to know kéep Gods commandements fearing to offend him and louing to please him hoping stedfastly in his mercy continuing in Charity gladly suffering persecutions by the example of Christ and his Apostles all these haue their names written in the Booke of life The gathering together of these that be aliue is the Church fighting against the fiâ—nd the prosperity of the World and the fleshly lusâ—s and I wil submit my selfe only to the rule and gouernance of them whom after my knowledge I may perceiue by the hauing and vsing of the foresaid vertues to be members of the holy Church These Articles and all other that I ought to beléeue by the word of God I verily beléeue in my Soule and I beleeue that the word of God is sufficient to saluation if I haue erred that I submit my selfe to be â—econciled and I beleeue the authorities of Saints and Doctors as farre as they may be approued by the word of God and no further for any earthly power or dignity Sir I pray shall I lay my hand on the Booke to sweare by it yea said he wherefore else Sir I say a Booke is a thing coupled together of diuers Creatures and Gods and Mans Law is against swearing by any Creature but I will sweare vnto you as I ought by Gods Law but for Charity tell me wherein I shall submit my selfe and wherein you will correct mâ— Bishop I will that you swear to forsake all the opinions of the Sect of Lollards which I shall rehearse after you haue sworne and that you will neither priuily nor openly teach none of them nor fauour none of that opinion but withstand them and them that will not yéeld make knowne to the Byshop of the Diocesse and that thou preach no more vntill I do know that thy hart and mouth accord Thorp If I consent vnto you hereâ—n I should be euery Bishops spy Sommoner of al England yea I should deceiue many persons and be y â— cause of their death bodily and ghostly for many of them that stand now in the truth and are in the way of saluation would rather chuse to forsake the way of truth then to be scorned slandered and punished as Byshops and their Ministers now vse to d ee and I finde not in the Scripture that this office you would now enfeoff me with accordeth to any Priest or Christian therefore to do thus were to me a full noyous band for many trust so mickle in me that I would not doe it to saue my life and they might well account me a Traytor to God and man and that I had faâ—sly and cowardly forsaken the truth and slandered shamefully the Word of GOD If I doe thus for feare of bondcheefe and mischeefe in this life I deeme in my conscience I were worthy to bee cursed of GOD and all his Saints from which keepe me and all Christians Almighty God Bishop Thy heart is full hard indurate as the hart of Pharaoh the Diuell hath blinded thy wits that thou hast no grace to know the truth nor the measure of mercy that I haue proâ—â—ered thee but I say to thee lewd Lossell eyther quickly consent to me or by Saint Thomas thou shalt be disgraded and follow thy fellow â—o Smithfield Thorp I thought with my selfe God did me great grace if of his mercy he would bring me to such an end and my heart was not afraid of his menasing but I considered in him that he was not sorrowfull that he had burned William Santry wrongfully and that he thiâ—steth to shed more innocent blood and I was fast mooued to hold him to be no Priest of God and mine inward Man was departed from him to haue no feare of him and I was right heauy that there was no audience of seculer men by and I prayed the Lord to comfort me against them that were against the sothfastnesse and I purposed to speake no more then my neede behooued All the while I prayed God for his grace to speake with a méeke and easie Spirit and that I might haue authorities of Scriptures or open reason for my words and his Clearks said Why muse you do as my Lord commands you Byshop Hast thou not yet bethought thee whether thou wilt doe as I haue said Thorp My Parents spent mickle Mony about my learning to make me a Priest but I had no will to be a Priest wherefore they were right heauy to mee that I thought to leaue theÌ„ at length I desired that I might go to such as were named wise and of vertuous conuersaâ—ion to haue theâ—â— Councell so I communed with such till I perceiued their honest and charitable workes to passe their fame wherefore 〈◊〉 by the example of the Doctrine of them after my cunning and power I haue exercised me to know perfectly Gods Law hauing a desire to liue thereafter and that others exercised themselues faithfully there abouts Then he sheweth the reasons aforesaid and what would follow if he should forsake so suddenly the learning that he had exercised this 30. winters according to the example of some whose name I wil now recite and according to the present doing of Phillip Rampington now Bishop of Lincolne by Gods grace I will learne by them to fly such slander as thâ—y haue defiled themselues with and as much as is in them they haue enuenomed all the Church of God by their flaunderous reuoking at Paules Crosse and how now Phillip Rampington pursueth Christs people which will not be vnpunished of God Bishop These were fooles and heretickes when they were counted wise of thée and sâ—ch loseâ—s but now they are wise though ye deeme them vnwise Thorpe I thinke they are wise concerning this world I did thinke by their former doings that they had earnest of the wisdome of God and deserued â—â—ckie grace of him to haue saued themselues and many others if they had continued faithfull and in their buâ—â—e fâ—â—itfull sowing of Gods word but woe worth false couetousnesse euill councell and tâ—ranny by which they and many be led blindly to an euill end Bishop Which are those holy and wise men of whom thou hast taken thine information Thorpe Sir master Iohn Wicliffe holden of â—ull many the greatest Clarke then liuing â—usâ—ing rulâ— anâ— innocent in his liuing great men communed oft with him they so loued his learning that they wrote it and bâ—sâ—ly inforced themselues to â—ollow it and his learning is yet holden most agréeable to the learning of Christ and his Apostles and master Iohn Ayston taught and wrote accordingly and vsed himselfe right perfectly to his liues end And sometimes Phillip Rampington Nichols Herford Dauid Gotray of Pakâ—ing and Iohn Puruay and many other which were holden right wise and prodent taught and writ busily his foresaid learning with alâ— these men I was right homely and communed with them but of all other I â—hose to â—ollow Wicliffe himselfe as the most wise and godly man that I heard of or know Some of
man but consent of deeds Rid. If it were a trifling ceremonie or indifferent for the continuance of common quietnes I could be content to beare it But the Masse tendeth openly to the ouerthrow of Christs institution I ought by no meanes in word or deed consent thereto That of the Fathers is ment of them that suppose they be defiled if any secret vice be either in the Ministers or in the Communicants with them and is not ment of them which abhor Superstition and wicked traditions of men and will not suffer them to be in steede of the Gospell Lat. The Mary bones of the Masse are detestable and by no meanes to be borne with all it cannot be amended but by abolishing it for euer for if you take away â—blation and adoration which hang vpon Consecration and transubstantiation the Papists will not set a button by the Masse onely for the gaine that followeth therin for if our English Communion were a gainefull vnto them as the Masse they would striue no more for the Masse Anto If you refuse to goe to Masse you forsake the Church for the Masse is the Sacrament of vnitie without the Arke there is no saluation the Church is the Arke and Peters ship Augustine saith he shall not haue God his Father which acknowledgeth not the Church his mother And he also saith be thy life neuer so well spent out of the Church thou shalt not inherit the Kingdome of heauen Ridley The Catholick Church is the Communion of Saints the Citie of GOD the spouse of Christ the body of Christ the pillar of truth this Church I honour in the Lord but the rule of this Church is the word of God as many as walke according to this rule peace bee vpon them and vpon Israel that pertaineth to God the guide of this Church is the Holy Ghost the marks of this Church are these The preaching of Gods word due administration of the Sacraments Charitie and obseruing of Ecclesiasticall Discipline according to the word of God these are the heauenly Ierusalem which consisteth of those which are borne aboue This is the mother of vs all I will liue and die the child of this Church forth of this there is no saluation it is onely knowne by the Scriptures which is the true Church indeed the bread which we breake according to the institution of Christ is the Sacrament of the vnity of Christs mysticall body for we being many are one bread and one body because we are partakers of one bread but in the Masse the Lords institution is not obserued for there we are not all partakers of one bread but one deuoureth it all Lat Yea what fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist it is not lawful to beare the yoke with Papists Seperat your selues from them saith the Lord it is one thing to be the Church indéed and another thing to counterfet the Church not all that he couered with the Title of the Church are the Church indéed When S. Paul saith Seperate your selues from them He addeth if any man follow other doctrine he is puffed vp and knoweth nothing For it is ignorance to know many things and not Christ but if thou knowest Christ thou knowest enough though thou know no more Therefore he would know nothing but Christ and him crucified as many as be Papists and Masse-mongers may well bee said to know nothing for they know not Christ they take much away from the merite of Christ. Anto. That Church which you describe is inuisible but Christs Church is visible and knowne For hee saith tell it to the Church which is in vaine to goe to the Church if a man cannot tell which it is Rid. If we cannot see the true Church that is not the fault of the Church but either of our owne blindnes or of Satans darknes but the word is a Candle vnto vs and a light vnto our steps to shâ—w the true Church Anto. The Church of Christ is vniuersall dispersed through the whole world the great house of GOD good and euill mingled together Goates Shéepe Corne and Chaffe it is the net which gathereth all kinde of Fishes it cannot erre for CHRIST IESVS hath promised it his good Spirit to leade it in all truth and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it he will be with it to the end of the world What it shall binde or lose in earth shall bee ratified in Heauen it is the truth Augustine saith I beleeue the Gospell because the Church biddeth me beleeue it this Church alloweth the Masse therefore it must be followed RidI The Church is taken three manner of waies in the Scripture sometime for the whole multitude of the professors of Christ but as euery one is not a Iew which is a Iew outwardly nor all that be of Israel are counted the seede So euery one that is a Christian outwardly is not so indeede For hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his The Church that Christ Iesus is head of stands onely of liuing Stones Christians in heart and truth and not in worde onely The multitude of the good are the true Church the multitude of the euill is the malignant Church and Synagogue of Satan These be the three takings of the Church and though there be seldom mention in Scriptures in this interpretation yâ—t in the greatest assemblies of the world this Church hath borne the greatest swing But if any will affirme that vniuersalitie doth so appertaine vnto the church that Christs promises to the Church must needes bee vnderstood of that where was that vniuersall Church in the times of the Patriarks and Prophets Of Noah Abraham and Moses when they would haue stoned him of Helias of Ieremy in the times of Christ and the dispersion of the Apostles in the time of Arius When Constantius was Emperour â—and Felix Bishop of Rome succeeded Lyberius Lyra vpon Mathew saith the Church doth not stand in men by reason of their power and dignitie whether it be Ecclesiasticall or Seculer for Princes and Popes and other inferiours haue fallen away from GOD Therefore the Church consisteth in those persons in whom is true knowledge and Confession of the Faith and truth euill men are in the Church in name but not in deed Latimer Touching the vehement saying of Saint Augustine I would not beleeue the Gospel but for the Church Melancton vpon this saith the Church is not a Iudge but a witnes there were some that lightly esteemed the Iudgement of the Church and preaching and reiected the outward word and stucke onely to there inward reuelations This droue Saint Augustine into that vehemencie in which he seemeth to them that vnderstand not his meaning to prefer the Church before the Gospel and that it had authoritie ouer the same but that godly man neuer thought so Anto Generall Councels represent the vniuerfall Church and Christ hath promised to be in the middest where two or three be gathered together in his name
