Estate giving unto them a Commandment of Obedience which was The Commandment given man in his first Creation that they were not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil for in the day they did eat thereof they should dye but of all the rest of the Trees of the Garden they might eat and receiving Comfort there-from might give the Praise and Glory thereof to their Maker to whom it did belong And whilest Man and Woman stood in this Condition they were happy and blessed And now God beheld all that he had made and behold all was Good for Sin had not as yet entered upon man But the Devil envying Gods Honour and Mans Felicity tempted the Woman to Sin by the Serpent The Serpent beguiled Man and Woman by his Subtilty the Woman being beguiled by the Serpent the man was also beguiled by her and brake the Ordinance of God by eating the Forbidden Fruit And thus Man and Woman lost the Dignity and Excellency of their first Creation and were enslaved by the Serpent who by his Wiles and Subtilty had entangled and ensnared them and perswaded them to believe him more then God for God said That in the day they did eat thereof they should die but the Serpent said They should not surely die for God doth know said he that you shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil and thus was man by a lye drawn from the pure Command of his Maker Now after they had sinned in the cool of the day the Lord called unto Adam saying Where art thou and Adam who did hide himself said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and was afraid because I was Naked And God said Who told thee that thou wast Naked hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not Eat And now having brought Guilt and shame upon themselves by Transgression After man had transgressed he first began to make a Covering they began to make them Coverings by sewing fig-leaves to make them Aprons of which it seems they had no need before they had transgressed And now by this all men may see that it was the Serpents work from the beginning and indeed it has been in all Ages his work to beguile Men and Women with his Lyes and Subtilties and to darken their Eyes and polute their Understandings that he may keep them in subjection to himself and from hence doth spring the wicked Thoughts and Actions which all mankind are apt to lean and incline to and have been and are readier to give ear to the Voice of the Serpent and wicked One The Serpent hath ever been the moving cause of all the Wâ— that has come upon Man then to the Voice of God their Maker And this has been the Fountain and Spring-head from whence has come all the Disorders Miseries and Woes that have happened unto all Manking throughout the World in all Ages they have been feeding and delighting themselves in eating the Forbidden Fruit which their Forefathers also delighted in and all Nations upon the Earth are in this State and Condition at this day led away by the Voice of the Serpent from the Purity and Righteousness in which man was first created except a Little Remnant which God hath at this day gathered by his Light and Power to be witnesses to his name And now the Lord having convicted Adam of his evil The Promise of God for the restoring lost man and pronounced several punishments upon him and on Eve his Wife yet with this Promise added That the Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head and now man being put out of the Garden of Eden and a Fiery Flaming Sword being set to keep the Way leading to the Tree of Life man was in an undone condition had not the Lord condescended in his tender Love and Mercy to restore him and make that Promise to him and this was the Lords great Love to open a Door of hope to lost man that he might not be destroyed by Satans Power and now the Power of God by which man was first created appeared again to restore him After the fall of Adam year of the world 130 Cain was the first man that was born of a woman and after Cain his Brother Abel was born and now in process of time these two offered Offerings unto the Lord being without question instructed in Righteousness by their Father Adam after hâ—s restoration but Cains Sacrifice What Sacrafice God accepted and what he rejected being only outward in shew and nothing inward in the Spirit wherein doth consist the true Worship of God the Lord accepted not his Offering but unto Abel and his Offering which was from the Uprightness and Sincerity of his heart the Lord had respect At this Cain was Wrath and being inflamed with Anger rose up against his Brother Abel and in his envy slew him here was the beginning of Persecution and that upon a righteous person for serving God in a pure mind and here the envy of the Wicked one appeared again to extinguish if he could the righteous Seed But now the Lord shewed regard again to mankind and in his tender love repaired this loss for now Abel being slain Adams Wife bare another Son whose name was Seth for God saith she Seth born in the room of Abel bath appointed me another Seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew and this Seth proved a godly man and had a Son called Enos who kept up the holy Seed and true Religion as it is recorded of him that in his dayes men did begin to call on the Name of the Lord now Enos signifies the lamentable condition of all mankind for even then as some men write was the worship of God wretchedly corrupted by the race of Cain whence it came that men were even so distinguished that they who persisted in the true worship of God were known by the name of the Children of God and they which forsook him were termed the Children of men Enochs blameless life The next of the Righteous Stock was Jared to whom was born Enoch another of the Righteous Seed whose life and conversation was so Innocent that it is recorded of him that he walked with God And thus the Reader may see how the Righteous Plants were such who took the Lord to be their Guide in their Actions and Undertakings who were as Patterns of Righteousness in the midst of a perverse Generation and it is the same with all the faithful and upright at this day And now Enoch having this Testimony that he pleased God the Lord as a requital of his faithfulness translated him so that he saw no death and took him to himself The evil the Sons of God were prone to run into And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the Face of the Earth and Daughters were born unto them these Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they
them for which Message they stoned him to death at the Commandment of the King The Prophets is stoned to Death thus Joash the King remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada Zachariahs Father had done to him and when the Prophet dyed he said This Kings miserable end the Lord look upon it and require it and now mark what was the end of this King his own Servants conspired against him and slew him in his bed as may be seen more at large in the account given of Gods Judgments against Persecutors Amazia succeeded Joash year of the world 3194 and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart Amaziahs Evil for at last he set up the God of the Children of Seir and bowed himself before them and burnt Incense unto them wherefore the anger of the Lord was Kindled against him and he sent a Prophet unto him to reprove him The Prophets reproves him to whom the King said Art thou made of the Kings Council forbear wherefore shouldest thou be smitten Nevertheless the Prophet said I know God hath determined to destroy thee The King is slain and after the time that this King turned away his heart from the Lord he was slain After him succeeded Uzzia under him did the Kingdom of Juda flourish no less then that other of Israel did under Jeroboam the second and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord The reason of Vzziah his prosperity and he sought God in the dayes of Zachariah and as long as he sought the Lord and applyed his mind to matters of piety God made him to prosper and he subdued