A A at / ,* \ 'A «*- , * LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, N. J. Presented by r^rs. vAf\Y\\<7\rn S^Aton COLLECTION OF PURITAN AND ENGLISH THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE 'RINCETON, NEW JERSEY LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE ^►jptrtt of tijr iMar,t?r0 'J/vii REVIVE D, Z/ In a brief Compendious \§ c ^ **- <} a/? COLLECTION '* Of the mod Remarkable PafTages, and Eifcmg Ceftimontes Of the True Church, Seed of God, and Faithful Martyrs In All AGE S. Contained in feveral Ecckfia/lical Hiftories, and Chronological Accounts or the Succeffion of the True ChuTch from the Creation^ the 1 lines of the Fathers, Patriarchs, /Prophets, CHRIST, and the Apo/iles. Call to Remembrance what Atls our Fathers did in their time, jo /hall ye receive great Honour, and an ever la/ling Name, i Mac. 2. 51. Their Seed jhall remain for ever, and their Glory /hall not be Hotted out, but their Name liveth for evermore ; the People will tell . their Wifdom, Ecclef. 44. 13, 14. Thy Teftimonies are my delight and Counfellor, Pfal. 119. 24. w >t Go, write it before them in a Table, and note it in a Bodk, 1$0 it may be for Time to come. .% -c*. Printed in the Year 1682. Re- Printed in the Year 1750, a The CONTENTS. An Epiflletothe Perftcuted Flock of Chrift, and to all that Love the Lord God unfeignedly, by R. Smith, p, 125* Two Letters of Robert Smiths to his Wife, p. 128, 129. The Examination and Martyrdom of Roger Coo, p. i;o# The Perfections and Sufferings of Robert Glover, p 131. The Subftance of a Letter of William Tymis, to hit Friends in Hook- ley, p. 144. A Relation of the burning of Thomas Drowry, a blind Boy, and Thomas Croker, Bricklayer, p* 147. The Examination of John Fortune, Black fmith, p. 149. The Examination of John Carelefs before Dr*. Martin, p. 1 jr. 1 An Epiftle by John Carelefs, to the Brethren in Newgate, condemned to dje for Cbrifts fake, p. If2.' Thepublick Examination of Julius Palmer at Newbery, p. 155J The Examination 0/John Jackfon, p. 1^7. The Examination of Matthew Plaife, Weaver, p. 165'. The Sufferings and Examination of Richard Woodman, p, 166. The fubftance of an Epiftle by Richard Woodman, p. 17;. The Examination of Richard Crafhfield, p. 177* The Martyrdom of Cicely Ormes, p. 18? The Examination of Thomas Sprudence, p 183* ■« Two Epi files written by John Rough, p 186, 1 87. The Sufferings and cruclTormcnts fuflained by Cuthbert Simpfon, p. x88. An Account of fuch who fuffered Tryals and Imprifonmtnt for tbtir Teflimony / to the Truth, and who in all likelihood had alfo been burnt for tbs fame % (> had not God through his Mercy and Providence prefer ved them by the death f of Queen Mary, p« 19$.^ The Scourging of Thomas Green, Printer, p. 200. The Sufferings and Vrefervation of Thomas Rofe, aged [event y fix ytars 9 in Luton in Bedford (hire, p 2of. The Sufferings and Prefervation of Richard Barty of Lincolnftiire, and bh Wife Katherine, Dutches of Suffolk,, p, 206, Part I V* A Relation of the grievous Slaughters, fore Vtrfecuti'v;, favage Cruelties, inhumane Murthers, and unheard-of* Maffitcr ces&vf the pu,r diftreflcd Protectants in forreign Parts, P 2 '9» Great Perfection in Gaunt, and other parts o/FlandeiS, pi 16, The Perfteution of the Waldenfes, p 22 f, Per fccUeeJ under the ^overnmtn; o r the Duke of Alva, p 2 A description of tie Ptpi[h Inqui/rion in Spain, n. 2 16 \ A Relation of the lamentable Sufferings of William Gardner, dn l;>\'i\h Merchant^ in Portugal, p, 2 2 9 An { ■ The CONTENTS. An Account of the Perfection in France, p. jj I# Alfo, a Relation of the barbarous and cruel Maffacrtn in France. p 2jg. A Relation of the cruel Sufferings and Martyrdom of five Lnglijh men burnt at Rome, p 242. Part. V- An Account of fuch as fufftred in the Reign of Queen Ei Z betb, and King James, p ,4^, The humbU, mofi earneH and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the perfecuttd Church and Servants of Cbrifl, called Brownifts, unto the '"ifh Cowt of Parliament, p 24-7, An Epiflletothe difirefftd faithful Congregation of Cbrift in London, p 251, John Heary'j Letter to bis Wife, p. 2 £4. A Petition to our foveraign Lord, the King's moft excellent Maiefiy, toother with the honourable Nobility, Kmghts and Burgeffes, now ajftmbled at the High Court of Parliament j p 257. Part V I, An Account o^ the juft Judgments of God upon Perfecutors : Wherein ts (hewed the wicked Lives , and moft horrible untimely Deaths of many of the Perfecutors of Old t p. 260. Chap. I. The remarkable and juft Judgments of God which have befallen feveral Perfecutors mentioned in the old Jeftament, p. ibid. Chap. II. Several remarkable Judgments of God, which have be fain divers Perfecutors, from Cbrifts time until the End of the Ten fjrft Perfecutienr, under tht Perfecting Roman Emperors, pag. 269. Chap III The j Si$Ji6e®iSsiss®a3 pirit of tlje plattpts R E V I V E D, &c. PART I. 7fo f///?0ry of ffo Perfections and great Sufferings fuftained by the faithful Servants of the Lord, both before and after the jews Apofiacy, and before the Coming of Chrift* THE great Enemy of all Mankind is that wicked fpirit of Perfecution, it moved Cain againft his righteous Brother Abel. The Lord had refpect unto Abel and his Offering, but unto Cain and his Offering he had not refpect ; and Cain rofe up againft his Brother Abel and flew him ; and the Lord faid unto Cain, Where is Abel thy Brother ? And he faid, / know not : And the Lord faid, A Fugitive and a Vagabond jh alt thou be in the Earth •, and Cain faid, My punijhment is greater than I can bear. And Pharaoh afflicted the People of God a long time, which grieved the good Spirit of God in his Peple ; but they cried out to the Lord in their OpprefTions ; for the Egyptians made the Children of Ifrael to ferve with Rigour, and they made their lives bitter with hard Bondage, the King commanding the Midwives to flay all the male Children ; yet the Lord delivered his People out of all thefe afflictions wi^h a mighty hand, and he poured out his Judgments upon Pharaoh,znd upon the Egyptians that oppreiTed his People,and hefet his People free ; for while the- People of God had a fenfe of their Bondage & Sufferings, and cry'd unto the Lord thro' the multitude of their Oppreffions, the Lord heard &anfwer'd them, and deliver'd them by the hand of his Servant Mofes, by whom he B g^.ve 2 tytttttlltiOnSbefore the coming of Gtytift. ParcL gave them Laws, which they were to obey, and which they fubmitted to ; then God was with them as a mighty Defence, and in this time of Suffer- ings they kept nigh to the Lord, and he was with them, and was as a Rock of Defence unto them. And becaufe Mcrdecai,the fervant of the Lord, could not bow, nor do Reverence to j roud Haman, he was full of wrath, and tho't fcorn to lay hands on Mcrdecai alor.e j wherefore he fought to deftroy all the Jews throughout the whole Kingdom ofAbafuerus,even the People of Mordecai. And Haman faid v.ntoK. Ahafuerus,There is a certain People feat ter'd abroad and differ fed among the People in all the Provinces of thy Kingdom ,and their Laws are diver fe from all People, neither keep they the King's Laws, therefore it is not for the King's profit to fuffer them : If it pleaje the King, let it be written that they may be deftroy' d,'& I will pay ten thou f and Talents of Silver. And theKing fii&fThe Silver is given to thee,the People alfo,to do with them as feemeth good to thee. And Letters were fent to theRulers of all the Pro- vinces, to deftroy both young & old, little Children & Women, and to take the fpoil of them for a Prey. Thus this proud Perfecutor endeavour'd to have deftroy' d this People, had not Queen Efiher made fupplication to the King on their behalf,and by that means a flop was put to the wicked defign,and he hanged on the Gallows that he had prepar'd for Mordecai. Jezabel cut off the Lord's Prophets,but Obadiah fGovernour of Abab's houfe ) being one that feared the Lord, took an hundred of theProphets & hid them by fifty in a Cave, and fed them with Bread & Water. dhab perfecuted Elijab,zhd faid to him, Art thou he that troubletb IfraeP. he anfwered,/iwy* not troubled Ifrael,but thou £s? thy fat hers Houfe, in that you have for faken the commandments oftheLord,andthou haft follow edBaalim. Jezabel perfecuted Elijah, fo that he fled into the Wildernefs. Manajfeh perfecuted the Prophet Ifaiah for reproving him, and caufed him to be fawn afunder with a wooden Saw. Jeremiah for declaring the word of the Lord to all the Cities of Ju Jab, and fay'mg,Tbus faith the Lord, If you will not hearken to me,to walk in my Law which Ihavefet before you, Sec. then wil 1 make this houfe like Shiloh, &wi!l make this city a curfeto all theNations of theEartb.For thisTeftimony he was perfecuted, and all the People were gathered againft him in the houfe of the Lord, and the Priefts & Prophet faid unto the Princes and l?nop\f,This man is worthy to dye, for he hath prophefied againft this City '. Jeremiah faid, The 'Lord fent me to prophefie againft tms Houfe,i£ againft this City. As for me ( faid he ) behold I am in your hands, do with me as fometb good & meet unto-you, but knew for a certain,that if ye put me to d>eath,you fhallfurely bring innocent blood uponycurfelves,and upon this City. And Je- remiah was fliut up in the Court of the Pnfon, which was in the King of . , ■■ J*a*h's Part h $tttttUtiati& before the tomhgof CijttU 3 Judah's houfe. And Jer. 37. 15. the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah and fmote him, and put him in Prifon into a Dungeon. Nebuchadnezzar perfecuted Shadrach, Mefoack and Abed-nego, becaufe they would not bow to the golden Image he had fet up ; the King told them, that if they would not worfhip the Image which he had made, they lhould be caft into the burning fiery Furnace •, they anfwer'd,0 Nebuchad- nezzar ! we are not careful to anfwer thee in this matter ; if it be fo,our God whom we ferve is able to deliver us from the fiery Furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand,OKing-, but if not, be it known unto thee,0 King, we will not Jerve thy gods,&c. Then was he full of fury,and commanded the Fur- nace to be heat feven times more than it was wont to be, and commanded that they mould be bound with their hats and coats on, and caft into it ; but the Lord preferved them, fo that the fire had no power over them. The Princes under Darius alfo perfecuted the Prophet Daniel, againft whom they confefTed,they could find no occafion, except it were concern- ing the Law of his God ; wherefore they perfwaded theKing to make a Decree, That whofoever fhould ajk a Petition of any God or Man for thirty days, fave of the King, fhould be casl into the Den of Lions. But Daniel, as he did aforetime, opened his windows towards Jerufalem, and kneeled down and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, of which thefe Per- fecutors acquainted the King ; then the King commanded, and they caft Daniel into the den of Lions, but the Lord preferved him that the Lions hurt him not,becaufe he btlieved in his God \ which the King hearing of, caufed Daniel to be taken up out of the Den, and commanded them that were his Perfecutors to be caft into it, which was done, and they were foon deftroy'd. The Conjlancy offome of the ancient People of the Jews, rather than they would depart from the Laws of God and their Fathers. Eleazar, one of the principal Scribes, an aged Man, and of a well-favour'd Countenance, was conftrained to open his mouth and to eat Swines Flefh, but he ckufing rather to dye glorioufly than to live ftained with fuch an Abomination, fpit it forth, and came of his own accord to the Torment, as it behoved them to come, that are refolved to ftand out againft 'fuch things as are not lawful for love of Life to be tailed • But they that had the charge of that wicked Feaft, for the old Acquaintance they had with the Man,%king him afide, befought him to bring Flefh of his own Provifion, fuch as*^was lawful for him to ufe, &r make as if he did eat. of the flefh taken from the Sacrifice,commanded by the King •, that in fo doing he might be delivered from Death, and for the old friendihip with them, find favour. But he began to confider difcreetly, and as became his Age, and the B 2 excdi^'cv 4 iSerfeCtltiOnS before the coming of Cljttft Part h excellency of his ancient Years & the honour of his gray Head,whereunto he was come, and his moll honeft Education from a Child, or rather the holy Law made & given by God, therefore he anfwer'd accordingly, & willed them ftraitways to fend him to the Grave : For it becometh not cur Age (J aid he ) in any wife to diffembie i whereby many young Perfons might think that Eleazar being fourfcore^HnTears old,were now gone to ajlrange Religion, andfo they thro'' mine hypocrifie- & defire to live a little time & a moment longer, fhou' 'a be deceived by me, and I get aftain to mine old Age and make it abominable \for tho 9 for the prefent time I jhould he delivered from the Punijhnent of Men, yet Jhcu'd not I efcape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive ncr dead ; wherefore now nun: July changing this Life, I will /hew my f elf fuch an one as mine Age rcquh etb\ & leave a notable Example to fuch as be Young, to die willingly & c our a gi on fly, for the honourable £s? holy Laws. And when he had faid thefe words, immediately he went to the Torment ; they that led him changing the good will they bore him a little before, into hatred, becaufe the aforefaid Speeches proceeded, as they tho't, from a defperate Mind : But when he was ready to die with Stripes,he groaned & faid,// is manifesl unto the Lcr-d,who hath the holy KnowIege,that whereas I might have been deliver' 'd from/Death, J now endure fore pains inBody,by being beaten, but in Soul am well content to fuffer thefe things, becaufe I fear Him. Thus this man died, leaving his Death for an Example 'of noble Courage and a Memoiial of Vertue unto all his Nation. The Conflancy and cruel Death of f even Brethren and their Mother^ becaufe they would not eat Swines Flefh at the King's Commandment. Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken, and compelled by the King againft the Law, to tafte Swines Flefb, and were tormented with Scourges and Whips ; .but one of them that fpake firft, faid thus, What wouldSl thou afk or learn of us t zve are ready to die rather than to tranfgrefs the Laws of cur Fathers. Then the King being in a rage, commanded Pans and Cauldrons to be made hot ; which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that fpAt firft, and to cut off the utmoft parts of his Body, the reft of his Brethren and his Mother looking on. 'Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members,he com- manded him ( being yet alive ) to be bro't to the Fire & to be fryed in the Pan ; and as the' vapour of the Pan was for a good fpace qifperfed, they exhorted one another with the Mother, to die Manfully •, faying .thus, Ihe Lord God locketh upon us,an- in truth hath comforted, us, as fyhfes in his Song,which witneffed to their faces, cU dared, faying, and he fl'cul be com- forted in his Servants. So when the firft was dead, after this mariner, they bro't the fecond and pulled oft the fkin of his Head with the hair, Part I. ^etfeCtttt'OttS before the cowing of€tytift. $ hair,faying,Wilt thou eat before thou be punifhed throughout every Mem- ber of thy Body ? he anfwered & faid, No ; Wherefore he alfo received the next Torment, in order as the former did -, and when he was at the lad gafp, he faid, Thou like a fury take ft out of this prefect Life, but the King of the World fcallraife us up, who have died for his Laws, unto ever- lajlingLife. After him the third was required to put out his Tongue, which he did, and held forth his Hands, laying, Thefe I had from Leaven, and for his Laws I defpife them, and from Him I hope to receive them again \ in- fomuch that the King and they that were with him marvelled at the young man's Courage, for that he nothing regarded the Pains. Now when this man was dead alfo, they tormented & mangled the fourth in like manner, and when he was ready to die, he faid thus, It is good, being put to Death by Men, to lock for hope from God to be Raifed up again by him ; as for thee, thoufhalt have no Refurretlion to Life. Afterwards they bro't the fifth alfo and mangled him ; then looked he unto the King & faid, Thou has! power over Men,thcu art Corruptible, thou dosl what thou wilt, yet think not that our Nation isforfaken of God; but abide a while & behold His great Power \ how he will Torment thee & thy Seed. After him they bro't the'fixth, who being ready to die, faid, Be net deceived trifhoM caufe,for we fuffer thefe things for ourfeives, having finned againU our God, therefore marvellous things are done unto us ; but think not thou, that takes! in hand to ftrive ar gains! God, that thoufhalt efcape unpunifhed. But the Mother was marveL- lous above all&worthy of honourableMemory, for when fhe faw her fevea Sons (lain within the fpace of one day, fhe bare it with a good courage, be- caufe of the hope fhe had in the Lord, yea fhe exhorted every one of them in her own Language, filled, with the Judgment of God,fhalt receive jufi punifhment for thy Pride \ but I, as my Brethren, offer up my Body & Life for the Laws of our Fathers,befeeching God that he would fpeedily be merciful unto ourNa- tion,and that thou by Torments & Plagues mayjl confefs that he alone is God, and that in me &myBrethren the wrath of the Almighty, which isjuflly bro't upon all ourNation,may ceafe. Then the King,being in a rage, handled him worfe than all the reft, &took it grievoufly that he was mocked. So this man died undefiled,& put his truft in the Lord. Laft of all,after the Sons, the Mother died. Whether Sons were apprehended fhe exhorted them in the£fo£ra£;Tongue, faying, O my mofi dear & 'loving Children,let us hafien to that Agony which credit our profeffion, £s? be rewarded by God with eternal Life, let us f^arlefly prefent our Bodies to thofe Torments which aged Eleazar endured, let us call to mind our Father Abraham, who having but one only Son,' willingly facrificed him at God's command,and feared not to bring him to the Altar, whom with many prayers he had obtain d in his old age. RememberDa.- md,the three Children, ice. Antioch being enraged againft her,caufed her to , be ftript naked, hang'd up by the Hands & cruelly whipt ; then were her Dugs&Paps pulled orT,and her felf put into the red-hot Fiying-pan, where lifting up her hands &eye$ toHeaven,in the midft of her tt-ay'rsfhe yielded up her chaft Soul- unto God. But God fuffered not the cruelTyrarit to el- cape unpunifhed, for in his Wars againft the Perfians, the Lord ftruck him withMadnefs,his Intrails were devoured withWorms,and ftinkinglike a Carrion,in the extremity of his Torments he gave up the Ghoft. PART If. PART II. i4;i Account of the great Petfecutiom and Martvrdoms of //;eGhriftians, after the Coming of Cbrijl, and before the Apo/tacy andVarkjiefs wholly fpread over the Church* AFter the Jews, who were once the People of God, and had the Laws,Statutes,Ordinances & Commands of God made known to them, as is before related, had apoftV.iz'd from the holySpiritor Life, they provoked God, and foon forgot him, and fhamefully entreated and killed the Servants & MefTengers of God, yet the Lord had compaf- fion to Mankind, and remembred his Promife, and in love to the World; fent forth his Son, who faid when he was comc,He was the true Light that etlighteneth everyone that comet h into the World ; yet the World knew him not •, but God fent his MefTenger to prepare his Way, and the Voice of one cried in theWildemefs^Prepareye the way of the Lord, and make Jlrait Paths for our God -, and when this JVlefTenger (whofe Name was John) was come, the hand of the Lord was; with him, and he preached Repentance for the remiflion of Sins ;and for reproving Herod of his Evils, he was fhuc up in Prifon j andtho* Chrift teftified of him, That among thofe that were horn of JVomen^ there was not a greater Prophet than John : Yet thisHered who had married Herodias,h\s Brothers Wife, to -whom John faid, It is not lawful for thee to have thy BrothersWife -, therefore the . pcrfecuting Spin£ ar.ofe in Hercdias^nd fhe wouki have killed him, but could not j yet after- wards fhe was the caufe of John Baptijls being- beheaded in Prifon. And when Chris! Jefus appeared, who is the Light of the World, whom John called the Lamb of God, who teftified againft the apoftatized Jews* and their falfe Worihip in their dead Forms, fa\ing, God is a Spirit , and. they thai worfhip him musl worfhip him in Spirit & Truth •, yet Him thefe Jews rejected, and wou'd not receive him,that they might have Life -, And ;when He faid ,7 am the Bread of Life ,and, I am the living Bread which came down 'f?ym£feaven,if any man eat of this Bread he JhalT live forever ; and the Bread/,] bat IJhallgive is my Fhfh,which Iztjill give for the Life of the Worlds the Jews m their ignorance reafoned,aying,£to tan this he f.Can this man- give us his Fkfh to eat ? A nd could not believe in him ,tha' he did fuch great Works and Miracles amongft them, that never man -did. the like j. ye:. % ,ey •8 |0erfeCttttOtlS after the coming of€fytift. Part IL they fought to kill him ; Neverthelefs they wou'd be accounted of Abra- ham's See l,and call'd him their Father ; But,kith (Thrift, If ye were Abra- ham'j Children ye would do Abraham' j Works Jut now you feek to kill me, a Man that hath told you the Truth : Ye are,{*id he,ofyour Father theDevil, and the Lufts of your Father ye will do ; he was a Murderer from the begin- nings & abode not in the Truth , becaufe there was no Truth in him. And this bleffed Lamb of God Chrift Jefus, thefe perfecuting Jews put to Death, by Crucifying of him, as maybe read at large in theScriptures. After which they perfecuted his Difciples & Apoftles, as followeth, A ft. 7. 54. When the Jews heard what Stephen had declared, they were cut to the heart, and they gnafhed on him with their Teeth ; but he being full of the holy Ghoft, looked up fteadfaftly into Heaven and faw the Glory of God, and Jefus ftanding on the right Hand of God, and faid, Beheld. I fee the Heavens opened, and the Son of Man ftanding on the right Hand of God j then they cried with a loud Voice, and flopped their Ears, and run upon him with one accord, and caft him out of the City, ajid ftoned him ; he calling upon God, and faying, Lord Jefus L Receive my Spirit : And he kneeling down cried with a loud Voice, Lord, lay not this Sin to their charge ; and when he had thus faid, he fell afleep. After the Martyrdom of this blefTed Stephen, the Apoftle fames ( Brother of John) fuffered next,mention of which is in the Afts of the Apoft/es,how that not long after the Honing of Stephen, King Herod ftretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church, who flew James the Brother of John with the Sword. Of this James, Eufebius alfb maketh mention, alledging Clement thus writing a memorable Story of him : This fames ( faith Cle- ment ) when he was bro't to the Tribunal Seat, he that bro't him ( and was the caufe of his trouble ) feeing him to be Condemned, and that he fhould fuffer Death, as he went to the Execution, he being moved there- with in Heart & Confcience, confeffed himfelfalfo, of his own accord, to be a Chrift i an, and fo thty were both led forth together, where in the way he defired James to forgive him what he had done ; after that James- had a little paus'd upon the matter,turning to him faid, Peace be unto thee, Bro- ther, and kiffed him, and both were beheaded together in the Year 36. James the Brother of Chrifl, was termed a juft & perfect man : It is faid, that he took in hand the government of the Church after the A- poftles,and when many of the Princes were perfwaded,there arofe a tumult of the Jews, Scribes & Pharifees, faying, It is very dangerous lei! the whole People look after this Jefus, as tho* he were Chris! ; and being gathered to- gether,they faid toJames,We pray thee ft ay this People, for they err in Jefus, • as tho* he were the true Chris! : We pray thee perfwade thisPeople concerning Jefus, for we all obey thee ; we &? all the People teftifie of thee, that thou art Part II* #erfeCtttt'OHS! after the coming cf€l)tlft. 9 artjusJ,andrefpeclesJ not the Per/on of any man ; ft and therefore upon the Pinacle of the Temple that thou may ft befeen aloft, 6? that thy word may be beard plainly of all the People. The aforefaidScribes&Pharifees phcedjames upon the Pinacle of the Temple,and fhouted to him & faid, Thou juji man, at wbofe Commandment we are al here, infomuch as this People are f educed after Jefus who was crucijied,declareunto us which is the door or way of Jefus crucified ? And he anfwer*d with a loud Voice, Why afk ye me of Jefus the Son of Man,whenas hejitteth at the right hand in the great Pozver inHeaven? When as he had perfwaded many, fo that they glorified God at the Tefti- mony of James, and ii\d,Hofanna in the highesl to the Son of David ; then the Scribes & Pharifees faid among themfelves, We have done very ill in caufing fuch aTeftimony of Jefus to be bro't forth ; but let us climb up £s? take bim, to the end that the People may beftricken with fear & fo may be bro't to renounce his Faith j and they fliouted, faying, Oh ! Oh ! and thejusl alfo is f educed ; To they climbed up and threw Juftus down headlong, faying, Let us ft one James Juftus : And they began to throw Stones at him, for after his fall he was not fully dead, and he fell upon his Knees, faying, I befeech thee, Lord God and Father, forgive them, for they wot not what they do : And as they were Stoning of him, one of the Priefts the Son ofRachab the Son of Cherabim, fpake to them the Teftimony which is in Jeremiah the Prophet, and. cried our, Ceafe, -what do you ? this jusJ Man prayeth for you : Yet one of them that were.prefent took a Fullers Club,ftruck Juftus on the head and brained him. This James was fo notable a Man, that for his Juftnefs he was had in honour of all Men, infomuch that the wife men of the Jews fhortly after his Martyrdom, did impute the caufe of the be- fieging Jerufalem, and other Calamities which happened unto them, to no other caufe but unto theViolence & injury done to this Man. Nor hath Jofephus left this out of his Hiftory, where he fpeaketh of him after this manner, Thefe things fo chanced unto the Jews for a Vengeance, becaufe of that jusl Man James, which was the Brother cfjefus ; for fhortly after hisfuffering, Vefpatianus the Emperor deftrof d the Land of Jury, and bro't them- into Captivity. Eufeb. Lib. 2. 