had beene warned to beware of the foureteenth day yet making no account thereof hee went downe into the Court whereas a man of a meane condition detained him a quarter of an houre then hee went into his Caroch by the Duke of Espernon who satâ— in the first place of the Boote vppon the Kinges right hand Montbazon the Marshall Lauardin La Force and Praulin being followed by two Foote-men and one of his Guard on horsebacke hauing commaunded Mounsier de Vitry and the rest of his Guard to stay behinde Being betwixt the draw-bridge and the poole this miserable wretch who watched his opportunity drew néere vnto the Caroch on the right side thinking his Maiesty had béene there but seeing he was on the left hand and hearing them commaund the Coachman to go on he went the néerest way by the narrow lanes and met with his Maiesty in the stréet called Ferroneire neere vnto S. Innocents Church wher staying to make way for a Cart to passe the King leaned downe on the one side towards Mounsier Esperâ—â—on pressing him to reade a letter without spectacles The Duke of Montbazon turned towards them and one of the footmen was busie tying vp his garter on the other side so as this monster had opportunity to stab the King into the left paâ— but the wound was not great whereupon crying out O my God I am wounded he gaue him mâ—anes to giue him a second blow which was mortal the knife entring betweene the fift and sixt rib it cut asunder the veine leading vnto the hart and the wound was so déepe as it entred into caua vena the which was piercâ—d wherewith the King did presently spit blood losing all apprehension and knowledge for any thing they could perceiue They had great diffâ—culty to saue the murderer from killing presently yet in the end hee was conuaied to the house of Retz The King was carried backe vnto the Louure vpon the way they met with the Dolphin who went to take the ayre but they caused him to returne and be caried into the Quéenes Chamber The King was laid vppon a Couch in his Cabinet whereas presently after he gaue vp the Ghoast In that these Papisticall and trayterous attempts tooke effect vnto the murthering of these two French Kings when the Lord of his infinite goodnesse still preserued Quéene Elizabeth and our now dread Soueraigne King Iames from so many and from more dangerous practises It may certainly be concluded that if they had no worse feared the Papists then they did and put their trust in God as wel as they and had according to their example purely purged their Realmes from Papistry the sure prouidence of God would haue beene as sure their Castle strong hold and defence as it was to them and their Realmes at all times and in all occasions and needs NOw by the especiall Grace of God and the assistance of his blessed Spirit I haue sayled vnto my expected Port al laud and praise and thanks therefore be giuen vnto the Father the Son and Holy Ghost And I most hartily beseech him that this Booke may beget in the Readers a true dislike of all ceremonies superstitions and false Doctrines of Papistry and to make them truely zealous of Gods word and commandements O Lord conuert all Papists that belong vnto thee and hasten according to thy promises to gather all Kings together to destroy the Popedome in the meane time grant all Kings Princes and others Grace to beware of him that he corrupt not the soules of them nor their subieces nor hurt their persons or estates And lastly I beséech thee to gather together the number of thine elect and hasten thy comming to iudgement that thou maâ—st take thy beloued Spouse from the miseries of this World vnto thy eternall glory prepared for her com Lord Iesus come quickly FINIS An Alphabeticall Table containing the principall matters and all the Martyrs that suffered for the truth from the Primitiue Church to the end of Queene Mary A AGrippa cast into prison by Tyberius page 2 Andrew Peters Brother crucified 3 Anthia martyred 5 Ant. Pius Edict in fauour of the Christians Ibid Attalus burned on an Iron chaire 6 Aurelius fauours the Christians 9 Affaires of the Church of England and Scotland beginning with King Lucius 19 Austin with aboue forty Preachers sent into England 22 He goes in procession to Canterbury Ibid. Consecrated Arch-bishoppe in France by the commandement of Gregory 23 He assembled the Bishoppes charging them to preach the word of God Ibid Hee baptiseth 10000. in the Riuer Swale on Christmas day 24 His death Ibid. Abbaies erected 29 Alfride opprest by the Danes his misery hee makes Dunwolphus a Swineheard Bi. of Winchester he is comforted by Gods prouidence and ouercomes the Danes causing them to be christned 33 Adelstane crowned King at Kingstone forceth the Brittaines to pay him tribute sends his Brother to Sea in an old Boate builds Monasteries for the release of his sins 35 Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury accuseth Henry the first King of England to the Pope he is turned out of his Bishopricke and goods 50 Anacletus Pope 51 Arnulphus a Priest put to death for preaching against the Auarice and incontinency of the Cleargy 51 Adrian the fourth an Englishman Pope 52 Choakt with a fly 54 Auarice of the Popish Prelats 80 Amadeus Duke of Sauoy chosen Pope 138 Abraham of Colchester burned for maintaining the truth 142 Alexander the sixt poysons the Turkes brother for 2000. Florins 151 Abiurations in Henry the eight his time referred to the Booke at large 126 Adulphus Clarbachus burned for maintaining the truth at Colen 170 Articles against Cardinall Wolsey 171 Andrew Hewit a Prentise burned for maintaining Frâ—ths opinions 183 Anne of Bullen her charitable good works 184 Articles agreed vpon in Parliament 196 Abell hanged for the supremacy 200 Anthony Pierson burned at Windsor 201 Adam Damlip his persecution and martirdome at Callis 205 Anne Askew her confession condemnation persecution and martyrdome 207. 