amendment of body and increase of peace in Conscience many consolations from God and sometimes as it were a taste and a glimmering of the life to come But he was much assaulted by Satan from his unworthiness to do or suffer for Christ. Which Objection he answered from Gods mercies and the unworthiness of like Servants in all Ages who have been accepted Yet three days before he was burnt he had a sad dulness of Spirit and was desolate of all spiritual comfort against which he prayed much and earnestly but yet finding no ease nor comfort he told it to his Friend one Austin who advised him to wait God's time for the manifestation of himself and to continue stedfast in the Faith and willing to suffer knowing his Cause to be right not doubting but God in his due time would replenish his heart with spiritual joy requesting him to shew it by some token if he felt any such thing And as he went to burning as soon as he came in sight of the Stake he cryed out being suddenly full of comfort clapping his hands together Austin He is come he is come with so great joy and alacrity as if he had been one risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life and so dyed chearfully in September 1555. Vol. 3. p. 427 428. Bartlet Green a Londoner brought up at Oxford converted from Popery by Peter Martyr Reader of Divinity in Oxford and afterwards he was Student in the Temple and at twenty five years of age Ianuary 28. 1556. he was burnt with six others for the Gospel of Christ. He often repeated as he went to the Stake and at the Stake this Distich Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te Duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee I have none The truth I love and falshood hate by thee my guide alone Vol. 3. p. 627. He wrote to one in a Letter thus Man of Woman is born in Travel to live in misery Man through Christ doth dye in joy and live in felicity he is born to dye and dyes to live whilst here he displeased God when dead he fulfilled his Will Vol. 3. p. 629. Charles Le Roy de Gand once a Fryar Carmelite but reformed had a Canonship promised him by the Magistrate if he would but yield a little to which he said You proffer me a Canonship that I might live quietly and be in security but know Sir that rest is no true rest which is obtained against peace of Conscience and so he was burned at Bruges April 27. 1557. Addit to Vol 3. of Massacre of France p. 5. H H JOHN Husse a Bohemian was burned 1415. about Iuly by the Council of Constance where he often desired to be heard to clear himself of the errours they impeached him of and could not Then he requesting their proving by
returned to Ephesus he was desired to resort to the adjacent places to appoint Bishops where he committed a comely ingenuous young Man to the Bishop of the place to be by him kept with great diligence in witness hereof Christ and his Church Which young Man the Bishop received and with diligence brought up baptized and at length committed to him a Cure in the Lords behalf The young Man now having his liberty through the corruptness of his Companions became dissolute a Thief and a Murderer yea the Captain of them and S. Iohn being sent for again into those Parts demanded of the Bishop the charge committed to him who said he was dead to God and become an evil Man a Thief frequenting this Mountain Whereat S. Iohn rent his Cloaths and said I have left a good Keeper of my Brother's Soul And got him a Horse and presently fell into the company of the Thieves and was designedly taken desiring to be brought to their Captain who was well armed yet beginning to know S. Iohn fled but when recalled by S. Iohn he threw down his Arms and became truly penitent and was received into Church again After this S. Iohn going to bathe himself and seeing Cerinthus the Heretick in the Bath would not go in lest the Bath should fall on them Vol. 1. p. 47 48. Ignatius was given to be devoured of Wild Beasts the 111. year of Christ when he was going to the Lions he said Oh would to God I were come to the Beasts prepared for me which I wish with gaping Mouths were ready to come upon me whom I will provoke that they may without delay devour me I esteem nothing visible or invisible so I may get or obtain Christ let the Fire Gallows devouring of Beasts breaking of Bones pulling asunder of Members bruising or pressing my whole Body and the torments of the Devil or Hell it self come upon me so that I may win Christ And when he heard the Lions roaring he said I am the Wheat or Grain of Christ I shall be ground with the Teeth of Wild Beasts