Vestry and cut off his Right Hand then he was had into the Market-place and there they cut off his Left Hand then his Arms were bound behind him and his Feet under the Horses Belley and so was carryed to the place of Execution where he was let down by a pulley into the Fire and then pluckt up and let down again all which cruelty he endured with a constant Spirit saying O Eternal God Father of all Mercies look down upon thy Servant and with patience he suffered till at last the Rope burning he fell down into the Fre and was consumed This was in the year 1552. Persecutions in the Reign of Queen Mary beginning Anno 1553. After the Death of Edward the fixth Queen Mary succeeded and after the was setled in her Throne a Sinod was assembled for consulting about matters of Religion and the point especially of the real Presence in the Sacrament after a long Disputation where Reason and Scriptures were not so much weighed as Voices numbred the Papal side as having most voices carried it and thereupon was that Religion again restored and the Mass commanded again in all Churches so called to be celebrated after the antâ—â—â— mâ—â—â— And shortly after Cardinal Poole and English man that 〈◊〉 fed to Rome for Succour in the former time Q. Mary was sent for over again to England by the Queen who was no sooner come but the Attaindor upon Record against him was by Act of Parliament taken off and he restored and a few days after coming to the Parliament before the Queen and both Houses assembled after the Bishop of VVinchester who was Chancellor had made a short speech to them signifying the presence of the Cardinal and that he was sent from the Pope as his Legate for their good and benefit Then the Cardinal stood up and made a long Oration to them thanking them for restoring him whereby he was made a Member of their Society Then Exhorting them to return into the Bossom of the Church for which end he was come not to Condemn but to Reconcile not to compell but to call and require and for their first work of Reconcilement requiring them to repeal and abrogate all such Laws as had formerly been made in derogation of the Catholick Religion After which Speech the Parliament going together drew up a Supplication which within two dayes after they presented to the King and Queen wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former Errors and humbly desired them to interceed for them to the Cardinal and the See Apostolick that they might be pardoned of all they had done amiss and be received into the Bossom of the Church being themselves most ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinal he then gave them Absolution in these words We by the Apostolick Authority given unto us by the most holy Lord Pope Julius the third Christs Vicegerent on Earth do absolve and deliver you and every of you with the whole Realm and Dominions thereof from all Heresie and Schism and from all Judgments Censures and Pains for that cause incurred and also we do restore you again to the unity of our Mother the holy Church The report hereof coming to Rome was cause that a solemn Procession was made for Joy of the Conversion of England to the Church of Rome And now all Bishops which had been deprived in the time of Edward the sixth were restored to their Bishopricks and the new removed and all that would not turn and forsake their Religion were turned out of their Livings and Stephen Gardner and Bonner became again to be had in favour and were restored to their former places and several old Laws were again revived by Act of Parliament for the tryal of Heresie and Commissions and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all parts of the Realm whereupon many were apprehended and brought to London and there Imprisoned and afterwards most of them burnt to death or else through cruel usage died in Prison and were buryed in Dunghils in the Fields to the Number of near three Hundred Persons Men and Women in the short Reign of this Queen And now Bonner being re-invested into his Bishoprick he sends forth Injunctions that six in every Parish upon their Oaths should present before him such as would not conform and soon after about threescore Inhabitants of the City of London were apprehended and imprisoned for dispersing and selling certain Books sent over into England out of Germany and other Countries About this time the people going a Procession in Smithfield and the Priest being under the Canopy with the Box John Street persecuted according to the usual Custom one John Street a Joyner in Coleman-Street going by in haste about his business by chance went under the Canopy by the Priest at which the Priest was so surprized and overcome with fear that he let the Pix fall down the people being amazed presently apprehended the poor man and committed he was to the Compter and the Priest accused him to the Council as if he came to slay him from the Compter he was removed to Newgate where he was cast into the Dungeon and there chained to a Post and so miserably used till he lost his Sences and then they sent him to Bedlam Roods Commaded to be again set up in the places called Churches These were but in the beginnings of Bonners Cruelty in this Queens time the next thing he did was he put out a Mandate to the Curates within his Diocess requiring them to abrogate and blot out all Scripture Texts wrot upon the Walls in Churches so called in Edward the sixths time which he said was opening a Window to all Vice and further commanded that comely Roods should be again set up in all Churches The same Injunction for setting up Roods was published in other Diocesses at this time for at Cockram in Lancashire the Parishoners and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood and to set it up in that they called their Church at a certain prise which the Carver did but the Rood being made of an ugly grim Countenance they disliked it and refused to pay the Work-man that made it whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the Mayor of Lancaster who was a favourer of the Protestants and a man against Images when they came before the Mayor he askt them Why they did not pay the man according to their Agreement they replyed they did not like the grimness of its Vissage saying they had a man formerly with a hansome Face and they would have had such another now well said the Mayor though you like not the Rood the Poor-mans Labour has been never the less and its pity he shold loose but I tell you what you shall do pay him the Money you promised him and if it will not serve you for a God you may make a Devil of it at which they
against the Mass and Antichrist the people in a rage fell upon him beating and bruising of him and he was forthwith bound and set upon an Ass and the Executioners with lighted Torches burnt his Face Mouth and Tongue first when the flames came overthwart his Cheeks he was heard to cry Lord forgive them they know not what they do and then they consumed his body with Fire to Ashes And herein the Reader hath seen the invinceable Constancy of these Martyrs who in their burning Zeal for Religion dryed up the Rivers of Persecution and were never tyred in Suffering until the Persecutors swords were blunt with the slaughter Blessed are they that are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven Part IV. Q. Eliz. An. 1558. Containing an Account of such as suffered Persecution and Martyrdom under Episcopacy c. I Am now come to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth in whose first year the Parliament restored the first fruits and tenths to the Crown and the Protestant Religion was again established the Bishops that refused the Oath of Supremacy were removed and others put in their rooms in this Queens time about the Eleaventh year of her reign arose a People making a Profession of the Pure Religion and would allow of nothing but what was directly taken out of the Scriptures openly condemning the received Discipline of the Church of England together with the Liturgy and the very calling of the Bishops as savouring too much of the Romish Religion declaring it to be an impious thing to hold any thing common with the Church of Rome and used all diligence to have the Church of England reformed in every point according to the rule of the Church of Geneva amongst these Dissenters were Coleman Burton Hallingham and Benson whom the Queen commanded to be committed to Prison yet it is a thing almost incredible how on a suddain their Followers encreased known by the envious name of Puritans who preached nothing more then Evangelical Purity crying down the Ecclesiastical Form of Government as a thing poluted with Roman Dregs setting out Books in Print to the same effect refusing to go to the publick Worship as it was then used whereupon many endeavours were used to suppress them and the Law was commanded to be put in Execution which required Uniformity and the Books wrote by the Puritans to be delivered into the Bishops hands on pain of Imprisonment by these courses of persecution and force they were kept down for a time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury using his utmost endeavours to settle an uniformity in Ecclesiastical Discipline according to the Laws which he saw lay gasping if the Puritans encreased and thereupon provided Articles for all Ministers to subscribe but he found great opposition or disturbance in this his Design both at home and abroad for one Robert Brown a young man of Cambridge from whom a People called Brownists took their name and one Rich. Harrison a School master these set forth Books in Zealand dispersed them over England condemning the Church of England for no Church these Books were by Authority prohibited and several of the chief of these Brownists were executed at Bury in Suffolk as the Reader shall understand more particularly in this following Discourse Q. Eliz. An. 1558. as far as I can give a discovery by the Authors I could procure As I have said though by the forciable course the Bishops took these People were kept under at times yet in the one and thirtieth year of the Queen the Pur̄itān̄s Flames brake forth again and Books were written by the names of Martin-Marprelate and another Book by Penry and Udal against the Government of Bishops and Barrow and Greenwood wrote a short Treatise called a Plat-Form in which was contained sharp reproofs to the Clergy saying That all false and Antichristian Ministers ought by the Princes Authority to be rooted out and that their Antichristian and Idolatrous Livings ought to be converted to chartiable Civil-uses and are not to be appropriated or given to Gods true Ministry for the maintenance thereof neither ought it to receive the same for it stands not with the honour of God that Bethel Gods House should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Bethaven the House of Idols as if the Almighty wanted other means for support of his own House and must needs be beholden to the House of Idols to help him and his For these and such matters by them openly divulged they were imprisoned and all that would not bow the Bishops resolved to break them to pieces on the other hand the more hotly they were persecuted by the Bishops the more the Zeal stirred in them to oppose strengthening themselves daily through their diligence in Reading the Scriptures that they might be enabled to oppose the Clergy whose Reformation they said was no more then casting out the name and Persons of the Pope and Papists and yet reserved all their Livings and Priviledges even all the fat and gainful Ware of Amaleck unto themselves But in the end of these things as it seldom hath been known so far as I have observed that whensoever the Truth appeared though in the least Measure but it cost some Blood which should make men love it the better So in these times this Barrow Greenwood and Penry and several others sealed their Testimony first by hard Imprisonment and at last by death it self as in the sequel will appear and if what I find upon record be true as I have no cause to believe otherwise the chief Instruments of their deaths were the Clergy and not the Queen For when the Queen asked Doctor Raynolds what he thought of those two men meaning Barrow and Greenwood he answered It would not avail any thing to shew his Judgment concerning them seeing they were put to death and being loath to speak his mind further the Queen pressed him and charged him to speak whereupon he answered that he was perswaded if they had lived they would have been two as worthy Instruments for the Church of God as hath been raised up in this Age The Queen sighed and said no more But after that riding to a Park by a place where they were executed called to mind their suffering of death and being willing to have further information concerning them demanded of the Earl of Cumberland that was present when they suffered what end they made he answered a very godly end and prayed for your Majesty and the State moreover one Philips a famous Preacher having both heard and seen Barrows Speeches and Preparation for death said Barrow Barrow my Soul be with thine And now before I give Account of the places where these persons were executed it will be necessary to insert their Complaint to the Parliament relating their hard usage in Prisons a Copy of which is as followeth The Humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the Persecuted and Prescribed Church and
