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 Spirit of the Martyrs REVIVED In a Brief COMPENDIOUS COLLECTION Of the Most Remarkable PASSAGES and Living Testimonies OF THE True Church Seed of God AND FAITHFUL MARTYRS In All AGES Contained in several Ecclesiastical Histories Chronological Accounts of the Succession of the TRUE CHURCH from the Creation the Times of the Fathers Patriarchs Prophets CHRIST and the Apostles Call to Remembrance what Acts our Fathers did in their time so shall ye receive great Honour and an everlasting Name 1 Mac. 2.51 Their Seed shall remain forever and their Glory shall not be blotted out but their Name liveth forevermore the People will tell of their Wisdom Eccles 44.13 14 15. Thy Testimonies are my Delight and Councellor Psal 1 19. Go write it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for the time to come TO THE READER Reader I Have hear Collected and brought together that which hath been scattered in divers great Vollums writ by several Authors judging these my Labours may prove more profitable to such who have a desire to be informed in these things those great Books being too Voluminous and costly for the generality to read or buy I have therefore for the sake of such who have but little leisure and cannot read much brought the History of these things into a nearer compass that so the meanest capacity may easily comprehend the Lords dealings with the Sons of men in all Generations and my chief aim in this work is for the good and information of all People that they may see how the Lord preserved his Church in all times and what great things he hath done for them who led the Ancient Fathers Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles by his mighty Power in which they served and worshipped him whereby they left a sweet Savour behind them as the Reader may see at large in the ensuing Treatise which containeth a Cloud of Witnesses to the Lords Work and Power And though these Testimonies may be slighted and dis-esteemed by the sensual wisdom which is from below yet I know it will be acceptable and a confirming and strengthening to the Faith of some who are Innocent and Upright to the Lord and have a delight in reading and meditating upon his Wayes and of his tender dealings with his Church and People who in all Ages preserved his little Remnant whom he raised up as righteous Branches to bring forth Fruits of Holiness in the middest of a perverse Generation And on the other hand the Reader many see in this ensuing Tract Satan's cruelty the great Enemy to mans good who hath in all Ages used all his Power to stop the increase and growth of this holy Seed by Persecuting Murdering and Destroying their Bodies and using his utmost indeavours by Cruelties to stop the least good Inclination that might at any time stir in any and this hath been the work of the Evil one ever since he got footing in mens hearts he hath alwayes sought to extinguish the Work of God and hath deceived Nations and all the World wondered after the Beast and John in his time saw a Terrible Day was to come on the Inhabitants of the Earth for the Devil was come down having great Wrath and when the Dragon saw that he was cast into the Earth he Persecuted the Woman which brought forth the Man Child the Woman fled into the Wilderness for a time and times and half a time and the Earth helped the Woman and the Earth opened her Mouth and swollowed up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth and the Dragon was Wrath with the Woman and went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed which kept the Commandments of God and have the Testimonies of Jesus Christ but they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and the Lord still preserv'd a Remnant that bow'd not their knees to Baal And the Lord said David shall never want'a man to sit upon the Thrown of the House of Israel and this hath been fulfilled in that the Lord hath from time to time raised up his Living Witnesses both to testifie to and suffer for his Name and Truth as will appear in this Book to which I refer the Reader for satisfaction and remain a Lover of all the Upright in Heart Ellis Hookes The Author to the Book it self GO forth O Book and let the World reveiw The Blood-shed by a Persecuting Crew Let Popish Bishops and the Prelates see The dying Martyrs Words revived be Who though their Bodies for the Truth were slain Their Living Testimonies still remain Their Souls under the Altar still do Cry How long O Lord most just that rules on High Ere thou avenge our Cause who for thy sake Foyfully imbrace the Fire and the Stake Fear not O Book the Frowns of Mortal Foes Who alwayes did the blessed Truth oppose Though Foes enough thou shalt be sure to find 'Mong Priests that have the Souls of many pin'd And scornful Prelates too who will not preach Nor suffer those that carefully would teach Gods Truth and give Christs Sheep their wholesom Food All such Restrainers make the sinful Brood And of that Rank not one of them is found That feeds the Flock in wholsome Pasture Ground The Food they give they Poyson give withall Which proveth worse then Wormwood mixt with Gall They suffer not the Milk of Gods Word pure To work upon the Souls of men a Cure Though sincere Milk the same is it Which wakes for God the Soul of each man sit It made the Martyrs witnessing the same Rejoyce when that they suffered in the Flame Part I. The year of the World Sheweth how God under the several