208. Adam Wallace martired in Scotland for holding the masse to be Idolatry 215 Altars in Churches puld downe 226 Anne Potten burned the next after Samuel for professing the truth 290 Anthony Burward of Callice for saying the Sacrament of the Altar was an Idoll burned at Canterbury 291 Alexander the Keeper of Newgate his crueltie to M. Philpot and his man 311 Agnis South about the Sacrament of Penance condemned and burned 314 Anne Albright for denying the realty in the Sacrament condemned and burned Ibid. Agnes Potten burned at Ipswich 320 Adam Foster Husbandman Martyr 326 Askin a constant Martyr 327 Alice Potkins starued to death 329 Agnes Stamley burned 331 Alexander Horsman Martyr 332 Ambrose died in Maidstone Goale 339 Agnes Siluerside alias Smith condemned 340 Agnes Banger martyred 348 Anne Try Martyr 349 Alexander Lane Martyr 362 Alexander Gouch martyred Ibid Alice Driuers a constant Martyr Ibid. Alice Snoth burned at Canterbury 365. B BArtholmew crucified and beheaded
burned and she said â— would sée you my Lord instruct mee with some part of Gods word and not to giue me instructions of holy Bread and holy Water for it is no part of Scripture Agnes Stanly answered I am no â—ereticke no man that is wise will beléeue as you doe I beleeue those that you haue burned bee true Martyrs I will not goe from my faith as long as I liue Thomas Thirtle said I will not beleeue your Idolatrous waies your Masse in Idolatry I wil stick to my faith as long as I liue Henry Ramsey said Your doctrine is naught and not agreeable to Gods word and I will stand to my Faith as long as I liue So they were condemned and burned as before In May William Norant Stephen Gratwicke and one King were burned in S. Georges field in Southwarke Iohn Bradbridge of Stapleherst Walter Apleby of Maydstone and Petronell his wife Edmund Allen of Fritendid and Katherine his wife Ioane Mannings of Maydstone Elizabeth a blind Maid THe 18. of Iune these seauen faithfull Martyrs of Christ were burned at Maidstone their answers were like in effect to the fiue that were famished to death in Canterbury Castle The 19. of Iune Iohn Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardue Barbara Finall Widdow Bradbregs Widdow Bendens Wife and Wilsons Wife were burned at Canterbury their Articles were as the others they ioyfully vndressed themselues vnto the fire and all of them like the Communion of Saints knéeled down and prayed with such zeale as the enemies of the Crosse of Christ could not but like it Ten they arose and went to the stake where they yéelded their soules gloriously vnto the Lord. Richard Woodman George Stephens William Maynard Alexander Hosman his Man Tomasine Awood his Maid Margery Moris Iames Moris hir Sonne Denis Burges Ashdownes wife Groues wife THese tenne blessed Martyrs were burned at Lewes in Sussex the 22. of Iune without a writ from the Lord Chancelor The first examination of RICHARD WOODMAN before the Bishop of Chichester Chichester I Am sory for you and so are all the Worshipfull of our Country you haue béene of good estimation amongst the poore and rich wherefore looke well to your selfe your Wife and Children and bee ruled thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme Woodman I will be willing to learne of euery man the truth and I know I haue giuen no iust offence to rich nor poore and God knoweth how deare I loue my Wife and Children in him but my life my wife and Children are all in Gods hands and I haue them all as I had them not but regard the pleasing of God more then al other things I thought good to appeale to you mine Ordinary for som goe about to shed my blood wrongfully that if you can finde I hold any thing contrary to Gods word I will be reformed and if my blood bee shed vnrighteouslie that it may be required at your hands because you haue taken vpon you to bee the Phisition of soules of our Country Story Thou art a peruerse fellow thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death vniustly that thy blood shall be required No if he should condemne a hundred such Hereticks I haue helped to rid a good many of you and will doe the best I can to rid thee Chich. I am your spirituall Pastor you must heare me and I will giue spirituall Councell Wood. You say you will giue mee spirituall Councell are you sure you haue the Spirit of God Chichest No by Saint Mary I dare not bee so bold to say so I doubt of that Wood. Then you be like the waues of the Sea tossed with the winde and vnstable in all your wayes as Saint Iames saith and can looke for no good thing at the Lords hands You are neither hote nor cold Therefore God will spue you out Story Hee hath the Diuell in him hee is worse then the Diuel thus all heretickes boast themselues Wood. The Iewes said to Christ he had a Diuell and was mad as you haue said to me but the Seruant is not aboue his Master God forbid I should learne of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Chich. Doe you beleeue you haue the Spirit of God it is more then Paul or any of the Apostles durst doe which is great presumption Wood. I beleeue I haue the Spirit and boast not my selfe but of the gift of GOD as Paul did in 1. Cor. 7. He said he beleeued verily that hee had the Spirit of GOD no man can beleeue that Iesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost I beleeue Christ is my Redeemer therefore I haue the Holy Ghost and hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ is a cast-away and none of his and wee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage to feare but we haue receiued the Spirit of Adoption which cryeth Abba Father The same Shirit testifieth with our Spirits that we are the sonnes of God Héere are proofes enough that Paul was sure he had the Spirit of God And Iohn saith He that beleeueth in God dwelleth in God and God in him So it is impossible to beleeue in God except God dwell in vs Chich. He bade me dine with him and at dinner he asked me whether Priests may marry