other Heresie Schism Rebellion Treason or Faction and whatsoever else is contrary to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel or the Prosperity and good estate of this Realm our only desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence and fear abstaining and keeping our Souls and Bodies from all remnants of the Roman Religion Idolatry Imposition and vain will-worship of what sort soever We witness against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy and Priesthood of this Nation as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and Ministry there appointed in their Offices Callings Administrations and Lord like Livings and Maintenance against the confuse prophane and irreligious multitude of all sorts of vitious Livers baptized into and retained in the Body of the Church of England without voluntary profession of and holy walking in the Faith of the Gospel against their manner of Worship and Service by reading Prayers out of a Book instead of true Spiritual invocation on the Name of the Lord and briesly against all their Popish Abuses and Relicks of the man of sin whatsoever And because this our Testimony maketh against the irregular Authority of the Prelates reproveth their evil Actions and disproveth their Pomp Stateliness Rich Revenues Stipends c. therefore have they in all hostile manner set themselves against us Persecuting us unto Bands Exile and Death it self reproaching us as Schismaticks Donatists Prownists Seditions persons c. though they could never convince us of these or any the like crimes and though we have not ceased neither by Gods Grace will cease to wish and procure good to their Souls and Bodies in the Lord now therefore our humble Request is unto your Majesty Honours and Worships that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to return into our native Country there to live in Peace practizing the Faith of Christ which we profess and have long since set forth to the view of the World in our publick Confession wherein none hitherto have shewed us any Error and seeing the People of other Nations are by your Majesty and Honours suffered in this Realm though differing from the Ecclesiastical state of the same we hope that your Highness Natural and Loyal Subjects may find like favour at your hands for although we cannot but hold and Witness the Truth of God against the corruptions remaining yet hold we in no wise lawful for our selves or any Subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these or any the like abuses for God hath committed the Sword into your Majesties hand alone who in his time will perswade we trust your Royal heart to fulfil his will and execute his Judgments upon the Remainders of the Spiritual Babylon which will turn to as great Honour to God Honour to your Majesty and good of this Realm as the abolishing of Abbats Munks Fryart Mass Images c. hath turned heretofore So the Lord of Lords and Ruler of Rulers of the Earth will establish your Crown and Kingdom unto Length of dayes and howsoever this our Suit shall be regarded we will not cease in all places of our Pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majesty your Honours Worships and all our Country whom God Almighty bless with Long Life and happy dayes on Earth and Crown with Everlasting Glory in the highest Heavens Amen I find that in the year 1604. in this Kings Reign four Persons were banished the Land of England after they had suffered three Moneths Imprisonment for no other cause but seperating themselves from the Church of England refusing to Communicate joyn or pertake with the same in their publick Ministry and Worship reputing many corruptions to be still remaining amongst them which were derived from Popery And thus I have given an Account of such as suffered for Religion in those times and now to conclude I have this further to write by what I have observed upon Histories in several Ages viz. That while any People were under Suffering and Oppression for their Consciences endeavouring to serve and worship God in that Way they believed to be most agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth then the publick Way established in the Kingdom whilst they travelled under this Bondage and Suffering they were low in their minds and the Lord had regard unto them for their hearts were tender and the Lord appeared for them and now when the Lord had tryed this People and at last put Power into their hands and raised them as it were from a low estate they soon forgot his kind dealings with them as for Example the Independants and Presbyterians some of whom I have seen neer forty years since dregged out of their Meetings in private Houses and their Cloathes tore and their Faces covered as it were with dirt and their blood spilt and in this suffering condition they made many Covenants and Vowes to the Lord but this very People afterwards coming into Places of Authority and killing and taking Possession got themselves into the High-Places of the Earth and soon forgot their time of deep Sufferings and being exalted into Goverment they tread in the same steps those had trodden that were their great Persecutors and then they turn'd as riggid Persecutors if not worse then those they had turned out as witness the Innocent Blood they shed both in Old-England and New whose Cruelty under the Visor of a more righteous Cloak is too large here to insert but will be matter sufficient for another Volum and therefore I here conclude this AN ACCOUNT OF THE Just Iudgments of God INFLICTED UPON PERSECUTORS Wherein is shewed The Wicked Lives and most horrible Untimely Deaths of many of the Persecutors of Old Collected out of Ancient Histories and out of the Scriptures CHAP. I The remarkable and righteous Judgments of God which have befaln several Persecutors for Conscience sake mentioned in the Old Testament THe Old Serpent the Devil The Old Serpent who was the first Persecutor for Righteousness sake that ever was in the World who for that very cause hath hunted after the blood of the Saints even from the beginning unto this day was for his Persecution cursed of God above all Creatures Gen. 3.14 Cain persecuted his godly Brother Abel until Death Cain and that for no other cause but for Righteousness sake even because his own works were Evil and his Brothers Good and Righteous 1 John 3. 12. was therefore cursed of God with a bitter curse even from the Presence of God and from the Earth and made a Fugative and Vagabond in the Earth yea so great was his punishment that he said It was greater then he could bear Gen. 4.11 12 13. Ishmael was another Persecutor for he was a Mocker of his Brother Isaac Ishmael the true Seed of God and therefore was cast out with his Mother out of the Family of the Faithful that he might have no part in the Inheritance in the true Seed unto whom the Promise was made Gen. 12.9 10
proper instruments of their suppression by Preaching and Disputation by Charity and Sweetness by Holiness of Life Assiduity of Exhortation by the Word of God and Prayer For these wayes are most natural most prudent most peaceable and effectual only let not men be hasty in calling every disliked Opinion by the name of Heresie and when they have resolved that they will call it so let them use the erring person like a Brother not beat him like a Dog or convince him with a Gibbit or vex him out of his understanding or perswasion Thus far Jer. Tayler these Passages being truly collected out of his Epistle where are many more to the same purpose to which the Reader is referred for further satisfaction if he desire it And further in his Sixteenth Section for the lawlulness of Princes giving Toleration to several Religions he hath these Passages For it may be safe in diversity of perswasions and it is also a part of Christian Religion that the Liberty of mens Consciences should be preserved in all things where God hath not set a limit That the Soul of man should be free and acknowledge no Master but Jesus Christ That matters Spiritual should not be restrained by punishments corporal That the same mockness and Charity should be preserved in the promotion of Christianity that gave it foundation and increment and firmness in its first publication And that Persons should not more certainly be condemned then their Opinions confuted And lastly That the Infirmities of men and difficulties of things should be both put in ballance to make abatement in the diffinitive sentence against mens persons As Christian Princes must look to the interest of their Goverment so especially must they consider the interests of Christianity and not call every redargution or modesty discovery of an established Error by the name of the disturbance of the Peace For It is very likely that the peevishness and impatience of contradiction in the Governors may break the peace Let them but remember the Gentleness of Christianity the Liberty of Consciences which ought to be preserved and let them do justice to the persons whoever they are that are peevish provided no mans personbe over-born with prejudice For If it be necessary for all men to subscribe to the present established Religion by the same reason at another time a man may be bound to subscribe to the contradictory and so to all Religions in the World Uncharitableness is much prevented when no person is on either side engaged upon revenge or troubled with disgrace or vexed with punishments by any decretory sentence against him It was the saying of a wise States-man I mean Thuanus Haretici qui pace data factiouibus sciuduntur persecutione uniuntur contra Remp. If you persecute Hereticks or Discrepants they unite themselves as to a common defence if you permit them they divide themselves upon private interest and the rather if this interest was an ingredient of the Opinion SECT VII Instances out of divers Authors treating on the same Subject Collected by W. C. deceased CHrisostomus said ' It is not the manner of the Children of God to Persecute others to death about their Religion but it hath been and is their condition to be put to death themselves for the Testimony of the Truth Moreover said he the shedding of Blood about Religion is an evident token of Antichrist Relig. Uris pag. 192. Haywardus said That the best Writers of that time did agree in one opinion and with Tertulliano Lactaâ—tiâ— Cassidoro and Josephus c. That People must inform men to imbrace Religion with Reason and not compel them by violence I have for long season determined said one of the Kings of France to reform the Church which without Peace said he I cannot do and it is impossible to reform or convert people by violence I am King as a Shepherd said he and will not shed the Blood of my Sheep but will gather them through the mildness and goodness of a King and not through the power of Tyranny And I will give them that are of the reformed Religion right Liberty to live and dwell free without being examined perplexed molested or compelled to any thing contrary to their Consciences for they shall have the free exercise of their Religion c. vide Chron. Vande Underg 2. deel page 1514. Luther said That the Hypocrites Church was to be known by its Manners whose Image and Sign was Esau yet she boasted of God and would be accounted his Church but lived wholly according to the World Further said he the true Church is not defended by a Fleshly Arm which wicked Bishops especially use and cry unto Thesau pag. 622. Calvin said That the Apostle gave to understand that to exercise authority over ones Faith was in no wise just nor tolerable yea said he It is Tyranny in the Church for FAITH ought to be free from all Subjection of men When several of the Priests in the low Countries requested of the Prince and States that they would introduce Ordinances and Discipline according to their Opinions but the Prince and the States rejected their requests esteeming them prejudicial both to Religion and Pollicy when they observed the diverse Opinions that were among the People concluding It was the best way to perserve unity among the People to give Liberty to all and to Compel none Anno 1608. Edict Fol. 27. Areneus affirmed That all forcing of Conscience though it was but a forbiding of the Exercise which is esteemed by one or another to be necessary to Salvation is in no wise right nor fitting He also affir med That through diversities of Religions the Kingdom should not be brought into any disturbance The Anrient Reformed Protestants termed that forcing of Conscience when they were constrained to leave off the exercise of their Religion saying Car nous privant de nostre Religion on nous tiendroit en une continuele mors corporelle spirituelle that is For to deprive us of our Religion is to keep us in a perpetual corporal and spiritual death adding thereunto How that they would rather be put to death then be bereaved of the exercise of their Religion c. And also they testified how that the Religion which was defended with Cruelty was not grounded upon the Word of God Lactantius said If you will with blood with evil and with torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted Lib. 5. Chap. 20. Constantius the Emperor said That it was enough that he perserved the unity of the FAITH that he might be excusable before the Judgment Seat of God and that he would leave every one to his own understanding according to the account he will give before the Judgment Seat of Christ Hereto may we stir up People said he not compel them beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians but to do VIOLENCE to them we will not in no wise Sabast Frank. Cron. Fol. 127.