the Philistines and other bordering Enemies and thus whilest he was weak and low he was marvellously helped against his Enemies but when he was strong How he came to loss and lookt at his own strength his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgressed against the Lord and burnt Incense wherefore the Lord smote him with Leprosie and he remained a Leper to the day of his death and dwelt in a house several God Judgment on him for he was cut off from the house of the Lord and he being dead Jotham his son reigned and he did that which was right in the fight of the Lord how be it the People did yet do corruptly but he be came mighty because he prepared his wayes before the Lord his God After him reigned Ahaz his Son year of the world 3242 who did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord for he walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel Ahaz his Evil. who made also Moulten Images for Baalim and burnt Incense on the High-places and under every green Tree wherefore the Lord delivered him into the hands of his Enemies and thus the Reader may see He is delivered into the hands of his Enimies how these people and Children of Juda and Israel to whom God had given a commandment that they should fear him and not forget him and that then he would deliver them from their Enemies howbeit they did not hearken but were ready often to back-slide and to serve their graven Images both their Children and their Childrens Children unto this day Ahaz being dead Hezekiah his Son began to reign year of the world 3278 and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his Father David did year of the world 3374 he removed the High places and broke the Images and cut down the Groves Hezckiahs good reign his breaking down Idolatry and brake in pieces the Brazen Serpent that Moses had made for unto those dayes the Children of Israel did burn Incense to it and he called it Nehushtan that is to say a little piece of Brass and thus this good Reformer he trusted in the Lord God of Israel and he left not off throwing down the Altars and High Places until he had Destroyed them all causing a thorow Reformation And his zeal was so great for the Lord that after him as it is recorded was none like him among all the Kings of Iudah nor any that was before him for he clave to the Lord and departed not from following him and the Lord was with him and he prospered him whithersoever he went forth Hezekiah falling sick unto death the Prophet Esaiah being commanded of the Lord year of the world 3291 said unto him Set thine House in order for thou shalt die He tell sick the Prophet foretold his dâ—ath and not live this moved Hezekiah's heart that he wept sore and turning to the Wall prayed unto the Lord saying I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart He ekiah is broken in Tenderness The Lord had compassion on him and have done that which is good in thy sight wherefore the Lord had compassion on him and added fifteen years more to his dayes and Hezekiah dying Manasseh his Son reigned and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord after the Abomination of the Heathen building the High-places which his Father had destroyed and again reared up Alters for Baal His Son is turned to Idolatry and worshipped all the Host of Heaven and served them and used Inchantments and dealing with Familiar-Spirits and Wizards he wrought much Wickedness in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger for which Abomination the Lord sent his Servants and Prophets to foretel that for those Abominations he would bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Juda that whosoever should hear it their Ears should tingle The Prophets Message against the evil of those times The Kings Bondage he is brought into He is humbled under the hand of God and reforms in part and the Lord brought upon Manasseh the Host of the Assyrians which took Manasseh and bound him with Fetters and carried him Captive to Babylon and now being in Affliction he besought the Lord and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers wherefore the Lord restored him again to his Kingdom and then he knew that the Lord was God and he cast out the Altars that he had built and took away the strange Gods and Idols and commanded the People to serve the Lord God of Israel but still the People retained the High-places to Worship in And after his death his Son Amon was punished by the Lord being slain by his Servants in his own House and now these two bad Kings being taken away the Lord raised up another good King The good King Iosiah raised up which was Josiah the Son of Amon who reigned thirty four years in Ierusalem and eaused again a Blessed and thorow Reformation amongst the People of Iuda and Jerusalem making a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and to keep his Testimonies with all his Heart His Covenant with the Lord.
penny for his pain And as ye would that other men against you should proceed Do you the same again to them when they do stand in need And part your portion with the poor in money and in meat And feed the fainted feeble soul with that which ye should eat That when your members lacketh meat and cloathing to your back You may the better think on them that now do live and lack Ask counsel at the wise give ear unto the end Refuse not you the sweet rebuke of him that is your Friend Be thankful alwayes to the Lord with prayer and with praise Desire you him in all your deeds for to direct your wayes And sin not like that swearing sort whose bellys being fed Consume their years upon the Earth from belly unto bed Seek first I say the living God set him alwayes before And then be sure that he will bless your hasket and your store And thus if you direct your dayes according to this book Then shall they say who see your wayes how like me you do look And when you have so perfectly upon your fingers ends Possessed all within your book then give it to your Friends And I beseech the living God replenish you with grace That I may have you in the Heavens and see you face to fact And though the sword have cut me off contrary to my kind That I could not enjoy your love according to my mind Yet do I hope when that the Heavens shall vanish like a scrole I shall receive your perfect shape in body and in soul And that I may enjoy your love and ye enjoy the the Land I do beseech the living God to hold you in his hand Farewel my Children from the World where ye must yet remain The Lord of Hosts be your defence till we do meet again Farewel my Love and loving Wife my Children and my Friends I hope to God to have you all when all things have their ends And if you do abide in God as you have now began Your course I le warrant will be short ye have not far to run God grant you so to end your years as he shall think it best That ye may enter into Heaven where I do hope to rest Robert Smith to his Brother AS Nature doth me bind because thou art my blood According to my kind to give thee of my good That thou mayst have in mind how I have run my race Although thou bide behind but for a little space I give thee here a Pearl the price of all my good For which I leave my life to buy it with my blood More worth then all the World or ought that I can note Although it be clad in such a simple Coate For when I had obtained this pearl of such a price Then was I sure I gained the way for to be wise It taught me for to fight for to dispise my flesh To stick unto the Light and for to leave the Lyes In sending out my Seed with bonds and bitter tears That I might reap with joy in Everlasting years And have for all my loss my travail and my pain A thousand times and more of better goods again And for because the good that hath been got and gain'd And that the Lords Elect hath evermore obtain'd Is closed in this book which I do give to thee Wherein I have my part as thou thy self mayst see In which I hope thou hast a stock also in sâ—ore And wilt not cease to sayle till God has made it more I will thee to beware be sure