that I may be found pure Bread Vol. 1. p. 52. Iustin Martyr was a profound Philosopher and became a Christian by seeing the constancy of their sufferings whence he gathered they could not endure carnality or vice who could thus easily lay down their lives and being a Christian he wrote divers Apologies in their behalf and prevailed not a little for their good and was at last Martyred soon after Polycarpus in the 4 th Persecution he dyed chearfully and with honour Vol. 1. p. 58.63 64. Iulitta being spoiled of her goods by the Emperours Officer under the 10 th Persecution and complaining to the Emperour that so she might have her goods again the Officer pleaded her to be a Christian and therefore not to have her goods which being proved and owned she was sentenced to lose goods and life whereupon she said Farewel life welcome death farewel riches welcome poverty all that I have were it a thousand times more than it is would I lose rather than speak Blasphemy against God my Creator I yield thee thanks most hearty O God for this great gift of Grace that I can despise this transitory World preferring Christianity above all treasures And whenever she was examined she said She was a Servant of Christ and did detest their Idolatry And as she past to the Fire she exhorted the Women thus O Sisters stick not to travel after true Piety cease to accuse feminine frailty are not we Created of the same Mould with Men and made after Gods Image as well as they God used not Flesh only in Creating Woman to declare her weakness but Bone also in token that she must be strong in the living God all false Gods for saking constant in faith and patient in adversity wax weary of your lives my Sisters led in darkness and love my Christ my God my Redeemer Perswade your selves there is a future state wherein the worshippers of Idols shall be perpetually tormented and the Servants of the high God Crowned eternally With which words she embraced the Fire Vol. 1. p. 122 123. Ierome of Prage a Bohemian burnt 1415. being condemned and to be Crowned with a Paper Mitre painted with red Devils he willingly received it saying He would wear that for Christs sake who wore a Crown of Thorns for him And going to execution he sung Psalms and prayed and after the Fire was kindled he said O Lord God Father Almighty have mercy upon me and be merciful unto mine offences for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved thy truth And so the Fire consumed him whose Ashes as also the Ashes of Iohn Husse were gathered up and cast into the River Rheine Vol. 1. p. 837 838. Ioris of Aschen in Flanders hanged on a Gibbit for the Gospel 1567. being condemned wrote to his Parents he said Comfortable News namely that in all my life I never saw one day so pleasing to me as this is in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions to suffer for his holy Name for which I give him most humble thanks I do take my last farewel of you till we meet in Heaven be not grieved I pray you but be patient for the affliction which is befallen me is most acceptable to me for which I bless and praise God Additions to Vol. 3. concerning Massacre in Flanders p. 96 97. K K LEonard Keyser of Bavaria was for maintaining Justification by Faith degraded and to be burned who as he went to execution spake and said O Lord Jesus remain with me sustain me and help me and give me force and power And when the wood was fit to be set on fire he cry'd with a loud voice O Jesus I am thine have mercy upon me and save me and so was burned August 16. 1526. Vol. 2. pag. 114 115. Kerby a Suffolk Man being apprehended at Ipswich 1546. was to be condemned and one Mr. Wingfield much perswading him to accept of mercy and not burn he said Ah M. Wingfield be at my burning and you will say There stands a Christian Souldier in the fire for I know that fire water sword and all things are in the hand of God who will suffer no more to be laid upon me than he will give me strength to bear Being condemned he said Praised be Almighty God and at the fire he shew'd himself a Christian and died calling upon God and holding up his Hands Vol. 2. pag. 569. L L LUcius hearing Ptolomeus unjustly condemned by Urbicius in the 4 th Persecution reproved the Judge who said to Lucius Methinks thou art a Christian which being granted by Lucius the Judge forthwith condemned him to be had away to the place of execution whereupon Lucius said I thank you with all my heart that you release me from most wicked Governours and send me to my most good and loving Father who is the King of gods Vol. 1. p. 59.
