quiet and to be contented with my death which I am most willing to suffer and let vs now ioyne in praier vnto the Lord for the preseruation of the Kings Maiestie vnto whome hitherto I haue alwaies shewed my selfe a most faithfull and true subiecte I haue alwayes bene most diligent about his Maiestie in his affayres both at home and abroade and no lesse diligent in seeking the common commoditie of the whole Realme At whyche words all the people cried out and said it was most true Then the Duke proceeding said Unto whose Maiestie I wish continuall health with all felicitie all prosperous successe Whereunto the people againe cryed out Amen Moreouer I do wishe vnto all his Counsaylours the grace and fauour of God whereby they may rule in all things vprightly with iustice Unto whome I exhort you all in the Lord to shew your selues obedient as it is your bounden duety vnder the payne of condemnation and also most profitable for the preseruation and safegarde of the Kings Maiestie Moreouer for so much as heeretofore I haue had oftentimes affaires with diuers men The confession of the Duke of Somerset hard it is to please euery man therfore if there be any that hath ben offended iniuried by me I most humbly require aske him forgeuenes but especially almighty God whome throughout all my life I haue most greeuously offended and all other whatsoeuer they be that haue offended me I do with my whole hart forgeue them Now I once againe require you dearly beloued in the Lord that you wil keepe your selues quiete and still least through your tumult you might trouble me For albeit the spirite be willing and ready the flesh is fraile and wauering and through your quietnesse I shall be much more quieter The Duke â—f Someâ—set 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of Ieâ—â—â— Christ. Moreouer I desire you all to beare me witnes that I dye heere in the fayth of Iesus Christ desiring you to helpe me with your prayers that I may perseuere constant in the same vnto my liues end After this hee turning himselfe agayne aboute like a meeke lambe â— Coxe 〈◊〉 ghostly 〈◊〉 kneeled down vpon his knees Then doctor Coxe which was there present to counsell and aduertise him deliuered a certaine scroll into his hand wherin was conteined a briefe confession vnto God Which being read he stoode vp againe vpon his feete without any trouble of mind as it appeared and first bad the Sheriffes farewel then the Lieutenant of the Tower and other taking them all by the handes which were vpon the scaffold with hym Then he gaue the Hangman certaine money Which done he put off his gowne and kneeling downe againe in the straw vntied his shyrt strings After that the hangman comming vnto him turned downe his coller round about his necke and al other things which did let or hinder him Then lifting vp his eyes to heauen where his only hope remained and couering his face with his owne handkercher he layd himselfe downe along shewing no maner of token of trouble or feare neyther did his countenaunce chaunge but that before his eyes were couered there began to appeare a red colour in the middest of his cheekes Thus this most meeke and gentle Duke lying along and looking for the stroke because his doublet couered his necke he was coÌ„maunded to rise vp and put it off and then laying himselfe downe againe vpon the blocke The godly 〈◊〉 of the Duke of Soâ—erset and calling thrise vpon the name of Iesus saying Lord Iesu saue mee as he was the thyrd tyme repeating the same euen as the name of Iesu was in vttering in a moment he was bereft both of head life slept in the Lord Iesus being taken away from all the daungers and euils of this life and resting now in the peace of God in the preferment of whose truth and Gospell he alwaies shewed himselfe an excellent instrument and member and therefore hath receyued the reward of his labours Thus gentle Reader thou hast the true history of this worthy and noble Duke and if any man report it otherwise let it be counted as a lye As touching the maners disposition life and conuersation of the said Duke and the Kings vncle what shall we neede to speake when as he can not be sufficiently commeÌ„ded according to the dignitie of his vertues There was alwaies in him great humanitie and suche meekenes and gentlenes as is rare to be found in so high estate He was prone and ready to geue care vnto the coÌ„plaints and supplicatioÌ„s of the poore The vertues of the Duke of Somerset declared no lesse attentiue vnto the affaires of the coÌ„mon wealth Which if he had liued together wyth king Edward was like to do much good in reforming many misorders within this realme He was vtterly ignoraÌ„t of al craft and deceit and as farre void of all pride and ambition as he was froÌ„ doing of iniury being indeede vtterly voyd of both He was of a gentle dispositioÌ„ not coueting to be reuenged more apt ready to be deceiued then to deceiue His auncient loue zeale of the Gospell of religion he brought with him to the state of this his dignitie The proofe whereof sufficiently was seene in his constant standing to gods truth and zealous defence therof The zealous standing of the Duke of Somerset in defence of the truth against the Bishops at Winsore against the Bishops of Chichester Norwich Lincolne London and others moe in the Consultation had at Windsore the first yeare of the kinges raigne Briefly considering the nature and vertues of this Duke I may as seemeth not vnaptly compare and resemble him vnto Duke Humfrey the good Duke of Glocester Who likewise being vncle vnto king Henry 6. and Protector of the Realme as this was also to king Edw. the 6. yet he wanted not his enemies and priuy enueyers especially Henry Beauford Cardinal Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour of England A comparison betweene Duke Humfrey Vncle to K. Henry 6. and the Duke of Somerset Vncle to K. Edward 6. who at that time disdayning and enuying the rule and authoritie of thys Duke procured much trouble agaynst him and great deuision in the whole realme in so muche that all the Shops within the Cittie of London were shutte in for feare of the fauourers of these two great personages For ech part had assembled no small number of people For pacifying wherof the Archbishop of Caunterbury and the Duke of Quimber called the Prince of Portugale rode eight times in one day betwene the two aduersaries Such were then the troubles of these tumultuous diuision within the realme betweene these two Touching the trouble of the Duke of Glocester read before pag. 67â— as is before expressed pag. 679. not much vnlike to y e troublesome discord betwixt parties in this Protectors dayes And as in their afflictions and troubles these two Dukes seemed not
thou wilt The martyrdom of Hen. Sutphē Then another treading vpon his brest bounde his necke hard to a step of the ladder that the bloud gushed out of his mouth and nose This was done to strangle him withall for they saw that for all his sore woundes he would not die After he was bound to the ladder he was set vpright Then one running vnto him set his halbard for the ladder to leane against for those countreymen vse no commō hangman but euery mā exerciseth the office without difference but the ladder slipping awaye from the point of the halbard caused that the halbard strake him through the body Then they cast this good man with ladder and all vpon the wood which tumbling downe light vpon the one side Then Iohn Holmeus ranne vnto him strake him with a mace vpon the brest till he was dead and stirred no more Afterward they rosted him vpon the coles for the wood as aftē as it was set on fire would not burne out And thus this godly preacher finished his martyrdome Ex Epist. Mart. Lut. which was ann 1524. Ex Epist. Mart. Luth. About the same time many other godly persons such as feared God for the testimonie of the Gospell were throwne into the riuer of Rhene and into other riuers where their bodies afterward were found Diuers Martyrs secretly drowned in riuers Iohn of Diethmar Martir and taken vp Also in the saide Towne of Diethmar another faithfull Saint of God named Iohn suffered the like martirdome Thus these two blessed and constant Martyrs as two shining lights set vp of God in testimonie of his truth offered vp the sacrifice of their confession sealed with their bloud in a sweete odor vnto God At the Towne of Hala likewise another preacher named M. George for ministring in both kindes M. George of Hala preacher in Saxony Martyr was martired and slaine of a like sort of cutchrotes set vp by monks and friers to murther him neere to the towne called Haschemburge Ex Crisp. Pantal. At Prage also in Bohemia another for changing hys Monkerie into Matrimonie did suffer in like maner Ex Lud. Rab. Furthermore in the same yeare of our Lord aboue mentioned 1524. and 22. of Octob. the Towne of Miltenberge in Germany was taken and ransackt The towne of Miltenberge and diuers of the inhabitants there slaine and many imprisoned for mainteining and keeping with them Carolostadius to be theyr preacher Ex Raba Pantal. In the same catalogue of holy Martirs likewise is to be placed Gaspar Tamber Also another called Georgius Gasper Tābar George a Scriuener of Vienna Martirs a Scriuener which both wer burned at Uienna in Austria ¶ The lamentable martyrdome of Iohn Clerke of Melden in Fraunce MElden is a citie in Fraunce x. miles distant from Paris where Iohn Clerke first was apprehēded takē Ioh. Clerke of Melden Martir ann 1523. for setting vp vpon the Church dore a certayne Bill against the Popes pardons lately sent thyther from Rome in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist For the which his punishment was this Ioh. Clerke scourged for calling the Pope Antichrist that three seueral days he should be whipped afterward haue a marke imprinted in his forehed as a note of infamy His mother being a christiā womā although her husband was an aduersary when she beheld her sonne thus pitiously scourged and ignominiously deformed in the face Ioh. Clerke marked in the forehead cōstantly boldly did encourage her sonne crieng with a loude voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be his printes and markes After this execution and punishment susteined the sayd Iohn departed that towne and went to Roisie in Bry from thence remoued to Metz in Lotharing where he remained a certaine space applyeng his vocation beyng a Wollecarder by his occupation Wheras he the day before that the people of that city should go out to the suburbs to worship certaine blind idols neere by after an old vse and custome amongst them receiued being inflamed with the zeale of God went out of the Citie to the place where the Images were and brast them all downe in peeces The next morow after when y e Canons Priestes Monkes keping their old custome had brought with them the people out of the Citie to the place of Idolatry to worship as they were wont they found all their blocks and stocks almighty lye broken vpon the ground At the sight whereof they being mightely offended in theyr mindes set all the Citie on a gog to search out the author thereof Who was not hard to be found for so much as this foresayde Clerke besides that he was noted of them to be a man much addicted that way he was also seene somewhat late in the euening before to come from the same place into the Citie Wherfore he being suspected and examined vpō the same at first confessed the fact rendring also the cause Ioh. Clerke taken for casting downe Images which moued him so to do The people hearing this and being not yet acquainted with that kinde of doctrine were moued marueilously against him crieng out vpon him in a great rage Thus his cause being infourmed to the Iudges wherin he defended the pure doctrine of the sonne of God he was condemned and led to the place of executiō where he susteined extreme tormēts The greeuous tormentes of Ioh. Clerke For first his hand was cut off from his right arme then his nose with sharp pinsons was violently pluckt from his face after that both his armes and his pappes were lykewise pluckt and drawne with the same instrument To all them that stoode looking vpon it was an horrour to behold the greeuous and dolefull sight of his paines againe to behold his pacience or rather the grace of God geuing him the gift so to suffer The Constancye of this blessed Martyr it was a wonder Thus quietly and constantly he endured in his torments pronouncing or in a manner singing the verses of the 115. Psal. Simulacra eorum sunt argentum aurum c. Their Images be syluer and golde the woorke only of mans hand c. The residue of his life that remayned in his rent body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed which was about the yeare of our Lord 1524. Ex Plant. Crisp. Iohn Castellane THe yeare next ensuing Iohn Castellane Doctour Martyr which was 1525. mayster Iohn Castellane borne at Tourney a Doctour of Diuinitie after that he was called vnto y e knowledge of God and became a true preacher of his word and had preached in Fraunce in a place called Barleduc also at Uittery in Partoise at Chalon in Champaine and in the towne of Uike which is the Chamber and Episcopall Seate of the Bishop of Metz in Loraine after he had laide some foundation of the doctrine of the Gospell in the towne of Metz in returning from thence he
that they sought hys bloud Among whō was one Doctour Hasardus whiche asked hym if he did not seeme to hymselfe more wicked nowe then euer he was before but he setting the Fryer at light bad him auaunt Fryer saying that he had to talke wyth the Senate and not with him The Senate then began to examine him of certain Articles of Religion To whom as be was about to aunswere boldly and expresly to euery poynte they interrupting him bad hym say in two wordes eyther yea or nay Then sayde he if ye will not suffer me to aunswere for my selfe in matters of such importaunce then send me to my prison agayne among my todes and frogs whiche will not interrupt mee while I talke with my Lord my God The boldnes of whose spirit and courage as it made some to gnash theyr teeth so some it made to wonder and ministred to some great confirmation There was also one Bergiban the same tyme in prison who had bene a foreward man a great doer in the Gospell before the comming downe of Brulius Who being also sought for at the takyng of Brulius and beyng then not found at home eyther by chaunce not knowing or els because hee conueyed himselfe out of the way for feare conceaued thereof such sorrowe in hys minde y e afterward neyther hys wife nor children nor any frend els could staye hym but he woulde needes offer hymselfe to the Iudges saying to the ruler being asked why he came The Magistrates came to seeke mee sayd he and now I am come to know what they would Wherupon the ruler beyng sory of hys comming yet notwithstanding committed hym to prison where he remayned constant a certayne while But after the Commissioners had threatned hym with cruell tormentes and horror of death he began by little and little to wauer shrinke from the truth At the fayre wordes of the false Friers and Priestes to haue hys punishment changed and to be beheaded he was fayne to graunt vnto theyr biddinges and requestes Whereupon the aduersaries taking theyr aduauntage came to Miocius and told hym of Bergibans retractation wylling him to doe the like But he stoutly persisting in the truth endured to the fire where he hauing pouder put to hys brest was so put to death and dispatched The Fryers hearing the cracke of y e pouder vpon hys brest told the people that the deuill came out of him and caried away hys soule Ex Rabo alijs A certayne Prince in Germany about Hungary or the partes of Pannonia A priest of Germany Iohannes Gastius Conuiual Serm. lib. 2. writeth of a certayne Prince The Martyrdome of a good priest but doth not name hym which put out y e eyes of a certayn Priest in Germanye for no other cause but for that he sayd y e masse to be no sacrifice in y t sence as many priestes do take it Neither did the cruell prince immediatly put him to death but first kept hym in prison a long time afflicting him with diuers tormentes Then he was brought forth to be degraded after a barbarous and tyrannous maner First they shaued the crowne of hys head then rubbed it hard with salt that y e bloud came running downe hys shoulders After that they rased and pared the toppes of hys fingers wyth cruell payne that no sauour of the holy oyle myght remayn At last the patient and godly martyr foure dayes after yealded vp hys lyfe and spirite Ex. Ioan. Gastio lib. 2. Alphonsus Diazius a Spanyard Petrus de Maluenda the popes