Dispensations of himself to Mankind alwayes led and guided his Church and Seed by his Spirit and Power to Worship and Serve him and to bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness which was acceptable to him And how the Serpent and Evil-One hath from the beginning made it his work to deceive and lead man from God to Sin and work wickedness which alwayes brought the Wrath and Judgments of God upon Man AFter that God had Created Heaven and Earth Man at first created in Innocency and all things in them at last he created Man in his own Image that is to say pure holy and innocent giving him Power to Govern and Rule the Creation to God's Glory and God said It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an Help Meet for him and he caused a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam and he took one of his Ribs Woman made to be a help meet for man and closed up the Flesh thereof and of the Rib he made Woman and brought her unto the man and Adam said This is now Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh she shall be called Woman And the Lord placed them in the Garden of Eden there to live in a blessed
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
and so godly in his life and so constant to the death that he shined as a Star most clear in the Church by his Example But to the Relation of his Sufferings his Trouble first began for refusing to sprinkle his Child after the Papistical manner for which the Earl of Oxford to whose family the said Thomas Hawkes had not long before been a retainder being apprehended and brought before the said Earl he forthwith sent him to Bonner to London with a Letter signifying his Crime his Examinations and Answers before the Bishop are very long and therefore I have thought meet to insert only some of the chief or most principal matters contained therein Being brought before the Bishop the first question he askt him was Why he left his Child unchristned so long Hawkes Because I am bound to do nothing contrary to the Word of God Bonner Why Baptism is commanded by the word of God Hawkes His Institution therein I do not deny Bonner What deny you then Hawkes I deny things invented and devised by men Bonner What things are those that so offend you Hawkes Your Oyle Spittle Cream Candle and Conjuring Water Bonner Will you deny that the whole World and your fore-Fathers were contented withall Hawkes What my Father and all the World have done I have nothing to do with but what God hath commanded me to do to that I stand Bonner The Catholick Church hath taught it Hawkes What is the Catholick Church Bonner It is the Faithful Congregation wheresoever it be dispersed throughout the World Hawkes Who is the head thereof Bonner Christ is the head thereof Hawkes Are we taught in Christ or in the Church now Bonner In John It s said he would send the Comforter which should teach you all things Hawkes I grant the Comforter was to lead into all Truth but that was not to teach a New Doctrine Bonner Ah Sir you are a right Scripture man you will have nothing but the Scripture there are a great number of your Country men of your Opinion and askt him if he knew one Bagget He said Yea. Whereupon Bagget by the Bishops order was called the Bishop telling Hawkes in mean time that he was a proud stubborn man It seemeth so to you said Hawkes because I do not bow to you Then Bagget appearing the Bishop said Do you know this man Bagget Yes Bishop He refuseth to have his Child Baptized after the custom now used in the Church what say you to it Bagget I say nothing thereto said the Bishop I le make you tell me whether it be laudable and ought not to be used in the Church Bagget I beseech you parden me he is old enough let him answer for himself Bonner Ah Sir Knave are you at that point go call me the Porter said the Bishop Thou shalt sit in the Stocks and have nothing but bread and water I perceive I have kept you to well have I made thus much of you and have I you at this point The Porter being not in the way the Bishop took him aside and bid one of his men talk with Thomas Hawkes the while who enquired of Hawkes whom he knew in Essex and who were his Teachers Hawkes replyed when I see your Commission I le make you answer and then returned the Bishop again and sitting under a Vine in his Orchard called for Bagget and Hawkes to him and to Bagget he said How say you now to Baptism Ought it to be used as now it is in the Church To which Bagget said yes it is good Bonner I befool your heart could you not have said so before you have wounded this mans Conscience Then the Bishop turned to Hawkes and said How say you now Sir this man is turned and Converted Hawkes I build my Faith neither upon this man nor upon you but upon Christ only Bonner I perceive you are a stubborn Fellow I must work another way with you to win you Hawkes Whatsoever you do I am ready to suffer it for I am in your hands and must abide it Bonner Well you are so come on your wayes you shall go in and I will use you Christian-like you shall have meat and drink but in any wise talk not Hawkes I purpose to talk nothing but the Truth Bonner I will have no Hercsie talkt on in my House Hawkes Why Is the Truth become Heresie Bonner If you will have my favour take my counsel Hawkes then let your Doctors and Servants give me no occasion for if they do I will surely utter my Conscience After Dinner some of the Chaplains fell in discourse with Thomas Hawkes and whilst they were reasoning