Braintree William Pigot for Christs name Endur'd the fury of the ardent flame At Maulden Stephen Knight before the stake Kneel'd down and pray'd Sweet Jesu for whose sake I freely leave this life and rather choose Thy cross and irrecoverably loose All worldly goods then to give audience To men in breaking thy commandements Thou seest O Lord that whereas I but now VVas proffer'd great preferments if I 'd bow To a false helpless God I was content My body should be burnt and my life spent Counting all things below but dung and dross For thee happy such gain which comes by loss Thousands of silver and as much of gold Then death I do of lesser value hold Just as the wounded Deer desires the soil So longs my soul for thee pour down the Oil Of consolation on a crumbling clod So helpless of it self Thou know'st O God That I who am but sinfull flesh and blood Can of my self act nothing that is good And therefore as of thine abundant love And goodness still deflowing from above On me me that am lesser then the least Of mercies thou hast bid me to this feast And judg'd me worthy to drinke of this cup With thine elect even so O bear me up Great God! against this Element of fire So formidable to the sence so dire Sweeten it by thy spirit so asswage The heat that I may overcome its rage And pass into thy bosome Holy father Forgive thou me as I do all men gather My soul sweet Son of God my Saviour Beneath thy shady wings a Balmy Bower O blessed holy-Holy-Ghost whose strength destroies Fleshly corruptions hasten thou my joyes Eternal joyes Lord I commend take then My parting spirit Amen Amen Amen John Laurence legs with bolts and irons lame His body with hard usage out of frame Was to the stake transported in a chair And suff'red for the saith at Colchester Young children while he burn'd cry'd out O Lord Strengthen thy servant and make good thy word Stand up stand up for thy poor servant's aid As thou art just O do as thou hast said Ferrar set o're St. Davids Bishoprick Was apprehended for an Heretick Him Winchester misus'd call'd him base slave False-hearted fellow and a cross-grain'd knave Morgan a fraudulent supplanter turn'd him Out of his place and at Carmarthen burn'd him Not long before his death one Richard Jones A Knights son comming his sad pains bemones T'whom Ferrar thus Sir if you see me move My hand or foot during the flames do prove What mettle I am of believe not then My Doctrine oft inculcated to men And as he said he did with the fire hot Besieged round he stirred not a jot Held his stumps bolt upright then with a pole Knock'd down i' ch' fire he breathed out his soul One Rawlins White a Fisher-man in Wales Of Cardiffe town when superstitions scales Drop'd from his eyes the Truth he understood And in his country aid a deal of good He dayly now expects to he surpriz'd By truths oppugners his dear friends advis'd Him to retire elsewhere and be excus'd For their good will he thank'd them but resus'd He 's apprehended and in prison laid In Cardiffe Castle where a year he staid His friends resorting to him he would spend The time in pray'r exhorting them to mend At last the Bishop of Landaffe commands That he be brought he threats him now then stands On fairer terms but all this would not stir His unmov'd brest a day 's appointed for His condemnation which being come The Bishop call'd him forth and told him some Heretical opinions he did hold And had seduced others Rawlins bold Reply'd My Lord a Christian man I am I praise God for 't my tenents are the same With Sacred Writ if from God's word I stray I would be gladly brought in the right way The Bishop said Speak if you will be won Else I 'll proceed to condemnation Proceed said Rawlins but you never shall Condemn me for an Heretick Let 's fall To pray'r said Landaffe that the Lord some spark Of grace would send thee to disclose the dark Now said he you deal well and if your pray'r Do with God's will agree he 'll doubtless hear Pray to your God and I to mine will pray I know my God will hear and not say nay The Bishop and his Chaplains pray'd anon Rawlins pray'd by himself alone pray'r don The Bishop said How is it with thee now Thine errours what wilt thou revoke and bow To our true God no surely no said he Rawlins you left and Rawlins you finde me Rawlins I was and am and Rawlins will Through God continue to be Rawlins still God would have heard you had your sute bin just But he hath heard me and on him I trust The Bishop being wroth him soundly shent So went to Mass Rawlins his minde then bent Shot forth these words Good people if there be Amongst you any breth'ren two or three Or if but one bear witness at the day Of judgement that I to no Idols pray Mass don he was condemn'd and after thrown Into a darke and loathsome dungeon There Rawlins pass'd his time in drowning wrongs With spir'tual prayers and religious songs The night before his death t' his wife he sent To send his