the hardness of their hearts it accordingly came to pass for Cornelius and Suetonius relate that there were six hundred thousand of the Jews killed in this war between Vespasian the Emperor and the Jews but Josephius a Jew and a Commander in that war writes that ten hundred thousand perished by Sword and Famine and of the rest of the Jews that were dispersed all the World over and put to death divers wayes the number is said to be ninty thousands so Orolius lib. 7. Chap. 9. but I find not the number of six hundred thousand of them that were killed in Suetonius in Josephius lib. 6. belli Chap. 17. the number of Captives is ninty seven thousand but the other number eleven hundred thousand is only the number that perished in the six months seige in Jerusalem and thus did the Lord afflict with Wars and Destruction these Apostatized and stiff-necked people the Jews until they were a scattered and dispersed people as at this day they are throughout the World Part II. Sheweth the corrupt Fruits of the false Church and Seed of the Serpent in the time of Apostacy Darkness Contention and Persecution got up amongst them called Christians ALthough the Sufferings of the Christians were very great after the death of the Apostles for some time and it cannot be denyed but there was a sincerity in some of the Christian Churches yet as John testified in his day he saw the true Church flee into the Wilderness and the Apostle foretold 2. Tim. 3. that there would be a departing from the Faith and Paul saw the Apostacy coming in in his day The Apostles prophesie of the Apostacy and said perillous Times should come and that men should be lovers of themselves Covetous c and reprobate concerning the Truth So it was not long after the Apostles time before these Prophesies were fulfiled for if the Reader peruseth this following Discourse he will find a great Decay and Apostacy from that Life and Power that the Apostles were in and the corrupt Fruits of many of these called Christians brought forth manifested the great Degeneration that was come upon the Christian Church for as Eusebius writes Lib. 4. Chap 6. when Persecution at any time ceased then began Heresie to spring apace among the Christians until at last there was continual Discord and Contention and they broke out into Sects and Opinions and persecuted one another about their several Forms of Faith and became so far degenerated from the Doctrine of Christ which taught to Love Enemies that they became haters of one another and manifested to the World that they had lost the blessed Love and unity that was amongst the Apostles and Brethren of the Christian Church in the beginning but before a perticular Account be given of that its necessary that the Reader understand that the Estate of the Christians in the first Times after the Apostles was their most suffering Times when as yet the Christian Religion was accounted by the Heathen but an upstart thing and therefore they presecuted them greatly as may be seen at large in the Testimony of the Martyrs hereunto annexed But through the tenderness of Adrian the Emperour Cap. 13. Adrians tenderness to the Christians the Christians had some intermission from their Sufferings and they began to be in some request for after Adrians death Antonius Pius succeeding he continued that peace with the Christians he found begun in Adrians last dayes for which he had the name of Pius yet by the peoples tumult without the Emperours consent some were martyred To this Emperour Justin made an Apology on the behalf of the Christians divers other Supplications were also made unto him on their behalf which Supplications produced an Edict from the Emperor remitting the Persecutions against the Christians The Copy of the Edict is as followeth The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antonius Augustus Amenicus Pontifex Maximus The Edict of Aurelius Antonius on the behalf of the Christians fifteen times Trybune thrice Consul unto the Commonalty of Asia sendeth greeting I know the Gods are careful to disclose hurtful persons for they punish such as will not worship them more grievously then you do them you bring in trouble concerning that Opinion which they conceive of you to be wicked and ungodly men it is their desire in Gods quarrel to dye rather then to live so that they became Conquerors yeilding their lives unto the death rather then to obey your Edicts it shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earth-quakes which have and do happen among us that being therewith moved you may compare our Estate with theirs They have more confidence towards God then you have you during the time of your ignorance dispise other Gods condemn the Religion of the Immortal God banish the Christians which worship him and persecute them unto death in the behalf of these men many of the Provintials Presidents have written heretofore unto our Father of famous memory whom he answered in writing again that they were no longer to be molested unless they had practized Treason against the Roman Empire and many have given notice unto us of the same matter whom we answered as our Father did before If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other mens affairs we command that the Accused be absolute and free though he be found such a one I mean faulty and that the Accuser be grievously punished In the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia this Edict was Porclaimed at Ephesus The Edict proclaimed Thus far of Antonius Pius who was so called for his gentile and good disposition of whom it is recorded that this quiet Emperor in Life of all other Emperors of those times dyed the most quietest death But Verus one of his Successors was a wicked and cruel man under whom multitudes of Christians suffered The Christians suffer again as may be seen in my Testimony of the Martyrs which may give the Reader a taste of what they endured who were faithful to give a Testimony concerning their Faith About this time the Christians began to have a little respite and peace again from the Heathens Persecution of them years since Christ 195 and having a little They have respite again peace they now began to jangle about the Celebration of Easter but though they differed in this Ceremony they were not yet grown so bad as to be out of Charity one with another but left it as an indifferent thing in the Church until the time of Victor Now this Victor was so violent set upon upholding the Roman Determination of his former Predecessor as unnecessary that he would Excommunicate all the Bishops and Churcheâ— of Asia unless they would be of his Opinion had not Ireneus restrained him who though he was of Victors Opinion concerning the Celebration of Easter yet seeing Policratus Bishop of Ephesus and divers other Bishops of Asia of another Opinion allegding for their Practice
their Loynes they never ride but go a foot when they travel they have a great pair of wooden Beads with a wooden Cross tyed to their Girdles before them If these Franciscan Fryars may be believed they say All that they wear about them is holy yea all that they eat drink or touch is Sanctified their grecy Cowle Habit Sandals and especially their knotty Girdles they say hath many Virtues and therefore they have no small profit from the Lay-people that they may wear them concerning these Fryars Habits one wrote these Verses as followeth The knotty Rope Feet bare deceitful Cowle Bring bare Foot Fryars into Hell to howle The knotty Rope that binds that Slovens Coat Were better used being tyed about his Throat The Original or beginning of the Society of the Jesuits is but of a new Institution whereof the Founder was one Ignatius Loyola born in Spain who had been a Souldier and was hurt on both his knees and halted ever after his Order was confirmed by Paul the third in the year 1504 and himself Sanctified by Pope Paul the fifth in the year 1622. not for his Holiness and Sanctity of life but for an Infinite sum of Money given unto the Pope by the Jesuites Maphaus invith ignat â—â—lleâ— in 〈◊〉 Chronolog and with all because the Duke of Bavaria by the Wicked Practice and Devilish pollicy of his Children the Jesuites and the help of the King of Spain had taken the Palatinate from the Prince Elector the true and Lawful Owner thereof This Ignatius ordained that all those of this upstart Society â—â—m Valderâ—me pag. 10. should call themselves Jesuits or Patres Societatis Jesu Fathers of the Society of Jesus Valderama preached Years since Christ That when this St. Ignatius resolved to quit the Souldiers life the very House wherein he then was the Walls shaked the Beams and Posts trembled and all that were in it betook themselves to flight and ran out of Doors as fast as their legs could carry them even as when some strange eruption of Fire doth suddainly break out in some high Mountain so when interiour Fire began to be discovered in him who before was cold and frozen as to Religion it lightened forth in such sort that it caused a thousand amazments a thousand firing of Houses c. there was never any Aetna or flaming Mountain that did the like thus far are thewords of Valderama And truely many people are of Opinion at this day that this Fire was transferred after his death unto his Society seeing they do perticipate so much of it for out of the fervour of their Mercenary Religion they have ever since exercised the Trade of Incendiaries in all places and they have set all Christendom on Fire neither is there any Kingdom Common-wealth City or Province which they have not inflamed with Wars Seditions and Persecutions And now further the Reader may see what ignorance was among the Papists at this time for the Heathen People heretofore had many Gods and every one of them their distinct Office as Apollo was the God of Wisdom Mars of Wars Aeolus of the winds Neptune of the Seas c. The Papist has as many Saints which they honour and every one hath their several Charge assigned unto them As Saint Anthony for Swine and for Fire Saint Roch to Cure the Plague and Sheep Saint Lusey for the Tooth-Ache Saint Petronel for the Fevour Saint Martiâ—â— for the Itch Saint Valentine for Lovers Saint Crispine for Shoe-makers and Saint Clement for Bakers Brewers and Victuallers Saint Sebastine for Archers Saint Nicholas for Butchers and many more and the Office assigned Ignatius as Valderama saith pag. 51. This blessed Father Ignatius doth most assuredly and readily saith he assiist all Women that are in Labour for this vigilent Pastor doth alwayes accompany the sheep that are great with young and thus this Ignatius doth shoulder the Virgin out of Doors for the Papist Women were wont heretofore to call upon her in that Extremity But how the Monks Fryars and Priest did take this I cannot till for that it clipped away some of their profit for they had often money and gifts to say Masses for Womens safe delivery especially the Augustine Fryers of Burgos in Spaine who sold the measure of their Crucifix at a dear rate because they counted it a precious Relique for many Diseases These Jesuits are great Intelligencers and States-men in most parts of the World and wheresoever they remain they take upon them to teach and instruct Children as well of Noble-men as also of inferior persons professing to do the same freely and without reward wherein they deal so carefully that the Parents do not account their Childrens time Mispent but also do reward them highly and the Jesuits make thereof a double benefit for first they bind the Parents of the Children thereby to be their Favourites secondly as for the Schollers they strick into their tender Capacity such a reverence of themselves and do withall distil into their minds Especially into such as are witty such Points of Doctrine and such an Opinion of their Holiness and integrity that the same very seldom and sometimes never weareth away but rather increaseth with their years according to that saying Quo semet est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu That is The Vessel will long retain the taste of the first Liquor it first held or contained which is undoubtedly of no small moment to the strengthening and upholding of their Faction and Society moreover they have so cunningly wrought that wheresoever they are they only are the general hearers of all Confessions diving thereby into the secrets and drifts of all men acquainting themselves with their humors and Imperfections and making as time and occasion serves use and benefit thereof to themselves Thus much as to Jesuits Monks and Fryars which may fitly be annexed to the Arraignment of Popery a Book published by G. F. and E. H. to which I refer the Reader if he desire to be further informed of the Corruption of this Apostatized Popish Church and so conclude this part A Brief View OF THE Great Sufferings AND LIVING TESTIMONIES Of the TRUE and Constant Martyrs Contain'd in the Acts Monuments of the Church writ by the industrous Labours of John Fox and now Epitomiz'd and a further Account annexed of some that suffered DEATH for RELIGION since By E. H. The CONTENTS Part I. Containing an Account of the Persecutions and Sufferings inflicted on the Faithful Servants of the Lord both before and after the Jews Apostacy and before the Coming of Christ pag. 1. Part II. Containing an Account of the Great Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Christians after the Coming of Christ and before the Apostacy and Darkness wholely spread over the Church pag. 7. Part III. An Account of the Grievous Sufferings Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Servants of the Lord under the Popish Church after the Apostacy from the Ancient Primitive Truth