prolocutor at Ratisbone a Spanyard The Emperours confessor a blacke Fryer a Spanyard Marquina Ioannes Diazius a Spanyard martyr killed of his own brother at Neoberg in Germany An. 1546. The cruell murthering of Iohn Diazius Of this Iohn Diazius the full proces and historye is set foorth in Latine wherein the whole circustaunce is debated at large wher of briefe sūme is this Iohn Diazius a Spanyarde borne first being at Paris 13. yeares from thēce remoued to Geneua then to Basill after to Strausburgh from whence he was sent Ambassadour with Bucer and other to the Councell of Ratisbone where he talking with Peter Meluenda hys countreyman the Popes factour so declared his Relygyon vnto hym that Maluenda wrote to the Fryer whiche was the Emperours confessour touching the sayd Iohn Diazius The Emperours confessour at the opening and reading of whiche letters one Marquina an other Spanyarde was present Upon this it followed Alphonsus Diazius come from Rome to kyl hys brother whether by this confessor or by Marquina that Alphonsus Diasius brother to Iohn Diazius which was one of the Popes Lawyers in Rome had knowledge geuen hym of hys brother Iohn When the communication of Ratisbone was dissolued broken vp Iohn Diazius from Ratisbone went to the City of Neoberg within the Dominion of Otto Henry Pallatine about the expedition of Bucers booke there to be printed As Iohn Diazius was there occupyed it was not long but Alphonsus hys brother was come frō Rome to Ratisbōe where Maluenda was bringing with him a pestilent cut-throate a notorious ruffian or homicide belonging to y e City of Rome Maluenda Alphonsus consulting together about y e dispatch of theyr deuilish purpose first laboured to hūt out by y e frends of Diazius wher Diazius was Wherof Alphon. the homicide hauing knowledge by certayne of hys secret friends pretending great matters of importaunce came to Neoberg where Diazius was printing of Bucers booke where after long debating of matters of religion betwene the two brethren Alphonsus seing the hart of his brother Iohn to be so constantly planted on the sure rocke of Gods truth that by no wyse he could eyther be remooued from his opinion or perswaded to ride in his company being otherwise coūsailed by Bucer and hys friendes feyned him selfe frendly to take his leaue of his brother and to depart but shortly after secretly with his ruffenly murderer he returned agayne and by the waye they bought a certein hatchet of a carpenter This done Alphonsus sendeth his man beyng disguised with letters vnto his brother he himselfe following after As Iohn Diazius in the mornyng was risen out of his bed Iohn Diazius slaine by his owne brother to read the letters y e wretched hangman wyth the hatchet cloue his head vnto the braynes leauing the hatchet in his head and so hee with Alphonsus tooke them to theyr horse which stoode without the Cittie gate with as much speede as they might They of Neoberge hearing of the horrible acte sent out certaine horsemen making great iournyes after them Who comming to Augusta and hearing y e murderers to be past before were out of hope to ouertake them and so returned One in the cōpany more zelous then the rest God will haue murther knowen woulde not returne but pursued them still and in the Cittie of Oeniponte caused them to be stayed and put in
hys speach And so these two after they had confirmed manye in Gods truth gaue their lyfe for Christes Gospell Ibidem Ioan. Andreas Promoter Tho. Sanpaulinus martyr Peter Liset President of the Counsel of Paris Mailardus Doctor Sorbonius Aubertus Consiliarius Thomas Sanpaulinus At Paris An. 1551. This Thomas a yong man of the age of 18. yeares commyng from Geneua to Paris rebuked there a maÌ„ for swearing For the which cause he being suspected for a Lutheran was followed and watched whether he went and was taken and broughte before the Counsaile of Paris and put in prisoÌ„ where he was racked and miserably tormented to the inteÌ„t he should eyther chaunge his opinion or confes other of hys profession Hys tormentes and rackinges were so sore through the setting on of Maillard and other Sorbonistes that the sight therof made Aubertus one of the counsayle a cruell and vehement enemy against y e Gospel to turne hys back and weepe The youÌ„g man when he had made the tormenters weary with racking and yet woulde vtter none at last was had to Maulbert place in Paris to be burned Where he being in the fire was pluckt vp agayn vpon y e gybbet and asked whether he would turne To whome he sayd that he was in hys way toward God and therfore desired them to let him go Thus this glorious martir remayning inexpugnable glorified the Lord with constant confession of his truth Ibid.  Mauricius Secenat In Prouince An. 1551. He first hauing interrogations put to hym by the Lieuetenaunt of that place Mauryce Senenat martyr made hys aunsweres thereunto so as no great aduantage could be taken thereof But he being greatly compuncted and troubled in hys conscience for dissembling with the truth and called afterward before the Lorde chiefe Iudge aunswered so directly that he was condemned for y e same and burned in Prouince Ex eodeÌ„ A Cittizen of Vzez Ioannes Putte or de Puteo surnamed Medicus At Vzez in Prouince An. 1551. This Medicus beyng a Carpenter and vnlettered Ioannes de Puteo martyr had a controuersie about a certaine pitte withe a Citizene of the towne of Uzez where he dwelled He to cast thys Medicus in the lawe from the pitte accused him of heresie bringing for his witnesses those labourers whome Meddicus had hyred to work in his vineyard wherfore he being examined of the Sacrament of y e Lords Supper was condemned and burned At Uzez in Prouince Ex eodem The gouernour of Lyons The Official of the Archdeacon of Lyons Claudius Monerius At Lyons An. 1551. This man being well instructed in y e knowledge of Gods worde for the whiche he was also driuen from Auernia came to Lyons Claudius Monerius martyr and there taught children He hearing of y e Lord Presidents comming to the citie went to geue warning to a certain familiar friend of hys and so conducted him out of y t town In returning agayne to comforte the mans wife and children he was taken in hys house and so he confessing that which he knew to be true and standing to that whiche he confessed after muche affliction in prison and doungeons was condemned and burned at Lyons He was noted to be so gentle and milde of conditions and constant withall and also learned that certayne of the Iudges coulde not forbeare weeping at his death The sayd Monerius being in Prison wrote certeine letters but one specially very comfortable to all the faythful which the Lorde willing in y e ende of these histories shal be inserted He wrote also y e questioÌ„s interrogatories of y e Official w t his aunsweres likewise to the same which summarily we haue here contracted as followeth Officiall What beleue you of the Sacrament The Sacrâ—ment is the bodye of Christ in the bread or no The Martyr I worship Iesus Christ in heauen sitting at the right hand of God the Father Officiall What say you by purgatory The Martyr Forsomuch as there is no place of mercy after thys life therefore no neede there is of any purgation but necessary it is that wee be purged before wee passe hence Officiall Supremacie Of the Pope what thinke you The Martyr I say he is a Bishop as other Bishops are if he be a true folower of S. Peter Officiall Vowes What say you of vowes The Martyr No man can vow to God so much but the lawe requireth much more then he can vow Officiall Praying to Saintes Are not Sayntes to be inuocated The Martyr They can not pray without fayth and therfore it is in vayne to call vnto them And againe God hath appoynted his Aungels about vs to minister in our necessities Officiall Is it not good to salute the blessed virgine wyth Aue Maria The Martyr When she was on this earth she had then need of the Aungels greeting for then she had need of saluation as well as other but now she is so blessed that no more blessing can be wished vnto her Officiall Images Are not Images to be had The Martyr For that the nature of man is so prone to Idolatry euer occupyed and fixed in those thinges whych lye before his eies rather then vpon those which are not seene Images therefore are not to be sette before Christians You know nothing is to be adored but that which is not seene with eies that is God alone which is a spirit and him we must worship onely in spirit and truth Officiall What say you by the canonicall or ordinary houres for prayer The Martyr To houres and times prayer ought not to be tied But when so euer Gods spirit doth mooue vs or when any necessity driueth vs theÌ„ ought we to pray Then the Officiall asked what he thought of holy oyle salt with such other like To whome the Martyr aunswered that all these thinges were a meere * Maranatha is an Hebrue word mentioned 1. Cor. l 6. and signifieth curse or malediction to the losse of all that a man hath and thereof commeth Matanismas vid. Nic. Lyr. Renate Poyet martyr Maranismus that is sauoured of the law of MaranoruÌ„ and of the superstition of the Iewes  Renate Poyet At Salmure in Fraunce An. 1552. Renate Poyet the sonne of William Poiet which was Chauncellour of Fraunce for the true and syncere profession of the word of GOD constantly suffered Martyrdome and was burned in the Citty of Salmure an 1552. Ex Crisp.  Iohn Ioyer and his seruant a young man Ioh. Ioyer with his seruaunt martyrs At Tholouse An. 1552. These twoe comming from Geneua to theyr Countrey with certayne bookes were appreheÌ„ded by y e way and at length hadde to Thoulouse Where the mayster was first condemned The seruaunt beyng young was not so prompt to aunswere them but sent them to his mayster saying that he should answer them When they were brought to the stake the yong man first going vp began to weep The mayster fearyng least he would geue ouer ranne to
agayne ¶ And thus much for this present touching the proceeding of the church of Spayne in theyr Inquisition agaynst the Lutheranes that is agaynst the true and faythfull seruauntes of Iesus Christ. Albeit there be other countryes also besides Spayne subiect vnto the same Inquisition as Neaples and Sicily in which kingdome of Sicilie I heare it credibly reported that euery thyrd yeare are brought forth to iudgement and execution a certeine number after the like sort of christian martyrs some times 12. some times 6. some times more and some times lesse Amongest whome there was one much about y e same yere aboue mentioned an 1559. who comming from Geneua vnto Sicilie vpon zeale to do good was at last layd hand of and being condēned the same time to the fire as he should take his death A Christian martyr burned in Sicilie was offered there of the hangman to be strāgled hauing the cord ready about his necke but he notwithstanding refused the same and sayde that he would feele the fire and so endured he singing with all his might vnto the Lord till he was beriued both of speach and life in the middest of the flame such was the admirable constancy and fortitude of that valiant souldiour of Christ as is witnessed to me by him whiche beeing there present the same tyme did both then see that which he doth testify and also doth now testify that he then saw ¶ Now it remayneth further according to my promise in like order of a compendious table to cōprehend also such Martyrs as suffered for the verity and true testimony of the Gospell in the places and countryes of Italy which Table consequently here next ensueth to be declared ¶ A Table of such Martyrs as suffered for the testimony of the Gospell in Italy * The Italian Martyrs Persecutors Martyrs The causes Certayne popish Spaniardes at Rome N. Encenas otherwise called Dryander At Rome An. 1546. THis Encenas or Dryander a spaniard borne at Burges was brother to Franciscus Encenas y e learned man Encenas or Dryander martyr so oft before mentioned was also y e teacher or instructor in knowledge of religion to Diazius the godly martyr aboue recorded He was sēt of his superstitious parents beinge younge vnto rome Who there after long cōtinuance growing vp in age knowledge but especially being instructed by the lord in the truth of his woord after hee was knowne to mislike the Popes doctrine the impure doinges at Rome was apprehended and taken of certayne of his owne country men and some of his owne householde frends at Rome at the same time when he was preparing to take his iourney to his brother Fraūces Encenas in Germany Thus he being betrayed and taken by his coūtrymen was brought before the Cardinals and there committed straight to prison Afterward he was brought forth to geue testimonye of his doctrine whiche he in the presence of the Cardinalles and in the face of all the Popes retinue boldly and constantly defended So that not onely the Cardinals but especially the spaniardes being therewith offended cryed out vppon him that he should be burned The Cardinalles first before the sentence of death should be geuen came to him offering if he would take it after the maner of the Spaniardes the badge of reconciliation whiche hath the name of Sanbenites cloth made in forme of a mantle going both before him and behinde hym with signes of the redde Crosse. But Encenas styll constant in the profession of trueth denyed to receiue any other condition or badge but onely the badge of the Lord which was to seale the doctrine of his religion with the testimony of his bloud At last the matter was brought to that issue that the faythfull seruaunt and witnes of Christ was iudged and condemned to the fire where he in the sight of the Cardinals and in the face of the Apostolicall sea pretensed gaue vp his life for testimony of the Gospell Ex Pantal. lib. 6. Ex Crisp. alijs ☞ And for so much as mention hath bene made both in this story The imprisonment and escape of Franciscus Encenas and many other before of Franciscus Encenas his brother here is not to be pretermitted how the sayd Franciscus being a man of notable learning as euer was any in Spayne being in the Emperors Court at Bruxels offered vnto the Emperour Charles the fift the newe Testament of Christ translated into Spanishe For the whyche he was cast into Prison where he remayned in sorrowfull captiuity and calamitye the space of fifteene monethes looking for nothing more then present death At last through the merueilous prouidence of almighty God the first day of February ann 1545. at viij of the clocke after supper he found the doores of the prison standing open and he secretly was answered in his minde to take the occasion offered and to shift for himselfe and so he issuing out of the prison without any hasty pase but goyng as leisurely as he could escaped from thence and went straight to Germany Pope Iulius the thyrd Faninus martyr Faninus At Ferraria An. 1550. Faninus borne in Fauentia a towne in Italy through the reading of godly bookes translated into the Italian tongue hauyng no perfect skill in the Latin was conuerted frō great blindnes to the wholesome knowledge of Christ and of his word Wherein he tooke such a sweetnes and so grewe vp in the meditation of the same that hee was able in short time to instruct other Neither was there anye dilligence lacking in him to communicate that abroad which he had receyued of the Lord being so in his mind perswaded that a man receiuing by the spirite of God the knowledge and illumination of his veritie ought in no case to hide the same in silence as a candle vnder a bushell And therefore being occupyed dilligently in that behalfe albeit he vsed not publickely to preache but by pryuate conference to teache hee was at length by the popes clientes espied apprehended and committed to prison Albeit he remayned not long in the prison For by the earnest perswasions and prayers of hys wife Faninus ouercome by his wife and brethren his children and other frendes he was so ouer come that he gaue ouer and so was dismissed shortly out of prison After this it was not long but he fel into horrible perturbation of mind In somuch that vnles the great mercy of God had kept him vp hee had fallen in vtter desperation for slipping from the trueth and preferring the loue of his friendes and kinred before the seruice of Iesus Christ whome he so earnestly before had professed This wound went so deepe into his hart that he could in no case be quieted before he had fully fixed and determined in hys mind to aduenture his life more faithfully in the seruice of the Lord. Wherupon he being thus inflamed with zeale of spirite went about all the countrey of Romaigna publikely preaching the pure doctrine of the
