time at the fact and men yet alive the story whereof was this There was at Antwerp on a time amongst a company of Merchants as they were at supper a certain Juglar which through his Diabolicall inchantments or Art magicall would fetch all kind of Viandes and Wine from any place they would and set it upon the table incontinent before them with many other such like things The fame of this Jugler being much talked of It chanced that as Master Tindal heard of it he desired certain of the Merchants that he might also bee present at Supper to see him play his parts To be brief the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present Then the Juglar being required to play his feats and to shew his cunning after his wonted boldnesse began to utter all that he could do but all was in vain At the last with his labour sweating and toyling when he saw that nothing would go forward but that all his enchantment were void he was compelled openly to confesse that there was some man present at Supper which disturbed and setted all his doings So that a man even in the Martyrs of these dayes cannot lack the miracles of true faith if miracles were now to be desired After King Henry his Marriage was declared to be unlawfull and being divorced from Lady Cathren he married Lady Anna â—ullen who three years after she was married was had to the Tower with the Lord Rochford her brother and the nineteen day thereafter was beheaded The words of this worthy and christian Lady at her death were these Good Christian people I am come hither to die for according to the Law by the Law I am judged to death and therefore I will speak nothing against it I am to accuse no man nor to speak any thing of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die but I pray God to save the King and send him long to raign over you for a Gentler or more mercifull Prince was there never to me he was ever a Good a Gentle and a Soveraigne Lord. And if any person will medle of my cause I require them to judge the best And thus I take my leave of the World and of you all I heartily desire you all to pray for me so she was beheaded Whatsoever the cause was or quartell objected against her life this was a great commendation she left behind her that during her life the Religion of Christ most happily flourished and had a right prosperous course for she was an enemy to Popery she was a great giver of alms beyond all other Queens and the Revenues almost of her estate in so much that the almes which she gave in three quarters of a year in distribution is summed to the number of fourteen or fifteen thousand pounds beside the great peece of money which Her grace intended to impart unto four sundry quarters of the Realm as for a stock there to be imployed to the behoove of poor Artificers and occupyers Again what a zealous Defender she was of Christs Gospel all the world doth know and her acts do and will declare to the worlds end After the suffering of Queen Anna the King marrid Lady Jane Seimer of whom came King Edward as great an enemy to Gods enemies the Pope as ever his father was and greater too Shorâ—ly after his birth Queen Jane his Mother the second day after died in Child bed and left the King again a Widower which so continued the space of two years together After this Religion bâ—gan to go backward as appears in the condemnation burning and martyrdom of John Lambert and others For as the King was ruled and gave over some time to one some time to another so one while Reliâ—ion went forâ—wâ—rd and at another time as much backward again and sometimes clean altered and changed foâ— a season according as they could prevail which were about the King so variable was the change and mutation of Religion in King Henries days for the state of R ligion decayed all the residâ—e of King Henry A Parliament is summoned at Westmi ster in the ear 15 〈◊〉 through the devise and practiâ—â— of certain of the Popes factors about him Alâ—o a Synod or convocation of all the Archbishops Bishops and other leaâ—nâ—d of the clergy of this realm to be in like manner assembled In which Parliament Syâ—od or convocation certain articles matters and qâ—estions touching religion were decreed to the numbâ—r especially of six comonly called the six Articles or the whip â—ith six strings to be had and receivâ—d among the Kings Sâ—bjects in pretence of Unity The first Article in the present Parliament accorded and agreed upon was this that in the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar by the strength and efficacy of Christs mighty word it being spoken by the Priest is present really under the form of Bread and Wine the naturall body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary and that after the consecration there remaineth no substance of Bread or Wine or any other substance but the substance of Christ God and man Secondly that the Communion in both kinds is not necessary ad salutem by the Law of God to all persons and that it is to be believed and not doubted of but that in the flesh under the form of Bread is the very Blood and with the Blood under the form of Wine is the very flesh as well in parts as they were both together Thirdly that the Priests after the order of Priesthood received may not marry by the Law Fourthly that the vows of chastity of Widowhood by man or woman made to God advisedly ought to be observed by the Law of God and that it exeemeth them from other liberties of Christian people which without that they might enjoy Fifthly that it is meet and necessary that privat Masses be continued and admitted in this English Church and Congregation as whereby good Christian people ordering themselves accordinâ—ly do receive both godly and goodly consolations and benefites and it is agreeable also to Gods Law Sixthly that Auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and contained used and frequented in the Church of God All agreed to these six Articles except Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who stood openly in the Parliament against them bringing forth such Allegations as might easily have helped the cause nisi paucos major vicisset ut saepe solet meliorem Great was the trouble and persecution at London for these six Articles and else-where through the land Doctor Barnes Garret and Hicrome were burnt for the Gospel at Smithfield At this time when Lambert was burnt there was one Colins at London sometime a Lawyer and a Gentleman being distracted of his wits coming into a Church where a Priest was saying Masse and was come to the place where they use to hold and shew the Sacrament he seeing the Priest holding the host over his head and