thou keep it well For if thou do it loose thy part shall be in Hell And here I testifie before the living God That I detest to do the things that are forbad And as my Judgment is my body to be brent My heart is surely set therewith to be content And sith it is his will to put me in his Power Upon his holy Hill to fight against this Whore Full well I am content if he allow it so To stand with all my might the Whore to overthrow Even with a willing mind the death I will out-face And as I am assured the Battel to imbrace That they which hear the Truth how I have past the pike May set aside their youth and learn to do the like And though it be my lot to let her suck my blood Yet am I well assured it shall do her no good For she is set to kill the thing she thinks accurst And shall not have her fill of blood until she burst And when as thou shalt see or hear of my decease Pray to the living God that I may pass in peace And when I am at rest and rid out of my pain Then will I do the like for thee to God again And to my woful wife and widdow desolate Whom I do leave behind in such a simple state And compassed with tears and mournings many one Be thou her staying staff when I am dead and gone My mouth may not express the dolours of my mind Nor yet my heaviness to leave her here behind But as thou art my Bone my Brother and my Blood So let her have thy heart if it may do her good I took her from the World and made her like the Cross But if she hold her own she shall not suffer loss For where she had before a man unto her make That by the force of fire was strangled at a Stake Now shall she have a King to be her helping hand To whom pertains all things that are within the Land And eke my Daughter dear whom I bequeath to thee To be brought up in fear and Learn the A B C That she may grow in Grace and Ruled by the Rod To learn to lead her Life within the fear of God And alwayes have in mind thy Brother being dead That thou art left behind a Father in my stead And thou my Brother Dear and eke my Mothers Son Come forth out of all fear and do us I have done And God shall be thy Guide and give thee such encrease That in the Flames of Fire thou shalt have perfect Peace Into Eternal Joy and pass out of all pain Where we shall meet with mirth and never part again If thou wilt do my Daughter good Be mindfull of they Brothers Blood Teach me O Lord to walk thy Wayes my living to amend And I shall keep it all my dayes even to my lives end Give me a mind to understand so shall I never start But I shall keep all thy precepts even wholy with my heart Make me to go a perfect pace in that I have begun For all my love and my delight is in thy Wayes to run Encline my heart unto thy Wayes set thou thereon my thought And let me not consume my dayes to covet that is nought O quicken me in all thy Wayes the VVorld for to despise And from all fond and foolish toyes turn thou away mine Eyes O plant in me thy
Christ of necessity Christ must be the true God for that there be many Gods we Children cannot believe The Captain amazed at this said Thou young Villain and Traytor where and of whom learnest thou this Lesson of my mother said he with whose milk I sucked in this Lesson that I must believe in Christ The mother was called and she gladly appeared the Tyrant commanded the Child to be horsed up and scourged the Standers by beholding this merciless act could not refrain from tears the joyful and glad mother alone stood by with dry cheeks yea she rebuked her sweet Babe for desiring a cup of cold water charging him to thirst after the cup that the Babes of Bethlem once drunk of she willing him to remember little Isaac who willingly offered his neck to the dint of his fathers Sword c. Then did the cruel Tormentor pull of the skin hair and all from the crown of the Childs head the mother Crying Suffer my Child anon thou shalt pass to him that will adorn thy head with a Crown of Eternal glory Thus the mother counselleth and encourageth the Child is encouraged and receiveth the strips with a smilling countenance The Captain seeing the Child invincible and himself vanquished commanded him to be cast into the stinking Prison whilest the Torments of Romanus were renewed and encreased then was Romanus brought forth again to receive new strips upon his old sorts the flesh being torn and the bare bones appearing yet the cruel Tyrant raging like a mad man quarrelled with the tormentors for dealing so mildly with him commanding them to cut prick and punch him and then he passed sentence upon him together with the Child to be burned to death to whom Romanus said I appeal from this unjust sentence of thine to the righteous Throne of Christ that upright Judge not because I fear thy cruel Torments and merciless handling but that thy Judgments may be known to be cruel and bloody When they came to the place of Execution the Tormentors required the Child of his mother for she had carried it in her Arms from the Prison she kissed it delivered it to them and as the Execution or was striking off his head she said farewel my sweet Child All Laud and praise with heart and Voice O Lord we yeild to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be The Childs head being cut off the mother wrapt it in her garment laid it to her brest and so departed Then was Romanus cast into a mighty Fire which being quenched with a great storm of Rain the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out and afterwards caused him to be strangled in the Prison Gordius a Centurion in Cesarea in the heat of this Persecution left his charge living a sollitary Life in a Wilderness for a long time at last when a solemn Feast was celebrated to Mars in that City and multitudes of People were assembled in the Theatre to see the Games he came and got up into a conspicuous place and with a loud Voice said behold I am found of those that sought me not The Multitude hereupon looked about to see who it was that spoke this and Gordius being known he was immediatly brought before the Sheriff and being asked who and what he was and why he came thither he told him the whole Truth professing that he believed in Christ valued not their threatings and chose this as a fit time to manifest his Profession in Then did the Sheriff call for Scourges Gibbets and all manner of Torments to whom Gordius answered That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers Torments and Punishments for Christ and his Cause The Sheriff more incensed hereby commanded all those Torments to be inflicted on him with which Gordius could not be overcome but sang The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man can do unto me and I will fear no evil because thou Lord art with me c. Then did he blame the Tormentors for favouring him provoking them to do their uttermost the Sheriff not prevailing that way sought by flattery to seduce him promising him Preferment Riches Treasures Honour c. if he would deny Christ but Gordius deriding his foolish Madness saying That he lookt for greater preferment in Heaven then he could give him here upon Earth Then was he condemned and had out of the City and burnt Multitudes followed him and some kissing him with Tears intreated him to pity himself to whom he answered Weep not I pray you for me but for the Enemies of God which fight against the Christians weep I say for them which prepare a Fire for us purchasing Hell-fire thereby for themselves in the day of Vengeance and cease I pray you thus to molest my quiet and setled mind for truly For the Name of Christ I am ready to suffer a Thousands deaths c. Others perswaded him to deny Christ with his mouth and to keep his Conscience to himself my Tongue saith he which by Gods goodness I have cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of the same for with the Heart we believe unto righteousness and with the Tongue we confest unto Salvation and thus perswading and encouraging the People to be willing to dye in the like cause with an unappalled countenance he willingly gave himself to be burnt Basil