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER SATHANS TYRANNIE WHERIN JS CONTAINED A CATALOGVE OF ALL CHRISTS FAITHFVLL SOVLDIERS THAT THE DIVELL either by his grand Captaines the EMPEROVRS or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the POPES haue most cruelly Martyred for the TRVTH WITH ALL THE POYSONED DOCTRINS WHEREWITH THAT GREAT REDDE DRAGON hath made drunken the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth with the confutations of them TOGETHER WITH ALL HIS TRAYTEROVS PRACTISES AND DESIGNES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN Princes to this day especially against our late Queen ELIZABETH of famous memorie and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of Martyrs and diuers other Books By Thomas Mason Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower 1615. To the most Reuerend Father in GOD the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his GRACE PRIMATE and METROPOLITAN of all England and one of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell And to the Right Honourable SIR EDVVARD COKE Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell THOMAS MASON wisheth all Happinesse in this Life and eternall Felicitie in the world to come MOST Reuerend and Right Honorable zealous Lords your daily and faithfull Orator being a professed Soldiour vnder Christs Banner in the behalfe of his spouse against Antichrist I could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the Church and hurtfull vnto Antichrist as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by Christs Souldiours in times past that now his children may shoote them at him againe with great facilitie And whereas venerable M r Fox of worthy memory hath gathered into one Booke the Acts and Monuments of the Church vnto his time one of the most profitablest Bookes that is for Gods Children except the Bible a Club able to beate downe the Popish Tower of Babell Yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume together with the deareness of the price thereof few that haue the Booke reade it ouer and the most part of men are not able to buy it whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the Church I haue according to my power pared off the barke of this Club and made it tractable for all sorts of people they may buy it with little charge and peruse it with small paines and I dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement as by reading of the Booke at large I haue willingly omitted no matter of substance Here the Reader may see the cruelty of the Emperors vnto the Primitiue Church and whom they put to death and the manner of their deathes during the first ten Persecutions and how and when Christianitie began in this Realme And what successe it hath had at all times and when by what occasion and by whom most of the Monasteries and Cathedrall Churches of this Realme were builded and how when and by whom all points of Popery came into the Church and how the Pope hath exalted himself against Emperors Kings what iniuries he hath done to them With the Treasons Conspiracies that Papists haue practised against those that the Lord hath annointed vnto this day The Reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the Saints of God that the Papists haue from time to time murdered in all Countries for the testimonie of the Truth With all the points of Religion that the Martyrs did defend vnto death and all the reasons that the Papists vsed against their Arguments and how cruelly they handled them with many other most profitable things After I had done this Booke I was discouraged from putting of it to Print by reason I found another had abridged the Booke of Martyrs before me but when I perceiued it was done but superficially for all the points of Religion that the Martyrs defended or Papists obiected were omitted which disputations I chiefly labour to set forth therevpon I was resolued to goe forward When I had begun to quote all the Authors from whence M r Fox had his proofes for them that the Emperors put to death the Quotations were almost as large as the Story and made it very vnpleasant wherefore in most places for breuitie I haue omitted them leauing them that would see the proofes to the Book at large I haue herein abridged many bookes but especially the Booke of Martyrs as the Papists cannot abide the booke of Martyrs of all bookes so much more will they hate my booke which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame not onely out of that booke but out of diuers other bookes Wherefore most Reuerend and Right Honorable Lords your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of Antichrist hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your Lordships to bee the Patrons of this my Booke and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it by your Spirituall and Temporall Powers to the honour of Christ the great dishonour of Antichrist and the vnspeakeable benefit of Gods Children So with my hartie prayers I commit both your Honors your soules bodies and all that you haue vnto the safe preseruation of Christ Iesus and his holy Angels Your Lordships daily Oratour THOMAS MASON Preacher of Gods word in Odiham in the County of Southampton whose Father was Heire vnto S r IOHN MASON sometime a Priuy Councelor vnto Queene ELIZABETH THE EPISTLE VNTO THE RBADER EVen as the Reuelation and other places of Scriptures good Reader doâ— foretell Antichrist to come so this Historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points all the Martyrs died in this faith that the Pope is Antichrist I could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this Booke as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the Popedome is that Antichrist which I will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following first by his outward place of abode secondly by his inward and spirituall throne thirdly by his doctrine fourthly by his conditions fiftly by the height breadth length and ruine of his Kingdome I will but open the way vnto thee this Booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true Touching his outward seate Reuel 17. 18. it is the Citie that then did raigne ouer the Kings of the earth which was Rome the place is also described in the ninth verse to be compassed about with seuen mountaines This Booke shall proue that Rome hath seuen mountaines about it In the same verse this Citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne another King did raign which was the Emperour when the Reuelation was made and another was to come afterward This book shall teach thee that the seuen Kings signifie seuen maner of Gouernments in Rome of which fiue was falne the Emperour then raigned and after the Pope should raigne there so the Holy Ghost hath pointed out Rome as plainly as can be the place of Antichrists Kingdome
more painefull manner then I which fell out accordingly for Laurence hauing distributed the goods of the poore by the charge of the bishop the Emperour hearing thereof commaunded him to render the Treasure to him but after thrée daies respite in sleede thereof hee presented vnto him a sort of poore Christians as the Treasure of the Church whereupon hee commaunded Laurence to bee broyled on a gridyron where after hee had suffered a great space hee said this side is rosted enough turne vp Tyrant try whether rosted or raw be bettermeate A Souldier of Rome was conuerted to the Faith by the constant proâ—â—â—â—ion of this Laurence and desired to be baptized of him but the Iudge called him and scourged and be headed him At this time suffered Dionisius Bishop of Alexandria he was banished and scourged then remoued to a more strait place one Gaius one Petrus and one Paulus were afflicted with him notwithstanding Maximus Dioscorus Demetrius and Lucius visited the brethren also Eusebius suffered affliction for the truth who after was Bishop of â—aodicia Faustus long after being an oldman was beheaded but Dionisius suruiued all these troubles and in great age departed in peace after he had gouerned the Church of Alexandria 17. yeares and taught Schoole there 16. yeares and Maximus succeeded him In the same time Priscus Marcus and Alexander who stepyed to the Iudge and declared themselues Christians with a woman were giuen to wilde beasts In Carthage were 300. martyred in a Lime kill for refusing because they would not Sacrifice to lupiter Maxima Donatilla and Secunda three Uirgins after cruell torments were giuen to beasts which refused to touch them then they were beheaded also one Pontius after diuerse torments was giuen to beasts who refusing to touch him he was burned at which time Claudius his Iudge with Anabius his assistant were taken with wicked Spirits and bit off their owne tongues and died The same time Zeno Bishop of Uerona was Martyred one Phillippus President of Alexandria came downe with his Wife two Sons and his Daughter Eugenia she with two Eâ—nuches Prothus and Hiacintus were conuerted to Christianitie she put on the apparell of a man to aâ—â—ide trouble and to heare Helenus Bishop and named herselfe Eugenius Malena a Marton of Alexandria fell in louâ— with her end séeing that by no meanes she could obtaine her sute she made an outcry saying that Eugenius went about to deâ—lowre her and accused her to Phillippus so shee was forced to manifest her selfe to her Father after she wonne him and other of her kindred to the Faith her Father was after Martyred after shee returned to Rome with her Eunuches and conuerted Basilla who was beheaded after sundry torments In the sixt yeare of Valerianus Victor and Victorinus with Claudianus and Bossa his wife after thrée yeares imprisonment and diuerse torments were put to death Fructuosus Bishop of Tarraconia with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius at their execution their hands bound behinde them vnloosed and the fire flewe from them vntill they had prayed at which time a certaine Souldier did sée the Heauens open and the Martyres entred in which sight he shewed to the Daughter of Emilianus the President This Emperour Valerianus after he had raigned with his Sonne about sixe yeares and afflicted the Christians two yeares was taken of Sapres King of the Persians who made him alwaies his footstoole to get vppon his horse till hee dyed At the same time amongst the Romaines there happenned 30. Earthquakes together whereupon the Persecution was moderated yet some â—uffered as Marinus a Noble-man he was accused to be a Christian of him that should succeede him the Iudge gaue him three dayes to aduise himselfe but being incouraged by Theodiâ—tus Bishop of Cesaria hee presented himselfe to the Iudge by whose Sentence he was beheaded Galienus succeeded Valerianus and Claudius succeeded him Vincentius maketh mention of 262. Martyres that suffered vnder him Quintilianus succeeded him after Aurelianus vnder whom was moued the ninth Persecution ¶ The ninth Persecution AS Aurelianus was subscribing the Edict against Christians he was terrified with â—â—ghtning and about the 6. yeare of his raigne was slaine yet Vincentius and Orosius reckon vp a great number of Martyres which suffered vnder him in Fraunce and Italy Publius Annins Tacitus succeeded Aurelianus and raigned 6. moneths his brother Florianus succéeded him 60. daies Marcus Aurelius succéeded him surnamed Probus he moued no Persecution after he had raigned 6 yeares 4. Moneths because by reason of Peace he had no worke for his Souldiers therefore he was slaine Carus with his two Sonnes Carinus and Numerianus succéeded him 3. yeares Numerianus kilâ—â— Cerillus for not suffering him to enter into the congregation of the Christians he being their Bishop he was slaine of his Father Dioclesian succeeded vntill the 19. yeare of his raigne the Church was quiet which quietâ—â—sse had indured 44. yeares the Church grew mightily and the chiefe of them in fauour with the Emperour were Derotheus and Gorgotheus and diuerse moe The Church began to were wanton with Peace and to build large Churches but their desolutenes broght on them the tenth persecution ¶ The tenth Persecution VVHilst Dioclesian abstained from Persecuting he obtained diuerse victories and being proud thereof he would be worshipped as a God calling himselfe brother of the Sunne and Moone inioyned the people to kisse his feete and in the 19. yeare of his raigne he moued Persecution he commaunded the Churches of Christians to be destroyed and the Scriptures to be burned put Christians from Magistracie and constrained them with torments to offer to Idols After the Proclamation of the Edict a Noble-man a Christian openly rent it in pieces for which act he was put to most bitter death Dioclesian began with his Campe willed the Christians to lay away their weapons and giue ouer their charges which they did willingly At Tyre there were Christians giuen to cruell beasts preserued miraculâ—usly though they were kept hungry of purpose they raged against those that brought the Christians and deuoured them they could catch therefore they were beheaded and cast into the Sea At that time was Martyred the Bishop of Sidon but Siluanus Bishop of Gazenâ—â—s with 39. others were slaine in the Mettie-mines thon Pamphilius an Elder and the glory of the Church of Cesaria whom Eusebius writeth of was Martyred All the Bishops and Teachers in Syria were imprisoned Tyrannion throwne to fishes Arnobius a Physition slaine with brickbats some drowned themselues rather then they would worship Idols Siluanus Bishop of Emissa with others were throwne to wilde beasts In Mesopotamia the Christians were hanged by the feete and choked with smoke in Cappadocia their legs were broken in Cilicia Taragus Probus and Andronious Martyred the Persecution was so outragious that they refrained not from the slaughter of the Emperours children the chiefest Princes of his Court amongst whom was one Peter of the Houshold whom the King did loue as his owne