and whether Paul had a Wife Wood. Paul and Barnabas were not married but all the Apostles else-were For in the 1. Cor. 9. Paul saith am I not an Apostle am I not free haue I not seene Christ Mine answere to them that aske me this Haue wee not power to eat and to drinke or to leade about a Sister to Wife as well as the other Apostles and the Brethren of the Lord or haue not Barnabas and I power thus to do So this Text proueth that Paul and Barnabas were not married but Paul declareth that the rest had wiues and they had power likewise to haue wiues but they found no neede thereof But Paul in the seuenth to the Corinthians said that hee that hath not power ouer his flesh may marry for it is better to marry then to burne wherefore to auoid fornication let euery one haue his VVife and euery woman her Husband Therefore Bishoppes and Priests may haue Wiues because they are men rather then burne and commit Fornication Paul declareth to Timothy the first and niuth that Bishops and Deacons should haue wiues The second Examination before the Bishop of Winchester and others Wine LAst time you were with vs you were in an heresie in saying Iudas receiued bread vnlesse you will tell what more then bread Wood. I say he receiued more then bread for he receiued the Diuell because hee presumed to eate the Sacrament without Faith as Christ saith after he eat the sop the Diuell entred into him Hereby appeareth that the Sacrament is not the body of Christ before it be receiued in Faith Winc. What is thy Faith in the Sacrament Wood. I beleeue when I receiue the body and bloud of Christ if it
more painefull manner then I which fell out accordingly for Laurence hauing distributed the goods of the poore by the charge of the bishop the Emperour hearing thereof commaunded him to render the Treasure to him but after thrée daies respite in sleede thereof hee presented vnto him a sort of poore Christians as the Treasure of the Church whereupon hee commaunded Laurence to bee broyled on a gridyron where after hee had suffered a great space hee said this side is rosted enough turne vp Tyrant try whether rosted or raw be bettermeate A Souldier of Rome was conuerted to the Faith by the constant proâ—â—â—â—ion of this Laurence and desired to be baptized of him but the Iudge called him and scourged and be headed him At this time suffered Dionisius Bishop of Alexandria he was banished and scourged then remoued to a more strait place one Gaius one Petrus and one Paulus were afflicted with him notwithstanding Maximus Dioscorus Demetrius and Lucius visited the brethren also Eusebius suffered affliction for the truth who after was Bishop of â—aodicia Faustus long after being an oldman was beheaded but Dionisius suruiued all these troubles and in great age departed in peace after he had gouerned the Church of Alexandria 17. yeares and taught Schoole there 16. yeares and Maximus succeeded him In the same time Priscus Marcus and Alexander who stepyed to the Iudge and declared themselues Christians with a woman were giuen to wilde beasts In Carthage were 300. martyred in a Lime kill for refusing because they would not Sacrifice to lupiter Maxima Donatilla and Secunda three Uirgins after cruell torments were giuen to beasts which refused to touch them then they were beheaded also one Pontius after diuerse torments was giuen to beasts who refusing to touch him he was burned at which time Claudius his Iudge with Anabius his assistant were taken with wicked Spirits and bit off their owne tongues and died The same time Zeno Bishop of Uerona was Martyred one Phillippus President of Alexandria came downe with his Wife two Sons and his Daughter Eugenia she with two Eâ—nuches Prothus and Hiacintus were conuerted to Christianitie she put on the apparell of a man to aâ—â—ide trouble and to heare Helenus Bishop and named herselfe Eugenius Malena a Marton of Alexandria fell in louâ— with her end séeing that by no meanes she could obtaine her sute she made an outcry saying that Eugenius went about to deâ—lowre her and accused her to Phillippus so shee was forced to manifest her selfe to her Father after she wonne him and other of her kindred to the Faith her Father was after Martyred after shee returned to Rome with her Eunuches and conuerted Basilla who was beheaded after sundry torments In the sixt yeare of Valerianus Victor and Victorinus with Claudianus and Bossa his wife after thrée yeares imprisonment and diuerse torments were put to death Fructuosus Bishop of Tarraconia with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius at their execution their hands bound behinde them vnloosed and the fire flewe from them vntill they had prayed at which time a certaine Souldier did sée the Heauens open and the Martyres entred in which sight he shewed to the Daughter of Emilianus the President This Emperour Valerianus after he had raigned with his Sonne about sixe yeares and afflicted the Christians two yeares was taken of Sapres King of the Persians who made him alwaies his footstoole to get vppon his horse till hee dyed At the same time amongst the Romaines there happenned 30. Earthquakes together whereupon the Persecution was moderated yet some â—uffered as Marinus a Noble-man he was accused to be a Christian of him that should succeede him the Iudge gaue him three dayes to aduise himselfe but being incouraged by Theodiâ—tus Bishop of Cesaria hee presented himselfe to the Iudge by whose Sentence he was beheaded Galienus succeeded Valerianus and Claudius succeeded him Vincentius maketh mention of 262. Martyres that suffered vnder him Quintilianus succeeded him after Aurelianus vnder whom was moued the ninth Persecution ¶ The ninth Persecution AS Aurelianus was subscribing the Edict against Christians he was terrified with â—â—ghtning and about the 6. yeare of his raigne was slaine yet Vincentius and Orosius reckon vp a great number of Martyres which suffered vnder him in