Christian World as before is related And Pope Alexander the third being informed that divers persons in Lyons questioned his Soveraign Authority over the whole Church cursed Valdo and his Adherents commanding the Arch-Bishop to proceed against them by Ecclesiastical censures to their utter extirpation whereupon they were wholly chased out of Lyons Valdo and his followers were called Waldenses who afterwards spread themselves into divers Countries and Companies and for their Religion many of them were Burnt to death and fleeing into Germany and other Countries many of them were put to death Pope Alexander 〈◊〉 de a Decree that these Gospellers and all their Favourers should 〈◊〉 comunicated and that none should sell them any thing or buy 〈◊〉 â—hing of them 〈◊〉 the Waldenses notwithstanding all the Popes Curses continued publishing that the Pope was Antichrist the Mass an Abomination the Host an Idol and Purgatory a Fable whereupon Pope Innocent the third Anno 1198. seeing that the other remedies were not sufficient to suppress these Hereticks as he called them authorized certain Monks Inquisitors who by process should apprehend and deliver them to the secular power by a far shorter but much more cruel way then was used formerly for by this means they were by thousands delivered into the Magistrates hands and by them to the Executioners whereby in a few years all Christendom was moved with compassion to see so many burnt and hanged that did trust only in Christ for Salvation And from the year 1170. to the year 1470. many noble Witnesses were raised up in England and elsewhere to write against the Popes pride calling him Antichrist c. and to bear a publick Testimony in these dark times against the corruption and abominable Idolatry which was crept into the Church with the hazard of their Lives and Liberties amongst which were the Lollards of the increase of whom the Pope had often complained in Richard the second 's time but could not prevail and King Henry the fourth coming to the Crown by Usurpation to ingratiate himself with the Clergy made a Law that Lollards should be burnt at the discretion of the Bishops whereupon divers suffered Martyrdom as followeth William Sawtery of London in the year 1400. William Sawtery Suffered was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury VVilliam Sawtry desired his cause might be heard by the Parliament then sitting for the commodity of the whole Realm but the Bishops would not allow it but caused him to be brought before them who examined him upon eight Articles the last whereof was about Transubstantiation to which he answered that after the words of Consecration there remained very bread the same bread which it was before the words were spoken whereupon he was condemned by Robert Hall the Bishops Chancellour after which they got a warrant from the King directed to the Mayor and Sheriff of London for his burning William Thorp for the same cause was examined and imprisoned and after a long examination before the Arch-Bishop was committed to another foul bad Prison where he never was before of which place he writeth as followeth After I was brought to Prison when all men were gone forth from me the Prison doors fast being by my self I began to Think on God and to thank him for his goodness and I was then greatly comforted not only for that I was then delivered for a time from the presence of the Scorning and from the Menacing of my Enemies but much more I rejoyced in the Lord because that through his Grace he kept me so both among the flattering especially and among the menacing of mine Adversaries that without heaviness and anguish of my Conscience I passed away from them In his examination the Bishop told him that it was certified against him that he preached openly and boldly in Shrewsoury that Priests have no title to Tythes the substance of his Answer was There was one came to Prison to me and asked what I said of Tythes to whom I said ask the Priests and Clerks of the Town the man replyed our Prelates say they are cursed that withdraw their Tythes I said I wonder any Priest say men are cursed without the ground of Gods Word and put the man to enquire of the Priest of that Town where the sentence of cursing them that Tythed not was written in Gods Law and I said further in the old Law which ending not fully till Christ rose up from death to life God commanded Tythes to be given to the Levites but the Priests were to have but the tenth part of those Tythes given to the Levites now said I in the new Law neither Christ nor any of his Apostles took Tythes of the People nor commanded the People to pay Tythes but Christ taught the People to shew works of mercy and I said not of Tythes but of pure Almes of the People Christ and the Apostles lived when they were so busie in preaching the word to the People that they could not otherwise work to get their livelihood Then the Bishop said thou preachedst openly at Shrowsbury that it is not lawful to swear in any case Thorp said by the Authority of the Epistle of James and by witness of divers others The Martyr against swearing oâ— a Book I have preached openly in one place or other that it is not lawful for any to swear in any case by any Creature Then the Clerk asked him whether it were not lawful for a Subject at the command of his Prelate to kneel down and touch the holy Gospel book and kiss it saying so help me God and this holy Dome Thorp said Ye speak full largly what if a Prelate command his Subject to do an unlawful thing should he obey Arch-Bishop a Subject ought not to suppose that his Prelate will bid him do an unlawful thing Thorp But to our purpose related the Opinion of a master in Divinity in the matter of Swearing who said it was not lawful either to give or take any such charge upon a Book for every Book is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made of Therefore to sware upon a Book is to swear by Creatures and this swearing is ever unlawful this Sentence saith Thorp witnesseth Chrysostom plainly blaming them greatly that bring forth a book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any Body to sware whether they think a man to sware true or false Then the Arch-Bishop scorned me and threatened me with sharp and great Punishment except I left this Opinion of swearing Thorp said It is not only my opinion but the opinion of Christ James and Chrysostom and divers others The Clerk said Wilt thou tarry my Lord longer submit thee here meekly to the Ordinance of holy Church and lay thy hand upon a Book touching the holy Gospel of God promising not only with thy Mouth but also with thine Heart to stand to my Lords ordinance Thorp said have I not told you here how that I
to shew further violence upon the poor flock of Christ calling them before his Tribunal Seat passing Judgment upon some and committing them to the Secular Arm to be burnt namely Thomas Bernard James Morden Robert Rave John Scrivener and others compelling Children to set Fire to their own Fathers and Example of such Cruelty as is contrary both to God and Nature The judicious Reader whose eyes are enlightned may see what darkness the World was drowned in at this time the purity of the Christian Religion being wholy lost and turned into outward Observations Ceremonies and Idolatry worshipping of Saints going Pilgrimages to see the Reliques which were as so many lying Miracles instead of worshipping the Living God worshipped dead Stocks and Stones how the People were led so the Priests were fed no care was taken the Popes Laws and Canons being more set by then Christs Testament or the Scriptures laying another Foundation then Christ and the Apostles laid upon which the Papists planted their infinite number of Masses Derriges Obsequies Mattens hours of singing Service Midnight-rising Bare-foot-going Fish-tasting Lent fast Ember-fast Stations Rogations Jubilees Advocation of Saints praying to Images Pilgrimage Walking Vows of Chastity wilful Poverty Pardons Indulgenâ—â—s Penance Auriculer Confession Shaving Powling Annointing saying Prayers by their Beads making Laws that none should wear Sumptions Garments or Rings or Ouches on their Fingers but Bishops only when they were saying Mass these with other such like filthy Stuff has been set up by the Popes Power in the night of Apostacy and People have been forced to Swollow it down though some did it against their Stomachs and Consciences and if the least Light appeared in any to testifie against their Trumpery the Beast and false Prophet made War with them and rather then they would fail in the extinguishing the Truth they would destroy the persons in whom the least appearance thereof manifested it self as in the Relation before and hereafter will appear about this time there were many eminent men raised up who were accounted Fathers of the Protestant Church as Zuinglius Occolempadius Melancton and Martin Lather this Martin Luther was a German born and being oppressed with the Popish Idolatry began to preach against the Authority of the Pope and to bring in a reformation of Religion for repressing of whom the Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul the third in the year 1542. which Council continued about forty years to no purpose for they made so many Decrees which caused a great confusion amongst the Papists themselves It is Recorded of Luther that he shined in the Church as a bright Star after a long Cloudy and Obscure Skie he preached expresly that Sins are freely remitted for the love of the Son of God and that we ought faith fully to imbrace this bountiful gift these good beginnings got him great authority especially seeing his life also was correspondent to his profession the consideration whereof took place in the hearts of his Hearers some of which were persons of note these things and his preaching against Indulgences and Pardons sticking in the Pope Stomack he put forth a new Edict wherein he declared this to be the Catholick Doctrine of the holy Mother Church of Rome Prince of all other Churches That Bishops of Rome which are Successors of Peter and Viccars of Christ have this Power and authority given to release and dispence also to grant Indulgences available both for the Living and for the Dead lying in the pains of Purgatory and this Doctrine he charged to be received of all faithful Christian men under pairs of the great Curse and utter Separation from all holy Church Whereupon Luther's Books were condemned as Heretical and the Popes Legat caused them to be burnt which Martin Luther hearing of got a Company together at Wittenberge and making a Fire burnt the Popes Decrees and Bull then lately sent out against him for which the Pope accurst him at Rome afterwards he was sent for by the Emperour to Wormes who though he was much perswaded not to go said As touching me since I am sent for I am resolved and certainly intend to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and did appear who according to a promise made by the Emperour was safe conducted thither and home again before the Emperour he said I can affirm no other thing but only this that I have taught hitherto in simplicity of mind that which I have though to tend to Gods Glory being asked whether he owned these Books published in his name he said they were his Books but he could not submit his Books to the Judgments of men which he had fortified by the Authority of Scripture unless they could prove by the Scripture the contrary professing that except they could convince him by Testimonies of the Scriptures for he did not believe the Pope nor their general Councils which have erred many times and have contradicted them selves This opposition made by Luther much troubled the Pope especially seeing the Followers of Luther to encrease and therefore he earnestly desired some speedy Remedy against the same and to that end sent to the German Princes to move them thereunto but the German Princes instead of putting the Apostolick sentence in execution against Luther and his Followers exhibited at the Councel of Norenberge 100 Grievances and Oppressions against the Court of Rome as forbidding Marriage to some forbidding Meats times of Marriages restrained and after released again for money selling remission of sins for money the licentious Life of the Priests and their great number of Holy dayes and such like other things which would be too much to Mention This Martin Luther continued notwithstanding all the opposition against him twenty nine year a Preacher and at last dyed in peace in his own Country But there continued great Disputations and Reformations in divers parts of Europe abolishing the Mass and all Images and foolish Ceremonies making Decrees against them that they should be utterly abandoned After the preaching of Luther great Troubles and Persecutions followed in many parts of the World and many Laws and Decrees were made against sech as bore Testimony against the Ignorance and Error of those times whereby many good Christian men were cruelly handled and lamentable it is to read how many poor men were troubled both in Germany France and England some being Racked some Exiled some driven to Caves in Woods and some burnt to death with many other cruel Torments It will be too large to mention every particular that suffered in those dayes for Religion but some of the chief are as followeth In the year 1523. John Esch and Henry Voes two young men for owning the Doctrine of Luther were proceeded against as Hereticks being Examined by the Popes Inquisitors at Lovaine John Esch and Henry Voes Marâ—yred the greatest thing that they were accused of as error was That men ought to trust only in God inasmuch as men are Lyars and
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