these I heart them whilst they sate in Christs chaire but after the workes they now doe I will not doe by Gods â—elpe for they faine would hide and contrary the trueth which before they taught plainly and truely and some of them haue confessed they doe it because they are constrained by paine to leaue the truth so they blaspheame God rather then suffer a little though Christ shed his heart bloud for vs. Bishop That which thou callest truth is slander to holy Church and though Wicliffe were a great Clerke and a perfect liuer yet holy Church hath damned many of his Doctrines and well worthy but Phillip Rampington Bishop of Lincolne wil not hold the learning that he taught nor no Bishop pursueth more sharpely them that hold thy way then he doth Thorpe Many wonder at him and speake him mickle shame and hold him a cursed eâ—nemie of the trueth Bishop Then the Bishop read a Certificate that the bailiffes of Shrewesbury sent to him vnder their Seale the third Sunday after Easâ—er 1407. William Thorpe preaching in Saint Chaddes Church in his Sermon said that the Sacrament after conâ—ecration was materiall bread and that Images should not be worshipped and that men should not goe on Pilgrimages that Priests haue no title to Tythes and that it is not lawfull to sweare Then he said is this wholsome learning to be amongst the people Thorpe I am sory and ashamed of them I neuer taught such Doctrine Bishop I will beléeue those worshipfull men before thée thou hast troubled them and they pray mee that if thou suffer for thy heresies that thou most be executed there that such other â—oâ—els for feare may be reconciled and they that stand in Faith of holy Church more stablished by my thirft this feruent requâ—st shall bâ— thought on Thorpe I thanke God for all this I was not afraid but my heart reioyced and still doth for I then thought and yet thinke that grace shall come to all the Church of God herethorow and I said I doubt not but I can proue that they which are fained to bee out of holy Church at Shrewsbury and other places are in true Faith of holy Church for they dread to offend God and loue to please him iâ— true and faithfull keeping his commaundements and they that are said to be in faith of holy Church there and in other places are proud eâ—â—ious coâ—etous lecheroâ—s and foule in words and deeds and know not nor will know the right Faith of holy Church their customable swearing and shamefull workes witnesse it And sir where you say I haue troubled the Communaltie with Preaching it is not to be wondred at of wise men seeing all the Communaltie of Ierusalem was troubled at Christ all the Synagogue of Nazaret moued against him that they led him to a mountaine and would haue cast him downe headlong Bishop Thou and such lâ—sâ—ls presume to Preach without licence of any Bishop Thorpe It is euery Priests duetie to Preach busily freely and truely the word of God and they should take the Order of Priesthood chiefly to make Gods word knâ—wne to the people and approuing the truth of the word by his vertuous workes and for this purpose chiefly Bishops and Prelates should take their Prelacie and for this cause Bishops should giue their Orders and should accept none to be Priest except he were well disposed and well learned to Preach Wherefore by the example and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and Prophets wée are bound vnder full great paine so to doe Bishop Leâ—â—de losell why makest thou mée such vaine reasons asketh not Saint Paul How should Priests Preach except they be sent And I sent thée not to Preach And saith not Saiâ—t Paul Subiects ought to obey their Soueraignes and not only the good and vertuous but tyrants and vicious Thorpe None of you will grant vs any such licence but we must oblige vs to youâ— by vnlawfull Othes not to passe the bonds you will limmit vs and we darâ— not so oblige our selues Wherefore though we haue no such licenses we dare not leaue the â—ffice of Preaching for so muâ—h as we haue taken vpon vs the Office of Priesthood trusting God will bo our sufficient letters and witnesse if we occupie vs faithfully to dâ—e our Office iustly yea the hearers shall be our Letters for the truth where it is sâ—wne cannot be vnwitnessed as Saint Paul saith Wee neede no Letters of commendations aâ— some doe which Preach for couetousnesse and mens praisings Touching obedience to superiours good superiours with sound Doctrine and holy couersation to them wée must willingly and gladly obey consenting to their charitable biddings and working after their fruitfull workes of these Saint Paul speaketh Bee mindfull of your Soueraignes that speake to you in the word of God and follow the faith of them whose conuersation you know to be vertuous These Soueraignes make feruent prayers that they and their Subiects may liue in the feare and loue of God and liue so vertuously that they that will liue well may take example by them but Subiects ought not to obey Tyrants whose biddings and workes are vicious that they ought to be hated and left But if they menace oppressions and punishings Saint Peter biddeth the seruants of such Tyrants to Obey meekely suffering patiently their malicious cruelty but hée councelleth not any seruant or subiect to obey any Lord Prince or Soueraigne in any thing not pleasing to God Bishop If a Soueraigne bid a Subiect doe the thing that is vicious the Soueraigne is to blame but the Subiect deserueth méede of God for obedience pleaseth God more then Sacrifice Thorpe Samuel told Saul that God was more pleased with the obedience of his commandement then with Sacrifices but Dauid S. Paul and S. Gregory accordeth therto that they that doe euil are not only worthy condemnation but they that consent thereto Bishop All these aâ—â—agings are nothing else buâ— proud presumptions for hereby yoâ— inforce you are iust and ought not to â—bey the Prelates and of your owne authoritiâ— you will Preach and doe what you list Thorpe Presenteth not euery Priest the Office of the Apostles and Disciples 〈◊〉 Christ He said yea the tenth of Mathew and the last of Mathew witnesseth Christ sent his Apostles to Preach And in the tenth of Luke He sent his 72. Disciples to Preach in euery place that Christ was come to And Saint Gregory saith He that taketh vppon him the Office of Priesthoode taketh on him the Office of Preaching and that the Priest stirreth God to great wrath whose mouth is not heard to Preach and Ezekiel saith The Priest that preacheth not busily to the people shall bee partaker of their damnation that perish by their default And though the people bee saued by other means yet if the Priest Preach not he is a manâ—â—â—per bâ—cause they hold from the people the word of God the life of their soules Saint Isidore saith Priests shall be damned
to Church to pray their inward wits may be the more feruent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing Christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued it sufficeth to know God in his word without Images Bishop Is it not a stirring thing to behold an Image Thorpe Being euery person of the Trinitie is eternall and you say it was not lawful to picture it before Christ and in that there were many Prophets Marâ—â—res and professors before Christ why was it not then as lawfull to make Images to moue men to deuotion as now it is Bishop The Synagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue things as the Church now hath Thorpe Saint Gregory was of great dignitie as the Cannon Lawe witnesseth hee greatly commended a Bishoppe for forbidding Images to bee worshipped Bishop Ungratioâ—s losell thou sauorest truth no more then a hounâ— since at the Roode at the North dore at London and at our Lady at Walsingham and many other places in England are many great and praisable miracles â—one Thorpe I am certaine there is no such miracle done of God that any Image should be worshipped therefore I say as I haue often Preached None should tâ—ust there were any vertue in them nor vowe to them nor seeke to them nor 〈◊〉 bowe pray oâ—â—er kisse or incense them The Brasen Serpent was 〈◊〉 by Gods biddiâ—g â—et the good King Ezekiah because it was incensed so worthâ—â—y destroyed it and it is to bee dread that for the vnfaithfulnesse of â—en the Fâ—â—â—d 〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places wherefore sâ—eing the God of 〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull Spirit what Image may he be painted 〈◊〉 Bishop As holy Church suffereth Images to â—ee painted and shewed it suffiseth to thâ—m that are members of holy Church but thou art 〈◊〉 member cut off from holy Church thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof Thou speakest against Pilgrimage and that pilgrimages to Canterbury â—euerley Carlington Walsingham are accursed and fâ—â—lish spending their goods in wast Thorpe There bée true trauellers trauell all their life with all their endeauour to please God that they may attaine to the heauenly Kingdome but I say now as I said at Shrewsbury I haue Preached often in other places and will doe as long as I liue God willing They that trauell their bodies and spend their money to sâ—eke or visite the bones of Images of this Saint or that such pilgrimage is neither praiseable or thankefull to God nor to any Saint of God since such pilgrimages almost all despise God and his commaundements and vppon Saints they waste blamefully Gods goods in such vaine Pilgrimages sometimes vpon vitious Hostices which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie they offer their goâ—ds to rich Priests which haue more then they nâ—ede many of them borrow other mens goods and neuer pay them and sometimes they steale them And they haue with them Singers that can sing wanton Songs and some will haue Bag-pipes so that euery Towne where they come with their noyse of singing piping â—angling of Canterbury Bels and the barking of dogs they make more noyse then if the king came thither with all his Clarions and Minstrels and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage they will bee halfe a yeare after wranglers tale-bearers and lyers Bishop Lewde losell thou seest not farre enough into this matter it is fit they haue such musicke with them that when one goeth barefoote burteth his foote against a stone and maketh it bleede it is well done that his fellow sing a song or play on a bagge pipe to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe and with such solace their trauell and wearinâ—sse is lightly and merrily brought forth Dauids last Psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse â—nstruments of musicke Thorpe By the sentence of â—iuerse Doctors that musicke that Dauid and other Saints of the Old Lawe spake of ought not to be interpreted liâ—terally but gostly for Saint Paul saith all such thingâ— befell to them in figure therefore I vnderstand that the letter of this Psalme and other Psalmes and Sentences doth slay them that take them now literally This sence I vnderstand Christ approueth puâ—ting out the minstrels ere he would quicken the Damzell Bishop Lewd losell is it not lawfull so haue Organes in the Church to worship God withall Thorpe Yea by mans ordinance but a good Sermon to the peoples vnderstanding were much more pleasant to God Bishoppe Organs and delectable Songs quicken mens wits more then a Sermon Thorpe Worldly men delight in sencible solace but the faithfull louers of Christ delight to heare Gods word and vnderstand it truâ—ly and Saint Ierome saith No body may ioy with this world and raigne with Christ. Bishop What thinke you this 〈◊〉 will speake whereas hee hath no dreade being bee speaketh thus in my presence well well by God you shall bee ordained for Thou saidest Priests had no tittle to Tythes Thorpe One would know of me whether Priests by the word of God may curse one for not paying of Tythes Christ and his Apostles tooke no Tythes nor commanded none so to doe Saint Paul saith The Lord hath ordained that they that Preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell And if Priests were now in measurable number and liued vertuously add taâ—ghâ— busily and truely Gods word without Tythes 〈◊〉 and other duâ—ies the people would giue them sufficiâ—nt liuings One of his Clarkes said How can that be slucâ— by the Law Priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their Liuing Bishop Thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case Thorpe I neuer taught in that wise I haue Preached in many places that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature and that none ought to swrare in any case if without an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath but as he cannot otherwise excuâ—e himselfe he ought onely to sweare by God taking him only that is true to witnesse truth And there were many other arguments wherein was no great matâ—er worth abridging if the reader be disposed hee may see the booke at large After hee had denied to sweare obedience vnto the Bishop except in those things that were according to the word of God the Archbishoppe bade the Constable haue him away in haâ—â—e Bishop I was led foorth and brought to a â—oule and vnhonest prison where I was neuer before when they were gone and had shut the doore I busied my selfe to thinâ—â— on God and thanke him of his goodnesse and I was greatly comforted that I was deliuered for a time from the sight hearing and presence and scorning and menasing of mine enemies but much more I reioyced in the Lord that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉 that without heauinesse and anguish of conscience I passed away from them Now O God to the praising of thâ— blessed name make vs one together by