Fraunce and Italy Publius Annins Tacitus succeeded Aurelianus and raigned 6. moneths his brother Florianus succéeded him 60. daies Marcus Aurelius succéeded him surnamed Probus he moued no Persecution after he had raigned 6 yeares 4. Moneths because by reason of Peace he had no worke for his Souldiers therefore he was slaine Carus with his two Sonnes Carinus and Numerianus succéeded him 3. yeares Numerianus kilâ—â— Cerillus for not suffering him to enter into the congregation of the Christians he being their Bishop he was slaine of his Father Dioclesian succeeded vntill the 19. yeare of his raigne the Church was quiet which quietâ—â—sse had indured 44. yeares the Church grew mightily and the chiefe of them in fauour with the Emperour were Derotheus and Gorgotheus and diuerse moe The Church began to were wanton with Peace and to build large Churches but their desolutenes broght on them the tenth persecution ¶ The tenth Persecution VVHilst Dioclesian abstained from Persecuting he obtained diuerse victories and being proud thereof he would be worshipped as a God calling himselfe brother of the Sunne and Moone inioyned the people to kisse his feete and in the 19. yeare of his raigne he moued Persecution he commaunded the Churches of Christians to be destroyed and the Scriptures to be burned put Christians from Magistracie and constrained them with torments to offer to Idols After the Proclamation of the Edict a Noble-man a Christian openly rent it in pieces for which act he was put to most bitter death Dioclesian began with his Campe willed the Christians to lay away their weapons and giue ouer their charges which they did willingly At Tyre there were Christians giuen to cruell beasts preserued miraculâ—usly though they were kept hungry of purpose they raged against those that brought the Christians and deuoured them they could catch therefore they were beheaded and cast into the Sea At that time was Martyred the Bishop of Sidon but Siluanus Bishop of Gazenâ—â—s with 39. others were slaine in the Mettie-mines thon Pamphilius an Elder and the glory of the Church of Cesaria whom Eusebius writeth of was Martyred All the Bishops and Teachers in Syria were imprisoned Tyrannion throwne to fishes Arnobius a Physition slaine with brickbats some drowned themselues rather then they would worship Idols Siluanus Bishop of Emissa with others were throwne to wilde beasts In Mesopotamia the Christians were hanged by the feete and choked with smoke in Cappadocia their legs were broken in Cilicia Taragus Probus and Andronious Martyred the Persecution was so outragious that they refrained not from the slaughter of the Emperours children the chiefest Princes of his Court amongst whom was one Peter of the Houshold whom the King did loue as his owne
it is easie to know the tree by the fruit not by the blossomes often repeating in his Oration that this admonition was giuen of singular good will and great clemâ—ncie in the shutting vp of his Oration he added menasings that if he would abide in his purposed intent the Emperour would exterminate him his Empire Luther answered to this effect That the Councell of Constance had erred in condemning this Article of Iohn Hus That the Church of Christ is the communion of the predestinat and that we ought rather to obey God then man There is an offence of faith and an offence of charitie the slander of charity consisteth in manners and life the offence of faith and doctrine consisteth in the word of God and they commit this offence which make not Christ the corner stone And if Christs sheepe were fed with the pure pasture of the Gospell and the faith of Christ sincerely preached and if there were good Eclesiasticall Magistrates who duely executed their office wee should not néede to charge the Church with mens traditions And that hee knew and taught that wee ought to obay the higher powers how peruâ—rsly soeuer they liued so that they inforce vs not to deny the word of God Then they admonished him to submit himselfe to the Emperour and the Empires Iudgment hee answered hee was well content so that this were done with authority of the word of God and that he would not giue place except they taught sound Doctrine by the word of God and that St. Augustine writeth hee had learned to giue honor onely to the Canonicall bookes of the Scripture and touching other Doctors though they excell in holinâ—sse and learning hee would not credit them vnlesse they pronouced truth and St. Paule saith proue all things follow that which is good and againe if an Angell teach otherwise let him bee accursed finally hee meekely besought them not to vrge his conscience captiued in the bands of the word of God to deny that excellent word After the Arch-bishop sent for Luther to his Chamber and tould him for the most part that at all times holy Scriptures haue ingendred errors and went about to ouerthrow this proposition that the Catholike Church is the communion of Saints presuming of cockle to make wheate and of bodily excrements to compact members Martin Luther and one Ierome Schuâ—ffe his companion reproued their follies Hee was oftentimes assayled to reforme the censure of his bookes vnto the Emperour and Empire or to the Generall Councell which he was content to doe so they would iudge them according to the word of God otherwise not aleaging the words of the Prophet trust you not in Princes nor in the children of men wherein is no health also cursed be hee that trusteth in men and when newes came hee should returne home hee sayd euen as it hath pleased God so it is come to passe the name of the Lord be blessed and sayd hee thanked the Emperour and Princes that they had giuen him gracious audience and graunted him safe conduct to come and returne and said hee desired in his heart they were reformed according to the sacred word of God and sayd hee was content to suffer any thing in himselfe for the Emperour but only the word