in one of his Orations relates a Story of one Julitta from whom one of the Emperours Officers took all her Goods Lands and Servants contrary to all Equity whereupon she complained to the Judges and a day of hearing was appointed where the spoiled Woman lamentably declared her Case but the wicked Villain that had robbed her said that her Action was of no force for she was an Outlaw for not observing the Emperours Gods and that she was a Christian His Allegation was allowed Incense was prepared for her to offer to the Gods which if she refused she should neither have protection nor benefit of the Emperours Laws nor continue her life she hearing this in the mighty Strength of God said Farwel Riches welcome Poverty Farwel Life welcome Death all that I have were it a Thousand times more would I lose rather then speak one wicked word against God my Creator I yeild thee most hearty thanks O my God for this gift of Grace that I can condemn and dispise this frail and transitory World esteeming the Profession of Christ above all Treasures And thence forth when any Question was proposed to her her answer was I am the Servant of Jesus Christ her Kindred and Friends earnestly solliciting her to change her mind but she constantly refused with detestation of their Idolatry Then did the cruel Judge condemn her to be burnt which Sentence she embraced joyfully as a thing most sweet and delectable and so she addressed her self to the Flames in countenance jesture and words declaring the Joy of her Heart coupled with singular
deceitful in all their words and deeds Being condemned they were led to the place of Execution in Bruxells they went joyfully saying They dyed for the Glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel as true Christians believing and following the Holy Church of the Son of God saying also That it was the day which they had long desired Being come to the place of execution and stripped to their Shirts they stood so a great space patiently and joyfully enduring whatsoever was done unto them praising God and singing for joy a Doctor standing by exhorted Henry to take heed so foolishly to Glory himself to whom he answered God forbid that I should Glory in any thing but only in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Another counselled him to have God before his eyes to whom he said I trust I carry him truly in my heart The next that suffered was Henry Stutven burned in the borders of Germany when he was apprehended they fell upon him in a great rage and fury drawing him naked out of his bed Henry Stutven Martyred in â—â—rmany and bound his hands behind him when he was brought to Hemming stead they asked of him what his intent was in coming to Diethmar unto whom he gently declared the cause of his coming which was to preach the Gospel they all in a rage cryed out away with him away with him for we will hear him talk no longer then he being mavelous weary and faint required to be set on horse-back for his feet were all cut and hurt with the Ice because he was led all night bare-foot but they mocked him and said he was an Heretick and he should go on foot that night they had him to a mans House called Calden and there bound him in Chains in the Stocks but the Master of the House being compassionate would not suffer the cruel deed long wherefore he was carried away to a Priests House and there shut up in a Cubbard and by the rude people mocked and scorned all night in the morning about Eight of the Clock they gathered together in the Market-place to consult what they should do where the Rustical people boiling in drink cryed out burn him burn him to the fire with the Heretick then they bound him hands feet and neck and being brought to the Fire one of the Presidents appeared to pass a sentence upon him to be burnt and consumed with fire Henry lifting up his hands said Lord forgive them for they know not what they do thy Name oh Almighty God is Holy the Fire as often as it was kindled would not burn notwithstanding they satisfied their minds upon him striking and pricking him with their several kinds of Weapons the said Henry standing in his shirt and when he began to pray one strook him on the face saying thou shalt first be burnt and afterwards pray and prate as much as thou wilt and thus this godly preacher finisht his Martyrdom which was in the year 1529. John Clark Perscuted in France John Clark of Melden in France for setting up a paper upon the Steeple-House door against the Popes Pardons calling the Pope Antichrist for which he was whipt three several dayes and markt in the forehead his mother seeing their cruelty towards her son constantly and boldly encouraged her son blessing the Lord with aloud voice that he was worthy to suffer after the execution of the foresaid punishment the said John Clark removed to Mentz and there followed his trade being a Wooll-Comber where understanding that the people of the City after an old accustomed manner Worshipt certain blind Idols the said John being inflamed with the zeal of God against them went to the place where the Images were and broke them all down in pieces the next morning the Cannons Priests Monks accompained with the People according to their accustomed manner went to their Idolatrous place of Worship where they sound all their blocks and stocks broken to pieces upon the ground which fight sore offended them and searching out for the author of the fact and John Clark being suspected was apprehended and upon examination confest he did it and shewed them the cause wherefore and being brought to tryal he defended the pure Doctrine of the Son of God against their Images and their false Worships for which he was condemned being led to the place of Execution he there sustained extream Torments for first his right hand was cut off then his nose with sharp pinchers was violently pluckt from his face all which and much more he quietly and constantly endured testifying at the Fire against his Persecutors saying their Imageswere Silver and Gold the work only of mans hand George Carpenter of Emering in Bavaria was burnt to death when he was led out of the Tower where he was Prisoner before the Council George Carpender Martyred divers Friars and Monks followed him to instruct and teach him whom he willed to tarry at home and not to follow him when he came before the Council they read his Offences viz. That he did not believe that a Priest could forgive a man his Sins and that he did not believe that God was in the Bread which the Priests hang over the Alter and that the Element of Water in Baptism doth not give grace being urged to revoke these his Opinions and that then he should be set at Liberty and go home to his Wife and Children to which he answered any wife and Children are so dearly beloved unto me that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria but for the Love of my Lord God I can willingly forsake them at his Execution a Schoolmaster repeating the Lords Prayer George Carpenter said as followeth Truly thou art our Father and no other this day I trust to be with thee Oh my God how little is thy Name hallowed in this World for this Cause Oh Father am I now hear that thy will might be fulfilled and not mine the only Living Bread Jesus Christ shall be my food with a willing mind do I forgive all men both my Friends and Adversaries Oh my Lord without doubt shalt thou deliver me for upon thee only have I laid all my hope in thee alone do I trust in thee only is all my confidence I knew that I must suffer Persecution if I did cleave unto Christ who said where the Heart is there is the Treasure also and whatsoever thing a man doth fix in his Heart to love above God that he maketh his Idol and then being cast into the Fire by the Hangman he joyfully yielded up his Spirit unto God The suffering of Weendal Muta Weendel Muta a widdow of Holland receiving the Truth of the Gospel into her Heart was apprehended and committed into the Castle of Werden and from thence shorly after was brought to the Hague to tryal where certain Monks were appointed to talk with her to win her to recant but she