who under pretence of War against the Turk sent a â—ubile with his Pardons abroad through all Christian Realms and Dominions whereby he gathered together innumerable riches and Treasure The Gatherers and Collectors thereof perswaded the people that whosoever would give ten shillings should at his pleasure deliver one soul from the pains of Purgatory for thus they held as a generall Rule that God would do whatsoever they would have him according to the saying quicquid solveritis super terram erit solutum in Coelis whatsoever ye loose upon earth the same shall be loosed in Heaven but if it were but one jot lesse then ten shillings they preached that it would profit them nothing This filthy kind of the Popes Merchandise as it spread through all quarters of Christian Regions so it came also to Germany through the means of a certain Dominick Frier named Tecellius who men impudently caused the Popes Indulgences or pardons to be carried and sold about the Countrey Whereupon Luther much moved with their blasphemous Sermous of this shamelesse Frier and having his heart earnestly bent with arden desire to maintain true Religion published certain Propositions concerning Indulgences and set them openly on the Temple of Wittemberge This Frier and the rest of the Monks there cryed out against Luther that he was an Heretick and worthy to be persecuted with fire And besides this he burned openly Luthers Propositions and the Sermon which he wrot of Indulgences This rage and fumish fury of this Frier enforced Luther to treat more amply of the cause and to maintain his matter And thus rose the beginnings of this controversie wherein Luther neither suspecting nor dreaming of any change that might happen in Ceremonies much lesse such a Reformation of Doctrine and Ceremonies as afterward did follow did not utterly reject the Indulgences but required a moderation in them The Duke of Saxonie at this time being very inquisitive to understand the truth of Luthers Doctrine and consulted the learned men thereupon In the number of whom was Erasmus whom the Duke desired to declare unto him his opinion touching that matter of Martin Luther saying and protesting that hee would rather the ground should open and swallow him then hee would bear with any Opinions which he knew to be contrary to manifest truth And therefore he desired him to declare his judgement in the matter to him freely and friendly Erasmus thus beeing entreated of the Duck began thus jestingly and merrily to answer the Dukes request saying that in Luther were two great faults First that hee would touch the bellies of Monks the second that hee would touch the Popes Crown which two matters are in no case to be dealt withall Then opening up his mind plainly to the Duke thus he said that Luther did well in detecting errours and that Reformation was to bee wished and very necessary in the Church and added moreover that the effect of his Doctrine was true but only that hee wished in him a more temperat moderation and manner of wryting and handling Luther was condemned of the Pope as an Heretick and rejected from the communion of the Faithful he appealed to the Counsell to come After this Leo the Pope commanded that his Books should bee burnt at Rome And on the other side Luther burnt at Wittemberge his Canons Popish decretals And the Emperor by the Popes instigation was ordained to exile him but he was kept secret and solitary for a time by the advice and conveyance of certain Nobles in Saxonie In the absence of Luther out of Wittemberge Andreas Carolastadius proceeding more roughly and eagerly in causes of Religion had stirred up the people to throw down Images in the Temples besides other things moe For the which cause Luther returning again into the City greatly misliked the order of their doings and reproved the rashness of Carolastadius declaring that their proceedings herein were not orderly but that Pictures and Images ought first to be thrown out of the hearts and consciences of Men and that the people ought first to be taught that we are saved before God and please him only by Faith and that Images serve to no purpose This done and the people well instructed there was no danger in Images but that they would fall of their own accord Not that he repyned to the contrary he said as thought he would mantain Images to stand or to be suffered but that this ought to be done by the Magistrat and not by force upon every mans head and without order and authority c. The cause why Luther so stood against that violent throwing down of Images and against Carolastadius seemeth partly to rise off this by reason this Pope Adrian in his Letters sent to the Princes and States of Germany doth grievously complain and charge the Sect of Luther for sedition and tumults and rebellion against Magistrats and subverters and destroyers of all order and obedience as appeareth by the words of the Popes Letter therefore Martin Luther to stop the mouth of such slanderers and to prevent such sinister suspicions