of God he would constantly confesse vnto the latter end About a yeare after this Luther dyed when hee had liued almost thrée score and thrée yeares and had béene Doctor thrée and thirty yeares hee sayd at his death O heauenly eternall and mercifull Father thou hast manifested in mee thy deare Sonne Christ I haue taught and knowne him I loue him as my life health and redemption whom the wicked persecuted maligned and iniured drawe my soule to thée and saâ—d thrise I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redéemed me God so loued the world that hee gaue his onely Sonne that all that beleeue in him should haue eternall life and so he dyed whose death was much lamented In the yeare 1516. the aforesaid French King receaued from Pope Leo a Iubile and pardons to be sould and so in England vnder the pretence of warre against the Turke they perswaded the people that whosoeuer would giue tenne shillings should deliuer his soule from the paine of Purgatory but if it lacked any thing of tenne shillings it would profit them nothing at that time Martin Luther was in Germany who vehemently inueyed against these indulgences agaâ—nst whom Iohn Eckius put forth himselfe they disputed before the people at last eyther of their arguments were sent to Paris to bee iudged by the Sorbonists the iudgment was long protracted In the meane time Pope Leo condemned Luther for Heresie and excommunicated him he appealed to the next Councell Pope Leo commanded Luthers bookes to bee burned openly Luther also burned the Popes decrees and Decretalls in the Uniuersity of Wittenberge In the yeere 1517. the Pope hauing creaâ—ed one and thirty Cardinalls thunder and lightening so strake the Church where the Cardinalls were created that it stroke the little child Iesus out of the lappe of his mother and the keyes out of St. Peters hands being Images in the Church of Rome In the yeare 1519. newes was brought to Pope Leo at supper that the Frenchmen were driuen out of Italy hee reioycing said God hath giuen me thrée things I returned from banishment with glory to Florence I haue deserued to bee called Apostolike and thereby I haue driuen the Frenchmen out of Italy as soone as he had spoken hee was stricken with a suddaine feuer and dyed shortly after What Godly man hath there euer beene for this fiue hundred yeares either vertuously disposed or excellently learned which hath not disproued the misordered and corrupt examples of the Sea and Bishop of Rome from time to time vntill the comming of Luther yet none euer could preuaile before the comming of this man the cause to bee supposed is this other men spake but against the pompe pride whoredome and auarice of the Pope Luther went further with him charged him with his Doctrine not picking at the rine but plucking vp the roote charging him with plaine Heresie as resisting against the blood of Christ for whereas the Gospell leadeth vs to bee iustified onely by the worthinesse of Christ and his bloud the Pope teacheth vs to séeke our saluation by mans merits and deseruings by workes whereupon rose all the Religious sects some professing one thing some another euery man seeking his owne righteousnes but Luther opened the eyes of many which before were drowned in darkenesse to behold that glorious benefit of the great liberty frée iustification set vp in Christ Iesus but the more glorious this benefit appeared to the world the greater persecution followed the same and where the Elect tooke most comfort of saluation the aduersaries tooke most vexation according as Christ sayd I came not to send peace but a sword therefore so great persecutions in all the world followed after Luther but in no
question for it and so handled him that they made him to recant or else they would haue dissolued him and his argument in the fire ANNE ASKEW AFter she had bin many times examined and she had answered so wisely that though she had affirmed the truth of the Sacrament yet none could touch her for her arguments by the law Then she wrote her minde of the Sacament as followeth I perceiuâ— deare friends in the Lord that you are not yet perswaded of the truth in the Lords Supper because Christ sayth Take eate this is my bodie but he giuing the bread as an outward signe to be receiued with the mouth hee meant in perfect beléefe they should receiue his body which should die for the people and to thinke his death the onely saluation of their soules The â—read and Wine were left vs for a Sacramentall communion of the benefite of his death and that we should be thankefull for the grace of redemption And in the closing thereof he sayth This doe in remembrance of me so often as you eate and drinke or else we should haue béene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daily remembrance and also been vnthankefull therefore we ought to pray to GOD for the true meaning of the Holy Ghost touching this communion for the letter slayeth and the spirit giueth life In the sixth of Iohn all is applied vnto â—aith and in 1. Cor. 4. The things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are euerlasting and in the third of the Hebrewes Christ ruleth ouer his house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and reioycing of hope vnto the end and the dead Temple is not his house Wherefore to day if you will heare his voice harden not your hearts Her confession in Newgate CHrist took the bread saying to his Disciples Take eate this is my body which shall be broken for you meaning his body the bread but a signe and Sacrament and so he said He would break downe the Temple and in three dayes build it vp againe signifying his body by the Temple although there be many that cannot perceiue the true meaning thereof for the vayle that Moses put euer his face before the children of Israell remayneth to this day but when God shall take it away then shall these blinde men see For it is plainly expressed in the Historie of Bell O