23. Jof. Lib. 10. A Relation of the Perfecutions raifed by the Romans againSt the "Chriftians, during the fp ace of three hundred Tears after ChriB. Eufebius,and the moft part of Writers do Number the firft Perfecutions to be Ten, wherein great Numbers of the Chrirtians were (lain & tormen- ted i fpme flain with the Sword, fome burnt with Fire, fome with Whips. fcourged, fome (tabbed with Forks of Iron, fome faftned to the Crofs or Gibbit, fome drowned in theSea, fome their Skins pluckt off, fome their Tongues cut out, fome Stoned to death, fome ftarved .with Cold a C hu r'eh; io fyttUttotiOnS after the coming of €%tift. Partlf, Hunger, fome their Hands cut off or otherwife Difmembred, have been fo left Naked to the open ihameof the World, whofe kinds ofPunifhment, altho' they were divers, yet the Conftancy in all thefe Martyrs was one. The firft of thefe ten Perfecutions was ftirred up by NeroDon.itias about the Year 67, after the Birth of Chrift. Orofius writeth of iVm>,That he wag the firft within Rome that did raife up Perfecution againft the Chriftians and not only in Rome, but in- all the Provinces thereof, thinking thereby to abolifh the Name of Chriftians in all places. Orofius, Lib. V. In this Perfecution the Apoftle Peter fuffered Death, with many more Chriftians, as Jercm faid. Simon Peter the Son of Jonah, of the Province of Galilee, and of the Town of Bethfaida, the Brother of Andrew, about the Year 44 after drift's Birth, came to Rome to withftand SimonMagus, in the time of Nero, and was crucified with his Head downwards and his Feet upwards, himfelf fo requiring, Becaufe, faid he, I am unworthy to bt crucified after the fame manner as the Lord was. JeromLib.de virisjufi. Paul the Apojlle, after his great Travel & Labours in preaching the Gofpel in divers Countries, at laft fuffered Martyrdom in this firft Perfe- cution under Nero and was Beheaded ; fome Writers fay, On the fame Day on which Peter was Crucified, altho' not in the fame Year,but in the next Year following, which was the 37th Year after the Pafiion of Chrift. That which he fpake at his Death is written as follo^etK. Paul being deliver' d by Nero bound unto Longimus & Magifius 9 the chief Officers, and Acefius the Centurion, that they mould lead him without the City and caufe him to be Beheaded ; and Paul being full of the holy Ghoft, fpake the words of eternal Life, that both Nero & all mould be* Sieve in Jefus Chrift, who was King of Heaven & Earth, who would de- ilroy the glory of the World with Fire : When they had led him away, Longimus, Magiftus & Acefius began to fay unto him, 7V// us,0 V&x&fjohere is that King ? and where will he appear unto you ? and how willy ou know him ? and what will he give untoyou,or what good will he befiow upon you,that you Chriftians fo mightily love him,that by no means you will confent unto curRe- iigion,that you may live (3 enjoy the good of thtsUfe,but rather than all the pleafures of Delight, to be led to Die for him,with divers Torments ? For this feems to us to be a great Err or, to hate this joy fulLife,& to embrace with all your defire Punijhment & Death. Paul therefore faid,Oj That whofoever could be fotind out of the Stock of David mould be enquired for & put to Death. In this Perfecution fuffer'd Phocas Bp. of Pontus, whom Trajan { becaufe he would not worfnip Neptune ) caufed to be caft into a hot Lime-kiln, & afterwards to be put into a fcalding Bath, where he ended his Life in the caufe of Chrift. Then alfo Ignatius ^(hop of Antioch was apprehended & fent to Rcme^htrt he was devoured of wild Beafts 5 and befides thefe, many Thoufands more were Martyred. In the Reign of Antolius Verus a great Number of the Chriftians fuffer'd moft cruel Puniftiments & Torments, efpecially in Afia & France^ among whom was Policarpus Biihop of Smyrna^ who was burnt at a Stake at Smyrna. About this time alfo fuffered Blandina & Ponticus, a Youth •f about 15 Years old, who defying their Idols, and conftantly cleaving to Part H4&CtfeCUtfOtt£ after the coming o/Cljrtft* 13 to Chrift, were put to all the Torments their enraged Enemies could de- vife,till at laft the Youth gave up the Ghoft. Blandina was,/ri?, pitifully Whipped, fecGtully, thrown to the wild Beafts, thirdly, tormented on the Gridiron, and at laft (lain. Comolus the Emperor, upon his Birth-day, called the People of Rome together in a great Royalty, cloathed in his Lion's-fkin, facrificed to Hercules,caufed it to be proclaimed, that Hercules . was the Patron of the City : Whereupon Vinfencicus, Eufebius, Perigremus and Potent tonus, Learned Men, being ftirred up with Zeal, went about from place to place converting the Heathen to the Faith of Chrift j. and hearing of the Mad nefs of the Emperor & People, they reproved that idolatrous Blindnefs, Exhorting them, To believe in the true & living God, and that for faking the Worfhipping of Devils , they fhould Honour God alone*. The Emperor hearing thereof, caufed them to be Apprehended, and re- quired them to Sacrifice to Hercules, which they refufing to do he caufed them to be grievoufly tormented & preffed to death with weights of Lead. Severus, another Emperor, put forth Proclamations that no Chriftians \ mould be fuffered to live ; hereby a great Perfecution was ftirred up on every fide, and a great Number of Martyrs were (lain : Potamiena was tormented withboyling Pitch poured upon her,and afterwards,, with her Mother Merjila, and Rhais were burnt in the Fire : And when Baftlides, Captain, having the Maid to Execution, as he led her to the place, he re- preffed the raging of the Multitude, who follow'd with raging & reviling,., which me feeing, prayed to the Lord for his Converfion to the. true Faith,, and fo with admirable Patience fuffered Martyrdom. Shortly after Bafilides being required to give an. Oath in the behalf of his fellow-Soldiers, he denied the fame plainly, affirming, That he was a Chriftian, and therefore he cculd not Swear • They which heard him tho't he Jelled at firfl ; but when he conftantly affirmed it,they had him before the Judge, who committed him to Ward : TheThriftians wondering at it went to him & inquiring the caufe of his Converfion, he told them,. That Potamiena prayed for him, and fo he faw a Crown put upon his Head, •adding, That it foould not belong before' 'he nciived it : And accordingly, the next Day he was Beheaded. A certain Chriftian being Examined before the Judge, and thro' Fear being ready to fhrink back, there were certain Perfons {landing by, who were ready to burfl for Grief, making Signs to him by their Hands and Gefhires, to be conflant ; which being obferved they were ready to be laid hold ©ii 3, But they of their own accord preffed up to the Tudge,profeffed themfelves to be Chriftians, which much emboldened the weak Chriftian, and terrified the Judge : This being done, they departed away, Rejoicing for the Teftimony they had given of their Faith. - 4 Tha- 14 ^ttUt\ltiOtl$ after the coming o/CljlifLPartIL The Crimes & Accufations that was laid to the charge of the Chriftians by the Perfecutors, were, That they refufed to wcrjhip Idols, and the Em- perors, and that they profeffed the Name of ChrisJ : Alio, befides the Ca- lamities & Evils that happened in the World ; as Wars, Famine, Pejli- lence, &c. were imputed only to the Chriftians. But Cyprian & Tertullian -confuting thefe Slanders,proved,That the fpecial caufe of all thofe Miferies which befel the Empire, proceeded from the fhedding of the Innocent Blood of the Chriftians. Cyprian was at laft condemned to have his Head cut off, who patiently & willingly fubmitted his Neck to the ftroke of the Sword. hixtus, Bifhop of Rome, with fix Deacons, for the Chriftian Faith were all Beheaded. Laurence alfo, another of his Deacons, following Sixtus, as he went to his Execution, complained that he might not fuffer with him, but that he was fecluded,as the Son from the Father ; to whom the Bifhop anfwer'd, That within three Days he mould follow him, bidding him in the mean •time to go home, and if he had any Treafures, to distribute them amongft the Poor ; the Judge hearing mention of Treafures, fuppofing that Lau- rence had great Store in his cuftody,commanded him to bring the fame to him •, Laurence craved three Days refpit, promifing then to declare where theTreafures might be had ; in the mean time he caufed a good number of Chriftians to be gather'd together,and when the Day of his Anfwer was come, the Perfecutors ftrictly charged him to make good his Promife ; but Valiant Laurence ftretching his Arms over the Poor, faid,Thefe are the precious Treafures of the Church ! thefe are the Treafures indeed, in whom ChrisJ hath his ManJion,&c. But the Tyrant, in a great fury & madnefs, cried, Kindle the Fire, make jto fpare of Wood ; hath this Villain deluded the Emperor ? Away with him, whip him with Scourges, jerk him with Rods, buffet him with Fifis, brain him with Clubs. Jefteth the Traitor with the Em- peror ? Pinch him with fiery Tongs, gird him with burning Plates, bring out the fir ongeft Chains & Fire- forks, & the Grate of lron,fet it on the Fire, bind the Rebel hand & foot, and rvhm the Grate is red hot, on with him,roasJ him, broil him,tofs him,turn him j upon pain of our high difplcafure,do every mau his Office, O ye Tormentors : Immediately his command was obeyed, and after many cruel handlings, this meek Lamb was laid on the Gridiron ; but what he endured was with fuch Patience, that the Emperor feemed to be Tormented more than him, tho' his Flefh broyled, the other's Heart "burned •, and when he had been prefled down with Forks for a great fpace, in the mighty Spirit of God he fpake to the Tyrant, thus, This Side is now Roajied enough, turn up, Tyrant great ; ( Alf a y ) whether Roajied or Raw thou think 'ff the better Meat. Diomceeut Part Il.f&erfeCUtt'OUS *//er the coming o/C$tf ft if Bionrceous writeth, that the Number of thofe that fuffer'd Martyrdom about that time was great, Men, Women, young Men, Maidens, old Wives, *ind Men of all forts and Ages, of whom fome with Scourgings and Fire, and fome with the Swordjcbtained the Vi&Gry,& got the Crown ♦, nei- ther,faith he, To this day doth the Prefident ceafe cruelly Murdering fuch as he bro't before him, tearing fome with Torments , imprifoning others, £s? com- manding that no Man fhould come to them ; yet God with the daily refort of the Brethren doth comfort the Afficled. Not long after this time, the Church had Peace for about the fpace of Forty four Years, during which time it did mightily increafc & flourifh, and divers of the Chriftians were preferred, both to Court & elfewhere j but thro' this great Profperity the Chriftians began to Degenerate & grow Idle,ftriving & contending among themfelves upon every occafion, with railing Words, befpattering one another in a defpiteful Manner, Bilhops againft Bifhops, and People againft People, moving Hatred & Sedition each againft other, befides curfed Hypocrifie & Diffimulation more and more, by reafon whereof God's Judgments brake forth againft them, the Paftors being inflamed in mutual Contempt againft each other ; then did the Lord raife up Adverfaries againft his People ; then did Dioctefian the Emperor raife a great & grievous Perfecution againft the Church ; com- manding all the meeting Flaces of the Chriftians to be fpoiled & caft down, and the Book of the Scripture to be burnt, which was executed with al! Rigour and Contempt that might be, giving out Edicts for the difplacing^ of all chriftian Magistrates, and for imprifoning of the Elders & Bifhops, and a great Perfecution enfued : But the Chriftians manfully pafied thro* exceeding bitter Torments, by Scourging, Whipping & Racking, and being put to Death ; fo that it cannot be exprelTed what Numbers of- Martyrs fuffered, what Blood was fhed thro' all Cities & Regions for the Name of Chrift in this Emperor's time, by divers Torments ; fome being hanged up by the Feet,* and by the fmoak of a fmall Fire Strangled. One Peter — was hoifed up Naked and fo beaten & torn with Whips that his Bones might be feen j then they poured on Salt & Vinegar, and after Roafted him with a foft Fire. Alfo many Chriftians being met together, Maxhiinian the Emperor fent fome to burn the Meeting-place, and burn them all ^ but firft they, commanded a Crier to Proclaim, That whofoever would have Life, fhould tome out & Sacrifice to Jupiter, otherwife they fhould be all Burnt. Then oneftepping up boldly in the Name of all the reft, fad, : JVe are alt Chriftian^ and believe that Chris! is our only God and King, and we wilUx Sacrifice to none but Him : Hereupon the Fire was kindled and many-Men, Women and Children were burnt in that place. 1 6 fderfeattlOttg after the coming of Cljtltt Part IL And the Punimments thefe Chriftians endured were fo great & horrible, as no Tongue is able to Exprefs : as Whippings, Scourgings,Rackings, hor- rible Scrapings, Sword, Fir efhip-b oats, whereinto many were put and funk into the Sea ; as alfo hanging upon Croffes, binding fome to the Bodies of Trees with their Head hanging downwards ; hanging others by the Mid- dle upon Gallewfes till they died of Hunger, throwing divers alive to Bears, Leopards, wild Bulls, pricking others with Bodkins and Gallons of Beafts, till they were almoft Dead, The Chriftians being affembled at Antioch, where one Romanus ran to them, declaring to them that the Wolves were at hand which would De- vour them ; yet he Exhorted them not to Fear : A Band of armed Men were fent againft them, but they kept their Faith ; whereupon the Soldiers fent word to their Captain,that they cou'd not force the Chriftians to deny their Faith, by reafon of Romanus, who did fo mightily Encourage them. The Captain commanded that he fhou'd be bro't before him, which was done accordingly ; What, faith the Captain, Art thou the Author of this Sedition ? Art thou the caufe that fo many lofe their Lives ? By the gods I Swea^ thou fhalt anfwer for them all, and fhalt fuffer thofe Torments that l$ou Encourages! them to undergo : Romanus anfwer ed, Thy Sentence, O Emperor, I willingly embrace ; Irefufe not to be facrificed for my Brethren* ■& that by as -cruel Torments as thou canii invent. The Captain being much Enrag'd with this his flout Anfwer,commanded him to be truft up & his Bowels drawn out -, whereupon the Executioner faid, Not fo, Sir, this Man is of noble Parentage, and therefore he may not be put to fo ignoble a Death. Scourge him then, quoth the Captain, with Whips having knobs of Lead at the end : But Romanus fang all the time of his Whipping, requiring not to favour him for Nobilities fake : Not the Blood of Progenitors, faith he, but the Chrijiian Profeffwn makes 7ne Noble. Then did he deride their Idol gods, which inraged the Tyrant, fo that he commanded his Sides to be lanced with Knives, till the Bones were laid open ; yet ftill did the holy Martyr preach the living God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift to him •, for which the Tyrant commanded them to ftrike out his Teeth -; alfo his Face was buffet- ted, his Eye-lids torn, his Cheeks gafhed with Knives, the Skin of his Beard pulled off ; yet the meek Martyr faid, I thank thee, O Captain, that thou hasl opene I to me fo many Mouthes, as Wounds, whereby 1 may Preach ?7iy Lord and Saviour Jej us Chriff : Look how many Wounds I have, fo many Mouthes I have lauding : & praifing God. The Captain aftonifhed at his -con- ' ftancy,bid them give overtormenting him, yet he threatned to burn Him, reviled him,& blafphemed God,faying,27?y crucified ChrisJ is but a Tejler- dayes God, the gods of the -Gentiles are of great esl Antiquity. But Romanus ".king occafion from hence, declared to him the Eternity of ChrisJ, with- »1V Part ILfyttlttVLtiOnS after the coming of €l)ti&> 1 7 all, faying, Give me a Chriftian Child of feven years old, and thou fb alt hear what he will fay : hereupon a Boy was called out of the Multitude, to whom Romanus &\&,Tell me, my pretty Babe, whet her thou think itreafonthat we worfhip Chrift, and in Chrift one Father, or elfe that we worjhip infinite Gods ? The Child anfwered, 'that certainly what we affirm to be God, muft needs be one, which withOne is one and the fame, and inafmuch as this one is Chrift, ofnecefftty Chrift muft be the true God > for that there be many Gods y we Children cannot believe. The Captain amazed at this, faid, Thou young Villian and Tray tor, where, and of whom Uarnedft thou this Leffon ? Of my Mother, faid he, with wbofe Milk I fucked in this Leffon, that I muft believe in Chrift ; The Mother was called, and me gladly appeared ; the Tyrant commanded the Child to be horfed up & fcourged ; the ftanders by be- holding this mercilefs Acl, could not refrain from Tears •, the joyful and glad Mother alone flood by with dry Cheeks •, yea, fhe rebuked her fweet Babe for defiring a cup of cold Water, charging him to third after the Cup that the Babes of Bethlem once drunk of : She willing him to remem- ber little Ifaac, who willingly offered his Neck to the dint of his Father's Sword, csV. Then did the cruel Tormentor pull Off the fkin, hair and all from the crown of the Child's head ;the Mother crying, Suffer my Child ! Anon thou fhalt pafs to him that wilt adorn thy Head with a Crown of eter- nal Glory. Thus the Mother counfelleth and encourageth the Child, who received many fore ftripes with a fmiling countenance. The Captain feeing the Child invincible, and himfelf vanquifhed, commanded him to be caft into the (linking Prifon, whilft the Torments of Romanus were renewed and encreafed : Then was Romanus brought forth again to receive new ftripes upon his old fores *, the flefh being torn and the bare bones appearing, yet the cruel Tyrant raging like a mad Man, quarrelled with the Tormentors for dealing fo mildly with him, commanding them to cut, prick and punch him ; and then hepaffed Sentence upon him, toge- ther with the Child, to be burned to Death : To whom Romanus faid, / appeal from this unjusl Sentence of thine, to the righteous Throne of Chrisl, that upright Judge ; not becaufe I fear thy cruel torments & mercilefs handling, but that thy Judgments may be known to be cruel and bloody. ■ When they came to the place of Execution, the Tormentors required the Child of his Mother ( for me had carried it in her Arms from the Prifon ) fhekiffed it, delivered it to them ; and as the Executioner was ftriking off his Head, fhe faid, Farewell, my fweet Child. All Laud and Praifewith Heart and Voice, O Lord, we yield; to Thee, To whom the Death of all thy Saints we know mo ft dear to be. The Child's Head being cut off the Mother wrapt it in her Garment, laid u ic a 3 pCtfecnttOnS after the coming 0/CJ)ttft*PartlL it to her Bread and fo departed. Then was Romams caft into a mighty Fire, which being quenched with a great ftorm of Rain, the Tyrant com- manded his Tongue to be cut out,and afterwards caufed him to beftrang- Ud in the Prifon. ^ Gordius, a Centurion in Cefarea in the heat of this Perfecution left his charge, living a folitary Life in a Wildernefs for a long time, at laft when a folemn. Feaft was celebrated to Mars m that City and Multitudes of people were affembled in the Theatre to fee the Games, he came and got up into a confpicuous place, and with aloud Voice faid, Behold I am found cf thofe that fought me not. The Multitude hereupon looked about to fee who it was that fpoke this, and Gordius being known, he was immediately brought before the Sheriff, and being afked, who, and what he was, and why he came thither ? He told him the wholeTruth profeffing That be believed in Chrift, and valued not their threatning, and chofe this as a fit time to manife.fi his Profeffion : Then did the Sheriff call for Scourges, Gibbets and all manner of Torments •, to.whom Gordius anfwered, That it would be a hfs and damage to him if he 1 did not fuffer divers Torments fcf Punijhmentsfcr Chrijl & his Caufe. The Sheriff more incenfed hereby, commanded all thofe Torments to be inflicted on him, with whichGordi- us could not be overcome, but fang, The, Lord is my helper ; I will not fear what Man can do unto mt,& I will fear no evil,becaufe thou Lord art with me, &Y. Then did he blame the Tormentors for favouring him,provok- ing them to do their uttermoft ; the Sheriff not prevailing that way a fought by flattery to feduce him, promifing him Preferment, Riches, Trea- fur es, Honour s,&c. if he would deny Chrift -, but Gordius derided his foohfh Madnefs, faying,^*/ he lookt for greater Preferment in Heaven than he could give him here upon Earth. Then was he condemned, had out of the City and burnt,and Multitudes followed him, fome kiffing him, and with Tears intreated him to pity himfelf : To whom he anfwered, Weep »ot, I pray you, for me, but for the Enemies of God, which fight againft the Chriftians : Weep, I fay for them which prepare a Fire for us, purcha- fing Hell-fire, thereby for themfelves in the day of Vengeance 3 and ceafe I pray you, thus to moleft my quiet and fettle's Mind ; For truly, for the Name of Christ I am ready to fuffer a thoufandDeaths, l$c. Others perfwad- ed him to deny Chrift with his Mouth, & keep his Confcience to himfelf: My Tongue ( faith he ) which by God's goodnefs I have, cannot be brought to deny the Author mid giver of the fame \ For with the Heart we believe unto Right ecufnefs, and with the Tongue we ccnfcfs unto Salvation, And thus perfwading and encouraging the r'eople to oe willing to Die in the like Caufe, with an un- appalled Countenance, he willingly gave himfelf to bq Burnt, Bafil Part IL l&etf eCttttOttS after the coming of Cljttft* i 9 Bqfil'm one of his Orations relates a Story of one Jullita, from whom one of the Emperors Officers took all her Goods, Lands and Servants, contrary to all Equity ; whereupon fhe complained to the Judges, and a day of hearing was appointed, where the fpoiled Woman lamentably, declared her Cafe ; but the wicked Villain that had robbed her, faid, That her AZtion was of 'no force, for fhewasanOut-law for not obferving j 2 . ' ei/i ...v. io ^tttttiltiOnS after the coming of€l)ti&.?zttlh enjoy, nor the Earth to bear fo holy a burthen ( faith the Hiftorian Rufia- nus ) who is laid to be an Eye-witneis and partaker with them in the fame Calamity : Many wandred ( faith he ) in many and dangerous Ways, they hid themfelves in Mountains and Caves & Dens, and