the houses in Wormes The fourth or fift day after he came to Wormes he was enioyned at foure of the clock in the afternoone to appeare before the Emperor Dukes and other estates of the Empire to vnderstand the cause he was sent for And standing before them he was commanded silence vntill he was interrogated Then was asked him whether those books were his which were written in his name a great company of them lying before them and if they were thine whether thou wilt recant and reuoke them and all that is contained in them or rather meanest to stand to that which is written in them Then Luthers Aduocate desired that the titles of the books might be read which was done Luther answered Hée could not but acknowledge those bookes to be his and that he would neuer recant any clause thereof and for the iustifying of them he desired some time to consider because there be questions of faith and the saluation of the soule wherein it were dangerous and a rash thing to pronounce any thing without good aduisement After they had consulted the Officiall said Though thou doest not deserue to haue opportunity giuen thée to determine yet the Emperour of his méere clemencie gâ—anteth thée one day to morrow at this time thou shalt render before him conditionally thou do not exhibit thine opinion in writing but pronounce the same with liuely voyce At which time when he was appointed to answer he answered to this effect All my books are not of one sort there be some in which I haue so simplie and Euangelically intreated of the religion of faith and honest conuersation that my very enemies are compelled to confesse they be profitable and worthy to be read of all Christians and the Popes Bull iudgeth certaine of my books inculpable if I should reuoke these I should condemne that truth which friends and foes confesse There is another sort of my books which containe inuectiues against the Pope and doctrine of the Papists as against those which haue corrupted all Christendom bodily and spiritually with their pestiferous doctrine and pernicious examples for I cannot dissemble this when the vniuersall experience and common complaint of all beare witnesse that the consciences of all faithfull men haue béen most miserably intrapped vexed and most cruelly tormented by the Popes lawes and doctrine of men and further their substance deuoured specially in this famous Countrey of Germanie If then I should reuoke these I can doe none other but augment force to their tyrannie and not only open windowes but wide gates to such an infernall impietie the which will extend more wide and with more libertie then yet she durst and by the testimonie of this my retractation their insolent and malitious Kingdome shall be made most licentious and lesse subiect to punishment If I Luther should do this by the authoritie of your most excellent maiestie The third sort of my books I haue written against priuat persons such as with tooth and nayle labor to protect the Romish tyrannie and deface true religion which I haue taught and professed I confesse against these I haue been more violent then my profession required if I should recant these it would come to passe that tyranny and impietie shall raigne sâ—pported by my meanes â— Neuerthelesse as Christ when he was examined of his doctrine before Annas and hauing receiued a buffet of the Minister said If I haue spoken ill beare witnesse of the euill If Christ which was assured he could not erre refused not to haue testimony giuen against his doctrine how much more I that cannot but erre ought earnestly to intreat if any will beare witnesse against my doctrine and if any can by Scripture conuince me of error I will reuoke any manner of error and be the first that shall consume my books with fire I conceiue no greater delectation in any thing then when I behold dissentions stirred vp for the word of God for such is the course of the Gospell as Christ saith I came not to send peace vpon the earth but a sword I came to set a man at variance against his father And we must thinke our god is terrible in his Councels against his aduersaries lest the condemning of the word of God turne to a huge Sea of euils lest the Empire of this yong and bounteous Prince Charles bee lamentably and miserably begun I could amplifie this with authorities of Scripture and Pharo the King of Babylon and the Kings of Israell who then most obscured the bright Sunne of their glorie and procured their owne ruine when they attempted to pacifie their Realmes in this manner Then the Emperours Ambassador checked Luther saying he had not answered to any purpose and that he ought not to call in question things long time agoe defined by generall Councels therefore they required whether he would reuoke or no. Then he answered If I be not conuicted by testimonies of Scriptures and probable reasons for I beléeue not the Pope nor his generall Councels I will not nor may not reuoke any thing for it is vngodly to doe against my conscience Then the Embassador replied if all such as impugne that which was decréed by the Church and Councels may once get this aduantage to be conuinced by the Scriptures we shall haue nothing established in Christâ—ndom Luther answered the Councells oft gainsaid themselues and that he was able to proue that Councels haue erred and night approaching the Lords arose and after Luther had taken his leaue of the Emperor diuers Spaniards scorned and scoffed at him hollowing and whopping after him a long time After there were bills set vp against Luther and others with him but this was subtilly done of his enemies as it was thought that there might be occasion offered to infringe the safe conduct giuen him the which the Romane Embassador with all diligence indeuoured to bring to passe When he was sent for to the Archbishop of Triers they protested vnto him they sent not for him for disputation but beningly and brotherly to exhort him and they said though the Councels had erred yet their authoritie was not thereby abased neither was it lawfull for euery man to impugne their opinions and that Decrées Traditions of men and Ceremonies were established to represse vices according to the qualities of times and that the Church could not be destitute of them the trée is knowne by his fruits These lawes haue much profited And they alleadged that Luthers books would breed great tumult and incredible troubles and that he abused the common sort with his booke of Christian liberty incouraging them to shake off their yoake and to confirme in them a disobedience and that now the world was at another stay then when the beleeuers were all of one minde And albeit he had written many good things and doubtlesse with a good spirit yet now the Diuell hath attempted by wily meanes that all his works for euermore should be condemned and by these last workes
gratefull to the people he resolued to preach and after the Sermon the whole Congregation be wayled called together the Priors deliuered them the Letter from the Presidents and that they should be fined a thousand Gildrons if they suffered him to preach They were moued because it was against the custome of their Country as aforesaid yet they concluded to keepe Henry for their Preacher and defend him In the after noone hee preached againe the next day the Cittizens sent Ambassadours to the Presidents offering to answer all causes for their Preacher and they declared what godly Sermons he had preached and the Parish-Priest wrote to excuse himselfe that Henry neuer intended sedition but to preach the Word truly and offered himselfe ready to answere for the saide Henry whensoeuer he should be called most earnestliâ— desiring not to credit the Monkes which being blinde with hatred and Auarice would suppresse the truth After he Preached three forenoones and afternoones and taught cleerelie Iustification to bee onely by Faith in Christ and not by workes they all reioyced and desired God that he would send such a Preacher to continue amongst them Finally this Prior and others determined to take this Henry by night and burn him before the people should know it All the Presidents and others that were in this conspiracy assembled in the Parish of the new Church in the Councelors house They assembled aboue 500. men of the Country the husband-men would haue gone backe againe when they knâ—w the matter but the Presidents compelled them to stay and to incourage them gaue them thrée barrels of Hamborow beare at midnight they came in armour the Monkes prepared them torches they burst into the Parish Priests house they tooke away all things they fell vpon the Parish Priest crying kill the théefe they pulled him by the haire of the head out into the dirt then they runne vpon Henry drew him naked out of his bed bound his hands hard behind him and drew him to and fro so vnmercifully that a cruell Persecutor of the word cryed let him alone When they had led him almost all night barefooted vpon the Ice he desired a horse because â—e was weary and his féete sore cut they laughed and mocked saying must we hire an Horse for an Hereticke When they brought him to the fire to be burned a woman offered her selfe to suffer 1000. stripes and to giue them much money so they would kéepe him in prison vntill he might plead his matter before the whole Conuocation of the Country then they were more mad threw downe the woman trod her vnder féet and beat Henry vnmercifully one strucke him behind the head with a Dagger another struck him with a Mace othersome thrust him in the backe and raines as often as he began to to speake The Chancelor cryed go to boldly good Fellowes truly God is presâ—nt with vs. A Franciscan Fryer came to confesse him to whom Henry said What iniury did I euer doâ— you Brother The Fryer said neuer none then hee saide What should I confesse vnto you that you can forgiue me when the fire still was kindled it would not burne yet they satisfied their minds on him striking and pricking him with all kind of weapons then they gat a lather and bound him to it and cast him into the fire When hee beganne to pray and repeate his Creede one strucke him with his Fist saying Thou shalt first be burned after prate while thou wilt another trode on his breast and bound his neck so hard to the Ladder that the blood gushed out of his mouth and the Ladder being propped vp with a Holbert and slipping aside the Holbert runne through him then one strucke him with a Mace on the breast vntill he was dead then they consumed the body in the fire Maister Iohn Castellane Doctor of Diuinity hauing truly preached the Word of God at Metz in Loraine and many other Townes and returning from thâ—nce was taken Prisoner by the Cardinall of Loraines men Whereupon they of Metz tooke certaine of the Cardinals Subiects Prisoners at length by meanes from the Pope and otherwise they were discharged but Iohn Castellane was kept still Prisoner and most cruelly handled but hee perseuered very constant in the saide Doctrine so they proceeded to the disgrading and condâ—mning of him Euery ignorant man may see the horrible blindnesse of these vnshamefull beasts by their horâ—ible blasphemies and brutish subtilty which they vse in their Processe against the Children of God the preamble whereof followeth in effect For as much as thou art accused before the Inquisitor for maintaining false and erronious Doctrine and of thine owne good will hast confessed it remembring also the lamentaâ—le admonâ—â—ions and charitable exhortations which wee made vnto thee in the Towne of Metz which you like the Serpent Aspis haue refused to heare and considering thy answeres to our Intergatories in the which by diabolicall Art thou hast hid and kept backe the truth and followed the example of Caine in denying to confâ—sse thy mischeeuous offence and considering the great number of witnesses and worthy men that deposed against thee before the Reuerend man Doctor Sauin Inquisitor and hauing communicated our purpose vnto diuers most excellent Maisters and Doctors which haue subscribed therevnto Whereby it appeareth y â— thou Iohn Castellane hast oftentimes in diuers places openly taught many erroneous propositions full of the heresies of Luther against the Catholike Faith the verity of the Gospell and the holy Apostolike seate so accursedly looked back and turned thy face that thou art found to be a lyer before Almighty God therefore according to the common Law such as through the sharpe darts of their venemous tongue doe peruert the Scriptures and goe about with all their power to peruert and corrupt the soules of the faithfull should bee corrected with most cruell vengeance to feare others to attempt the like and that all may reioice in Christian concord all take example of goodnes therefore hauing God onely before our eyes and surely considering what measure wee doe mete vnto others God will measure the like to vs againe wee therefore pronounce sentence definitiue and Iudge thée excommunicate with the great excommunication and to be culpable of treason against the diuine Maiestie and a mortall enemy of the Catholicke Church and verity of the Gospell and to be a manifest Heretick and follower of the execrable cruelty of Martin Luther a stirrer vp of old heresies all already condemned and so they disgraded him and deliuered him to the seculer Iudge This done the Bishop after a certaine manner intreated the seculer Iudge for him for the loue of GOD and the contemplation of the gifts of pietie and mercie for the respect of our prayers that you will not doe any thing that shall be hurtfull vnto this miserable man or tending to his death or maiming of his body then the seculer Iudge condemned him to be burned quick which he suffered most