was enforced to take this way as he did to proceed as much as he might by order and authority Zuinglius and Luther agreed in all points of Doctrine saving in the Doctrine of the Sacrament neither were there opinions so different in the matter of the Lords Supper but that in the principal points they accorded For if the question be asked of them both what is the materiall substance of the Sacrament which our outward senses do behold and feel they will both confesse bread and not the accidents only of bread Further if the question be asked whither Christ be there present they will both confesse His true presence to bee there only in the manner of presence they differ Again ask whether the materiall substance laid before our eyes in the Sacrament is to be worshipped they will both deny it and judge it Idolatry and likewise for transubstantiation and for the Sacrifice of the Masle they both do abhorre and deny the same As also the Communion to be in both kinds to be administred they do both assent and grant Only their difference is in this concerning the sense and meaning of the words of Christ hoc est corpus meum this is my body c. Which words Luther exponneth to be taken nakedly and simply as the letter standeth without trop and figure and therefore holdeth the Body and Blood of Christ truly to be in the Bread and Wine and so also to be received with the mouth Uldricus Zuinglius with Joaunes Oecolampadius and other moe do interpret these words otherwise to be taken not literally but to have a spirituall meaning and to be expounded by a Trope and Figure so that the sense of these words This is my body thus to be expounded this signifieth my Body and Blood The Saxons follow Luther and the Helvetians Zuinglius and as time did grow so the division of these opinions in sides
Good Christian people for Gods love be well war of these men for they else will beguile you and lead you blindfold into Hell with themselves for Christ saith plainly unto you If one blind man lead another they are like both to fall into the ditch After this he fell there down upon his knees and thus before them all prayed for his Enemies holding up both his hands and his eyes toward Heaven and saying Lord God Eternall I beseech thee of thy great mercy sake to forgive my persewers if it be thy blessed will And then he was delivered to Sir Robert Morley and so led forth again unto the Tower of London there to be imprisoned but he escaped afterward out of the Tower how and by what means it is uncertain and was in VVales about the space of four years at which time a great summe of Money was proclaimed by the King to him that could take the said Sir John Oldcastle either quick or dead about the end of which four years being expired the Lord Powes whether for love or greedinesse of the money or whether for the hatred of the true and sincere Doctrine of Christ seeking all manner of wayes how to play the part of Judas at length obtained his bloody purpose and brought the Lord Cobham bound up to London and was brought before the Parliament and being out-lawed in the Kings binch and excommunicated before the Archbishop of Canterbury for Heresie where he was adjudged that he should be taken as a Traitour to the King to the Realm What was the point of Treason is not expressed that he should be carried to the Tower of London unto the new Gallows in St. Giles without Temple-bar and there to be hanged and burned hanging Treason was falsly surmized against him his execution arose principally of his Religion which first brought him in hatred of the Bishops the Bishops brought him in hatred of the King the hatred of the King brought him to his death martyrdome The Clergy then tanqâ—am Leones rugientes ceased not to roar after Christian blood and whatsoever else was in fault still the Clergy cryed Crucifie Christ and deliver us Barrabas for then all horrible facts and mischiefs if any were done were imputed to the poor Lollards whom they so misnamed that is withered Darnell Lollard by the Popes interpretation is a word derived of Lollium that is Darnell Yet after the burning of the Lord Cobham the Bishops and priests were in great discredit both with the Nobility and Commons partly for that they had so cruelly handled the good Lord Cobham and partly again because his opinion as they thought all at that time was perfect concerning the Sacrament The prelats feared this to grow to further inconvenience toward them both wayes wherefore they drew their heads together and at the last consented to use another practice somewhat contrare to that they had done before they caused by and by to be blown abroad by their hyred servants friends and babling Sir John's that the said Lord Cobham was become a good man and had lowly submitted himself in all things unto the holy Church utterly changing his opinion concerning the Sacrament and thereupon they counterfeited an abjuration in his name that the people should take no hold of his opinion by any thing they heard of him before and so to stand the more in aw of them considering him so great a man and by them subdued At this time Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury died and this may seem strange that the same Thomas Arundell who a little before sat in Judgement against the Lord Cobham and pronounced sentence of death upon him did himself feel the stroak of death and the sentence of God executed upon him before the other who would have thought but that the Lord Cobham being so cast and condemned definitely by the Archbishops sentence should have died long before the Bishop but such be the works of Gods Almighty hand whoso turned the Wheel that this condemned Lord survived his condemner three or four years Now to leave England for a while and to take a view of the Church of Bohemia and the persecution there for the