hollow Rocks ; all which when Lucius had accomplimed, he perfwaded the Captain to banim the Fathers and Ring-leaders of them. In thofe days thefe Sufferings bro't the Chriftians into a lowly Frame and State, leading a felf- denying Life in Defarts and other retired Places. The Hiftorian mentions one of them, by which may be feen what Prin- ciples was amongft the reft. There was, faith he, one Mofes, who led in the Defart a folitary or reti- red kind of Life, and is find, for his Zeal to Religion and conftant Faith, to be famous among them : This Mofes was taken from the Wildernefs and fent to Alexandria, with intent to be made Bifhop •, and being come to be made Bifliop, he refufed to receive Orders from Lucius -, and after this fort Reafons with him, I think my felf unworthy of the priejlly Order ; yet if it be for the profit of the Common-wealth that 1 be called unto the Function Jruly thou Lucius Jhalt never lay Hand upon my Head, for thy right Hand is imbrewed in Slaughter & Bloodfhed : When Lucius faid again, That it did not become himfo contujnelioujly to Revile him,but rather to. learn if him the Precepts of theChrtflian Religion : Mofes anfwered, I am not come to Reafon of matters of Religion ; but Jure I am of this, that thy horrible Pratlife againsl the Brethren prove thee to be utterly void of the true Prin- tiples of the Chriftian Religion : For the true Chrifiian Jlriketh no man, revi- ieth no man, fighteth with no man \ for the Servant of God fhould be no Fighter : But thy deeds in Exiling of fome, throwing others to wild Beafis 9 Burning of fome others, do cry againsl thee ; yet are we furer of the things we fee with our Eyes, than of thofe we hear with our Ears. Lucinius the Emperor, comes forth and fell upon the Chriftians under his Dominion, who never did him evil ; first, he Banifhed them from his Court, and fuch as would not Sacrifice he fpoiled of their Honour and Dignities, commanded no Charity to be given to them that were in Prifon and in Fetters, no, not by their Kindred ; overthrowing the Meeting- places of the Chriftians to the ground, caufed fome of the Bifhops, his Prefi- dents, 6? c . to be tormented, cutting their bodies into fmall pieces, as But- chers do their IV: eat, cafting pieces into the Sea for Fifties to feed on : He revoked fundry good Laws of the Romans, bro't in barbarous and cruel Laws, unjuft and unlawful., making away noble and honeft Perfonages, whofe youthful & tender Wives he deliver'd to his Servants to be fhame- fuljy Ahufed. Lufeb. L. 2:.. c i. 5. At Marau in Phrygia, Amachius the Governour, commanded the Tem- ple Part IL ^CtfecUtl'OnS after the coming of€l)ti&> 21 pie to be fet wide open, and to be cleanfed, and fet himfelf to the wctf- flapping of Idols, which pricked not a little in Confcience the zealous Chriftians : Wherefore Majidonius, Theodulus & Tattanus brake into the Temple, threw down their Idols and ftampt them to powder ; at which the Governour was exceeding wroth, and threatned to execute divers of the Citizens ; but the Men aforefaid prefented themfelves, who were the Aur thors thereof, that the guiltlefs of thatAcl might not fuffer,& chofe to dye themfelves for the Truth : The Governour commanded them to clear themfelves by Sacrifice, threatning feverely to punifh them if they did it not ; they fet nought by his threats, but made themfelves ready to fuffer : The Governour, when he had affay'd them with all kind of Torments, laffc of all fet them on the Gridiron, and caufed Fire to be made under, and broiled them to Death, who nobly faid, If thou long ( Amachius ) after broiled Meat, turn up the other Jide of us, lefi in the eating we feem Raw unto thee, and the Blood run about thy Teeth. About the Year 290, in the days of Dioclejian the Emperor, there was one Alb an, a Britifh Pagan, who received into his houfe one Amphibalus a Chriftian > this Alb an was convinced by the fweet Converfation of Amphi- balus, fo was to be Beheaded •, in going to the place of Execution, his in- tended Executioner was fmitten in his Confcience, and threw down his. Sword at Alban's Feet, defiring to dye for him, or with him, and was put to death with him. The manner of Albatfs Death was engraven upon a Marble-ftone, and fet up in the City Verulamium, for a terror to Chriftians. This City afterwards was ruined, and of the Ruins of it, a Town was built, to this very day called St. Albans, in memory of the Martyrdom of Alban in that place : Not long after Amphibalus was put to Death near the fame place where Alb an fuffered. Of this Alb an one wrote, Albanum egregium fcecunda Brittannia profert. Dorotheus in his Book named Synopfis, teftifieth, that Nicanor,onz of the feven Deacons, with two Thoufand others, which believed in Chrift, fuffered the- fame day as the bleffed Stephen did. Simon* another of the Deacons, afterwards Bifhop of Boflrum in Arabia, was there burned. Alfo Parmenas another of the Deacons likewife fuffered. Thomas the Apoflle, preached to the Parthians, Medes & Perfians, alfa to the Germans, (jc. and fuffered in Calamina a City of Juda, being (lain with a Dart. . to Simon Zelotes preached at Mouritania, and in the Country of Africk and Britannia, was likewife crucified. ^ Judas Brother of James, called alfo Thaddeus and Lebbeus, preached to tne Edeffeans, he was flain under Augarus Kmg of the Edeffeansm Bmta. Simon called Canamus, Brother to ' Jude & James the Younger, was aunlkd 22 $tttttUtitHX8 after the coming of €l)tift. Part II* crucified in a City of Egypt, in the time of Trajanus the Emperor. And Abdias writeth, that he, with his Brother Jude, were both (lain together. Mark the Evangel ift was drawn with Ropes unto the fire, and there burnt, in the time vi Trajanus the Emperour. Bartholomew after divers Perfecutions, was beaten down with Staves, then crucified, and after being excoriate was at length beheaded. Concerning Matthew, that bleffed Evangelift, many things be recorded, who after he had Preached to the Jews, was ftoned and beheaded. Philip, after he had much laboured among the barbarous Nations in Preaching the word of Salvation to them, was crucified, ftoned to death, and then burnt, and his Daughters alfo with him. Ifido. Bafilius in one of his Orations relateth this ftory of forty Martyrs, -viz. There came ( faith he ) into a certain place the Emperors Marftial with the Edict fet out againft the Chriftians, That whofoever confeffed Chrijl, jhould after many Torments fuffer Death -, and required all men to obey the fame ; and immediately caufed the Sword, the Gibbet, the Wheel and the Whips to be brought forth ; notwithftanding which, about forty Young men freely and boldly, of their own accord, confeffed themfelves to be Chriftians, and declared to him their Names ; At which boldnefs of Speech the Marflial was much amazed, and flood in doubt what to do j and at laft endeavoured to win them with fair words, advertifing them, To confider their Youth, neither that they Jhould change afweet andpleafant Life, for a cruel & untimely Death ; & Promifed them Money & honourable Offices ; but they little efteeming thefe things, brake forth into a long and bold Oration, affirming, That they did deftre neither Life, Dignity nor Money, kit only the Cceleftial Kingdom of Chrifi •, faying further, that they were ready, for the Faith & Love they had in God, to endure the Affliction of the Wheel, the Crofs and the Fire. At which conftancy the rude Marfhal was much enraged, and devifed a new kind of Punifhment, viz. he fpied out in the middle of the City, a certain great pond, which lay full upon the cold Northern Wind (for it was in the Winter time) wherein he caufed them to be put all that night ; but they being merry, and comfort- ing one another, received this their appointed Punifhment, and faid, as they were putting off their Clothes, We put not off now our Clothes, but we fut off the old man, corrupt with the deceit of Concupifcence : We give thee Thanks, O Lord, that with this our Apparel we may alfo put off, by thy Grace, ihef.nful man ; for by means of the Serpent we once put him on, &? by means of Jefus Chrifi we -now put him off. When they had thus faid, they were brought naked into the place where they felt moft Vehement cold, info- much that all the parts of their Bodies were ftark and ftiff therewith : As 'foonas it was day, they yet having breath, were brought into the Fire, wfac*ein Part II. f erfetttttOtlS after the coming of "Cim'ft* 23 wherein they were confumed, and their Alhes thrown into the flood. No lefs worthy of commemoration, is the lamentable Martyrdom of Vincentius, whofe Hiftory here followeth ; Dacionus the Prefident caufed him so be laid upon the Torture, and all the Joynts of his Body diftended and rack't out until they crackt again, and that his Griefs might be aug- mented, they miferably vexed his flefh with Iron Combs fharply filed, and laid his Body f being all out of joyntj on a Grate of Iron, which when he had opened with Iron Hooks, they feared it with fiery Plates, fprinkling him with hot burning Salt : Laft of all, into a vile Dungeon was this mighty Martyr drawn, the floor whereof was thick fpread with fharp Shells, his feet being f aft locked in the Stocks, there was he left alone without all worldly comfort, but the Lord his God was with him, the holy Spirit of God, ( whofe office is to comfort the godly afflicted) filled his heart with joy and gladnefs. Haft thou prepared a terrible Rack ( O cruel Tyrant ! O devouring Lyon ! ) for the Martyrs Bed ? the Lord fhall make that Bed foft and fweet unto him : Rackeft thou his Bones & Joynts all afunder ? His Bones, his Joynts, his Hairs are all numbred : Tormented thou his Flefh with mortal Wounds ? The Lord fhall pour abundantly into all his fores of the Gyl of Gladnefs : Thy fcraping Combs, thy fharp Flefh-hooks, thy hot fearing Irons y thy parched Salt, thy {linking Prifoo, thy cutting Shells, thy pinching Stocks fhall turn to this patient Martyr's comfort, but to thy plague and torment j great plenty of joy fhall he reap into the Barn of his Soul, out of this mighty Harveft of Pains thou haft brought him into ; yea thou fhalt Prove him Vincentius indeed, that is, a Vanquifher, a Triumpher, a Conquered fubduing thy Madnefs by his Meeknefs, thy Tyranny by his Patience-, thy manifold means of Tortures by the manifold Graces of God where- with he is plentifully enriched, Befides this catalogue or company of fuch holy Martyrs as fuffered in this Perfecution, many more and almoft innumerable there be exprelfed in Authors, among whom was Philoromus^ a man of noble Birth and great PofTeffions, who being perfwaded by his Friends, To favour himfelf, to ref~ feci his Wife, to covfider his Children and Family ■, did not only reject their counfels, but alfo flighted the threats and torments of the Judge, to keep the confeffion of Chrift unviolated unto the death and lofing of his Head. Of like Eftate and Dignity was alio Prcccpius, who after his conver- fion brake his Images of Silver and Gold, and difhibut d the fame to the Poor, who after all kind of Torments, as Racking, Cording, Tearing his Flefh, goaring, (tabbing in, and firing, &c, had alfo his Head fmittec ©ft. Neciphal. 8. c 15. To this may be joyn'd alio Georgius, a young man, who ftoutly inveigh- . 24 $ZtUt\XtiQt\& after the coming of £\)ti&. Part IU ing againft the impious Idolatry ©f Emperors, was apprehended and eaft into Prifon, then torn with hooked Irons, burnt with hot Lime, ftretcht with Cords, cut off his hands and feet, with other Members and at Jaft with a Sword his Head was fevered from his Body. Thus near the fpace of three Hundred years was the Church of Chrift .affiiulted on every fide, had fmall reft, no joy nor outward fatety in this Prefent World, but in much bitternefs of Heart, in continual Fears and Mourning under the Crofs, paflfed over their days, being Spoiled, Itnpri- foned, Contemned, Reviled, Famijhed, Tormented and Martyred every- where, by night affembling to fing Praifes to God ; in all which their dreadful Dangers and forrowful Afflictions, the goodnefs of the Lord left them not defolate, but the more their outward Tribulations did in- creafe, the more their inward Confolations did abound ; and the farther off they feemed from the joys of this Life, the more prefent was the Lord with them with Grace and Fortitude to confirm and rejoyce their Souls ; and though their pofTeflions and riches in this world were loft and fpoiled, yet were they inriched with heavenly Gifts and Treafures from above, an hundredfold ; then was true Religion felt in the Heart ; then was Chrifti- anity not in outward appearance mewed only, but in inward affection re- ceived •, then was the Name and Fear of God true in Heart, not in Lips alone dwelling ; Faith then was fervent, Zeal ardent, Prayer not fwiming in the Lios, but groned out to God from the bottom of the Spirit ; then was no Pride in the Church, nor leifure to feek Riches, nor time to keep them -, contention for stifles was then fo far from Chriftans, that well were they when they could meet to pray together againft the Devil, the Author of all diffention. But after this the Chriftians coming to be in favour with the Emper- ©urs, and Riches and worldly wealth crept into the Clergy, and the De- vil poured his Venom into the Church, fo that true humility began to decay and Pride to fet in his Foot ; but after the Church, through favour of the Emperors, was endued with Lands, Donations, PoffeJJions and Patri- monies, and the Bijhops feeling the fmack of Wealth, Eafe and Profperity began to fwell in Pomp and Pride, and the more they flourifhed in this World, the more Gods holy Spirit forfook them, till at laft the Bifhops, ( who were for a long time kept low and Perfecuted, as before is related ) now of Perfecuted people, began to be Perfecutors of others, and through their Pride and Riches were wholly degenerated from the true Religion, and became Adverfaries to God, and perfecuted and deftroyed his living Wrtneffes and Members, as any were raifed up from time to time to bear a Tefrimony againft their Apoftacy, as in this following Hiftory will appear. , . . 1 ' » Pare I I I 2* PART III. A View of the great Sufferings, Perfections and Martyr* dbms of the Servants of the Lord, Inflifted on them by the Papifts after the Apoftacy from the Primitive Gofpel of Truth. JOHNfaw there would be an Apoftacy from the blefted Faith, in his days •, for hefaw a Beasl rife out of the Sea,and the Dragon gave hint his Power,and his Seat ,and great Authority ,and all the World wonder' d after the Beasl, and they worfbipped the Dragon which gave Power unto the. Beasl : And they worfhipped the Beasl, faying, Who is like unto the Beasl ? Who is able to make War with him ? And it was given unto him to make War with the Saints, and to Overcome them ; and Power was given him o- ver all Kindreds, Tongues and Nations, and all that dwell upon the Earth Jhall worfhip him, whofe Names are not written in the Book of Life. Now altho' the Sufferings of the Chriftians were very great after the death of the Apoftles, for fome time, and it cannot be denied but there was a Sincerity in fome of the Chriftian Churches ; yet as John teftified in his day,he faw the true Church flee into the Wildernefs ; and the Apoftle foretold, that there would be a departing from the Faith : And Paul faw the Apoftacy coming in in his day, and faid, Perillous times fhould come, and that men fhould be Lovers of themfelves, Covetous, &c. and reprobate concerning the Truth. So it was not long after the Apoftles time before thefe Prophefies were fulfilled : For if the Reader purfue the following Difcourfe,he will find a great Decay & Apoftacy from that Life & Power that the Apoftles were in, and the corrupt Fruits many of thefe called Chriftians bro't forth, manifefted the great Degeneration that was come upon the Chriftian Churches : For as Eufebius writes, When Perfecution at any time ceafed, then began Herefie to fpring apace among the Chrifti- ans, until at laft there was continual Difcord and Contention ; and they broke out into Sects and Opinions, and Perfecuted one another about their feveral forms of Faith, and came fo far Degenerated from the Doctrine oi Chrift, which taught to Love Enemies, that they became Halrrs of one an- other •, and manifefted to the World, that they had loft the bleffed Love and Unity that was amongft the Apoftles. & Aid 26 f^erf emtcB bp .tfje $&pift& Part 3* And it is obfervable, that after great Sufferings and Perfections, in the time of Ccmfiantine, when the Chriftians came to have more liberty, fo they grew more Ambitious : For then the Bifhops began to think of Mi- ters, that before : time tho't nothing elfe but to-be Martyrs ; and now no Iefs will fatisfie the Ambition of the Bifhops of Rome, but to be Head of all other Bifhops. The Years of Chrift amounting to about a Thoufand,- Religion was wholly decay'd to what it was in former times -, and from the Year three Hundred to that time, many dark Inftitutions and Ceremonies Were fet up in the Church of the pretended Chriftians, iniomuch that it became Mid- night for Darknefs, and the Popes began to draw their Swords to War in defence of Peter's Keyes. And now Henry the IVth, Emperor, attends upon Pope Hid/ebrand, with his Wife and Children, bare-foot at his; fJE- lace Gate, andthen he is made to Swear unreafonable Subjection to mc Pope in all things ; and when all is done the Pope gives away his Crown to Redulph Duke of Swevia, with thefe words, The Rock to Peter gave the '-Diadem* And Peter gives it unto Redulph' s Ream*. The Emperor this while fitting quietly at home, and confidering how the Pope had wrefted his Power, in elections of Popes, inverting of Pre- lates, &ci how he had peeled and poled all Nations by his Legates, and fown Difcord in his Empire • Hereupon he requires Homage & Oath of Allegiance of all his Bifhops, and forbids the Popes Legates to enter into his Empire, without fending for, and all Appeals to Rome ; Finally, in his Letter he prefiVd his Name before the Popes. Hereupon the Pope writes a rebuking Letter to the. Emperor ; the Emperor writes back in defence of liis doing, an Apologetic al Epiflle ; the Pope replies with a, Bull of Excom- munication \ the Emperor makes anfwer to that, with' Accufatory Letters againft the Vilenefs, Pride, &?e. of the See of Rome : Then the Pope writ to the German Bifhops to work againft the Emperor -, the Bifhops they writ their Excufmg of the Emperor. This Pope towards the end of his Life ( who dy'd amidft thefe Broils, being choaked with a Flie as he was walking Abroad ) was wont to fay, That there was no more miferable kind @f Life than to be a Pope. Anno 1 159, there being two Popes chofen at once, made a great Schifm and Tumult ; the Emperor to quiet them, fent for them to appear before him -, Alexander being one that was chofen, fcorns the Motion, Viclor dothyappear, him therefore the Emperor aids to the City, and fettles him to be Pope $ Alexander flies to France and Venice, and requires aid againft the Emperor ; ar laft the Emperor was fain to fubmit to the Pope> who putting his Foot upon the Emperor's Neck, fpake the ie W or o&ftbou jhalt walk Part?. : $etfectttet> bjHfje i&p(ftg. 27 w«tt «p*» Afc ^*&rj ; ^pr 0apttt& Part 3 . not, was written in God's Law^ And I faid further, In the old Law, which ending not fully till Chrift rofe from death to life, God commanded Tythes to be given to the Levites, and the Priefts were to have but the tenth Part of thofe Tythes given to the Levies} i^ow, faid I, in the new Law, neither Chrift nor any of his Apoftles took Tythes of the People ; but Chrift taught them to mew works of Mercy : Alfo I faid, not of Tythes, but of pure Alms of the People, Chrift & the Apoftles lived, when they were fo bufie in preaching the Word ? that they could not otherwife work to get their Livelihood. Bilhop, Thou preachedsl openly at Shrewfbury, that it is not lawful to Swear in any cafe. -- Thtrp, By the authority of the Epiftle of James, and by witnefs of divers others, I have preached openly in one place or other, that it is not lawful for any to Swear in any cafe,by any Creatures. Then the Clerk afked him, Whether it was not lawful for a Subjeft, at the com- mand of his Prelate, to kneel down & touch she holy Gofpel Book, and kifs it, faying, So help me God,and this holyDoom? Thorp, Yt fpeak full largely ,what if a Prelate command his Subject to obey an unlawful thing, mould he o- bey ? Arch-Bp. A Subject ought not tafuppofe that his Prelate will bid him Jo an unlawful thing. -- Thorp,But to our purpofe related the opinion of a Matter in Divinity in the matter of Swearing, who faid, It was not lawful, either to give or take any fuch charge upon a Book ;for a Book is nothing elfe but divers creatures,of which it is made ; therefore to Swear upon a Book is to Swear by Creatures, and this Swearing is ever unlawful. This Sentence (faith Thorp) witneffeth G&ryy^07»,plainly blaming them greatly that bring forth a Book to Swear upon,charging Clerks,that they in no wife conftrain any body to Swear, whether they think a man Swear true or falfe. Then the Arch-Bifhop fcorn'd me, and threatnedme with fharp & great Punifti- ment, except I left this Opinion of Swearing. — Thorp, It is not only mine, but the Opinion of Chrift, James, Chryfofiom, and divers others. Clerk, -Wilt thou tarry, my Lord, longer ? Submit thee here meekly to the Or- dinance of holy Church,& lay thy hand upon a Book,tGUching the holy Gofpel of God,promifing,not only with thy Mouth, but with thine Heart, to ft and to my hordes Ordinance. — Thorp, Have I not told you here,how that I heard a Mafter of Divinity fay,That in fuch a cafe, it is all one to touch a Book, as to Swear by a Book ? — BiihopjT^nr is no Mafter of Divinity in Eng- land, but if he h-old this Opinion before me, I will puniflo him\as Ifhall do thee, except thou Swear, as Ifhall charge thee. -- Thorp, Is not Chryfofiom an en- tentive Doctor ? — Bimop,JV^. — Thorp, If Chryfofiom proveth him worthy of great blame that bringeth forth a Book to Swear upon, it muft needs fol- !ow ? that he is more to blame thatSweareth on that Book. — Ckik,Lay thy d upon the Book, touching the holy Gofpel of God, and take thy Charge. Toirp, Part 3. tyttUmttti pv tije i&apffts. 