wedding weed a shirt he meant Which he rejoycingly next morn put on And being led to execution Guarded he was with bills and Pike-staves too Alas said he what need all this ado By God's grace I will nothing start aside VVho is 't that gives me power to abide All this affliction for his own names sake But God his be the glory At the stake He his dear wife and children having found Pickled in briny tears or rather drown'd His eyes let fall a tear but having made A recollection of himself he said Ah flesh saiest thou me so would'st thou obtain The Victor's Palm I tell thee 't is in vain To strive thy pow'r is like the morning mist Then failing on the ground the ground he kist And spake Earth unto earth and dust to dust Thou art my mother and return I must To thee With an exhilarated brow Then going to be bound to th'stake I now Said he t' a friend of his finde great contest Betwixt the flesh and spirit for the best I pray you therefore when you see me shrink Hold up your finger that I may bethink My too oblivious self B'ing bound he rais'd These words up to the height The Lord be Prais'd Unto the Smith then spake he Pray good friend Knock it in fast the flesh may much contend But God support me let thy grace refresh My fainting spirits and my trembling flesh About him pulled he the reeds and straw VVith such a merry look that all that saw Much wondred at it Now a Priest appear'd And preached to the people Rawlins heard Until he spake of Transubstantiation Alledging Scripture for its confirmation This is my Body Come you here good folk Said Rawlins
these things are too far above thy reach Said they the shrub is lower then the Beach I am said she indeed and yet my breath I 'll give in witness of my Saviours death O do not put me off with longer stay For Ah! I am impatient of delay My love hath wings it hovers up and down Nor can it rest till glory is her own My heart is fixed I will never go From what I said nor do as others do Then said the Bishop There 's no hopes to win her The devil leadeth her the devil is in her Not so my Lord quoth she Christ is my guide His Spirit upholds me that I cannot slide She when she heard deaths sentence past upon her Advanc'd her voice and said Unmated honour The Proverb 's true Long look'd for comes at last My Lord my God I thank thee that thou hast Granted to me this day my hearts desire In listing me with thy celestial Quire Woman said one be thou a happy wife By thy recanting O the sweets of life No said she by no means my life is hid With Christ in God now the good Lord forbid That for this life at best but transitory I should lose heaven and eternal glory I have two husbands but will onely cleave Unto my heavenly and my earthly leave The fellowship of Saints in heaven I trow Exceeds the having children here below And if my husband and my children prove Faithful then am I theirs they have my love God my good father is God is my mother God is my sister and God is my brother God is my kinsman God 's my faithful friend Who will stick close unto me till the end To execution then led along She was attended with a num'rous throng Bound to the stake she by the Popish Priests Was set upon again unwelcom guests To whom she thus for God's sake now give o're Your bibble babble trouble me no more With empty sounds fain would I Oh! divorce My self from your impertinent discourse O God be merciful to sinful me For Ah! I onely do depend on thee She stood with admirable patience Amidst the flames and so her soul flew hence Sh 'had such a cheerful look that one would say It was her wedding not her burning day She had been alwayes sober in her diet Neat in apparel peaceable and quiet Alwayes a doing never fitting still During her health and limbs by her good will Chain'd to her house she ever would refuse To gad abroad as most ill-houswives use To all that came to her her gracious heart Would streams of consolation impart Gods word was her delight she gave good heed Ther husband in the Lord a wife indeed According to her power she at her door And at their sev'ral homes reliev'd the poor And in the time of her calamity Would take no proff'red coyne for said she I Am going now to Heaven a City where No mony any Mastery doth bear And whilst I here remain the Lord will feed My craving stomack and supply my need It is his promise and full sure I be That he which feeds the Ravens will feed mâ— One Richard Sharp a Weaver by his trade In Bristel City apprehended made A large confession of his faith before One Dr. Dalby the there-Chancellour Who by perswasive Arguments so wrought Upon his weakness that he soon was brought To make a promise That he would appear And publickely recan and when and where But after this Apostacy Sharp felt His conscience gall'd hell's horrour so indwelt His soul that he his calling could not minde His colour went away his body pin'd Next Sabbath day going to Church he made To the Quire-door