profession of the Gospel of Christ in the year of our Lord 1400. there was great divisions in Religion in the Country of Bohemia The Emperor Charles the fourth instituted the University of Prage and provided it of learned men and as a Prince given to Letters adorned often with his presence the Disputations made in Schools but because theâ— Teutonians or Almains in that University seemed to carry away the praise and honour there in Disputations above the Bohemians they were greatly ashamed that strangers should surmount them It came to passe that one of the Bohemians having recovered the Books of VVickliff communicated them to his companions and they drew out of them great Arguments which the Teutonians could not resist whereupon many dissentions fell amongst them even to Batteries and Murthers The Teutonians seeing this forsook the place in so much that more then 2000 Schollars on one day went out of Prage and came to Lipse where they began an University after leave obtained John Hus then had the greatest renown a man that came out of a Village called Hus which signisieth an Hen whereof he took his name he was of a great and quick spirit and well spoken beginning to recommend the Doctrine of VVickliff in his Sermons to the people the occasion how the Doctrine of wickliff came to Bohemia was this there chanced at this time a certain Student of the Countrey of Bohemia to be at Oxford one of a wealthy house and also of a noble stock who returning home from the University of Oxford to the University of Prage carried with him certain Books of wickliffs who being communicated to John Hus a man of great knowledge and of a prognant wit took such pleasure in reading of them that not only he began to defend this Author openly in the Schooles but also in his Sermon commending him as a good man an holy and heavenly man wishing himself when hee should die to bee there placed whereas the Soul of wickliff should bee The Bohemians being instructed with his Doctrine began first to set against the Pope esteeming him no more Honourable nor great nor other Bishops or Priests and thereupon reformed the Doctrine by the conclusions and Articles following First that the dignity makes not the Priest or Bishop honourable but Sanctity of life and good Doctrine 2. That souls separat from the bodies go right unto eternall pains o straight obtain happy life 3. That there is no witnesse in all the Scripture whereby can be proved that there is purgatory after this life 4. To make oblation and Sacrifices for the dead is an invention of the covetousnesse of Priests 5. Images of God or Saints benedictions of waters and such like things are forged of men against the Word of God 6. That the orders of begging Friers
our Lord 1200. for this cause they were often accused and complained of to the King as contemners and despisers of the Magistrats and Rebels they were oftentimes persecuted and many put to death for their Profession in end the Court or Parliament at Province gave out a cruell sentence against Merindol and condemned all the Inhabitants to be burned both Men and Women sparing none no not the little Children and Infants the Town to be razed and their Houses to be beaten down to the ground also their trees to be cut down as well Olive-trees as all other and nothing to be left to the intent it should never be inhabited again but remain as a Desert or Wildernesse The violence and execution of this cruell and bloody sentence was for a time restrained and the rage of the adversaries repressed till Minerius a bloody persecuter and the Kings Lievtenant of Province forged a most impudent lye against these innocent Christians giving the King to understand that they of Merindol and all the Countrey near about to the number of twelve or fifteen thousand were in the field in Armour with their Ensigne displayed intending to take the Town of Mansfield and make it one of the Cantons of the Switzers and to stay this enterprise he said it was necessary to execute the Arrest manumilitari and by this means he obtained the Kings Letters Patents though the help of the Cardinall of Tournon commanding the sentence to be executed against the Meridolians notwithstanding the King had before revoked the said sentence and given strait commandement that it should no wayes be executed After this he gathered all the Kings Army which was then in Province ready to go against the Englishmen and took up all besides that were able to bear Armour in the Chief Towns of Province and joyned them with the Army which the Popes Lâ—gat had Levied for that purpose in Avinion and all Countries of Venice and imployed the same to the destruction of Merindol Cabriers and other Towns and Villages to the number of 22. giving Commission to his Souldiers to spoyl ransack burn and destroy all together and to kill Man Woman and child without all mercy sparing none no otherwise then the Infidels and cruel Turks have dealt with the Christians So Merindol without any resistance was taken ransacked burnt razed and laid even with the ground and killed all both young and old whom they found in the Town When he had destroyed Merindol he laid siege to Catriers and battered it with his Ordinance but when he could not win it by force he with the Lord of the Town and Powling his chief Captain perswaded with the Inhabitants to open their Gates solemnly promising that if they would so do they would lay down their Armour and also that their cause should be heard in Judgement with all equity and justice and no violence or injury should be shewed against them Upon this they opened their Gates and let in Minerius with his Captains and all his Armie but the Tyrant when he was once entred falsified his promise and raged like a Beast for first of all he picked out about thirty men causing them be bound and carried into