first in her days a great Papist till the burning of one Laurence Saunders by the Papists for the Mass which put her upon an enquiry into it and she consulting some persons about it declined it nor would frequent Mass for which she was punished and at last condemned And when in the morning before she suffered the Sheriff told her of it after one years imprisonment giving her but one hours time to prepare for it she said Your message is welcome to me and I thank God that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel Going to the Stake she prayed against Popist Idolatry and drank to all them that truly believed the Gospel In the fire she neither struggled nor stirred but only held up her hands to Heaven and so dyed soon Vol. 3. p. 839. Mrs. Elizabeth Lawson an ancient Gentlewoman of 60 years of age of Bedfield in Suffolk was sent to Berry Goal 1556. because she would not go to Mass and at last she was condemned to be burnt She continued in Prison two years and three quarters in which time her Son and many more were burnt and she hearing of it said often Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy Children Well good Lord thy blessed will be done and not mine But by the death of Queen Mary she was delivered Vol. 3. p. 916. M M MArtyrs to the Number of 300 at Carthage under the 8 th Persecution being offered near Lime-kills either to offer Incense to Iupiter or to go into the Furnace of Lime did all together rush into the Kill and were there with the dusty smoak of the Lime smothered Vol. 1. p. 94. A Mother exhorted her Child of seven years of age suffering under the 7 th Persecution to suffer joyfully and while it was tormenting and slaying she sang to God thus All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know most dear to be Vol. 1. p. 116. Mary See Ursula Michael Michfote a Taylor in France burned 1547. being apprehended for the Gospel's sake and put to his choice whether he would turn and be beheaded or not turn and be burnt he said God who had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Vol. 2. p. 134. Lodovicus Marsac being with two others at Lyons in France apprehended and condemned 1553. they all sang Psalms and the other two having a Rope put about their Necks and he having not one did desire that he might have one of those precious Chains about his Neck in honour of his Lord which request was granted and they all three were cast into the fire Vol. 2. p. 141. 88 Martyrs murthered at Calabria in Italy 1560. whom the Executioner bringing out one by one with a Muster on a Stage before the People took a Knife and slew by cutting the Throat of one and leaving him half dead bleeding went for another and so served every one till the 88 were murthered which sight amazed the people and shamed even some of the Romanists Vol. 2. p. 184.188 Walter Mille a Scotch Man 1558. was condemned to be burnt whom the Popish Party could neither affright with threats nor allure with proposals but he said to them I am accused of my life I know I must dye once and therefore ye shall know I will not recant the truth I am Corn not Chaff I will not be blown away with the Wind nor burst with the Flail but will abide both and at the Stake the Bishops being constrained by the People to give him liberty to speak he made his humble supplication to God on his Knees and then said to the people Dear friends I suffer this day not for any Crime laid to my charge albeit I be a miserable Sinner before God but only for the defence of the faith of Christ Iesus for which I praise God that he hath this day called me of his mercy amongst the rest of his Servants the Martyrs to seal up his truth with my life which as I received on him so I willingly offer it to his glory and so he dyed and was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for Religion Vol. 2. p. 626. George Marsh of Deane in Lancashire married and was a Farmer but after his Wife's death he went to Cambridge to study and was a Minister of Gods Word and zealous against Popery for which he was imprisoned His Mother and divers other Friends advised him to fly To whose Counsel saith he My Flesh would gladly have consented but my Spirit did not fully agree Whereupon he prayed earnestly to God for direction and unexpectedly in the Morning he had a Letter from a Friend whose Bearer said to him before he looked on the Letter That his Friends advice was not to flee but to abide boldly and confess the Name of Christ which he did He was many wayes and much sollicited to turn upon the account of his Children whom he said he would gladly keep could it be with a pure Conscience and he would have accepted of Queen Mary's mercy should he not thereby by denying Christ win everlasting misery He was burned April 24. 1555. with a Firkin of Pitch over his head which melting and dropping on him added much to his torments yet after much misery when they thought him to be dead he spread his hands saying Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 228. Menas an Egyptian under the 10 th Persecution lived a retired life a great while at length returning to the City Cotis in the open Theatre at a time of Pastimes he loudly proclaimed himself a Christian and being brought to Pyrrhus the President and demanded of his Faith he said It is convenient I should confess God citing Rom. 10.10 And being most painfully pinched and tormented he said in the midst of his torments There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the price of one Soul and said I have learned of my Lord and King not to fear them who kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul And being sentenced to be beheaded he said I give thee thanks my Lord God which hast so accepted me to be found a partaker of thy precious death and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure Faith to my life's end Vol. 1. p. 117 118. N N SAintinus Nivet being a Cripple burnt at Paris 1546. when apprehended and asked if he would stand to what he said he asked his Judges if they dare be so bold to deny what was so plain in express words of Scripture and did so little regard his own life that he desired his Judges for Gods sake that they would rather take care of their own Souls and lives and consider how much innocent blood