and with a loud voice said That Altar neighbours pray bear me record Is the Great Idol I deny'd my Lord But from the bottom of my heart am sorry For what I don in hazarding my Glory He caught condemn'd and burn'd with Thomas Hale Climb'd up to heaven from this tearful vale One Thomas Benson of the same town went To pris'n for saying That the Sacrament Was as they us'd it nothing else but bread And not the body of the Lord indeed As for the Sacraments which you call seven Five were ordain'd by men but two by heaven Give me the two which I acknowledge true And all the other five I 'll leave to you Soon after this he did receive death's sentence And executed to his God he sent hence His blessed soul which left its bodie 's jail For Paradise death having put in bail Now to conclude The last that did maintain The Gospel with their hearts-blood in the Raign Of Mary Queen that hell-begotten fury Were these five Citizens of Canterbury John Hurst John Cornford Captains in the fight Christopher Brown Alice Swoth and Kath'rine knight The things imputed to their charge were that Christs real presence they denyed flat Affirming onely those that do believe Not wicked men Christs body do receive The Pope they said was Antichrist the Mass Abominable that a sin it was To pray to Saints that cringing to a cross Was meer Idol'try and an errour gross c. Sentence of condemnation being heard Forthwith John Cornford was in spirit stirr'd And with an ardent zeal for God express'd In the name of himself and all the rest This doom I'th'name of Christ our Saviour The Son of God the High'st and by the power Of his most holy-Holy-Ghost as also by The Holy and Divine authority Of the Apostolick and Cath'lick Church Never yet totally left in the lurch We here turn over to the Prince of hell As slaves eternally to howle and yell In sulph'ry flames the bodies of all those Blasphemers Hereticks who do oppose The living God and bolster up their errours Against the Truth hence to the King of Terrours So that by this thy righteous judgement shown Against thy foes great God thou mayst make known Thy true religion to thy greater glory And our souls comfort when we read the story Of thy great power and to th'edification Of all our well-nigh ruinated Nation Good Lord so be it be it so Amen And this his excommunication then Took great effect against truth's enemies Queen Mary within six dayes after dies And Tyrannie with her there is no hope Of any longer footing for the Pope In England now great joy betides to all The faith-ey'd Saints who wish'd proud Babels fall Yet the Archdeacon and 's associates quick Knowing the Queen was dangerously sick Condemn'd those pious persons to the flame And hurri'd them away When there they came In Christ his name they offer'd up their prayers As holocausis to the Almighties ears To God they pray'd to God for ever blest Preferring this request amongst the rest That if it were his will their blood might be The last that should be shed so Lord pray we No sooner had they pray'd but heaven return'd A gracious answer they the last that burn'd Great God said they we cheerfully resign Our souls into those blessed hands
could not be found To fit their instruments to till the ground The land was so enslav'd they rather chose Then starve to be behoiding to their foes VVith his keen javelin spirit-haunted Saul Assay'd to stick up David ' gainst the wall Prophetick David with a patient ear Did Shimei's railing accusations bear Egyptian Shishak prov'd Jerus'lems rod And took the treasures from the house of God And which is strange good Asa's spirit risen Against Gods Prophet casts him into prison Ahab hates Micah In Jehosaphat His reign the Church of God was stormed at Elijah was despis'd by Jezabel By whom so many holy Prophets fell Elisha suffers in Jehor ams reign Judak's oppress'd Good Zechariah's slain By Joash for 's reproof Israel's King Thousands of Judah slew did thousands bring Into captivity Poor Judah pines By th' Edomites Assyrians Philistines The Prophet Esay by Manasses Law Was sawn in sunder with a wooden saw And Jeremiah after slandrous mocks VVas beaten sore and put into the stocks Then was he liberty deny'd him flung Into the myry dungeon where he clung At last drag'd thence into th' Egyptian land He needs must go the Captains him command And his Thren-odes those pious Elegies Lament the falling Churches miseries Nebuchanezzar in a rage doth throw Shadrach and Meshech and Abednego Into the furnace hot By wicked men Daniel is cast into the Lyons Den. Proud Haman persecutes poor Mordecay And a decree procures that in one day Gods people should be killed murth ' rously The Jews returning from captivity Judah's disturb'd and opposition's found When they would raise Gods Temple from the ground Build it they do though men and devils conjoyne They 'r Powers they cannot frustrate Gods designe SECT II. The Persecution of the Church from