3 i Thorp, I underftand that the holy; Gofpel of God may not be touched with mens hands. It was mentioned - beforej that he was imprifoned by Tho. Arondel, Arch-Bifhpp of Canterbury -, and it is recorded, that he was by the faid Bifhop at laiVfecretly put to death in the Year 1407. John Purvey was imprifoned by Henry Chichley Arch- Bifhop of Canter- bury, in the Year 142 1, he writ a Book againftthe Pope, wherein he call'd him Antichrift, and that his Cenfures were like the blafi cf Lucifer : He ( the faid Purvey ) complained^ that many before him who had impug- ned the Romifh Errors, had been Jmprifoned, killed, and their Books burnt, and that none were fuffered to' Preach but fuch as would Swear Obedience to the Pope ; for whicri he was imprifoned, and fecretly r away by the aforefaid Bifhop. In the year 141 3, Roger Atton, John Brown & -John Beverly werePe cuted and put to death for their teftimony to the Truth, together divers others, to the number of Thirty fix, all which were hanged with fire made under them : Thefe godly Perfons in' thefe dangerous times ufed to meet in the night in Giles's in the Fields , to pray & preach, of which the Bifhops having notice, they informed the King ai if they intended to Rebel ; whereupon the King going with many armed men at Midnight took thefe thirty fix and caufed them to be executed, amongft whom was W. Murle of Dung able, Maulfter, who being apprehended, was drawn ? hanged and burnt ; within a few days after his Execution, Thomas Arondel Arch- bifhop, was fo ftricken by God in his Tongue, that he could neither fwallow any food, nor fpeak for divers days before his death, whereby he dyed in much mifery. And this was tho't to come upon him 5 for that he bound the Word of the Lord, that it fhould not be Preached. In the year 141$ John Clydon of London, Currier, being examined before H. Chichly, Arch -Bifhop of Canterbury, upon fufpition of Hereiie 3 . he confcffed, that for the fame caufe he had been formerly imprifoned by Robert Braybrock, Bifhop of London, in Conway Prifon two years, and at another time three years in the Fleet ; and alfo, that he had feveral Englifh Books that he took delight to hear read to him, one of the Books was entituled, The Lanthorn of Light, &c. in which Books were contained 1. Speaking or treating of the Text, how the Enemy did few the Tares ; where it faith, That kicked Antichrift, the Pope,hath fowed his Popijh and corrupt Decrees, which was cf no authority, ftrength or value ; and that the Bifbops Licence for a man to preach, is the true Character of theBeafttf Antichrift 1 That the Court f/Rome is the chief he ad of Antichrift : And that no Reprobate Is a Member of Phe Church cf Chrift. His Books being examine^. w< condemned as Heretical, to be burnt in the fire, and fentence of Co. demnation was pad upon him by the Arcit- Bifhop,. and he was deliver 32 #erfmttet> bp tl)e t&aptfts. Part 3, to the fecular Power, by whom he was carried into Smithfield, and there burnt with one Richard Turning, a Baker. The next Year after the burning of thefe men, the Prelates of England feeing the daily encreafe of the Gofpel,and fearing the ruin of their Papal Kingdom, took counfel together, with what diligence they could to main- tain the fame : Wherefore to make their State and Kingdom fure, by Sta- tutes, Laws,Conftitutions,and terror of Punimment, Henry Checkley Arch- Bifhop, in his Convocation holden at London, maketh another Conftitu- tion againft the poor Lollards,, which was fent abroad Anno 14 16, to be ftraitly Executed ; in which their Officials ( or Commiffaries ) were re- quired twice every Year,at leaft, to make diligent Enquiry after fuch per- fons as were fufpe&ed of Herefie : And Parifhioners were to be Sworn upon the Evangelifts to difcover whether they knew any frequenting pri- vate Conventicles, or differing in their Life and Manners from other com- mon Catholick Men, or that mould have any Books in Englijh. After the fetting out of this Conftitution, great Inquifition hereupon followed in England, and many good Men, who began to have Love to the Gofpel, were much Troubled and great Sufferers. John Gale of London, was Summon' d before the Arch-Bifhop, for having a Book in Englifh, Entituled, A Book of the New Law. Ralph Mungin for the fame Do&rine was condemned to perpetual Im- prhonment. William White,*, follower of John Wickliff,he was of a devout holy life, and is recorded as a Morning Star in the midft of a Cloud, a Man well Learned, an upright Man, and well fpoken : For the love of the Truth he gave over his Priefthood,but not his Preaching •, for he continually la- boured to advance the glory of God, by Reading, Writing & Preaching. The chief Matters charged againft him, were, That he held, (1) That men fiould feek for the fergivenefs of their Sins at the hand of God. (2) That the Pope was an Enemy unto Chrifts Truth. (3) That men ought not to Worjhip Images. (4) That the Romifh Church was the Fig-tree which Chris! curfed, becaufe it bro't forth no fruit of 'the true Belief. (5) That fuch as wearCowles, cr be Anointed,or Shorn,are the Soldiers of Lucifer. And,(6) That allfuch,be- caufe their Lamps are not burning, Jhall befhut out,zvhenas theLordfhail come. He was apprehended ( for preaching & teaching fuch like Doclrine ) in Norfolk, and being had before the Biihop of Norwich, he was convicted, condemned & burnt in Norwich, in the Year 1424. When he was at the Stake, beginning to open his Mouth to fpeak to the People, to exhort them and confirm \.\ a m in the Truth, one of the Bifhop's Servants (truck him in the Mouth, thereby to force him to keep Silence : And thus this oood Man received the Crown of Martyrdom, and ended this Mortal - Liie, Part 3. 0erCecutct> by tlyt .f apms. 33 Life, to the great grief of all good Men in Norfolk i his Wife, 7^;/ fol- lowing her Hufband's fteps, according to her power, teaching & iov abroad the fame Doctrine, confirming many in God's 1 ruth •, wherefore Hie furTered much Trouble & Punifhment the fame Year at the hands of the faid Bifhop. _ Anno 1473, John Goofe "being 'called before the BiHiops,"and accufcd for Herefie, was condemned and delivered to Robert Billifdon, one of the Sheriffs of London, to fee him burnt in the Afternoon : The Sheriff, like a charitable Man, had him home to his Houfe, and there exhorted him to deny his Errors •, he defired the Sherifftd be content, for he was fatisfied in his Confcience. The Sheriff giving 1 him fo'me Meat, and he being very hungry, did eat fo freely, as if the hour of Death had not been known to be fo nigh, faying to the ftanders by,- / eat nozv a good and competent Din- ner, for IJhall pafs a little fh arp fhower e're I go to Supper ; and having Dined, he required that he might be led to the place where he mould yield up his fpirit unto God. ^ About this time there being a War begun by the Turks againft the Chriftians^ there was great Invafions & Victories obtained by the Turks againft them, in-fo-much that the Turks fubdued Arabia, got Palejlina, Phenecia, Syria, Mgypt and Perfia, raging with their Armies throughout all AJia & Europe, conquering as they pafied : The caufe of which Inva- fions & Victories, as is recorded, were the DifTention, Difcord, Falfhood, Idlenefs, Unconftancy, greedy Avarice,lack of Truth & Fidelity amongft chriftian Men, of all ftates & degrees, both high & low : For by the wil- ful defection & backfliding of the Chriftians, the Turkifh Power did ex- ceedingly encreafe, and them called Chriftians were by multitudes de- ftroy'd : And as it is written, there was hardly a Town, City or Village in all Afta & Grecia,d\fo in a great part of Europe & Africa, whofe Streets did not flow with the blood of the Chriftians, whom thefe cruel Turks Murdered after an inhumane manner, Men and Women being by them cut in pieces, and Children ftuck upon Poles & Stakes till they goared them to Death in the fight of their Parents ; dragging fome at their horfes Tails till they famifhed them to Death, tearing fome in pieces,tying their Arms and Legs to four Horfes, treading the Aged & Feeble under their Horfes Feet : The Princes of Rafia had both their Eyes put out with Bafons red hot fet before them, cutting fome afunder in the midft, and with other Torments putting many to Death •, infomuch that the Streets and Ways of Cbalrides did flow with the Blood of them that were Slain. The Pretors Daughter of that City, being the only Daughter of her Father, and noted to be of fingular Beauty, was faved out of the Slaughter, and brought to Mahumet the Turk, to be his Concubine, but fhe denying to & con fen c 34 #crfectttct) by tl)e #api'fts. Part 3. confent to his Turkifli Fikhinefs, was commanded therefore to be flain : It would be long to recite, and incredible to believe the cruel and horrible Slaughters, and miferable Tortures infli&ed upon the Chriftians by thefe Turks in moft parts of Afia and Africa, but efpecially in Europe. During all thefe -Wars and Slaughters, the Pope ceafed not, continually calling up Chrrftian Kings, Princes and Subjects, to take the Crofs, and War againft the 'Turks, left he mould lofe all ; whereupon in that time of Darknefs and Popery, many took Voyages to the holy Land, and many Battels were fought for the winning the holy Crofs •, and yet no Succefs, neither ever came it profperoufly Forward, whatfoever the Pope attemp- ted againft him -, what the Caufe was may be eafily judged, if the Reader confiders the grofs Idolatry, Frophanenefs & Degeneration thefe Chrifti- ans were fallen into, having wholly loft the true Faith once deliver'd to the Saints, and inftead of being Sufferers, which was once the portion of the true Chriftians, were now become Perfecutors and Deftroyers of fuch .as would not ftoof> to their Idolatry,and to every foolifh Invention that the Popes from time to time did fet up and commanded to be obferved. It is recorded that in the time of Pope Julius, partly with his Wars, and partly with his Curlings, in the fpace of feven Years, about two hundred Thoufand Chriftians were deftroyed 5 fo addicted to Bloodfhed was this Pope, and as is written, furpaffed many other Popes in Iniquity, that Wi- telius wrote thus of him, Marti ilium quamChrifto deditiorsm^ fuijfo, i. e. That he was more given to War & Battel, than to Chrift. Which made Philip Melanft 'on write an Epigram in Latine upon him,- the fenfe ©£ which in Englijh is as followeth, When Julius Pope againsl the French determined to make War, As fame reports, he gathered up great troops of Men from far, And to the Bridge of Tyber then, marching as he were Wood, His holy Keyes he took and casJ them into the Flood ; And afterwards into his hand he took a naked Sword, Andfhaking it, brake forth into this fierce and warlike Word, This Sword of Paul ( quoth he )fhall now defend us from our Foe, Since that this Key of 'Peter doth nothing avail thereto. In the Year 151 2, there was a fight between Lewis the French King & this Pope Julius at Ravania, upon Eafter day, where the Pope was vari- quifhed,and had of his Army flain to the number of fixteen Thoufand : and the next Year this Apoftolical Warriour, which had refigned his Keys to the River Tibris before, made an end both of his Fighting & Li y in S* About this time began the Reign of Henry the eighth,King of England, in Part 3. fyttiztuttts tor fyt $apttts* 35 in whofe Reign great alterations and turns of Religion were wro't by the mighty operation of God's Hand, not only in England, but in Germany and other parts of Europe, fuch as had not been feen ( altho' much groaned for J many hundred Years before : Neverthelefs many fuffered great Per- fections and Martyrdom in this King's Reign, both in England and elfe- where ; and many good Men were raifed up to bear Witnefs to theTruth, yet fome were of Opinion,, that it was not wholly the King's fault that fo much Blood was fpilt in his Time ; for the Bifhops were the Darce to make the bloody Laws, and it was the Bifhops that were earneft to fee the Laws put in Execution, the King often times fcarce knowing what was done ; and but hearing of a Woman that was the fecond time put upon the Rack, exceedingly condemned the Party that was the caufe of it, for ufingfuch extream Cruelty. John Brown pafling from London in a Gravefend-Bavge, in which Barge there was a Prieft,and Brown fate hard by him ; whereupon the Prieft faid, Doff thou know who lam ? Thou fittest too near me. Brown faid, No Sir, I know not who you are. I tell thee,foid he, I am a Prieft • What Sir ! ( faid Brown ) are you a Par/on or a Vicar, or a Ladies Chaplain ? I am, faid he, a Soul Prieft, andfing for a Soul. I pray you, Sir, faid Brown, where find you the Soul when you go to Mafs ? I know not, fold the Prieft. And where do you leave it when you have done Mafs ? I cannot tell, faid the Prieft. Brown replied,If you neither know where the Soul is when you begin,nor where you leave it when you have done,how then do you fave a Soul ? Go thy ways, faid the Prieft, thou art an Heretick, and I will be even with thee. And accordingly when they came to Land, the Prieft ta- king two others with him that were prefent in the Boat, went and com- plained to the Areh-Bifhop Warham, who fent a Warrant prefently to apprehend Brown ; and being apprehended the MefTenger bound his feet under his Horfea belly, and carried him away to the Arch-Bifhop, nei- ther his Wife nor Friends knowing whither he went,nor what they would do with him. The Bifhop caft him into Prifon, where he lay about fix weeks, then was carried to AJhford where he dwelt, and there let in the Stocks all night ; his Wife hearing of it, came and fat by him all night, to whom he fhewed how cruelly he had been handled by the Arch-Bifhop, telling her he could not fet his feet to the ground, for they had burnt them to tke Bones to make him deny Chrift ; which, faid he, I durft not do, left my Lord Chrift mould deny me hereafter : Therefore, good Wife, continue as thou haft begun, and bring up my Children Vertuoufly and in the Fear of God : And fo the next day this godly Martyr was burnt, calling upon God, and faying, Into thy hands I commend my Spirit ; thou haft redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth. At the fire, Chilton the i 2 Biiliffi 36 $2treCUtCD bV tyt $apfft& Part 3» Bailiff, bid c^ft in his Children alfo ; for faid he, they will firing cut of his Ajhes. A nci in §. Mary's time his Son Richard was fentenced to be burnt, feeing a Pnicner atCanter.lury, but that the Queen dying he efcaped. About this time many fli fife red very greatly for fpeaking againft Wor- fhipping of Saints, Pilgrimage, for having Scripture Books in Englifh, and a Book call'd WickUff's Wicket. One of which fufferers, by Name, Eliz. Stcmfi. rd, being bro't & examin'd before Fitz James, Bifhop of London, Jlrno 1517, co nfeffed, that fhe was taught by one Thomas Beale of Henly thefe words, eleven Years before, viz. That Chris! feedeth & nourifheth his Church with his own precious Be dy, that is, the Bread of Life coming down . Heaven : This is, laid fhe, the worthy Word that is worthily received, and joined unto man, to be in one body with him \fo it is that they be both one, they may not be parted : This is not received by chewing ofTeeth,but by hear- ing with Ears, *f 0/ 2> the King,and enjoined him Pennance, which was to go before the Crofs ihPro- ceffion at Paul's, and to ftand before the Preacher during the Sermon at Paul's Crofs with a Faggot upon his Shoulder, and then to return with th§ Sumner to Prifon again -, but foon after he was difcharged of his Impri- sonment, and before he had been at Liberty a Month, he bewailed his Fact and Abjuration, and was never quiet in his Mind and 1 Confcience, until before a Congregation of the People of God ( who in thofe Dayes me&in a Ware- houfe in Bow- Lane ) he uttered his condemnation of the Fa£r, afking God and that Affembly Forgivenefs ; and the next Sabbath Day went to a place, called St. Juflins,and flood up in a Pew with a Teftament m Englifh in his Hand, and with Tears declared to the People that he had denied God, and defired them to forgive him, and to beware of his Weak- nefs^and rather to chufe to Die than to do as he did ; for he would not for all the World to feel again fuch a Hell as he had done : To this pur- pofe he alfo wrote to the Bifhop, whereupon he was fhortly after Appre- hended, and committed to the Tower of London, from thence removed to the Bifhop' s Coal-houfe, v/here he lay two Weeks in the Stocks with Iron upon his Legs ; then he was carried to the Chancellors, and there chained to a Poll two Nights 3 from thence he was had to Fulham, where he was cruelly handled for the fpace of a Week i and then committed to the Tower, where he lay a Fortnight, and was fcourged _ with Whips to make him revoke his Opinions ; from thence was he carried to Bar km, 8c from thence to Chelfey, and there Condemned •, and laftly, was conveyed to Newzaie, and by the Sheriffs of London had into Smithftdd, and there * * burnt part 3. #erfecttt«> bv tf)e $apfft& 43 burnt to Death, the laft Day o£ Jpril, 1531, about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon. In the Year 1532, Robert King,Nicholas March, Robert Gardner, all of Dedham t and Robert Debnam of Ea ft- Bergholt, being burdened in their Con- fciences to fee the Honour & Power of the Almighty Living God to be blafphemed by Peoples adoring an Idol, called, The Roode of Dover Court ; to which many did refort, ignorantly believing a common Rumour blown abroad ,/£*/ no man had power tojhut the Church door where that Idol flood. Whereupon, the aforefaid four Men were moved by the Spirit of God to Travel out of Dedham, in a frofty Moon-fhiney Night ten Miles, to the place where this Idol flood, and took the filthy Idol from his Shrine, and carried it a quarter of a Mile, and there fet it on fire ; for which fact three of them were indicted as Felons, and were hang'd in Chains about half % Year after : The fourth, Robert Gardner fled & fo efcaped. And it is re- corded, that at their Death, thro* the working of the Spirit of God, they bore fuch a living Teftimony, that the People were more Edified in the Truth, than they had been by all the Sermons they had heard Preach'd before. The fame Year there was many more Images caft down and deftroyed, iamany places. John Frith, a godly young Man, and one of great Parts & Wit, of * ready Capacity, and a great Schollar in the outward Literature, coming ac- quainted with William Tindal t thro' his Inftructions firft received into his Heati the Seed of the Gofpel & fincere Godlinefs. The faid John Frith accompanying himfelf with divers young Men of grave Judgment and fharp Wits, who conferring together upon the abufes of Religion, ( which at that time were crept into the Church ) were therefore Accufed of He- refie to Cardinal Woolfey, and caft into a Prifon within a deep Cave, under a College in Oxford, where they ufed to lay their Salt-fifh, the ftink of which fo infected their Bodies, that Three of them died in a little fpace, the Fourth was John Frith, who was Ihortly after Difcharged out of Pri- fon, and Travelled beyond-Sea ; but after two Years returned into Eng- Iand,and being at Reading^ happen'd that he was taken as a Vagabond, and put in the Stocks, and there kept fo long till he was almoft pined with Hunger, and would not difcover who he was, but defiring to fpeak with the School-Mafter of the Town, to whom he fpake Latine, the School-Mafter perceiving that he was a Schollar,and a young Man of ex- cellent Parts, obtained of the Magiftrates that he might be fet at Liberty, which he enjoyed not long, being fo purfued by Sir Thomas Moor Chan- cellor, who Perfccuted him both by Sea & Land,promifing great Reward to any that could bring News or Tidings of him ; foon after he was Ap- prehended & Committed to the Tower of London, where he had many G * conflicts 44 i&CCfectttCU Dp tlje #apfttS. Part 3, confiic'ts with the Biihops, but efpecially in Writing, with the Chancellor, and afterwards was carried to Lambeth before the Bifhop of Canterbury, and from thence to Croyden before the Bifhop ofWinchefter, and Lft of all he was bro't before the Biihops in a .common Afiembly at London : The whole matter of his Examination before them was comprehended in two fecial Articles, ( that is to fay ) of Purgatory and the Subftance of the Sa- crament, to which he anfwered very fully and wifely, and in great mode- ration & uprightnefs ; but no Reafon would prevail againft the force & cruelty of his Adverfaries. The twentieth Day of June, 1533^ he was bro't before feveral Bifhops at Paul's, who feeing that by no means they could perfwade him to Recant, the Bifhop of London condemned him to be burnt, and pafs'd Sentence againft him to that Effedt. About this Time one John Chapman, Andrew He-wet & John Tibauld, being men Zealous for Religion & Piety, were informed againft, and by the Bifhop of London's Chancellor, and others apprehended & carried to the Bifhop' s Houfe : Andrew Hewet was fent to the Lollards Tower,and Chapman & Tibauld kept afunder in the Bifhop's Houfe till the next Day that he came from Fulham, who then Examined them, but not liking their Confefiion, Chapman he committed to the Stocks, with this Threat, That befhould tell another Tale, cr elfejoeuld fit there till his Heels did drop from his Arfe : Tibauld he fhut up in a clofe Chamber, but afterwards delivered him out of Prifon upon this Injunction, That bejhould not come within fev&n Miles of his own- Houfe '.Chapman after five Weeks Imprifonment, ( three Weeks whereof he fate in the Stocks ) by Suit made to the Chan- cellor on his behalf, after many threatningt, was difcharged out of Prifon.* Andrew Hewet being bro't before the Biihops, and afked, What he tho't tomeming the Sacrament ? Anfwer'd, Even as Frith doth : At which the Bifhops fmil'd, and one of them faid, Why Frith is tin Heretick, and is con- demned to be burnt 1 and except thou revoke thy Opinion, thou fhah^k^burnt with him : Truly, faid he, / am contented therewith •, whereupon he was fent to the Prifon to Frith, and on the fourth Day of July was carried to Smithfi eld With Frith, and there burned. ; Thomas Bennet School-mafter in Exeter,z man of a godly Converfation, and a favourer of Rich as fuffered for their Zeal to the true Religion, after he had lived in a retired Condition fix Years,could no longer contain^ but he muft bear a Teftimony againft the Idolatry of thofe Times, tho' his Blood were fried for the fame : The beginning of his Troubles was, He wrote a Paper, and fct it up on one of the Church-doors of the City, in which was written, The Pope is Anti-chrislyand we ought to Worfhip God inly, and no Saints. Which Paper being feen, great fearch & inquiry was made, what Heretick fhould fet it up ? But feeing they could not find the Author Part 3* $erfecutet> bp tlje #aptfts. 45 Author out at that prefent,they agreed,that the fentence of a Curfe mould be pronounced againft him that did it ; the manner of whick Curfe was as followeth. The Pope's Curfe by Bell, Book and Candle. HTHe Prieft being in the Pulpit cloathed in White,& the Monks & Fry- ars flanding about him, the Crofs was held up with Candles fixt to the fame, then faidthe Prieft, ' By the Authority of God the Father Al- i mighty, and of the bleffed Virgin Mary, of St. Peter & Paul, and of the holy ' Saints, we Excommunicate-, we utterly Curfe and Ban, commit and deliver 1 to the Devil of Hell, him or her, whatfoever he or Jhe be, that have in fpite c of God, and of St. Peter, whofe Church this is, in fpite of all holy Saints, * & in fpite of our moft holy Father, theVo^t ( God's Vicar here on Earth ) ' and in fpite of the reverend father in God, John, our Diocejian, and the ' worfhipful Canons, Majlers, Prieft s & Clerks, which ferve God in this Ca- * thedral Church, fixed up with Wax fuch cur fed '& heretical Bills, full of ' Blafphemy, upon the Doors of this, and other holy Churches within this *■ City, Excommunicate be he, Jhe or they, penally, and deliver' d over to the ' Devil as perpetual Malefatlors 6? Schifmaticks -, accurfed they be, and given c Body £s? Soul to the Devil ; Cur fed be they, he or floe, in Cities £s? Towns y « in Fields &? Ways, in Houfes& out of Houfes, and all other Places, ft and- ' wg, lying or rifing, walking, running, waking, fleeping, eating, drinking, * and whatfoever thing they do befides -, We feparate them, him or her from * the Threfhold,& from all the goodPrayers of the Church, from thePartici- ' pation of the holy Mafs, from all Sacraments, Chappels £r? Altars, from * holy Bread and holy Water, from all the Merits of God's Prieft s & Reli- 4 gious Men, and from all their Cloifters,from all their Pardons, Privileges -,' * Grants & Immunities, which all the holy Fathers ( Popes o/Rome ) have * granted to them ; and we give them over utterly to the Power of the Devil: ' And let us quench their foals, if they be dead, this night in the Pains of 1 Hell-fire, as this Candle is now quenched & put out, ( and with that he * put out one of the Candles.; And let us pray to God, if they be alive, that 1 their Eyes may be put out, as this Candle-light is, ( fo he put out another ' Candle. ) Let us pray to God, and to our Lady, and to St. Peter &? Paul, * and all holy Saints, that all the fenfes of their bodies may fail them, and * that they may have no feeling, as now the Light of thisCandle is gone, (Mo \ he put out the third Candle ) Except they, he or (he, come openly )wiv y 5 ani confefs their Blafphemy, and by Repentance { as in them fhall lie, * make fatisfatfion unto God, cur Lady, Su Peter, and the worfhipful Com- \ fany of this Cathedral Church. "Thomas Bennet being not able to digeft thefe Fopperies, writ other Bills, and 4 6 t&etfetttteo bj> tl)e #ap*fts. Part 3. and caufed them to be fet upon the Gates of the Grave-yard, but the per- fon that fet them up being taken in the Action, T. Bennet was thereby dif- covered, and being apprehended, confefs'd they were his Bills, and that he could do it again to difcover the abominable Blafphemy of their Anti- chrifl the Pope, and to let People fee that he is the Boar come out of the Wood, which deftroyeth & throweth down the Hedges of God's Church. Whereby he was committed to Prifon, & the next Day was had to the Bifhop, who committed him to Prifon again, where he was kept in the Stocks with flrong Irons, with as much favour as a Dog fhould find ; then his Houfe was fearch'd for Books,and his Wife fhamefully abufed, which fhe bore with Patience, being contented to bear the Crofs with her Huf- band,& fare hardly with him,& eat coarfe Meat & Drink. A grey Fryar pofTefiing him with the many Dangers that he was liable to fall into in that Condition ; Thomas replied, My Life is not dear to me, I had rather ly Death », {which I know is not far off ) depart this Life, than to partake of your deteftable Idolatries,or be fubjecl to Antichrist, your Pope. During the Time of his Imprifonment the Hate of the People thro* Ignorance was great againft him, notwithftanding they could never move his Patience : During his Imprifonment his Wife provided Suftenance for him -, when fhe Lamented he Comforted her, and gave her many good & godly Exhorta- tions, defiring her not to move him to comply with his Adverfaries. After the Clergy faw they could by no means caufe him to Recant,/^ condemned him to be burnt, and deliver' d him to the Sheriff of Devon/hire to fee him Executed ; the mild Man rejoicing to fee his End approach fo near, as the Jheep before the Shearer,y\c\dtd himfelf with all Humblenefs to abide & fuffer the Crofs of Perfecution : Being bro't to his Execution, in a place called Livery-Dole, without Exeter, he gravely & foberly fpake to the People to feek the Honour of God,and the Knowlege ofHim,and to leave iht Devices 6? Imaginations of mens Inventions ; and faying, O Lord receive my Spirit ; patiently endured the cruelty of the Fire until his Life was ended. Thus the Reader hath an Account of fuch as fuftained Death for ChriJPs Caufe, thro' the rigorous Proclamation aforefaid, fet out in the Name of the King,but indeed procured by the Bimops,and by them fo ftriclly Exe- cuted, that no good Man could peep out with his Head never fo little, but he was caught, and either bro't to the Fire, or elfe fore'd to Abjure : A great Number of which are particularly mentioned in Fox's Acls and Monuments, which for brevity's fake are here omitted. Thomas Phillip being one of them that was Profecuted,& being afked by the B\{hop,^hether he would Abjure or not ? He faid, Except ye fhew me caufe wherefore I fhould Abjure, I will not fay yea or nay to it,b«Jt will ftand Part 3. 