Rich and the Bishop of London used all their power by flattering words to perswade her from God but they prevailed not with her one Nicholas Shaxton counselled her to recant as he had done she told him it had been good for him he had never been born then Rich sent her to the Tower to be racked where first he and one of the Councel examined her telling of her that the King was informed that if she would she could name a great number of her Sect she answered that the King was as well deceived in that as he was in other Matters The manner of her Racking was thus she was first lead down into a Dungeon where the Lievtenant of the Tower commanded the Goaler to pinch her with the Rack which being done so much as he thought sufficient he went about to take her down but Wristley the Chancellor not contented that she was loosed so soon confessing nothing but lay still and did not cry commanded the Lievtenant to strain her on the Rack again which because he denyed to do tendering the weakness of the Woman the Chancellor threatened him he would signifie his disobedience to the King Then Rich and the Chanceller took pains to Rack her themselves till she was near dead first asking her whether she was with Child to whom she answered you â—hall not need to spare for that but do your wills upon me and so quietly and patiently praying unto the Lord she abode their Tyranny till her Bones and Joynts were almost pluckt assunder after she was loosed from the Rack she swooned but they recovered her again and she was carried away in a Chair to a house and laid in a bed with weary and painful Bones the Chancellor sent her word that if she would leave her Opinion she should want for nothing if she would not she should be forthwith sent to Newgate and so be burned she sent him word again that she would rather die then break her Faith The Prayer of Anne Askew before her Death O Lord I have more Enemies now then there be Hairs on my Head yet Lord let them never overcome me with vain words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my Care with all the spite they can imagine they fall upon me which am thy poor Creature yet Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight and Lord I heartily desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most merciful Goodness forgive them that Violence which they do and have done unto me open also thou their blind Hearts that they may hereafter do that thing in thy Sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set forth thy Truth aright without all vain Fantasie of sinful men So be it O Lord so be it The day of her Execution being appointed she was brought into Smithfield in a Chair because she could not go on her feet by means of her great Torments when she was brought to the stake she was tied by the middle with a Chain that held up her Body and so encompassed with the Flames of Fire as a blessed Sacrifice unto God she resigned up her life in the Year 1546. leaving behind her a singular example of Christian-Constancy for all men to follow there was at the same time three others burnt with her in Smithfield After the death of this Woman the Ponish Clergy consulted together how they might further proceed to keep the Truth under and down and to that end obtained another Proclamation in the Kings name for the abolishing the Scriptures in English and all other English Books which might give any light to the People which made sore work and caused Persecution for a time but it was not long that it continued by reason of the Kings death which was shortly after But before there be a full Conclusion of the Transactions in this Kings reign its necessary a short Account be given of the rise and fall of Thom is Cromwel of whom mention is made before especially seeing he was a man so Zealous for Reformation of both Church and Common-wealth He was born at Putney his Father being a Smith as is before related in his youthful dayes it is said he had little regard to God and Religion but travelled beyond Seas and for a time was there a Souldier at length getting the New Testament in English by often reading in it he began to be touched and something opened in his understanding and coming into England again Cardinal Woolsey entertained him in his service where after some yoars remaining he was preferred to be Solicitor to the Cardinal After the fall of Cardinal Woolsey he was by the Master of the Roles preferred to the King who had then to do against the Pope as a fit person to be imployed by him and being brought to the King at his Garden in Westminster where he possessed the King that his Authority was abused by the Clergy and by being sworn to the Pope they had run themselves into a Premunire and that now the King had an Opertunity to inrich himself To this the King gave ear and liked well his advice and admited him into his service and sent him to the Convocation-house amongst the Bishops where he made a Speech to this effect that in asmuch as they had sworn to the Pope contrary to their Fealty due to the King they had forfeited all their Goods Chattels Lands Possessions to the King c. This amazed the Bishops at first but after a little pause they began to shrink and before they could be quit of the Premunire by Act of Parliament it cost them to the King no less then One hundred eighteen thousand eight hundred and forty pounds After this Cromwel grew greatly in favour with the King and was made one of his Privy Council and Master of the Rolls and afterwards Knight of the Garter and Earl of Essex and now being come into such Authority and seeing the Superstition Blindness Hypocrisie and Idolatry of the Monks and Fryars and Papists whose filthy stink did breath up a most pestiferous fume as Matthew Paris said in the like case of Rome Wherefore Cromwel like a Champion was raised up to root them up which while the King favoured him he prosecuted with effect as before is related but when the Popish Bishops saw the Popes power abolished out of England they never gave over using all their uttmost Endeavours and Politick Contrivances till they had laid a Plaister to his Wounded Head It would be too long to recite what benefit this Cromwel by his Prudence and Zeal wrought in a little time for the publick good what good Orders he established what Wickedness and Vices he suppressed what Corruptions he reformed what Abuses he brought to light and Popish Idolatry and Images he suppressed One called The Rood of Grace wherein a man stood inclosed with a hundred Wyres within the Rood to make the Image goggle its Eyes
he is filled with all manner of Riches as saith the Prophet Therefore I am bold in bonds as intirely desiring your everlasting health and felicity to warn you and most heartily desire you to watch and pray for our estate is dangerous and requireth continual prayer for on the high Mountains doth not grow most plenty of grass neither are the highest Trees furthest from danger but seldom sure and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth such a deceitfull thing saith our Saviour is honour and riches that without Grace it choketh up the good Seed sown on his Crentures and blindeth so their seeing that they go groping at noon-day in darkness it maketh a man think himself somewhat that is nothing at all for though for our honour we esteem our selves and stand in our own light yet when we shall stand before the Living God there shall be no respect of persons for Riches helpeth not in the day of Vengeance neither can we make the Lord partial for Money but as ye have ministred unto the Saints so shall you receive the reward which I am fully perswaded and assured shall be plentiously poured forth upon you all for the great goodness shewed to the Servants of the Living God and I most heartily beseech almighty God to pour forth a plentious reward upon you for the same and that he will assist you with his holy Spirit in all your doings that ye may grow as ye have begun unto such a perfection as may to be Gods honour your own Salvation and the strengthning of the weak Members of Christ for though the World rage and blaspeme the Elect of God you know that it did so unto Christ his Apostles and to all that were in the Primitive Church and so it shall be unto the Worlds end Wherefore believe in the Light while you have it lest it be taken away from you if you shall seem to neglect the great Mercy of God that hath been opened unto you and your hearts consented unto it that it is the very and only Truth pronounced by Gods only Son Jesus Christ by the good will of our heavenly Father therefore I say in the bowels of my Lord Jesus Christ stick fast unto it let it never depart out of your Hearts and Conversations that you with us and we with you at the great day being one Flock as we have one Shepherd may arise to the Life Immortal through Jesus Christ our only Saviour Amen Yours in him that liveth forever Thomas Hawkes The Sufferings Examinations and Martyrdom of Thomas Watts The said Thomas Watts of Billery Key in the County of Essex Thomas Watts Martyr Linnen Draper expecting for his non Conformity to be shortly apprehended he disposed of his Estate for the benefit of his Wife and Children and according to his expectation not long after he was had before the Judges at Chelmsford where one called the Lord Râ—ch spake to him to this effect Watts You are brought hither because you will not obey the Queens Laws and will not go to Church nor hear Mass but have your Conventicles in Corners Watts replyed If I have offended a Law I am here subject to the Law Then Justice Brown said to him Watts who first taught thee this Religion Watts You taught it me and none more then you for in King Edwards Dayes in open Sessions you spoke against this Religion now used calling the Mass abominable exhorting people not to believe in it but to believe in Christ only Then said Justice Brown what a Knave is this to bâ—ly me to my face Hereupon a letter was writ and signed by the Justices and Watts sent up to Bonner as a Non-conformist what entertainment he received from the Bishop at their private conference no mention is made of it but about the beginning of the Month called May he was brought to the publick Consistory where Articles were objected against him for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and saying the Mass was abominable being brought the second time into the Consistory the Bishop counselled him to Recant to which he answered I am weary to live in such Idolatry as you would have me to live in He was several times afterwards brought before them and continuing stedfast in his Religion which the Bishop perceiving fell to his last and strongest Argument which was to pass Sentence of Death upon him and delivered him to the Sheriff of London where he continued till the ninth day of the Month called June and then was carried to Chelmsford where his wife and his six Children met him to whom he said My Wife and Children I must now depart from you therefore henceforth know I you no more but as the Lord hath given you unto me so I again give you unto the Lord charging them to fear and obey him and to beware of the abominations of Popery and so sealed his Testimony in the Fire After this Watts there were three others suffered in this County of Essex viz. Thomas Osmond Fuller William Bamford Weaver Nicholas Chamberla Weaver all of Coxhall one and the same Articles were objected against them all viz. for denying the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular Confession c. according to the accustomed manner they were several times brought to the Consistory where they were sometimes flattered and sometimes threatened to see if they would recant after the common usage of the Ecclesiastical Court and at last were condemued as Hereticks and delivered to the Sheriffs and shortly after were all three burned in Essex John Bradford and John Lease Martyrs The next that suffered were John Bradford and one John Lease an Apprentize to a Tallow-Chandler the chief matter for which they suffered was for denying the real presence in the Sacrament Auricular Confession c. The said John Lease after he had been examined by the Bishop had the Articles of his Confession sent to him to the Courter Prison to sign after he hard them read because he could not write in stead of a Pen he took a pin and pricking his hand sprinkled the blood upon the paper and bid the Messenger tell the Bishop he had sealed them with his blood already The Words that John Bradford spoke at the Stake were to this effect O England England repent thee of thy Sins repeat thee of thy Sins beware of Idolatry beware of false Anti-christs take heed they do not deceive you Strait is the Way and Narrow is the Gate that leadeth to Eternal Salvation and few there be that find it This John Bradford during the time of his imprisonment exercised himself in writing several consolating Letters not only to particuler persons but to several Towns and Counties where he had laboured shewing his great Zeal for the encreasing and spreading the most reformed Religion earnestly exhorting all men and tenderly comforting the heavy hearted confirming and encouraging all to continue stedfast in the Way he had taught them Bland Frankish Shetterden and Middleton Marytr
of this Mortal Flesh to be clothed with Robes Immortal we forsake a loathsome Life for joy and felicity eternal ought any gain or exchange to be compared with this O sweet and happy Martyrdom how dost thou dignifie and inrich us in despite of the World Devil and our own Flesh and which of us now can complain seeing our Soveraign Lord and Master has so expresly foretold it to all his Followers will any man come after me saith he Let him then take up his Cross and follow me Let us bear Oh let us then bear the Cross cheerfully and with joyfulness that we may be received in the presence of his heavenly Father for it is not only given us for to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake and if we suffer with him then we shall also Reign with him Oh that we could admire his bounty who no sooner imployes us in his Work but hath the Wages ready in his Hand wherewith to recompence us your sorrow saith he Shall be turned into joy let us then cast off every weight that presseth down and whatsoever else that stands in our way to Heavenward be it Father Mother Brother Sisters Husband Child yea and our own life also let us with the wise Merchant-man sell all that with him we may purchase that pretious Pearl how happy do I esteem them that are called to suffer and leave their Life for confessing the Name of Jesus Christ for the Eternal Son of God will confess their Names before his heavenly Father and his holy Angels they shall be clad with white Robes and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of Heaven filled with gladness in the Presence of the Lamb they shall eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Let us fix the Eye of our Minds upon these so great and pretious Promises of Jesus Christ which he hath made to all those who persevere in well-doing unto the end Oh! how happy shall we be when we are delivered from these Bodies of Death to live forever with our God Let us then continually pray with the Disciples Lord increase our Faith Oh dear Brethren remember me alwayes in your prayers who am bound here in the Bonds of Anti-christ remember those also who are in Bonds as if you were bound with them Pray I say without ceasing for our Adversary the Devil is alwayes