nor old Law therefore said the Bishop I will know nothing but my portous and my pontificall if you forgoe not these fantasies you shall repent it Thomas said my cause is iust before God and I passe not what followeth thereon After he was summoned by the Cardinall of Saint Andrewes and the said Bishop of Dunkelden and with him were summoned Frier Iohn Kellow Frier Beuarage Duncane Simson Priest Robert Foster a Gentleman with thrée or foure other men of Striueling who at theiâ— day of apparance were condemned to death without any place of recantation because they were chiefe hereticks and teachers of heresies and because many of them were at the marriage of the Priest of Twybody and eate flesh in Lent at their Bridall and they were all together burnâ—d vpon the Castle Hill of Edenbrough where they comforted one another merueilously The Persecution of certaine in the towne of Perth THere was an Act of Parliament in the gouernment of the Earle of Arrai giuing priuilege to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue but secluding al conference thereof wherby y â— eyes of the elect of God were opened to sée the truâ—h and abhorre Papisticall abhominations at which time Fryer Spencer preached that Prayers made to Saints were necessary and without it no hope of saluation Then Robert Lambe a Burges of Perth accused him opâ—nlâ— in the Church of erronious Doctrine and adiured him in Gods name to vtter the truth whereupon trouble and tumulâ— of people arose so that the said Robert with great danger of his life escaped euen the Women addressed themselues to great cruelty against him Shortly after the Cardinall and the Earle of Argile sat about the matter before these persons were brought Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Rauelson Iames Fouleson and Hellen Sirke his Wife and the next day were condemned to death by an Assize for violating the foresaid Act of Parliment by conferring together of the Scripture and for that the said Robert Lambe William Anderson and Iames Raueleson hanged the Image of Saint Francis in a cord nayling Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rump to his taâ—le and for eating a Goose of Alhollow Eue and Iames Hunter for kéeping company with thâ—m Heâ—len Sirke for saying Mary merited not by workes to be the Mother of Christ and to be preferred before other Women but Gods free mercy â—xalted her to that estate Iohn Raueleson for setting vp in his house a triple Crowne of Saint Peter which the Cardinaâ—l tooke to be done in mockage of his Cardâ—nals haâ— At the place of execution Robert Lambe exhorted the people to feare God and to leaue the leauen of Papisticall abhominations and prophesied of the ruine of the Cardinall which after came to passe and comforting one another that they should sup together in the Kingdome of heauen The Woman desired to die with her Husband but was not suffered then she kissed him saying We haue liued together ioyfull daies but this day is most ioyful because we must haue ioy for euer I will not bid you God night for we shall all this night méete with ioy in heauen The condemnation of GEORGE VVISHARD Gentleman and his Articles before the Cardinall of Scotland and others 1 TOuching Preaching when he was forbidden hee answered I haue read in the Acts of the Apostles that it is not lawfull to desist from preaching the Gospell for menaces of men therefore it is written wee must rather obey God then men and I beléeue that the Lord will turne your cursings of mee vnto blessings and as in the second of Malachy I will curse your blessings blessâ— your cursings 2 He affirmed the mouing of the body outward of the Priest at Masse without the inward mouing of the heart is but the playing of an ape and not the seruing of God who must be honored in spirit and verity 3 That auriculer confession hath no promise of the Euangell and therefore it cannot be a Sacrament but there are many testimonies of confession made to God 4 As none will make marchandise with one of a strange Language except that he doe vnderstand the promise made by the Stranger So I would that we vnderstood what wee promise in the Name of the Infant to GOD in Baptisme then saide one Bleiter a Chaplaine Theâ— hast the Deuill and Spirit of errour then said a Child the Deuill cannot speake such words as he doth 5 The lawfull vse of the Sacraments is most acceptable vnto God but the great abuse is very detestable vnto him I once met with a Iew as I was sayling on the Sea I inquired of him what was the cause of his pertinacy that he did not beléeue the true Messias was come being that he saw the prophesies of him fulfilled and the Prophesies and the Scepter of Iuda was likewise takâ—n away He answered me When the Messias commeth he shall restore all things and he shall not abrogate the Law giuen vnto our fore-fathers as yee doe for we sée the poore almost ready to perish for hunger amongst you and you pitty them not and amongst vs Iewes though we are poore there are no beggars found And it is forbidden by the Law to faine an Image of any thing in Heauen or Earth but onely to honour God but your Churches are full of Idols and ye adore a péece of Bread baked vpon the ashes and that it is your God then the Bishops shooke their heads and spitted on the earth 6 He reproued coniurings and exorcismes of holy Water and said that they were contrary to Gods word 7 Saint Peter saith God hath made vs Kings and Priests and againe hee hath made vs a kinglie Priest-hood therefore I affirme that any man cunning in the Word of GOD and the Faith of Christ he hath power from God by the Word of God to binde and lose and a man that is not conuersant in Gods Word nor constant in Faith what estate or order soeuer he be of hath no power to binde or lose being he wanteth the word of God the instrument to binde and lose with 8 Touching fréewill he said as many as firmely beléeue in Christ haue liberty as in the 8. of Iohn If the Sonne make you free then verily shall you be free but as many as beleeue not in Christ are bond seruants of sinne he that sinneth is bond to sinne 9 Touching praying to Saints he said it is certaine in Scripture that we should worship and honour one God but for honouring of Saints it is doubtfull whether they heare our inuocation made to them therefore I exhort all men that they would leaue the vnsure way and follow that way which our Maister Christ taught vs He is our onely Mediator and maketh intercession for vs hee is the doore he that entreth not in by this doore but climbeth in another way is a Theefe and a Murderer he is the verity and life he that goeth out of this way is fallen into the mire 10
Doctor I would you would remember your selfe and turne to your holy Mother the Church and I will sue for your pardon Taylor answered I would you and your fellowes would turne to Christ as for me I will not turne to Antichrist Then Bonner had him put on the Uestures to bee disgraded but hee would not when they were put vpon him he put his handes by his side and said How say you my Lord am not I a goodlie Foole How say you my Maisters it I were in Cheape-side should I not haue Boyes enough to laugh at these apish toyes and toying trumperie and when the Bishoppe should strike him vpon the breast with his Crossier Staffe his Chaplaines said Strike him not my Lord for he will surely strike you againe That I will said hee for it is our Sauiour Christes cause so the Byshoppe laid his cursâ— oll him but strucke him not When he came to Maister Bradford for they both lay in one Chamber hee told him laughinglie how he had made the Bishop affraid to strike him that night his Wife his Sonne Thomas and his man Iohn Hull were suffered to sup with him after Supper he thanked GOD that hee had giuen him strength to abide by his holie Word Then he said vnto his Sonne My deare Sonne God giue thee his Spirit truly to serue Christ to learne his word and to stand by it all thy life my Sonne feare God fly sinne pray to him and apply thy booke and sée thou be obedient vnto thy Mother cherish the poore and count that try chéefe riches is to be rich in aâ—mes Then he said my deare Wife be steadfast in the â—eare and loue of God be not defiled with Popish Idolatries wee haue béene faithfull yoke-fellowes together the Lord will reward you for your faithfulnesse towards me I now must be taken from you and I would aduise you to marrie with some honest man that feareth GOD he will prouide such a one for you and he will bee a mercifull Father to you and your Children whom I pray bring vp in the feare of God and learning and kéep them from Romish Idolatry then with wéeping feares they prayed together and kissed each other The next day he was carried away towards Hadley to be burned there diuers Gentlemen and Iustices came to him there who laboured him to returne vnto the Romish Religion shewed him his pardon and promised him great promotions yea a Bishoprick if he would but all was vaine for he had not builded his Rocke vpon the sands in perill of euery winde but on the sure Rocke Christ. When hee went through Hadley to execution the stréetes being full they cried out with lamentable voyces Ah good Lord there goeth our Shepheard from vs that hath so faithfully taught vs so fatherly cared for vs and so godly gouerned vs what shall wee poore scattred Lambes doe What shall become of this wicked world good Lord comfort him wherefore the people were fore rebuked and Doctor Taylor euer said to the people I haue preached vnto you Gods word and truth and am come this day to seale it with my blood Comming against the Almes-heuses he cast to the poore people all the Money which remained of that which good people had giuen vnto him in Prison for his Liuing was taken away from him so soone as he was put in Prison so that hee was sustained during the time of his imprisonment by the charitable Almes of good people When he saw the place of execution and the multitude of people that were gathered together then said he thanked be God I am euen at home They had clipped his head ill-fauoredly like a Fooles head by Bonners perswasions when he was disgraded when he came there all the people said God saue thée good Maister Doctor Taylor Iesus strengthen you the Holy Ghost comfort you When he would haue spoken vnto the people one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month then he desired license of the Sheriffe to speake but he denied him and had him remember his promise made vnto the Councell It was a common fame that the Councell sent for such as were condemned and threatned them they would cut their tongues out except they would promise them at their deathes to kéepe silence and not to speake vnto the people When he was in his Shirt hee was set in a Pitch Barrell to bee burned then he said with a loud voyce Good people I haue taught you nothing but GODS Word and those Lessons which I haue taken out of GODS blessed Booke I am therefore come hither this day to seale it with my blood then one Homes a Yeoman of the Gard who had vsed him verie cruelly all the way gaue him a great stroke on the head The Sheriffe called one Richard Doningham a Butcher to set vp the Faggots but he would not then he got others and one of them called Warwicke cruellie cast a Faggot at him and brake his face that the blood ranne downe Doctor Taylor said Ah friend I haue harme enough what néedeth this When the fire was set to him he said Mercifull Father of Heauen for Iesus Christs sake receiue my Soule into thy hands and so stood still without either crying or moouing with his hands folded together vntill one Soyce strucke him vpon the head that the Braines fell out and his Corps fell into the Fire and was burned The foureteenth of February the Lord Chanceller and the Bishops caused the Image of Thomas Becket to be set vp ouer the Mercers Chappeâ—l doore in Cheape-side in London in the forme of a Bishop with Miter and Crosier within two dayes after his two blessing fingers were broken away and the next day his head was stricken off Whereupon many were suspected and one Maister Barnes Mercer being a Professor of the truth was charged therewith and he and three of his Seruants were committed to Prison and though it could not be proued against him he was bound in a great summe to builde it vp againe now and as often as it should be broken downe and to watch and keepe the same The next day after that it was set vp againe the head was the second time broken off then there was a Proclamation set forth that he that could tell who did it he should haue an hundred Crownes with thanks but it was not knowne who did it The vertuous and godly King Christianus King of Denmarke hearing of the captiuitie of Miles Couerdale whom hee knew by reason hee was in Denmarke in King Henry the eight his time and lamenting his dangerous case made intercession by Letters to Quéene Mary desiring the said Miles Couerdalo to be sent vnto him after the King had written two letters Queene Mary after long delay made full answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters by which prouidence of God Miles Couerdale was deliuered ROBERT FARRAR Bishop of Saint Dauids in Wales THis Bishop by the fauour of the Lord Protector was first promoted vnto that
