way look not back have the Eye of your heart fixed upon God and so run that you may get hold of it cast away all your Worldly Pelf and Worldly respects as the favour of Friends the fear of men sensual Affâ—ction respect of Person Honour Praise Shame Rebuke Wealth Poverty Riches Lands Possessions carnal Fathers and Mothers Wife and Children with the love of your own selves and in respect of that Heavenly treasure you look for let all these be denied and utterly refused of you so that in no condition they do abate your zeal or quench your Love towards God in this case make no account of them but rather repute them as vile in comparison of Everlasting life away with them as Thorns that cheak the Heavenly Seed of the Gospel where they be suffered to grow they are burthens of the Flesh which encumber the Soul exchâ—â—ge thâ—â— therefore I beseech you for advantage doth not he gain that findeth Heavenly and immortal treasure for Earthly and corruptible Riches looseth that man any thing which of his carnal Father and Mother is forsaken when therefore he is received of God the Father to be his Child and Heir in Christ Heavenly for Earthly for Mortal Immortal for transistory things permanant is great gains to a Christian Conscience Therefore as I began I exhort you in the Lord not to be afraid shrink not my Brethren mistrust not God be of good comfort rejoyce in the Lord hold fast your Faith and continue to the end deny the World and take up the Cross and follow him which is your Lead man and is gone before if you suffer with him you shall reign with him What way can you glorifie the Name of your Heavenly Father better then by suffering death for his Sons sake What a Spectacle shall it be to the World to behold so godly a fellowship as you Servants of God in so just a Quarrel as the Gospel of Christ is with so pure a Conscience so strong a Faith and so lively a hope to offer your selves to suffer most cruel Torments at the hands of Gods Enenies and so to end your daies in Peace to receive in the resurrection of the Righteous life Everlasting Be strong therefore in your Battel the Lord God is on your side and his Truth is your cause and against you be none but the Enemies of the Cross of Christ as the Serpent and his Seed the Dragon with his Tail the marked man of the Beast the Off-pring of the Pharisees the Congregation Malignant the Generation of Vipers and Murtherers as their Father the Devil hath been from the beginning To conclude such are they as the Lord God hath alwayes abhorred and in all Ages resisted and overthrown God from whom nothing is hid knoweth what they are he that searcheth the hearts of men he hath found out them to be crafty subtle full of Poyson Proud Disdainfull Stiff-necked Devourers Ravenours and Barkers against the Truth filthy and shameless and therefore doth the Spirit of God by the Mouthes of his holy Prophets and Apostles call them by the names of Foxes Serpents Cockatrices Lyons Leopards Bulls Bears Wolves Dogs Swine Beasts teaching us thereby to understand that their natural inclination is to deceive poyson and destroy as much as in them lyeth the faithfull and Elect of God but the Lord with his right Arm shall defend his little Flock against the whole rabblerment of these Worldlings which have conspired against him he hath numbered all the hairs of his Childens Heads so that not one of them shall perish without his Fatherly will he keepeth the Sparrows much more will he preserve them whom he hath purchased with the Blood of the Immaculate Lamb he will keep them until the hour appointed wherein the Name of God shall be glorified in his Saints in the mean time let them work their wills let them Envy let them Malign let them Blasphem let them Curse Ban Betray Whip Scourge Hang and Burn for by this means God will try his Elect as Gold in the Furnance and by these Fruits shall they also bring themselves to be known what they be for all their Sheep skins for as he that in suffering patiently for the Gospel of God is thereby known to be of Christ even so also is the Persecutor of him known to be a member of Anti-christ Besides this their extream cruelty shall be a means the sooner to provoke God to take pity upon his Servants and to destroy them that so Tyranniously entreat his People as we may learn by the Histories as well in the Bondage of Israel under Pharaoh in Eygpt as also in the miserable Captivity of Judas in Babylon where when the People of God were in most extream thraldom then did the Lord streath forth his mighty Power to deliver his Servants though God for a time suffered them to be exalted in their own pride yet shall they not escape his Vengeance To conclude my Brethren I commit you to God and the Power of his Word which is able to establish you in all Truth his Spirit be with you and work alway that ye may be mindfull of your duties towards him whose ye are both Body and Soul whom see that ye Love Serve Dread and Obey above all worldly Powers and for nothing under the Heavens defile your Conscience before God dissemble not with his Word God will not be mocked Nay they that dissemble with him deceive themselves such shall the Lord deny and cast out at the last day such I say as bear two faces in one hood such as play on both hands such as deny the known Truth such as obstinately rebel against him all such with their partakers shall the Lord destroy God defend you from all such and make you perfect unto the end your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy This aforesaid Robert Smith the valiant and constant Martyr of Christ thus replenished as you have read with the fortitude of Gods Spirit was condemned at London by Bishop Bonner the 12th day of the Moneth called July and suffered Death at Uxbridge the Eighth day of the Moneth called August Anno 1555. A Letter sent to his Wife Anne Smith The God and Father eternal which brought again from death our Lord Jesus Christ keep thee dear Wife now and ever Amen and all thy Parents and Friends I praise God for his Mercy I am in the same state that ye left me in rather better then worse looking daily for the living God before whom I hunger full sore to appear and receive the Glory of which I trust thou art willing to be a partaker I give God most hearty thanks therefore desiring thee of all loves to stand in that Faith which thou hast received and let no man take away the Seed that Almighty God hath sown in thee but lay hands of Everlasting Life which shall ever abide when both the Earth and all earthly Friends shall perish desiring them also to receive thankfully our
sin against the Child and ye would not hear They confess the evil they had done against Ioseph therefore behold his blood is required and they knew not that Joseph understood them for he speak unto them by an Interpreter and he turned himself about from them and wept and returned to them again and communed with them and took from them Simeon the chiefest of them who consented to sell him and cast him into Prison and now being dismissed they carried away their Corn and with it the Money that they had payed for it being conveyed into their Sacks by the secret appointment of Joseph they tell their Father Jacob all that happened unto them They tell their Father what happened and withal declared unto him the necessity that laid upon them of carrying there Younger Brother Benjamin into Aegypt perswading him by all means to let him go but Jacob their Father said unto them He was loath to part with Benjamin but being press with Famine let him go Me have ye bereaved of my Children Joseph is not and Simeon is not and you will take away Benjamin all these things are against me but Jacob pressed with Famine sent again his Sons and with them his Son Benjamin furnished with double Money and other Presents to Joseph to buy more Corn and they at their return were courteously entertained year of the world 2298 for when Joseph saw Benjamin with them he said to the Ruler of his House Bring these men home and slay and make ready for these men shall dine with me at Noon And the man did as Joseph bad Ioseph Entertains them and the man brought the men into Josephs House and the men were affraid because they were brought into Josephs House and they said Because of the Money that was returned in our Sacks the first time are we brought in that he may seek Occasion against us but the Steward comforted them saying Peace be unto you fear not your God and the God of your Fathers hath given you Treasure in your Sacks I had your Money and he brought Simeon out unto them And Joseph asked them of their welfare saying Is your Father well the old man of whom you spake is he yet alive and they answered Thy Servant our Father is in good health he is yet alive When he saw his Benjamin his Mothers Son he made haste for his Bowels did yern upon his Brother and he sought where to weep and he entered into his Chamber and wept there and after they had eaten he commanded the Steward of his House to fill their Sacks with Food and to put a silver Cup in the Sacks mouth of the youngest His Contrivance to stay his Brethren and when they were gone Joseph sent after them and caused them to be stopt for taking away his Cup which Crime they endeavoured to put of by shewing how truly they ment by bringing again the Money which they found in their Sacks when they came home offering themselves to die or to be his Bondslaves if any such thing could be proved against them but in the end the Cup being found with Benjamin and they brought back to Joseph they all yeilded themselves to him for his bondslaves which when he refused Judâ—h humbly supplicates Joseph saying He would have none but him with whom the Cup was found Judah then