0etfecttteo by tlje |&apffts. 47 ftand to my Appeal ; then the Bifhop read openly the Bill o[ Excommu- nication againft him, charging all Men to have no Company , or any thing to do with him : After this Excommunication, what became of him, whether he was burnt,or dy'd in theTower,no mention is made in the Regifter. I mention him becaufe a Letter that was found in hisPocket,& the fubflance of one Tacy'% Will, are worth the taking notice of, which are as follow, TT//(? Favour of Him that is able to keep you, that you fall not, and to con- fefs your Name in the Kingdom of Glory y and give you firength by his Spirit to confefs him before all his Adverfaries, be with you ever, Amen. The Brethren think, that there be divers falfe Brethren craftily crept in a- mong them,to fetk out their freedom in the Lord, that they may accufe them to the Lord's Adverfaries, as they fuppofe they have done you -, wherefore if it be fo that the Spirit of God move you thereunto, they as Counfellors deftreyou a- bove all things,to be JleadfasJ in the Lord's Truth,without fear -, for he fhall & will be your help, according to his Promift, fo that they fhall not diminijh the leas! hair of your Head without his Will, unto the which Will fubmit your felf & rejoice ;for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out ofTemp- tation,and how to referve the unjusl unto the day of Judgment to be Punijh' d. And therefore cas! all your Care on him, for he careth for you \ and in that youfuffer as a Chrijlian-man, be not afhamed, but rather glorife God on that behalf, looking upon Chris! the Author &f Finifher of our Faith, who for ths Joy that was fet before him, abode the Crofs fcf defpifed the Shame ; never the lefs tho' we fuffer the wrong after the Example of our Mafler Chris!, yet we are not bound to fuffer the wrong Caufe \for Chris! himfelf fuffered it not, but reproved him that fmote him wrongfully \ likewife Paul faith, Acts 23.3. We Musi not fuffer the wrong, but boldly reprove them that Jit as righteous Judges fs? ait contrary to Right eoufnefs : Therefore according both to God &? man's Law, you are not bound to make anfwer to any Caufe till your Accufers tome before you, which if you require, (f thereon do flick, the falfe Brethren fhall be known, to the great comfort of tho f: who now ft and in doubt who they may trus! ; and alfo it fhall be a means, that they fhall not craftily by Quefti- ens take you in fnares : And it is written, Ac!s 25. 16. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die,before that he which is Accufed, have the Accufers face to face, & have licenfe to anfwer for himfelf con- cerning the Crime laid againft him. And alfo Chrift faid, That in the mouth of two or three Witneffes all things lliali ftand. Wherefore feeing tn Accufations fuch Witneffesjlwuld be,you '.may with a good Conference re- quire it. And thus the God of Grace fettle, ftrength en and eflabliflo you, that to Him may be the Glory and Praife for ■ ever, Ths 48 ^erfccuteo by t\)t 0apt'ft£. Part 3. The Subftance of Tacy's Will. William Tacy of$addington>m the County of Gloucefler, in his Will, de- clared among other th'mgs,That touching the burying of his Body, it availed him not, whatfoever was done thereto isjhen he was dead ; for, ( faid he ) Funeral Pomps are rather for the folace of them that Live, than the wealth & comfort of them that are Dead. Which Will being bro't by his Son ( his Executor ) to the Bifhop of Canterbury to be Prov'd, the Bifhop fhew'd it to the Convocation, who pafs'd a Sentence, that a Commiffion fhould be fent to Dr. Parker, Chancellor of the Diocefs of Worcefter, to take up Tacy's dead Body, and to burn him as an Heretick for making fuch a Will ; which accordingly was done, notwithftandiig he had been Buried almoft fwo Years before. About this Time the Houfe of Commons, afTembled in Parliament,put up a Supplication, by way ©f Complaint, to the King,againft the Clergy ; this Complaint the King feem'd at firft not to take much notice of, yet afterwards coming to have a clear underflanding of the Abufes & Enor- mities of the Clergy, efpecially of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome, provided certain Ads againft the fame, and wholly excluded the Popes Authority out of this Realm ; but thinking the Work not fufficient- ly done, as long as Abbies & Priories kept their Station, which were ( as it were ) his Fortreftes & Pillars •, there was, not long after means found to have them fuppreffed : For Afperfions being laid upon them, of Adul- teries and Murders, they by Aft of Parliament ( at leaft near four Hun- dred of them ) were Suppreffed, and all their Lands & Goods conferred upon the King, and afterward all the reft, and all Colleges, Chanteries & Hofpitals ; alfo, the fame Parliament Enafted, That Bifhops fhould pay no more Annals or Money for their Bulls to the Pope ; and that no Perfon fhould Appeal for any caufe out of this Realm to the Court 0/Rome : And an Aft was made, That the King fhould be the fupr earn Head of the Church ^/"Eng- land, &c. But altho' the Popes Wings were thus cut, and his Power, & Autho- rity in Englan d Abrogated by Aft of Parliament, as before is mentioned, yet the Bifhops here went on Perfecuting iuch as they accounted Sectaries and Hereticks : But before I give an account of fuch as further Suffered here in England for Religion, it falls in order to give an account of the Sufferings of William Tindal beyond Sea. This William Tindal was a man zealous for Reformation of Religion ; and confidering,that if the Scriptures were turn'd into the vulgar Speech, it might much conduce to the propagating thereof, but finding his purpofe could not be well effected here in England, by reafon of the ftrictnefs of the Biihops & Chancellor, he travelled into Germany, and there he firft tranflJted Part 3* $etfcctttet> by tl)t $apt(hi» 4? trandated the New-Teilament, and then the Old, and writ feveral other Books againft the irreligious Practice of the Prelates ; which Books being publifh'd & fent over into England, it cannot be fpokcn what a door of Light they opened to the whole Englijh Nation, who before were many- Years fhut up in Darknefs. But tho' thefpreading of thefe Books wro't much good to the upright, and fuch as had in any meafure -a defire to advance the Truth, yet the en- vious & perfecuting Spirit of the Bifhops was aifo much more ftirred up thereby, feeking by all means how to flop them from being fpread left their Hypocrifie & works of Darknefs mould be difcerned, wherefore they made great ftir & fearch, as Herod did at t he Birth of Chrift-, and fought out by what means they might hinder the Travels of this Tindal, and of his Printing and Publishing the faid Books, and fet perfons to fearch & examine at Antwerp how things flood with Tindal, which when the Bifhops & Chancellors in England underflood, they fent over one Henry Phillips to betray him into the hands of the Emperor's Procurator Gene- ral at Brujfels, the faid Procurator, thro' the Treachery of Phillips, feis'd upon all Tindal' s Books, and apprehended him and fent him Prifoner to FilferdCaMe, Eighteen Englifh Miles from Antwerp : Being bro't to his Tryal, they offer'd him Council to plead for him ; he refufed, faying, He would anfwer for himfelf : After much Reafon & Difpute, he was Con- demned by virtue of the Emperor's Decree made in the Affembly at Aujbrough, and upon the fame was bro't to the place of Execution at Fil- ford, Anno 1536. Being tied to the Stake, he cried with a fervent Zeal and a loud Voice, Lord, open the King of England's Eyes -, and fo was burnt to Death. When the King had taken the Title of Supremacy from the Bifhop of Rome, and ftated the fame to himfelf, he perceived by the Wifdom and Advice of Thomas Cromwell, one of his Privy Council, that the corrupt State of the Church had need of Reformation in many things. This Cromwell was thro' the goodnefs of God raifed up to be a Friend & a Favourer of thofe that Profefs'd the Gofpel, who tho' but a Smith's SGn,born at Putney, for the pregnancy of his Wit, he was firft entertained by Cardinal Woolfey, and by him employ'd in many great Affairs ; i\\t Car- dinal falling, the King took him unto his Service, and finding his great Abilities, advanced him for his Worth, to great places of Honour and Truft, thro' whofe Perfwafions feveral Injunctions were put out by the King for Reformation in Religion ; and he was the great In ftrurnent iri overthrowing Abbies, Mcnafhgks & Friaries, which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the King's hands : Whereupon, not only their Floufes were razed, but their PoffeJTions were divided amongft xX.c 5 o $trfecutcft bp tl)e t&apifts. Part 3* Nobility, infomuch that all Friars, Monks, Canons, Nuns, and other fuch Se£ts, were fo rooted out of this Land from the Foundation, that there feemed to be no room left for fuch Weeds to grow here any more. But as this Thomas Cromzvell was raifed up for good, & being fo greatly in favour with the King, ufed all means he could to Perfwade him to re- form the enormities in the Church ; on the other hand, Satan raifed up his Inftrument, which was Stephen Gardner, Bifhop of Winchefler, who ufed all wiles and fubtil means he could to Perfwade the King againft the fame ; catling upon the Profeffors of Truth the name of Hereticks, Secta- ries, Anabaptifls, and Sacrament aries, and fo far prevailed with the King, that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were publifhed, prohibi- ting the publifhing any Books in Englijh, written by the Sectaries and Sa- crament aries, under the pain of the forfeiture of all their Goods and Chattels^ and their Bodies to be Imprifoned during the Kings pleafure : And further this Stephen Gardner inftigated the King not only againft the Queen ( who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation ) but alfo againft this Tho- mas Lord Cromwell, who no doubt had brought the encreafe of true Reli- gion, according to his underflanding, to more Perfection, had not this Gardner and other Malignant Oppofers thereof fet themfelves againft it, to hinder the profperity thereof : but now through the faid Gardners evil advice, the King, who before had raifed the faid Thomas Cromwell Tor his worth and integrity, now for his pleafure took him off, and fuffered him to be beheaded : After his death, Religion and the Reformation more and more decayed, whereby the Reader may fee how Variable the ftate of things flood in reference to Religion at this time, and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth, how often things changed, even as the King was ruled and gave ear ; fometimes it went a little for- ward, and then backward again, according as the perfons prevailed that were about the King. And now the King being led through Gardners fuggeftions, began to withdraw mewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion, conclud- ing fo to do, was mofl for his fafety both at home and abroad, having fo much difpleafed the Pope, and other Popifli Princes, in what he had al- ready done ; and though he had rejected the Popes Authority, he would declare himfelf neverthelefs to be a good Catholick Son of the Mother Church, and a withftander of new Here fies •, and then calling a new Par- liament, and Convocation of Prelates, there was fix Articles decreed concerning Religion, which was afterwards commonly called, a Whip with fix firings, it wis pretended for the unity of the Church ; but what Unity followed, the groaning hearts of many that fuffered death by the fame, both in this Kings time, and in iP. Aiary's, may declare, The Part 3/ iderfecuteo fop tlje i&apifts* 5 1 The Six Articles of the Bifliops, Condemning all to be burnt as Here- ticks, that mould hold, Firft, That the Body of Cbri(i was not realty prefent in the Sacrament after Confecration. Secondly ; That the Sacrament might not truly be admimfhcd under one Kind. Thirdly, That Priefis entred into holy Orders, might Marry. Fourthly, That Vows of Chafiity entred into, upon mature deliberation, were not to be kept. Fifthly, That private Majfes were not to be ufed. Sixthly, That Auricular Confeffion was not to be ufed in the Church. . Before thefe Articles were publifhed, Bifhop Gardner having obtained his defire with the King,he and the reft of the Prelates began again afrefli to perfecute the Proteftants, and fhe firft they ftretched forth their Hands againft was John Lambert, a Norfolk man, and one zealous for the fpread- ing of the Truth, according to the Manifeftation of it then broken forth ; and to that end was converfant with Tindal and Frith at Antwerp, until by the Inftigation of Sir Thomas Moor he was apprehended and brought to London, where he was firft brought to Examination at Lambeth, and then at the Bifhops Houfe at Oxford,before War ham, Arch-bifhop of Canterbury and others, where forty five Articles were objected againft him, to all which he anfwered in writing very fully and wifely, both according to the Scriptures and Reafon •, the Articles, and his Anfwers may be read at large in Fox's Acls and Monuments. The Bifhop of Canterbury fhortly after dying, whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out ofPrifon •, and coming to London, it was not long before he fell into trouble again ; for having a private Conference with one Doctor Taylor, what paft between them in their difpute in private grew at laft a publick and common talk, which coming to the Arch-bifhops Ear, he fent for Lambort and forced him to defend his Caufe openly ; in that Difputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bifhops. Upon this appeal Bifhop Gardner goes to the King,and privately pofTef- fes him, that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the People, who were offended with him for abolifhing the Bifhop of Rome's Au- thority, and fubverting of Monaft tries and Abbies, &c. he might now remedy thefe troubles, if he would manifeftly appear in this matter againft Lambort, and fhew himfelf ftoutly to refift the Hereticks •, the King immediately received this wicked Ccunfel of the Bifhop,and forth- with fent out a general Commiffion, commanding all the Bifhops and Nobles of the Land, to come with allfpeed to London, to ajjift the King againfl He- H 2 rsticks j 52 '$ctfeetttct> bp tf)t 0apfft& Part 3, reticks \ tli^k preparations being made, a Day was fet, upon which Lam- bert fhouid appear before the King and the reil affembled with him, to be Tried & Judged. The Day being come, the King afcended his Throne, cloathed all in White, he Jook'd upon the Priibner with a Hern Countenance, as if his Mind was full oflndignation,and then called forth the Bifhop of Chichejier and commanded him to declare to the People the Caufes of that Afiem- bly : The fubftance of the Bifhop's Speech tended to this, That the King ■it culd have none to conceive, that whereas the Authority & Name of the Bi- Jhop 0/Rome being utterly aboiifhed,he would alfo extinguijh all Religioner give liberty to Heretichs to trouble the Church of England without Punifh- ment. The Bifhop having ended his Speech, the chief thing that the King prefs'd Lambort to declare, was, what Opinion he held touching the Sa- crament of the Altar. To which he anfwer'd fully 5 and the Difpute held chiefly concerning that point for fome Hours, until the King & Bifhops, enraged againft him, forced him to Silence. The King being minded to end the Difpute, faid to Lambort, What jayeft thou after all thefe Labours & Reafons of thefe learned Men ? Art ibok yet fatisfted ? Wilt thou live or die ? thou has! yet free choice. Lambert anfwer'd, I yield & fubmit my felf wholly unto the Will of your Majefty. King, Commit thy felf into the hands of God, and not unto mine. Lambort, I commend my Soul unto the hands of God, but my Body I wholly yield & fubmit unto your Clemency. Then faid the King, If you do commit your felf unto mv Judgment, you musl Die, for I will not be a Patron to Here ticks. And fo caufed the Sen- tence of Death to be read againft him : Shortly after he was had to Smith- field, and there burnt •, in the midft of the Flames he cried unto the People in thefe words, None but Christ/ None but Christ/ and fo ended his Life. The aforefaid fix Articles being confented unto, and concluded by the King & Parliament, the Bifhops caufed further to be Enacted, That who- mever denied Tranfubftantiation, or whofoever mould be Aiders, Com- forters, Counfellors, Confenters & Abetters therein, mould be adjudged Hereticks : That every fuch Offender mould have & fuffer Judgment, Execution & pain of Death, by way of Burning, without any Abjuration, benefit of the Clergy or Sanduary,and mould forfeit to the King all then- Lands & Tenements, Goods & Chattels, as in Cafes of high Treafon : And for all fuch as did Preach, Teach, Uphold, Maintain or I defend any Thing contrary to the five laft Articles fhould be adjudg'd as Felons, and fe both I ,ife & Goods, as in the Cafe of Felony. Whsa Part 3. #etfcctttet> bp tue Paptfts. 55 When thefe Articles were in Debate in the Parliament Houfe,. Dr. Cranmer, in favour to the ProfefTors of the Truth, earneftly Difputed in defence of the Truth againft them > but notwithiianding all his Oppo- fition, the Aft was pafs'd. By reafon of thefe fix Articles, a great Number were apprehended in London & other Places, fo that all the Prifons in London were too little to hold them, and many were Imprifoned in Halls. Amongfl whom was one John Porter of London, who for Reading to People in a Bible, was fent for by Bonner & fharply reproved : Porter an- fwered,He trufled he had no way Offended contrary to the Law thereby. Bonner charged him for making Expofitions upon the Text, & for gather- ing Multitudes about him ; this Porter denied : Yet did Bonner fend him to Newgate, where he was miferably loaden with Irons, both Hands and Legs, with a great Collar of Iron about his Neck, whereby he was faftned to the Wall in the Dungeon ; after a while he fent for a Kinfman of his, who by Bribing the Keeper, obtained, that he was put amongfl Thieves & Murtherers ; but Porter hearing & feeing their Wickednefs, exhorted them to amendment of Life, giving them good Inflructions : For this he was complained of and carried down into the Joweft Dungeon, where he was fo cruelly OpprefTed with Bolts & Irons, that within a few Days after he was found Dead. In the Year 1 544, one Robert Teftwood living at TVindfor, being a Fa- vourer of the Lutherans, and feeing People licking & kifling a white A- lablafler Image that flood behind the high Altar, his Zeal was fo flirred, that with a Key that he had in his hand he flruck off the Images Nofe ; faying, See good People what it is, it cannot help itfelf ; how then voculd you have it help you ? The noife hereof being fpread abroad, one Symonds a Lawyer took up the Nofe, and faid,One day itjloould he c dear Nofc to Te ft wood. Afterwards, on a day when every one wasto carry a Relick inProceiTi- on, Tefiwood, amongfl others, had Beckwiths Rochet proffer'd him, but he pufh'd it away,faying, If they gave it him,he would wipe his Tail with it. Thefe doings fo offended the Clergy, that they faid,# 'hat yet btgbevTTak& hud ^4 #erfccuteti by t\yt $apfftg. Part 3. £ top tlje Capias. ss Errors ;the Perfons accufed were Thomas Brooke, Ralph Hare, James Cock y and James Barber, who were fent for over, and committed to Prifon at Weftminfter, and afterwards, when brought before the Bifhops, grievous ' Letters were written againft them from Calice by their Adverfaries, fo that if God had not preferv'd them they had all certainly perifhed. One ofthefe, viz. Ralph Hare, though fo unlearned, that he could fcarce read, yet was very Zealous, and fo holy and inoffenfive in his Life, that none of his Adverfaries could accufe him of Evil ; he was charged for fpeaking againft Auricular Confeflion,holy Bread, holy Water, and that he would not Swear, nor ufe any Paflime, but ufed to be in a Corner by himfelf, looking on his Book, when others were at liberty. Thus being charged, he faid to the Commiflioners, I take God to witnefs, I would not willingly maintain any Error or Herefie -, wherefore I befeech you, let my Accufers come before me, face to face ;for if they charge me with that I have fpoken,I will not deny it ; and if it be Truth I will ft and to it, if an Error, 1 will with all my heart for fake it ; Imean,ifit be againft God*s holy Word ; for the Lord is my Witnefs, I daily pray to God,that I may know the Truth, andfhun Errors, and I hope God will pre ferve me from them. The Bifhop of ' Winch eft er faid, I perceive now thou art a naughty Fellow — Alas / faid Hare, what Evil have I fpoken ? Bifhop, Marry Sir, you faid the Lord, the Lord, and that is Symbolum Hereticorum. — What is that, faid Hare ? --• Thou art naught, thou art naught, faid the Bifhop — I pity thee, for I think thou art a goodfimple man, and meaneft well enough, if thou hadft not had bad School-mafters. Then Thomas Brooke was called for, who was charged with Sedition, That he had contributed towards maintaining Adam Damphp, and that he fhould fay, That what the Prieft held up at Mafs, was not the Body of Chrift : Brooke denied the charge, and after fome debate, was for that prefent difmiffed. The Sufferings and Martyrdom 0/AnneAfkew Anne AJkew was apprehended for her Religion, and examined before one Chrift opher Bare, an Inquifitor, who afked her, If foe did not believe the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real body of Chrift ? To this Queftion me refufed to anfwer : Then he told her, Thatjhe zvas accufed for reading that God dwelt not in Temples made with hands ; whereupon fhe fhew'd him the 7th and 1 7th Chapters of the Acls for it. Then he afked her how fhe underftood thofe Texts ? fhe anfwered, That fhe would not caft Pearls before Swine. Then he charged her for faying, That fhe had rather read five Lines in her Bible, than hear a Mafs. She faid, The reafon was, be- caufe one did greatly edifie her, and the other did not, And after other Queftions afk'd, he had her before the Mayor of London. The Mayor* after fome difcourfe with her, ordered her to be had to Prifon h She afk'd 56 $cttcctttei> bj> tije #apt'to. Part 3. if Sureties would not ferve turn ? He faid, He would take none : But after feme time fhe was releafed from that Imprifonment : Not long after fhe was apprehended again, and carried before the King's Council, where the Chancellor afk'd her opinion about the Sacrament ? She faid, That me be- lieved, that fo oft as (he received the Bread in remembrance of Chrift's Death, fhe received therewith the Fruits of his moll glorious Paffion : The Bifhop of Winchefter bid her anfwer directly : fhe anfwered, me would not fing the Lord's Song in a ftrange Land : The Bifhop told her, Jhe was a Parrot : To which fhe replyed, That fhe was willing, not only to receive Rebukes from him,but whatfoever fhould follow befides, and that gladly : After much more debate,fhe was imprifoned until the next Day,and then afk'd zga.in,What Jhefaid to the Sacrament ? She anfwer'd, That fhe had faid what fhe cou'd fay. Then theBifhop 0$ Winchefter faid, He would /peak with her familiarly. She faid, So did Judas when he Un- friendly Betray'd Chrift. Then defir'd the Bifhop to fpeak with her alone, but fhe refufed : He afk'd her why ? She faid, That in the Mouth of two or three Witneffes every matter fhou'd ftand -, which was Chrift & Paul's Doctrine. Then the Chancellor began to Examine her again of the Sa- crament -, She afk'd him, How long he wou'd halt on both fides ?Then he would needs know where fhe found that ? She faid, In the Scripture. Then he went his way. — Then the Bifhop told her,She would be burnt. She anfwer'd, That fhe had fearched all the Scriptures, and could never find that either Chrift or his A poftles put any Creature to Death ; and told them, God would laugh their Threatnings to Scorn. --- After much other Arguing, wherein fhe anfwer'd them wifely & holily, they difmiffed her. A few days after fhe was taken very fick, and like to die ; in which Ex- tremity they fent her to Newgate. A while after fhe was bro't to her Tryal at Guild-Hall, and required to Recant, or elfe fhe was condemned by the Law for an Hcretick : She anfwer'd, She was no Heretick, neither deferved Death by the Law of God. Then they afked, If fhe would deny the Sacrament to be Chrift'' 's Body cs? Blood ? She faid, Yea. They wifli'd her to fhrive her f elf to a Priesl ; At which fhe fmiled, and faid, She would confefs her Faults to God ; for fhe was fure He would hear her with Favour. Then they would know of her, Whether tht Bread in the Box were God, or no I She faid, God is a Spirit, and will be Worfhipped in Spirit & Truth. After fhe was condemned, fhe wrote a few Lines to the King, to this Effect, ' / Anne Afkew, of good Memory, altho 9 God hath given me the Breed ' cf ddverfity and the Water of Trouble, yet be it known, that for afmuch as * I am by the Law condemned as an evil Doer, here I take Heaven £s? Earth * to Record, that I ft all die in my Jnnoccncy ; and as I faid atfrsl, I fty at 4 /a//, Tart 3. f>ttttCi\ttX> by tl)C papsffS. 