Nehemiah to Antiochus his time and also under Antiochus Epiphanes before the nativity of Christ about 168 years ELiashib the High-Priest being dead Judas his son succeeded in his stead And John the next who in the Temple slew Jesus which sought to wrong him of his due No sooner had Bagoses heard the News But with a potent force he kept the Jews The Jews inclos'd within Jerus ' lems walls Till sev'n years ended under slavish thralls Compelling them to lay down fifty Drachmes For ev'ry Lamb that fed their dayly flames Jaddus John dead succeeded who b'ing told Of Alexander's acts and how he would Come shortly he in 's Priestly robes aray'd For Gods direction and protection pray'd The King fell down the Jews did in a ring Encircle him and said God save the King He check'd reply'd I do not that were odd Adore the High-Priest but the High-Priests God Then leave to live after their Ancient orders He grants the Hebrews and deserts their borders Antiochus Epiphanes did go Unto Jerusalem nor friend nor foe Escap'd his fury he the Temple spoil'd Of all her Ornaments and it defil'd Yea he inhibited the godly Jews Those daily sacrifices they did use And having made their goodly structures void He led some captive many he destroy'd Forc'd others to forsake God and adore Those Idols he himself fell down before But they that minded not his menacings VVere whip'd and maim'd had cruel torturings Some crucifi'd they hang'd the female sex And hung young Children at their parents necks VVhat books of Sacred VVrit they found the same VVere cast into the all-devouring flame Upon a Sabbath day these merc'less slaves Did stifle thousands hid in unclos'd caves And now Mathias pious and devout Led forth the Christians ' gainst this impious rout Destroy'd their Altars Providence did bless All his endeavours with desir'd success His sons Mathias Judas and the rest Did scowre their country and their foes supprest SECT III. The Martyrdom of the Maccabees under the same Antiochus ONias acts with a religious care His High-priests office and may therefore fear Degrading nay Antiochus is bent To turn him out the moving Argument Drawn from the Justness of Onias cause Subjects Onias to th' Imperious Laws Of wilfull Tyranny by whose compunction This good man leaves his Sacerdotal function For one that least deserved it no other Might take it up but his false-hearted brother VVho now but Jason Jason is the man Must drive on the design Jason began To force the people to renounce the true And old Religion to embrace a new T' abjure their Temples to extruct them baths To quit their beaten and accustom'd pathes For prosecution of more choice delights And abrogate their ceremonial Rites To drink in Greekish customes and betimes Train up their striplings to unlawful cimes But mark th' event a sin-provoked God Doth flame in fury making them a rod Whose Laws were studiously observ'd to scourge Those Mimick emulators who would urge So good a God their friends become their foes T' inflict on them innumerable woes For an edict is forthwith by the King Set forth and sealed with his Royal Ring The sence is this Whoever of the Jews Or Hierosolymitanes refuse To offer up a Sacrifice unto The gods he without any more ado Besides those beatings he was like to feel Should have his members Racked on a wheel Antiochus perceiving this Edict VVas little prevalent although so strict So rigorous but that a many chose Rather to die then their Religion lose He took th' advantage of an em'nent place And summoning the Jews his graceless Grace Caus'd sacrific'd swines flesh be given about To ev'ry man Amongst the mixed rout Stood Eleazar honor'd for his age Reverend Pious Vertuous and sage In whom the graces all in one combin'd Indeed he had an heaven-enamel'd mind To whom Antiochus doth break the chains Of silence thus Old man avoid those pains VVait on the obstinate for once b'advis'd By me and eat what here is sacrific'd Cherish thy rev'rend age and do not scorne The benefit of life what though th' art born A Jew yet eat no wise man will refuse That meat which nature hath ordain'd for use VVhy should this beast be more abominable Then other beasts canst tell sure th' art not able VVhy was it made if not to be injoy'd And gifts unus'd what are those gifts but voy'd Admit your Laws are just yet may coaction Excuse thee 't is no voluntary action To whom this Nestor whose undaunted brest VVas flam'd with zeal an answer thus exprest We O Antiochus love not vain shows But true Religion nor Racks nor blows chains Nor brest all gor'd with darts hands worn with Nor ease exchanged for a thousand pains Famine nor sword nor all should make us smother Our lov'd Religion to embrace another Know then Proud King I nothing weigh thy threats As to profane my lips with profane meats I le joy to suffer for a righteous cause Rather then violate those Heav'n-made Laws 'T is but a death at most if I fulfil not Thy will and disobey my God