humbly offered himself to serve him in Benjamins stead saying When I come to thy Servant my Father and the Lad be not with us seeing that his life is bound up in the Lads life it shall come to pass that when he seeth that the Lad is not with us that he will die and thy Servants shall bring down the gray Hairs of thy Servant our Father with Sorrow to the Grave Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him and he cryed Cause every man to go out from me Joseph maker himself known 〈◊〉 his Brethren and there stood no man with them while Joseph made himself known unto his Brethren and he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the House of Pharaoh heard and Joseph said unto his Brethren I am Joseph doth my Father yet live And his Brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his Presence and Joseph said unto his Brethren Come neer to me I pray you and they came neer and he said I am Joseph your Brother whom ye sold into Egypt and seeing them troubled he comforted them by shewing how that act of theirs was by the Providence of God And he said unto them â—â—er he and commâ—â—ed chaâ—â— he sends for his Father Haste ye and go up to my Father and say unto him Thus saith thy son Joseph God hath made me Lord of all Eygpt Come down unto me tarry not and thou shalt dwell in the Land of Goshen and thou shalt be neer unto me thou and thy Children and thy Childrens Children and thy Flocks and thy Herds and all that thou hast and there will I nourish thee for there are yet five years of Famine and he fell upon his Brother Benjamin's Neck and Benjamin wept upon his Neck moreover he kissed all his Brethren and wept upon them so he sent his Brethren away and they told Jacob all the words of Joseph and when he saw the Waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him the Spirit of Jacob their Father revived When the news was bought to Jacob be revived and Israel said it is enough Joseph my Son is yet alive I will go and see him before I die and God spake unto Israel saying I am God the God of thy Father fear not to down into Egypt for I will there make of thee a great Nation I will go down with thee into Egypt and I will surely bring thee up again and Jacob was one hundred and thirty years old when he went down into Egypt Joseph letting Pharaoh know of the arrival of his Kindred in Egypt Joseph brings five of his Brethren and Father before Pharaoh brought his Father and five of his Brethren into his presence and having communed with him assigned them a fitting place in the Land of Goshen where they were provided of all necessaries by Joseph The Book of Genesis end with the death of Joseph containing the the Story of Two thousand three hundred sixty nine years space which Book that it was written by Moses himself is the opinion of the Talmudists in their Baba-bathra Lib. I. At this time lived Job year of the world 2369 a man of whom it is recorded that he was a man of a perfect and upright heart and one that feared God and eschewed evil and imbraced the Knowledge fo the true God The time when Job lived and all righteousness rich in Substance and the more noted for that neither the enjoyment of those riches corrupted nor the loss of them depraved him in his way for whenas first being spoiled of his Goods by Satan he was
and with all his Soul and he likewise cleansed away the Abominations from the People and again stirred them up to serve the Lord their God and all his dayes they departed not from following the Lord God of their Fathers Nero King of Aegypt year of the world 3394 by Gods Command went against the King of Assyria who at that time made War upon him He unadvisedly assisted the King of Egypt was slain 2 Kings 23.29 2 Chro. 35.20 21. Josiah unadvisedly engaging in this War was slain and now this good King being taken out of the World a World of Miseries grew on upon it and such Lamentations there was that it grew almost a common proverb the Lamentation of Hadadrimon in the Valley of Megiddo His loss gâ—â—â—â—ly â—amenâ—d by all for not only the whole People living wonderfully bewailing the death of Josiah but the Ages following were sencible of the loss of him and the Prophet Ieremiah in rememberance thereof wrote his mournful Book of Lamentations Especiaâ—â—y by the Prophet Jeriemiah wherein bewailing the Calamities which were shortly to befal the People as if he had then presently beheld them using these words The Breath of our Nostrils the ancinted of the Lord is taken in their pits of whom we said under the shaddow of his Wings we shall live among the Heathen After the death of Josiah his Youngest Son was anointed King who presently fell to doing that which was evil in the sight of God His Son walked not in the steps of his Pather but did eâ—il but Nero King of Egypt removed him after he had reigned three Moneths and made Eliakim his Elder Brother King in his room changing his name into Jehojakim that thereby he might testifie to the World that he ascribed the Victory by him gotten against the Assyrians to the Lord only by whom he professed he was formerly sent against them In the Beginning of this Kings reign Jeremiah commanded by God year of the world 3395 went and stood in the Court of the Temple and there exhorted the people to repentance and when they would not Jeremiah exhortes the people he denounced the Judgment of God against them saying that that House should become as Shilo and that City should be cursed among all the Nations of the Earth whereupon he was presently apprehended by the Priests and Prophets and all the people then in the Court and accused as a man worthy of death but was acquitted and set at Liberty by the publick Judgment of the Princes and Elders Vriahs Prophesie He is put to death At this time also Uriah prophesied against Jerusalem and the Land of Juda agreeable to the sayings of the Prophet Jeremiah for which the King put him to death by the Sword and threw his Carcass among the vilest Sepulchers of the comon people yet Ahikam who had formerly been a man of great Authority with King Josiah appeared so much in the behalf of the Prophet Jeremiah that he was not delivered over into the hands of the people to be put to death at that time To these might be added the Prophet Habbakuk to whom when he complained of the stubornness of the Jews God made this answer Habbahkuks prophesie That he would shortly send the Chaldeans into Juda and further declared his purpose concerning this matter in these words I will do a work in your dayes which you will not believe when it shall be told unto you for behold I will stir up the Chaldeans a fierce Nation and a swift which shall walk through the breadth of the Land which is none of theirs as their own Inheritance Jeremiah reproves the Jews In the fourth year of this King Jehojakim the Prophet Jeremiah reproved the Jews for not hearkning to the Word of the Lord which he had spoken unto them from time to time and for not regarding the Exhortations of the Prophets which the Lord had sent unto them and then again told them of the coming of Nebuchadnezar upon them He prophesies of their Captivity and of their being carried away Captives to Babylon and that Captivity to last seventy years long and during the seventy years time of Captivity Daniel prophesied of the coming of the Messiah who should bring in the Law of Everlasting Righteousness and put an end to the Levitical Sacrifices Jehojakim being taken Prisoner by the Chaldeans year of the world 3405 was thrown out without burial that is was buried like an Ass his Carcass being tugged and drawn out without the Gates of Jerusalem according as was foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah though in referance to the common course in nature he also may be said to have slept with his Fathers as he is 2 Kings 24.6 After him came his Son Jehoiachin who was also called Jeconias and reigned three Moneths and ten dayes in Jerusalem who also did evil in the sight of the Lord as his Father had done before him against whom the Lord by his Prophet Jeremiah declared a most dreadful Decree Ieremiahs decree against Ichoiachin He pronounced a Wo against the wicked Pastors saying O Earth Earth Earth hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord write ye this man Childless a man that shall not prosper in his dayes for no man of his Seed shall prosper sitting upon the Throne of David and ruling any more in Juda and pronounced a wo to the Pastors that scattered the Sheep and that had not fed nor visited the People and therefore the Lord would Visit them for the evil of their doing and that he would gather the Remnant of his Flock and would set up Shepherds over them that should feed them and that he would raise unto David a righteous Branch that should execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth and that in his day Juda should be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his Name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness and in the fence of this the Prophet cryed out Mine heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my Bones shake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom Wine hath overcome Isaiahs Prophets of Christ because of the Lord and because of the Word of his Holiness And Esaiah the Prophet had a true sight of the coming of the Blessed Messiah for he said The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to Preach good tydings unto the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of Vengence of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Sion to give unto them Beauty for Ashes the oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness that they might be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that be