a Meadow near to the Town and there to be miserably cut and hewn in pieces by his Souldiers then because he would not leave no kind of cruelty unattempted he also exerciâ—ed outrage and fury upon the poor silly women and caused fourty of them to be taken of whom diverse were great with child and put them into a Barn full of Straw and Hay and caused it to be set on fire at four corners And when the silly women running to the great Window where the Hay is wont to be cast into the Barn would have leaped out they were keeped in with Pikes and Halberds then there was a Souldier which moved with pity at the crying out and lamentation of the Women opened a door to let them out but as they were comming out the Tyrant caused them to be slain and cut in pieces opening their bellies that the children fell out whom they trod under their feet with many other cruel and barbarous acts against the poor innocents This done this Tyrant more cruel then ever was Herod commanded one of his Captains with a Band of Ruffians to go into the Church where was a great number of Women Children and young Infants to kill all whom he found there which the Captaine at the first refused to do saying that were a cruelty unused among men of War Whereat Minerius being displeased charged him upon pain of Rebellion and disobedience to the King to do as he had commanded him The Captain fearing what might ensue entreth with his men and destroyed them all sparing neither young nor old We are not here to passe by the fearfull Jugement of God that fell upon Minerius the cruel Persecuter of thir innocents being stricken with a strange kind of bleeding at the lower parts in manner of a bloody Flux and not being able to avoid any Vrine thus by little and little his Guts within him rotred and when no Remedy could be found for this terrible disease and his Intrals now began to be eaten of Worms a certain famous Chirurgeon named La Motte which dwelt at Arles a man no lesse Godly then expert in his Science was called for who after he had cured him of this difficulty of making Water and therefore was in great estimation with him before he would proceed further to search the other parts of his putrified body and to search out the inward cause of his Maladie he desired that they which were present in the Chamber with Minerius would depart a little aside Which being done he began to exhort Minerius with earnest words saying how the time now required that he should ask forgivenesse of God by Christ for his enormous crimes and cruelty in shedding so much innocent blood and declared the same to be the cause of this so strange profusion of blood comming from him These words being heard so pierced the impure conscience of this miserable wretch that he was therewith more troubled then with the agony of his disease in so much that he cryed out to lay hands upon the Chirurgeon as an Heretick La Motte hearing this eftsoones convyed himself out of sight and returned again to Arles notwithstanding it was not long but he was sent for again being intreated by his friends and promised most firmly that his comming should be without any perill or danger and so with much adoe he returned again to Minerius raging and cast out most horrible and blasphemous words and feeling a fire which burnt him from the Navel upward with extream stinck of the lower parts finished his wretched life whereby we have notoriously to understand that God through his mighty arm at length confoundeth such persecuters of his innocent and faithfull servants and bringeth them to nought to whom be praise and glory for ever The Persecutions of the
of eight years after till his dying day he was not able to turn himself in his bed but as two men with a sheet were fain to stir him and withall such an insatiable devouring came upon him that it was monstrous to see And thus continued he the space of eight years together This godly Eradfoord and Heavenly Martyr during the time of his imprisonment wrote sundry comfortable Treatises and many godly Letters of which some he wrote to the City of London Cambridge Walden to Lancashire and Chasshire and diverse to his privat friends and to his mother brethren and sisters Bradfoord was a godly and learned man while he was in prison he teached twise a day continually unlesse sickness hindered him where also he ministred the Sacrament often Preaching Reading and Praying was all his whole life and he was in great credit with his Keeper that he might go out and in when he pleased He counted that hour not well spent wherein he did not some good either with his Pen Study or in exhorting of others c. He was had in great reverence and admiration with all good men that a multitude that never knew him but by fame greatly lamented his death yea and a nâ—mber of the Papists themselves wished heartily his life In his Letter to his mother he disswades her from the Masse and tells her the difference betwixt the Lords Supper and the Masse The Supper was ordained to be received of us in the memoriall of his death for the confirmation of our faith that his body was broken for us and his blood shed for pardon of our sins But in the Masse there is no receiving but the Priest keepeth all to himself alone Christ saith Take eat no saith the Priest Gape peep There is a sacrificing yea killing of Christ again as much as they may there is Idolatry in worshipping the outward sign of Bread and Wine here is all in Latine yea cannnot tell what he saith To conclude there is nothing as God ordained wherefore my good mother come not at it In mortem Johannis Bradfordi constamissimi Martyris Discipulo nulli supra liâ—et esse Magistrum Quique Deo serrit tristia multa ferret Corripit omniporens natum quem diligit omnem Ad Coelum stricta est difficilisque via Has Bradforde tuo dum condis pectore voces Non hominum rigidas