in came the Bishop who said Did not I give you a charge not to talk Hawkes answered Did not I desire your Servants should give me no occasion Then went he into his Orchard After he had been a while in the Orchard they went to the Chapple and had Hawkes with them and took his Doctors and Hawkes with him to whom he spoke to this effect Bonner Will you be content to tarry here and your Child shall be baptized and you shall not see it so that you will agree is it Hawkes If I would have done so I needâ—d not to have come to you for I had the same counsel given me before Bonner Do you not think that the Queen and I cannot command it to be done in spite of your Teeth Hawkes I shall not question what the Queen can do but my consent you get never the sooner for that Bonner Well you are a stubborn young man I perceive I must work another way with you Hawkes You are in the hands of God and so am I. Bonner Whatsoever you think I would not have you speak such words to me thou art a proper young man God hath done his part unto thee I would be glad to do thee good thou knowst that I am thy Pastor and one that shall answer for thee if I do not Teach thee well Hawkes That I have said I will stand to it God willing there is no way to remove it Bonner Nay nay Hawkes Thou shalt not be so wilful remember Christ bid two go into his Vineyard the one said he would and went not the other said he would not and went Hawkes The last went Bonner Do thou likewise and I will talk Friendly with thee How sayst thou It is in the sixth of John I am the Bread of Life and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh c. Do you believe this Hawkes I must needs believe the Scripture Bonner Then I hope you are sound concerning the Sacrament Hawkes I beseech you put no more to my Conscience then what I am accused of to you Bonner Well well let us go to Evensong with that Hawkes turned his back to go out of the Chappel Bonner Why will you not tarry Hawkes No I will not It will not edifie me Then said the Bishop I pray you tarry you may pray by your self He
he is filled with all manner of Riches as saith the Prophet Therefore I am bold in bonds as intirely desiring your everlasting health and felicity to warn you and most heartily desire you to watch and pray for our estate is dangerous and requireth continual prayer for on the high Mountains doth not grow most plenty of grass neither are the highest Trees furthest from danger but seldom sure and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth such a deceitfull thing saith our Saviour is honour and riches that without Grace it choketh up the good Seed sown on his Crentures and blindeth so their seeing that they go groping at noon-day in darkness it maketh a man think himself somewhat that is nothing at all for though for our honour we esteem our selves and stand in our own light yet when we shall stand before the Living God there shall be no respect of persons for Riches helpeth not in the day of Vengeance neither can we make the Lord partial for Money but as ye have ministred unto the Saints so shall you receive the reward which I am fully perswaded and assured shall be plentiously poured forth upon you all for the great goodness shewed to the Servants of the Living God and I most heartily beseech almighty God to pour forth a plentious reward upon you for the same and that he will assist you with his holy Spirit in all your doings that ye may grow as ye have begun unto such a perfection as may to be Gods honour your own Salvation and the strengthning of the weak Members of Christ for though the World rage and blaspeme the Elect of God you know that it did so unto Christ his Apostles and to all that were in the Primitive Church and so it shall be unto the Worlds end Wherefore believe in the Light while you have it lest it be taken away from you if you shall seem to neglect the great Mercy of God that hath been opened unto you and your hearts consented unto it that it is the very and only Truth pronounced by Gods only Son Jesus Christ by the good will of our heavenly Father therefore I say in the bowels of my Lord Jesus Christ stick fast unto it let it never depart out of your Hearts and Conversations that you with us and we with you at the great day being one Flock as we have one Shepherd may arise to the Life Immortal through Jesus Christ our only Saviour Amen Yours in him that liveth forever Thomas Hawkes The Sufferings Examinations and Martyrdom of Thomas Watts The said Thomas Watts of Billery Key in the County of Essex Thomas Watts Martyr Linnen Draper expecting for his non Conformity to be shortly apprehended he disposed of his Estate for the benefit of his Wife and Children and according to his expectation not long after he was had before the Judges at Chelmsford where one called the Lord Râ—ch spake to him to this effect Watts You are brought hither because you will not obey the Queens Laws and will not go to Church nor hear Mass but have your Conventicles in Corners Watts replyed If I have offended a Law I am here subject to the Law Then Justice Brown said to him Watts who first taught thee this Religion Watts You taught it me and none more then you for in King Edwards Dayes in open Sessions you spoke against this Religion now used calling the Mass abominable exhorting people not to believe in it but to believe in Christ only Then said Justice Brown what a Knave is this to bâ—ly me to my face Hereupon a letter was writ and signed by the Justices