either to deny the same or confirm it with their blood the Story whereof was at large set forth by Francis Ensenes in Latine who himself was a Prisoner at the same time in Brussels for the Truth Sake Martin Hoeurblock Martyr Martin Hoeurblock Fishmonger in Gaint 1545. being converted to the Truth from the Superstitious Idolatry of the Papists and a great change wrought in him having all his time till then lived a wicked and a fleshly life was a wonder to his Neighbours to see such a sudden change the Franciscan Friars who before knew him and remembring how beneficial he had been to them now seeing him so altered and taking notice of his visiting the Prisoners and comforting them in Persecution and confirming them that went to the Fire they soon caused him to be detected and imprisoned and with grievous and sharp Torments would have constrained him to utter more of the same Religion to whom he answered That if they could prove by the Scripture that his detecting and accusing of his Brethren whom they would afflict with the like Torments were not against the Law of God then he would not refuse to prefer the honour of God before the safegard of his Brethren he was soon after had to the Council in Flanders where the Causes laid against him were the Sacrament Purgatory c. for which he was condemned and burn at Gaunt all his goods being Confiscate Nicholas and Francis Thiesten Martyrs Nicholas and Francis Thiesten Anno 1545. for standing firm in the Truth and bearing witness against the Church of Rome and their Auriculer Confession Purgatory c. were condemned to be burnt and coming to the place of Execution for exhorting the People they put Wooden-gags in their Mouths when they were fastned to the Stake they patiently endured the Fire the Mother of these two men was for her stedfastness to the Truth condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Adrian Tayler and Marion his wife Martyr Adrian Tayler and Marion his wife of Dornick Anno 1545. by reason of the Emperors decree at Worms against the Lutherans were apprehended and persecuted Adrian not so strang as a man for fear gave back and was but only beheated the wife stronger then a Woman withstood their threats and abode the uttermost and being inclosed in an Iron grate formed in shape of a Pasty was laid in the Earth and buried quick when the Adversaries first told her that her Husband had relented she believed them not but as she was going to the place where she was to die passing by the Tower where he was she called to him to take her leave but he was gone before Peter Bruly Martyrs Peter Bruly of Stratsburge at the earnest request of faithful Brethren went down to visit the Lower Counties about Artois which the Magistrates of Dornick hearing shot the gates of the Town and made search for him three days he was privately let down the Wall in the night by a basket and as he was let down into the Ditch ready to take his way one of them which let him down leaning over the wall to bid him farewel caused unawares a stone to slip out of the wall which falling upon him brake his Leg by reason whereof he was heard of the watchmen complaining of his wound and so was taken So long as he remained in Prison he ceased not to preach the Truth to all that came unto him he wrote his own Confession and Examination and sent it to the Brethren he wrote also another Epistle to them that were in Persecution another he wrote to all the faithful another Letter he wrote to his wife the same day he was burned he remained four Months in Prison before he was sentenceed to be burnt Letters were sent from Duke Frederick of the Lant-grave to intreat for him but he was burnt before the Letters came Peter Moice Martyr Peter Moice being converted to the Truth by Peter Bruly was apprehended and let down into a deep Dungeon under the Castle-Dirch which was full of filthy Vermine the Friars coming to examine him he told them whilst he lived an ungodly life they never concerned themselves with him but now for favouring the Word of God they sought his blood being brought before the Senate he would have boldly answered to what they objected against him but they interrupted him to whom he said if you will not suffer me to answer for my self send me back to Prison among the Toads and Frogs which will not interrupt me while I talk with my God and continuing constant in the Truth was at last burnt to death Nicholas Frenchman Martyr Nicholas Frenchman having been at Geneva intending to go into England but in his way was apprehended by the Lieutenant of Dornick and being bound hands and feet was brought to Burgis and there laid in a Dungeon the Friars when they came to examin him went away in a shamefull rage saying he had a Devil and crying to the fire with him Soon after the Judges condemned him to be burnt to Ashes at which sentence giving he blessed the Lord which had counted him worthy to be a witness in the cause of his beloved Son going to the place of Execution he was threatned that if he spake they would put a wooden ball in his mouth nevertheless being at the Stake he minded not their threats but cryed out with a loud voice saying Oh Charls Charls how long shall thy heart be heardned with that one of the Souldiers gave him a blow then he said O miserable People who are not worthy to whom the Word of God should be Preached then the Friers cryed out he hath a Devil to whom he said depart from me all you Wicked for the Lord hath heard the voice of my Weeping So in the midst of the fire commended his Spirit unto God and ended this life Bertrand Le Blais Martyr Bertrand Le Blais at Dornick in the year 1555. Suffered lamentably his Torments being almost incredible that the Tyrants shewed unto him his constancy was admirable This Bertrand being a Silk-Weaver having something upon his Spirit set his House in order and desired his Wife and Brother to pray that God would establish him in his enterprise that he was going about which was upon Christ-mass day so called he went to the high place at Dornick where he took the Cake out of the Priests hands as he would have lifted it over his head at Mass and stampt it under his feet saying that he did it to shew the Glory of that God and what little power he hath at the sight hereof the People were amazed and he hardly escaped with his life it was not long before the Governor of the Castle heard of this passage who like a mad man threatned he should be an example to all posterity Bertrand being brought before him he askt him if he repented of his fact who answered no and if he had a hundred lives he could
Flesh to feed upon which opinion Christ corrected when he said The Words which I speak unto you are Spirit and Life Viccar I have found you out now I see thou art an Heretick indeed and that thou doest not believe in the Sacerament of the Altar William Hunter whereas you doubt my belief I would it were tryed whether you or I would stand fastest in our Faith Viccar Thou Heretick wouldst thou have it so tryed William Hunter In that way which you call Heresie do I serve the Lord my God I would you and I were even now tyed fast to a Stake to prove which of us would stand firmest in our Faith Viccar It shall not be so tryed No quoth William I think so for if it might I know who would soonest Recant I durst set my Foot against yours even to the death That we shall see quoth the Viccar and so departed threatning William to complain of him Shortly after according to his words he instigated one Justice Brown against William who shortly after sent for a Constable and for William's Father to come before him William being gone from home the Justice threatned his Father He would make him tell where he was or else he would send him to Prison the Old man said Would you have me seek my Son to be burned If thou bring him to me saith the Justice I will deal well enough for that matter and with flatterings and threatnings perswaded him to seek his Son out When the old man had found his Son he told him what the Justice said William told his Father I will go home with you and save you harmless what ever comes on it as soon as he came home he was apprehended by the Constable and put in the Stocks and the next day was had before the Justice Justice Brown Ah Sirrah are you come I hear say you are a Scripture-man What say you to these words where Christ saith the Bread is his Body William Hunter the Scripture saith that Christ took Bread but not that he changed it into another Substance but gave that which he took and brake that which he gave which was Bread as is evident by the Text else he should have had two Bodeis At which the Justice began to be angry and called him Naughty Boy saying Doth not Christ call the Bread his Body plainly and thou wilt not believe that the Bread is his Body after Consecration thou goest about to make Christ a Lyar. William Hunter We ought earnestly to search what the mind of Christ is in that holy Institution wherein he commendeth unto us the remembrance of his Death Passion Resurrection and coming again saying This do in remembrance of me And though Christ calls the Bread his Body so he did also say that he is a Vine a Door c. Yet is not his Body turned into Bread no more then he is turned into a Door or Vine wherefore Christ called the Bread his Body by a figure William Hunter â—ent up to Bonner At these words the Justice was enraged calling him Villain and the next day sent him and a Letter by an Officer to Bonner Bishop of London When he came before the Bishop at first the Bishop began to flatter him telling him he should have no harm for any thing he had done or said if he would be ruled by him saying further It may be thou