King saith Daniell be not deceiued for God will be worshipped in nothing that is made with hands of men O what stiffe-necked people are these that will alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as their fathers haue done Truth is layde in prison Luk. 21. The law is turned to wormwood Amos 6. and there can no right iudgement goe forth Esay 59. Her condemnation THey said I was an heretick and condemned by the law if I would stand to my opinion I said touching my Faith I said and wrote to the Councell I would not deny because I knew it true then they would knowe whether I would denie the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud I answered yea for the same Sonne of GOD that was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary is now glorious in the heauens and will come againe at the last day as he went vp and that which you call your God is a peece of bread and for more proofe thereof let it lie in a boxe but thrée monthes and it will be mouldy and turne to nothing that is good therefore I am perswaded it is no God Then they willed me to haue a Priest and then I smiled then they asked mee if it were not good I sayd I would confesse my faults vnto God for I was sure hee would heare me with fauour and so we were condemned by the quest This was my beléefe which I wrote to the Councell that the Sacramentall bread was left vs to bee receaued with thanksegiuing in the remembrance of his death the onely remedy of our soâ—les recouery and thereby we also receaue the whole benefit of his passion then they would needs know whether the bread in the boxe were God or no I sayd God is a spirit and will bee worshipped in spirit and truth then they sayd will you plainely deny Christ to bee in the Sacrament I answered I beléeue the eternall sonne of God not to dwell there in witnes whereof I recited againe the history of Bell and the 7. and 17. of the Acts and the 24 of Mathew concluding I neither wish death nor feare it God haue the praise thereof with thankes then she wrâ—te to the Lord Chancelour and the King but it preuayled not After she was sent from Newgate to the Tower then Maister Rich and one of the Councell charged me vppon mine obedience to shew vnto them if I knew any of my Sect I answered I knew none they asked me of my Lady Suffolke my Lady Sussex my Lady Hereford my Lady Denny and my Lady Fitzrallins I sayd if I should pronounce any thing against them I am not able to proue it they said the King was informed I could name if I would a great number of my sect I sayd the King was as well deceaued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters Then they commanded mee to shewe how I was maintayned in the Counter and who willed me to stick to mine opinion I sayd there was none did strengthen me therein and I was maintayned in the Counter by the meanes of my Mayde for she made mone vnto the Prentises and they by her did send mee money but who they were I know not Then they sayd diuers Gentlewomen gaue me money but I know not their names then they said many Ladies sent me money I answered there was a man in a blew cote deliuered me ten shillings and said my Lady of Hereford sent it me and another in a Uiolet cote gaue me eyght shillings and sayd my Lady Denny sent it mee but I am not sure who sent it me then they said there were of the Councell which did maintaine mee and I said no. Then they put mee vpon the Racke and kept me there a long time because I would not confesse any Gentlewomen or Ladies on my opinion and because I did not cry my Lord Chancelor and Sir Iohn Baker tooke paines to racke me with their owne hands vntill I was nie dead Then the Liefetennant caused mee to be loosed from the racke and incontinently I swounded and they recouered me againe after I sat two houres reasoning with my Lord Chancâ—llor vppon the bare floure where with flattering words hee perswaded me to leaue my opinions but God gaue mee grace to perseuere and will doe I hope then I was brought to bed with as painefull bones as euer pacient Iob then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leaue mine opinions I should lacke nothing if I would not I should to Newgate and be burned I sent him word againe I would die rather then breake my faith She was borne
Doctor I would you would remember your selfe and turne to your holy Mother the Church and I will sue for your pardon Taylor answered I would you and your fellowes would turne to Christ as for me I will not turne to Antichrist Then Bonner had him put on the Uestures to bee disgraded but hee would not when they were put vpon him he put his handes by his side and said How say you my Lord am not I a goodlie Foole How say you my Maisters it I were in Cheape-side should I not haue Boyes enough to laugh at these apish toyes and toying trumperie and when the Bishoppe should strike him vpon the breast with his Crossier Staffe his Chaplaines said Strike him not my Lord for he will surely strike you againe That I will said hee for it is our Sauiour Christes cause so the Byshoppe laid his cursâ— oll him but strucke him not When he came to Maister Bradford for they both lay in one Chamber hee told him laughinglie how he had made the Bishop affraid to strike him that night his Wife his Sonne Thomas and his man Iohn Hull were suffered to sup with him after Supper he thanked GOD that hee had giuen him strength to abide by his holie Word Then he said vnto his Sonne My deare Sonne God giue thee his Spirit truly to serue Christ to learne his word and to stand by it all thy life my Sonne feare God fly sinne pray to him and apply thy booke and sée thou be obedient vnto thy Mother cherish the poore and count that try chéefe riches is to be rich in aâ—mes Then he said my deare Wife be steadfast in the â—eare and loue of God be not defiled with Popish Idolatries wee haue béene faithfull yoke-fellowes together the Lord will reward you for your faithfulnesse towards me