and Watts sent up to Bonner as a Non-conformist what entertainment he received from the Bishop at their private conference no mention is made of it but about the beginning of the Month called May he was brought to the publick Consistory where Articles were objected against him for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and saying the Mass was abominable being brought the second time into the Consistory the Bishop counselled him to Recant to which he answered I am weary to live in such Idolatry as you would have me to live in He was several times afterwards brought before them and continuing stedfast in his Religion which the Bishop perceiving fell to his last and strongest Argument which was to pass Sentence of Death upon him and delivered him to the Sheriff of London where he continued till the ninth day of the Month called June and then was carried to Chelmsford where his wife and his six Children met him to whom he said My Wife and Children I must now depart from you therefore henceforth know I you no more but as the Lord hath given you unto me so I again give you unto the Lord charging them to fear and obey him and to beware of the abominations of Popery and so sealed his Testimony in the Fire After this Watts there were three others suffered in this County of Essex viz. Thomas Osmond Fuller William Bamford Weaver Nicholas Chamberla Weaver all of Coxhall one and the same Articles were objected against them all viz. for denying the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular Confession c. according to the accustomed manner they were several times brought to the Consistory where they were sometimes flattered and sometimes threatened to see if they would recant after the common usage of the Ecclesiastical Court and at last were condemued as Hereticks and delivered to the Sheriffs and shortly after were all three burned in Essex John Bradford and John Lease Martyrs The next that suffered were John Bradford and one John Lease an Apprentize to a Tallow-Chandler the chief matter for which they suffered was for denying the real presence in the Sacrament Auricular Confession c. The said John Lease after he had been examined by the Bishop had the Articles of his Confession sent to him to the Courter Prison to sign after he hard them read because he could not write in stead of a Pen he took a pin and pricking his hand sprinkled the blood upon the paper and bid the Messenger tell the Bishop he had sealed them with his blood already The Words that John Bradford spoke at the Stake were to this effect O England England repent thee of thy Sins repeat thee of thy Sins beware of Idolatry beware of false Anti-christs take heed they do not deceive you Strait is the Way and Narrow is the Gate that leadeth to Eternal Salvation and few there be that find it This John Bradford during the time of his imprisonment exercised himself in writing several consolating Letters not only to particuler persons but to several Towns and Counties where he had laboured shewing his great Zeal for the encreasing and spreading the most reformed Religion earnestly exhorting all men and tenderly comforting the heavy hearted confirming and encouraging all to continue stedfast in the Way he had taught them Bland Frankish Shetterden and Middleton Marytr
good to rost a shoulder of Mutten but evil in the Church whereby Idolatry was committed when the Articles were answered the Chancellor read their Condemnation and so delivered them to the Sheriff to whom John Spicer said now you must be their Butcher that you may be guilty also with them of Innocent Blood before the Lord. The 24th day of the Moneth called March they were had to the place of Execution where they kneeled down and prayed secretly and then being disclothed to their Shirts John Mundrell spoke with a Loud voice Not for all Salsbury which words men judged to be an answer to the Sheriff who offered him the Queens Pardon if he would recant and after this in like manner spake John Spicer This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw Thus did they most constantly give their Bodies to the Fire and their Souls to the Lord for a Testimony to his Truth Six persons burnt in Smithfield About the 23th day of the Moneth called April 1556 were burned in Smithfield at one Fire these six persons viz. Robert Drakes William Tymis Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge John Cavel Q. Mary An. 1556 and George Ambross they were all of Essex and so of the Diocess of London they were sent up at sundry times by Lord Rich and others and by Gardner Bishop of Winchester then Lord Chancellor of England committed some to the Marshal-sea and some to the Kings-Bench where they remained almost the whole year before they were brought to Examination Some Passages in their Examination are as followeth After six or seven hours discourse between the Bishop of London and Bath with William Tymis they were weary and began to pity Tymis's case and to slater him saying Ah good Fellow thou art bold and thou hast a good fresh Spirit we would thou hadest learning to thy Spirit I thank you said he and both you be learned and I would you had a good Spirit to your learning The Bishop seeing Tymis his hoase part white and part of a sheeps russet in a mocking manner said Ah Sirrah are you a Deacon Yea that I am said he So me thinketh said the Bishop you are decked like a Deacon Said Tymis Me-thinks my Vesture doth not so much vary from a Deacon but your