Candid simplicity 't is sad to tell The barb'rous outrage to the Saints befel Some rack'd from place to place some toss'd and turn'd Some driven into woods and caves some burn'd About this time the Boors in arms did the And rob'd the Abbeys and Monasteries They after they had entertained bin By Mr. Spencer strip'd him to the skin Who weeping said This violence will i'th'end Bring mischiefe on your heads you do pretend The Gospel but alas how quite contraire Unto the Gospel-rules your walkings are They jeer'd him for his pains at last he 's bound Both hands and feet and in the river drown'd His gaping wounds let out a Crimson flood Which on the surface of the water stood When Wolfgang Scuch was asked if his woe He would have be abridg'd heanswer'd No God which hath hitherto upheld my head Will not forsake me in my greatest need No no he will not 't is a happy flame Which lights to heaven thrice blessed be his name George Carpenter b'ing cast into the fire Fulfill'd his Christian bretherens desire In giving them a signe of his true faith Cry'd Jesus Jesus â—ill â—e lost his breath Our Leonard Keyser also at the stake Said I 'm thine save me Lord for thy Truths sake His willing spir't impatient of the flame Went up to heaven whence at first it came A cruel Bishop in Hungaria took A godly minister who could not brook Erroneous wayes and Hares Geese Hens he tide His naked body with on ev'ry side Being by set-on dogs and bloody hounds All rent and torn he died of his wounds But God is Just the Bishop that so acted His cruel part did forthwith fall distracted His hair by handfulls from his head did rend And raving made a miserable end SECT XXV The Persecution of the Church in the Low-Countries THere was in Holland a religious Dame Called Wendelmuta she for Christ's name Was sent to prison where she must be kept Till the next Sessions her kinde kindred wept And said thus Ah! why doft thou not conceal What thou believ'st but madly thus reveal Thy secret thoughts be more reserv'd thereby Thou 'lt life prolong To whom she did reply You know not what you say the heart alone Believes to righteousness confession Unto salvation with the tongue is made She burn'd her spirit did the heav'ns invade George Scherter a Divine passing along Tow'rd execution to the gazing throng Delivered these words That you may know I die-a Christian I a signe will show His head cut off he turned on his back And cross'd his arms and legs by which aspect Many believe the Gospel whom alive They bury drown or into exile drive In Colen Holland Suevia Lovain The godly well-disposed part was slain Some lost their heads in Flanders some were sent Into perpetual imprisonment Two hundred Saints in Artâ—ïs Brabant Were made away with not a few at Gaunt At Delden two young Virgins well-descended For their frequenting Sermons apprehended Examin'd and condemn'd must both partake Of Martyrdom and suffer at the stake But after death the bodies of them both Remained white the fire to hurt them loth At Antwerp one Christopher Fabri's brains Are beat cut with a hammer Sev'ral pains Afflict the innocent these bear great loads Those are companions to Frogs and Toads One Nicholas and Austine with their wives At Dormick apprehended lost their lives When Nicholas did hear a Captain swear He said Hath Christ done ought that thus you tear His name in pices rending life and limb Pray vent your malice upon me not him B'ing silenc'd at the stake Thwarting their will He cry'd O Charles wilt thou be hardned still With that a souldier gave him a great blow He thus Ah miserable people know God's word 's too good for you the Fryars cry'd A Devil a Devil with David he reply'd Depart ye workers of iniquity Depart depart my God hath heard the cry My weeping voice hath made his holy name Be prais'd so said he vanish'd in the flame At Dormick Bert'rand trod the Cake about For which distongu'd he yet on God call'd out A ball is thrust into the mouth of him He 's burnt and 's ashes in the river swim At Lile for three years space in woods and caves God's word was preached Satan and his slaves Took the advantage of the silent night So finde their meetings finding none they light On Robert Oquir's house his wife his sons And he rejoyce in tribulations Bound at the stake their spirits they commend To God and make a comfortable end The Persecution of the Duke de Alva in the Netherlands THe Gospel shining in the Netherlands Philip that wore the Spanish crown commands The Duke de Alva with a warlike train To slay Professors and with might and main Promote the Romish Doctrin to rebuke Nobles and Commons too the desep'rate Duke Scarce breath'd but on them violently pour'd Matrons he ravished and Maids deflour'd Before their husbands and their parents eyes Or put them unto worser cruelties He on a time at his own Table sate Boasted his diligence t'eradicate Heret'cal weeds for that besides