terribilesque minas Sed nec blanditias non vim nic vincula curas Tradis accensae membra cremanda pyrae There were at this time also two Ministers Rland and Frankish Sheterden and Midletoun burnt at Cauterbury at two severall Stakes but all in one fire together where they in the sight of God and of his Angels and before men like true Souldiers of Jesus Christ gave a constant testimony of the truth of his Gospel Sheterden wrot sundry Letters from the prison in Westgate and one to his mother before his execution to whom he gives warning to beware of the great idolatry and blasphemous Masse O let not that be your God which Myce and Worms can devour behold I call Heaven and Earth to record that that it is no God yea the fire that consumeth it and that moistnesse that cauâ—eth it to mould and I take Christs Testament to witness that it is none of his Ordinances but a meer invention of men and a snare to catch innocents blood and now that God hes shewed it unto you bewarned in time O give over all customes and become new in the truth what state soever your fathers be in leave that to God and let us follow the counsell of his Word Thomas Jueson Carpentar being earnestly travelled with all to recant said in this wise I would not recant and forsake my opinion and belief for all the goods in London I do appeal to Gods mercy and will be none of your Church nor submit my self to the same and that I have said I will say again and if there came an Angel from heaven to teach me any other doctrine then that which I am in now I would not believe him Which answer thus made he was condemned as an heretick and committed to the secular power and burned at Chicesher persuing him in his constant faith unto the end Among many that travelled in these troublesome days to keep a good conscience there was one James Ables a young man which through compulsion of the tyranny then used was inforced to his part with his brethren in wandring and going from place to place to avoid the peâ—il of apprehending but when time came that the Lord had another work to do for him he was caught by the hands of wicked men and brought before the Bishop of Norwich Doctor Hopton who examining him of his Religion and charging him therewith very sore both with threats and fair speach at the last the said poor James did yeeld and resented to their naughty perswasions although his conscience consent not thereto Now when he was dismissed and should go from the Bishop the Bishop calling him again gave him a piece of money which when the said James had received and was gone from the Bishop his conscience began to throb and inwardly to accuse his fact how he had displeased the Lord by consenting to their beastly illusions In which combat with himself being pitteously vexed he went immediatly to the Bishop again and there threw him his said money which he had received at his hand and said it repented him that ever he gave his consent to the wicked perswasions and that he gave his consent to the taking of his money Now this being done the Bishop with his Chaplaines did labour a fresh to win him again but in vain for the said James Abbes would not yeeld for none of them all although he had played Peter before through infirmity but stood manfully to his Masters quarrel to the end and above the force of the fire to the consuming of his body into ashes which tyrany of burning was done in Berie Mâ—ster John Denly at Uxbridg was burnt for the testimony of the truth being set in the fire with the burning flamme about him he sang in it a Psalm Then cruell Doctor Story being there present commanded one of the toâ—mentors to huâ—le a Faggot at him whereupon being hurt therewith upon the face that he bled again he left his singing and clapt his hands upon his face truly quoth Doctor Story to him that hurled the Faggot thou hast marred a good old song The said John Denly being yet still in the flame of the fire put his hands abroad and sang again yeelding at the last his spirit into the hands of God through his Son Jesus Christ There was six godly Martyrs burnt at one fire at Canterbury for the testimony of the Truth Elizabeth Narne widow that was one of them that was burnt at Stafford bow nigh unto London her husband was burnt before for the profession of the truth in the month of May last by past the
about this time a blind boy named Thomas Drowrie put to death at Glochesâ—er in his examination besides Doctor Williams then Chancellor of Glocester amongst other Articles he urged the Article to Transubstantiation saying dost thou not believe that after the words of Consecration spoken by the Priest there remaineth the very real body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar the blind Boy answered that I do not Then â—aid he then thou art an Heretick and shall be burned but who hath taught thee this heresie Ye Mâ—ster Chancellor when and where did I teach so when ye preached naming the day a Sermon to all men as well as to me upon the Sacrament Ye said the Sacrament was to be received spiritually by faith not carnally and really as the Papists have therefore taught Then said the Chancellordâ— as I have done and thou shalt live as I do and escape burning Then said the Boy though ye can so easily dispense with your self mock with God the world and your consciâ—nce yet will I not so do then said the Chancellor God have mercy upon thee for I will read the condemnatorie sentence against thee Gods will be done said he The Register being herewiâ—h somewhat moved stood up said to the Chancellor Fye foâ— shâ—me man will ye read the sentence against him and condemn your self away away and substitute some other to give sentence and judgement No said the Chancellor to the Register I ill obey the Law and give sentence my self according to mine office and so he read the sentence condemnatory