King for Reformation in Religion and he was the great Instrument in overthrowing Abbies Monasteries and Friaries which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the Kings hands Whereupon not only their Houses were rased but their Possessions were divided amongst the Nobility insomuch that all Friars Monks Cannons Nuns and other such Sects were so rooted out of this Land from the Foundation that there seemed to be no room left for such Weeds to grow here any more But as this Thomas Cromwell was raised up for good and being so greatly in favour with the King used all means he could to perswade him to reform the enormities in the Church on the other hand Satan raised up his Instrument which was Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester who used all wilds and subtill means he could to perswade the King against the same casting upon the Professors of Truth the name of Hereticks Sectaries Anabaptists and Sacramentaries and so far prevailed with the King that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were published prohibiting the publishing any Books in English written by the Sectaries and Sacramentaries under the pain of the forfeiture of all their goods and Chattels and their Bodies to be Imprisoned during the Kings pleasure And further this Stephen Gardner instigated the King not only against the Queen who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation but also against this Thomas Lord Cromwell who no doubt had brought the encrease of true Religion according to his understanding to more prefection had not this Gardner and other Malignant Opposers thereof set themselves against it to hinder the prosperity thereof but now through the said Gardners evill advise the King who before had raised the said Thomas Cromwell for his worth and integrity now for his pleasure took him off and suffered him to be Beheaded After his death Religion and the Reformation more and more decayed whereby the Reader may see how variable the State of things stood in reference to Religion at this time and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth how often things changed even as the King was ruled and gave ear sometimes it went a little forward and then backward again according as the persons prevailed that were about the King And now the King being led through Gardners suggestions began to withdraw shewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion concluding so to do was most for his safety both at home and abroad having so much displeased the Pope and other Popish Princes in what he had already done and though he had rejected the Popes Authority he would declare himself nevertheless to be a good Catholick Son of the Mother Church and a withstander of new Heresies and then calling a new Parliament and Convocation of Prelates there was six Articles decreed concerning Religion which was afterwards commonly called a whip with six Srings it was pretended for the Unity of the Church but what Unity followed the groaning hearts of many that suffered death by the same both in this Kings time and in Queen Maries time may declare The Six Articles of the Bishops Condemning all to be burnt as Hereticks that should hold First That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacrament after Consecration Secondly That the Sacrament might not truely be administred under one Kind Thirdly That Priests entred into holy Orders might Marry Fourthly That Vows of Chastity entred into upon mature deliberation were not to be kept Fifthly That private Masses were not to be used Sixthly That Auricular Confession was not to be used in the Church Before these Articles were published Bishop Gardener having obtained his desire with the King he and the rest of the Prelates began again fresh to persecute the Protestants the first they stretched forth their Hands against was John Lambert a Norfolk man and one zealous for the Spreading of the Truth according to the Manifestation of it then broke forth and to that end was conversant with Tindal and Frith at Antweep until by the Instigation of Sr. Thomas Moor he was apprehended and brought to London where he was first brought to Examination at Lambeth and then at the Bishops House at Oxford before Worham Arch-bishop of Canterbury and others where fourty five Articles were objected against him to all which he answered in writing very fully and wisely both according to the Scriptures and Reason the Articles and his Answers may be read at large in Foxe's Acts and Monuments The Bishop of Canterbury shortly after dying whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out of Prison and coming to London it was not long before he fell into trouble again for having a private Conference with one Doctor Tayler what past between them in their dispute in private grew at last a publick and common talk which coming to the Arch-bishops Ear he sent for Lambort and forced him to defend his Cause openly in that Disputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bishops Upon this appeal Bishop Gardener goes to the King and privately possesses him that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the people who were offended with him for abolishing the Bishop of Rome's Authority and subverting of Monasteries and Abbies c. he might now remedy these troubles if he would manifestly appear in this matter against Lambort and shew himself stoutly to resist the Hereticks the King immediately received this wicked Counsel of the Bishop and forth with sent out a general Commission commanding all the Bishops and Nobles of the Land to come with all speed to London to assist the King against Hereticks these preparations being made a day was set upon which Lambort should appear before the King and the rest assembled with him to be Tryed and Judged The day being come the King ascended his Throne clothed all in white he lookt upon the Prisoner with a sterne Countenance as if his mind was full of Indignation and then called forth the Bishop of Chichester and commanded him to declare to the People the Causes of that Assembly the Substance of the Bishops Speech tended to this That the King would have none to conceive that whereas the Authority and Name of the Bishop of Rome being utterly abolished he would also extinguish all Religion or give Liberty to Hereticks to trouble the Churches of England without punishment the Bishop having ended his Speech the chief thing that the King prest Lambort to declare was what Opinion he held touching the Sacrament of the Altar to which he answered fully and the Dispute held chiefly concerning that point for some hours until the King and Bishops enraged against him forced him to silence at last The King being minded to end the Dispute said to Lambort What sayest thou after all these Labours and Reasons of these learned Men Art thou yet satisfied Wilt thou live or die thou hast yet free choice Lambort answered I yield and submit my self wholly unto the will of your Majesty