the slain During the war in six years space a train Of more then eighteen thousand persons were By him deliv'red to the hangmans care Don Frederick his son kindely receiv'd By Zutphen Bourgers cruelly bereav'd The poor inhabitants of all their lives Hang'd drown'd brain'd very infants virgins wives Then marched he to Naerden and the town All the ind wellers kill'd he bart'red down At Harlem he three hundered Walloons Beheads five hundred Bourgers and Dragoons He hangs or drowns all th' English and the Scorts To lose their heads in gen'ral he alots The wounded and diseas'd are killed all Before the entrance to the Hospital John Herwin said unto the gazing throng As he to execution went along See what rewards the wicked world do give Christ his poor servants for whilst I did live A drunkard 's life and play'd at Cards and Dice A foe to Vertue and a friend to Vice O then I liv'd at ease and was a stranger To bonds and fetters nay was out of danger Of suffering for the Truth yonder they cry A Boon Companion goes who then but I No sooner did I seek my God but lo This fawning friend became a frowning foe Yet this doth not and so I hope shall never Discourage me one jot I must persever In what is good and follow Christ the faster The servant is not better then his master His soul refreshed then with Gileads Balm To sing he did begin the thirtieth Psalm With lift-up heart but an impatient Frier Thus interrupted him Avoid the fire Oh John and turn yet you have time and space Then disregarding Martyr turn'd his face Another way then some that were in sight Retorted this Turn thou thou hypocrite Herwin sung on until his Psalm was ended The Fryer then Good people ben't offended To hear the clamour of this Her'ticks song Her'tick thou Bala'mite thou hold
don 't hear that false Prophet's talk Ah! naughty Hypocrite dar'st thou produce A Scripture-proof for so profane a use I have heard your already-quoted text But look immediately what follows next Do this for my Remembrance then streight-way The Priest stood still not knowing what to say The fire was kindled Rawlins in the flame Bathed his aged hands till in the same The sinews shrunk the fat drop'd out and all That while he cried out Lord let my fall Mount me to thee Receive this soul of mine O Lord receiv't his spirit he did resign It was observ'd of him that whereas through Infirmity of age he round did go And with dejected countenance he now Went bolt upright t' his death his smoother brow As clear as day his speeches and behaviour Of courage vigour very well did favour And now the Queen restor'd the Abbey-lands She late possess'd A Pope-sent Bull commands All do the like but none therein was seen T' obey the Pope or imitate the Queen A Popish Priest at Crondale impious fool Boasted that he had bin with Card'nal Pool Who cleans'd him from his sins the Bull sent o're He prais'd fell down and never spake word more Some burn'd because they on their necks did tie This Motto Fear God fly Idolatry George Marsh one William Flower John Cardmaker John Simpson and John Warne were each partaker Of life by suff'ring death climb'd heavens story Death is the ladder to immortal glory Bonner for many things John Ardly accus'd To whom John Ardly such expressions us'd My Lord not you nor any of your breed Are of the true Catholick Church indeed Your faith is false and when you most depend Upon it it will fail you in the end You have shed much too much innocuous blood And are not weary yet Can this be good Were ev'ry hair upon my head a man So many lives I 'd part with rather than Lose the opinion I am in so said In Essex burnt a joyful end he made One Thomas Hauks a Courtier comly tall VVas greatly admired and belov'd of all For his rare qualities in Edward's dayes But in Queen Maries Reign Religion's rayes Waxing more dull he left the Court home went And practis'd Godliness t' his great content While thus he staid at home a son he got But in the Popish way baptiz'd it not By using oil cream spittle salt absurd Nowhere enjoyned in the holy Word Told Bonner so the Bishop left him than A while and Mr. Darbisher began You are too curious and on none will look Unless your little pretty God's good book Sir is not that sufficient to save Yes but not to instruct that I may have Salvation to my God I humbly sue As for instruction that I leave to you Shall your child be baptiz'd you not look o're I had such councel given me before Why we can have it done if we be bent True but you never shall with my consent I 'd Gladly do thee good save thee from hell I am thy pasture and would teach thee well I 'll stand to what I said you shall not finde My resolutions waver like the winde I am the bread of life the Scripture saith And this bread is my flesh is this thy faith 'T is so I will believe what Scriptures say Well let 's to Evensong H. There I 'll not pray I 'm best when furthest off from such resort And so he walked