against the Boy with an unhappy tongue and more an unhappy conscience delievering him over to the Secular power So he was bâ—ought to the fire burnt who constantly suffered for the defence of the truth There were burned at one fire at Stratford the Bow by London eleven men and women whole dwellings were in sundry places in Essex the eleven men were tyed to three Stakes the two women looâ—e in the midst without any Stake and so were all burnt with such love to each others and constancy in our Saviour Christ that it made all the beholders to marvel The Sheriff that attended upon them came to the one part and told them that the other had recanted and their lives theâ—efore should be saved willing and exhorting them to do the like and not to cast away themselves Unto whom they answered that their faith was not builded upon man but on Christ crucified Then the Sheriâ—ff perceiving no good â—o be done with them went to the other part and said like a liar the like to thâ—m that they whom he had been with before had recanted and should therefore not suffer death counselling them to do the like and not wilfully to kill themselves but to play the wise men c. Unto whom they answered as their brethren had done before that their faith was not builded on man but on Christ and his sure word The Martyrdome of a learned and vertuous young man called Julius Palmer some time Fellow of the Magdalen Colâ—edge in Oxford burned at Newberie This young man in all King Edwâ—rds daies when the Gospel was preached professed was a Papist within the University of Oxford and so obstinat that he did utterly abhorre all godly prayer and sincere preaching and almost of all them with whom he lived was therefore likewise abhorred and as I may say pointed at with the finger yet did after in Queen Mariâ—s time when the Gospel was surpressed and the Masse let up suffer most cruel death so the Lord does call when and whom it pleases him according to his good will and pleasure and animats and strengthens them to give their life for his cause When Palmer came to the fire and two other with him they fell all three to the ground and Palmer with an audible voice pronounced the 31. Psalm but the other two made their Prayers secretly to Almighty God And as Palmer began to arise there came behind him two popish Priests exhorting him yet to recant and save his soul Palmer answered and said away away tempt me no longer away I say from mee all ye that work iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my tears and so forthwith they put off their rayment and went to the Stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the Post Palmer said good people Pray for us that we may persevere unto the end and for Christs sake beware of Popish teachers for they deceive you As he spake this a servant of one of the Bailiffs threw a Fâ—ggot at his face that the blood gushed out in diverse places for the which fact the Sheriff reviled him calling him cruel tormenter and with his walking staffe brake his head that the blood ran about his ears And when the fire was kindled and began to take hold upon their bodies they lift their hands towards Heaven and quietly and chearfully as though they had felt no smart they cryed Lord Jesus strengthen us Lord Jesus asist us Lord Jesus receive our souls And â—o they continued without any strugling holding up their hands and knocking their hearts and called upon Jesus untill they had ended their mortal lives Among other things this is also to be noted that after their three heads by force of the raging and devouring flames of fire were fallen together in a plump or cluster which was marvelous to behold and that they all were judged already to have given up the ghost suddenly Palmer as a man awaked out of sleep moved his tongue and jaws and was heard to pronounce this word Jesu So being resolved into ashes he yeelded to God as joyfull a soul confirmed with the sweet promises of Christ as any one that ever was called beside to fuffer for his blessed Name The Martyrdome of three women with a young infant burned to wit the mother her two daughters and the child in the Isle of Garnsey for Christs true Religion the year of our Lord 1556. Among all the Martyrdomes of this Book rehearsed there is none almost either in cruelty to be compared or so far off from all compassion and sense of humanity as this mercilesse fact of the Papists done upon these women their challenge was for not coming to the Church Upon rash information given before their cause was tried was condemned and ordained â—o be burnt foâ— Hereticks and notwithstanding that these three women were willing to be conformed to the Queens ordinances were condemned they made their appeal to the Queen but could not be heard One of the women being great with child by the vehemency of the flame the infant being a fair man child fell into the fire and eftsoones being taken out of the fire by one standing by and was laid upon the grasse then was the child had to the Provest and from him to the Bayliff who gave censure that it should be carried back again and cast into the fire and so was the child