mayest be ashamed to bear a Fagot a Recant openly of what thou hast said but if thou wilt Recant thy sayings I promise thee what thou speakst between me and thee shall go no further and thou shall go home again without any hurt so that thou wilt go to Church and continue a good Catholick W. Hunter I will not do so for all the World Then said the Bishop If you will not do so I will make you sure enough I warrant you William You can do no more then God will permit you Bishop Wilt thou not Recant indeed by no means William No never while I live Then the Bishop commanded his Men to put him in the Stocks in his Gate-house where he sate two dayes and two nights only with a Crust of brown Bread and a Cup of Water at the two dayes end the Bishop came to him and finding the Cup of Water and crust of Bread still by him upon the Stocks he said to his men take him out of the Stocks and let him Breakfast with you whereupon they took him forth of the Stocks but would not suffer him to eat with them but called him Heretick He told them He was as unwilling to be in their company as they were to be in his After Breakfast the Bishop sent for him and askt whether he would Recant He answered No he would never Recant that which he had confest before men concerning his Faith in Christ Then the Bishop sent him to Prison and commanded the Keeper to lay Irons upon him as many as he could bear and askt William how old he was He told him he was nineteen years Old Well said the Bishop you will be burnt ere you are twenty year old if you do not Recant William answered God strengthen me in his Truth and so he parted from the Bishop He continued in Prison three quarters of a year in which time he had been before the Bishop five times besides the time when he and five more were Condemned in the Consistory in Pauâ—s which was on the ninth day of the Month called February before the Seâ—â—ence was past the Bishop askt him if he would Recant but finding â—un to stand firm in his Faith said I have alwayes found thee at this Point I see no hope of reclaiming thee to the Catholick Faith but thou wilt continue a corrupt Member And then pronounced Sentence upon him how that he should go from that place to Newgate for a time and from thence to Burntwood Where said he Thou shalt be Burnt After he had Condemned the rest he called for William again and would have perswaded him to Recant saying if thou wilt Recant I will make thee a Free-man of the City and I will give thee forty Pounds to set up thy Trade with or I will make thee Steward of my House William Replyed I thank you for your great Offers if you cannot perfwade my Conscience with Scriptures I cannot find in my Heart to turn from God for the love of the World for I count all things worldly but loss and Dung in respect of the Love of Christ Then said the Bishop If thou diest in this mind thou art damned forever William answered God Judgeth righteously and justifieth them whom man condemneth unjustly Then the Bishop departed and William and the rest were sent to Newgate where they remained about a Month and then William was carried down to Burntwood where his Father and Mother coming to him hartily desired of the Lord that he might continue to the end in that good way in which he had begun counting themselves happy
fare your Lordship well from London this second of July Your Lordships loving Friends Nicholas Hare Richard Rede William Roper William Cooke An Account of the most remarkable Passages at their Examination and Executions are as followeth Elizabeth Warne Martyr Elizabeth Warne of London Widdow her Husband being not long before her death burnt for the same cause she was first apprehended at a Meeting in Bow-Lane where she with others were at prayer and was first carried to the Counter and from thence to Newgate being brought before Bonner the common Articles usally administred to the Martyrs and such as had before suffered were objected against her In the end being brought divers times before him and urged to recant she said do what you will for if I am in an Error Christ was in an Error upon which answer he condemned her as an Heretick and she was burnt at Stratford-Bow neer London about the latter end of the Month called May 1555. George Tankerfield of London Cook born in the City of York Aged about twenty seven years G. Tankerfield Martyr at his first conversion being something touched in his understanding he desired the Lord would open his Truth to him according to his Request there was wrought in him daily a further detestation of the Mass and such Idolatrous stuff so that he did abhor the same and his mind came more and more to be enlightened that at length such a Flame was kindled in him that he began not only to reprove and declare against his own former ignorant actions but exhorted others to repent and to return to the Truth but no sooner did this good thing stir in him but the bad stirred in his Adversaries against him who sent one to his House to apprehend him when the Messenger came for him he was from home but the Messenger declaring to his Wife a Lye saying that he was come for her Husband to dress a Banquet for the Lord Paget the Woman mistrusting no evil in the matter sought out her Husband and acquainted him of the business the poor man when he heard the Message said A Banquet Woman indeed it s such a Banquet as will not be very pleasent to the Flesh but Gods will be done and went home with her where he was soon apprehended and had to Newgate shortly after he was brought to Examination before Bonner where the common Articles concerning the Sacrament and Auricular Confession c. were objected against him and for refusing to recant Sentence was past against him and he was delivered to the Sheriff of Hartford-Shire and burnt at Albions upon the 26th of the Moneth called August 1555. The Sufferings and Examination of Robert Smith who Suffered for the Truth in the Month called August 1555. Robert Smith was brought to Newgate the fifâ—h of the Month called November by John Mathew yeoman of the Gâ—ard by order of the Council this Smith first served in the house of Sir Thomas Smith Knight being then Provest of Eaton from thence he was preferred to Windsor having there in the Colledge a Clerk nâ—p of ten pounds a year of stature he was tall and slender aâ—â—â—e â—â—bout many things In Religion he was fervent after he had â—â—ce â—â—â—â—d the Truth at the coming of Queen Mary to the Crown he was â—eprived of his Clerkship by her Visitors and not long after wâ—s appreheaded and brought to Examination before Bonner as here followeth written and testified with his own hand The principal heads of the first Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner written by himself About nine of the Clock in the Morning I was among the rest of my Brethren brought to the Bishops house and I first of all was brought before him into his Chamber to whom the Bishop said as followeth after he had asked my Name Bonner How long is it ago since the time that you were confessed to any Priest Smith Never since I had years of discretion for I never saw it needful neither commanded of God to come to shew my faults to any of that sinful number whom ye call Priests Bonner Thou shewest thy self even at the first chop to be a rank Heretick which being weary of painting art entred into Divinity and so fallen through thy departing from thy vocations into Heresie Smith Although I have understanding in the said Occupation yet I praise God I have had little need all my life hitherto to live by the same but have lived without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation as ye have lived in yours and yet used the same better then ever you used the Pulpit Bonner How long is it ago since you received the Sacrament of the Altar and what is your opinion in the same Smith I never received the same since I had years of discretion nor never will by Gods Grace neither do esteem the same in any point because it hath not Gods Ordinance neither in Name nor in other usage but rather is set up and erected to mock God withal Bonner Do you not believe that it is the very Body of Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary naturally substantially and really after the words of Consecration Smâ—th I shewed you before it was none of Gods Ordinances as you use it then much less to be God or any part of his Substance but only bread and wine erected to the use aforesaid yet nevertheless if ye can prove it to be the Body that ye speak of by the Word I â—ill believe it if not I will as I do account it a detestable Idol not God but contrary to God and his Truth Then after many raging words and vain Objections he said There was no remedy but I must be burned Smith Ye shall do no more unto me then ye have done to better men then either of us both but think not thereby to quench the Spirit of God neither thereby to make your matter good for your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with Blood for even the very Children have all your deeds in derision so that although ye parch up one place with Authority yet shall it break forth in forty to your shame Then after much ado and many railing sentences the Bishop said throwing away the Paper of mine Examination Well even now by my Troth even in good earnest if thou wilt go and be shriven I will tear this Paper in pieces Smith To which I answered it would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion After which Answer I was carried down to the Garden with my Goaler and there remained until my Brother Harwood was examined and then being again brought up before the said Bonner he demanded if I agreed with Harwood in his Confession upon this Articles following Bonner What say you to the Catholick Church do ye not confess there is one in Earth Smith Yesverily I believe that there is one Catholick Church or faithful Congregation which as the