Apparel doth as much vary from an Apostle And one of the Bishops men said Scoffingly my Lord give him a Chair a Tost and Drink and he will be Lusty But the Bishop said Have him away till another time The 28th day of March the aforesaid six Martyrs were brought to the open Consistory in Pauls before Bishop Bonner to be condemned for Heresie Bishop said Tymis I le begin with thee for thou art and hast been the Ring-leader of these thy Companions thou hast taught them Heresies and Confirmed them in their Errâ—ous Opinions endeavouring to make them like thy self Tymis said I Marvel you will begin with a Lye you call me the Ring-leader and Teacher of this Company There is none of all these my Brethren which are brought hither as Prisoners but when they were at liberty and out of Prison dissented from you and your doings as much as they do now and for that cause they are now Prisoners so that they learned not their Religion in Prison and as for me I never knew them till I was committed Prisoner with them and as for my fault which you make so greivous whatsoever you judge of me I am well assured that I hold no other Religion then Christ Preached the Apostles Witnessed the Primitive Church received and now of late hath been faithfully taught by Evangelical Preachers for which you have cruelly burned them and now you seek our Blood also proceed on hardly by what rule you will I fear not Then the Bishop proceeded to pass the Sentence upon him and then upon the rest and after he had condemned them he ridded his bloody hands of them delivering them to the Sheriffs of London who sent them to Newgate where they remained till the 14th day of the Moneth called April and then sealed their Faith with their Blood The Substance of a Letter of William Tymis to his Friends in Hookly The Grace of God the Father through the Merrits of his dear Son Jesus our Lord and only Saviour with the continual aid of his holy and mighty Spirit to the performance of his will to our Everlasting comfort be with you my dear Brethren both now and evermore Amen My dearly beloved I beseech God to reward the great goodness that you have shewed unto me seven fold into your Bosoms and as you have alwayes had a most godly love unto his Word even so I beseech him to give you grace to love your own Souls and then I trust that you will flee from all those things that should displease our good and mercifull God and hate and abhor all the Company of these that would have you to Worship God any otherwise then is contained in his holy Word and beware of those Masters of Idolatry that is these Papistical Priests My dear Brethren for the tender mercy of God remember well what I have said unto you and also written the which I am now ready to seal with my Blood I praise God that ever I lived to see the day and blessed be my good and mercifull God that ever he gave me a body to glorifie his Name And dear hearts I do now write unto you for none other cause but to put you in rememberance that I have not forgot you to the end that I would not have you forget me but to remember well what I have simply by word of Mouth and Writing taught you the which although it were most simply done yet truely as your own Conscience beareth me record and therefore in any case take good heed that you do not that thing which your own Conscience doth condemn therefore come out of Sodom and go to Heaven-ward with the Servants and Martyrs of God least you be partakers of the Vengeance of God that is coming upon this Wicked Nation from the which the Lord God defend you c. Thus now I take my leave of you forever in this World except I be burned amongst you which thing is uncertain unto me as yet By me your poorest and most unworthy Brother in Christ William Tymis in Newgate the 12th day of April condemned to die for Christs Truth Joan Beech of Tumbridge and John Harpool of Rochester were both condemned for the Truth of the Gospel by Morrice Bishop of Rochester and were Sufferers together at one Fire in Rochester the first day of the Moneth called April 1556. The next day after suffered in the like Cause at Cambridge one John Hullier Some Sentences taken out of a Letter written by the said John Hullier are as followeth John Hullier being of long time Prisoner and now openly judged for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus wisheth heartily to the whole Congregation of God the strength of
without order at the first encounter are reckoned up to him all his Articles and then besides binding his hands they tye his Thumbs together with a small Cord then they tye his Hands and Tumbs unto a greater Cord hoisting him up by a Pulley very high which done they put upon his Legs heavy Bolts if he have not them on before to which are yet added for the first pull an Iron weight of twenty five pounds which is hanged to those Bolts between his Feet being thus arrayed the Tormenter draws him up on high the Register and Inquisitor mixing therewith their former Exhortations confess when he comes to touch the Pulley with his Head they urge him yet then to confess if he obey they presently let him down if not then they let him hang in this condition until he have answered their demands now after he hath hung thus without making any Confession they let him down to redouble on his feet the former weight and then pulling him up again threatning him to hang there till he die if he declare not to them what they ask of him commanding thet Tormenter to let him hang a long