to spare these men then to put them to death whereat the idiot Doctors offended said what will ye do my Lord Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinall and the other Bishops and we have done If ye so do ye shew your self enemy to the Church and us and so we will repute you be ye assured At which words the faithlesse man afraid adjudged the innocents to die according to the desire of the wicked and so they were burnt constantly triumphing over death and Satan in the midst of the fire The King at this time was ruled wholly by the Cardinal and made a solomn vow that none should be spared that was suspect of heresie yea although it were his own son which put many into fear The fearfull vision which the King had by night much terrified him that he withdrew his mind wholly from the extremities on which the Clergy had set him The King died in the year of the Lord 1542. being overwhelmed with grief and passion for the losse of his Army received at Solway by the Englishes he departed this life at Falkland in the 32. year of his age some few dayes before he died he had advertisement that his Queen was deliveaed of a daughter at Linlithow at which time it is said he brust forth in passion saying it came with a Laste meaning the Crown and will go with a Lasse fie upon it after which he was not heard to utter many words The Earle of Arran Lord Hammilton was chosen Regent and Governour of the Realm At this time there was a certain act of Parliament made giving priviledge to all men of the Realm of Scotland to read the Scripture in their Mother tongue and language secluding neverthelesse all reasoning conference convocation of people to hear the Scriptures read or expouned Which liberty of private reading being granted by publick proclamation lacked not his own fruite so that in sundry parts of Scotland thereby were opened the eyes of the elect of God to see the truth and to abhor the Papistical abominations Now there was certain in St. Johnstoun that were apprehended and accused for transgressing the act of Parliament before expressed and then conference and assemblies in hearing and expounding the Scripture against the Tenor of the said act All these were condemned and judged to death as Robert Lamb William Anderson James Hunter and his wife Helen Stirk and others and that by an assise by violating as was alledged the act of Parliament in reasoning and conferring upon the Scripture for eating flesh upon the dayes forbidden for dishonouring of images c. There was great intercession made by the Town in the mean season for the life of these persons aforenamed to the Governour who of himself was willing to have done that they might have been delivered But the Governour was so subject to the appetite of the cruel Priests that he could not do that which he would yea they menaced to assist his enemies and to depose him except he assisted their cruelty the men were hanged and the women drowned Robert Lamb prophesied of the ruine and plague that came upon David Beton the Cardinal thereafter The Martyrdome of Mr George Wisher This Mr. George was a brother of the house of Pittarrow in Merns a great knowledge c. He made his chief resort in the Towns of Dundie and Montrose where hee taught publickly with great profite and applause He is discharged from preaching at Dundie he goeth to the West where the Archbishop of Glasgow seeketh to apprehend him In end he is apprehended and put to his tâ—yall and condemned to be burnt as an heretick As he came forth of the Castle gate there met him certain beggars asking his almes for Gods sake To whom he answered I want my hands wherewith I should give you almes but the mercifull Lord of his benignity and aboundance of grace that feedeth all men vouchafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies and souls then afterward met with him two false fiends I should say Friers saying Mr. George pray to our Lady that she may be Mediatrix for on to her Son to whom he answered meekly cease tempt me not my brethren After this he was led to the fire with a rope about his neck and a chain of iron about his midle After his prayer made to God and his exhortation to the people the hangman that was his tormentor â—ate down upon his knees and said sir I pray you forgive me for I am not gullty of your death to whom he answered come hither to me when that he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy office and by and by he was put upon the Gibbet and hanged and there burnt to powder At his execution he prophecies of the Cardinals death he who from you higher place beholdeth us with such pride shal within few dayes lye in the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself The Cardinals death is conspired by Normond Lesly brother to the Earle of Rothesse John Lesly his Unckle William Kirkaldy of Grange Peter Carmichel of Fyfe and James Melvill one of the house of Carnbie they met at St. Andrews and entered into the Cardinals chamber and killed him in his chamber The people of the town crying for a sight of the Cardinals corpes was brought to the very same place where he sat be holding Mr. George Wishart his execution many then did call to mind the Martyr his last words were thereby confirmed in the opinion they had of his piety and holinesse After this David Betoun succeeded John Hammilton Archbishop of St. Andrews who to the intent that he would in no wayes appear inferiour to his predecessor in augmenting the number of the holy martyrs of God in the next year following called a certain poor man to judgement whose name was Adam Wallace he was accused for teaching saying and teaching of abominable heresies which are particularly laâ—d to his charge as first thou hast said and taught that the bread and wine on the Altar after words of consecration are not the body and blood of Christ He turned to the L. Governor who was there present with a number of Noblemen and of the Câ—ergy saying I said never nor taught nothing but that I found in this book and writ having there a Bible at his belt in French Dutch and English which is the word of God and if ye will be content that the Lord God and his word be judge to me and this his holy writ here it is and where I have said wrong I shall take what punishment ye shal put to me for I never said nothing concerning this that I am accused of but that which I find in this write c. They gave forth sentence and condemned him by the Laws and so left him to the hands of the secular power in the hands of S. J. Campbâ—l Justice Deputy who