compassing us about to cause our Hearts to faint and you are not ignorant what a potent Enemy our own Flesh is unto us but I confidently believe that our God who hath begun this good Work in me will perfect the same even unto the Day of Christ Farewel When the Massacrees began to play their parts in Rovan they counselled those of the Religion Persecution and Massacree at Rovan to get themselves into the Prisons as into places of greatest security from the fury and rage of the people but such as followed this advice were there even ready to be devoured as poor Sheep by these greedy Wolves at their pleasure Those who were murdered in the City in a few dayes some in their Houses and others in the Prisons amounted to six thousand besides more then fifty Women unto whom they exercised no less Cruelty then upon men Their names for brevity sake are here omitted their dead bodies being piled together were conveyed out of the City in Tumbrils and thrown by heaps one upon another into great pits digged for that purpose Their garments being washed in the River from their Blood by certain poor Women were afterwards distributed here and there to the Poor by the Papists that they might seem with their merciless and unjust Cruelty to mingle some Works of Justice and Charity A Massacree at Tholouse Upon the eight day after the Massacree at Paris about eight of the Clock in the Morning the chief of the Papists at Tholouse received Advertisement of that which had passed with Letters directing them what they were to do then a Council was called at the breaking up whereof the great Gates of the City were shut only the little Wickets left open and shortly after they entered into the houses of those of the Religion whom they imprisoned in sundry Prisons of the City about three weeks after they put all these Prisoners together into the Consciergery which is a special Prison deferring the Slaughter of them until they received Warrant and Authority from Paris which having received the Prisoners were called down to the Stairs foot one after another and there Massacred not permitting them so much leasure as to speak the Councellors who were of the Religion after they had Massacred them they hanged them up in their Gowns upon a great Elm which was in the Court of the Palace and in the mean time sacked and pillaged their houses An English Man burnt at Rome In the year 1595 a young man about the age of twenty five years being at Rome was much stirred in a Religious Zeal against their hornble Idolatry as the Bishop was going a Procession the young man pluckt the Pix out of his hand and threw it to the ground calling Wretched Idolater for which he was apprehended and sent to prison and shortly after Pope Clement the eighth hearing of it ordained that he should be immediately burnt but some of the Cardinals advised that he might rather be kept till a further examination and accordingly they kept him eight dayes in prison but when they see nothing could be drawn from him but these words viz. such was the will of God Then they stripped him naked to the middle and put on the form of a Devil or Dragon upon his head and then bound him in a Cart and carried him to the place of Execution where he was burnt alive Three English men put to death at Rome I find also a Relation of three other English-men put to death at Rome the manner of their sufferings are as followeth They meeting together entered into a Conference concerning the state of the Church at that time complaining that the Zeal of Gods Glory was wonderfully cooled amongst men yea and that even those of the Religion were grown but too worldly wise that Sathan by little and little was sowing the seed of Atheism every where by rocking men asleep in the Cradle of Security whereupon commending themselves into the hands of God they determined to take their Vogage to Rome and there to encounter with the Adversary of Christ thither they came and after two or three dayes two of them behaving themselves modestly did in secret manifest to some the Truth of the Gospel who being betrayed were imprisoned and put to death without any further ado the third resolved to bear his Testimony more publick and therefore taking an opportunity when the Pope was in the midst of his Massing devotion stept quickly to him and pluckt the host out of his hands and trod it under his feet testifying
Servants of Christ falsly called Brownists unto the High-Court of Parliament The most high God Possessor of Heaven and Earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdoms right honourable his own Cause his own People his own Sworn and most treacherous Enemies together with the most shameful Usage of his Truth and Servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed Peace and Tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your Consideration and Defence in our Profession and Persons His Enemies and their Out-rage against his Truth and Servants in the Persons and Bloody Proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices We profess the same Faith and Truth of the Gospel with her Majesty which your honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day do hold and Maintain We go beyond them being our only fault even in the Judgment of our tyrannical and most savage Enemies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearful Anti-christian Religion and draw nearer in some Points by our practice unto Christs holy Order and Institution this is our Faith this is our cause Right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinful hands For the Profession and Maintenance of which Faith the fore-named Enemies of God detain in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Goals throughout the Land about threescore and twelve persons Men Women Young and Old lying in Cold in Hunger in Dungeons and in Irons of which Number they have taken the Lords day last being the third day of the fourth Moneth 1592. about some sixteen persons hearing the Word of God truly taught praying and praising God for his favours shewed unto us unto her Majesty your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be Merciful to us unto our Gracious Prince and Country being employed in these holy Actions and no other as the Parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the Persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like Exercise in Queen Maryes dayes The former Number are now unbailable committed by the Prelatel or Bishop of London unto whose close for the most part several Prisons as Bridewel the Limboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Fleet the Marshalsea the Counters the Clynk the Gatehouse the Whitelyon c. wherein we willingly acknowledge the Lot and Inheritance in this Life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyrs of the former Age and the entailed Aceldama or Bloody Succession of the See of London and that whole Linage Well here our Brethren lie How long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in Hunger in Cold in Nakedness and all outward distress for these Bloody men will allow them neither Meat Drink Fire Lodging nor suffer any whose Hearts the Lord would stir up for their relief to have any access unto them purposing belike to imprison them unto death as they have done Seventeen or Eighteen others in the same noisome Goals within these Six Years The Husband and Wife being now taken by them they permit not to be in the same but have sent them to be close kept in other Prisons VVhat the poor Family doth at home in the mean time your Lordships may consider and justly pity Som of this Company had not one Penny about them when they were sent into close Prison nor any thing being abroad which is the case of most of them if not all to procure themselves and their poor Families any Maintenance save only their handy Labours and Trades whereby it is come to pass that these Enemies of God do not only starve and undo a number of men in the Prisons but even a lamentable Company of poor Orphans and Servants abroad their unbrid led slanders their Lawless privy searches their Violent breaking open and rifling of our Houses their lamentable and barbarous Usage of VVomen and Young Children in these hostile assaults their Uncontrouled Thievery Robbing and taking away of whatsoever they think meet from us in this case their unappeased and merciless pursuit of us from our Houses Trades Wives Children especially from the holy Society of the Saints and Church of God We are inforced to omit lest we should be over tedious to your Lordships but their dealing this way towards us is so woful right honourable as we may truly demand with grief of heart whether the forreign Enemy or our native Country men do possess and bear rule over us in our dear and native Country Their whole dealing herein is most Barbarous most Inhumane but especially most Unchristian and such as exceeds the cruelty of the Heathen and Popish Professed Tyrants and Persecutors the Records of the Heathen Persecution under Nero Trajan Decius Galienus Maximinian c. can scant afford us any Examples of the like cruelty and havock for the Heathen Romans would Murder Openly and Professedly These godless men have put the Blood of War about them in the day of the Peace and Truth which this whole Land professeth to hold with Jesus Christ and his Servants Bishop Bonner Story Wesâ—â—n dealt not after this sort for those whom they committed close they would also either feed or permit to be fed by others and they brought them in short space openly into Smithfield to end their misery and to begin their never ending joy Whereas Bishop Elinar Q. Eliz. An. 1592. Dr. Stanhope and Mr. Justice Young with the rest of that Persecuting and Blood thirsty faculty will do neither of these No Fellows no Murderers no Traytors in this Land are so dealt with There are many of us by the Mercies of God still out of their hands The former holy Exercise and Profession we purpose not to leave by the Assistance of God We have as good Warrant to reject the Ordinances of Anti-christ and labour for the recovery of Christs holy Institutions as our Fathers and Brethren in Queen Maryes dayes had to do the like and we doubt not if our cause were truly known unto her Majesty and your Wisdoms but we should find greater favour then they did whereas our Estate now is far more lamentable And therefore we humbly and earnestly crave of her Majesty and your Lordships both for our selves abroad and for our Brethren now in miserable Captivity but just and equal Tryal according unto her Majesty's Laws if we prove not our Adversaries to be in a most Pestilent and godless course both in regard of their Offices and their Proceedings in them and our selves to be in the right Way we desire not to have the benefit of her Majestyes true and faithful Subjects which of all earthly favours we account to be one of the greatest Are we Malefactors Are we any wise undutiful unto our Prince Maintain we any Errours Let us then be judicially convicted thereof and delivered to the Civil Authority but let not these bloody men both Accuse Condemn and closly Murther after this sort
to Antichrist let your Soul and your Body be far from those Assemblies which yield either known or secret submission unto the Ordinances of the Beast Oh! our Souls are to rejoyce in these wayes more then in all Substance and Treasure and the loving-kindness of the Eternal is forever and ever towards them and thier Seed that remember his ordinances to do them My dear Wife and Sister look not at any earthly thing consecrate your self wholely both Soul Body Husband Children and whatsoever you have unto the Lord your God let them not be dearer unto you then his Worship and Service fear not the want of outward things for the Lord careth for you and yours the Lord is my God and yours and the God of our Seed I know if you and our poor Children continue that they shall see a blessed Reward even in this life be much and often in prayer day and night and much in reading and meditating above all things pray that the Lord would restore beauty unto his Church and so would overthrow the cursed Religion of the Roman Anti christ in every part thereof remember me also and my Brethren now in Bonds that the Lord would assist us with the strength and comfort of his Spirit to keep a good Conscience and to bear a glorious Testimony to the end be not out of hope but I may be restored again unto you therefore be earnest in prayer for my deliverance yet if the Lord shall end my dayes in this Testimony blessed be his Name howsoever it goeth I am ready and content with his good pleasure and whatsoever shift you make keep our poor Children with you that you may bring them up your self in the Instruction and Information of the Lord I leave you and them indeed nothing in this Life but the blessing of my God and this my Sister I doubt not shall be found an ample Portion both for you and them though you know that in hunger often and cold often in poverty and nakedness we must make an account to profess the Gospel in this Life and teach them I beseech you even now in their youth that Lesson If they will reign with Christ they must suffer with him teach them the meanness of the Gospel and that they are not to look for greatness in this Life but every day to make account that they are to yield their lives and whatsoever they have for the Truth break their affections betimes while they are yet green by Instructions and Corrections meet for them when they are capable of handy labour I know you will not let them be Idle Thus having disburdened my self of my duty towards you and of my care to you and your poor Children in some part I am I thank God in great comfort though under great Tryals of my weakness and consideration of my own wants not in regard of men I fear not any power or strength of man whatsoever and I am this hour willing to lay down my Life for my Testimony and I trust shall be unto the end you know I was taken at a Meeting at Ratliff the two and twentieth day of the third Moneth 1592. and committed close by M. Younge to the Powltry Counter some dayes after some were sent privately to confer with me I answered for private Conference inasmuch as my Cause was made publick I saw no Cause why I should yield unto any I desired publick upon equal