accused on several Articles by the Bishops and afterwards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt when he came to the fire he said Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands and then turned him to the People and said these Words I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affliction and Torments which you see already prepared for me but I Exhort you that you Love the Word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort Moreover I pray you shew my Brethren and Sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor lâ—â—ve off the Word of God which I taught unto them after the Grace given to me for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World which lasts not and shew unto them that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable after the Constitution made by men and if I had taught mens Doctrine I had gotten great thanks of men but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men not sorowfully but with a glad Heart and Mind for this cause I was sent that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake this grim Fire I fear not and so I pray you to do if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake and fear not them that Kill the Body and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee Father of Heaven to forgive them that have through Ignorance or an evil Mind forged Lyes against me I forgive them with all my heart and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly So being first Hanged he was then burnt many People bewailing his death VVabter Mille amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland his Constancy is not to be past over with silence out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland many Articles were drawn up against him for which he had sentance pronounced against him that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge and punisht as an Heretick which was to be burnt Now when all things were ready for his death and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire Andrew Olifant Judge that past sentence upon him bad him Go to the Stake he said Nay except thou pull me up with thy hand for I am forbidden by the Law of God to lay hands of my self then Olifant put him up with his hand thereupon he went gladly saying I will go to the Altar of God and desired that he might have time to speak to the People which his Executioner denyed saying That he had spoken over-much and that the Bishops were oâ—fended that the matter was so long continued but some young men that stood by desired him to speak what he please so after he had prayed he rose up and standing upon the Coles said on this wise Dear Friends the Cause why I suffer this day is not for any Crime laid to my Charge but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus for which as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves being assured after the Death of their Bodies of Eternal Felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his Mercy among the rest of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Life which as I received it of him so willingly I offer it to his Glory Therefore as you will escape the eternal death be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests Monks and Bishops and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his Mercy that you may be delivered from Condemnation All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his Patience Stoutness Boldness and Constancy were not only moved and stirred up but their hearts also were so inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake and being in the Fire he said Lord have Mercy on me pray People while there is time and so be constantly departed The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth Henry the Eighth being dead Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years he was a Youth of a meek nature and disposition much inclined to Clemency and Mercy yea so much that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie all the Council could not move him to set his hand saying to Cranmer what will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error Doctor Cranmer perswaded him with much ado at last to put his hand to whom he said He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord. But though this King was of so mild a Nature and a Person inclining to love Religion from a Child being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church abolishing the Mass c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset a man also very Zealous for Reformation and an Encourager of such as profest the Gospel but in the midst of these meek and gentle times on the other hand the Pâ—pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecution and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle inclinable to yet the most of this Kings Reign which was but short the Sword was taken out of their hands so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign yet some there were that suffered for Religion viz. Joan of Kent an English woman and one George a Dutchman and one Thomâ—s Dobb who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass and committed to Prison where he died The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion and as it is recorded of him a man so Innocent that he was like a Dove without any Gall or Bitterness and more apt to receive Injury then do wrong to any one It happened that as he was passing by Pauls in London seeing the Priest at Mass being at the Elevation as he passed by the young man filled with godly Zeal pitying the Ignorance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up was not able to forbear but opened his Mouth and turning to the People exhorted them testifying against their Idolatry for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet where falling sick he soon after died In this Kings time there was also one John Hume a servant to one Lewnax accused by his Master of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real
Heart that feareth God For therewith bless we God above and therewith Curse we men And thereby Murders do arise through Women now and then And seeing God hath given a Tongue and put it under power The surest way is for to set a hatch before the door For God hath set you in a seat of double low degree First unto God and then to man a subject for to be I write not that I see in you those things to be suspect But only set before your Face how sin should be correct For flesh and Blood I know you are as other Women be And if ye dwell in Flesh and Blood there is infirmity Receive a Warning willingly that to thy teeth is told Account the gift of greater price then if he gave thee Gold A wise man saith Solomon a warning will imbrace A Fool will sooner as he saith be smitten on the Face And as your members must be dead from all things that are vain Even so by Baptism you are born to live with Christ again Thus farewel free and faithful Friend the Lord that is above Encrease in thee a perfect faith and lead thee in his Love And as I pray with perfect Love and pour out bitter tears For you and all that are at large abroad among the bryars Even so I pray thee to prefer my person and my bonds Unto the Everlasting God that hath me in his Hands That I may pass out of this Pound wherein I am opprest Inclosed in a clod of Clay that here can have no rest That as he hath begun in me his mercies many one I may attain to overtake my Brethren that be gone That when that death shall do his worst where he shall point a place I may be able like a man to look him in the Face For though he catch away my Cloâ—k my body into dust Yet am I sure to save a Soul when death hath done his worst And though I leave a little dust dissolved without blood I shall receive it safe again when God shall see it good For my Redeemer I am sure doth live for evermore And sitteth high upon the Heavens for whom I hunger sore Even as the Deer with deadly wounds escaped from the spoile Doth haste by all the means he may to seek unto the soile Of whom I hope to have a Crown that always shall â—emain And eke enjoy a perfect peace for all my wo and pain The God that giveth all encrease and seeketh still to save Abound in thee that perfect peace which I do hope to have And I beseech the living God to hold thee in his Hands And wish thee even withal my heart the blessing of my bands Which I esteem of higher price then Pearl or precious Stone And shall endure for evermore when earthly things are gone For though the Fire do consume our Treasure and our Store Yet shall the goodness of the Lord endure for evermore And where thou art a Friend to him that is to me full dear The God of might make thee amends when all men shall appear That hath shewed Mercy to the meek and rid them out of pain And thus the Lord possess thy Spirit till we do meet again If thou wilt have a Recompence Abide still in obedience The Exhortation of Robert Smith unto his Children GIve ear my Children to my