wait for me for God put in my mind that they would lay wait for me at all Sea-Coast Towns as they did So when all was husht I went abroad among our Friends and Brethren and at length I went beyond the Seas both into Flanders and France but I thought the time long till I came home again I was there but three weeks but it was known among Baals Priests who could not abide it but got Warrants and searched my House for me sometimes twice in a week sometimes I went privily sometimes openly from home staying abroad two or three weeks together otherwhile living a Moneth together at home doing openly such work as I had to do and yet mine Enemies laid no hands on me till the hour was fully come and then mine own Brother according to the flesh delivered me into their hands The Examination of Richard Woodman before the Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and others Bishop What is your name My name is Richard Woodman Then said the Bishop I am sory for you you have been a man of good report and esteem in your Country till now of late therefore look to your self your Wife and Children and Friends and be ruled and think not your self wiser then all the Realm but be informed and you shall have their favour as much as ever you had Woodman My Life my Wife and my Children I love them but they are all in Gods hands and I have them as if I had them not Bishop Q. Mary An. 1557. The Sheriff told me that you were desirous to spake with me Woodman I thought meet to appeal to you because you have taken upon you to be the Physitian of our Country for many unjust things are laid to my charge and they seek my Blood and I have appealed unto you that if my blood be shed unrighteously it might be required at your hands Doctor Story Is not this a perverse Fellow dost thou think thou shalt be put to death unjustly and that thy Blood shall be required no said he and further added that he could condemn a hundred such Hereticks and threatned that he would help to rid him Then Woodman would have answered but the Bishop desired them both to give him place Bishop Well Neighbour Woodman I call you Neighbour because you are one of my Diocess and you are sent to me that I should give you spiritual counsel for I am your Spiritual Pastor therefore hear what I say unto you Woodman First I desire you to hear me a few words you have said you will give me Spiritual counsel are you sure you have the Spirit of God Bishop No I am not sure of that I dare not be so bold to say so Woodman Then you are like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about with every wind and unstable in all your wayes and can look for no good thing at the Lords hand yea you are neither hot nor cold and therefore God will spue you out of his Mouth Then in a fury Story said What a perverse Fellow is this he hath a Devil in him and is mad and the Bishop said He is sent to me to learn and taketh upon him to teach me Then Richard Woodman seeing their Blindness and Blasphemy it made such an impression upon him that his heart was melted and and his eyes gusht out with tears and he spoke to them after this manner The Jew's said to Christ he had a Devil and was mad as you have here said to me but I know the Servant is not above his Master and God forbid that I should learn of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Bishop Why do you think that you have the Spirit of God you boast more then ever Paul did or any of the Apostles the which is great presumption Woodman I boast not in my self but in the Gift of God as Paul did who said He verily believed that he had the Spirit of God making thereof no question 1 Cor. 7. Chichester It is not so you bely the Text. Woodman If it be not so let me be burnt to morrow Story Thou shalt not be burnt too morrow but I will promise thee thou shalt be burnt within six dayes Bishop If it be so it 's wrong Translated as it is in a thousand places more Woodman Take heed that you bely not the Translators I believe they had the fear of God more before their Eyes then you report of them but if that place be wrong translated I can prove by places enough that Paul had the Spirit of God Bishop How prove you that Woodman No man can believe that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and again we have not received the Spirit of Bondage to fear any more but we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father the same Spirit certifieth us that we are the Sons of God also John saith he that believeth not that Christ is come in the Flesh is an Anti-christ and denieth both the Father and the Son and he that believeth in God dwelleth in God and God in him Story What an Heretick is this why do you here him send him to Prison to his Fellows in the Marshalsea and they shall be dspatcht within these twelve dayes Woodman When I heard him say so I rejoyced greatly in my heart desiring God if it were his will to keep them in that mind for I expected to have been sent to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house or Lollards Tower but they sent me to the Marshalsea to my Brethren and old Prison-Fellows whereby it pleased God that the burden I looked for was something eased when they saw I rather rejoyced then feared imprisonment the Bishop said My thinks he is not afraid of the Prison Woodman No I praise the Living God Story He hath the right terms of an Heretick the living God c. I pray you be there deads Gods that you say the Living God Woodman Are you angry with me for speaking the words written in the Bible Story Bibble Babble what speakest thou of the Bible there is no such word written in all the Bible Then said Woodman I am much to blame and brought several Scriptures to prove that there was a Living God and dead Gods for David said My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyce in the living God Story My Lord I will tell you how you shall know a Heretick by his words that is they will say the Lord and we praise God and the Living God c. Woodman The Lords Name be praised from the rising of the Sun until the going down of the same also as many as fear the Lord say alwayes the Lord be praised Story My Lord this is an Old Heretick send him to Prison you will do no good on him I will leave you and go to Church
Rich and in great Authority he had the more power to Persecute he divorced many men and women for Religion he was a great Swearer and given to Women to write saith the History how many Concubines and Whores he had would be incredible but mark what Judgments the Lord brought upon him for his wickedness On a time a poor man speaking a word to him he struck him such a blow with the swingle of a staile that he presently died thereon for which as is said Berry held up his hand at the Bar. And shortly after one Alice Oxes of the Parish of Ailesham coming into his House and going into the Hall he met her and being before moved smote her with his fist whereby she was fain to be carried home and the next day was found dead in her Chamber When this Priest heard that Queen Mary was dead and that the glory of their triumph quailed the day called Sunday following he made a great Feast A Judgment of God upon a Persecutor and had one of his Concubines there present with whom he was in his Chamber after Dinner until he went to that he called his Evening-song where he Ministred Baptism and as he was going home between the Grave-Yard and his House he fell down suddainly to the ground with a heavy graon and never stirred after and thus the Judgments of God was evidently seen to be Executed upon him by all that beheld him In the same Moneth that the aforesaid three suffer'd at Norwich there was two men and one woman burnt at Colchester viz. William Harris Richard Day and Christian George In the next Moneth being the Moneth called June a short but sharp Proclamation came forth to prohibit the spreading several good Books therein condemned under the title of Heresie and Sedition laying the injunction so strickt that whosoever should be found to have any such Books in their custody after the Proclamation came forth should be reputed as Rebels and to be Executed forthwith according to the order of Martial Law Shortly after several persons were apprehended being assembled in a religious exercise in a back Close near Islington two and twenty of whom were committed to Newgate and there remained seven weeks before they were Examined seven of these two and twenty were afterwards burnt in Smithfield and six at Brainford One of them viz. Reginald Eastland being required by the Bishop to answer upon Oath to the Articles charged against him refused saying an Oath was to end strife but to begin strife said he and Oath is not lawful and therefore choosed rather to suffer what punishment they would inflict upon him then to swear the matter against himself After Bonner had past Sentence upon Roger Holland one of them that was burnt in Smithfield Roger spoke to this effect I am said he Moved by the Spirit of God to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty and after this day in this place shall there not be any put to the Tryall of Fire and Faggot and as he was speaking and exhorting the People the Bishop turned back and charged the Keeper that none should speak with him without leave being brought to the Stake he spake after this manner Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the state of Death unto the Light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of thy Saintâ— that I may sing and say holy holy holy Lord God of hosts and Lord