Lorde meekly paciently gaue himselfe to the stake where with a corde drawne about his neck he was secretly strangled of the hangman in the Cittie of Ferraria three houres before day to the intent y e people shuld not see him nor heare him speake and after about dinner time his body in the same place was burned At the burning whereof such a fragrant and odoriferous sent came to all them there present A myracle as it is reported and so stroke theyr senses that the sweetenes therof semed to refresh them no lesse then hys words would haue done if they had heard him speake The custome is of that cittie that the bones and ashes which be lefte The death and martyrdome of Faninus should be caryed out of the city but neyther the magistrate nor the Byshop nor hys great Uicar or Chauncellor nor anye Diuine els would take any charge thereof euery man transferring that burden from themselues to him whiche was the cause of hys death Wherby it may appeare what secret iudgement and estimation all they had of that good blessed man At last the people tooke his burned bones with the cinders and caried them out of the streete of the Citie Ex Henri Pantal lib. 7. Ex Ioan Crisp. pag. 363. The name of the persecutor in the story appeareth not Dominicus de Basana Dominicus de Basana martyr At Placentia Ann. 1550. The same yeare y t the foresayd Faninus suffered in Ferraria Dominicus also suffered in the Citie of Placentia This Dominicus was Cittizen in Basana and followed the wars of Charles the Emperour in Germany where he receiued the first taste of Christes gospel Wherin he encreased more more by conferring reasoning with learned men so y t in shorte tyme hee was able to instruct manye and so did working and traueling in the Churche till at length in y e yeare 1550. he comming to y e City of Naples there preached the worde from thence proceding to Placencia preached there likewise vnto y e people of true confession of Purgatorye of Pardons Furthermore the next day entreated of true fayth of good workes howe farre they are necessary to saluation promising moreouer y e nexte daye to speake of Antichrist and to paynt him out in his colours Antichrist can not abyde to be detected When the houre came that he should begin hys sermon the magistrate of the cittye commaunded hym to come downe from the chayre in the market place deliuered him to the officers Dominicus was willing ready to obey the commaundement saying that hee did much maruayle that the deuill could suffer hym so long in that kind of exercise From thence he was led to the bishops Chauncellour and asked whether he was a priest and how he was placed in that function He answered that he was no priest oâ— the pope but of Iesus Christ by whom he was lawfully called to that office Then was he demaunded whether he would renounce hys doctrine He answered that he mayntayned no doctrine of hys owne but onely the doctrine of Christ whiche also he was readye to seale with hys bloud and also gaue harty thankes to God wbiche so accepted hym as worthye to glorifie hys name with his martyrdome Upon this he was committed to a filthy and stinking prison Where after he had remayned a few monthes he was exhorted diuers tymes to reuoke otherwise he should suffer but still he remayned constaunt in hys doctrine The martiâ—dome of Dominicus de Bassana Wherupon when the tyme came assigned for his punishment he was brought to the market place wher he preached and there was hanged Who most hartely praying â—or his enemies so finished his dayes in this miserable wretched world Ex Pantal. lib. 7. The byshop of Santangelo hys priestes Galeazius Trecius At the Cittye called Laus Pompeia in Italy Ann. 1551. Santangelo is a certayne fortresse or castle in Italy within Lombardy Galeazius Trecius martyr not farre from the Cittye called Laus Pompeia belongyng also to the same dioces In this sort of Santangelo was an house of Augustine Friers vnto whome vsed muche to resorte a certayne fryer of the same order dwelling at Pauia named Maianardus a man well expert in the study of scripture and of a godly conuersation By this Maianardus diuers not onely of the Fryers but also of other townesmen were reduced to the loue knowledge of Gods worde to the detestatioÌ„ of the popes abuses AmoÌ„g whom was also this Galeazius a gentle man of a good calling welthy in worldly substaunce and very beneficiall to the pâ—ore Who first by conference with y e fryers and also with hys brother in law began to conceaue some light in Gods truth and afterwarde was confirmed more thoroughly by Caelius Secundus Curio who then being driuen by persecution came from Pauia to the sayd place of Santangelo In proces of tyme as this Galeazius encreased in iudgement and zeale in settyng forward the wholesome word of Gods grace as a light shining in darkenes coulde not so lye hyd but at last in the yeare of our Lorde 1551. certayne were sent from the forenamed Cittie of Laus Pompeia to lay handes vppon hym The iniurious fraudulent dealyng of the Papistes and brought hym to the bishops Pallace where he was kept in handes hauing vnder hym but onely a pad oâ— straw Although his wife sent vnto him a good fetherbed with shetes to lye in yet the Byshops chaplaynes and officers kept it froÌ„ him deuiding the pray among theÌ„selues When the tyme came that he should be examined he was thrise brought before the Commissioners where he rendered reasons and causes of hys fayth answering to theyr interrogatories w t such euidence of Scriptures constancy of mind that he was an admiration to them that that heard hym Albeit not long after through the importunate perswasions of hys kinsfolkes frendes and other colde Gospellers laying many considerations before hys eyes Galeazius relenteth he was brought at length to assent to certain points of the popes doctrine But yet the mercye of God which began with him so left him not but brought him againe to suche repentance bewayling of his facte that he became afterward according to the example of Peter Galeazius repenteth and S. Cyprian and other doublewise more valiaunt in defence of Christes quarrell neither did he euer desire any thing more then occasion to be offered to recouer agayne by confession that he had lost before by denyall affirming that hee neuer felt more ioy of hart then at the tyme of his examinations where hee stoode thrise to the constant confession of the truth and contrary that he neuer tasted more sorrow in al his life then when he slipt afterward from the same by dissimulation Declaryng moreouer to hys brethren A sentence of a martyr to be marked that death was muche more sweete vnto him with testimony of the veritie then
ought to vanishe the sayde Waldoys which mainteined not the Popes religion alleging that he could not suffer such a people to dwell within his dominion without preiudice and dishonour to the Apostolique Sec. Also that they were a rebellious people against the holy ordinaunces and decrees of their holy mother the Churche And briefly that he might no longer suffer the said people being so disobedient stubbern against the holy father if he would in dede shew him selfe a louing and obedient sonne Such deuilishe instigations were the cause of these horrible and furious persecutions wherewith this poore people of the valleys and the Countrey of Piemont was so long vexed And because they foresawe the great calamities which they were like to suffer to find some remedy for the same if it were possible al the saide Churches of Piemont with one common consent wrote to the duke declaring in effect that the onely cause why they were so hated and for the which he was by their enemies so sore incensed against them was their religion which was no newe or light opinion but that wherein they and their auncitours had long cōtinued being wholy grounded vpon the infallible worde of God conteined in the olde and new Testament Notwithstanding if it might be prooued by the same worde that they held any false or erroneous doctrine they would submit them selues to be reformed with all obedience But it is not certaine whether thys aduertisemente was deliuered vnto the Duke or no for it was sayde that he woulde not heare of that Religion But howe so euer it was in the moneth of March following there was great persecution raised against the poore Christians which wer at Carignan Amongest whom there were certaine godly persones taken burnt within foure daies after that is to saye one named Mathurine and his wife Mathurin his wife Iohn de Carquignan Martyrs and Iohn de Carquignan dwelling in the valley of Luserne taken prisoner as he went to the market at Pignerol The woman died with great constancie The good man Iohn de Carquignan had ben in prison diuers times before for religion and was alwaies deliuered by Gods singulare grace and prouidence But seeing him selfe taken this last time incōtinēt he said he knew that God had now called him Both by the way as he went and in prison and also at his death he shewed an inuincible cōstancie and maruelous vertue aswel by the pure confession which hee made touching the doctrine of saluation as also in suffering with patience the horrible torments which he endured both in prison also at his death Many at that time fled away others being afraid of that great crueltie and fearing man also more then God looking rather to the earth then vnto heauē consented to returne to the obedience of the Church of Rome Within fewe daies after Persecution beginnerh in the Valleys these Churches of the sayde Waldoys that is to say Le Larch Meronne Meane and Suse were woonderfully assaulted To recite all the outrage crueltie and villany that was there cōmitted it were too long for breuities sake we will recite onely certaine of the principal and best knowen The Churches of Meane Suse suffered great afflictions Their minister was taken amongst other Many fled away and their houses and goodes were ransackt and spoiled The Minister of Meane Martyr The Minister was a good a faithfull seruaunt of God and endued with excellent giftes and graces who in the ende was put to moste shamefull and cruell death The great pacience which hee shewed in the middes of the fire greatly astonished the aduersaries Likewise the Churches of Larche and Meronne were marueilouslye tormented and afflicted For some were taken and sent to the galleis other some consented yelded to the aduersaries and a great number of them fled away It is certainly knowen Gods secret iudgements vpō them that shrinke from his truthe that those which yeelded to the aduersaries were more cruelly hādled then the others which cōtinued constant in the truth Wherby God declareth howe greatly he detesteth all such as play the Apostataes and shrinke from the truth But for the better vnderstanding of the beginning of this horrible persecution against the Waldoys heere note that first of all proclamations were made in euery place that none should resort to the Sermons of the Lutherans but should liue after the custome of the Churche of Rome vpon paine of forfaiture of their goods and to be condemned to the Galleyes for euer or loose their liues Three of the most cruel persons that could be founde Cruell persecutors Thomas Iacomell a cruell Apostata were appoynted to execute this cōmission The first was one Thomas Iacomel a Monke and Inquisitour of the Romish faith a man worthy for suche an office for hee was an Apostata and had renounced the knowen truth and persecuted mortally and malitiouslye the poore Christians againste his owne conscience and of set purpose as his bookes do sufficiently witnesse He was also a whoremonger and geuen ouer to al other villanies and filthy liuing and in the horrible sinne of Sodomitrie which he cōmonly vsed he passed all his fellowes Briefly The rigorous handling of the Waldoys he was nothing els but a mis-shapen monster both against God and nature Moreouer he so afflicted and tormented the poore captiues of the sayd Waldoys by spoiling robbery and extortion that he deserued not only to be hanged but to be broken vpon y e whele a hundred times and to suffer so many cruell deathes if it were possible so great so many and so horrible were the crimes that he had committed The seconde was the Collaterall Corbis who in the examination of the prisoners was very rigorous cruell for he only demaunded of them whether they would go to the masse or be burnt within three dayes and in very dede executed his sayings But it is certainly reported Martyrs that hee seeing the constancie and hearing the confession of the pore Martyrs feeling a remorse and tormented in conscience protested that he would neuer meddle any more The thirde was the Prouost de la Iustice a cruell and crafty wretch accustomed to apprehende the poore Christians either by night or early in the morning or in the high way going to the market and was commonly lodged in the valley of Luserne or there aboutes Thus the poore people were alwayes as the seely sheepe in the Woolues iawes or as the shepe which are ledde vnto the slaughter house At that season one named Charles de Comptes of the valley of Luserne and one of the Lordes of Angrongne wrote to the sayde Commissioners to vse some leuitie towardes them of the valley of Lusern By reason whereof they were a while more gently entreated then the rest At that season the monks of Pignerol theyr associates tormented greeuously the churches neare about them The cruell Monkes of Pigneroll They tooke the poore Christians as
accused indited or presented should be admitted to chaleÌ„ge any that shoulde be enpanelled for the triall of any matter or cause other theÌ„ for malice or enuy which chaleÌ„ge should forthwith be tryed in like maner as in cases of felony c. Prouided moreouer that euery person that shoulde be named Commissioner in this inquisition should first take a corporall oth the tenor of which oth here ensueth * The oth of the Commissioners The othe geuen to the Commissioners to enquire vppon true Christians YE shall swere that ye to your cunning witte and power shall truely and indifferently execute the authority to you geuen by the kinges Commission made for correction of heretickes other offenders mentioned in the same Commission without any fauor affection corruption dread or malice to be borne to any person or persons as God you helpe and all Sayntes And thus much briefly collected out of the act and Originals Stat. an 31. Reg Henr. 8. which more largely are to be sene in y e statute an 31 Reg. Henr. 8. concerning the sixe Articles which otherwyse for the bloudy cruelty thereof are called the whip with sixe stringes set forth after the death of Queene Anne and of good Iohn Lambert deuised by the cruelty of y e Bishops but specially of the Bishop of Wint. and at length also subscribed by K. Henry But herein as in many other parts moe the crafty pollicy of that Bishop appeared who like a lurking Serpent most slyly watching his time if he had not taken the king comming out vpon a soddayne there where it was I spare here to report as I heard it it was thought and affirmed by certaine which then were perteining to the king that Winchester had not obteined y e matter so easely to be subscribed as he did These sixe Articles aboue specified although they conteined manifest errours Truth in danger left desolate heresies and absurdities agaynst all Scripture and learning as all men hauing any iudgemeÌ„t in Gods word may plainly vnderstand yet such was the miserable aduersity of that time the power of darcknes that the simple cause of truth and of religion was vtterly left desolate and forsakeÌ„ of all frends For euery man seing the kinges minde so fully addict vpon polliticke respectes to haue these articles to passe forward few or none in all that Parliament would appeare Cranmer stood openly in the Parliament against the 6. articles which either could perceiue that was to be defended or durst defend that they vnderstood to be true saue onely Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who then being maryed as is supposed like a constant Patron of Gods cause tooke vpon him the earnest defence of the trueth oppressed in the ParliameÌ„t three dayes together disputing against those sixe wicked articles bringing forth suche allegations and authorities as might easely haue helped the cause nisi pars maior vicâ—sset vt saepe solet meliorem Who in the sayd disputation Cranmer willed to departe 〈◊〉 of the Parliament house for his consâ—â—ence Cranmer refused to goe out of the Parliament for matter against his conscience behaued himselfe with such humble modesty and with such obedience in words toward