I now must be taken from you and I would aduise you to marrie with some honest man that feareth GOD he will prouide such a one for you and he will bee a mercifull Father to you and your Children whom I pray bring vp in the feare of God and learning and kéep them from Romish Idolatry then with wéeping feares they prayed together and kissed each other The next day he was carried away towards Hadley to be burned there diuers Gentlemen and Iustices came to him there who laboured him to returne vnto the Romish Religion shewed him his pardon and promised him great promotions yea a Bishoprick if he would but all was vaine for he had not builded his Rocke vpon the sands in perill of euery winde but on the sure Rocke Christ. When hee went through Hadley to execution the stréetes being full they cried out with lamentable voyces Ah good Lord there goeth our Shepheard from vs that hath so faithfully taught vs so fatherly cared for vs and so godly gouerned vs what shall wee poore scattred Lambes doe What shall become of this wicked world good Lord comfort him wherefore the people were fore rebuked and Doctor Taylor euer said to the people I haue preached vnto you Gods word and truth and am come this day to seale it with my blood Comming against the Almes-heuses he cast to the poore people all the Money which remained of that which good people had giuen vnto him in Prison for his Liuing was taken away from him so soone as he was put in Prison so that hee was sustained during the time of his imprisonment by the charitable Almes of good people When he saw the place of execution and the multitude of people that were gathered together then said he thanked be God I am euen at home They had clipped his head ill-fauoredly like a Fooles head by Bonners perswasions when he was disgraded when he came there all the people said God saue thée good Maister Doctor Taylor Iesus strengthen you the Holy Ghost comfort you When he would haue spoken vnto the people one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month then he desired license of the Sheriffe to speake but he denied him and had him remember his promise made vnto the Councell It was a common fame that the Councell sent for such as were condemned and threatned them they would cut their tongues out except they would promise them at their deathes to kéepe silence and not to speake vnto the people When he was in his Shirt hee was set in a Pitch Barrell to bee burned then he said with a loud voyce Good people I haue taught you nothing but GODS Word and those Lessons which I haue taken out of GODS blessed Booke I am therefore come hither this day to seale it with my blood then one Homes a Yeoman of the Gard who had vsed him verie cruelly all the way gaue him a great stroke on the head The Sheriffe called one Richard Doningham a Butcher to set vp the Faggots but he would not then he got others and one of them called Warwicke cruellie cast a Faggot at him and brake his face that the blood ranne downe Doctor Taylor said Ah friend I haue harme enough what néedeth this When the fire was set to him he said Mercifull Father of Heauen for Iesus Christs sake receiue my Soule into thy hands and so stood still without either crying or moouing with his hands folded together vntill one Soyce strucke him vpon the head that the Braines fell out and his Corps fell into the Fire and was burned The foureteenth of February the Lord Chanceller and the Bishops caused the Image of Thomas Becket to be set vp ouer the Mercers Chappeâ—l doore in Cheape-side in London in the forme of a Bishop with Miter and Crosier within two dayes after his two blessing fingers were broken away and the next day his head was stricken off Whereupon many were suspected and one Maister Barnes Mercer being a Professor of the truth was charged therewith and he and three of his Seruants were committed to Prison and though it could not be proued against him he was bound in a great summe to builde it vp againe now and as often as it should be broken downe and to watch and keepe the same The next day after that it was set vp againe the head was the second time broken off then there was a Proclamation set forth that he that could tell who did it he should haue an hundred Crownes with thanks but it was not knowne who did it The vertuous and godly King Christianus King of Denmarke hearing of the captiuitie of Miles Couerdale whom hee knew by reason hee was in Denmarke in King Henry the eight his time and lamenting his dangerous case made intercession by Letters to Quéene Mary desiring the said Miles Couerdalo to be sent vnto him after the King had written two letters Queene Mary after long delay made full answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters by which prouidence of God Miles Couerdale was deliuered ROBERT FARRAR Bishop of Saint Dauids in Wales THis Bishop by the fauour of the Lord Protector was first promoted vnto that
fittest to be done omitting neither time diligence or industry all which noâ—withstanding they could not as yet finde out the depth of this mysterie and were therefore much troubled in minde bâ—cause the appointed day of parliament drew neare which was Tuesday the 5. of Nouember vpon the Saturday before the King being returned from hunting the said Lords acquainted his Highnesse with what had past and when his Maiesty had well noted the strange contents of the Letter which purported the sodaine ruine of the State the King said notwithstanding the small respect and slight regard which might bee giuen to Libels scattered abroad yet thâ—s was more quicke and pithy then was vsuall in Libels and willed them to search in all places as well not dayly frequented as of vsuall repayre and concerning any forraine disturbance or inuasion hee well knâ—w the present force and preparation of all Christian Princes and that whatsoeuer practise of treaâ—on was now in hand it must be perâ—ormed in some vnsuspected place