into thy hands I commit my Spirit Lord bless these thy People and save them from Idolatry Amongst these persons apprehended at Islington some of them were Scourged or Whipped by Bonner with his own hands upon his deformed Effigies in Whipping them one made some Latine Verses the which in English are as followeth Muse not so much that Natures work is thus deformed now With belly blown and head so swoln for I shall tell you how This Canibal in three years space two hundred Martyrs slew They were his food he lov'd so blood he spared none he knew It should appear that blood feeds fat if men lye well and soft For Bonners belly waxt with blood though he seem'd to fast oft Oh bloody Beast bewail the death of those that thou hast slain In time repent since thou canst not their lives restore again Thomas Hinshaw and John Wills were taken and sent to the Cole-house and from thence Wills was had to Fulham and there was kept eight dayes in the Stocks in which time Bonner much abused him oftentimes raping him on the head with a Stick and flirting him under the Chin saying He looked down like a Thief and then had him into his Orchard and in an Arbour where he Whipt Tho. Henshaw he Whipt him first with a Willow-rod and then with a Birchenrod labouring and dealing his blows so long as his fat panch could endure with breath oftentimes the Bishop speak to Wills to this effect They call me said he bloody Bonner I would fain be rid of you a vengeance on you you have a delight in burning If I might have my will said he I would sow up your Mouthes and put you into a Sack and drown you and thus much concerning the two and twenty taken at Islington Rich Yeoman Martyr The next that suffered was Richard Yeoman after the Persecution arose at which time he was put out of his Living he was put to great straits so that he was forced to travel from place to place selling Pins and Laces to get a livelihood to maintain his Wife and Children at last was apprehended by order from one called Justice Moyle who set him in the Stocks a day and a night but having no evident matter to charge him with let him go again and returning home to Hadley Persecution against him was so hot that his Wife kept him privately a whole year in a Room lockt up all day where he carded Wool to get Bread for his Family although he was Seventy Years Old at last the Priest of the Town one Newall having intelligence of it searched his House one night and took him out of his Bed and put him in the Cage and in the Stocks until day At the same time the said Newall had caused to be put into the Stocks one John Dale and there had kept him two or three dayes for speaking to him in the time of his Executing the Romish Service and saying O Miserable Blind Guides will ye ever be Blind Leaders of the Blind Will ye never amend Will ye never see the Truth Will neither Gods Threats nor Promises enter into your Hearts VVill the Blood of Martyrs nothing mollifie you O Crooked and Perverse Generation Out of the Stocks they were both taken and bound like Thieves and set on Horse-back and their Legs bound under the Horses belly and so carried to the Goal at Bury where they were put in Irons and thrown into the lowest Dungeon where John Dale fell sick and died after he
their Souls What was amongst them preached was accordingly practiced works of Mercy and Charity were there exercised not only towards those of the Houshold of Faith but even towards them which were without so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ They ordained certain Persons who were men fearing God and approved of who went weekly from house to house to collect the Alms of such as they knew to be faithful admonishing every one how to carry themselves in their Vocations and of their duty in contributing towards the relief of the poor Saints And thus each one according to his place endeavouring to express and manifest his Faith by the Fruits thereof namely good works in a short time the Lord raised up a flourishing Meeting in this place so that they consisted of a competent number of Men Women and Children not only of the City but of the Villages nigh In the mean while Satan and his Adherance ceased not to storm and rage hereat not being able long to endure these their holy Meetings Upon the sixth of the Moneth called March about ten at night the Provest of the City with his Sergeants armed themselves to make search if they could find any met together in houses but as then there was no Assembly therefore they went to the house of Robert Ogvier and there violently entered seeking here and there for their prey they found certain Books which they carried away but he whom they principally aimed at was not then in the House viz. Baudicon the Son of the said Robert who according to his usual manner was gone abroad to visit some Brethren but returning home knocking at the Door his brother Martin watching his coming bid him be gone wishing him not to come in he thinking his Brother took him for some other said it is I open the Door with that the Sergeants drew nigh and opened it and he came in Then said the Provest I arrest you all in the Emperors name and commanded each of them to be bound to wit the Husband and his Wife with their two Sons leaving their two Daughters to look to the House now as they conveyed them along through the Streets Baudicon with a voice somewhat extended which might easily be heard at that time of the night said Assist us O Lord by thy Grace not only to be Prisoners for thy Name sake but to confess thy holy Truth in all purity before men so far as to seal the same with our Bloods for the edification of thy poor Church Thus were they brought into several Prisons where they were severally handled yet ceased they not to bless and praise the Lord with one consent within a few dayes after they were brought before the Magistrates of the City and Examined who first spoke to the Father in these words It is told us that you never come to Mass and also diswade others from coming thereto and that you maintain Conventicles in your House whereby you have Transgressed the Laws of the Emperial Majesty Robert answered to this effect We read not in all the Scriptures that either Christ or any of his Apostles ever said Mass for they knew not what it meant As for the second Accusation I cannot nor will deny but there have met together in my House Honest People fearing God I assure you not with intention to wrong or harm any but rather for the advancement of Gods Glory and the good of many I knew indeed that the Emperour had forbiden it but what then I know also that Christ had commanded it who said Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Thus you see I could not well obey the Emperour but I must disobey Christ in this case then I chose rather to obey my God then man When they were brought to the Fire the last words they were heard to pronounce were Jesus Christ thou Son of God into thy hands we commend our Spirits and so they ended their Testimony Within eight dayes after Jane the Mother and Martin her Son were both Executed in the same City The manner of the Merciless Inquisitors Tormenting such as are brought into the Popish Inquisition in Spain When they purpose to torture any one the Gaoler is commanded to bring forth his Prisoner into the accustomed place where it is to be given which place is under the Earth and very obscure then going thorow many turnings and thorow sundry Doors so as the horrible cries of those who are there tortured can in no wise be heard there is a Seat prepared for the Inquisitors on high with a Rigister also to behold their Tragical Act the Torches being lighted those who are to Act their parts in this woful Tragedy are brought in the Tormentor who attends their coming is covered all over with a black Garment close to his Body and on his Head a black Hood which hides his Face from being seen having only two or three holes made therein for himself to see and to breath at and all this is to terrifie the more the poor patient who beholdeth as it were a grim Devil ready to Torment him these Fathers being set upon their Seat begin again to charge the Prisoner voluntary to confess the Truth which if he refuse to do and if it then happen that Arm or any other Member of his Body be broken or that they die on the Torture for that is all the favour he hath shewed him they made it his own fault and none of theirs after they have used all the terrible threats that can be they cause him or her to be stripped stark naked whether Man Woman or Maid though they be never so modest and bashful many having fallen into their bloody fingers thus to to have their nakedness discovered in the sight of others was more greivous then all their Torments besides which they endured laying aside then all Humanity in unclothing them they put upon them linnen Bretches as if their secret parts were better and more honestly covered with Bretches then with Shirt or Smock or as if the Torments they meant to put them to would not pierce deep enough as well in the one as in the other with such shameless Spectacles the chast Inquisitors fed their Ages and with such cruel Lust satisfied their infamous and detestable virginity The Man or Woman standing naked then only covered with little Bretches they beckon to the Tormenter who is well aquainted with their secret sign and watch word and can readily discern what Torments the holy Fathers would have them put to to teach them the Faith of the Roman Church Then standing thus naked they exhort them once again to tell the truth If the Patient be to endure the Cord they tye his hands behind his back pulling him up eight or ten times according to the number of twitches limited by the Inquisitors to the Tormentor that so nothing may be done there