forth into the Court What thinke you of the Altar's Sacrament Excuse me for I nere knew what it meant But we will make you know 't when we begin Faggots shall make you do'â— H. Faggots a pin For all your faggots you no more can do Then God permits you and no further go Much more was said in prison he at last Was for his bold judicious answers cast Nor could that move him in the least to doubt What 's bred in the bone will not eas'ly out Being his sentence read to Coxshal sent In Essex he exhorted as he went His friends and at the stake as he had spoken That he would do he gave to them a token By lifting up his hands all in a flame Above his head and clapping of the same To let them understand that he was able To ' bide the pain not too intolerable Then gave the people an unusual shout And so this blessed Lamp all burnt went out One Thomas Watts in Essex who defended The truth so much oppos'd was apprehended Condemn'd and after sent to Chilm'ford where The little time he had he spent in pray'r Come to his wife and his six child'ren small He said Wife and my hopeful branches all I now must leave you all henceforth therefore Alas I cannot know you any more As unto me at first the Lord did send you So I unto the Lord do recommend you Him I command you to obey and fear As long as life shall last see you beware Of this loath'd papistry which I withstood And shall against it give my dearest blood By God's grace by and by Let not the number Of bleeding Saints discourage or incumber Your active faith and move you to relent But thereby take occasion to be bent For greater service in Jehovah's fight 'T is happy dying for a cause that 's right I do not doubt nor have you cause to fear But he which strikes will give you strength to bear He 'll be unto the widdow in distress Husband and father to the fatherless Farewel said he farewel gave each a kiss So past he through the fi'ry blaze to bliss One Bainford Osmund Osborne overturn'd Unto the Sec'lar power in Essex burn'd Mr. John Bradford and John Leafe did climbe Up fiety stairs to heaven about this time The next day after at Maidstone in Kent One Mr. Minge dy'd in imsprisonment Mr. John Bland God's faithful Minister Was for the truth a constant sufferer John Frankish Humphry Middleton two men Of admirable worth were martyr'd then John Fettie's child such cruel whippings feels That the gore blood ran down about its heels The father put in the tormenting stocks Must see his Lamb misus'd O hearts of rocks One Nicholas Sheterden being brought Him Doctor Harpsfield asked what he thought That passage This my Body is should mean Said Sheterden This cannot well be seen By carnal eyes thus much I gather thence It must be taken in a spirituall sence Else when This Cup 's my blood's so understood The substance of the Cup must needs be blood Nicholas Hall Christopher Waide Joan Beach John Harpool Marg'ry Boley who did reach At the despised truth and Popery spun'd Condemn'd at Rochester in Kent were burn'd Dirick Carver a Surrey Gentleman Call'd to the stake unto his God began His servent pray'r which having done he strip'd Himself and so into the barrel skip'd They threw his book in also but in vain For to the throng he flung it out again I charge you
miss'd their mark One Thomas Whittle Minister accus'd By Bonner was most wickedly misus'd Who fell upon him beat him with his fists And him enclos'd within a close rooms lifts There said he though I did on the bare ground lie Two nights I prais'd be God slep'd very soundly He Joan Warne Is'bel Foster Thomas Brown John Went Iobn Tudson Bartlet Green lay down Their lives together did at Smithfield stake Of heaven-prepared joys for to partake The last of which going to bear the yoke Cheerfully this repeated Dystich spoke Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutie Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ who art my God In thee for mine abode With thee I onely hope Vnder thy Conduct I Seek the truth and deny The falsi-loquious Pope He was a man exceeding charitable Unto the poor so far as he was able Nor did he love his modesty was such Pop'lar applause though he deserved much His beatings he conceal'd till neer his end When he declar'd it to a bosome-friend Anne Albright Agnes Snoth Joan Catmer Sole At Canterbury were burnt to a coal Good Doctor Cranmer then of Canterbury Archbishop also past the fi'ry fury At Salsbury on William Coberly John Spicer and John Mandrel so did die Richard and Thomas Spurge Tims Cavel Drake Ambrose all Essex-men fell at the stake Master Tims many Godly letters sent T' his friends not long before his life was spent In one he us'd these passages I praise The Lord for helping you to minde his wayes Consider I beseech you what of late Fell from my lips so shall we meet in state I 'm going to the Bishops coal-house now And hope to go to heaven e're long do you Hie after me I have a great while tarri'd For you