against the aduersary part as is before recited wherefore he was called to account before Gardner and examined by him and then hée was remoued to Bonner and other Commissioners with whom he had diuers conflicts as in his examinations hereafter following may appeare when he had lien a yeere and a halfe in the Marshalsey being twice examined but no point of Religion handled then hee was committed to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house where he found a married Priest of Essex named Thomas Whittle This Minister greatly lamented his owne infirmitie for that through imprisonment hee was constrained by writing to yeelde to the Bishop of London and was set at liberty and after felt such an hell in his conscience that hee could scarce refraine from destroying himselfe and could not bee at quiet vntill he hauing got the Bishops register to see his Bill hee tore it in peeces and after he was as ioifull a man as any could be When Boner heard thereof be sent for him and buffeted him and plucked off a peece of his Beard but now he is ioyfull vnder the crosse He was thirtéene or fourtéene times in priuate and publikely examined his answeres that concerne any point of Religion heere follow The third examination Boner YOu must be of the Church for there is but one Church Phil. I am sure I am in the Church I know by the Scriptures that there is but one Doue one Spouse one beloued congregation out of the which there is no saluation This Church is builded vpon the word of God Bon. You are not in the same Faith in which you were baptized Phil. I was baptized into the Faith of Christ which I now hold Bon. You were twenty yeares agone of another Faith Phil. I was then of no Faith a wicked liuer neither hote nor cold Bon. Doe you not think we are of a true Faith Phil. I am sure Gods word throughly with the primitiue Church and all ancient writers doe agree with this Faith that I am â—ff Bon. I maruell you are so merry in prison singing and reioycing in your naughtines you should rather lament Phil. The mirth we make is but singing of Psalmes as S. Paul willeth vs to be merry in the Lord singing together in Hymnes and Psalmes wee are in a darke comfortles place therefore it becommeth vs to be merry as Salomon saith least sorrowfulnes eate vp our hearts Then I was carried to the Cole-house where I with my six fellowes rouse together in the straw as cheerefully we thank God as others doe in their Doune beds The fourth Examination Worcest BEfore he beginneth to speak it is best for him to call to God for grace to open his heart that he may conceaue the truth Phil. Then I fell vpon my knees and said Almighty God the giuer of wisedom I beséech thée of thine infinit goodnes in Christ to giue me most vile sinner the spirit of wisedome to speake and make answer in thy cause to the content of the hearers and to my better vnderstanding if I be deceiued in any thing Boner May my Lord of VVorcester you did not well to exhort him to prayer for they haue a singular pride heerein they are heerein like certaine hereticks that Pliny maketh mention off they did â—ing dayly praises to God before the dawning of the day Phil. God make me and you such hereticks for they were right Christians with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing Col. Where can you proue that the Church of Rome hath erred at any time Eusebius saith the Church was established at Rome by Peter and Paul and Peter was Bishop there 25. yeares Phil. I know Eusebius saith so but if you compare him with Saint Paul to the Galathians it will appeare manifestly to the contrarie He liued not past fiue and thirty yeares after he was called to be an Apostle and S. Paul maketh mention of his abiding aboue eighteene yeares and I am able to proue by Eusebius and others that the Church of Rome hath manifestly erred because shee agreeth not with that which the primitiue Church did vse according to the Gospel in their time as they write there need no other proofe but compare the one with the other Bon. Ought we to dispute with you of our Faith Iustinian in the Law hath a Title De fide Catholica to the contrarie Phil. That is true but our Faith must not depend vpon the ciuill Law Ambrose saith not the Law but the Gospell hath gathered the Church together Worcest You are to blame you cannot be content to be of the Church which hath euer been of that Faith full of Antiquitie Phil. I haue been at Rome where I saw your Lordship Worcest I am sory you haue been there for the wickednes which you saw there peraduenture causeth you to doe as you doe Phil. I am taught otherwise by the Gospell not altogether to refuse the Minister for his euill liuing so that hee bring forth Doctrine according to Gods word Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church may be deceiued Phil. Saint Paul prophesieth that there shall be an vniuersall falling away from the Faith in the later times Col. That is not ment of Faith but of th' empire the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so signifieth Phil. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly a departing from the Faith and thereof commeth Apostata which signifieth one that departeth from the Faith Worcest I am sory you should be against the Christian world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hated the truth and be enemies vnto the same Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church hath erred and you onely to be of the truth Phil. The Church that you bee of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world Asia and Africa neuer consented to the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome not to this day neither follow his Decrees Glo. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was so said by false report after they were gone home it was not so indeed as the sequell of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Glo. By whom will you bee iudged in matters of controuersie which happen dayly Phil. By the Word of God For Christ saith in S. Iohn the word that hee spoke shall be Iudge in the latter day Glo. What if you take the word one way and I another way who shall bee Iudge Phil. The Doctors of the Primitiue Church Glo. What if you take the Doctors in one sence and I in another Phil. Then let that be taken which most agreeth to Gods Word Worcest It is wonder how he standeth with a few against a great number Phil. We haue almost as many as you We haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France dayly the number of the Gospel doth increase and a multitude doth dayly come out of France through persecution that the cities of Germany are scarce able to
the aduersaries therof should be neuer able to resist and by this wee know wee are of the truth because neither by reasoning nor writing your Synagogue of Rome is able to answere one of the learned Ministers of Germany who hath disclosed your counterset Religion which of all you is able to answere Caluins institutions Then Doctor Story came in to whom I said you haue done me great iniury without Law you haue imprisoned me more like a dog then a man and you promised mee I should be iudged the next day after Story I am come now to kéep my promise with you was there euer such a fantasticall man as he is may he is no man but a beast yea these hereticks bee worse then beasts for they will take vpon them to be wiser then all men being very asseheads not able to maintaine that which they stand in Phil. I am content to abide your rayling Iudgement God forgiue you yet I am no heretick neither you nor any other can proue that I hold any iot against the Word of God Story The Word of God whom wilt thou appoint to be a iudge of the word Phil. The word it selfe Story Doe you not sée the Ignorance of this beastly Heretick hee willeth the word to be iudge of the word can the word speake Phil. Christ saith in S. Iohn The word which I haue spoken shall Iudge in the last day therefore much more it ought to iudge our doing now and I am sure I haue my Iudge on my side which shall absolue and iustifie me in another world howsoeuer you iudge me and other vnrighteously sure I am in another World to iudge you Story What you purpose to be a stinking Martyr and to sit in iudgment with Christ at the last day to iudge the twelue Tribes of Israell Phil. Yea I doubt not thereof I haue the promise of Christ if I die for righteousnesse sake which you haue begun to persecute in me Story When the Iudge in Westminster hall giueth sentence doth the word giue sentence or the Iudge tell me Phil. Ciuill men haue authority by the word of God to be Iudges of ciuill matters but the word of God is not subiect to mans iudgement but ought to iudge al the wisedome thoughts and doings of men therefore your comparison disproueth nothing which I haue said nor answereth thereto Story Wilt thou not allow the interpretation of the Church vpon the Scripture Phil. Yes if it be according vnto the word of the true Church Story And not wee in possession of the Church and haue not our fore-fathers this many hundred yeares taken this Church for the Catholike Church and if we had no other proofe this were sufficient for presumption of time maketh a good title in Law Phil. You doe well to alleadge prescription for it is all that you haue to shew for your selues but you must vnderstand that presciption hath no place in matters appertaining vnto GOD as I can shew you by the testimonie of many Doctors Story Well Sirs you are like to go after your Fathers Latimer and Ridley who had nothing to alledge for himselfe but that he had learned his heresie of Cranmer where I came vnto him with a poore Bacheler of Art he trembled as though he had had the Palsie as these hereticks haue alwaies some token of feare whereby a man may know them as you may sée this mans eies to tremble in his head but I dispatched them and I tell thée that there hath yet béen neuer a one burned but I haue spoken with him and béene a cause of his dispatch Phil. You haue the more to answer for you shall féele it in another world howsoeuer you do now triumph thereof Story I will neuer be confessed thereof I cannot tarry to speake with my Lord I pray one of you tell my Lord my comming is to signifie vnto him that hee must put of hand rid this Hereticke out of the way and going he said vnto me I tel thée thou must thank no other man but me for this Phil. I thanke you with all my heart and God forgiue you Story What dost thou thanke me if I had thée in my study halfe an houre I thinke I should make you sing another song Phil. No I stand vpon to sure a ground to be ouerthrowne by you now The ninth examination Harps MY Lord hath sent you S. Augustine to looke vpon I will read you an Epistle where you may heare the celebration of the Masse Phil. Héere is nothing that maketh for the proofe of the Masse Saint Augustine meaneth of the celebration of the Communion and the true vse of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ and not of your priuate Masse which you lately haue erected in the stead thereof for this word Masse hath bin an old terme attributed to the Communion euen from the Primitiue Church I pray you tell me what Missa doth signifie I thinke many that say Masse cannot tell but then Cousins and the Masse-Priests were dumbe Harps You think it commeth of the Hebrew word Massah as though none were séene in the Hebrew but you Phil. I take the communion to be called Missa a mittendo of such things as were sent by the rich to the reléefe of the poore alwaies when the communion was celebrated for this cause was it called Missa as learned men do witnes at the which celebration of the Masse all that were present did communicate vnder both kinds according to Christs institution as they did in S. Augustines time so being you cannot proue the Masse vsed at that time as you now vse it you can neuer proue it a Sacrament by the name of the Masse which name was giuen to the communion Harps What do you deny the Masse to be a Sacrament it is a sacrifice which is more then a Sacrament Phil. You can neuer make it a sacrifice but first you must make it a Sacrament for of the Sacrament you deduce your Sacrifice Harps Doth not Christ say This is my body and doth not the Priest pronounce the same Phil. The pronuntiation of the words is not enough except they be applied vnto the vse that Christ appointed them for though you speake the words of Baptisme ouer the water yet if there be none baptized it is no Baptisme Harps That this is not like for this is my body is an Indicatiue proposition shewing the worke of God in the substance of bread and wine Phil. It is not only an Indicatiue proposition but an Imparatiue or commaunding for he that said This is my body said also take ye eate ye and except it bée taken and eaten the words This is my body can haue no verification Masse Chapl. Will you make the Sacrament to stand in the receiuing and that the receiuing maketh it a Sacrament Phil. I say the common receiuing must néeds be concurrant with the true Sacrament without which it cannot be a Sacrament because Christ hath made this a