ought to be Compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath VI. Some remarkable Collections out of Doctor Taylors Book entituled OEOAOTIA EKAEKTIKH A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to other mens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions VII Instances out of divers Authors treating on the same subject by W. C. deceased VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward force nor imposition ought to be used in matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. deceased IX Several Sayings Collected from the Speeches and writings of King Charles the first X. Several Promises and Declarations for the Liberty of tender Consciences taken out of the Speeches of King Charles the second SECT I. Persecution for the cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ the King of Kings as these Scriptures and Reasons following do demonstrate The first Reason against Persecution is because it is contrary to Scripture FOr Christ commanded that the Tares and Wheat should be let alone in the World Matth. 13.30.38 c and not pluckt up until the Harvest which is the End of the World Christ also commandeth Matth. 15.14 that they that are blind should be let alone referring their punishment unto the falling into the Ditch Again he reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven Luke 9.54 59. and devour those Samaritans who would not receive him in these Words Ye know not of what Spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroy mens Lives but to save them Paul the Apostle taught 2 Tim. 24.2 that the Servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them Repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of that Snare of the Devil According to these blessed Commandments the Prophets foretold Esa 2.4 Mica 4.3.4 that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established they should break their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Then shall none hurt or destroy in all the Mountains of my holiness And when he came the same he taught and practised as before Esa 11.9 so did his Disciples afterâ—him for the Weapons of his Warfare are nor carnal saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.4 But he chargeth straitly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray when they were Cursed Matth. 5. they should Bless c. And the reason seems to be because they who now are Tares may hereafter become Wheat they who are now Blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to Repentance they that are now Blasphemers and Persecutors as Paul was may in time become faithful as he they that are now Idolatrous as the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true Worshippers as they they that are now no people of God nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2 20. may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Matt. 20. 〈◊〉 If those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they come not at the first then should they never come but be prevented SECT II. The second Reason against Persecution for cause of Conscience is because it is against the Profession and Practice of famous Princes FIrst Consider the speech of King James to the Parliament 1609. he saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed and that it was usually the Condition of Christians to be persecuted but not to persecute Again he saith page four speaking of the Papists I gave good proof that I intended no Persecution against them for Conscience Cause And in the same Kings Exposition of the Revelation the twentith printed 1588. he writes thus Compassing of the Saints and beseiging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain Note of a false Church to be Persecution for they come to seek the faithful the Faithful are them that are sought the Wicked are the Besiegers the Faithful are the Besieged And the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the latter Times wherein Sundry Opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his Eye and as it were to touch with his Finger that according to the Truth of the Scripture and a Maxime heretofore maintained by the antient Doctors of the Church that mens Consciences ought in no fort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been Pernitious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovations in the Principalest and Mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom And further he saith So that once more we do profess before God and the whole World that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not those who profess themselves to be of the Romish Church neither to trouble nor disturb them in the Exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. SECT III. The Third Reason because Persecution for Cause of Conscience is condemned by the antient and later Writers HIlary against Auxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted And Lamentable it is to see the folly of these Times and the foolish Opinion of this World in that men think by humane Aid to help God and with Wordly Pomp and Power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask the Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing the Gospel with the Aid of what power did they Preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were in Prisons and lay in Chaines did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities or favours received from the Court or do you think that Paul went about with regal Mandates or kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own Maintenance travelling by Land and Water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ but now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same Countenance too and by vain and worldly Honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ
consider the former real or objected Miscariages which might occasion my Troubles that you may avoid them c. Beware of Exasperating any Factions by the Crosness and Asperity of some mens Passions Humors and private Opinions imployed by you grounded only upon differences in lesser matters which are but the Skirts and Subburbs of Religion wherein a Charitable Connivance and Christian Toleration often Dissipates their strength when rougher Opposition Fortifies and puts the despised and oppressed party into such Combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their Persecutors who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commisseration which attends all that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion Pag. 166. Take heed that outward Circumstances and Formalities of Religion devour not all Pag. 164. Your Prerogative is best shewed and exercised in remitting rather then exacting the rigour of the Laws there being nothing worse then Legal Tyranny To these Sayings we add more as Collected out of the same Book in Duodecimo IN his Prayer Pag. 1. O never suffer me for any reason of State to go against the Reason of Conscience which is highly to sight against thee the God of Reason and Judge of our Consciences Page 121. Break in sunder Oh Lord all violent Confederations to do wickedly and injuriously Pag. 136. Thou Oh Lord shalt destroy them that speak Lyes the Lord will abhor both the Blood thirsty and Deceitful men P. 164. Church Affairs should be mannaged neither with Tyranny Parity nor Popularity neither people oppressed P. 168. He declares his willingness for fair satisfaction unto all and against Covetousness and Superstition Pag. 171. Oh thou that art the God of Reason and Peace soften our hearts and perswade us to accept of Peace with thy self and both to secure and preserve Peace among our selves as men and Christians Condemn us not to our passions which are destructive both of our selves and others Clear up our Understandings to see thy Truth both in Reason as men and in Religion as Christians Page 180. Stir up all parties Pious Ambitions to overcome each other with Reason Moderation and such Self-denial as becomes c. P. 200. O thou Soveraign of our Souls the only Commander of our Consciences And further in his Advice to the Prince of Wales now KING c. Pag. 234. The best Government and highest Soveraignity you can attain unto is To be subject to God that the Scepter of his Word and Spirit may rule in your heart P. 239. He pleads for better Arguments for Convincement then Tumults Armies and Prisons Pag. 241. Alwayes keep up sollid Piety and those Fundamental Truths which mend both hearts and lives of men with impartial Favour and Justice Pag. 242. My Charge and Counsel to you is that as you need no palliations for any design so that you studdy really to exceed in true and constant Demonstrations of Goodness Piety and Vertue towards the people even all these men that make the greatest noise and ostentations of Religion so you shall neither fear any detection as they do who have but the Mask of Goodness nor shall you frustrate the just Expectations of your people Pag. 243. Use all Princely Arts and Clemency to heal the Wounds that the Smart of the Cure may not equal the Anguish of the hurt Pag. 244. As your quality sets you beyond any Duel with any Subject so the nobleness of your mind must raise you above the meditating any revenge or executing your Anger upon the many Pag. 248. Keep you to true Principles of Piety Vertue and Honour you shall never want a Kingdom In his Meditations on his Death p. 346. It is indeed a sad fate for any man to have his Enemies to be Accuser Parties and Judge SECT X. Several Promises and Declarations for the Liberty of tender Consciences taken out of the Speeches of King Charles the