57 1 loft, I uttterly abhor & detesl all Hereftes \ and as concerning the Supper &f e the Lord, I believe fo much as Chris! bath J aid therein, which he confirmed ' withhismofi bleffedBlood ,1 believe fo much as hewilledme to follow, fcrlwill ' not forfake theCommandment of his holyLipsJwt look what God hath charged 1 me with his Mouth, that have IJhut up in my Heart. And thus briefly I end. Shortly after fhe was fent from Newgate to the fign of the Crown, where, fhe laid, one Rich, ani the Bifhop of London, ufed all their Power by flattering words, to perfwade her from God •, but they prevailed not with her : One Nicholas Shaxton counfelled her to recant, as he had done ; fhe told him, it had been good for him he had never been born ; then Rich fent her to the Tower to be Rackt, where firft he and one of the Council examined her, telling of her, That the King *vas informed, that if fhe would, fiie could name a great number of her Seel ; me anfwered, that the King was as well deceived in that, as he was in other matters. The manner of her Racking was thus ; fhe was firft let down into the Dungeon, where the Lieutenant of the Tower commanded the Goaler to pinch her with the Rack ; which being done, fo much as he thought fuf- ficient, then he went about to take her down, but Wrifiley, the Chancellor, not contented that fhe was loofed fo foon, confefling nothing, but lay ftill, and did not cry, the Lieutenant commanded to flrain her on the Racjc again, which becaufe he denyed to do, tendering the weaknefs of * the Woman, the Chancellor threatned him, he would fignifie his Difobedience to the King : Then Rich and the Chancellor took pains to Rack her them- felves, till fhe was near dead •, firft afking, Whether fhe was with child ? To whom fhe. anfwered, you fhall not need to fpare for that, but do your Wills upon me •, and fo quietly & patiently praying unto the Lord, fhe abode their Tyranny, till her Bones and Joynts were almoft pluckt af- funder.- After fhe was loofed from the Rack, fhe fwooned, but they, recovered her again, and fhe was carried away in a Chair to a houfe, and laid in a Bed, with weary and painful bones ; the Chancellor fent her word, that if fhe would leave her opinion, fhe mould want for nothing : If fhe would not, fhe fhould be forthwith fent to Nczugate,md fo be burnt ; fhe fens him word again, that fhe would rather dye than break her Faith. The Prayer of Anne Afkew before her Death. c O Lord ! I have more Enemies now, than there be Hairs on my Head ; yet * Lord,let them never overcome me with vain Words, but fight thou, Lord, in * my fie ad ; for on thee caff I my care : With all the fpite thty can imagine they ' fall upon me, which am thy poor Creature \yet, Lord, let me not fet by them which are again ft me \for in thee is my whole delight. And Lor dj heartily dtfjre of thee, that thou wilt of thy moil merciful Goodnefs forgive them that Violence which they do, & have done unto me : Open alfo thou th.ir blind I ' Htum, $S pttftpttelJ "OF tlje 0apfft& Part $♦ The Day of her Execution being come, fhe was bro't into Smithfield in a Chair, becaufe fhe could notgo on her Feet, by means of her great Tor- ments : When fhe was bro't to the Stake,fhe was tied by the Middle with a Chain that held up her Body,& fb encompaffed with the flames of fire, as a blefted Sacrifice unto God, fhe refigned up her Life, in the Year 1 54 6", leaving behind her a lingular Example ofChriftian Conftancy for all Men to follow. There was at the fame time three others burnt with her in Smithfield. After the death of this Woman, the Popifh Clergy confulted together, how they might further proceed to keep theTruth under,and from fpread- ing, and for that end obtained another Proclamation in the King's Name, for abolifhing the Scriptures in Englifh,and all other Engliih Books, that might give any light to the People ; which made fore work> and caufed Perfecution for a time, but it continued not long, by reafon of the King's Death, which was fhortly after. But before there be a full conelufion of the Tranfaflions in this King's Reign, it's neceflary a fhort Account be given of the rife & fall of 'Thomas Cromivell,oi whom mention is made be- fore •, efpecially, feeing he was a Man fo Zealous for Reformation both of Church & State. He was born at Putney, his Father being a Smith - y in his youthfulDays, it is faid, He had little regard to God & Religion; but travell'd beyond Seas, and for a time was there a Soldier •, at length getting the New Tefta- ment in Engliih, by often reading it he began to be touched, and fome- thing opened in his Underftanding. Coming into England again, Cardi- nal Woolfey entertained him in his Service, where, after fome Years remai- ning, he was preferr'd to be Solicitor to the Cardinal. After the fall of Cardinal Woolfey, he was by the Mafter of the Roles preferred to the King, ( who had then fo do againft the Pope J as a fit Perfon to be imployed by iim ; and being bro't to the King at his Garden in JVeftminJler> where he poffefTed the King, That his Authority was abufed by the Clergy^and by be- ing Sworn to the Pope, they had run them/elves into a Praemunire, and that vow the King had an opportunity to Enrich him f elf . To this the King gave Ear, and liked well his Advice, and admitted him into his Service, and feot him to the Convocation- Floufe arnongft the Bifhops, where he made a Speech to this Effect, That in as mitch as they had Sworn to the Pope, contrary to their Fealty due to the King, they had forfeited all their Goods, Chattels, Lands, P off'efftons , &c. to the King. This amazed the Bifhops atfirft, but after a little paufe they began to fhrink^ and befors they Part 3* ptnttum i)f tilt pSfflw* p they could be quit of the Praemunire, by 'A£k of Parliament, it cod them (to the King) no lefs than One Hundred Eighteen Thoufand, Eight Hundred and Forty Pounds. After this Cromwell grew greatly in favour with the King, and was made one of his Privy Council, and Mailer of the Rolls, and Knight of the Garter, and Earl of EJfex -, and now being come into fuch Authority, and feeing the Superftition, Blindnefs, Hvpocrifie and Idolatry of the Monks, Fry ars & Priefts,whofe filthy (link did breathe up a moil peftiferous Fume, as Matthew Paris faid in the like cafe of Rome : Wherefore Cromwell, like a Champion, was raifed up to root them up, which while the King favoured, he profecuted with effeel:. But when the Popifh Bilhopsfaw the Popes Power abolihYd out of Englandjhty never gave over ufing all their utmoft Endeavours & politick Contrivances, till they had laid a Plaifter to his wounded Head.- Tt would be too long to recite what benefit this Cromwell by his Prudence and Zeal wrought in a little time for the publickGood, what good Orders he eftablifhed, what Wickednefs and Vices he fupprefTed, what Corruptions he reformed, \rhat Abufes he brought to light, and Popifh Idolatry and Images he fup- preffed Y one called, the Rhood of Grace ) wherein a man flood inclofed with a hundred Wires within the Rood, to make the Image goggle its Eyes, nod its Head, hang the Lip, and move and make its Jaws, accor- ding to the value of the Gift offered ; if it were a fmall piece of Silver, then would he hang a frowning Lip; if it were a piece of Gold, then fhould his Jaws go merrily : Thus were poor Peoples Souls feduced, and their Pockets pickt by thefe Idolatrous Forgers until Cromwell caufed the faid Image to be carried publickly to Pauls, where the People tore it to pieces — He was a man not only zealous for the publick Reformation, but alfo always ready to help private Perfons that were in diftrefs. And though its common amongft men that are raifed from low eftate to great Places and outward Preferment, to forget themfelves what they formerly were, and the Perfons from whom they received benefits ; it was not fo with him ; for in his Travels beyond Sea, being brought to a low Con- dition, was relieved by a rich Merchant in Florence, and entertained in his Houfe, when he was in great diftrefs •, and when he was minded to return to England, the Merchant gave him a Horfe, Money and Apparel, which Cromwell received with great Thankfulnefs. — This Merchant not long after ( through great loffes ) fell to decay, and having Money owing him in England,came over to fee if he could get ir,and arriving at London, ( not thinking of the kindnefs he had mewed to Cromwell ) as he was travelling the Streets, Cromwell, as he was riding along efpied him, and knew him, and alighted, and took notice of him, and of his former kind- nefs, and invited him to Court, who coming there, after he had dined I 2 wiih 6o laertecufeo bp tt)e $aptfts. Part 3, with him, he had theJ)rferchant into a private Room, and paid him fully tor all he had of hirnat Florence, and gave him fufficiently over, as a Re- ccmpcTiCe of his Kindnefs, and kept him in his Houfe all the time of his remaining in England. This is but one Example of many that might be mentioned to fhew this CromiveWs Gratitude & Courtefie. His Care & Zeal for fetling the Proteftant Religion, was that which bro't him to his End •, and tor the better eftablifhing thereof, he devifed to Effect a Marriage between the King & the Lady Anne of Cleeve, whofe Sifter was Married to the Duke of Saxony, a Proteftant Prince ; by which Marriage it was fuppofed, there would be eftablifhed a perpetual Peace and Amity between this Kingdom and the Proteftant Princes of Germany, which would much ftrengthen the Proteftant Party againft: the Tyranny and Opprefilon of the Pope and his Adherents ; But prefently after the Marriage, Stephen Gardner, who had foon after crept into Favour with the King, ( as is before related ) Suggefted to him fome occafions of Diftafte againft the Duke of Saxony, and fome apprehenfions of' Fear, by reafon of that Odium which he had pull'd upon himfelf, by rejecting the Pope, and demolishing Abbies & Monafteries, whereby ( as he told him ) he had made the Pope, the Emperor, the King of France, and the King •f Scotland his Enemies, but efpecially his own Subjects, who were much Diftafted with rhelnnovations in Religion ; and that the only way to Heal all, was to fhew himfelf fharp & fevere againft: the New SecJaries. This occafion'd the King to withdraw his Favour from Cromwell : For being one Day in the Council-Chamber, he was fuddenly apprehended & committed to the Tower of London -, at the hearing whereof, many good Men were much troubled. The Charge laid againft him was,That he was sfupporter of Hereticks,and fpreader of thJr Books ; and that he had caufed io be tranflated into Englifh, Books wrote againsl the Sacrament of the Altar-, and that he had /poke Words againsl the King. But whatever he was Ac- cufed of, he was foon afterCondemned in theTower,without coming to his Anfwer, and was Beheaded ; His Death the King fhortly after bewailed, wifhing he had his Cromwell alive again : So that it appears it was more the Malice of his Adverfary's, that ftirred up the King againft him, than any real Caufe given him or aded, that might juftly occafion his Death. In the Year 1545, one John Athee was Indicted by the King's Writ for fpeaking certa'n Words againft the Sacrament ; T'hat he would not believe in the thing that the Knave PriesJ made, neither in that which Long's Wife felleth ; but only in God which is in Heaven. And when it was told iaim, That God through his Word could make it Flefh and Blood j he anfwered, So he might if he would turn it into a Chickens Leg. A Part 3. ^etfecttteD bp tl)e #aptft& 6% A Relation of afuddenFear fcf Surfrizal that fell upon the Doftors & others, at St. Mary's in Oxford, £v reafon of a man's crying Fire in the Street. nrHere being a Sermon to be preach'd in the Place aforefaid,at the Rccan- tation of one Malory ; the Prieft had no fooner got into the Pulpit, & Malory come forth with his Faggot on his Shoulder, accompanied with a great Congregation of People, but one in the ftreet feeing a Chimney on fire, cried out, Fire, Fire, which fo alarumed the Doctor and Congregati- on, that they were all amazed, expecting the Houfe wherein they were had been on fire : at laft they all generally concluded it was on fire, and that the Hereticks had fet it on fire, for running with eagernefs on heaps to get forth, they raifed fuch a Duft that it feemed like the Smoke of fire, and thrufting many together to get out, they ftopt up the doors that few could pafs ; and thus being affrighted, as if great danger or pre- fent Death were at hand, did they croud one upon another, the Heretick throwing down hisFaggot,and fhifting as well as he could among the reft, the Doctor that was preaching his Recantation, cryed out,Lord have mercy upon me, this is the Heretick* s doings : Amongft the reft, a Monk, one of the Auditors, fearing the danger,and feeing the way to efcape ftopt, he got up to a Window, and breaking the Glafs thruft himfelf part thorough, but there ftuck and could get no further, neither in nor out ; a Boy alio En- deavouring to efcape, got upon the Door, and jumping down, jumpt into a Monk's Cowle, as it hung at his Back ; the Monk hearing one in his Cowle, cried out, Who is that at my Back ? The Boy cried,/ am Bertram's Boy : Who art thou ? faid the Monk, I am Bertram's Bo\ ; geed Maficr let me go ; & with that theCowle began to crack,theMonk took him out, and the Boy ran away : Some loft their Cloaths in the Throng, and fame their Money in this Surprizal and Fright at the Noile of a Fire that did them no hurt. About this time one Sir George Blague, of the King's Privy-Chamber, was falfly Accufed for fpeaking sgainft the Mafs ; when upon Wrif.y, the Lord Chancellor fent him to Newgate,and the next day he was Arraigned and Condemned at Guild-Hall, and within a day or two after mould have been Burst in Smithfeld ; but fome of the Privy- Chamber making fuit to the King om his behalf,the King was much offended that they mould come fo near him as his Privy- Chamber without his Knowlege and Cenilnt, lent for the Chancellor, and commanded him prefently to draw up his I ardon himfelf, whereby he was fet at Liberty ; George Blague afterwards coming into the King's Prefence, the King faid to him, my Pig ! ( for io he ufed to call him ) Tea, faid he, Ij your Mcjejly had not been better to me than your Bijhops were, your rig had been roofed before this time. 7ke 62 #etfecittcD by t!)c $apfft& Part 3, The Troubles of Queen Catherine Parr, for fhewhig favour to the Profeffors of the Truth, and how the Lord made way for her Deliverance. A Bout this time the King coming from Bullein, Information was given him, that the Queen, Catherine Parr,was much given to Reading the Scriptures, and entertained divers godly Perfons in Conference about" fpiri- tual Matters : At firft the King feemed to like well of it, which made her the more bold, fomtimes freely to Debate with the King about Religion, often befeeching him, That as he had ( to the Glory of God and his own eternal Fame ) began a good work in banijhing the Pope'' 's Supremacy, that he viould per feci what he had begun,and thoroughly to cleanfe away the Dregs of Popery, whereof much remained yet behind. The King tho' he was grown very tafty & fro ward, yet out of his lingular Affection to her, was content to bear with her : For never did Maid more feek to pleafe her Miftrefs than flie did with painful Endeavours apply her felf, by all vertuousMeans in all things, to pleafe his Humour. She was a Woman very Beautiful, Vertuous & of a comely Perfonage, which greatly delighted the King : But fome fubtil & malicious Inftrument of Satan, fearing what might be the Iffue of it,fought by all meant to fet the King againft her : Thefe were the Bifhop ofWinchefter, Wrifly the Chancellor, and others of the Council and Privy-Chamber, hoping if they could but take away her,that was fuch an Encourager of the Profeffors of the Truth, they might foon deftroy the reft. The King growing fickly & froward, left off his accuftomed manner of Vifiting the Queen,& therefore fhe took all opportunities to Vifit him, and did earneflly folicite him to be Zealous in the Reformation of the Church : Winchejler being prefent at one time, and perceiving the King not to be very well pleafed with her •, when fhe was gone he malicioufly endeavour'd to ftir up the King's Indignation againft her, poffeffing the King, That under his Favour, he with others of the Council, could in a fhort time difclofefuch Treafon cloaked with the vail of Herefie, that his Majejly fhould eajily perceive how dangerous it was to nourifh fuch a Serpent in his Bofom. This fo ftirred up the King that he gave them leave to draw up Articles againft her, and thus far they got their End : The next thing was to fuborn Witneffes to Betray & Accufe her, and to find out what Books fhe had in her Clofets that were forbidden by Law, and to fearch her Clo- lets,and to Apprehend the Queen, and fend her by Barge to the Tower. The King being made Privy to this Device by Winchefier & Wrifly, he politickly feem'd to Approve of it, that he might fee how far the Malice of the Bifhop would carry him : And thus the Day, Time and Place for *:he Apprehending the Queen 5 and fome about her was concluded of. The Part ?. $e¥fectttei> by tlje $aptff& f$ The King at this time lay at Whit e-h all, zn(\ by reafon of his Diftemper feldom ftirr'd abroad, and the time approaching tor the Apprehenfion of the Queen ; but fhe fufpe&ed nothing of it,and therefore ui'ed, after her ac- cuftom'd manner,when me came to the King,ftill to deal with him about Religion, as formerly me had done : But one Night after (lie had taken her. leave of him, the King imparted the whole defign to Dr. Wind% enjoining him not to fpeak of it to any Creature - y but by Providence thefe Articles drawn up againft her,and Sign'd by theKing,fell from the Bofom of one of thefe Counfellors, and was immediately carried to the Queen, who reading the Articles, and knowing the King's Hand, was furprized with fuch a fudden Fear, that me made piteous Moan & Lamentation. The King- hearing that me was in peril of her Life, fent his Phyficians to her, and Dr. Windy knowing the Caufe better than the other, began fecretly tc* break with her about the Articles, telling her, That he knew well enough of them,tho' he flood in Danger of his Life by Revealing of them, yet to quiet his Confcience he could not but give her Warning of them, intreating her fome-what to Conform her felf to the King's Mind, not Doubting but that by her Humble Submiffion fhe mould find him Favourable to her : Shortly after the King hearing of her Condition, went to her ; to him therefore fhe difclofed her Grief, fearing, as fhe faid, Left he had taken Difpleafure againft her. Whereupon he, like a loving Hufband, with fweet & comfortable Words fomewhat Eafed her per- plexed Mind, fo that fhe began to Recover. The King being departed, fhe caufed all her Books, which the Law was againft, to be conveyed a 1 !!^ and taking a fit Seafon in an Evening, fhe went to Vifit the King, who was conferring with fome of his Bed-Chamber. When he law her, he Entertained her Courteoufly, and began to Commune with her ;boutRe- ligion, feeming Defirous to be Refolved by the Queen of certain Doubts which he propofed to her : She perceiving his Drift, with mild & reverend Countenance anfwered him thus ; Tour Majefly knows right well,neither am I ignorant, what weaknefs attends our Sex, and therefore zve are inferiour & fubjetl to Man, cur Head, whence fM our Directions musl proceed ;God hath made Man in his own Likemfs,en- dued him with more excellent Gifts, Sec. But he hath made Woman of Man, by zvhomflje is to be governed & directed ; feeing therefore that God hath ap- pointedfach a natural Difference, & you being of fo excellent Wifdom, & I a> poorfillylVcman,fo much inferiour to you, why fjould your Majefly propofe fuch difficult Cafes to me ? Tea, when 1 have faid what 1 can, I miijf & will- refer my felf unto your Wifdom,as my fupream Head under God, by whom I muf; be diretled. This that fhe declared, & other Difcourfe that pafs'd between them at that time, fo pleafed the King, that, he .(hewed great Fa /our unto, her, 6 4 #et*ectttct> by tljc i&aptfls. Part 3, her,as heretofore he had done. Her Adverfaries knew nothing of this, and therefore were providing for her Apprehenfion, which was to be next Day, at which time they intended to carry her to the Tower : The Day, and almoft the Hour being come, the King intending to take the Air, went into the Garden, whither alfo the Queen went to him, being fent for by him, where the King being merrily Difpofed with her, on a fudden, in the midft of the Mirth, in came Wrifly the Chancellor, with Forty of the King's Guard at his heels, whom the King flernly beholding, went to him, and upon private Conference together, the King call'd him Knave, Arrant Beasl & Fool ; withal commanding him out of his Prefence. The King after his departure returned to the Queen,who perceiving him to be much chafed ; with fweet Words endeavour' d to qualifie his Difpleafure, faying, That tho' /he knew not what might be the Caufe he was Offended, but dejired him, if it were not Hainous, that for her fake he would pafs it by. Ah -poor Soul! Said the King, Little do Si thou know how III he deferves this Grace at thy hands : On my Word, Sweet Heart, he hath been towards thee an Arrant Knave, and fo let him go. And thus the Queen thro' God's Providence, and the King's Favour, efcaped the Hands of her bloody Perfecutors, who fought to have De- ftroyed her. Perfecuted in Scotland.