conditions they said no and after much needless speech departed Upon the fifth day of the fifth Moneth I was sent for to the Sessions House where after some discourse I was sent back again I cannot see but they thirst after my Blood therefore pray for me and desire all they Church to do the same To draw to an End salute the whole Church from me especially those in Bonds and be you all much and heartily saluted in the Lord let none of you be dismayed the Lord will send a glorious issue to Sions troubles yet you must all be prepared for sufferings I see no other likelihood Let not those which are abroad miss to frequent the holy Meetings salute my Mother and yours in Wales my Brethren Sisters and Kindred there and my God knoweth yea your self knoweth how earnestly and often I have desired that he would vouchsafe my service in his Gospel among them to the winning of their souls forever more unto him salute your Parents and mine in Northampton with my poor kinsman Jenkin Jones and M. David also though I had not thought that any outward respects would have made him withdraw his Shoulders from the Lords wayes but the Lord will draw him forward in his good time salute all ours in Scotland upon the Borders and every way Northward especially M. Juell alwayes dear unto me I got means this day to write thus much whereof no Creature living knoweth The sixth of the fourth Moneth 1593. in great haste with many Tears and yet in the great Spiritual comfort of my Soul your Husband John Penry a Witness of Christ against the Abominations of the Roman Antichrist and his Souldiers sure of the Victory by Blood of the Lamb. These Puritans suffered greatly also in King James his Reign although the original Cause thereof so far as I can perceive did not appear to proceed from the King for in his Speech to the Parliament in the eighteenth year of his Reign in the year 1620. He said As touching Religion Laws enough are made already It stands in two points Perswasion and Compulsion Men may perswade but God must give the blessing Jesuits Priests Puritants and Sectaries erring both on the right hand and left hand are forward to perswade unto their own ends and so ought you the Bishops in your Example and Preaching but Compulsion to obey is to bind the Conscience How much soever the King inclined to favour the Reader may understand by this following Relation being the Copy of an Address these people made to the King and Parliament relating the great Oppressions they were under To our Soveraign Lord the Kings most Exellent Majesty together with the honor able Nobility Knights and Burgesses now Assembled at the High-Court of Parliament May it please your Majesty Honors Worships gratiously to respect the humble Suit of Gods poor afflicted Servants and well-affected loyal Subjects to your Highness and Honours We are many of us constrained to live in Exile out of our native Country others detained in Prisons all of us in some Affliction which the Prelates and Clergy of this Land have inflicted upon us for our Faith in God and Obedience to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ We have never to this day been convinced of Heresie Errour or Crime for which we should sustain the great Calamities we have endured The grounds of Christian Religion professed and maintained in this Land and other Churches round about we also with one heart and Spirit assent unto and profess Enemies we are to all Popery Anabaptistry or
ought to be Compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath VI. Some remarkable Collections out of Doctor Taylors Book entituled OEOAOTIA EKAEKTIKH A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to other mens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions VII Instances out of divers Authors treating on the same subject by W. C. deceased VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward force nor imposition ought to be used in matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. deceased IX Several Sayings Collected from the Speeches and writings of King Charles the first X. Several Promises and Declarations for the Liberty of tender Consciences taken out of the Speeches of King Charles the second SECT I. Persecution for the cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ the King of Kings as these Scriptures and Reasons following do demonstrate The first Reason against Persecution is because it is contrary to Scripture FOr Christ commanded that the Tares and Wheat should be let alone in the World Matth. 13.30.38 c and not pluckt up until the Harvest which is the End of the World Christ also commandeth Matth. 15.14 that they that are blind should be let alone referring their punishment unto the falling into the Ditch Again he reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven Luke 9.54 59. and devour those Samaritans who would not receive him in these Words Ye know not of what Spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroy mens Lives but to save them Paul the Apostle taught 2 Tim. 24.2 that the Servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them Repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of that Snare of the Devil According to these blessed Commandments the Prophets foretold Esa 2.4 Mica 4.3.4 that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established they should break their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Then shall none hurt or destroy in all the Mountains of my holiness And when he came the same he taught and practised as before Esa 11.9 so did his Disciples afterâ—him for the Weapons of his Warfare are nor carnal saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.4 But he chargeth straitly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray when they were Cursed Matth. 5. they should Bless c. And the reason seems to be because they who now are Tares may hereafter become Wheat they who are now Blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to Repentance they that are now Blasphemers and Persecutors as Paul was may in time become faithful as he they that are now Idolatrous as the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true Worshippers as they they that are now no people of God nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2 20. may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Matt. 20. 〈◊〉 If those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they come not at the first then should they never come but be prevented SECT II. The second Reason against Persecution for cause of Conscience is because it is against the Profession and Practice of famous Princes FIrst Consider the speech of King James to the Parliament 1609. he saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed and that it was usually the Condition of Christians to be persecuted but not to persecute Again he saith page four speaking of the Papists I gave good proof that I intended no Persecution against them for Conscience Cause And in the same Kings Exposition of the Revelation the twentith printed 1588. he writes thus Compassing of the Saints and beseiging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain Note of a false Church to be Persecution for they come to seek the faithful the Faithful are them that are sought the Wicked are the Besiegers the Faithful are the Besieged And the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the latter Times wherein Sundry Opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his Eye and as it were to touch with his Finger that according to the Truth of the Scripture and a Maxime heretofore maintained by the antient Doctors of the Church that mens Consciences ought in no fort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been Pernitious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovations in the Principalest and Mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom And further he saith So that once more we do profess before God and the whole World that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not those who profess themselves to be of the Romish Church neither to trouble nor disturb them in the Exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. SECT III. The Third Reason because Persecution for Cause of Conscience is condemned by the antient and later Writers HIlary against Auxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted And Lamentable it is to see the folly of these Times and the foolish Opinion of this World in that men think by humane Aid to help God and with Wordly Pomp and Power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask the Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing the Gospel with the Aid of what power did they Preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were in Prisons and lay in Chaines did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities or favours received from the Court or do you think that Paul went about with regal Mandates or kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own Maintenance travelling by Land and Water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ but now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same Countenance too and by vain and worldly Honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ
as if he by his Power were unable to perform it The Church formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church The pretended Church now do terrifie others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the World when as the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad scapulam It agreeth both with human Reason and natural Equity that every man worship God uncompelled neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint forasmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and of good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit let us strike through with the Arrows of the Spirit all Sons and Disciples of mis-led Hereticks that is with Testimonies of Scriptures the slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius upon the first of the Corinthians chap. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences for willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and cheerful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Books of the Civil Magistrate saith The Laws of the Civil Magistrates Government extends no further then over the Body or Goods and to that which is external for over the Soul God will not suffer any man to rule only he himself will Rule there wherefore whosoever doth under take to give Laws unto the Souls and Consciences of men he usurpeth that Government himself which appertaineth unto God c. Therefore upon 1 Kings 5. In the building of the Temple there was no sound of Iron heard to signifie that Christ will have in his Church a free and a willing People not compelled and constrained by Laws and Statutes Again he faith upon Luke 22. It is not the true Catholick Church which is defended by the secular Arm or humane Power but the false and feigned Church which although it carries the name of a Church yet it denies the power thereof And upon Psal 17. he saith For the true Church of Christ knoweth not Brachium seculare which the Bishops now adayes chiefly use Again in Postil Dom. 1 post Epipham he saith Let not Christians be commanded but exhorted for he that willingly will not do that whereunto he is friendly exhorted he is no Christian wherefore they that do compel those that are not willing shew thereby that they are not Christian Preachers but worldly Beadles Again upon 1 Peter 3. He saith If the Civil Magistrate shall command me to believe thus and thus I should answer him after this manner look you to your civil or worldly Government your Power extends not so far as to command any thing in Gods Kingdom therefore herein I may not hear you for if you cannot bear it that any should usurp Authority where you have to command how do you think that God should suffer you to thrust him from his Seat and to seat your self therein SECT IV. The Fourth Reason It s no prejudice to a Kingdom or Common-wealth if Liberty of Conscience be suffered to such as fear God as is or will be manifested in such mens lives and conversations as Scripture Examples testifie AEraham abode among the Cananites a long time yet contrary to them in Religion Gen. 13.7 and 16.13 Again he sojourned in Gerar and King Abimelech gave him leave to abide is his Land Gen. 20.21 23 24. Isaac also dwelt in the same Land yet contrary in Religion Gen. 26. Jacoh lived Twenty years in one house with his Unckle Laban yet differed in Religion Gen. 31. The People of Israel were about Four hundred and thirty years in that infamous Land of Egypt and afterwards seventy years in Babylon all which time they differed in Religion from the State Exod 12. and 2 Chron. 36. Come to the time of Christ when Israel was under the Romans where lived divers Sects of Religion as Herodians Scribes and Pharisees Saduces and Libertines Thudeans and Samaritans besides the common Religion of the Jews Christ and his Apostles all which differed from the common Religion of the State which was like the worship of Diana which almost the whole World then worshipped Acts 19.20 All these lived under the Government of Caesur being no thing hurtful to the Common-wealth giving unto Caesar that which was his and for their Religion and Consciences towards God he left them to themselves as having no dominion over their Souls and Consciences and when the Enemies of Truth raised up any Tumults the wisdom of the Magistrate most wisely appeased them Acts 18.14 and 19.35 SECT V. Several Testimonies shewing that Conscience ought to be free and not to be imposed upon and no person be compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath c. ACcusare se nemo tenetur saith Vasquius nisi coram deâ— secundum illud Chrysostomi non tibi dico ut teprodas Valque Coâ—irs illustraes p. 124. num 27. No man is bound to accuse himself but before God according to that of Chrisostome I do not say that thou shouldst betray thy self Quis sibi utrumque audeat assumere ut unquam sit ipse accusator Judex Aug. hom 50. Who dares assume to himself to be both an Accuser and a Judge saith Austin That famous Lawyer Cooke saith Juramentum in propria est inventio Diaboli ad detrudendum anim as miserorum in infernum The Oath Ex officio saith he is an invention of the Devil to cast the Souls of miserable people into Hell Let the Judges saith Tindall judge and condemn the Trespasses under lawful Witnesses Tindals Obed. of Christ p. 22. Col. 2. and not break up into the Consciences of men after the Example of Antichrists Disciples and compel them either to forswear themselves or to testifie against themselves which abomination saith he our Prelates learned of Caiphas Matth. 26. saying to Christ I adjure or charge thee in the name of the Living God that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the Son of the Living God SECT VI. Some remarkable Observation collected out of a Book entituled ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΕΚΛΕΚΤΙΚΗ A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to othermens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions by Jer. Tayler D. D. so stiled Chaplin in Ordinary to his late Majesty IN his Epistle Dedicatory are these words viz. As contrary as Cruelty is to Mercy as Tyranny to Charity so is War and Bloodshed to the Meekness and Gentleness of Christian Religion And further speaks to dispute men into Mercies Compliances and Tolerations mutual and further adds I designed a Discourse to this purpose with as much greediness as if I had thought it possible with my Arguments to have perswaded the rough and hard handed Souldiers to have disbanded