his Prince protesting the cause not to be his but the cause of almighty God that neither his enterprise was misliked of the king agayne his reasons and allegatioÌ„s were so strong that well they could not be refuted Wherfore the king who euer bare speciall fauour vnto him well liking his zealous defeÌ„ce onely willed him to depart out of the Parliament house into the Councell Chamber for a time for sauegarde of his conscience til the Acte should passe and be graunted which he notwithstanding with humble protestation refused to do After the Parliament was finished that matter concluded the king considering the constant zeale of the Archbishoppe in defence of his cause and partly also weighing y e many authorities reasons wherby he had substantially confirmed the same sent the Lord Cromwell which w tin few dayes after was apprehended the ij dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and all the Lordes of the Parliament to dine with hym at Lambeth where they signified vnto him that it was the kinges pleasure that they all shoulde in his hignes behalfe cherish comfort animate hym Cranmer comforted againe by the king as one that for his trauell in that parliameÌ„t had declared him selfe both greatly learned and also a man descreet wyse and therfore they willed him not to be discouraged in any thing that was passed in that Parliament contrary to hys allegations He most humbly thanked first y e kinges highnes of his singuler good affection towardes him and them all for theyr paynes adding moreouer that he so hoped in God that hereafter his allegations and authorities should take place to the glory of god commodity of the realme Which allegations and authorities of his I wish were amongest vs extant to be seene and read no doubt but they would stand in time to come in great good stead for y e ouer throw of the wicked and pernicious Articles aforesayd Allegations agaynst the vi Articles IN the meane while for so much as the sayd hereticall articles are not so lightly to be passed ouer Allegationâ— agaynst the 6. articles wherby y e rude ignorant multitude hereafter may be deceiued in the false erroneous doctrine of them any more as they haue bene in times past for lack of right instructioÌ„ and experience of the auÌ„cient state course of times in our fore elders dayes I thought therefore the Lord therunto assisting so much as antiquity of stories may helpe to the restoring agayn of truth and doctrine decayed to annexe hereunto some allegations out of auncient recordes which may geue some light to the conuincing of these newfangled Articles and heresies aboue touched And first as touching the Article of transubstantiation wherin this Parliament doth enact that the Sacrament of the Altar is the very naturall body of Christ the selfe same which was borne of the virgin Mary and that in such sort as there remayneth no substance of bread wine after the Priestes consecration but only the body bloud of Christ vnder the outward formes of bread and wine First here is to be noted that this monstrous article of theyrs in that forme of words as in standeth was neuer obtruded receiued or holden either in the Greek Church or in the Latine Church vniuersally for a Catholicke that is for a generall opinion or article of doctrine before y e time of the Laterane Counsell at Rome vnder Pope Innocent the 3. an 1216. And for so much as it hath bene a common persuasioÌ„ amongest the most sort of people The article of transubstantiatioâ— that this article in y e forme of words as here standeth is hath bene euer since Christ his time a true Catholick generall doctrine commonly receiued and taught in the Church being
sacrament had stande in the open confession therof according to the auncient veritie of the doctrine receaued in the Churche before he was so handled by certaine malignaunt superstitious monks that what by euill entreatie and what for feare of deathe such is the weake frailty of man he began to shrinke and afterward did in deede recant the truth Of these malicious ennemies againste Berengarius the chiefest troubler was Lancfranke Abbot of Codune afterward Archbishop of Canterbury Guimond monke likewise first of the abbey of Leufrede afterward Archb. of Auersane Algerius also monke of Corbein Fulbertus also monke and byshop and Hildebrand sometime monke of Cluniake and then Archdeacon of Turon afterward Bishop of Rome By these and such other monkes of the like fraternitie the errour and heresie of transubstantiation began firste to be defended and partes publikely in wryting to be taken about that matter Lancfrancke a persecutor of Berengarius Of the which sides and partes the firste that began to set vp that faction by wryting seemeth to be Paschasius who was a little before Berengarius aboute the time of Bertrame and likewise Lancfrancke the firste that brought it into England Paschasius the first beginner of the faction of transubstantiation On the contrary side againe the firste that was openly impugned and troubled for denying transubstantiation was this Berengarius with whom Lancfranck also was supposed at the first beginning to holde and take part but afterward to cleare himselfe he stoode openly against hym in the Councell and wrote against him It foloweth then in the Acte of the Councel that when the Synode of Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates were together assembled y e greater number saith the storie did holde that the breade and wine were turned substantially into the body and bloud of Christ. Notwithstanding sayeth he diuers there were in the sayde Councel whych helde the contrary wyth Berengarius Ex W. Malmesb but at laste were driuen to geue ouer Berengarius amonge the rest after he had long stand in the constant defence of the truth at last relented to their willes confessing his errour where none was and desired pardon of the Councell And thys was as seemeth to W. Malmesb. hys firste geuing ouer Who afterwarde returning to hymselfe agayne after the death of Pope Leo The story recantation of Berengaâ—ius declaâ—â—d by W. Malmesb. De gestis Anglorum Lib. 3. and prickte with the stinge of conscience was driuen againe to recognise the truthe whych he before had denied The Pope sayeth Malmesb. perceauing this would not leaue him so but sent into Fraunce Hildebrande hys Cardinall Chaplaine as meete a mate for such a feate as was in all Satans courte and made him with a wany and to come againe coram nobis who so handled Berengarius and bringing hym before the face of the Councel bolden at Turon that he made him to say erraui once again against whome stoode vp in that Councell Lanfrancus and Guimundus aforesaid impugning his assertion And thus staÌ„deth the narration of W. Malmesbery But by the actes of y e Councel of Rome appeareth an other declaration which is that thys latter recantation of Berengarius shoulde be at Rome vnder Hildebrand being then Pope The order of his recantation declared Ex actis Romani Concilij in the yere of our Lord. 1076. and in the moneth of February and that in the sayde Councell holden in Ecclesia Saluatoris thys recantation of Ego Berengarius was made and he enioyned by the sayd Pope Hildebrand vpon hys oth neuer hereafter to teache or dispute contrary to that faith of the Sacrament there holden c. Againe Henry Bullinger in his booke The order of the sayd recantation reported out of Henr. Bulling De origine erroris cap. 10. De origine erroris following belike some other authour expresseth the order of the foresayd recantation after thys sorte and sayeth that in the time of Pope Leo. 9. Anno. 1051. there was a Romane Councell holden at Uercellense in the whyche Councell Lanfrancke beinge then present the Booke of Ioh. Scotus was openly read and there condemned Also Berengarius was sent for Concilium Vercellenâ—e who seeing the preiudiciall proceeding of that Councell refused himselfe to come but sent two Clerkes which openly there defended hys cause and quarell and were for the same committed vnto prison Such is the freedome of the Popes generall Councels w t prisons and violence to defend their verities Against the doings of this Councel notwithstanding the French men stoode stiffe both at Angew and Turon ioyning and consenting wyth Berengarius Not long after this died Pope Leo and after him succeeded Pope Uictor Concilium Florentinum by whom an other Synode was kept at Florence where the Actes and doings of the foresayde Councel of Uercellense were confirmed and a Legate also appointed to be sent to Turon in Fraunce This legate was Hildebrand aboue mentioned Concilium Turonense who calling the clergy of Fraunce together in a Synode fell there in hande wyth the cause of the Sacrament Berengarius not being ignoraunt of these Romaine Councels so kept himselfe that in all his action he would geue none other answere but that he beleeued and consented with the faith of the Catholicke Churche so for that time did frustrate the purpose of the councel rather deluding the preteÌ„ses of his ennemies then freely confessing the simple truth Againe Concilium Romanum â—ub Nicol. 2. after Uictor came Pope Nicholas 2. who congregating an other Councell at Rome An. 1058. sent for Berengarius there to appeare who being present argued what he could for the iustnesse of his cause but all woulde not serue In the Popes generall Councels such a stroke and mastership beareth authoritie aboue veritie Berengarius being thus borne downe on euery side by might superioritie when no remedye woulde serue Might beareth downe right but hee muste needes recant againe for the law of relapse was not yet in season he desired to know what other confession of the sacrament the Pope woulde require of him The last recantation of Berengarius Humbertus author of the decree Ego Berengarius besides y t whych hee hadde there confessed Then Pope Nicolas committed that charge to Humbart a Monke of Lotharinge and after a Cardinall y t he should draw out in formable wordes the order of his recantatioÌ„ after the prescription of Rome whych hee shoulde reade and publickely professe before the people The forme of which words is registred in the Decrees De consecrat dist 2. Ego Berengarius c. The effecte whereof is thys That hee pretendeth with heart and mouth to professe that he acknowledging the true catholicke De consecra Dist. 2. cap. Ego Berengarius and Apostolicall faith doth execrate all heresie namely that wherewyth hee hath lately bene infamed as holding that the bread and wine vpon the Altare after the
because that could not be proued and that they could not preuayle by reason they vsed theyr wil in place of reason sometime dispitefull and iniurious talke As Fryer Scot being asked of one to whoÌ„ he shuld say the Pater noster hee aunswered saying say it to the deuill knaue So the Councel perceauing they could profite nothing by reasoning they were compelled to passe * That is to the numbring of voyces The Fryers and Prelates could not agree amoÌ„g themselues about saying the Pater noster voting But then incontinent they that were called ChurchmeÌ„ were found deuided and repugnaunt among themselues For some Bishop with the Doctours and Friers consented that the Pater noster should be sayde to sayntes but the Byshops of S. Andrewes Caitnesse and Atheins wyth other moe learned men refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally with consent of both the parties Commission was geuen by the holy churche to Dane * This Winrame is now become a godly minister in the Church of God and a maried man Walter Myllâ— Martyr Iohn Winrame then Suppriour of S. Andrewes to declare to the people how and after what maner they shoulde praye the Lordes prayer Who accepting to the commission declared that it should be sayd to God with some other restrictions which are not necessary to be put in memory And so by litle and little the brute and tumulte ceased Ex testimonio è Scotia allato * The martyrdome of the blessed seruant of God Walter Mille. AMong the rest of the Martirs of Scotland y e marueilous constancie of Walter Mille is not to be passed ouer w t silence Out of whose ashes sprang thousands of his opinion and religion in Scotland who altogether choose rather to dye then to be any longer ouertroden by the tyranny of the foresayd cruell ignorant and beastly byshops Abbots Monkes and Fryers and so began the congregation of Scotland to debate the true Religion of Christ agaynst the Frenchmen and Papists who sought always to depresse and keepe down the same for it began soone after the Martyrdome of Walter Mille of the which y e forme here after followeth In the yeare of our Lorde 1558. in the tyme of Marye Duches of Longawayll Queene Regent of Scotland the sayd Iohn Hamelton being bishop of S. Andrewes Walter Mylle contrary to his Popishe vow maried Walter Mylle first suspected of heresie Walter Mylle taken by two Popishe prestes George Straqwhen and Syr Hugh Turrye and Primate of Scotland this Walter Mille who in hys youth had bene a papist after that he had bene in Almaine had heard the doctrine of the Gospell he returned again into Scotland and setting aside al papistry and compelled chastitie maryed a wyfe whiche thing made him vnto the Byshops of Scotland to be suspected of heresie and after long watching of him he was taken by 2. Popish Priestes one called sir George Sâ—raqwhen and the other sir Hugh Turry seruauntes to the sayd byshop for the tyme wythin the towne of Dysart in Fiâ—â—e and brought to s. Andrewes and imprisoned in the castell therof He being in prison the Papistes earnestly trauayâ—ed and laboured to haue seduced him and threatned him with death and corporall tormentes to the intent they woulde cause him to recant and forsake the trueth But seeing they coulde profit nothing thereby and that he remained still firme and constant they laboured to perswade him by faire promises and offered vnto him a Monkes portion for all the dayes of his life in the Abbay of Dunfermeling so that hee woulde denie the things he had taught and graunt that they were heresie but he continuing in the truth euen vnto the end despised their threatnings and faire promises Concilium malignantium Then assembled together the Bishops of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin Caitnes and Atheins the Abbots of Dunfermeling Landors Balindrinot Towper with Doctors of Theologie of S. Andrewes as Iohn Greson blacke Frier and Dane Iohn Uymame suppriour of S. Andrewes William TraÌ„ston Prouost of y e old Colledge with diuers others as sondry Friers blacke gray These being assembled and hauing coÌ„sulted together he was taken out of prison brought to y e Metropolitane Church where he was put in a Pulpit tofore the Bishops to be acused Walter Mylle for age could scarse clyme to the pulpit God geueth strength contrary to mans expectation the 20. day of Aprill Being brought vnto y e Church and climing vp to the Pulpit they seeing him so weake feeble of person partly by age and trauaile partly by euil intreatment that without help he could not clime vp they were in despaire not to haue heard him for weakenesse of voyce But when he began to speake he made the Church to ring and sound againe wyth so great courage stoutnes that the Christians which were present were no lesse reioyced Andrew Oliphant the Archbishops Chaplaine then the aduersaries were confounded and ashamed He being in the Pulpit and on his knees at Prayer sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Byshops Priestes commaunded him to arise and to answere to his Articles saying on this maner Sir Walter Mille arise and aunswere to the Articles for you hold my Lord heere ouer long To whome Walter after he had finished his prayer aunswered saying We ought to obey God more then men I serue one more mightie euen the omnipotent Lord and where you call me sir Walter they call me Walter and not sir Walter I haue bene ouerlong one of the Popes Knightes Now say what thou hast to say These were the Articles whereof he was accused with his aunsweres vnto the same OLiphant What thinke you of Priests mariage Mille. Oliphant Mylle I hold it a blessed band for Christ himself maintained it and approued the same and also made it free to al men but ye thinke it not free to you ye abhorre it and in y e meane time take other mens wiues and daughters wil not keepe the band that God hath made Ye vow chastitie breake the same S. Paul had rather marry then burne the which I haue done for God forbad neuer mariage to any man of what state or degree so euer he were Olip Oliphant Mylle Thou sayest there is not seauen sacraments Mille. Geue me the Lords supper and Baptisme and take you the rest part them amoÌ„g you For if there be vij why haue you omitted one of them to wit mariage and geue your selues to sclaunderous and vngodly whoredome Oliph Oliphant Thou art against the blessed sacrament of the aultar and sayest that the Masse is wrong and is Idolatry Mille. Mylle A similitude aptely applyed A Lord or a King sendeth calleth many to a diner and when the diner is in readinesse he causeth to ryng a bell and the men come to the hall and sit downe to be partakers of the diner but the Lord turning his backe vnto them eateth all himselfe and
mocked them so do ye Oliph Thou denyest the sacrament of the aultar to be the very body of Christ really in flesh and bloud Oliphant Mylle The Sacrament and sacrifice of the Masse Mille. The scripture of God is not to be taken carnally but spiritually and standeth in faith only as for the Masse it is wrong for Christ was once offered on the Crosse for mans trespasse and will neuer be offered agayne for then he ended all sacrifice Oliph Thou deniest the office of a Byshop Mille. Oliphant Mylle Byshops no Byshops I affirme that they whome ye call Byshops do no Bishops workes nor vse the offices of Bishops as Paul biddeth writing to Timothy but liue after their owne sensuall pleasure and take no care of the flocke nor yet regard they the word of God but desire to be honored and called my Lords Oliph Olyphant Thou speakest against pilgrimage and callest it a pilgrimage to whoredome Mille. I affirme that and say that it is not commaunded in the scripture Mylle and that there is no greater whoredome in no places then at your pilgrimages except it be in common brothels Oliph Thou preachedst quietly and priuatly in houses and openly in the fields Mille. Yea man and on the sea also sailing in ship Oliph Walter Mylle constant in the truth Sentence pronounced against Walter Mylle Wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinioÌ„s and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thee Mille. I am accused of my life I know I must die once therfore as Christ sayd to Iudas Quod facis fac citius Ye shal know that I will not recant the truth for I am corne Patricke Learmonâ— the Archbyshopâ— stuard 〈◊〉 Prouost â—â—â—fuseth to his tempâ—â—rall iudgeâ— Also the Archbishops chamberlaine refuseth to be his iudge The townâ— offended wâ—th the condemâ—â—â—tion of Walter Mille. No corde all the towne could be bought to tye him to the stake Alexander Symmerâ—waill the Bishops seruant made teâ—â—poral iudâ—â— for Walteâ— Mille. The miraculous weâ—â— king of 〈◊〉 in Walter Mille. W. Millâ— denyed by the Byshoâ—â— to speake W. Mille permitted by the 〈◊〉 men to speake I am no chaffe I wil not be blowne away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I will abide both These thinges rehearsed they of purpose with other light trifles to augment their final accusation and then sir Andrew Oliphant pronounced sentence against him that he shuld be deliuered to the temporall iudge and punished as an hereticke which was to be burnt Notwithstanding his boldnes and constancie moued so the hartes of many that the Byshops Stuard of his regalitie Prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmond refused to be his temporall iudge to whome it appertained if the cause had bene iust Also the Bishops chamberlaine being therwith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole towne was so offended with his vniust coÌ„demnation that the Bishops seruauntes could not get for their money so much as one cord to tie him to y e stake or a tarre barrell to burne him but were constrained to cut the cordes of their maisters own pauilion to serue their turne Neuerthelesse one seruaunt of the Byshops more ignoraunt and cruell then the rest called Alexander Symmerwayll enterprising the office of a temporall iudge in that part conueyed him to the fire where against all naturall reason of man his boldnes and hardines did more and more increase so that the spirit of God working miraculously in him made it manifest to the people that his cause and Articles were iust and he innocently put downe Now when all things were ready for his death and he conueyed with armed men to the fire Oliphant had him passe to the stake and he said nay but wilt thou put me vp with thy hand and take part of my death thou shalt see me passe vp gladly for by y e law of God I am forbiddeÌ„ to put hands vpon my selfe TheÌ„ Oliphant put him vp with his hand and he ascended gladly saying Introibo ad altare Dei and desired that he might haue place to speake to y e people the which Oliphant and other of the burners denyed saying that he had spoken ouer much for the Byshops were altogether offended that y e matter was so long continued Then some of the yong men committed both the burners and the Byshops their maysters to the Diuell saying that they beleeued that they should lament that daye and desired the sayd Walter to speake what he pleased The Martyrdome of Walter Mille. Epitaphium Non nostra impietas aut actae crimina vitae Armarunt hostes in mea fata truces Sola fides Christi sacris signata libellis Quae vitae causa est est mihi causa necis After this by the iust iudgement of God in the same place where Walter Mille was burnt the Images of the great Church of the Abbey which passed both in number and costlines were burnt in time of reformation Ex fideli testimonio è Scotia misso And thus much concerning such matters as happened and such Martirs as suffered in the Realme of Scotland for the faith of Christ Iesus and testimonie of his truth ¶ Persecution in Kent IN reuoluing the Registers of William Warrham Archbyshop of Canterbury I finde moreouer besides these aboue comprehended Ex Regist. W. Warrham Archiepisc Cant. in the time and reigne of king Henry the names of diuers other wherof some suffered Martyrdome for the like testimonie of Gods worde and some recanted which albeit heere do come a little out of order and shoulde haue bene placed before in the beginning of King Henries reigne yet rather then they should vtterly be omitted I thought heere to geue them a place though somewhat out of time yet not altogether I trust without fruit vnto the Reader being no lesse worthy to be Registred and preserued from obliuion then other of theyr fellowes before them ¶ A Table of certayne true seruants of God and Martyrs omitted which were burned in the Dioces of Cant. vnder William Warrham Archbyshop of Canterbury with the names of theyr persecuters and accusers an 1511. Persecuters and Iudges Accusers and witnesses The Martyrs Wyllyam Warrham Archbishop of Caunterbury D. Cutbert Tonstall Doctour of both lawes and Chauncelour of the Archbyshop D. Syluester Lawyer D. Wellys Doctour Clement Browne Doctor Iohn Collet Deane of Paules Doctour Wodyngton Martirs in Kent before the tyme of M. Luther Willyam Rich of Benynden Agnes Iue of Canterbury Robert Hilles of Tenterden Steuen Castelyn of Tenterden Io. Grebill of Tenterden husband to Agnes Grebill the Martyr Christopher Grebill the naturall sonne of Agnes Grebill the Martyr Io. Grebill the yonger the naturall sonne of Agnes Grebill the Martyr Wil. Oldbert of Godmersham Laur. CheterdeÌ„ Tho. Harwood of Rowenden Ioane Harwood his wife Phill. Hardwod WilliaÌ„ Baker of Cramebroke Edw. Walker Robert Reinold of Benynden Williem Carder of Tenderden
much vnlike so in matters of religion and in discerning truth from falshood their zeale seemed not much discrepant Although the light of the Gospell did not so fully then shine out as in the time of this latter Duke the Lord be praysed therfore yet the wisedome and towardnes of y e other Duke also touching the same was not vtterly vnworthy of his commendation A false miracle detected by Duke Humfrey of Glocester For the more manifest declaration whereof amongest many other his godly doinges we may take for example the prudent and famous acte of that noble Duke in descerning and trying out the false lying miracle and popish hipocrisie of the blinde begger at S. Albons mentioned in his story before pag. 679. For the whiche cause and for his dilligent studye in reforming that and such other blinde abuses of fayned Religion he was the more hated of the spiritualtie and suche as Winchester then was Finally as thys Lorde Protector Duke of Somerset the kinges vncle by certayne of the Counsayle was then accused arraigned cōdemned for the trespasse as it was geuen forth of felonie although I neuer heard he murdered or robbed any so the other vncle of king Henry the 6. was made away The testimonye of M. William Tindall of good Duke Humfrey The happy successe of the Duke of Somerset in his victoryes Of whose decease thus writeth Mayster W. Tindall in his practise of Prelaets At y e last they found the meanes to contriue a drift to bring their matters to passe made a Parliamēt far from the Citizens of Londō where was slayne the sayd good Duke the onely wealth of the Realme and y e mighty shield which so long had kept it from sorowe which shortly after his death fell vpon thē by heapes But the Chronicles sayth he cannot tel wherfore he dyed nor by what meanes Neuertheles this they testifie that he was a vertuous man godly and good to the common wealth But to leaue Duke Humfrey and to return to the maners and vertues of the Duke of Somerset whiche before we were about to describe as he was a gentle and courteous Duke at home so was he no lesse fortunate a Captain in warfare abroad Gods chastisement vpon the Duke of Somerset Under whose gouernment guidyng not onely diuers rebellious commotions were happily suppressed here at home but also abroad in the expedition of Scotland such a victory was geuen him of God that w t the losse scarse of sixe hundred of his own men there were of the enemies as good or little lesse then x. thousand slayn and put to flight and euen the very same day and tyme in the which all the Idolatrous Images were here burnt at London And yet al these warres notwithstanding wherunto he was agaynst his will compelled he was a man of nature singularly geuen to peace as may be seene by the sweete and peaceable exhortation by him set forth in print before and sent to the realme of Scotland But as there is nothing in this worlde so perfect in all respectes which is not blotted or darckned with some spot of vice adioyned withal so amongst the manifold commēdations of this Duke one thinge there was too whiche both desteyned his honour and estimation much and also more empayred and hindered his owne life safety which was that he in condescending to the death of his brother followed too rashly the perswasion of certayne whosoeuer they were for that matter lacked not perchaunce some singular fetche and pollicie of some more craftely then godly disposed persons as many good men haue supposed But what soeuer of that matter is to be deemed credible it is that the said Duke in suffering or procuring this death of his brother not only endamaged himselfe weakened his own power but also prouoked the chastisement of Gods scourge and rod which did so light vpon him Furthermore as touching the death and decay of the Lord Henry Earle of Surrey who suffered also at the Tower next before the Lord Admirall the Lorde Protectours brother because the casting of him was so neare to the death of King Henry The beheading of the Earle of Surrey as I know not vpon whome or what cause the same did proceede so I passe it ouer and leaue it to the Lord. Notwithstanding as for the Duke of Somerset whatsoeuer his other vices and vertues were this is certayne that his ende the Lord so working wyth him was constant in Christes truth as his life was before a great maintenance of the same Moreouer on the xxvj day of February in the same yeare was sir Rafe Uane Syr Rafe Vane Syr Myles Partrige Syr Michael Stanhop and Syr Thomas Arundell suffered at Tower hyll sir Miles Partrige both hāged at the Tower hill And sir Michaell Stanhop sir Thomas Arundell beheaded vppon the scaffold all which four were condemned by the saide Acte of vnlawfull assemblie and as accessaries vnto the Duke of Somerset Not long after the death of the Duke of Somerset in the next yeare folowing deceassed the King himselfe about the moneth of Iune whereof more shall be said the Lord graunting in his due order and course heereafter In the meane season before we come to close vp the latter end and story of this good King the place heere present seemeth not vnfitte to intermixt by the way a few other things before Religion hindered by discorde hapning within the time of his reigne namely concerning matters incident of the Church of Religiō Which state of Religion begā wel to grow to come happely forward during this Kings daies had not the vnhappy troubles of the outward state amongst the Lords not agreeing within themselues disquieted the good towardnes of things begon But the malice of the diuell how subtilly worketh it if men could see it So long as the Lordes agreed in concord among themselues Winchester and Boner with all that faction was cut short and began to condescend to good cōformitie But afterward perceauing the states and nobles of the Realme to be amōg themselues diuided and y e Lord Protectour the Kings vncle displaced and his brother the Admirall before beheaded and the yong King now left in that case they begā vpon some hope to take more hart vnto them Discorde what decay it worketh in a common wealth till at last it came to passe as they themselues desired And thus though nothing else will leade vs yet experience may teach vs what discorde worketh in publicke weales and contrary what a necessary thing concord is to the aduancemēt especially of Gods matters apperteining to his Church Examples whereof in this Kings daies be not farre to seeke For as touching the successe of the Gospell of peace D. Smyth Chadsey Standish Younge Oglethorpe reclaymed from their errours while publicke peace and the Gospel did ioine together marueilous it was how errour Popery were in themselues confounded and ashamed
so away for feare from the way of truth writeth her minde vnto him in a sharp and vehement letter which as it appeareth to proceede of an earnest and zealous hart so woulde God it might take such effect with him as to reduce him to repentaunce and to take better holde againe for the health and wealth of his owne soule The copie of the letter is thys as followeth ¶ Another letter of the Lady Iane to M. Harding late Chaplayne to the Duke of Suffolke her father and then fallen from the truth of Gods most holy worde SO oft as I call to mynde the dreadfull and fearefull saying of God That he which layeth holde vpon the plough and looketh backe Luke 9. A sharpe letter or exhortation of the â—ady Iane to M. Harding is not meete for the kingdome of heauen and on the other side the comfortable words of our Sauiour Christ to all those that forsaking themselues do folow him I can not but maruell at thee and lament thy case which seemedst somtime to be the liuely member of Christ but now the deformed impe of the deuil sometime the beutifull temple of God but now the stinking and filthy kenel of Sathan sometime the vnspotted spouse of Christ but now the vnshamefast paramour of Antichrist sometyme my faythfull brother but now a straunger and Apostata sometime a stoute Christen souldiour but now a cowardly runneaway Yea when I consider these things I can not but speake to thee and cry out vpon thee thou seede of Sathan and not of Iuda whome the deuill hath deceyued the world hath begiled and the desire of life subuerted and made thee of a Christian an Infidell wherefore hast thou taken the Testament of the Lord in thy mouth * This man a little before K. Edward dyed was heard openly in his 〈◊〉 in London to exhort the people with great vehemency after thys soâ—te that if trouble came they shoulde neuer shrinke from the true doctrine of the Gospell whiche they had receiued but should take it rather for a tryall sent of God to proue them whether they would abide by it or no All which to be true they can testify that heard him and be yet aliue who also foreseeing the plague to come were then muche confirmed by hys wordes Wherfore hast thou preached the law and the wil of God to others Wherefore hast thou instructed other to be strong in Christ when y u thy selfe doest now so shamefully shrinke and so horrible abuse the Testament and lawe of the Lord When thou thy selfe preachest not to steale yet most abhominably stealest not from men but from God and committing most haynous sacriledge robbest Christ thy Lorde of his right members thy bodye and soule and chosest rather to liue miserably with shame to the worlde then to dye and gloriously with honor to reigne with christ in whome euen in death is life Why doest thou now shew thy selfe most weake when in deede thou oughtest to bee most strong The strength of a forâ— is vnknowne before the assault but thou yeldest thy hold before anye battrie be made Oh wretched and vnhappy man what art thou but dust and ashes and wilt thou resist thy maker that fashioned thee and framed thee Wilt thou nowe forsake hym y t called thee from the custome gathering amoÌ„g y e Romish Antichristians to be an Ambassadour messenger of hys eternall worde Hee that first framed thee and since thy first creation and byrth preserued thee nourished and kept thee yea and inspired thee with the spirit of knowledge I cannot say of grace shall he not now possesse thee Darest thou deliuer vp thy selfe to an other Anno. 1554. being not thine owne but his How caÌ„st thou hauing knowledge or how darest thou neglect the law of the Lord and follow the vayn traditions of men Februarye and whereas thou hast bene a publicke professor of his name become now a defacer of his glorye Wilt thou refuse the true God and worship the inuention of man the golden calfe the whore of Babilon y e Romish Religion the abhominable Idoll the most wicked masse Wilt thou torment agayne rent and teare the most precious body of our Sauior Christ with thy bodily and fleshly teeth Wilt thou take vpon thee to offer vp anye sacrifice vnto God for our sinnes considering that Christ offered vp himselfe as Paule sayth vppon the crosse a liuely sacrifice once for all Can neither the punishment of the Israelites which for their Idolatry they so oft receaued nor the terrible threatninges of the Prophetes nor the curses of Gods owne mouth feare thee to honour anye other God then him Doest thou so regard him that spared not hys deare and onely sonne for thee so diminishing yea vtterly extinguishing his glory that thou wilt attribute the prayse and honour due vnto him to the Idols which haue mouthes and speak not eyes and see not eares and heare not which shall perish with them that made them What sayth the Prophet Baruc Baruch 6. where hee recited the Epistle of Ieremy written to the captiue Iewes Did hee not forwarne them that in Babilon they should see Gods of gold siluer wood stone borne vpon mens shoulders to cast a feare before the Heathen But be not ye afrayd of them sayth Ieremy nor doe as other doe But when you see other worship theÌ„ say you in your hartes it is thou O Lord that oughtest onely to be worshipped for as for those Gods the Carpenter framed them and polished them yea gilded be they and layde ouer with siluer and vayne thinges and cannot speake He sheweth moreouer the abuse of theyr deckings howe the Priestes tooke off their ornamentes and aparelled their women withall how one holdeth a scepter an other a sworde in his hand and yet can they iudge in no matter nor defend themselues much lesse anye other from either battell or murther nor yet from gnawing of wormes nor any other euill thing These such like wordes speaketh Ieremy vnto them whereby he proueth them to be but vayne thinges and no Gods And at last he concludeth thus Confounded be they that worship them They were warned by Ieremy and thou as Ieremye hast warned other and art warned thy selfe by many Scriptures in many places God sayth he is a ielous God which will haue all honour glory and worship geuen to him onely And Christ saith in the 4. of Luke to Sathan which tempted him euen to the same Sathan the same Belzebub the same deuill whiche hath preuayled agaynst thee Math. â— It is written saith he thou shalt honor the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue These and such like doe prohibite thee and all Christians to worship anye other God then whiche was before all worldes and layd the foundations both of heauen and earth and wilt thou honour a detestable Idol inuented by Romish Popes and the abhominable Colledge of craftye Cardinals Christ offered himselfe vp once for
if hereby we doe enioy all good thinges it followeth that we must needes possesse haue and enioy you most reuerend Fathers who be no small part of our ioy and good thinges geuen vs of God We heretofore haue had the fruition of you by bodily presence to our inexplicable benefite praysed be that oure gracious God therfore And nowe in spirite we haue the experience of vnspeakeable cōfort by your reuerēt fatherhoodes for y t in this so glorious sort Math. 5. ye become a towne set vpon a hill a candle vpon a candlestick a specktacle vnto y e world both to the Angels vnto men So y t as we to our great cōfort do feele 1. Cor. 4. Phil. 1. you also may assuredly say with saint Paule y t the things which happē vnto vs do chance vnto y e great furtherance of the Gospell so y t our bonds in christ are manifest not onely throughout all the iudgement hall but in all wholl Europa in so much that many of the brethren in the Lord being incouraged through our bondes dare more boldly speake the word without feare And here in as you haue with s. Paule greatly to reioyce so we doe reioyce with you and we do in deed with you geue thāks for this worthy excellēt fauour of our God towards you that christ is thus magnified in you yea and hereafter shal be magnified in your bodies Phil. 1. Phil. 1. whether it be through life or death Of which thing truely wee are assured in our prayers for you and ministring of the spirite And although for your owne partes Christ is vnto you life and death aduantage and that your desire is as in deede it were better for you to be loosed and to be w t Christ yet for the Church of Christ were it much more necessary that ye shuld abide in the fleshe Yea that mercifull God euen for his Christes sake graunt that ye may abide and continue for the furtheraunce of the Churche and reioysing of fayth that the reioysing therof may be the more aboundant through Iesus Christ by your restoring Amen Amen But if it seeme better otherwise vnto the diuine wisedome y t by speedy death he hath appoynted you to glorifie him y e Lords wil be done Yea euen as we do reioyce both on your behalfes also on our own that God is magnified by life and shuld be more aboundantly glad for the continuance thereof so we shall no lesse reioyce to haue y e same wrought by death We shall geue thankes for this honour geuen vnto you reioysing that ye are accounted worthye to suffer for the name of Christ and that it is geuen to you of God not onely that ye shoulde beleue in him but also that ye should suffer for his sake And herein we shal haue to reioyce in the behalfe of the Churche of Christ whose faith may be the faster fixed vpon Gods veritie being confirmed with three such worthy witnesses Oh thankes be to God for this his vnspeakeable gift And now most reuerend Fathers that you may vnderstand the trueth of vs and our estate howe we stand in the lord I do assure your reuerences partly by y t I perceaue by such of our brethren as be here in bondes w t me partly by that I heare of them which be in other places partly by that inward experiēce which I most vnworthy wretch haue of Gods good comfort more aboundance whereof I knowe there is in others you may be assured I say by Gods grace that you shall not be frustrate of your hope of our constaunt continuance in the cheerefull confession of Gods euerlasting veritie For euen as we haue receyued the word of truth euen the Gospell of our saluation wherin we beleeuing are sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritaunce the which spirite certifieth our spirit The constant minde of a christian souldiour Ephes. 1. Rom. 8. Galat. 4. that we are the children of God and therefore God hath sente the spirite of his Sonne into our harts crying Abba Father so after such portion as God measureth vnto vs we with the whole Church of Christ and with you reuerend fathers receiuing the same spirite of faith according as it is written I beleeued and therefore I haue spoken 2. Cor. 4. Psal. 116. We also beleeue and therefore speake For the which we in this dangerous bondage and other afflictions hauing euen such a fight as we haue seene in you and haue heard of you Phil. 1. are in no wise afraid of our aduersaries And forasmuch as we haue such an office euen as God hath had mercy on vs 1. Cor. 4. we go not out of kind but euē with you after our little power we labour to maintain the faith of the Gospell knowing most certainely that though we haue this treasure in earthen vessels 2. Cor 4. that the excellency of thys power might be Gods and not ours yet shall we not be dashed in pieces For the Lord will put his hand vnder vs. When we are troubled on euery side yet are we not without shift when we are in pouerty we are not vtterly without some thing when we suffer persecution we are not forsaken therein when we are cast downe yet we shall not perish but to communicate with our sweete Sauiour Christ in bearing the crosse it is appointed vnto vs that euen with him also we shall be glorified For it is a true saying If we be dead with him 2. Tim. 2. we shall also liue with him If we be patient we shall also raigne with him If we deny him he shall also deny vs. Wherefore be we of good cheere 3. Cor. 4. alwayes bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord Iesus that the life of Iesus might appeare also in our body For we know that he which raised vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus and shall ioyne vs to himselfe together with you Wherefore we are not weeried but though our outward man perish yet the inwarde man is renued day by day For our tribulation which is momentane and light prepareth an exceeding and eternall weight of glory vnto vs while we looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not seene For the things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are eternall Esay 12. We testifie vnto you Reuerend fathers that we drawe these waters with ioy out of the Wels of the sauiour And I trust we shall cōtinually with you blesse the Lord Psal. 48. giue thanks to the Lord out of the wels of Israell we trust to bee merry together at that greate Supper of the Lambe whose spouse we are by faith and there to sing that song of euerlasting Haleluyah Amen Yea come Lorde Iesu. The grace of our Lord Iesu Christ be with you Amen Another letter written
aduersary to reioyce In conclusion this Theologicall contentiō came to this end that the bishops hauyng the vpper hand M. Hooper was faine to agree to this condition that sometymes he should in hys Sermon shewe himselfe apparelled as the other Bishoppes were Wherefore appoynted to preach before the king as a new player in a strange apparel he commeth forth on the stage His vpper garment was a long scarlet Chymere downe to the foote and vnder that a white linnen Rochet that couered all his shoulders Upon his head he had a Geometriall that is a foure squared cap albeit that his head was round What cause of shame the straungenes hereof was that day to that good preacher euery mā may easily iudge But this priuate contumely and reproch in respect of the publike profite of the Church which he onely sought hee bare and suffered paciently And I would to God in lyke maner they which tooke vpon them the other part of that tragedy had yelded their priuate cause whatsoeuer it was to the publike concord and edifieng of the Church for no man in all the Citie was one haire the better for that hote contention I will name no body partly for that hys oppugners beyng afterwards ioyned in the most sure frendship with him in one for one cause suffred martyrdome and partly for that I commonly vse accordyng to my accustomed maner The crosse maketh peace to keep my pen from presumptuous iudging of any person yet I thought to note the thyng for this consideration to admonish the reader hereby how wholesome necessary the crosse of Christ is sometyme in the church of Christ as by the sequele hereof did afterward appeare For as in a ciuill gouernance common wealth nothyng is more occasion of warre then ouermuch peace so in the church and among churchmen as nothyng is more pernitious then too much quietnes so nothyng more ceaseth priuate contentions oftentymes rising amongst thē then the publike crosse of persecution Furthermore so I persuaded my selfe the same not to be vnexpedient to haue extant such examples of holy and blessed men For if it do not a little appertaine to our publike consolation and comfort when we read in the scriptures of the foule dissension betweene Paule and Barnabie of the fall of Peter and of Dauids murder and adultery why may or should it not be as well profitable for our posteritie to heare and know the fals of these godly Martyrs The falles and infirmityes of holy Saints and Martyrs lefte for our consolation whereby we may the lesse despayre in our infirmitie consideryng the same or greater infirmities to raign in the holy Saints of God both Prophets Apostles and Martyrs And this by the way thou hast heard good Reader hitherto the weakenes of these good men plainly and simply as the truth was declared vnto thee Note how discorde reconsiliation happeneth many times amongest good men to the ende theyr fall may minister occasion to vs eyther of eschewyng the lyke or els to take hart and comfort in the lyke fall frailenes of ours Now agayne on the other part it remayneth to record after the foresayd discord the godly reconciliations of these good men in tyme of persecution who afterward beyng in pryson for the truths sake reconciled them selues agayne with most godly agreement as appeareth by this letter sent by Bishop Ridley to the sayd Bishop of Glocester The copy whereof as it was written wyth hys owne hand in Latine hereafter followeth translated into English ¶ To my deare brother and reuerend fellow Elder in Christ Iohn Hooper grace and peace MY dearely beloued brother and fellow Elder A letter of reconsiliatiation sent by Doctour Ridley to Bishop Hooper whom I reuerence in the Lord pardon me I beseech you that hitherto since your captiuity and myne I haue not saluted you by my letters where as I doe in deed confesse I haue receiued from you such was your gentlenes two letters at sundry times but yet at such tyme as I could not be suffered to write vnto you agayne or if I might yet was I in doubt how my letters myght safely come vnto your hands But now my deare brother for as much as I vnderstand by your workes which I haue but superficially seene that we throughly agree and wholy consent together in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion agaynst the which the world so furiously rageth in these our dayes howsoeuer in tyme past in certaine by matters and circumstances of Religion your wisedome and my simplicitie I graunt hath a little iarred ech of vs followyng the abundance of hys owne sense and iudgement now I say be you assured 1. Cor. 10. B. Ridley and Bishop Hooper ioyne handes togither that euen with my whole heart God is my witnes in the bowels of Christ I loue you in the truth and for the truthes sake which abideth in vs and as I am perswaded shall by the grace of God abide in vs for euermore And because the world as I perceiue brother ceaseth not to play his pageant and busily conspireth agaynst Christ our Sauiour with all possible force and power Exalting high thyngs agaynst the knowledge of God let vs ioyne handes together in Christ and if we cannot ouerthrow yet to our power and as much as in vs lyeth let vs shake those high altitudes not with carnall but with spirituall weapons and with all brother let vs prepare our selues to the day of our dissolution by the which after the short tyme of this bodily affliction by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ we shall triumph together wyth hym in eternall glory I pray you brother salute in my name your reuerend fellowe prisoner and venerable father D.C. by whome since the first day that I heard of hys most godly and fatherly constancie in confessing the truth of the gospell I haue conceyued great consolation and ioy in the Lord. For the integritie and vprightnes of that man his grauitie innocency all England I thinke hath known lōg ago Blessed be God therfore which in such abundāce of iniquitie and decay of all godlines hath geuen vnto vs in this reuerend old age such a witnesse for the truth of hys Gospell Miserable and hard harted is he whom the godlynes and constant confession of so worthy so graue and innocent a man wyll not mooue to acknowledge and confesse the truth of God I do not now brother require you to write any thing to me agayne for I stand much in feare lest your letters should be intercepted before they can come to my hands Neuertheles know you that it shall be to me great ioy to heare of your constancy fortitude in the Lordes quarell And albeit I haue not hitherto written vnto you yet haue I twise as I could sent vnto you my mynde touchyng the matter which in your letters you required to know Neyther can I yet brother be
I most hartely thanke you for that ye haue so tender a care ouer me And although I knowe that there is neither iustice nor truth to be looked for at my aduersaries handes but rather imprisonment and cruell death yet know I my cause to be so good and righteous and the truth so strong vpon my side that I will by Gods grace go and appeare before them and to their beardes resist their false doings Then sayd his frendes M. Doctour we thinke it not best so to do You haue sufficieÌ„tly done your duety and testified the truth both by your godly Sermons and also in resisting the Parson of Aldam with other that came hytherto bring in againe the popish Masse And for as much as our Sauiour Christ willeth and biddeth vs that when they persecute vs in one City we should flie into another Math. 10. we thinke in flying at this time ye should do best keeping your selfe against another time wheÌ„ the Church shall haue great neede of such diligent teachers and godly Pastors Oh quoth Doct. Taylour what will ye haue me to do I am now olde and haue already liued too long to see these terrible and most wicked dayes Flye you and do as your conscience leadeth you D. Taylour reâ—â—â—eth to â—ye I am fully determined with Gods grace to go to the Bishop to his beard to tell him that he doth nought God shall well hereafter raise vp teachers of his people whiche shall with much more diligence and fruite teach them then I haue done For God will not forsake his Church though now for a time he trieth and correcteth vs and not without a iust cause As for me I beleeue before God I shall neuer be able to do God so good seruice as I may do now nor I shall neuer haue so glorious a calling as I now haue nor so great mercy of God profered me as is now at this present For what Christian man woulde not gladly dye against the Pope and his adherents I know that the Papacie is the kingdome of Antichrist altogether full of lyes altogether full of falsehode so that all their doctrine euen from Christes Crosse be my speede and S. Nicholas The Papacy a â—ingdome 〈◊〉 lyes vnto the end of their Apocalyps is nothing but Idolatry superstition errours hypocrisie and lyes Wherefore I beseech you and all other my frendes to pray for me I doubt not but God will geue me streÌ„gth and his holy spirit y t all mine aduersaries shal haue shame of their doings When his frends saw him so constaunt and fully determined to go they with weeping eyes commended him vnto God and he within a day or two prepared himselfe to his iourney leauing his cure with a godly olde Priest named Syr Richard Yeoman who afterward for Gods truth was burnt at Norwich Syr Rich. Yeoman D. Taylours Curate and Martir of Christ Iohn Alcocke of Hadley trobled for Gods truth and dyed in prison D. Taylours iourney There was also in Hadley one Alcocke a very godly man well learned in the holy Scriptures who after Sir Richard Yeoman was driuen away vsed dayly to reade a chapter and to say the English Letany in Hadley Church But him they fet vp to London and cast him in prison in Newgate where after a yeare imprisonment he died But let vs returne to Doctour Taylour agayne who being accompanied with a seruaunt of his owne named Iohn Hull tooke his iourney towardes London By the way this Iohn Hull laboured to counsell and perswade him very earnestly to flie and not to come to the Byshop and profered himselfe to go with him to serue him and in all perils to venter his liâ—e for him and with him Iohn Hull a faythfull seruaunt to D. Taylour But in no wise would Doctour Taylour consent or agree thereunto but sayd Oh Iohn shall I geue place to this thy counsell worldly perswasion and leaue my flock in this daunger Remember the good shepeheard Christ whiche not alonely fed his flocke but also died for hys flocke Him must I follow and with Gods grace will do Therefore good Iohn pray for me and if thou seest me weake at any time D. Taylour agayne adâ—â—ed to flye but he refused so to do The first meeting betweene Winchest and D. Tailour A great abuse in Englande and 3. mischiefes comming thereof The first mischiefe The second mischiefe comfort me and discourage me not in this my godly enterprise and purpose Thus they came vp to London and shortly after Doctour Taylour presented himselfe to the Bishop of Winchester Steuen Gardiner then Lord Chauncellour of England For this hath bene one great abuse in Englande these many yeares that such offices as haue ben of most importance and waight haue commonly bene committed to Bishops and other spirituall men whereby three diuelish mischiefes and inconueniences haue happened in this Realme to the great dishonour of God and vtter neglecting of the flocke of Christ the which three be these First they haue had small leysure to attende to theyr pastorall cures which thereby haue bene vtterly neglected and left vndone Secondly it hath also puft vp many Byshops and other spirituall persons into such hautines and pryde that they haue thought no noble man in the Realme worthy to be their equall and fellow Thirdly where they by this meanes knew the very secretes of Princes The third mischiefe they being in such high offices haue caused the same to be knowne in Rome afore the kings could accomplish and bring their ententes to passe in England By this meanes hath the Papacy bene so maintained and things ordered after their wils and pleasures that much mischiefe hath happened in this Realme and others sometime to the destruction of Princes and sometime to the vtter vndoing of many common wealthes Now when Gardiner saw Doctour Taylour he according to his common custome all â—o reuiled him calling him knaue Traytor hereticke with many other villanous reproches which all Doctour Taylour heard patiently and at the last sayd vnto him D. Taylours patience and â—agnaniâ—itie My Lord quoth he I am neither Traytour nor hereticke but a true subiect and a faithfull Christian man and am come according to your coÌ„mandement to know what is the cause that your Lordship hath sent for me Then sayde the Bishop art thou come thou villaine How darest thou looke me in the face for shame Knowest thou not who I am Yes quoth Doctor Taylor I knowe who yee are Steuen Gardiners Lordly lookes Ye are Doctor Steuen Gardinar Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chauncellour yet but a mortall man I trow But if I shoulde be afrayde of your Lordly lookes why feare you not God the Lord of vs all Howe dare yee for shame looke any Christian man in the face The notable answere of Doctor Taylour to the Bishop of Winchester seeing ye haue forsaken the trueth denyed our sauioure Christ and hys word done
will do When the B. had made an ende of his long tale this good father Rawlins spake very boldly to him and sayd Rawlins aunswere to the Byâ—shop My Lord. I thanke God I am a christian maÌ„ and I hold no opinions contrary to the word of God if I do I desire to be reformed out of the worde of God as a christian maÌ„ ought to be many mo words in like sort wer betwene the B. Raulins which this reporter doth not wel remeÌ„ber But in the end when Rawlins would in no wyse recant his opinions the B. told him plainly y t he must proceed against him by y e law condemn him as an heretike Proceed in your law a Gods name said Rawlins but for an heretike you shal neuer condemn me while y e world standeth The B. Landaffâ— proceedeâ— with praâ— in condeâ—â—nation oâ— Rawlins which câ—â—monly 〈◊〉 popish pâ—â—â—secutors not woâ—â— doe But said the B. to his company before we proceed any further with hym let vs pray vnto God that he would send some sparke of grace vppon him meanyng Rawlins it may so chance that God through our prayer will here turne and conuert his heart When Rawlins heard the B. say so Ah my Lord quoth he now you deale well and like a godly Bish. and I thanke you most hartily for your great charity and gentlenes Christ saith where as two or three be gathered in my name I will be in the middest of them and there be moe then two or three of you Now if it be so that your request be godly and lawfull and that that you pray as ye should pray without doubt God will heare you And therefore my Lord goe to doe you praye to your God Anno 1555. Aprill and I wil pray to my God I know that my God will both heare my prayer and performe my desire By and by the B. with his company fell to praier And Rawlins turning himselfe to a pew that stood somewhat neare him The Bishop â—ayeth to 〈◊〉 God Rawlins to 〈◊〉 fell downe vpon his knees couering hys face with his handes and when they had praied a while the B. with his company arose from prayer And then also arose Rawlins and came before the Bishop Then said the B. Now Rawlins how is it with thee wilt thou reuoke thy opinions or no Surely said Rawlins my Lorde Rawlins you lefte me and Rawlins you finde me and by Gods grace Rawlins I will continue Rawlins conâ—â—nued in his doctrine Poâ—ish Bishâ—ps pray to a false god therefore 〈◊〉 not heard A Masse sayd for conuersion of Rawlins Certainly if your petitions had bene iust and lawefull God woulde haue hearde them but you honor a false God and pray not as ye should pray and therfore hath not God graunted your desire But I am one poore simple man as you see and God hath heard my complaint and I trust he will strengthen me in his owne cause The Bishop when he perceiued that this hipocrisye of theirs tooke none effect then with hot wordes he reproued him and forthwith was ready to read tht sentence Howbeit vppon some aduise geuen to him by his Chapleynes that were there present hee thought best firste to haue a masse thinking that in deed by so doing some wonderfull worke should be wrought in Rawlins and thereuppon a priest began Masse In the meane tyme poore Rawlins betooke himselfe to prayer in a secret place therby vntill such time as the priest came to the Sacring as they terme it whiche is a principall poynt of theyr Idolatry When Rawlins hearde the Sacring bell ring as the vse was he rose out of hys place and came to the Quâ—ere doore and there standing a while turned himselfe to the people speaking these wordes good people The woâ—des of Rawlins to the people at tâ—e sacring time if there be any Brethren amongest you or at the least if there be but one Brother amongest you the same one beare witnesse at the daye of iudgement that I bowe not to this Idoll meaning the Host that the Priest held ouer his head The Masse being ended Rawlins eftsoones was called for agayne Rawlins still conâ—taÌ„t in the profession of Gods truth Sentence read agaynst Rawlins Rawlins seâ—t to prisoÌ„ to Cardiffe caâ—tle To whom the Bishop vsed many perswasions but the blessed man continued stedfast in his former profession that the Bishops talke was altogether in vayne and to no purpose Wherupon the Bishop caused the definitiue senteÌ„ce to be read Which being ended Rawlins was dismissed and from thence he was by the bishops commaundement caried agayn to Cardiffe there to be put into the prison of y e towne called Cockmarell a very darck lothsome and most vile prison Rawlins in the meane while passed away the time in prayer and chiefly in singing of Psalmes which kynde of godly exercises he alwayes vsed both at Cardiffe Castle in all other places Nowe after hee hadde thus continued as Prisoner in Cockmarell Prison at Cardiffe as is aforesayde a good space about three weekes before the daye wherein hee suffered the head Officers of the Towne that had the charge of his execution were determined to burne hym because they woulde be sooner ryd of hym hauing not in deede a writ of executioÌ„ awarded as by the law they should haue Whereuppon one Henrye Lewes the Recorder of the Towne that then was seeyng that they wente aboute to burne hym without any warrant by writ came to them and told them that if they did burne hym before they had the writte De haereticis comburendis the Wyfe of the sayde Rawlins would vpon iust cause by law call theyr doings into question Immediately vppon this aduertisement they sent to London for the writ aboue named vpon the receipt wherof they made some speede to the execution of the sayd Raulins The writte awarded for burning of Rawlins Nowe when the daye was come wherein the good father should performe and accomplish the last Act of thys his worthy conflict he was the night before wylled to prepare himselfe Now when he perceiued his time no lesse neare then it was reported vnto hym he sent forthwith to hys Wyfe and willed her by the messeÌ„ger that in any wise she should make readye Rawlins wedding 〈◊〉 and send vnto him his wedding Garment meaning a Shyrt whiche afterwarde hee was burned in Which request or rather commaundement of his his wife with great sorow and griefe of hart did performe and early in the morninge did send it him whiche he receiued moste gladly and ioyfully Nowe wheÌ„ the houre of his execution was come this good and constant father Raulins was brought out of prison hauing on his body the long Shyrt Whiche as you heard before he called his wedding garment and an olde Russet coate whiche he was wont to weare Besides this he had vpon his legges an olde payre of leather Buskins which he
and faithfull wife and children and also well quieted in the peaceable possession of that pleasaunt Euphrates I do confesse it but the Lord who worketh all thyngs for the best to them that loue him would not there leaue me but did take my deare and beloued wife from me whose death was a paynefull crosse to my flesh Also I thought my selfe nowe of late well placed vnder my most louing and most gentle mayster Laurence Saunders in the cure of Langhton G. Marsh Curate to Laurence Saunders But the Lord of his great mercy woulde not suffer me there long to continue although for the small tyme I was in his vineyard I was not all an idle workman But he hath prouided me I perceiue it to taste of a farre other cuppe The glory of the Church standeth not in outward shewes for by violence hath he yet once agayne driuen me out of that glorious Babilon that I should not taste to much of her wanton pleasures but wyth his most dearely beloued Disciples to haue my inward reioysing in the Crosse of his sonne Iesus Christe the glorye of whose Church I see it well standeth not in the harmonious souÌ„d of Bells and Organes nor yet in the glistring of Mitors Copes neither in the shining of gilte Images and lightes as the blynde Papistes do iudge it but in continuall labours and dayly afflictions for his names sake God at this present here in Englande hath his fanne in hys hand and after hys great haruest whereinto these yeares past he hath sent his labourers is now sifting the corne froÌ„ the chaffe and purging his floore and ready to gather the wheate into hys garnar and to burne the chaffe with vnquenchable fire Take heede and beware of the leuen of the scribes and of the Saduces I meane the erroneous doctrine of the papistes whiche with their gloses depraue the Scriptures For as the Apostle S. Peter doth teach vs There shal be false teachers amongst vs whiche priuily shall bring in damnable sectes And sayth that many shall follow theyr damnable wayes by whom the way of trueth shall be euill spoken of and that through couetousnes they shall with fayned wordes make marchaundise of vs. And Christ earnestly warneth vs to beware of false Prophetes which come to vs in sheepes clothing but inwardly are rauening Wolues by their fruites ye shall know them The fruites of the Prophetes is theyr doctrine In this place are we Christians taught that wee shuld try the preachers other that come vnder colour to set forth true Religion vnto vs according to the saying of S. Paule Try all thinges and chose that whiche is good Also the Euangelist S. Iohn sayth Beleue not euery spirite but proue the spirites whether they be of God or not for many false Prophetes sayth he are gone out into the world Therefore if thou wilt knowe the true Prophetes froÌ„ the false try theyr doctrine at the true touchstone whiche is the worde of God and as the godly Thessalonians did search ye the scriptures whether those thinges which be preached vnto you be eueÌ„ so or not for els by the outward conuersatioÌ„ of theÌ„ ye may easely be deceiued DesuÌ„t fortassis aliqua ¶ A letter exhortatory of George Marshe to the faythfull professours of Langhton GRace be vnto you and peace be multiplied in y e knowledge of Iesus Christ our Lord. A letter of G. Marsh â—o men of Langhton Amen I thought it my duety to write vnto you my beloued in y e Lord at Langhton to stirre vp your mindes to call to your remeÌ„brance the wordes which haue bene told you before and to exhort you as that good man full of y e holy Ghost Barnabas did the Antiochians that with purpose of hart ye continually cleaue vnto the Lord that ye staÌ„d fast Actes 11. and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospel wherof God be thaÌ„ked ye haue had plenteous preaching vnto you by your late pastor M. Saunders other faithfull ministers of Iesus Christ which now when persecution ariseth because of y e word Luke 3. Rom. 1. do not fall away like shrinking children and forsake the truth being ashamed of the Gospell wherof they haue bene preachers but are willing and ready for your sakes which are Christes misticall body to forsake not onely the chiefe and principall delites of this lyfe I do meane theyr natiue countryes frendes lyuinges c. but also to fulfill theyr ministery vnto y e vtmost that is to witte with their painefull imprisonmentes and bloudsheddinges if need shall require to confirme seale Christes Gospell Acteâ— 12. wherof they haue bene Ministers and as S. Paul sayth they are ready not onely to be cast into prison but also to be killed for the name of the Lord Iesu. Whether these being that good salt of the earth that is true ministers of Gods worde Math. 5. by whose doctrine beyng receiued through fayth men are made sauory vnto God which themselues lose not theyr saltnes True salte 〈…〉 the â—â—â—rupt and â—â—sauory â—â—lt now when they be prooued with the boysterous stormes of aduersity and persecutioÌ„ or others being that vnsauery salt which hath lost his saltnes that is to witte those vngodly ministers which do fall from the word of God into the dreames and traditions of Antichrist whether of these I say be more to be credited and beleued let all men iudge Wherfore my dearely beloued receiue y e word of God with meekenes y t is graffed in you whiche is able to saue your soules Iames. 