words whom God hath dearly bought Lay up my Law within your heart and print it in your thought For I your Father have foreseen the frail and filthy way Which flesh and blood would follow fain even to their own decay For all and every living beast their Crib do know full well But Adams heirs above the rest are ready to rebel And all the Creatures on the Earth full well can keep their way But man above all other Beasts is apt to go astray For Earth and Ashes is his strengh his glory and his reign And unto Ashes at the length shall he return again For flesh doth flourish like a flower and grow up like a Grass And is consumed in an hour as it is brought to pass In me the Image of your years your treasure and your trust Whom you do see before your face dissolved into dust For as you see your Fathers flesh converted into Clay Even so shall ye my Children dear consume and wear away The Sun and Moon and eâ—e the Stars that serve the day and night The Earth and every earthly thing shall be consumed quite And all the Worship that is wrought that have been heard or seen Shall clean consume and come to nought as i ft had never been Therefore that ye may follow me your Father and your Friend And enter into that same life which never shall have end I leave you here a little Book for you to look upon That you may see your Fathers Face when I am dead and gon Who for the hope of heavenly things while he did here remain Gave over all his golden years in Prison and in Pain Where I among mine Iron bands enclosed in the dark A few dayes before my death did dedicate this work To you mine heirs of earthly things which I have left behind That ye may read and understand and keep it in your mind That as you have been heirs of that which once shall wear away Even so you may possess the part which never shall decay In following of your Fathers foot in Truth and eke in Love That ye may also be hâ—â— heirs for evermore above And in example to your youth to whom I wish all good I preach you here a perfect faith and seal it with my Blood Have God alwayes before your Eyes in all your whâ—le intents Commit not sin in any â—ise keep his Commandments Abhor that arrant Whore of Rome and all her blasphemies And drink not of her decretals nor yet of her decrees Give honour to your Mother dear remember well her pain And recompence her in her age in like with love again Be alwayes aiâ—ing at her hand and let her not decay Remember well your Fathers fall that should have been her stay Give of your Portion to the poor as Riches doth arise And from the needy naked soul turn not away your eyes For be that will not hear the Cry of such as are in need Shall cry himself and not be heard when he would hope to speed If God hath given you great increase and blessed well your store Remember you are put in trust to minister the more Beware of foul and filthy last let whoredom have no place Keep clean your Vessels in the Lord that he may you imbrace Ye are the Temples of the Lord for ye are dearly bought And they that do defile the same shall surely come to nought Possess not pride in any case build not your nests too high But have alwayes before your face that ye be born to die Defraud not him that hired is your labours to Sustain But give him alwayes out of hand his
wait for me for God put in my mind that they would lay wait for me at all Sea-Coast Towns as they did So when all was husht I went abroad among our Friends and Brethren and at length I went beyond the Seas both into Flanders and France but I thought the time long till I came home again I was there but three weeks but it was known among Baals Priests who could not abide it but got Warrants and searched my House for me sometimes twice in a week sometimes I went privily sometimes openly from home staying abroad two or three weeks together otherwhile living a Moneth together at home doing openly such work as I had to do and yet mine Enemies laid no hands on me till the hour was fully come and then mine own Brother according to the flesh delivered me into their hands The Examination of Richard Woodman before the Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and others Bishop What is your name My name is Richard Woodman Then said the Bishop I am sory for you you have been a man of good report and esteem in your Country till now of late therefore look to your self your Wife and Children and Friends and be ruled and think not your self wiser then all the Realm but be informed and you shall have their favour as much as ever you had Woodman My Life my Wife and my Children I love them but they are all in Gods hands and I have them as if I had them not Bishop Q. Mary An. 1557. The Sheriff told me that you were desirous to spake with me Woodman I thought meet to appeal to you because you have taken upon you to be the Physitian of our Country for many unjust things are laid to my charge and they seek my Blood and I have appealed unto you that if my blood be shed unrighteously it might be required at your hands Doctor Story Is not this a perverse Fellow dost thou think thou shalt be put to death unjustly and that thy Blood shall be required no said he and further added that he could condemn a hundred such Hereticks and threatned that he would help to rid him Then Woodman would have answered but the Bishop desired them both to give him place Bishop Well Neighbour Woodman I call you Neighbour because you are one of my Diocess and you are sent to me that I should give you spiritual counsel for I am your Spiritual Pastor therefore hear what I say unto you Woodman First I desire you to hear me a few words you have said you will give me Spiritual counsel are you sure you have the Spirit of God Bishop No I am not sure of that I dare not be so bold to say so Woodman Then you are like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about with every wind and unstable in all your wayes and can look for no good thing at the Lords hand yea you are neither hot nor cold and therefore God will spue you out of his Mouth Then in a fury Story said What a perverse Fellow is this he hath a Devil in him and is mad and the Bishop said He is sent to me to learn and taketh upon him to teach me Then Richard Woodman seeing their Blindness and Blasphemy it made such an impression upon him that his heart was melted and and his eyes gusht out with tears and he spoke to them after this manner The Jew's said to Christ he had a Devil and was mad as you have here said to me but I know the Servant is not above his Master and God forbid that I should learn of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Bishop Why do you think that you have the Spirit of God you boast more then ever Paul did or any of the Apostles the which is great presumption Woodman I boast not in my self but in the Gift of God as Paul did who said He verily believed that he had the Spirit of God making thereof no question 1 Cor. 7. Chichester It is not so you bely the Text. Woodman If it be not so let me be burnt to morrow Story Thou shalt not be burnt too morrow but I will promise thee thou shalt be burnt within six dayes Bishop If it be so it 's wrong Translated as it is in a thousand places more Woodman Take heed that you bely not the Translators I believe they had the fear of God more before their Eyes then you report of them but if that place be wrong translated I can prove by places enough that Paul had the Spirit of God Bishop How prove you that Woodman No man can believe that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and again we have not received the Spirit of Bondage to fear any more but we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father the same Spirit certifieth us that we are the Sons of God also John saith he that believeth not that Christ is come in the Flesh is an Anti-christ and denieth both the Father and the Son and he that believeth in God dwelleth in God and God in him Story What an Heretick is this why do you here him send him to Prison to his Fellows in the Marshalsea and they shall be dspatcht within