Blood was Arguments enough of the imprudence of that way of promoting Religion but since she hath given permission to them c. The great instance is in the differing Temper Government and Success which Margaret of Parma and the Duke of Alva had the clemency of the first had almost extinguished the Flame but when she was removed D. Alva succeeded and mannaged the matter of Religion with Fire and Sword he made the Flame so great that his Religion and his Prince too had both been almost turned out of the Countrey Pellie mediosapientiam quoties vi res agitur said Ennius Wisdom is driven out when the matter is acted by force And therefore the best of men and most glorious of Princes were alwayes ready to give Toleration Eusebeus in his second Book of the life of Constantine reports these words of the Emperor Parem cum fidelibus ij qui errant pacis quietis fruitionem gaudentes accipiant ipsa si quidem communicationis societatis restitutio ad rectam etiam veritat is viam perducere potest nemo cuiquam molestis sit quisque quod animo destinat hoc etiam faciat Let them which err with joy receive the like fruition of Peace and quietness with the Faithful sith the restoring of communication and society may bring them into the right Way of Truth Let none give molestation to any let every one do as he determines in his mind And indeed there is great reason for Princes to give Toleration to disagreeing persons whose Opinions cannot by fair means be altered for if the persons be confident they will serve God according to their perswasions and if they be publickly prohibited they will privately convene and then all those inconveniences and mischiefs which are Arguments against the permission of Conventicles are Arguments for the publick permissions of differing Religions c. they being restrained and made miserable indears the discontented persons mutual and makes more hearty and dangerous confederations King James in his Letters to the States of the United-Provinces dated March 6.1613 thus wrot Ita ut prohibeatis Ministros vestros ne eas disputationes in suggestum aut ad plebem ferant ac districte impertis ut pacem colant se in vicem tolerando in ista opinionum ac sententiarum discrepantia So that you may forbid your Ministers that they bring not those Disputations into the Pulpit or to the People and strictly command that they embrace peace among themselves by Tolerating in that difference of Opinions and Judgments The like Counsel in the divisions of Germany at the first Reformation was thought reasonable by the Emperor Ferdinand and his excellent Son Maximilian for they had observed That Violence did exasperate was unblest unsuccesful and unreasonable and therefore they made Decrees of Toleration And the Duke of Savoy repenting of his War undertaken for Religion against the Piedmontans promised them Toleration and was as good as his word As much is done by the Nobility of Polenia so that the best Princes and the best Bishops gave Toleration and Impunities but it is known that the first Persecution of disagreeing Persons was by the Arrians by Circumcellians and Donatists and from them they of the Church took Example c. And among the Greeks it became a publick and authorized practise till the question of Images grew hot and high for then the Worshippers of Images having taken their example from the Empreis Irene who put her son's eyes out for making an Edict against Images began to be as cruel as they were deceived especially being encouraged by the Pope of Rome who then blew the Coales to some purpose I may upon this occasion give account of this affair in the Church of Rome it is remarkable that till the time of Justinian the Emperor A. D. 525. the Catholicks and Novatians had Churches indifferently permitted even in Rome it self but the Bishops of Rome whose interest was much concerned in it spoke much against it and laboured the eradication of the Novatians and at last when they got power into their hands they served them accordingly but it is observed by Sâ—crates that when the first persecution was made against them at Rome by Pope Innocent the first at the same instant the Goths invaded Itally and became Lords of all it being just in God c. And I have heard it observed as a blessing upon S. Austin who was so merciful to erring Persons as the greatest part of his life to tolerate them and never to indure that they should be given over to the seculer power to be killed that the very night the Vandals set down before his City of Hippo to besiege it he died and went to God being taken from the miseries to come But in the Church of Rome the Popes were the first Preachers of Force and Violence in matters of Opinion and that so zealously that Pope Vigilius suffer'd himself to be imprisoned and handled roughly by the Emperor Justinian rather then he would consent to the restitution and peace of certain disagreeing persons c. The first that preached that Doctrine was dominick the Founder of the Begging Order of Friars The Friars Preachers in memory of which the Inquitision is intrusted only to the Fryars of his order and if there be any force in Dreams or truth in Legends c. This very thing might be signified by his mothers Dream who the night before Dominick was born dreamed she was brought to bed of a huge Dog with a Fire-brand in his mouth sure enough however his Disciples expound the Dream it was a better sign that he should prove a Rabid furious incendiary then any thing else what ever he might be in the other parts of this life in this Doctrine he was not much better as appears in his deportment towards the Abligences against whom he so preached Adeo quidem ut centum hereticorum millia ab octo millibus catholicorum fuse interfecta fuisse probiantur saith one of him and of those who were taken one hundred and eighty were burned to death because they would not abjure their Doctrine this was the first Example of putting erring Persons to death that I find in the Romish Church By this time I hope it will not be thought unreasonable to say He that teaches mercy to erring Persons teaches indifferency in Religion unless so many Fathers and so many Churches and the best of Emperors and all the World till they were abused by Tyranny Popery and Faction did teach indifferency For I have shewn that Christianity doth not punish corporally persons erring Spiritually but indeed Popery doth The Donatists and Circumcelians and Arrians and Itaciani they of old did in the middle Ages the Patrons of Images did and the Papists at this day do and have done ever since they were taught it by their St Dominick Let all Errors be as much and as zealously supprest as may be but let it be done by such means as are
Augastinus said Some disturbed the Peace of the Church while they went about to root out the TARES before the time and through this Error of Blindness said he are they themselves separated so much the more from being united unto Christ Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his Hands with Blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion The State of Holland testified Dat waer vervolginghen Zijndatter daer al in roere is maer waer geen en sijdor verscheijden Religion dat dare alle saclren stilder sijn so oâ—lr in onse ijden is levon den that is Where there was Persecution there was all in distraction but where there was none though there were several Religions there all things were the quieter as hath been evident in our dayes said they Vide Urede Handel Van. Col. Fol. 53. Calvin said That those that are set over us must be obeyed if that the Command of God be not thereby disobeyed but if they lead us from obedience to God and presumptionsly strive against the Lord then must they not be regarded said he to the end that God with his Authority may retain the preheminence A Book written in French by N. M. Anno 1576. hath this Sentence in it Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects alwayes greatly Prospered and Reigned long But on the contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Perfidious and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon fallen they and their Estate into danger or total ruin Veritus said Seeing Christ is a LAMB whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same WEAPONS which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and wild Beasts but only of SHEEP wherefore if you lose the Nature of Sheep said he and be changed into Wolves and wild Beasts and use fleshly Weapons then will you exclude your selves out of his Calling and forsake his Banner and then will he not be your Captain Stephanus King of Poland said It belongeth not to me to reform the Conscience I have alwayes gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the WEEDS to grew untill the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers are but small therefore said he when some were proceeding in persecution ' Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum that is I am the King of the People not of their Consciences he also affirmed That Religion was not to be planted with FIRE and SWORD Chron. Van. de Rel. Urijh 2. deel Tindal said The New Testament of Christ suffered no Law of Compelling but alone of Perswading and Exhorting Fox Acts and Mon. page 1338. The Prince of Orange testified Anno 1579. That it was impossible that the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Toleration in the Exercise of Religion Where hast thou ever read in thy dayes said Menno in the Writings of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrine not obey their Words I know certainly said he that where the Magistrate shall Banish with the SWORD there is not the right Knowledge spiritual Word nor Church of Christ it is Invocare Brachium Seculare It is not Christian like but Tyrannical said D. Philipson to Banish and Persecute People about FAITH and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation who resisted the Holy Ghost Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God In de Krijdges wrede Fol. 63. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience this is an Antichrist Inde Benuse disp Fol. 71. It was Lather's Opinion That those that stirred up the Princes to persecure about Religion they raised the Uproar Thesaur pag. 679. SECT VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward Force nor Imposition ought to he used in Matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE ought to be allowed in the dayes of the Gospel in the free Exercise of it to God-ward without Compulsion in all things relating to His Worship for these REASONS following 1. Because the General and Universal Royal-Law of Christ commands it Matthew 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and Prophets That which every man would have and receive from another he ought by Christ RULE to give and allow it to another But every man is willing to have the LIBERTY of his OWN CONSCIENCE therefore ought to ALLOW it to another 2. Because no man can perswade the Conscience of another either what God is or how he should be worshipped but by the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man in the Ways of Truth 3. Because all Obedience or Service that is obtained by force is for fear of Wrath and not from Love nor for Conscience sake and therefore will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4. Because that by forcing no man can make a Hypocrite to be a true Believer but on the contrary many may be made Hypocrites 5. Because that in all forced Impositions upon mens Consciences there is something of the wrath of man exercised which works not the Righteousness of God but rather begets enmity in the heart one towards another 6. Because that by forcing any thing upon mens Consciences as to matters of Faith and Worship many are hardened in their hearts against the things imposed when as otherwise through Love and gentle Instructions their hearts might be perswaded to willing obedience 7. Because that Persecution for Conscience contradicteth Christs Charge Matthew 13. who bids that the Tares or false Worshippers be suffered to grow together in the Field or World till the Harvest or End of the World 8. Because Force is contrary to the end for which it is pretended to be used viz. The preservation and safety of the Wheat which End is not answered by Persecution because the Wheat is in danger to be plucked up thereby as Christ saith 9. Because to Force is inconsistant with the belief of the Jews Conversion and other false Worshippers which is prayed for by the publick Teachers and cannot be attained if Persecution for Conscience be prosecuted 10. Because they that impose upon mens Consciences exercise Dominion over mens Faith which the Apostles denied saying They had not Dominion over any mans Faith 11. Because Imposition upon mens Consciences necessitates them