- . I N the Year 1534, the Arch-bifhop of Andrews convented before him David Stratton & one Norman Gourlay,tht firft of thefe having -a Fifher- boat that went to Sea, the Bifliop of Murray demanded Tythe-fifh of him : To whom he anfwered, That if they would have Tythe of that which his. Servants caught in the Sea, they fhould take it in the Place where it was caught, and fo caufed his Servants to throw the tenth Fifh into the Sea again. All this while he had nothing in him forReligion, but when hereupon he was Summoned to anfwer for Herefie, it troubled him exceedingly, and then he began to frequent the Company of fuch as were Godly, and there appeared a wonderful Change in him ; fo that, whereas before he defpifed the Scriptures, now all his delight was in hearing them Read to him ; and he became a vehement Exhorter of all Men to Peace & Concord, and Contempt of the World : He much frequented the Company of the Laird of Dun drifkin, whom God in thofe Days had marvellouily Illuminated ; and hearing that Text read, ( for he could not Read himfeif ) He that de- meth me before Men, or is afhamed of me in the midsl of this Generation^ I ivill deny him before my Father and holy Angels. At thofe Words, ( being fuddenly, as one Revived ) he fell upon his Knees, and fteadfaftly lifting up his Eyes and Hands s at length he burft out into thefe Words, O Lard \ Part 3. #etfecut«) bp t|)e #apt(t& 65 Lord ! I have been wicked, and jujlly may 9 si thou withdraw thy Grace from me : But, Lord ! for thy Mercies fake, let me never deny thee nor thy Truths for fear of Death or any Corporal Pain. Soon after, Norman & he were bro't to Judgment to Holy-Rood-houfe, the King himfelf being prefent, much Means was ufed to draw this David Straiten to make a Recantation, but he perfevercd in his Conftancy, ft ill denying that he had Offended, and fo they were both condemned to the Fire, and after Dinner were both firft hanged and then burnt. Not long after the burning of thefe Two, there was one Thomas Ferret a Dean, who ufed to preach every Sabbath-day to his Parifhioners the E- piftles & Gofpels, which was counted a great Novelty in thofe times : For none ufed to preach but the Fryars, and therefore they Envying him, Ac- cufed him to the Bifliop of Dunkendel for an Heretick, and one that Read the Myfteries of the Scriptures to the vulgar People, the Bifliop inftigated by the Complaint of the Fryars call'd the faid Thomas Forret before him, to whom he faid,' My joy, Dean Thomas, Hove you well,and therefore Imufi give you Counfel how to govern your f elf \ The Dean thanked him ; & then he proceeded, My joy, Dean Thomas, i" am informed that you preach the Epifiles €jf Gofpels every Sunday to your People, and that you take not your Dues from them,which is very prejudicial to the Church-men -, & that there- fore my joy, Dean Thomas, / would have you to take your Dues, or elfe it is too much to preach every Sunday, for by fo doing you make the People think, that wefhould do fo alfo. Thomas anfwertd, My Lord, I prefume none of my Parifhioners com- plain for my not taking my Dues •, and whereas you fay, Its too much to preach every Sunday •, I think it is too little, and wifh that your Lordfhip would do the like. — Nay, nay, Dean Thomas, (faid the Bi/hop ) let that be^for we are not ordained to preach - 3 and Dean Thomas, go your ways, qnd let all thefe Fancies be \fcr if you perfifi herein, you will repent you when it is too late. — I truft, faid the Dean, my Caufe is good & juft in the prefence of God, and therefore I care not what follows thereupon ; and fo went away, but fhortly after he was Summoned to appear before the Car- dinal, by whom he was condemned & burned for a chief Heretick and Teacher of Herefie. But, notwithftanding their bloody Tyranny, the Knowlege of God did wonderfully encreefe in this Country, partly by Reading, and partly by Bro- therly Conference, which in thofe dangerous Days were much ufed, to the Comfort of many, which fo Enraged the Popifh Party, that in the I'ear 1538, there were burned in one Fire Four Per fens. The Year after, Jeremiah Ruffel & Alexander Kenedy were Appr and brought before the Bifliop, the faid Jeremiah being a V;an of a n K a.,d 66 $UfeCtttCt> hV t^t l^apift^ Fart 3* and qniet Nature j Alexander was a young man about eighteen years old, who at firfb was faint, and would fain have recanted, but when all place of Repentance was denyed him, the Spirit of God began to refrefh him, yea, the inward Comfort began to burft: forth as well in his Vifage as in his Words, and he crycd in prayer to God, Ob Eternal God ! how Wonderful is thy Love & Mercy, who baft mode me to feci Heavenly Comfort, which takeft from me that ungodly fear, which before I was oppreffed with ; now I defie death, do with me what you pleafe,! praifeGod I am ready. Then did they rail upon him.& Jeremiah, who alio laid unto them, This is your hour and power of darknefs ; now fit ye as Judges, & we ftand wrongfully Accufed, and more wrongfully to be Condemned ; but the day will come when our Innocency will appear, and ye mail fee your own blindnefs to your Ever- lafting Confufion : Go forward, & fulfil the meafures of your Iniquity. Shortly aftep* they were Condemned to dye,and as they went to Execution Jeremiah comforted Alexander, faying to him, Brother, far not, greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World •, the pain that we are to fuffer is floor t, andftoaUbe light, but cur Joy and Confclatior, fhall never have end'. Let us therefore ftrlve to enter into our Mafter & Saviour's Joy, bv the fame ftrait Way which he hath taken before us; Death cannot hurt us, for it is al- ready dcflroyed by him, for whofe fake we now fuffer. And thus they con- ftahtly continued ftedfaft in the flaming Fire till they finifhed 1 their Gourfe by Death, In the Year 1543, George PFifebeart,a Man of a courteous, modeft&tem- perate Behaviour, fearing God and hating Covetoufnefs, very .'Charitable, ■ and moderate in his Apparel and Diet, and for. his Innocency was a man well beloved ; he was accufed on feveral Articles by the Bifhops, and after- wards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt ; when he came to the fire he faid, Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands ; and then turned him to the People, and faid thefe Words, I bejeech you Chriftian Brethren and lifers, that you be not offended in the Word of God for the AfftiHion and Torments which you fee already prepared for me ; but I Exhort you, thai you love the Word of God, and fuffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart for ':?$ fake, w-hic h is your undoubted Salvation £5? everlafting Comfort. Moreover, I pray you, ftjezv my Brethren & Sifters, which have heard me oft before, that they ccoje net nor leave off the Word of God . h 1 taught unto the:/?, after the Grace riven to me, for any Perfections . ^roubles in thisWcrld^ which loft Hot ; & Jkew unto them, that my DccJ- • is no Old Wives Fable, after the Conftitution made by men ; and if I 'ought mens Doil <$ gotten great thanks of men, but for the Word by men, not forrcwfully, but with a Hears 'fj Mind 5 for this caufe 1 was fent y that Iftjould Suffer this Fire Part ?♦ i&etiecuteo hy tlje $apftt& 67 /tfr Chriff s fake ; this grim Fire I fear not, and fo I pray yen to do, if that any Perfecution come unto you fer the Word' 's fake ; and fear not them that Kill the Body, and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he pray'd for them which Accufed him, faying, Ibefeech thee, Father of Hea- ven, to forgive them that have through Ignorance, or an evil Mind, forged Lyes againjl me ; I forgive them with all 'my heart, and I befeech Chrifi to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorant ly. So being firft Hanged, he was then-burnt, many People bewailing his Death. Walter M?// by fyt $apitt& 6 9 is made of his Execution, and fo that may be paft by, and Return may be to give a fhort Account of the Reformation in this King's Time, and how far it Extended. ; , Injunctions were Jet out in bis Time, viz- That Bibles tn Enghm Jhould be placed in Tome convenient place in the Church that the People might Reai in them when they pleafed, and rather be furthered to Read them, than bindred by the Pries! or Curates. And the Priesi or Curates JhoulA not at any time haunt Taverns or Ale- hcujes, neither Jpend their Time Idly in unlawful Games : but Jhould give ihemfelves to Read fc? Hear the Scriptures Read •, and every Beneficed-Preacher to preach twice a Tear : And that all Monuntents of Idolatry in Churches, and Hcufes, and Win- dows Jhould be taken away ; and that Homilies Jhould be Read every Sunday. He took c.way and Abrogated all Ails 'made by former Kings for Reformation of Here ticks & Lollards, and the Acl of the Six Ar- ticles, and all Atls Publifhed prohibiting the jpreading the Scriptures in Englifh. He aljo Jent out a Letfr to * the Arch-Bi/hop, signed fa the Council, to abolijh Images ; and that the Altars Jhould be taken down, and a Table Jet up irjiead thereof. Tho' this may be accounted but a lit le Re formation to what is Jince, yet it- fo troubled the Popifh Adverfaries, that they fought all the ,-iyays^ means they could to hinder its farther Proceeding & Growth y and would not be fat.sfied until they had found out a wsy to anfwer their wicked Purpofes. And new the old 1 dverfary of all Good, put it into the Heads --of the ropifli Party, to charge the Luke oj \ Son, nil t ( the King's Uncle and P rot eel or of his Perfon, and the'Realm ) as that he was the Occafion of all the Sedition that had happened in the Realm, &c: And tho' he was in a high State, yet that could not, nor did not pre- ferve him ; and indeed it is * vain Thing for man to put Truft or Confi- dence upon the brittle Pillars of worldly Profperity, how high fo ever it feemeth, conjidering that where Vertue is mosl perfect, it is there mo si En- vied by wicked Men ; as in the Example of this Duke appears. This Edward Seymour, Duke oiSomerJet being Protestor, had a Brother who was high Admiral of England ; thefe two Brethren, fo long as they were knit & joined together in Love & Concord, preferved Ihemfelves, the King & whole Common-wealth, from the Violence & Fear of Dan- ger of ail their Adverjaries : But the old fubtil Serpent, always En- vying Man's Felicity,, thro' Jlanderous Tongues fought to fow Matter, 'firjt of.Difcord between them, then of Sufpicion, and lasl of all of Extream Hatred, infomuch that the Proteclor fuffered his Brother, being Ac- cufed ( whether True or Falfe, the LORD knoweth ) to be Condemned, and to lofe bis Head, whereby it came to pafs that not long after he himfeif yo &erfectittD by tljc #api&s. Part 3. himfelf was over-matched by his Adverfaries, & overthrown by them, and being can; into the Tower, at lad loft his Head affo, to the great Lamen- tation of many good Men ; and fo the fall of one Brother was the ruin of the other : For it was not long after the Admiral was beheaded but that Infurrections began in feveral parts of the Kingdom ; but after they were fubdued, feveral of the Lords affembled at Baynards Caftle, and at the Mayor of London's Houfe, and had great Consultations againft the Pro- tector, who was then with the King at Hampton Court, which the King hearing of,fent the Secretary to them with a MefTage, to which they made no anfwer,¬ long after publifh'd a Proclamation in theCity againft the Protector, charging him with divers Crimes, as that he fhould be the chief occafion of the Sedition that had of late happen'd in the Kingdom, and that he did what in him lay to caufe Variance between the King and the Nobles, and defired the City to aid them ; the King alfo fent the Mayor and City a Letter, required aid like wife. This made the Mayor and Citizens in a ftrait, fome being for helping the King, and fome on the other fide, for helping the Lords, and againft the' Protector, ; the Recor- der preft the Citizens to aflift the Lords againft the Protector, who, he faid, had abufed the King and the whole Realm, and preft the common Council for an Anfwer,and that they would declare what they would do ; but they were filent in the matter until one George St adlow flood up & hv ti)e Rapids* 7 » Snare 5 for they charged him with Felony, for intending & purpofingthe death of the Earl of Northumberland, which was by them adjudged Felony- according to a Law, wherein it was ena£ted,7to it Jhould be Felony for any Subjetl tofeek or procure the death of any privy Counsellor ; and being con- demned, he- was again convey'd to theTower,and ftiortly after from thence was had to the place of Execution, where neither his Voice nor Counte- nance changed, but after his ufual manner he fpake to the People to this effect, Dearly beloved Friends, lam br.o*t hither to fuffer death, tho 9 J never offended the King neither in Word nor Deed,and have been always as faithful & true to this Realm as any man hath been : And after other words, he faid, Moreover, dearly beloved Friends, there is fomewhat that J muff put you in mind of, as touching Chriflian Religion,i.>;ktch Jo long as I was in Authority I always diligently furthered to my power, neither do 1 repent me of my doings, but rejoyce therein, feeing the fiate of Chriflian Religion, cometh nearer to the order of the Primitive Church, which fhiHg Iejleem as a great benefit given of God both unto you and me, moft heartily exhort ycu all, that this which is mosJ purely fet forth unto you, you will with the like thankfulnefs imbrace and accept of, and fljew forth the fame in your living, which thing if you do not, without doubt greater inif chief & calamity will follow. And after other good Ex- hortations to the People he kneeled down, without fhewing any token of Trouble or Fear, but like a meek Lamb received the ftroke of Death. As touching hist)ifpofttion & Converfation whilft alive, (as it is written of him jit could notbefufficiently commended according to his worth, being a man of fo meek & gentle a Nature, as is rare to be found in fo high an Eftate,he.was alwayes ready to give ear to the complaints.cf the Poor, raid very attentive unto the Affairs of the Common Wealth ; he was a man ignorant of all Craft and Deceit, and as void of Pride and Ambition, as he was from doing Injury, being indeed void .of both ; he was of a gentle Difpoiition, more apt & ready to be deceived than to deceive ; and lad* of all, he was a man Zealous for Religion, & the Truth, fo far as it ap- peared, &was broken forth in that dayf&nd in all likelihood he had been '.^•oodlnftrumentm the work of Reformation, had not this 'difference be- n the Lords & him happened, which put a period to his days -. for fo long as they agreed, and that there was concord among them,the two great Perfecuting Bifhops ( Winchefler & Bonner*) were kept under, and their Power was but little, which afterwards upon feeing the great Divifion a- mong the Nobles they then again began to'. have hopes they mould have an- other day 8z time further to execute their perfecuting Power, which foon after they had, for the next Year after the death of the Duke of ■■ the King dyed, and <£. Mary Reigned next ; and of the bloody was made in her Reign, a Relation whereof here follows, Vtfjicutiojts 72 ptttttUtth bp tlje 0aprtk Part £ Perfections in the Reign of Q^ Mary ^beginning A^Dji^, AFter the Death of Edward the Sixth, .§. A&ry fucceeded ; and after fhe was fettled in her Throne, a Synod was affembled for confultino- about matters of Religion,and the point, efpecially of the real Prtfence tn the Sacrament^ after a long Difputation, where Reafon and Scriptures were not fo much weighed as Voices numhred, the Papal fide carried it, and thereupon was that Religion again reftored, and the Mafs commanded in all Churches to be celebrated after the ancient Manner. And fhortly after, Cardinal Poole, an Englijh Man,that had fled to Rome For Succour in the former time, was fent for over again to England by the Queen, who was no fooner come, but the Attaindor upon Record againft him, was by an Act of Parliament taken off and he reftored 4 and a few dayes after, coming before the Queen, and both Houfes of Parliament affembled ; the Bifhop of IVinchefter, who was Chancellor, made a fhort fpeechto them, fignifying the prefence of the Cardinal, and that he was fent from the Pope, as tris Legate, for their good and benefit : Then the Cardinal flood up, and made a long Oration, thanking them for reftoring him, whereby he was made a Member of their Society ; Exhorting them to return into the Bofom of the Church, for which end he was come, not to Condemn, but to Reconcile, not to compel but to call and require ; and for their firfl work of Reconcilement, required them to repeal and abrogate all fuch Laws as had formerly been made in derogation of the Catholick Religion. After which Speech,the Parliament going together, drew up a Supplica- tion, which within two dayes after, they prefented to the King and Queen, wherein they mewed themfelves to be very penitent for their former Er- rors,and humbly defired them to interceed to the Cardinal and the See Apoftolick, that they might be pardoned of all that they had done amifs, and be received into the Bofom jpf the Church, being themfelves mdft ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome. J9 This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinal, he then gave theffY Abfolution in thefe words, We, ( by the Apoftolick Authority, given unto its by the mofi holy Lord Rope* Julius the third, CbriJPs Vice-gerent on Earth ) do abfdve, and deliver you, and ev ry of you, with the whole Realm and Dominions thereof, from all Hereje and Schifm, and from all Judg- ments, Cenfures and Pains, for that caufe incurred \ and alfo we do re ft ore you again to the Unity of our Mother the hcly Church. The report hereof coming to Rome, was caufe that a folemn ProcefTion was made for Joy of the Converfion of England to the Church of Rome. Aid Part 3. i&erfecttteti ftp tfje $ap*ftg. 7? And now all Bifhops which had been deprived in the Time of Edward the Sixth, were reftored to their Bifhopricks, and the new removed, and all that would not turn & forfake their Religion were turned out of their Livings ; and Stephen Gardner, and Bonner became again to be had in Fa- vour, and were reftored to their former Places ; and feveral old Laws again Revived by Act of Parliament for the Trial of Herefie ; and Com- inifiions, and Inquifitors were fent abroad into all parts of the Realm : Whereupon many were Apprehended, and brought to London, and there Imprifoned, and afterwards moft of them Burnt to Death ; or elfe through cruel Ufage died in Prifon, and buried in Dunghills in the Fields, to the Number of near Three Hundred Perfons, Men and Women, in the fliort Reign of this Queen. And now Bonner being Re-invefted into his Bifhoprick, he fends forth Injunctions, that Six in every Parilh, ( upon their Oaths ) fhould Prefent before him fuch as would not Conform ; and foon after, about Threefcore Inhabitants of the City of London were Apprehended, and Imprifoned for difperfing, and felling certain Books, fent over into England out of Ger- many, and other Countries. About this Time, the People going a Proceffion in Smithfield, and the Prieft being under the Canopy with the Box, according to the ufual Cuftom, one John Street, a Joiner in Coleman-Street, going by in hafte about his Bufinefs, by chance went under the Canopy by the Prieft ; at which the Prieft was fo furprized, and overcome with fear, that he let the Pix fall down : The People being amazed, prefently Apprehended the poor Man, and Committed he was to the Compter ; and the Prieft accufed him to the Council as if he came to Slay him : From the Compter he was removed to Newgate, where he was call into the Dungeon, and there chained to a Poft,and fo miferably ufed that he loft his Senfes, and then they fent him to Bedlam. Thefe were but the beginnings of Bonner's Cruelty in this Queens time. The next Thing he did, was, he put out a Mandate to the Curates wjihin his Diocefs, requiring them to Abrogate,and Blot out all Scripture TeVts wrote upon the Church Walls in Edward the Sixth's Time ; which he faid was opening a Window to all Vice ; and commanded that comely Roods fhould be again fet up in all Churches. The fame Injunction for fetting up Roods was Published in other DiocefTcs at this Time : For at Cockram in Lancajhire, the Parifhioners, and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood, and to fet it up in their Church, at a certain .Price, which the Carver did j but the Rood being made of an Ugly grim Countenance they difliked it, and refufed to pay the Workman that made it : Whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the L Mayor 74 #etfecuteD top tl)e ^apt'fts- Part 3 * Mayor of Lancafter, who was a favourer of the Proteflants, and a Man againft Images ; when they came before the Mayor, he afk'd them, Why they did not fay the Man,according to their Agreement ? They replied, they did not like the grimnefs of its Vifage ; faying, they had a Man formerly with a handfome Face,and would have had flich another now. Well, faid the Mayor, tho > ycu like not the Rood, the poer man's Labour has been never the lefs, and it's pity hefheuld loofe : Bat I tell you what youjhall do, Pay him the Money you promt fed, and if it will not ferve you for a God, you may make a Devil on* t : At which they laughed, and fo departed. About this Time, Thirty Men and Women were taken at a Religious AlTembly, in Bow-yard in Cheaffide, and committed to Prifon : Their Preacher, one Rofe, was had before the Bifhop o£ Winch efter, S. Gardner, and by him committed to the Tower. A 1 fo, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, three Bifliops were fent to the Tower, and from thence conveyed to Oxford ; there to difpute Points of Religion ; but efpecially of the Eucharift, The Oxford Men were Cole, Chadfey, Pye, Harpsfield, Smith, and Wefion Profecutor. The Cambridge Men were Young, Seaton, IVatfon, Fecknam, Atkinfon, and Sedgwick. The Matter was fo carried by thefe Twelve Men, that it went againft the Prifoners : And after the Difputation was erdtd, the Prifoners were brought again upon the Stage, and demanded, Whether they would perfisl in their Opinion, or Recant ? They concluding to perfift, were all Three adjudged Hereticks, and condemned to the Fire : But their Execution was not till a Year or Two alter. In the mean time we have an Account of John Rogers,\vho was the firft ■ Martyr in this Queens Time •, he was burnt, in London, after a long and fore Suffering by Imprifomnent. Soon after him was burnt Lawrence Saunders, who was by order kept (Iraitly in Prifon, and none fuffered to Vifit him. In hi-s Examination the Chancellor Threatned him that he mould not Live many Days. Saunders faid, Welcome fhall the Will of GOD be, either Life or Death \for I have learned to Die : Bat I Exhort you to bezvare of jhedding Innocent Blood , Truly it will Cry. Being cm- dernned, as the Officers were leading him away, he Exhorted the Pec^le to Repentance •, Warning them to defie AntichrOl, Sin, Death, and the Devil, that they might receive Bleffng, and Favour from the Lord -, then was he carried down to Coventry to be burnt, where he was put into the common Goal, where he flept little, but fpent the Night in Prayer,and ln- ftrueling others -, and the next Day was burnt. During the Time of his Imprifonment, he wrote f:veral good Epiftles, to comfort and ftrengthen fuch as were under the like SufH ring with him. I fhall only infert the Subftance of One to his W T ife, by which the Reader may perceive the Serioulnefs Part £-« f&erfectttefc by tfyt i&aptfts. 