day night for now my foule is turned vnto her old rest again hath taken a swéet naâ— in Christs lap I haue cast my care vpon the Lord which will care for mee and will be careles according vnto my name as soon as I had read your comfortable Letter my sorrowes vanished away as smoke in the wind I am sure the spirit of God was aâ—thor of it Good M. Philpot thou art a principal Pot indéed filled with most precious liquor Oh pot most happy of the high Potter ordained to honour which doest containe such heauenly treasure in the earthen vessell Oh pot most happy in whom Christ hath turned water into wine and that of the best whereof the Master of the Feast hath fiâ—led my cup so full that it hath made mee drunken in the ioy of the spirit When martyrdome shall breake thee oh vessell of honour the fragrant sauour of the precious ointments will much reioyce the heaâ—y hearts of Christs true members Iohn Gwinne Askin Iulines Palmer THe 16. of Iuly these thrée godly and constant martyrs were burned at Newbery in Barkshire Iulines Palmer had been student in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and was Schoolemaister of Redding all King Edwards daies hee was an obstinate Papist abhorring all godly prayer and sincere preaching and was abhorred and put out of the Colledge for the same yet after in Quéene Maries time suffered a most cruel death at the Papists hands He was born in Couentry his father had sometimes béene Mayor of the Citty When Quéene Mary came to her raign he was receiued into the fellowship of the Colledge again but his mind was â—o far altered that hee would not come to prayers for feare of suspition but when he should kéepe his bowing measures at the Confiteor in turning vpward downeward and knocke his breast with Idolatrous adoration at the lifting vp of the Sacrament his heart rose against it that hee would get him out of the Church wherefore he left the Colledge and became Schoolemaister in Redding and béeing vexed with the consideration of the cruelty that was then shewed to the Christians he made a testimony of his Faith and deliuered it to Doctor Geffery in his visitation who reading the same put him in Prison and within a fortnight after burned him as before where he yéelded vp as ioyfull a Soule to God as euer any did Katherine Cauches mother and Paratine and Guillimiue her Daughters THE said Katherine was a Widdow they were of the Isle of Garnesey the 10. of Iuly they were there burned for herâ—ticks for professing the truth Paratiue being great with childe and ready to bee brought a bed the wombe of the said Paratine being buâ—ned there issued from her a goodly man Child which by the officer was taken vp and after most spitefull manner throwne into the fire and most cruelly burned with her seely mother The cause was thiâ— a woman had stollen a cup and pawned it to this Katherine for six pence she perceiuing whose cup it was thought to haue carried it home In the meane time the owner of the cup missed it and charged ber with it that stole it who confessed it and brought the owner of the cup to the Widdow who deliuered him the Cup shortly after the Bayliffâ—s hearing thereof searched her house they finding one Platter which had no marke and another that had the mark scraped out Whereupon they brought her and her two Daughters to the Iustices who committed them vnto prison and the Bayliffs seized vpon all their goods and when they could proue nothing against them the Bayliffs accused them of heresie and caused them to be committed againe and the Bayliffs wrote to Iaques Amy Deane of the I le aforesaid to desire him to proceed against them in the cause of heresie whereupon the said Deane assisted by the Curats there did make an inquirie of the said widdow and her daughters and condemned them for hereticks the widdow and her daughters neuer hearing therof and deliuered it to the Bayliffs and Iurats whereupon when the Bayliffs did know that the said Deane and Curats had not examined the woman they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordained that the women should first be examined of their Faith before the Deane and Curats wherefore the women were presented before the said Deane and Curats who answered that they would obeâ— the Ordinances of the King and Queene and the commandements of the Church notwithstanding they were condemned and thereupon burned and the Bayliffs had all their goods as before but in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne the Gernâ—â—y men and one Matthew Cauches brother to â—he said two Sisters presented a supplication to the Quéenes Commissioners touching that matter who sitting vpon the cause found the matter probable and commitâ—ed the Deane to prison and dispossessed him of all his liuings and possessions Thomas Dungate Iohn Forman Mother Tree THe 18 of Iuly these gaue themselues to the fire for righteousnes sake patiently abiding what the rage of man could say or doe against them they were burned at Grinsted in Sussex Ioane Wast was of the Parish of Alhallowes in Darby shee was condemned by Radulph Bane Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield his Chancellor and others for that she did hold the Sacrament of the Popish Altar to be but a representation of Christs body and materiall bread and wine and not his naturall body vnlesse it were receiued and that it ought not to be reserued from time to time ouer the Altar but immediatly to be receiued She was burned at the aforesaid Darby when she suffered she made her prayer to the Lord Iesâ—s to assist and strengthen her and being bound to the stake with flames about her she suffered with ioy and triumph as though she had rather béene going to a banket then to yéeld vp her life Edward Sharp was an aged man borne in Wilshire he was condemned the 8. of September where hee constantly and manfully persisted in the iust quarrell of Christs Gospell for misliking renouncing the ordinances of the Romish Church He was tryed as pure gold and made a liuely sacrifice in the fire Iohn Hart Tho Rauensdale and two whose names we haue not the one a Shomaker the other a Coriar THese foure were burned at Mayfield in Sussex the 24. of September being at the place where they should suffer after they had made their Prayer they constantly and ioyfully ended their liues for the testimony of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ. The next day a yong man a Carpenter whose name we know not was burned for the Testimony of Christ at Bristow he died with much ioy constancy and triumph Thomas Horne and a woman THe 25. of September thâ—se two godly Martirs were consumed by the fire at Watton Underhedge in Glocestershire who died very gloriously in a constant Faith to the terror of the wicked and comfort of the godly A Shoemaker was a true Witnesse and Disciple of the
perswaded her to leaue her wicked opinion of the Sacrament but she answered that it was nothing but bread and wine that they might be ashamed to say that a péece of bread should be turned by a man into the naturall body of Christ which bread doth sennew and Mice oftentimes do eate it and it doth mould and is burned Gods owne body will not be so handled or kept in prison or Boxes let it be your GOD it shall not be mine for my Sauiour sitteth at the right hand of God and doth pray for me and to make it the very body of Christ and to worship it is foolish and deuillish deceit Then an old Frier asâ—ed her what she said of the holy Pope I say quoth she he is Antichrist and the Deuill then they all laughed â—ay said she you had more néed to weep then laugh in that you are Chaplaines vnto that whâ—re of Babylon I defie him and all his falshood you damne soules when you teach the people to worship Idolls and to worship a false God of your owne making of a peece of Bread and that the Pope is Gods Uicar and can forgiue sinnes and that there is a Purgatory when Gods Sonne hath by his Passion purged all and say you make God and sacrifice him when Christs body was a Sacrifice once for all you teach the people to number their sinnes in your eares and say they bee damned â—f they doe not confesse all when GOD saith Who can number his sinnes You promise them Trentalls and Dirges and Masses for Soules and sell your prayers for Money and make them buy pardons and trust in such foolish inuâ—ntions you teach vs to pray vpon Beads and to pray vnto Saints you make Holy bread and holy water to fray Deuils and you do make a thousand moe abhominations yet you say you came to saue my soule no no one hath saued me farewell with your saluation In Saint Peters Church shee beheld a cunning Duch-man how he made new Noses to certaine Images which were disfigured in King EDVVARDS time What a mad man art thou said she to make new noses which within a few daies shall all loose their heads thou thine Images are acccursed hee called her whore nay said the thine Images are whoores and thou art a whoore-hunter For God saith you goe a whoring after strange Gods Then she was clapped fast and after had no liberty and not long after she was condemned Then she said I thanke God this day I haue found that which I haue long sought and being then exhorted to recant she said I will neuer lose eternall life for this short life I will not turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the fellowship of Angels to mortall Children God is my Father God is my Mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my Friend most faithfull shee was burned at Execester Iohn Sharpe Thomas Hall Thomas Benion THese were burned in the towne of Bristow for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was the greatest and most abhominable Idol that euer was and Thomas Benion denied fiue of their Sacraments and affirmed two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme they died godly constantly and patiently Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maidstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight alias Tinley THese were the last that suffered in Quéen Maries raigne They were burned at Canterbury but six daies before the death of Queene Mary The Arch-deacon of Canterbury being at London and vnderstanding the danger of the Quéene made post-hast home to dispatch these They were condemned for not beleeuing the body of Christ to be in the Sacrament of the Altar vnlesse it be receiued and for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christs body and that it is Idolatry to créepe to the crosse and that we should not pray vnto our Lady and other Saints when there sentence should beâ— read against them Iohn Cornefield excommunicated the Papists in these words as follow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the Son of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy Spirit and of the authority of his holy Cathothick and Apostolick Church wee doe giue here into the hands of Sathan to bee destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers and hereticks that doâ— maintaine any error against his most holy word or doe condemne his most holy truth for heresie to the maintâ—nance of any false Church or fained religion so that by this thy iust Iudgement O most mighty God against thy Aduersaries thy true religion may be knowne to thy great glory and our comfort and to the edifying of all our Nation good Lord so be it This procéeded as it seemed from an inward faith and harty zeale to Gods truth and it tooke such effect against the enemies that within six daies Queene Mary died and all tyranny with her These godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made at their martyrdom desired God that their bloud might be the last that should be shed and so it was Katherine Tinley was the mother of one Robert Tinley dwelling in Maidestone The Story of Nicholas Burton Marchant of London dwelling in little S. Bartholomew THe fift of Nouember he being in the Citie of Cadix in the parts of Aâ—doâ—azia in Spaine about his marchandize there came one of the inquisition vnto his lodging who fained to hâ—ue a Letter to deliuer vnto his hands when he came vnto him he inuented another lye and said that he would take lading vnto London in his ships delaying the time vntill the Alquisyell or Sergeants of the inquiâ—ition might apprehend them and seeking to know his ships that they might attache them when they had arrested him he boldly asked them what cause they had against him and he would answere them They carried him vnto a filthy common prison of the towne of Cadix where he remained in Irons amongst theeues thirteene daies all which time he instructed the poore prisoners in the word of God that he had reclaimed sundry of them from superstitions to embrace the Word of God which being known they conuayed him thence vnto the Citie of Siuill into a more cruell prison called Triane where the Fathers of the inquisition proceeded against him secretly that neuer after he could be suffered to speake or write vnto any of his Nation And the twentith day of December they brought him with a great number of other prisoners into the Citie of Siuil into a place where the Inquisiâ—ion sate in Iudgement they put on him a Canuas coat wheron was painted in diuers parts the figure of a huge Diuell tormenting a soule in fire and on his head a long cap of the same worke his tongue was forced out of his mouth with a clouen sticke fastened vpon it that he should not vtter his Faith and conscience vnto the people and so he was set with