and by some homâ—-bred traytors therevpon new search was made in all places about the Court and the Parliament house but could not as yet finde any thing worthy their labours all which â—earchâ—s were performed with such silence and discretion as there rose no manner of suspition eyther in Court or City the Lord Chamberlaine whose office it most concerned neuer rested day nor night and the night before the Parliament as Sir Thomas Kneuet with others scowted about the parliament house espied a fellow standing in a corner very suspitiouâ—ly and asked him his name what hee was and what he did there so late who answered very bluntly hiâ— name was Iohn Iohnson Master Pearcies man and keeper of his lodgâ—ings Sir â—homas Kneuet continued still his search in all places thereabouts and returning thither againe found him lingring there still searched him and found vnder his cloke a close Lanthorne and a burning Candle in it and about him other signes of suspition that hee stood not there for any good then the Knight entered the Uaâ—â— where they found the powder couered with Billets and Fagots as afore-said and then the Lord Chamberlaine caused the Traytor to be bound and being now about three a clocke in the morning â—ee went vnto the King and with exceeding gladnesse told his Maiestie the Treason was discouered and preuented and the Traytor in hold the King desired to see Fawkes who when hee came before the King vsâ—d like trayterous and audacious speeches as hee did at his first apprehension affirming himselfe was the onely man to performe the Treason saying it sore vexed him that the deed was not done and for that time would not confesse any thing touching the rest of the Conspirators but that himselfe onely and alone was the contriuer and practiser of this Treason Betweene fiue and six a clocke in the morning the Councell gaue order to the Lord Mayor of London to looke to the City and in very calme manner to set ciuill watch at the Citie gates signifying therewithall that there was a plot of Treason discouered and that the King would not goe to Parliament that day and the same day in thâ— afternoone the manner of the Treason was by Proclamation made known vnto the people for ioy wherof there was that night as many bonsires in and about London as the stréetes could permit and the people gaue humble and hearty thankes vnto almighty God for their King Countries right blessed escape Within thrée dayes after two other proclamations were made signifying vnto the people who were the chiefe conspirators with commandement to apprehend Pearcy and Catesby to take them aliue if it were possible which said Pearcy and Catsby were gone to Holbach in Warwickshire to méet Winter Gaunt and others where vnder pretence of a great hunting they meant to raise the country and surprise the Lady Elizabeth from the L. Harington whom they meant to proclaime Queens and in whose name they meant to enter into Armes being perswaded that the King the Prince and Duke of Yorke were by that time blowne vp in the Parliament house but when they knew their treason was known and preuented and saw the Kings forces round about the house so as they could not escape Pearcy and Catesby very desperately issued forth and fighting back to back were both slain with one Musket shot Saturday the ninth of Nouember the King went to Parliament where in the presence of the Queene the Prince the Duke of Yorke the Ambassadors of the King of Spaine and the Arch-duke and all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons of the same hee made a very solemne oration manifesting the whole complot of this Treason The 27. of Ianuary at Westminster were arraigned Thomas Winter Guydo Fawkes Robert Keyes and Thomas Bates for plotting to blow vp the Parliament house digging in the mine taking oath and Sacrament for secresie c. and Robert Winter Iohn Graunt Ambrose Rookewood for being acquainted with the treason afterward giuing their full consent thereunto and taking oath and Sacrament for secresie and sir Euerâ—â—d Digby for being made acquainted with the said Treason yeelding assent and taking his corporall oath for secresie all which inditements were prooued against them and by themselues confessed and therevpon had iudgement giuen them to bee drawne hanged and quartered their limbes to bee set vpon the Citie gates and their heads vpon the Bridge according to which sentence the thirtieth of Ianuary Sir Euerard Digby Robert Winter Iohn Graunt and Bates were executed at the West end of Paules Church and the next day after the other foure were executed in the Parliament yard six of the eight acknowledged their guiltinesse in this horrible treason and dyed very penitently but Graunt and Keyes did not so Out of these and many other destructions the Lord of his aboundant mercie hath deliuered his most faithfull Seruant and our dread Soueraigne King Iames and still will preserue him according to his promise so long as he putteth his trust in him and it is not to be doubted but God hauing giuen him the Spirit of confidence in him and also fortified and builded vp this his hope and trust by the experience of ennumerable preseruations of his person and Statâ—e and such ones as could be attributed to no meanes but onely to Gods handy workes Nay I will conclude by the warrant of Gods word that it is impossible for the Diuell by any temptation in the world to steale this heauenly treasure out of his Royall heart no more then he could steale it out of Iob his heart for although from them that haue not the true grace of God that which they haue shall be taken from them yet according to Christs promise which is truth it self he that hath truly Gods Spirit be it in neuer so little manner more shall be giuen him and that which he hath shall neuer be taken from him And touching these blessed Realmes of Great Brittaine and Ireland ouer
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens