exhorted every one of them in her own Language filled with couragious spirit and stirred up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach she said unto them I cannot tell how you came into my womb for I neither gave you breath nor life neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you but doubtless the Creator of the world who formed the Generation of man and found out the beginning of all things will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again as you now regard not your own selves for his Laws sake Now Antiochus thinking himself despised and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech whilst the youngest was yet alive did not only exhort him by words but also assured him with Oathes that he would make him both a rich and a happy man if he would turn from the Laws of his Fathers and that also he would take him for his Friend and trust him with affairs but when the young man would in no case hearken unto him the King called his Mother and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life and when he had exhorted her with many words she promised him that she would counsel her Son but she bowing her self towards him laughing the cruel Tyrant to scorn spake in her Country language on this manner O my Son have pity upon me that bare thee nine Months in my Womb and gave thee suck three Years and nourished thee and brought thee up unto this age and endured the troubles of Education I beseech thee my Son look upon the Heaven and the Earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise fear not this Tormentor but being worthy of thy Brethren take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy Brethren While she was yet speaking these words the young man said Whom wait ye for I will not obey the Kings commandment but I will obey the Commandment of the Law that was given unto our Fathers by Moses and thou that hast been the author of all mischeif against the Hebrews shalt not escape the hands of God for we suffer because of our Sins and though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastning and correction yet shall he be at one again with his Servants But thou O Godless man and of all other most wicked be not lifted up without a cause nor puffed up with uncertain hopes lifting up thy hands against the Servants of God for thou hast not yet escaped the Judgment of Almighty God who seeth all things for our Brethren who now have suffered a snort pain are dead under Gods Covenant of everlasting Life but thou through the Judgment of God shalt receive just punishment for thy Pride but I as my Brethren offer up my Body and Life for the Laws of our Fathers beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our Nation and that thou by Torments and Plagues mayest confess that he alone is God and that in me and my Brethren the wrath of the Almighty which is justly brought upon all our Nation may cease Then the King being in a rage handled him worse then all the rest and took it grievously that he was mocked so this man dyed undefiled and put his whole trust in the Lord last of all after the Sons the Mother dyed When her Sons were apprehended she exhorted them in the Hebrew Tongue saying O my most dear and loving Children let us hasten to that Agony which may credit our profession and be rewarded by God with Eternal Life let us fearlessly present our Bodies to those Torments which aged Eleazar endured let us call to mind our Father Abraham who having but one only Son willingly sacrificed him at Gods command and feared not to bring him to the Alter whom with many prayers he had obtained in his old age Remember Daniel the three Children c. Antioch being enraged against her caused her to be stript naked hanged up by the Hands and cruelly whipt then were her Dugs and Paps pulled off and her self put into the Red-hot Frying-pan where lifting up her Hands and Eyes to Heaven in the midest of her Prayers she yielded up her chaste Soul unto God But God suffered not the cruel Tyrant to escape unpunished for in his Wars against the Persians the Lord struck him with Madness his Intrals were devoured with Worms and stinking like a Carrion in the Extreamity of his Torments he gave up the Ghost Part II Containing an Account of the great Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Christians after the coming of Christ and before the Apostacy and Darkness wholy spread over the Church AFter the Jews who were once the People of God and had the Laws Statutes Ordinances and Commands of God made known to them as is before related had apostatized from the holy Spirit or Life they provoked God and soon forgat him shamefully entreated and killed the Servants and Messengers of God yet the Lord had Compassion to mankind and remembred his Promise and in love to the World sent forth his Son who said when he was come he was the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world yet the world knew him not but God sent his Messenger to prepare his Way and the Voice of one cryed in the Wilderness prepare ye the Way of the Lord and make strait Paths for our God and when this Messenger whose name was John was come the hand of the Lord was with him and he preached repentance for the remission of sins and for reproving Herod of his Evils he was shut up in Prison and though Christ testified of him that among those that were born of women there was not a greater Prophet then John Yet this Herod who had married Herodias his brothers wife to whom John said it is not lawfull for thee to have thy brothers wife John Baptist beheaded therefore the persecuting spirit arose in Herodias and she would have killed him but could not yet afterwards she was the cause of John Baptists being beheaded in Prison And when Christ Jesus appeared who is the Light of the world whom John called the Lamb of God Christ Jesus Persecuted and put to death who testified against the apostatized Jews their false worship in their dead Forms saying God a is Spirit they that worship him must worship him in spirit and and truth yet him these Jews rejected and would not receive him that they might have Life and when he said I am the bread of life and I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread that I shall give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world the Jews in their ignorance reasoned saying How can this be can this man give us his flesh to eat and
the Council sought false Witness against him and found none at last two Witnesses came but their Testimony agreed not Caiphas then said answerest thou not to what they witness against thee but Jesus held his peace then he adjured him that he should tell whether he were the Christ and he answered I am wherefore they judged him guilty of death for this Blasphemy as they accounted it Their cruelty to him Then they Mocked him and Spit on him and cruelly beat him with Buffits and Staves and covering his Face they said Prophesie who smote thee and many other things they reproachfully spoke against him And they led him bound unto Pontius Pilate the Governour from Caiphas to the Hall of Judgment and they began to accuse him saying We found this Man perverting the Nation and forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar The chief Priests accuse him falsly saying that himself is Christ a King and when he was accused of the chief Priest and Elders he answered nothing then said Pilate unto him Hearest thou not how many things they Witness against thee but he answered him not a word so that Pilate marvell'd then said Pilate take ye him judge him according to your Law but they urged it is not lawful for us to put any man to death Pilate then entered into the Judgment Hall again and called Jesus and said unto him He is called before Pilate again Art thou the King of the Jews Jesus answered Sayest thou this of thy self or did others tell it thee of me Pilate answered Am I a Jew thine own Nation and the chief Priests have delivered thee unto me what hast thou done Jesus answered My Kingdom is not of this World Pilate therefore said unto him Art thou a King then His answer to Pilate Jesus answered For this cause came I into the World that I might bear Witness unto the Truth Pilate said unto him What is Truth And when he had said this he went out again unto the Jews and said unto them Pilate finds no fault in him I find in him no fault at all and they were the more fierce saying He stirreth up the People teaching throughout all Galilee to this place Pilate therefore hearing of Galilee asked if he were a Galilean and when he knew that he belonged to Herod's Juridictions he sent him to Herod who was at Jerusalem in those dayes Being in Herods Jurisdiction he is sent by Pilate to him and when he saw Jesus he was exceeding glad but being deceived in his hopes of seeing a Miracle and not vouchsafed any answer either to him or the chief Priests and Scribes vehemently accusing him after Herod had set Jesus at nought and mocked him Sends him back to Pilate arrayed in a gorgeous Robe Herâ—d sends him back and both the Governors were made Friends that same day and Pilate when he had called the chief Priests and the Rulers and the People said unto them Neither I nor Herod find any fault in him Pilate would have released him nor any thing worthy of Death I will therefore Chastize him and release him for the Governor was of necessity every Feast as the custom was to deliver to the People one Prisoner whom they would and the Multitude crying out aloud began to desire that he would do unto them as he had ever done Pilate therefore calling them said unto them Ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews The Iews still prosecute their envy against him Which will ye either this man or Barrabas For he knew that the chief Priests had delivered him for envy but they stirred up the People that he should rather deliver Barrabas unto them Now he was a notable Thief who lay bound with them that made Insurrection and for Insurrection and Murder in the City was Cast into Prison and when Pilate was sate down in the Judgment Seat his Wife sent unto him saying Have nothing to do with the just man Pilate fits again His Wife Warns him for I have suffered many things in my Dream by reason of him this day Pilate therefore spake unto them again being willing to release Jesus which of the twain will you that I release unto you but they all cryed out saying not him but Barrabas Pilate therefore answering said unto them what will you that I shall do unto him that ye call King of the Jews and they all cryed out again Crucifie him Pilate said but what evil hath he done I find no Cause of death in him I will therefore Chaâ—tize him and let him go but they cryed more earnestly Crucifie him and were very instant with loud Voices desiring the same The Jews Cruelty then Pilate took Jesus and Scourged him and the Soldiers plated a Crown of Thornes and put it on his Head and cloathed him with Purple saying Haile King of the Jews and beat him with staves Pilate therefore went forth again and said unto them behold I bring him forth unto you that you may know I find no fault in him then Jesus came forth wearing the Crown of Thorns and the Robe and Pilate said unto them behold the man When the Chief Priests and Officers saw him they cryed out saying Crucifie him Crucifie him Pilate said take ye him and Crucifie him for I find no fault in him the Jews said he ought to dye because he made himself the Son of God when Pilate therefore heard that saying he was the more affraid Pilate went again into the Judgment Hall and went again into the Judgment Hall and said to Jesus Whence art thou but Jesus gave him no answer then said Pilate speakest thou not unto me knowest thou not that I have Power to Crucifie thee Jesus answered thou couldest have no power unless it were given thee from above and from thence forth Pilate sought to release him but the Jews cryed out then thou art not Caesars Friend when Pilate heard this he brought forth Jesus and sate in the Judgment Seat in the Place called the Pavement and it was the Preparation of the Passover and about the sixth hour then said he unto the Jews The chief Priests wickedness behold your King but they cryed out Away with him Away with him Crucifie him Pilate said unto them shall I Crucifie your King Then answered the Chief Priests we have no King but Caesar Pilate washeth his hands and why when Pilate therefore saw that he prevailed nothing but that rather a Tumult was made he took water and washed his hands before the Multitude saying I am innocent of the Blood of this just Person see you to it and all the People answered and said his Blood be upon us and our Children then willing to content the Multitude he released unto them Barrabas and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him â—ver to their will that he might be
Jerusalem to the Eleven and those that were with them who told them The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared unto Simon then they told them what things were done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking of Bread but neither believed they them But whilest they yet spake whilest it was Evening in the first day of the week the Door being shut where the Disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews He appears again to his Disciples cometh Jesus himself and stood in the midest of them and saith unto them Peace be unto you but they were terrified and affrighted supposing they had seen a Spirit but he upbreaded them with their unbelief and heardness of heart He reproveth their unbelief because they believed not them that had seen him since he was risen and he said unto them Why are ye troubled See my Hands and my Feet a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones and he shewed them his Hands and his Feet and his Side and when they believed not for joy and wondered he said unto them Have ye here any meat and he eat a piece of boiled Fish and an Hony-Comb and the Disciples rejoyced that they had seen the Lord and he said unto them These are the words that I spake unto you that all things must be fullfilled that was written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms of me then opened he their understandings He opens their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures and said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behooveth Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations and ye are witnesses of these things and behold I send the Promise of my Father among you He sendâ— them forth but tarry ye at Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on High He saith unto them again Peace be unto you as my Father sent me so send I you go ye into the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned and these signs shall follow them that believe in my Name they shall cast out Devils and they shall speak with new Tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover And when he had said these things he breathed on them and said unto them Receive the holy Ghost whose Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose Sins ye retain they are retained and thus Jesus appeared five times in the very first day of his Resurrection but Thomas who is called Dydimus one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came and the rest of the Disciples telling him we have seen the Lord he very confidently professed he would not believe it about eight dayes after Thomas being then together with the rest Jesus comes the doors being shut and stands in the midest and saith unto them Peace be unto you and aboundantly satisfies Thomas his unbelief Then the Eleven Disciples went into Galilee unto the Mountain that he had appointed them and when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted and when Jesus came unto them he said All Power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth go therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them c. and I am with you to the end of the World After that Jesus was seen of above five hundred Brethren at once after that by James 1 Cor. 15.6 7. Afterwards Jesus shewed himself to his Disciples again at the Sea at Tiberias or at the least to seven of them as they were Fishing after they had fished all night and caught nothing in the morning Jâ—â—â—â— unknown to them stands upon the Shore and bids them cast their Net on the right side of the Ship where they took a great Number of Fish Last of all he appeared to his Disciples in Jerusalem and led them out as far as Bethany and he lift up his Hands and blessed them and it came to pass as he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Hitherto reacheth the History of the four Evangelists declaring the Sufferings of Christ and now I shall give the Reader a short account what Josephus the Jewish Historian in his eighteenth Book of Antiquity writeth of John the Baptist and Christ concerning the Baptist Cap. 7. he saith thus Herod the Tetrarch killed John Sur-named the Baptist Josephus his Testimony Concerning Iohn a most excellent man who stirred up the Jews to the study of Virtues especially of Piety and Justice and also to the washing of Baptism which he said then would be acceptable to God if not abstaining from some one or two Sins but having their minds first purged through righteousness they also added cleanness of body And whereas there was great resort unto him the Common people being greedy of such Doctrine Herod fearing least the great Authority of the man should raise some Rebellion because they seemed as though they would decline nothing to which he advised them thought it safer to take him out of the way before there was any alteration in the State then to repent too late when the State was once imbroyled wherefore he commanded him to be sent Prisoner to Macharas and then to be put to death Concerning Christ he saith thus Chap. 45. In the same time there was a wise man named Jesus if we may call him a man Iosephus his Testimony concerning Christ he was a worker of miracles and a Teacher of them that willingly receive the Truth he had many both Jews and Gentiles that were his Followers and was believed to be the Christ and when Pilate had crucified him through the envy of our Rulers nevertheless those that loved him continued constant in their affections for he appeared to them alive the third day the Prophets in their Prophesies foretelling both these and many other wonderful things concerning him and the Christians from him so called continue to this very day After the Apostles had seen Christ and had worshipped him after his Resurrection they returned to Jerusalem with great joy from the mount of Olives which is from thence a Sabboth dayes journey and in Jerusalem they abode in an uper Room The holy Ghost fell upon the Apostles and continued with one accord in Prayer with the Women and Mary his Mother and his Brethren and they were filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and many received the Truth and continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and breaking bread from House to House did eat their Meat with gladness and singleness of Heart praising God and having favour with all the people
Newgate and from thence to the place of Execution but first the Sheriffs were commanded to have him into the Vestry and to bring him forth again in Anti-christs apparel to be degraded having been a Monk where the Bishop took his Crosier Staff and smote him on the Brest that he threw him down backwards and brake his head and he swounded but coming to himself again he thanked God that he was delivered from this Malignant Church of Anti-christ and being led to Newgate after one hours respite he was had to the Fire and burnt John Tewkesberry Martyr John Tewksberry Leather-seller of London he was converted by the reading of the Testament in English and the Book called The wicked Mammon in the moneth called April in the year 1529. he was brought before the Bishop of London in the open Consistory where he disputed with the Bishops and the Prelates concerning his Faith and was very expect and prompt in his answers to them being indued with heavenly Wisdom that they were not able to resist him insomuch that the Bishops were ashamed that a Leather-seller should so confound them he affirmed in his Doctrine that there was no Purgatory after this life but that the Souls of the faithful departing this life rest with Christ that prayers ought not to be made to Saints there being no other Advocate but Christ alone for which and other Principles he was condemned to die by the Bishop of London and by him dilivered to the Sheriffs of London and by them burnt in Smithfield Edward Freese Martyr Edward Freese Painter for painting upon clothes in an Inn certain Sentences of Scripture was noted to be a Heretick and was apprehended and brought to London and from thence had to the Bishops House at Fulham where he was imprisoned with several other men and their wives and there fed with Manchets part of which was made with Sawdust and there kept so strait in Prison that their Relations were not Suffered to come at them the Painters Wife being very desireous to see her Husband and pressing to go into the Prison notwithstanding she was big with Child the Bishops Porter kickt her on the Belly so that her Child died immediately and she died soon after After that the Prisoners were all put in the Stocks for a long time and after they were let loose some had Horse-locks put on their Legs and some other Irons the Painter would ever and anon be writing on the Walls with Chalk or Coal which so provoked his Adversaries that they Manackled his wrists so long till the Flesh of his Arms was grown higher then the Irons from that Prison he was brought to the Lollards Tower where they kept him there dayes without Meat and used him so heard that he lost his understanding and sence so that when he was brought before the Consistory at Pauls he could say nothing but look upon the People like a wild man and if they askt him a Question he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man my Lord is a good man and in this unsensible condition he continued to his dying day Valentine Freese Brother of the said Edward Freese and the said Valentine's wife were both burned at one Stake in York for the Testimony of Jesus Christ James Bainham Martyr James Bainham Son to a Knight in Gloâ—cestershire the said James was a man of a virtuous disposition and a Godly Conversation much addicted to Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures a great maintainer of the Godly a visiter of the Prisoners liberal and merciful delighting in doing equity and Justice to the Poor very dilligent in giving counsel to all Widdows Fatherless and Aâ—â—ucted without Money or Reward being a man bred in Knowledge in the Law this Bainham for his Religion was apprehended by the instigation of Thomas Moor Chancellor of England who kept him Prisoner in his own house and there whipt him at a Tree in his Garden which he called The Tree of Troth from thence he sent him to the Tower to be Racked being himself present to see it effectually done till in a manner he had lamed him to make him confess where his Books lay and because his wife denyed them to be at his House she was sent to the Fleet and their goods were Confiscated these Tortures making him confess nothing the Chanceller sent him to the Bishop of London in the year 1531 who examined him upon certain Interrogatories concerning his Religion asked Whether he believed there was any Purgatory of Souls hence departed to which he answered If we walk in the Light even as he is in the Light we have Society together with him and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son hath clensed us from all Sin if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth in not is us if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our Sins and will purge us from all our Imquiâ—â—es Several other things they objected against him and often had him to and again before them threatening him with the danger that would ensue if he did not abjure his Religion whereupon he being overtaken with fear he consented unto them after he had abjured the Chancellor fined him twenty pound to the King and enjâ—yned him Pennance which was to go before the Cross in profession at Pauls and to stand before the Preacher during the Sermon at Pauls Cross with a Fagger upon his Shoulder and then to return with the Sumner to Prison again but soon after he was discharged of his Imprisonment and before he had been at Liberty a month he bewailed his Fact and Abjuration and was never quieâ— in his Mind and Conscience until before a Congregation of the People of God who in those dayes met in a Ware-house in â—ow-Lanâ— he uttered his Condemnation of the Fact asking God and that Assembly forgiveness and the next Sunday so called afterwards went to a place called St. Austins and stood up in a Pew with a Testament in English in his Hand and with Tears declared to the People that he had denied God and desired the People to forgive him and to beware of his weakness and rather to choose to die then to do as he did for he would not for all the World to feel again such a Hell as he had done to this purpose he also wrote to the Bishop whereupon he was shortly after apprehended and committed to the Tower of London from thence he was removed to the Bishops Coale-house where he lay two weeks in the Stocks with Irons upon his Legs then he was carried to the Chancellors and there Chained to a post two nights from thence he was had to Fullham where he was cruely handled for the space of a week from thence he was committed to the Tower where he lay a fortnight and there scourged with Whips to make him revoke his Opinions from thence he was carried to Barkin and from thence to Cheâ—sey and
accused on several Articles by the Bishops and afterwards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt when he came to the fire he said Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands and then turned him to the People and said these Words I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affliction and Torments which you see already prepared for me but I Exhort you that you Love the Word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort Moreover I pray you shew my Brethren and Sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor lâ—â—ve off the Word of God which I taught unto them after the Grace given to me for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World which lasts not and shew unto them that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable after the Constitution made by men and if I had taught mens Doctrine I had gotten great thanks of men but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men not sorowfully but with a glad Heart and Mind for this cause I was sent that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake this grim Fire I fear not and so I pray you to do if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake and fear not them that Kill the Body and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee Father of Heaven to forgive them that have through Ignorance or an evil Mind forged Lyes against me I forgive them with all my heart and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly So being first Hanged he was then burnt many People bewailing his death VVabter Mille amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland his Constancy is not to be past over with silence out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland many Articles were drawn up against him for which he had sentance pronounced against him that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge and punisht as an Heretick which was to be burnt Now when all things were ready for his death and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire Andrew Olifant Judge that past sentence upon him bad him Go to the Stake he said Nay except thou pull me up with thy hand for I am forbidden by the Law of God to lay hands of my self then Olifant put him up with his hand thereupon he went gladly saying I will go to the Altar of God and desired that he might have time to speak to the People which his Executioner denyed saying That he had spoken over-much and that the Bishops were oâ—fended that the matter was so long continued but some young men that stood by desired him to speak what he please so after he had prayed he rose up and standing upon the Coles said on this wise Dear Friends the Cause why I suffer this day is not for any Crime laid to my Charge but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus for which as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves being assured after the Death of their Bodies of Eternal Felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his Mercy among the rest of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Life which as I received it of him so willingly I offer it to his Glory Therefore as you will escape the eternal death be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests Monks and Bishops and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his Mercy that you may be delivered from Condemnation All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his Patience Stoutness Boldness and Constancy were not only moved and stirred up but their hearts also were so inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake and being in the Fire he said Lord have Mercy on me pray People while there is time and so be constantly departed The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth Henry the Eighth being dead Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years he was a Youth of a meek nature and disposition much inclined to Clemency and Mercy yea so much that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie all the Council could not move him to set his hand saying to Cranmer what will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error Doctor Cranmer perswaded him with much ado at last to put his hand to whom he said He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord. But though this King was of so mild a Nature and a Person inclining to love Religion from a Child being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church abolishing the Mass c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset a man also very Zealous for Reformation and an Encourager of such as profest the Gospel but in the midst of these meek and gentle times on the other hand the Pâ—pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecution and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle inclinable to yet the most of this Kings Reign which was but short the Sword was taken out of their hands so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign yet some there were that suffered for Religion viz. Joan of Kent an English woman and one George a Dutchman and one Thomâ—s Dobb who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass and committed to Prison where he died The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion and as it is recorded of him a man so Innocent that he was like a Dove without any Gall or Bitterness and more apt to receive Injury then do wrong to any one It happened that as he was passing by Pauls in London seeing the Priest at Mass being at the Elevation as he passed by the young man filled with godly Zeal pitying the Ignorance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up was not able to forbear but opened his Mouth and turning to the People exhorted them testifying against their Idolatry for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet where falling sick he soon after died In this Kings time there was also one John Hume a servant to one Lewnax accused by his Master of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real
Benden one of the seven being brought before one Roberts of Crambrook who askt her Why she would not go to Church because Seven more burnt at Canterbury said she I cannot with a clear Conscience there is so much Idolatry committed there against the glory of God for the which she was committed to Prison but her Husband being troubled at it got a Certificate from some of the chief men of Staplehurst to the Bishop of Dover desiring her liberty When she came before the Bishop he askt her If she would go home and go to Church she said If I would have so done I need not to come hither Well said the Bishop Go thy wayes home and go to Church when thou wilt thereupon she was set at Liberty but shortly after she was again committed for the same cause and her Husband went again to desire her liberty but the Bishop told him She was an obstinate Heretick and therefore he could not deliver her then her Husband desired the Bishop that he would keep her Brother from coming to her for said he he relieves her and comforts her and perswades her not to recant this request was no sooner made but it was granted by the Bishop who commanded that she should be put into a place called Mundayes-Hole being a Vault under ground and gave a strict charge that if her Brother came at her he should be apprehended however he used what means he could to find where she was and to get at her and one morning hearing her voice as she was pouring out her sorrowfull complaints unto the Lord he invented a way how he might relieve her which was by putting Money in a loaf of bread and sticking the same upon a pole and so reaching it to her and this was five weeks after her coming thither all which time no Creature was known to come at her except her Keeper her Lodging in this Vault was only upon a little Straw between a pair of Stocks and a Stone-wall being allowed three farthings a day that is half Peny Bread and a Farthing Drink neither could she get any more for her Money wherefore she desired to have her whole allowance in Bread and used Water for her drink and thus she lay nine weeks without shifting her apparel all the time at her first committing to this place she much lamented her condition dolefully mourning that the Lord should so sequester her from her Friends but in the midst of her Supplications she considered the Right hand of the most high could change all and received comfort therein shortly after she was called before the Bishop again who askt her Whether she would go home and go to Church she replyed your extremity towards me hath thorowly satisfied me that you are not of God who seeks my utter Destruction shewing him how lame she was with lying in the cold and for lack of Food then the Bishop sent her from that filthy hole to Westgate Prison and shortly after she was called before the Bishop and others who condemned her and committed her to the Castle Prison where she continued till the 19th day of the Moneth called June and then with six others aforementioned was burnt in Canterbury The Substance of the Examinations and Answers of Matthew Plaise Weaver of the Parish of Stone Examination of Matthew Plaise in the County of Kent before Thomas Thornton Bishop of Dover and others When he came before the Bishop he askt him where he dwelt he answered at Stone in Kent Then said the Bishop You are indicted by twelve men at Ashford at the Sessions for Heresie Matthew That 's sooner said then proved and said let me hear it and I will answer to it Then the Bishop said He would not do so but you shall answer to the Article against you yea or nay Matthew answered he could not for I was not at Ashford said he but I perceive you go about to lay a Net for my Blood Arch-Deacon said Peace Peace we do not desire thy Blood and said you are suspected of Heresie and therefore we would have you confess what you believe concerning these Articles and the Bishop charged him again in the King and Queens Name to answer yea or nay to the Articles Mathew Then I commanded him in his Name that should come in Flaming Fire with his mighty Angels to render Vengance to the Disobedient and to all those that believed not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which should be punisht with Everlasting Damnation that he should speak nothing but the Truth Grounded upon Christ and his Apostles and then I would answer him or else not Then the Bishop was angry and said If you will not answer I will condemn you Matthew Well said I if you do you shall be guilty of my blood and prove your self a Murderer The Bishop further Examined him concerning the Catholick Church and said Tell me whether is the King and Queen of that Church or not Matthew Well said I now I perceive you go about to be both mine Accuser and Judge contrary to all right I confess Christ hath a Church upon Earth which is built upon the Apostles and Prophets Christ being the Head thereof and as touching the King and Queen I answer I have nothing to do with any mans Faith but mine own Then said the Bishop Is there no part of that Church here in England Matthew Well I perceive you would fain have something to lay to my charge I will tell you what Christ saith where two or three is gathered together in his Name there is he in the midst of them Then the Arch-Deacon stood up and in a mocking manner said You have no wit to think that we have been deceived so long time Q. Mary An. 1557. and that the Truth is only made known to half a dozen of you in a Corner and read the Article of the Sacrament and said you deny the real Presence to be in the Sacrament after Consecration much talk they had about this point but at last the Bishop was so angry that he said If you will not answer yea or nay I will condemn you Mathew said I have answered and if you condemn me my life is not dear unto me and I am sure you shall not escape unpunished for God will be revenged upon such Murderers Then the Deacon entreated him to be ruled by him and take Mercy while it was Offered for if you are condemned you must be burnt And whether he died in Prison or was burnt no mention is made in the Register Ten persons burnt in Sussex On the 22th day of the Moneth called June in the year 1557. Ten persons were burnt for Religion in Lewis in Sussex viz. Richard Woodman George Stevens William Mainard Alex. Hoseman's Servant Tomazin Wood Margery Morris James Morris her Son Dennis Burgis Ashdon's Wife and Grove's Wife The Sufferings and Principal Heads and Matter of the Examination of Richard Woodman being written by his
pray to his God and preach if he could the Priests stuffing the dead Mouth with the leaves of Bibles and said to the dead Corps Preach the Truth of your God and call upon him now to help you A Letter written by Wouter Oom Prisoner and Martyr in the City of Antwerp full of Consolation against the fear of Persecution directed to a Brother and Sister of his Grace and Peace from God the Father and from his Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Well beloved Brother and Sister whom I love dearly for the Truths sake and for your Faith in Christ Jesus these are to certifie you that I am in bodily health and enjoy the comfort of a good Conscience I praise my Lord God therefore who is able to encrease the same more and more by the powerful Operation of his holy Spirit whosoever they be that will forsake this present evil World and become Followers of their Captain Christ must make account to meet with many Persecutions and Afflictions for Christ hath told us afore-hand That we should be Hated Persecuted and Banished out of the for his Names sake An. 1562. and this they will do saith he Because they have neither known the Father nor me but be not afraid saith he for I have overcome the World St. Paul also Witnesseth the same thing saying All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution And again To you it is given for Jesus Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake And doth not our Lord Jesus Christ say Blessed are you when men persecute you and speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my Names sake Rejoyce therefore and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven Now whereto serveth all this my beloved but to bring us into a conformity with our Lord and Master Jesus Christ For Christ hath suffered for us saith the Apostle Saint Peter leaving us an Example that we should walk in his steps who also endured the Cross and despised the shame for the obtaining of that joy which was set before him and became Poor to make us Rich 2 Cor. 8 9. By him also are we brought by faith into that state of Grace wherein we stand rejoycing in the hope of the Glory of God knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience c. Wherefore dear Brother and Sister be not afraid of the fiery Tryal which is now sent among us to prove us for what Father loving his Child doth not correct it Even so doth the Lord chastice those whom he loveth for if we should be without correction whereof all true Christians are partakers then were we Bastards and not Sons And therefore Solomon faith My Son despise not the Chastning of the Lord neither faint when thou art corrected of him for whom the Lord loveth the same he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth fear not then to follow the footsteps of Christ for he is the Head and we are his Members even as Christ then hath obtained full Joy and Glory by suffering of Anguishes and Sorrows so we also according to his Example must through many Tribulations enter into the heavenly places even into the New Jerusalem Let us then say with Saint Paul Christ unto me is in life and in death advantage Let us cry out with him O wretched Creatures that we are who shall deliver us from this Body of Death See here how the Faithful have desired to be with Christ for with Abraham they had an Eye to that holy City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Let us then my beloved cheerfully and willingly follow the Lord possessing our Souls by Patience For it is a good thing as saith the Prophet Jeremiah both to hope and quietly to wait for the Salvation of the Lord and good also it is for a man to bear the Yoke in his Youth for such the Lord will comfort in the end and restore unto them the joy of his Salvation Lo here dear Brother and Sister what Consolations our God hath treasured up for us in his holy Word for us I say whose desire it is to fear the Lord and to trust in his Grace and Mercy for the Salvation of the Righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in the time of Trouble wherefore giving all diligence let us add to Faith Virtue and to Virtue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly Kindness and to Brotherly Kindness Love for if these thing be in us and abound An. 1567. they will cause us neither to be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ The which God our Father grant us for his Sons sake our Lord Amen Out of my Hole December the 11th 1562. Wouter Oom Prisoner for the Truth A Relation of such things as fell out under the Goverment of Alva And of many men put to death Anno 1567. The Afflictions of the Protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplyed this year under the Dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well known that the Spaniards using all their endeavorus to rule over this Country at their pleasures had no better opertunity to accomplish their designs then to establish among them their Inquisition thereby todomineer over the goods honors and lives of every one the noble Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his Royal presence that hearing once their Complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great Importance alledging to this end the Example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a business far inferiour to this adventured himself with much diligence to pass through the Enemies Country who were but a while before reconciled only to stay some Mutinies begun in the City of Cand. These things had so moved the King that he made them a promise by Letters of his coming but his intentions were broken of by such as were the upholders of the Inquisition that so they might with the more facility attain the end of their desires instead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his Entrance found the Prisons replenished with Gentlemen and other Personages of note whom the Dutchess of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long did they languish in this Captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by fair promises dissembled a kind of meek and gentle carriage of mind towards them giving them some hope of a General pardon proceeding from the Kings Clemency that thus he might catch the Lords and Governours the more cunningly into his Nets whereof the Lord Lemoral Earl of Egmond Prince of Gaud Governour of Planders and Artois and others of quality gave but too Lamentable experience who being led with vain hopes were at length inhumanly put to death The
contrary to all Law Equity and Conscience where they alone are the Plantiffs the Accusers the Judges and the Executioners of their most fearful and barbarous Tyranny They should not by the Laws of this Land go any further in Cases of Religion then their own Ecclesiastical Censure and then refer us to the Civil power their Fore-fathers Gardner Bonner and Story dealt thus equally and we crave but this Equity Oh let her Excellent Majesty our Soveraign and your Wisdoms consider and accord unto this our just Petition for Streams of Innocent Blood are like to be spilt in secret by these Blood-thirsty-men except her Majesty and your Lordships do take order with their most cruel and inhuman proceedings We crave for all of us but the Liberty either to die openly or to live openly in the Land of our Nativity If we deserve death it beseemeth the Majesty of Justice not to see us closely murthered yea starved to death with hunger and cold and stifled in loathsome Dungeons If we be guiltless we crave but the benefit of onr Innocency viz. That we may have peace to serve our God and our Prince in the place of the Sepulcher of our Fathers Thus protesting our Innocency complaining of Violence and Wrong and crying for Justice on the behalf and on the name of that righteous Judge the God of Equity and Justice we continue our Prayers unto him for her Majesty and your Honours whose hearts we beseech him to incline towards this our most equal and just Suit This complaint was Penned by H. Barrow and is by me truly Copied Verbatim out of my Author through CHRIST JESUS our Lord. And now I find that besides many that ended their dayes in loathsome Prisons there were six executed who sealed up their Testimonies with their blood the six that were executed are these viz. Henry Barrow and John Greenwood at Tyburn John Penry at Thomas a Waterings neer London William Dennis at Thetford in Norfolk and Câ—ppin and Elias at Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk I have here inserted as followeth two Letters of John Penry which was all I could meet with by which Letters the Reader may see what a Zeal and religious Courage was stirring in these people at this day To the distressed faithful Congregation of Christ in London and all the Members thereof whether in bonds or at liberty these be delivered my beloved Brethren M. F. Johnson M. D. M. S. M. S. M. G. I. M. I. M. H. M. B. M. S. R. B. M. R. M. K. N. B. M. B. I. M. N. P. W. C. P. A. my Brethren M. I. C. W. B. A. P. M. M. M. E. C. C. D. G. M. A. B. with the rest of you both men and women as if particularly I named you all which stand members of this poor afflicted Congregation whether at liberty or in bonds Jesâ—â— Christ that great King and Prince of the Kings of the Earth bless you coâ—fâ—â—t you with his invinceable Spirit that you may be able to bear and over come these great Tryals which you are yet and I with you if I â—â—â—e to undergo for his Names sake in this Testimony Beloved let us think our Lot and Portion more then blessed that now are vouchsafed the favour not only to know and to profess but also to suffer for the sincerity of the Gospel and let us remember that great is our reward in Heaven if we endure unto the end I testifie unto you for mine own part as I shall answer before Jesus Christ and his Elect Angels that I never saw any Truth more clear and undoubted then this witness wherein we stand First Against false Offices Secondly The callings Thirdly The works Fourthly The maintenance left and retained in this Land by and from Popery Fifthly Against the obedience which spiritually either in Soul or in Body is yielded and the communion that is had with these inventions of darkness Sixthly The mingling of all sorts in these Assemblies Seventhly The worship done but scant in one of the three parts of the Commission given by our Saviour scant done I say in one of the three parts of the Commission by the best Teachers of this Land and I thank my God I am not only ready to be bound and banished but even to die in his Cause by his strength yea my Brethren I greatly long in regard of my self to be dissolved and â—o live iâ— the blessed Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus Christ and his Angels with Adam Enoch Noah Abraham Moses Job David Jeremiah Daniel Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles and with the rest of the holy Saints both men and women with the glorious Kings Prophets and Martyrs and Witnesses of Jesus Christ that have been from the beginning of the World particularly with my two dear Brethren Master Henry Barrow and Master John Greenwood which have last of all yielded their Blood for this pretious Testimony confessing unto you my Bretheren and Sisters that if I might live upon the Earth the dayes of Methusala twice told and that in no less Comfort then Peter James and John were in the Mount and after this life might be fure of the Kingdom of Heaven that yet to gain all this I durst not go from the former Testimony wherefore my Brethren I beseech you be of like mind herein with me I doubt not but you have the same pretious faith with me and are Partakers also of far more glorious Comfort then my barren and sinful Soul can be strive for me and with me that the Lord our God may make me and all us able to end our Cause with joy and patience strive also that he may stay his blessed hand if it be his good pleasure and not make any further breach in his Church by the taking away of any more of us as yet to the discouraging of the weak and the lifting up of the horn of our Adversaries I would indeed if it be his good pleasure live yet with you to help you to bear that grievous and hard Yoke which yet ye are like to sustain either here or in a strange Land and my good Brethren seeing Banishment with loss of goods is likely to betide you all prepare your selves for this hard entreaty and rejoyce that you are made worthy for CHRIST's Cause to suffer and bear all these things And I beseech you in the Bowels of Jesus Christ that none of you in this case look upon this particular Estate but regard the general state of the Church of God that the same may go and be kept together whithersoever it shall please God to send you Oh the Blessing will be great that shall ensue this care whereas if you go every man to provide for his own House and to look for his own Family first neglecting poor Sion the Lord will set his Face against you and scatter you from the one end of Heaven to the other neither shall you find a resting place for the Soles of your Feet or a