these twelve dayes Woodman When I heard him say so I rejoyced greatly in my heart desiring God if it were his will to keep them in that mind for I expected to have been sent to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house or Lollards Tower but they sent me to the Marshalsea to my Brethren and old Prison-Fellows whereby it pleased God that the burden I looked for was something eased when they saw I rather rejoyced then feared imprisonment the Bishop said My thinks he is not afraid of the Prison Woodman No I praise the Living God Story He hath the right terms of an Heretick the living God c. I pray you be there deads Gods that you say the Living God Woodman Are you angry with me for speaking the words written in the Bible Story Bibble Babble what speakest thou of the Bible there is no such word written in all the Bible Then said Woodman I am much to blame and brought several Scriptures to prove that there was a Living God and dead Gods for David said My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyce in the living God Story My Lord I will tell you how you shall know a Heretick by his words that is they will say the Lord and we praise God and the Living God c. Woodman The Lords Name be praised from the rising of the Sun until the going down of the same also as many as fear the Lord say alwayes the Lord be praised Story My Lord this is an Old Heretick send him to Prison you will do no good on him I will leave you and go to Church
without order at the first encounter are reckoned up to him all his Articles and then besides binding his hands they tye his Thumbs together with a small Cord then they tye his Hands and Tumbs unto a greater Cord hoisting him up by a Pulley very high which done they put upon his Legs heavy Bolts if he have not them on before to which are yet added for the first pull an Iron weight of twenty five pounds which is hanged to those Bolts between his Feet being thus arrayed the Tormenter draws him up on high the Register and Inquisitor mixing therewith their former Exhortations confess when he comes to touch the Pulley with his Head they urge him yet then to confess if he obey they presently let him down if not then they let him hang in this condition until he have answered their demands now after he hath hung thus without making any Confession they let him down to redouble on his feet the former weight and then pulling him up again threatning him to hang there till he die if he declare not to them what they ask of him commanding thet Tormenter to let him hang a long while that through the heaviness of the weight which hangs at his Feet all his Members and Joynts are stretched out beyond measure when the Patient through the extremity of Torment which he endures cryes out they in like sort cry as loud as they can that he should now confess what he knows if not then they let him fall for when they perceive he continues constant then they commanded the Officer to let go the Cord which is as soon done as spoken yet not wholly and altogether to the mid way but a certain stop which hinders his falling to the ground by reason whereof he receives such a suddain check his Body is pitifully and miserably stretched But yet this sufficeth not for then if through their importunity he will confess nothing they augment the weight the third time and if the poor creature in regard of his intollerable pain call upon the Lord to help him and desire to be let down then they Scoff and Mock at him pressing him to confess telling him that is not all threatning him by the Strappado as before This Hellish Torture beginneth at nine and lasteth till one a clock and when they please to make an end they ask the Tormenter if he have the other Engines ready and at their going all the comfort they give their dissolate Patient is thus this shall suffice say they for this time but look between this and to morrow thou advisest thy self well what thou oughtest to confess other wayes thou art like to die under Torture nor think to escape by what thou hast endured for that is but a Bed of Roses in regard of the Torment which is to come they being gone his clothes is put on and if he be not able to go he is carried again unto Prison a few dayes after they send for him again renewing their threats that if he will not reveal those that are of his Opinion he must prepare himself for the Torture wherein if he any way miscarry or Death follows the fault shall be his and not theirs if he continue unmovable in his mind they cause the Goaler to bring him to the place of Torture and there they sitting in their Tribunal command him to be stripped naked and then tormented after the same manner as is before related besides as an addition thereunto they tye his thighes and hamstrings together with a small Cord forcing the same with pieces of Wood so that the Cords do eat into his very Flesh in which extremity they leave him for three or four hours plying him the whilst with infinite threats and derisions which is all the comfort that they minister unto him in this his most miserable condition Thus in short the Reader hath an Account of the cruel Inquisition of these pretended Christians in Spain Now I shall proceed to give a further Account of some that suffered under these Papists cruelty in divers parts of France and Flanders A Woman of Tours whose Husband the Papists had not long before drowned having an Infant sucking at her Brest about seven weeks old and a Daughter about sixteen Years Old who was very beautiful this Woman accompained with her Children they hailed to the River side where kneeling down she prayed to the Lord the Child sucking at her Brest then she shifted her Child in the Sun and laid it upon the Grass commending it to God in the mean while this Hellish Crew used many words to turn the Young Maid from her Religion the Mother being ready to be plunged into the Water exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth the Daughter beholding their outrage cryed out in these words I will said she live and die with my Mother whom I know to be a virtuous woman as for your threats and promises I regard them not do with me what you please The Mother was not yet dead when these merciless wretches threw in the Daughter also An. 1562. and so they yielded up their Souls together as Witnesses against the Papists cruelty the Infant was taken up by a Souldier who having kept it a day and a night laid it in a Steeple-House-Porch whence being taken and given to a Nurse to keep it would never take the Brest after but within two dayes it died In the same City suffered one Glee an honourable woman and constant to her Profession and when news was brought her that she was condemn'd to be hang'd she received it with joy being conducted with the rest of the Prisoners about the second hour in the afternoon towards the place of Execution they would have put a lighted Torch into her hand and have had her to acknowledge she had offended God and the King Away away with it said she I have neither offended God nor the King I need no such light to help me ask forgiveness of my sins use such things your selves who sit and walk in the Darkness of Ignorance and Errour The one of her Kindred meeting her in the way presented to her veiw her little Children praying her to have compassion on them seeing that by renouncing your Religion you may preserve your life This caused the tears to flow down and this answer she made I must needs say I love my Children dearly but yet neither for love I bear to them or any thing else in this World will I renounce the Truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them and therefore to his Providence and Protection I commend and leave them and so passed on and with cheerfulness finished her Testimony with the loss of her life The Body of Coqueville being stripped naked was dragged by the Murtherers from Valongues being low Normandy up and down his House with derision into a Chamber where they used to meet and there spurning the dead body with their feet they bid him Now