while that through the heaviness of the weight which hangs at his Feet all his Members and Joynts are stretched out beyond measure when the Patient through the extremity of Torment which he endures cryes out they in like sort cry as loud as they can that he should now confess what he knows if not then they let him fall for when they perceive he continues constant then they commanded the Officer to let go the Cord which is as soon done as spoken yet not wholly and altogether to the mid way but a certain stop which hinders his falling to the ground by reason whereof he receives such a suddain check his Body is pitifully and miserably stretched But yet this sufficeth not for then if through their importunity he will confess nothing they augment the weight the third time and if the poor creature in regard of his intollerable pain call upon the Lord to help him and desire to be let down then they Scoff and Mock at him pressing him to confess telling him that is not all threatning him by the Strappado as before This Hellish Torture beginneth at nine and lasteth till one a clock and when they please to make an end they ask the Tormenter if he have the other Engines ready and at their going all the comfort they give their dissolate Patient is thus this shall suffice say they for this time but look between this and to morrow thou advisest thy self well what thou oughtest to confess other wayes thou art like to die under Torture nor think to escape by what thou hast endured for that is but a Bed of Roses in regard of the Torment which is to come they being gone his clothes is put on and if he be not able to go he is carried again unto Prison a few dayes after they send for him again renewing their threats that if he will not reveal those that are of his Opinion he must prepare himself for the Torture wherein if he any way miscarry or Death follows the fault shall be his and not theirs if he continue unmovable in his mind they cause the Goaler to bring him to the place of Torture and there they sitting in their Tribunal command him to be stripped naked and then tormented after the same manner as is before related besides as an addition thereunto they tye his thighes and hamstrings together with a small Cord forcing the same with pieces of Wood so that the Cords do eat into his very Flesh in which extremity they leave him for three or four hours plying him the whilst with infinite threats and derisions which is all the comfort that they minister unto him in this his most miserable condition Thus in short the Reader hath an Account of the cruel Inquisition of these pretended Christians in Spain Now I shall proceed to give a further Account of some that suffered under these Papists cruelty in divers parts of France and Flanders A Woman of Tours whose Husband the Papists had not long before drowned having an Infant sucking at her Brest about seven weeks old and a Daughter about sixteen Years Old who was very beautiful this Woman accompained with her Children they hailed to the River side where kneeling down she prayed to the Lord the Child sucking at her Brest then she shifted her Child in the Sun and laid it upon the Grass commending it to God in the mean while this Hellish Crew used many words to turn the Young Maid from her Religion the Mother being ready to be plunged into the Water exhorted her Daughter to persist in the Truth the Daughter beholding their outrage cryed out in these words I will said she live and die with my Mother whom I know to be a virtuous woman as for your threats and promises I regard them not do with me what you please The Mother was not yet dead when these merciless wretches threw in the Daughter also An. 1562. and so they yielded up their Souls together as Witnesses against the Papists cruelty the Infant was taken up by a Souldier who having kept it a day and a night laid it in a Steeple-House-Porch whence being taken and given to a Nurse to keep it would never take the Brest after but within two dayes it died In the same City suffered one Glee an honourable woman and constant to her Profession and when news was brought her that she was condemn'd to be hang'd she received it with joy being conducted with the rest of the Prisoners about the second hour in the afternoon towards the place of Execution they would have put a lighted Torch into her hand and have had her to acknowledge she had offended God and the King Away away with it said she I have neither offended God nor the King I need no such light to help me ask forgiveness of my sins use such things your selves who sit and walk in the Darkness of Ignorance and Errour The one of her Kindred meeting her in the way presented to her veiw her little Children praying her to have compassion on them seeing that by renouncing your Religion you may preserve your life This caused the tears to flow down and this answer she made I must needs say I love my Children dearly but yet neither for love I bear to them or any thing else in this World will I renounce the Truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them and therefore to his Providence and Protection I commend and leave them and so passed on and with cheerfulness finished her Testimony with the loss of her life The Body of Coqueville being stripped naked was dragged by the Murtherers from Valongues being low Normandy up and down his House with derision into a Chamber where they used to meet and there spurning the dead body with their feet they bid him Now