but seeing y' are not yet prepared I 'll stay no longer you shall finde me blest And singing Holy Holy Lord of Rest At my race end now therefore my dear hearts Make hast and loyter not lest light departs And yee who with the foolish Virgins stay Be with the foolish Virgins turn'd away And now in witness that I have not taught Contrary to the truth revealed ought My blood-writ name I send you for a Test That I will seal my Doctrine with the rest So fare you well and God defend you then From Antichrist and his false Priests Amen Use constancy in pray'r with faith require And gain the fulness of your choice desire John Hullier formerly an Eaton Sholar At Ely by his patience conqu'red dolour Hugh Lavrock John Ap-Rice this blind that lame Told Bishop Bonner that he laws did frame To take mens lives away making the Queen His hangman Bonner burn'd them out of spleen At Stratford-Bow In Litchfield Colchester Gloster and Leister many burned were One Mr. Julines Palmer and some more At Newb'ry dy'd One Sharp at Bristol bore The flames with joy In Darby town Joan Waste Born blind did in the fire breath out her last Sir John Cheek for the truths sake underwent In London-Tow'r a sore imprisonment A new Commission from the King and Queen Like Dracoes laws came forth that they which lean T' his Holiness the Pope should raise the fire Of Persecution yet a little higher By means where of throughout the Kingdoms quarters Prisons were stuff'd with Saints fires grac'd with Martyrs First to begin with Colchester where they Apprended three and twenty in one day And burnt the major part Margaret Hyde With Agnes Standly stak'd at Smithfield dy'd They Stephen Gratwick William Moraunt King Iato St. Georges field in Southwark bring And burn together In the Diocess Of Canterbury many did profess The truth and suffered In Lewis town Ten faithful servants in one fire laid down Their lives for Christ one of them Richard Woodman Betraid was b'his father and brother good man Eliz'beth Cooper Simon Millar too At Norwich fir'd Eliz'beth cry'd Ho ho And shrunk a little Simon Millar said Reaching his hand out to her What affraid Raise up your spirits in the Lord be strong And cheerful for these pains are of no long Continuance Good sister by and by We 'll take our supper with alacrity This so becalm'd her heart she through-stitch run The work she had so happily begun And so committing their blest souls to God They clim'd to heaven death being under trod Mrs. Joyce Lewis a gentlewoman born Accuted and condemn'd contemn'd with scorn Death's rigid brow my Christ is fair when him I see said she death looks not half so grim Urg'd to confess before her end begins She said to God she had confess'd her sins And he had pardon'd them the Priest befool'd Told her e're long her courage would be cool'd At stake the Mass she pray'd against cry'd then The crowd and Sheriffe himself aloud Amen Taking a cup of drink Here here 's to all That love the truth and wish proud Babel's fall Her friends do pledge her and some others too For which fact penance many undergo Bound at the stake her smiling ruddy face Made all spectators pitying her case Go with wet eyes much grieving for her woes Inflicted on her by tyran'cal foes She striv'd nor strugled when the fire rag'd most But with her lift-up hands gave up the ghost Ralph Allerton and Richard Roth With James Astoo and his wife dyed in the flames At Islington as did at Colchester Margaret Thurstone and Agnes Bongier John Noyes a godly Shoo-maker who liv'd At Laxfield in Suffolk sentence receiv'd There to burn'd the people in the town Put out their fiers and no house but one And that discov'red by the Chimnies smoak Had some the Sheriffe and 's Officers in broke So got a coal John Noys fell down and pray'd And being bound unto the stake he said Fear not the bodies killer but him who Can kill thee damne thee soul and body too Seeing his sister weep he thus begins Weep not for me but weep you for your sins He took a faggot up gave it a kiss And said Did I e're think to come to this Blessed be God that ever I was born Then spake he to the people Of bread-corn They tell you they can make God but beleive Them not at all nor their false truths receive Pray bear me witness I expect salvation Not by mine own good works but Christ his passion The fire was kindled and his last-spoke word Was Christ have mercy O have mercy Lord. Within the Diocess of Chichester Many accus'd condemn'd and burned were Hillingdal Sparrow and one Gibson dy'd In Smithfield flames John Rough Minister try'd With Marg'ret Mearing neer about this time Were also burned for the self-same crime One Cuthbert Sympson Deacon in one day Though rack'd no less then thrice would not betray The Congregation lying in the stocks At midnight one whom he well heard unlocks The coal-house doors and though no candles light Nor fire's he saw yet his amazed sight Splendour beheld he that came