Second IN the Kings Letter from Bredah that was sent to the House of Peers and read in the House May the first 1660. and which Letter was ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled that it should be forthwith printed and published for the service of the House and satisfaction of the Kingdoms it is said in the Book of Collections of the Kings Speeches Page 8 and 9. And because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced several Opinions in Religion by which men are engaged in Parties and Animosities against each other which when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of Conversation will be composed or better understood We do declare a liberty to tender Consciences and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences in Opinion in matters of Religion which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom and that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon Mature deliveration shall be offered to us for the full granting that Indulgence And in the Kings Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs which was dated October the 25th 1660. it is said In a word we do again renew what we have formerly said in our Declaration from Bredah for the liberty of tender Consciences That no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of Opinion in matters of Religion which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom and if any have been disturbed in that kind since our arival here it hath not proceeded from any direction of ours And it is said We do in the first place declare Our Purpose and Resolution is and shall be to promote the Power of Godliness and to encourage the Exercise of Religion both in publique and private And in the same Declaration it is said Our present Consideration work is To gratifie the private Consciences of those who are grieved with the use of some Ceremonies by indulging to and dispensing with the omitting these Ceremonies In the Kings Speech to both houses of Parliament the 8th of July 1661. It is to put my self in mind as well as you That I so often I think so often as I come to you mention to you my Declaration from Bredah And let me put you in mind of another Declaration published by your selves about the same time and which I am perswaded made mine the more effectual An Honest Generous and Christian Declaration signed by the most eminent Persons who had been the most eminent Sufferers in which you remounced all former Animosities memory of former Unkindnesses And my Lords Gentlemen let it be in no mans power to charge me or you with the breach of our Words or Promises which can never be a good Ingredient to our future security And in the Chancellors Speech to both Houses May 8. 1661. It is said He told you but now meaning the King that he valued himself much upon keeping his word upon performing all that he promiseth to his People And also in the Kings discourse with Richard Hubberthorn soon after he arrived
Westminster Hall Judge Hailes was by the Commandment of the Bishop committed to the Kings Bench where he remained some time and then was committed to the Compter in Bred-Street and from thence carried to the Fleet being in the Fleet some endeavoured to perswade him to Compliance how far he yielded to those Perswasions and Assaults of the Enemy it was not known but shortly after he fell into a great horrour and terrour in his Conscience and in the anguish of his Spirit stabbed himself with his Pen-Knife and so thought to end his misery but through providence he was disappointed of destroying himself at that time But this Action being noised abroad as it was occasion of great sorrow and trouble to many that had a great Esteem of him being reputed so worthy a Judge and so just a man so it also opened the Mouth of his Adversary the Bishop who openly in the Star-Chamber blasphemed against such as profest the Truth calling the Doctrine of the Gospel the Doctrine of Desperation But it was not long before the Judge was set at Liberty but he had not been long at home but his trouble encreasing upon him he watch an apportunity and drowned himself in a shallow Water neer his House Now Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester having got the Law and outward Sword on his Side he thought to Rule as he pleased and having taken off either by Imprisonment or Death most of the principal Preachers of those he counted Sectaries he concluded the rest would be thereby terrified and kept under but his Expectations herein were frustrated For within a few Weeks after the Apprehension and Execution of the aforesaid persons The apprehending of Thomas Tomkins and five others there were six more raised up to testifie against the Popish Idolatry then established by a Law their names were William Piggot a Butcher Stephen Knight a Barber Thomas Tomkins a Weaver Thomas Hawkes John Lawrence and William Hunter these Persons being brought before B. Gardner he was so concerned to see his former devices so little effect the end he intended that he refused to Act any more against them but being wholy discouraged turned them over to Bonner Bishop of London who Prosecuted all that were brought before him to the utmost of his power not sparing to act his cruelty as from time to time he had an opportunity to the uttermost They were all condemned by Bâ—nnor Upon the 8th day of the Moneth called February 1555. The aforesaid six persons were brought before Bâ—nner at the Consistory at Pauls where nhe next day he past Sentence of Death upon them shewing himself a rash and cruel Judge to pass Sentence so suddainly upon so many Innocent mens Lives but he gave them a little time before they were put to death which was till the Moneth following The most remarkable Passages that I find at their Tryals and Examinations are briefly related as followeth Thomas Tomkins a Weaver dwelling in Shoreditch a man accounted by such as were acquainted with him Zealous and Godly The Examination of Thomas Tomkins much given to Prayer during the time of his Imprisonment which was half a year the Bishop Bonner beat him sorely about the Face and pluckt him by the Beard being long and caused his Beard to be Shaved off but though the rage of the Bishop was great the constancy and patience of the poor man was as great for he was not moved at the Bishops cruelty the Bishop seeing the course he had taken would no wayes prevail he fell from Beating to Burning for having a great Candle burning in his Hall at Fulham he took Tomkins by the Fingers ends holding his hand over the flame of the Candle trying him whether he would Recant but with patience he bore this cruelty also until Doctor Harpsfield standing by moved with pity told Bonner he had tryed him enough and then Bonner let his Fingers go The last time Thomas Tomkins appeared before Bonner there were several other Bishops present one of which earnestly exhorted him to leave off his Opinions to whom he answered I was Born and brought up in Ignorance until of late years and now I know the Truth I shall continue in the same until Death which Bonner hearing thought it time to pass Sentence upon him and as he had begun to burn his Hand so sentenced his Body to be burnt delivering him to the Sheriff of London who carried him to Newgate where he remained untill the 16th day of the Moneth called March and then sealed his Faith in the Flames The 26th day of the aforesaid Moneth followed the Martyrdom of another of these six persons viz. VVilliam Hunter a Zeal ous Young man for Religion William Hunter Martys who was about the Age of ninteen years when he suffered he was born of godly Parents by whom he was not only Instructed in godliness but also confirmed by them until Death William Hunter being an Apprentize in Coleman-Street in London with one Thomas Taylor a Silk-weaver the beginning of his trouble was for refusing to hear Mass and to receive their Eucharist for which the Priest of the Parish threatned to have him before the Bishop his Master fearing lest he should come to suffer by reason of Williams not conforming desired him to depart from him whereupon William went home to his Fathers to Burntwood in Essex where after he had remained a little time happening to go into the Chappel of Burntwood and finding a Bible lying upon a Desk he read therein while he was reading one Atwell a Sumner coming in reproved him saying Wherefore meddlest thou with the Bible William answered I read in it for my comfort Atwell replyed It was never a good World since the Bible came abroad in England William answered say not so it liketh me well and I pray God we may have the Bible amongst us continually Atwell I perceive you are one of them that mislikes the Queens Laws and therefore you came from London but you must turn another Leaf or else you will Broyl for it and in a fury went away saying he would fetch one that should talk with him and went to an Ale-house hard by and fetch out the Viccar of Soutweld who coming into the Chappel and hearing William read said Sirrah who gave thee leave to read in the Bible William answered I read for my Comfort and shall read while I Live and told the Viccar He ought rather to encourage then discourage people in reading the Scriptures Viccar Doth This become thee to tell me what I have to do thou Heretick William Hunter said I am no Heretick Vâ—ccar What sayst thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar believest thou in it and that the bread and wine is transubstantiated into the very Body and Blood of Christ William Hunter I learn no such thing in the Scriptures as you speak of you understand Christs Words much like the Carnal Cappernâ—tes who thought that Christ would have given them his