2. And see that ye be not forgetfull hearers deceiuing yourselues with sophistry but doers of the word whom Christ doth liken to a wise maÌ„ Math. 7. which buildeth his house on a rocke that when the great rayn discendeth and the flouddes come and beate vpon the house it fel not because it was grounded vpon a rocke this is to witte that when Sathan with all his legion of deuils with all theyr subtill suggestions and the world with all y e mighty princes therof 〈◊〉 2. with their crafty counsels doe furiously rage against vs we faint not but abide constant in the truth being grounded vpon a most sure rock which is Christ and the doctrine of the Gospell against which the gates of hel that is 〈◊〉 16. the power of Sathan cannot preuayle And be ye followers of Christ and the Apostles and receaue the word in much affliction as the godly Thessalonians did Thes 1. 〈◊〉 receaâ—â—â— of the 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 be for the true followers of Christ and the Apostles be they which receiue the word of God They onely receiue the word of god which both beleue it also frame their liues after it be ready to suffer all maner of aduersitie for the name of the Lord as Christ all y e Apostles did and as all that will liue godly in Christ Iesu must doe for there
furtherance of the gospel and that you will be none of those forgetfull and hypocritish hearers Wayside hereâ—â— of the worde whereof some being but wayside hearers the deuil commeth and taketh away the woord out of their heartes least they shoulde beleeue and be saued but lette praier be made without ceassing by the congregation vnto God for them and no doubt God will to your consolation gloriously deliuer by one meanâ—s or other his oppressed Onely tary ye the Lords leisure be strong let your heart be of good comfort and waite yee still for the Lorde He tarieth not that will come looke for hym therefore and faint not and he will neuer faile you Yours George Marsh. A letter of a godly brother one Iames Bradshaw sent to George Marsh in prisone GRace and peace from God the father and the Lord Iesu Christ be with you alway A letter of Iames Bradshaw to George Marsh. Amen We had a letter from you which is a great coÌ„fort vnto vs to see you take the crosse so thankefully Trouble affliction doth prooue try instructe confirme strengthen the faith prouoke and stirre vp prayer driue and force vs to amendement of life What good affliction worketh in the godly to the feare of God to mekenes to patience to constancie to gentlenesse to sobernesse temperancie and to all maner of vertues and are the occasion of exceeding much good as wel transitorie as eternal in this world as in the world to come There is neither good nor bad godly nor vngodly but hee hathe one crosse or other And although some there be that can shift for a while and make prouision for theÌ„selues for a time by craft or subtilty and dissimulatioÌ„ or by some fashion in fellowship as they call it yet they bring them selues at length into the highest danger confusion and shame both in this world in the world to come And seing that all the troubles and aduersity in this world are a thousand times more light easy yea nothing in coÌ„parison of the eternal fire which is prepared and already kindled for the vnfaithfull and wicked enemies of God all faithfull and godly persons ought to beare and suffer their transitorye affliction and aduersitie the more patiently willingly and thankfully considering and remembring all the dearely beloued frendes of God which were wonderfully vexed plaged of their enemies Abraham of the Caldeis Lot of the Sodomites Isaac of Ismael Iacob of Esau Moses of his people Dauid of Saule and of his owne sonnes As for Iob Examplâ— of holy suffering â—â—â—fliction he had not a drop of bloud in hys body Iohn Baptist the holyest that euer was borne of a woman was without any law right or reason beheaded in prison as thoughe God had knowen nothing at all of hym We haue many thousand fellow martyrs and companions of our miserie and aduersitie in respecte of whose imprisonment racking chaines fire wilde beastes and other meanes wherwith they were tormented al that we suffer is but a blast of winde Therefore nowe who soeuer is ashamed of the crosse of Christ and agreued therewith the same is ashamed to haue Christ for his fellow companion and therefore shal the Lord Iesus Christ be ashamed of him againe at the latter day Thus I leaue for this time beseeching you to lette me haue your aduise because I do not outwardly speake that with my tong that I do thinke w t my heart Pray for me as I for you I beseeche the holy Ghost haue you in hys keeping alway Amen By your frend Iames Bradshaw A prayer of George Marsh which he vsed daily to say OH Lord Iesu Christ which art the onely phisition of wouÌ„ded consciences wee miserable sinners trusting in thy gratious goodnes doe briefly open to thee the euil tree of our heart with all the rootes boughes leaues and fruits withal the crookes A prayer oâ— G. Marsh Martyr knots and knoures all which thou knowest for thou throughly perceiuest as wel the inwarde lustes doubtings and denying thy prouideÌ„ce as these grosse outward sinnes which we commit inwardly and deadly Wherfore we beseeche thee according to the litle measure of our infirmitie althoughe we be farre vnable and vnapt to pray that thou wouldest mercifully circumcise our stonie hearts and for these old hearts create new within vs and replenish vs with a new spirite and water vs and moysten vs wyth the iuyce of heauenly grace and welles of spiritual waters wher by the inwarde venome and noysome iuyce of the flesh may be dried vp and custome of the olde man changed and our heart alwaies bringing forth thornes and briers to be burned with fire from hence foorth may beare spiritual fruites in righteousnes holinesse vnto life euerlasting Amen Beloued amonge other exercises I doe daily on my knees vse this confession of sinnes willing and exhorting you to do the same daily to acknowledge vnfainedly to God your vnbelief vnthaÌ„kfulnes disobedience against him This shal ye do if ye wil diligently consider and loke your selues first in the pure glasse of Gods commaundements and there see our outward filthines and vncleannes and so learne to vanquish the same that is to wit to fall in hearty displeasure against sinne therby be prouoked to long after Christ. For we truely are sinners but he is iust and the iustifier of all them that beleue on him We are poore 1. Cor. 1â— Math. 2â— but he is rich in mercy towarde all them that cal vpon him If we hunger and thirst for righteousnesse let vs resort vnto his table for he is a most liberall feast maker He wil set before vs his owne holy body which was geueÌ„ for vs to be our meat and hys precious bloud which was shed for vs and for many for the remission of sinnes to be our drinke He biddeth willeth calleth for geasts which hunger and thirst Come sayeth he all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you coole and ease you Math. 1â—â— and you shall finde rest vnto your soules The life and historie of W. Flower who for striking of a priest was apprehended first hauing hys hande cut off and after martyred for his constant standing to the truth WIlliam Flower otherwise named Branch first coÌ„cerning his trade of life bringing vp he was born at Snowhil in the County of Cambridge W. Flower Martyr where he went to schoole certaine yeares and then came to the Abbey of Ely where after hee hadde remained a while hee was a professed Monke according to the order and rule of the same house wherein hee remained vsing and bearing the habite of a Monke and obseruing the rules and orders of the same house vntill he came to 21. yeres of age or thereabout and before hee came to that age and being a professed Monke hee was made a priest also in the same house and there did celebrate and singe Masse a good space
as before ye heard Nicholas Sheterden and Umfrey Middleton answered to the first and second articles affirmatiuely To the third concerning the Catholicke Churche after a sorte they graunted To the fourth and fift and sixt touching the reall presence and the sacrameÌ„t to be ministred in the Latin tongue and in one kind they refused vtterly to sweare Sheterden sayd he would not aunswere thereto before the cause were determined why he was imprisoned and so stil remayned prisoners before the lawes of Parliament receiued c. Middleton added moreouer and confessed that he beleued in hys owne God saying my liuyng God no dead God c. Thacker onely relented and was content to take penaunce Thus the foresayd foure vpon these aunsweres were condemned by the Byshop of Douer the 25. day of Iune an 1555. The burning of foure Martyrs And so being geuen to the seculer power they were burned at Cant. the 12. of Iuly at two seuerall stakes 〈◊〉 Châ—iâ—tian â—â—ayer of â—icholas â—heterden â—â—fore his â—eath but all in one fire together where they in the sight of God and of his Aungels and before men like true souldiours of Iesus Christ gaue a constant testimony to the truth of his holy Gospell The prayer of Nicholas Sheterden before his death O Lord my God and Sauiour whiche art Lord in heauen and earth maker of all things visible and inuisible I am the creature and worke of thy handes Lord God looke vppon me and other thy people which at this time are oppressed of the worldly minded for thy lawes sake Yea lord thy law it self is now trodeÌ„ vnder foote and mens inuentions exalted aboue it and for that cause do I and many thy creatures refuse the glory prayse and commoditie of this life and do chuse to suffer aduersitie and to be banished yea to be burnt with the bookes of thy worde for the hopes sake that it is layd vp in store For Lorde thou knowest if we would but seeme to please men in thinges contrary to thy word we might by thy permission enioy these commodities that other do as wife children goodes and frendes which al I knowledge to be thy giftes geuen to the end I should serue thee And now Lord that the worlde will not suffer me to enioye them except I offend thy lawes behold I geue vnto thee my whole spirite soule and body and loe I leaue here all the pleasures of this life and doe nowe leaue the vse of them for the hope sake of eternall life purchased in Christes bloud Sacrifice of obedience to God and promised to all them that fight on his side and are content to suffer with hym for his truth when soeuer the world and the deuill shall persecute the same O father I doe not presume vnto thee Sacrifice of thankes for redemption in mine owne righteousnes no but onely in the merites of thy deare sonne my sauiour For the whiche excellent gifte of saluation I cannot worthily prayse thee neither is any sacrifice worthy or to be accepted with thee in comparison of oure bodyes mortified and obedient vnto thy will and now Lorde Sacrifice of the body what soeuer rebellion hathe bene or is found in my members agaynst thy will yet do I here geue vnto thee my body to the death rather then I will vse anye straunge worshipping whiche I beseech the accept at my hande for a pure sacrifice let this torment be to me the last enemye destroyed euen death the ende of misery and the beginning of all ioy peace and solace and when the tyme of resurrection commeth then let me enioy agayne these members then glorified which now be spoyled and consumed by the fire O Lord Iesu receaue my spirite into thy handes Amen Letters of Nicholas Shetterden and first a letter to his mother AFter my humble and bounden duety remembred welbeloued Mother A letter of Nicholas Sheterden to his mother this shal be to wishe you increase of grace and and godly wisedome that yee may see and perceiue the craftye bewitching of Sathan our mortal enemy which as I haue diuers times declared vnto you doth not openly shewe himselfe in hys owne likenes but vnder colour of deuotion deceiueth them that keep not a dilligent eye vpon him Sathan transformeth himselfe into an Angell of light but hauing confidence in mans traditions and customes of the worlde leauing the commaundementes of God and Testament of his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord doe grow more into superstition hipocrisie then into wisedome and true holynesse For this is most true that Sathan the enemy of soules dothe by his ministers make many beleue that those thinges whiche they compell vs vnto for theyr bellye 's sake haue many godly significations although they be most contrary to Gods will as doubtlesse they be euen as did the serpent in Paradise to our first mother Eue. What sayd he hath God commaunded yee shall not eate of all the trees in the Garden The woman sayd of the fruites of the trees in the Garden we may eate but of the tree in the middest of the Garden sayd God see ye eate not least ye dye As the Serpent seduced Eue by an Aple so Priestes seduce the people by Images EueÌ„ so our Ministers now a dayes say hath God commaunded ye shall not make you anye Image or likenes of any thing Yea forsoothe Tush say they what harme can they doe May we not remember God the better wheÌ„ we see his Image or Picture For they are good bookes for the lay men but in deed they be better for the priestes because they receiue the offeringes And looke howe truely the promise of the serpent was kepte with Eue so is the perswasion of our Priests found true to vs. Images more profitable bookes for Priests then for lay men For as Adam and Eue did become like God in knowing good and euill so are we in remembring God by hys Image For Adams eyes were so open that he lost both innocencye and righteousnes and was become most miserable of all creatures and euen so we remember Christ so well by Images that we forget his commaundements and count his Testament confirmed in his bloud for starke madnesse or heresie so miserably haue wee remembred him that of all people we are most blinde Sheterden prophesieth of Gods plagues and this doth followe vpon our presumption when wee remember God by breking of hys law and therefore surely except we repent shortly God wil remember vs in his wrath reward vs with his plagues as sure as there is a God it will come to passe But I know the craftines of them herein I thanke God whiche wil say Where went he to schoole Learning against or without Gods word is vayne and to no purpose Antichrist hath turned the Church cleare vpside downe Is he wiser then our great Doctours that studyed all their life And loe they saye that it is good hay although we smell