Placentia was accused vnto the Pope that he had a wife children the Pope depriued him of his Benifices and he went to Rome and shewed that she was another mans wife and but his Concubine and neuer married vnto him nor could be and though he was a vile Adulterer he was restored vnto his Benifices againe If any Iew become a Christian the Pope confiscates their goods according to a Law of the Iewes else many Iewes would become Christians S. Anthony is the Papists Saint to pray vnto for fire S. Rock for the plague S. Bastion for the pestilence S. Apolinia for the tooth-ache S. Blase for the disease of throat S. Anthony and S. Rocke were called Martires because they went from Citty to Citty to desire men to offer them by death and could get none Saint Christopherus THE Christians in old time pictured a Christian in the forme of a great Gyant because he must be strong to beare Christ and his truth before men they feigned he carrieth men ouer the water by water they meaâ—â— our life which we cannot come ouer to come vnto heauen except we be taught by a Christian the truth they pictured him with a tree in his hand to stay vpon by the which they meant faith without which we should often fal after hee vsed this tree it grew greene to signifie that Faith exercised with Charity is liuely His name was called Christopherus which signifieth bearing Christ Hee was painted at the entrances of the Churches The Papists haue conuerted it vnto a Saint and pray vnto it Saint George LIkewise Saint George that killed the Dragon to deliuer the Kings Daughter from that terrible beast which had destroyed all Capadocia By Capadocia is ment the world The Dragon signifieth the Diuell The Kings Daughter the Church And Saint George represents Christ of which fable the Papists haue made a great Saint and pray vnto it The Papists haue trantfsormed all the heathen Gods of Rome to be their Gods onely by giuing them other names Pantheon in Rome which was the house of all Gods is Maria Rotunda the house of all Saints In the place of Cibile mother of Gods is now placed to Mary The Temple that was dedicated to Pallas Minerua a Uirgine is now dedicated Minerua a Uirgine The Temple of Romulus and Rheimes is now the Temple of Saint Cosmus and Damian The temple that was ef Castor and Pollux is now of Saint Geruais and Protheys the Heathens had Lucian to heale their eyes the Papists in stead thereof haue Saint Lucy and in steed of Ceres God of Corne now is Saint Pancras The Heathens had Mars and Pallas Gods of Warre in steed of them the Papist haue Saint George and Saint Barbera The Heathen Sea men saw Castor and Pollux at the end of a tempest the papists in such case see Saint Erenius as Vesta Virgines could not marry so the Nunnes may not marry in the old time they washed to clense sinnes and now they fillip Holy Water vpon their foreheads to clense sinnes For the Heathens Iuno Feronia they haue Iuno Lucina For the heathens Iuno Saturnia they haue Iuno Curies For the Heathens Lady of Grace and Lady of Myracles the Papists haue our Lady our Lords Mother and our Lady of People The Papists fill their Churches with tables containing vowes for the help that the Saints haue done for them as were in the old time in the heathen Churches containing the myracles that their Idols had done Calapine saith that Cardinall is the selfe-same that Carneuale neither the one nor the other doth attend to any other thing then to eate drinke sleepe commit whooredome banquet and doe other wicked acts so many that no tongue can expresse In place of the foure Gospels the papists haue put the foure Councels Nice Constâ—ntinople Ephesus Calcedon Then foure Doctors Ambrose Augustine Ierome Gregory and foure Bookes to wit of Decrees of Decretals of Sects of Clementines and whosoeuer had a Coule or a shauen Crowne might write what they would and it should goe for Gospel whereby the Pope hath drawne all things to himselfe and made himselfe aboue Christ. They will haue Bels carued Images Crosses Lights Wax Uessels and Garments to be â—o vs in steed of Euangelists Saint Peter was made Pope after his death which neuer was Pope nor neuer could be nor yet was at any time at Rome so was Saint Ierome made a Cardinall Saint Iohn Baptist a Patriarck And Saint Dominick and Saint Frances Patriarcks long time after their deathes They picture Iohn Baptist a terrible fellow with a fayre sharpe sword in his hand and all in armour followed with a number of Sea Rouers called knights of the Rhodes they baptize no otherwise but by drowning men in the Sea they doe not make men repent of their sinnes as Iohn Baptist did but they make them repent that euer they were borne and driue them for necessitie to dwell in the wildernes They weare crosses on their breasts because they cannot beare them in their heart and to shew them selues crucifyers of others Iohn dwelt in deserts but they make deserts Iohn Baptist liued in Fasting and Prayer but these in pleasure like Sardanapalas when they had the Isle of Rhodes they did that which Turkes would not haue done Therefore they were driuen thence by Gods iust iudgement they marry not like Iohn Baptist but they haue the more harlâ—ts Dominick by the procurement of Innocent the third Hee at Tholosa quenched the heresie of the Lutherans with maruellous speed Hee said hee must not dispute but fell to the busines with fire and sword and for this cause he was made a Saint A Spaniard of the inquisition for heresies accused certaine of the best Spaniards for Lutherans and said he smelt them because they gaue almes vnto the poore and not vnto Fryers And because they left swearing and blaspheming of GOD and his Saints and playing whore-hunting and other vices applying themselues to things graue and profitable and all day long reade in the Scriptures Saint Francis was required of his Disciples to giue them a rule of liuing and he gaue them the Gospell but his Fryers haue set forth a Booke of conformities which is preferred before the Gospel with the whith if thou compare the Alâ—oran of Mahomet thou wilt say the Alcoran is more holy although in many things they agree His Fryers were bold to preach that a Frier once desired to knew in what place Saint Francis was and therewith ran out of his wits and was led about all parts of heauen and found him not at last he came vnto the throne of Diuinitie where demanding for Saint Francis Christ rose vp from his seate on the right hand of the Father and opened his clothes vpon his brest and S. Francis came out of his side Then the Fryer came to his wits againe In the strife for the supremacie Constantinople said to him it belonged because with him was the Sea of the Empire Ierusalem would
fittest to be done omitting neither time diligence or industry all which noâ—withstanding they could not as yet finde out the depth of this mysterie and were therefore much troubled in minde bâ—cause the appointed day of parliament drew neare which was Tuesday the 5. of Nouember vpon the Saturday before the King being returned from hunting the said Lords acquainted his Highnesse with what had past and when his Maiesty had well noted the strange contents of the Letter which purported the sodaine ruine of the State the King said notwithstanding the small respect and slight regard which might bee giuen to Libels scattered abroad yet thâ—s was more quicke and pithy then was vsuall in Libels and willed them to search in all places as well not dayly frequented as of vsuall repayre and concerning any forraine disturbance or inuasion hee well knâ—w the present force and preparation of all Christian Princes and that whatsoeuer practise of treaâ—on was now in hand it must be perâ—ormed in some vnsuspected place and by some homâ—-bred traytors therevpon new search was made in all places about the Court and the Parliament house but could not as yet finde any thing worthy their labours all which â—earchâ—s were performed with such silence and discretion as there rose no manner of suspition eyther in Court or City the Lord Chamberlaine whose office it most concerned neuer rested day nor night and the night before the Parliament as Sir Thomas Kneuet with others scowted about the parliament house espied a fellow standing in a corner very suspitiouâ—ly and asked him his name what hee was and what he did there so late who answered very bluntly hiâ— name was Iohn Iohnson Master Pearcies man and keeper of his lodgâ—ings Sir â—homas Kneuet continued still his search in all places thereabouts and returning thither againe found him lingring there still searched him and found vnder his cloke a close Lanthorne and a burning Candle in it and about him other signes of suspition that hee stood not there for any good then the Knight entered the Uaâ—â— where they found the powder couered with Billets and Fagots as afore-said and then the Lord Chamberlaine caused the Traytor to be bound and being now about three a clocke in the morning â—ee went vnto the King and with exceeding gladnesse told his Maiestie the Treason was discouered and preuented and the Traytor in hold the King desired to see Fawkes who when hee came before the King vsâ—d like trayterous and audacious speeches as hee did at his first apprehension affirming himselfe was the onely man to performe the Treason saying it sore vexed him that the deed was not done and for that time would not confesse any thing touching the rest of the Conspirators but that himselfe onely and alone was the contriuer and practiser of this Treason Betweene fiue and six a clocke in the morning the Councell gaue order to the Lord Mayor of London to looke to the City and in very calme manner to set ciuill watch at the Citie gates signifying therewithall that there was a plot of Treason discouered and that the King would not goe to Parliament that day and the same day in thâ— afternoone the manner of the Treason was by Proclamation made known vnto the people for ioy wherof there was that night as many bonsires in and about London as the stréetes could permit and the people gaue humble and hearty thankes vnto almighty God for their King Countries right blessed escape Within thrée dayes after two other proclamations were made signifying vnto the people who were the chiefe conspirators with commandement to apprehend Pearcy and Catesby to take them aliue if it were possible which said Pearcy and Catsby were gone to Holbach in Warwickshire to méet Winter Gaunt and others where vnder pretence of a great hunting they meant to raise the country and surprise the Lady Elizabeth from the L. Harington whom they meant to proclaime Queens and in whose name they meant to enter into Armes being perswaded that the King the Prince and Duke of Yorke were by that time blowne vp in the Parliament house but when they knew their treason was known and preuented and saw the Kings forces round about the house so as they could not escape Pearcy and Catesby very desperately issued forth and fighting back to back were both slain with one Musket shot Saturday the ninth of Nouember the King went to Parliament where in the presence of the Queene the Prince the Duke of Yorke the Ambassadors of the King of Spaine and the Arch-duke and all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons of the same hee made a very solemne oration manifesting the whole complot of this Treason The 27. of Ianuary at Westminster were arraigned Thomas Winter Guydo Fawkes Robert Keyes and Thomas Bates for plotting to blow vp the Parliament house digging in the mine taking oath and Sacrament for secresie c. and Robert Winter Iohn Graunt Ambrose Rookewood for being acquainted with the treason afterward giuing their full consent thereunto and taking oath and Sacrament for secresie and sir Euerâ—â—d Digby for being made acquainted with the said Treason yeelding assent and taking his corporall oath for secresie all which inditements were prooued against them and by themselues confessed and therevpon had iudgement giuen them to bee drawne hanged and quartered their limbes to bee set vpon the Citie gates and their heads vpon the Bridge according to which sentence the thirtieth of Ianuary Sir Euerard Digby Robert Winter Iohn Graunt and Bates were executed at the West end of Paules Church and the next day after the other foure were executed in the Parliament yard six of the eight acknowledged their guiltinesse in this horrible treason and dyed very penitently but Graunt and Keyes did not so Out of these and many other destructions the Lord of his aboundant mercie hath deliuered his most faithfull Seruant and our dread Soueraigne King Iames and still will preserue him according to his promise so long as he putteth his trust in him and it is not to be doubted but God hauing giuen him the Spirit of confidence in him and also fortified and builded vp this his hope and trust by the experience of ennumerable preseruations of his person and Statâ—e and such ones as could be attributed to no meanes but onely to Gods handy workes Nay I will conclude by the warrant of Gods word that it is impossible for the Diuell by any temptation in the world to steale this heauenly treasure out of his Royall heart no more then he could steale it out of Iob his heart for although from them that haue not the true grace of God that which they haue shall be taken from them yet according to Christs promise which is truth it self he that hath truly Gods Spirit be it in neuer so little manner more shall be giuen him and that which he hath shall neuer be taken from him And touching these blessed Realmes of Great Brittaine and Ireland ouer