7$ Serioufnefe and Zeal ftirred up in him again ft his Adversaries : He like- wife forbad his Wife to feek any way for his Delivery. Lawrence Saunders his Letter to his Wife. ' Grace, M but that both I and you, as we be Written in the Book of Life, fo we mall together Enjoy the fame Everlaftingly, through the Grace and Mercy of God, our dear Father, in his Son Chrift ; and for this prefent Life, let us wholly appoint our felves to the Will of our God, to glorifie Him either by Life,er by Death : The Lord make us worthy to Honour Him either way, as pleafeth Him. I am Chearful, I Thank God in Chrift, in whom, and through whom, I know I fliall be able to fight a goodFight, and finim a good Courfe, and then receive the Crown which is laid up in Store for me, and all the true Soldiers of Chrift. Wherefore, Wife, let us in the Name of our God, Fight to overcome the Flefh, the Devil, and the World. What Weapons are ufed in this Fight, look in the Sixth Chapter of the Ephefians, and Pray, &V. I would that you make no Suit for me in any wife: Thank you know whom, for her moft fweet and comfortable' putting me in Remembrance of my Journey, whither I am pafUng ; I have too few fuch Friends to further me in that Jour- ney, which is indeed the greateft Friendfliip. The BleiTing of God be with you all, Amen. A Prifoner in the'Lord, Lawrence Saunders. Shortly after were burnt for Religion, John". Hooper, and one Rowland Baylor ; the one at Glcucefter,znd the other at Hadley. The time of Row- land Taylor's Execution drawing nigh, his Wife & Son coming to fee him, & one John Hull, that had been his Servant. After he had Supt, he tur- ned to his Son, faying, Thomas, my dear Son, God Almighty blefs thee : See that thou fear God akvays, and flee from Sinks' wicked Living. Be Vertuous, ami apply thy f elf to thy 'Book : And in any wife fee thou be Obedient to thy Mother, Love her, Serve her, and be Ruled by her in thy 2"outh, and follow her good Counfel in all things. Beware of Lewd Company, of young Men that fear not God, but follow their lewdhufis. Flee from Whoredom, and hate all filthy Living. And when thy Mother is Old, forfeke her not, but provide for her to thy fbwer,a^dfce that foe lack nothing ; then will God blefs thee,and give thee long Lfic upon Earth ,& Pro fperity. To his Wife,he iaid,My dear Wife, coniim-e fteadfa si in the Fee ri3 Love of God ;■ keep your f elf un defiled froplPopifh Idolatries & Superjlitio- s : I have been unto you a faithful Toke- fWJw,andfo have you been to me\ for which I doubt not, dear 'Wife, but Gcd L 2 w & ■j 6 0ctfecttteD ftp tlje #aptfte. Part 3 w/// Reward you : Afora; /£* 27«* « f 0W* that I'Jhall be taken from you. The Lord gave you to me, and the Lord will take me from you ; Bleffed be the Name of the Lord. I believe they are bleffed which Die in the Lord. The Lord is my Light, and my Salvation, whom then fhall J fear ? God is he that Juftifieth, who is he that can Comdemn ? In thee, O Lord, I have Trujied, let me never be Confounded. On the next day by two of the Clock in the Morning,he was taken out of the Compter by Officers, and had to Chelmsford, and there was he deli- vered to the Sheriff of Suffolk, who was commanded to fee him burnt. About this time, one Sir James Hailes, one of the Juftices of Common- Pleas, at an Affizes in Kent, giving Charge upon the Statutes of Henry the Eighth, and Edward the Sixth, in derogation of the Primacy of Rome ; when he was before the Chancellor in Weftminfier-Hall, being there a- mong other Judges to take his Oath, the Chancellor faid ; Chancellor, I am informed you have Indicted certain Priefls in Kent for faying Mafs. Hailes, / Inditled none, but certain Indiclments of that Nature were broU before me at the Jffizes in Kent,and I did according to Law therein, and ac- cording to Confcience,and if it were to do again I could do no lefs than I did. Chancellor, Your Confcience is known well enough. Hailes, Tou may do well to fearch your own Confcience 5 for mine is bet- ter known to my felf, than to you. This and other Xalk at that Time fo difpleafed the Bifhop, that not many days after this Difcourfe in Weftminfler-Hall, Judge Hailes, was by the Commandment of the Bifhop, committed to the Kings-Bench, where he remained fomeTime,and then was committed to the Compter in Bread- Street^ and from thence carried to the Fleet ; being in the Fleet, fome En- deavoured to perfwade him to compliance ; how far he yielded to thofe Perfwafions and AfTaults of the Enemy, it was not known : But fhortly after he fell into a great Horror and Terror in his Confcience, and in the anguifh of his fpirit Stabbed himfelf with his Pen Knife, and fo thought to end his Mifery ; but through Providence he was disappointed of Qe- ftroying himfelf at that Time" But this Aftion being noifed abroad, *as it was occafion of great Sorrow and Trouble to many that had a great Efteem of him, being reputed fo worthy a Judge, and fo juft a Man -, fo it alfo opened the Mouth of his Adverfary, the Bifhop, who Openly in the Star-Chamber blafphemed againft fuch as profefs'd the Truth ; calling the Doctrin of the Gofpel, the Doctrin of Defperation. But it was not long before the Judge was fet at Liberty ; but he had not been long at Home, but ( his Trouble encreafmg upon him ) he watch'd an Opportunity, and Drowned himfelf in a mallow Water near his Houfe. Now Part 3. lacrfecuteD top tlje #apfft& 77 Now Stephen Gardner, Bifhop of Winchefier, having got the Law, and outward Sword on his fide, he thought to Rule as he pleafed ; and having taken off ( either by Imprifonment or Death ) moft of the pr^P*! Preachers, of thofe he counted Sectaries, he concluded the reft would be thereby Terrified and kept Under ; but his Expectations herein were fruftrated : For within a few Weeks after the Apprehenfion & Execution of the aforefaid Perfons, there were Six more raifed up to Teftify againft the Popifh Idolatry,then Eftablifhed by a Law : Their Names were Wil- liam Piggot,z Butcher Stephen Knight,^ Barber ; Thomas Tomhns, a Wea- ver •, Thomas Hawkes, John Lawrence, and William Hunter. Thefe Per- fons were brought before Bifhop Gardner : he was fo concerned to fee his former Devices fo little effect the End he intended, that he refufed to aft any more againft them, but being wholly difcouraged, turned them over to B onner , Bifhop of London, who Profecuted all that were brought before him to the utmoft of his Power ; not fparing to act his Cruelty, ( as from time to time he had an Opportunity ) to the uttermoft. . Upon the 8th day of February, 155.5, the aforefaid Six Perfons were brought before Bonner, at the Confiftory at Paul's, where the next day he pafs/d Sentence of Death upon them jfhewing himfelfa rafh and cruel Judge, to pafs Sentence fo fuddenly upon fo many innocent Mens Lives .* -But he gave them a little Time before they were put to Death ; which was" till the Month following. The meft remarkable PaiTages at their Trials and Examinations, are briefly related as followeth. Thomas Tomkins,a. Weaver, dwelling in Shoreditch, a Man accounted by fuch as were acquainted with Him, Zealous & Godly •, much given to Prayer. During the time of his Imprifonment, which was half a Year, Bifhop Bonner beat him forely about the Face,and pluckt him by the Beard ( it being long ) and caufed it to be fhaved off: But tho' the Rage of the Bifhop was great,the Conftancy & Patience of the poor Man was as great*, for he was not moved at his Cruelty. The Bifhop feeing the courfe he had taken would no ways prevail, he fell from Beating to Burning -, for having a great Candle burning in his Hall at Fulbam, he took Tomkins by the Fingers Ends holding his Hand over the flame of the Candle, to make him Recant j but||ith Patience he bore this Cruelty alfo, until Doctor Harpsfield, ftandin§%, moved with Pity, told Bonner, he had Tried him enough ; and then Bonner let his Fingers go. The laft timeThomas Tomkim appear'd before Bonner, xhtrt^ were feveraF other Bifhops prefent •, One of which earneftly Exhorted him to leave off his Opinions. To whom he Anfwered, / was born, and brought up in Ignorance until of late Tears ! arid new I know the Truth, I Jhall conti- nue in the fame until Death. Which. Bonner hearing, thought it time to 7"8 if'Ctfeetttea fep tlje $apfft& Part 3. pafs Sentence upon him •, and as he had begun to burn his Hand, fo Sen- tenced his Body to be burnt, delivering him to the Sheriff of London, who carried him to Newgate, where he remained until the Sixteenth Day of March, and then Sealed his Faith in the Flames. The 26th day of the aforefaid Month, followed the Martyrdom of another of thefe Six Perfons, viz. William Hunter, a Zealous young Maa for Religion, who was about the Age of nineteen Years when he fuifered : He was born of godly Parents ; by whom he was not only Instructed in Godlinefs, but alfo Confirmed by them until Death. William Hunter, be- ing an Apprentice in Coleman-Street in London, with one Thomas Taylor, a Silk-weaver. The beginning of his Trouble was, for refuting to ht-ar Mafs, and to receive their Eucharift -, for which the Pried of the Pariih threatned to have him before the Bifhop -, his Matter fearing left he mould come to fuffer, by reafon of William's not Conforming, defired him to depart From him ; whereupon William went home to his Father,to Bumtwood in Effex, where after he had remained a little time, he happened to go into the Chappel of Bumtwood, and finding a Bible lying upon a Defk, he read therein •, one Atwell, a Sumner coming in, Reproved him, faying, Wherefore -meddles! thou with the Bible ? — Hunter Anfwered, I read in it for my Comfort. — ^/^//Replied,// was never a good World fince the Bi- ble came abroad in England. — Hunter, Say not fo, it liketh me well ; and I pray God we may have the Bible among us continually. Atwell, I perceive you are one of them that miftake the Queens Laws, and therefore you came from London ; bnt you mus! turn another Leaf, or rife you will Broil for it. And in a fury faying, he would fetch one that mould Talk with him, went to an Ale-houfe hard by, and fetch' d out the Vicar of Southweld, who coming into the Chappel, and hearing William read, faid, Sarrah, who gave thee leave to read in the Bible ? William anfwered, I read for my Comfort, and fhall read while I Jive. And told the Vicar, He ought rather to Encourage, than Difcoura.^e •People in Reading the Scriptures. Vicar, Both this become thee,to tell me what I have to do, thou Heretic/: ? W. Hunt or, I am no Heretick. -- Vicar, What fay fr thou to the blcjfed ■Sacrament of the Altar? believes! thou in it ? and that the Bread and I is Tranfubfiantiated into the very -Body and BUod of Chris!; ? Hunter, I learn no fuch thing in the Scriptures, as you fpea^ of. . You ■underftand Chrift's words,nuiah like the carnal Capemates.who tho't tint Chrift would have given them his flem to feed upon • which opinion Chnft corre6ted,when he faid,T/^ wonds which Ifpeak-unto you are Jpirit & life. "Vicar, I have found you out- now •, I fee. thou art an Heretick indeed, and that thou dos! not' believe. in the Sacrament of the Altar. Hu:,cer, Part 3. $e?fecnteii ftp t#e i^&ptfts* 79 Hunter, Whereas you doubt my Belief, I would it were Tried whether you or I would ftand failed in our Faith. — Vicar, Thou Heretick / zvouldsl thou have it fo Tried ? — Hunter, In that way which you call Herefie, do I ferve the Lord my God : I would you and I were even now tied faft to a Stake,to prove which of us would ftand nrmeft in our Faith. Vicar, It pall not be jo Tried..— Hunter, I think fo : For if it might, \ know who would lboneft Recant -, I durft fet my foot againft yours, even to the Death. That wefhall jee, quoth the Vicar, and lb departed,threat- ning William to complain of him •, and according to his words, he inftigated • one Juftice 'Brown againft William, who fhortly after fent for a Conftable, and for William' 's Father to come to him ; William being gone trom home, the Juftice threatned his Father, he would make him tell where he was, or elfe he would fend him to Prifon : The old man faid,WouU you have . me feek my Son to be burned ? If thou bring him to me, faid the Juftice, I will deal well enough for that matter -, and with flatterings and threat- nings perf waded him to feek his Son out. When the Old Man had found his Son, he told him what the Juftice faid . William laid to his Father, I will go home with you, and five you harmilefs ■, what ever comes on it. As foon as he came home, he was Apprehended by the Conftable, and put in the Stocks, and the next day was had before Juftice Brozvn,who faid, Ah Sarrah ! are you come 1 I hear faypu are a Scr ipture-man,what fay you to tfctfe words, where Chrisl faith, The Bread ts my Body ? — IV. Hunter, , The Scripture faith, that Chrift took Bread, but not that he changed it into another fubftance, but gave that which he took, and brake that which he gave, winch was Bread, as is evident by the Text, elfe he fhouid have had two" Bodies. At which the Juftice began %o be angry, and called him naughty Boy, faying, D^ th mt Chrift call the Bread his Body plainly, and thou wilt not believe that the Bread is his Body after Conf deration, thou goejl about to make Chrift .•«■ Liar. — Hunter, We, ought ea me illy to {larch what the Mind of Chrift is in that holy Institution, vviierein he commtndeth un- to us the Remembrance of his Death, Pafiion,Refurredion,and Coming a- gain, faying, This do in Remembrance of Me. And tho' Chrift calls the . Bread his Body, lb he did alfo lay, That he is dgVtne, a Dooi\ i£c. yet is not his Body turned into Bread, no more than he is turned into a Door,, or Vine : Wherefore Chrift called the Bread his Body by a Figure. At thefe words the Juftice was enraged, called him Villain ;and the next . day fent-fhim,and a Letter, by an Officer to Bonner Bifhpp of London. When became before theBifhop, at iirft theBp. began to flatter him, telling him, He [ho.nl d have no harm for any thing he had done or f aid, if, he would be rul d by him. Saying further, It way be thou mayft be afharn d to bear a j(gggft>. bp tlje #ap(tts. Part 3. promife thee, what thoufpeakef? between me & thee, (hall go no further ; and thoufhalt go borne again without any hurt,fo that thou wilt go to Church & tontinue a good Catholick. — Hunter, I will not do fo for all the World. Bifhop, If you will not do fo, I will make you fure enough, I warrant you. Hunter, You can do no more than God will permit you. — Bifhop,^/// thou not Recant indeed, by no means ? — Hunter, No,never while I Live. Then the Bifhop commanded his men to put him in the Stocks, in his Gate-houfe, where he fate two days and two nights, only with a cruft of brown Bread,and a cup of Water ; at the two days end the Bifliop came to him, and finding the cup of Water and cruft of Bread ftill by him upon the Stocks, he faid to his mzntfake him out of the Stocks, and let him break- fafi with you : Whereupon they took him out of the Stocks, but would not fuffer him to eat with them, but calling him Heretick. He told them, he was as unwilling to be in their company, as they were to be in his. After •breakfaft the Bifhop fent for him, and alk' d, Whether he wouldRecanttHc anfwered, No, he would never Recant that which he had Confeffed before men,concerning his Faith in Chrift. Then the Bifliop fent him to Prifon, and commanded the Keeper to lay Irons upon him, as many as he could bear ; and afk'd William how Old he was ? He told him,he was Nineteen Years old. Well,fa\d the Bifhop, you will be burnt e 9 eryou are twenty years cld,ifyou do not recant. William faid, God ftrengthen me in his Truth, and fo he parted from the Bp. He continued in Prifon three quarters of a year, in which time he had been before the Bifhop five times, befides the time when he and five more were condemned in the Confiftory in Pauls, which was on the 9th of February, 1555- Before the fentence was part, the Bp. afktJiim if he would Recant ? but finding him to ftand firm in his Faith, faid, I have always found thee at this point, I fee no hope to reclaim thee to the Catholick Faith ; but thou wilt continue a corrupt Member : And then pronounced Sentence upon him, how that he mould go from that place to Newgate for a Time,and from thence to Burntwood ; where (faid he) thou fhalt be burnt. After he had condemned the reft, he called for W. Hunter again, and would have perfwaded him to Recant, faying, If thou wilt Recant, I will make thee a Free-man of the City, and I will give thee 40 1. to fet up thy Trade, or I will make thee Steward of my Houfe. - William reply'd I thank you for your great Offers, if you cannot perfwade my Confcience with Scriptures, I cannot find in my heart to turn from God for the love of the World; for I count all things worldly, but lofs and dung, in refpect -of the love of Chrift. -- Then faid the Bp. If thou dyefi in this Mind thou art damned forever. - W. Hunter, God judgeth righteoufly, and juftifieth them whom man-condemneth unjuftly. Then the Bifhop departed, and William 2xA the reft were fent to Newgate, where they remained about a Motjtb Part 3. i&etfecttteti bp tljc #apffts. Si Month, and then William was carried down to Burntwood, where his Fa- ther & Mother coming to him, heartily defired of the Lord, that he might continue to the end in that good way which he had begun, counting themfelves happy that they had a Child that could lofe his life for Chrift's fake. Many People reforted to the Inn to fee him, whom he exhorted to leave the Abomination of Popifh Superftition and Idolatry. At his Exe- cution he defired the People to pray for him ; but Juftice Brown, that firft apprehended him, (landing by, faid, I will pray no more for thee than I would for a Dog. — Now, faid William, you have what you fought for, I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the laft day, I forgive you. Brown faid, 1 ajk no forgivenefs of thee. — William, If God forgive you not, I (hall require my Blood at your hands. The Fire being kindled, William faid, I am not afraid, and lifting up his hands, faid, Lord receive my Spirit -, and fo fealed his Teftimony with his Blood, to the praife of God. — Juftice Brown commanded an Officer to take Robert Huiter, William's brother, and put him in the Stocks, until he came back from the burning of Higbed at Hornden on the Hill. On the fame day,after he was taken out of the Stocks, and brought before the Juftice, he afk'd him, If he would do as bis Brother had done ? Robert Hunter anfweredjf I do as my Brother hath done,I (hall have as he hath had. 'Thou mayft he fur e of that, (faid the Juftice J But after fome further Examination, he bid him go home. The next that Suffered, were Higbed and Canfton, both of EJfex, Two Men fo fervent for Religion, that in thofe blind & idolatrous Times could not lie long hid in Obfcurity,but were conftraincd to bear their Teftimony, tho' it were by Death. Bonner perceiving thefe Men were of Repute in their Country, was fo much the more concerned to bring them off their Profeflion, that he went down to Colchefier himfelf, to feek to Reclaim them •, fomtimes ufing fair Promifes and flattering Enticements ; Other times Threatning them with high Words to Terrify them : In fine, feeing them both conftant and unmoveable in their Zeal for their Religion, he caufed them, ( and fome others at the fame Time, and for the fame Caufe apprehended in that County J to be brought up toLondon,v/hert they were committed clofe Prifoners ; and firft privately Examined, and Urged by all means to forfake their Opinions ; But when the Bifhop and his Chap- lain could work no Alteration, he caufed them to be bro't to open Exami- nation at the Confiftory at Paul's, the 17th of February 1555, where be- ing further prefied to Recant of the Errors they faid they held, and return to the Unity of the Church : Which they ftill refufing, a great Lift of Articles were delivered them, and their Anfwers thereunto the next Day Required. Next Appearance and Trial their Anfwers were read ; and Canfton being firft called, was Exhorted again to be Conformable to M tie 82 $crfe$ttteu.-'&p tije $aptfts. Part ? the unity of the Church^into which (they faid) they were ready to receive him .: He tepljed, :Xou Uy Gins ■& Snares to catch us ; but mark, JVhat. meafureycu metejhall be meafured to you again. Then Higb.ed was called,. to whom the like Perfwafions. were ufed, but to as little .purpofe as the other :.• For -he told them, He had keen Sixteen Tears in that Mind, he was^ then in, and fjould not alter now. -- At the laft appearance the Ppifoners declared, (.calling God to Record ) That their perjifting in that Steadfajl-. nefs,was\not.inWilfulnefs,as fomt might judge, but J cr Confcience f,ke : Far, faid they, dFe fought the rLord that we might do nothing, contrary to his.blef- fed Wordyand in that he hath fid ewed his Power in our Wealmefs,we cannot but Praife Him,, unto whom we give Thanks thro'' Jefus Chris! . our Lord.- ■ . "When they had thus fpoken, the Bifhop began to pronounce the Sen-. fcence agatnft Canjion •„, who 'laid,// was a .r-afjj judgment ', without Love and Mer*y,-\;i Tiherj was &$i$ift$ ,-alfo, pronouured .agaiinft Higbed, .and both delivered to the Sheriff, f vyho. Tent them to Newgate, where they j remained fourteen Days, continually ■pr.aiiing God % not fo much concerned -at their Afflictions, as rejoiced in their Cotofolations,-, Praying v and eaineiUy De- iiring.they might Perfevere to the End v to the Praife of the Eternal God, and Comfort of the Brethren. The fourteen Days being expired, the,y were by Four a Clock-in the Mcrtni&-lp&fr^{N£'i(%fU jo, rHgate ; and tiiere delivered to the Sheriff of Zi//A , ,;who i conv'eyed-jth{m to the places where they were Executed ; viz. Higbed to Hornden on the Hill ; and Tho. Canfion to Rayly^htrt they both with great Con ftancy nnifli'd.their.Tefti* monies in the Fire, greatly rejoicing and giving the glory to God. ni Next that buffered wereTF.- Pigoi, Stephen ' : Kmght, -^ird John. Lawrence, $Ltf;e€t,Th'at4n the Sacrament of the Altar, under the frorrn-s-MJ ~fRr.ec. id and Wine, there is not the Subftance vf the body -and '-Mood ofrQhrift.^, This An- frier bemg given; the Bifhop caufed Articles .to^be rc#d egainft them ; To Which fchdy 'Answered, i ; At their fecond -Appearance he prefs'-d tfiem to .-Recant •, which they^efufed^' laying, They fho.u-14 Mtfr , f° tfoirjdzth. "Wherefore the third time being bro'-t before him, he p^M. Sentence upon them,and committed them to thecuftody of the Sheriffs of Z>w$»,who,fent them to Newgate, where they remained in much joy & comfort ; ; and at laft were hud down to Effex,was with him, viid'whefittr kthivartH M 2 R-canti 84 0«f«tttCO ft? t|)e #aptft& Part 3 Recant, ( He anfweredj Rawlins you left me, and Rawlins you Jhallfind me. Thereupon he was carried again to Cardiff, and ordered to be put in the Town- Prifon ; a very dark Joathfom bad Place -, where he continued a- bout Three Weeks before he fuffered ; In which time the Enmity of his Perfecutors was fuch, that they would have burnt him before the Writ de Heretias Comburendis came from London, had not the Recorder of the Town ftopt them ; telling them if they mould fo do, they were liable to be called in Queftion. When the Writ cameras they had him to Execu- tion,his Wife & Children met him by the way,with great Weeping & La- mentation ; at the fudden fight whereof his Heart was fo pierced, that the Tears trickled down his Face j yet on he went chearfully to the Stake,and being faftned thereto with a Chain, and the Fire kindled, he gave up his Life, crying, Lord ! reccivi my Soul j Lord ! receive my Spirit. the Sufferings and Examination of George Mzr(h,Martyr, at Weftchefter. THe faid George Marjh was born in the Parifh of Deane,'m the County of Lane after ; about the age of 25 years he married, and took a Farm, towards the maintenance of himfelf & Family : For favouring the Pro- tefiant Religion, and Preaching againft the Anti-chriftian Doctrin of the Papifis, he was at length apprehended, and committed to Prifon : The beginning of his Trouble was thus ', there was ftricl: fearch made for him in Boulton, with intentions if he had been Apprehended to have him before the Earl of Derby, there to be Examined concerning his Religion ; di- vers of his Friends & Relations hearing of it, advifed him to tfcape their Hands, laying before him theDanger that might enfue if he did not ; which caufed him to confult with himfelf, and to be full of Trouble •, not know- ing what Courfc he had beft to take : But foon after a Friend writ to him, Counfelling him, that he mould not Flee, but Abide, and boldly Coniefs the Faith of Jefus Chrift : At which Words he was fo Confirmed and Eftablifhed in his Confcience,that from thenceforth he confulted no more, but was refolved to Appear before thofe that fought after him, and Pa- tiently to Bear fuch Crofs as it fhould pleafeGodto lay upon him : Upon which Conchifion he found great Peace and Quietnefs in his Confciei.ce. And appearing before one Barton that had fought for him, Barton fhew'd him a Letter from the Earl of Derby, wherein he was commanded to fend the fcAGeorge Marfhznd. others to Latham •, when he came to Latham he was brought before the Earl of Derby, who after he had afk'd his T- me. £nquir'd further of him, Whether he was not one that Sowed evil Seed & DiJ- fenjion among the People ? Which thing he denied •, defiring to know who were his Accufers : And after many more Questions aik'd him, in conclu- iu>n Part 3. taetfecttteti bp tlje #aptfts» H fion they committed him to Ward, in a cold windy Stone Houfe, where was little room, where he lay two nights without any bed, faving a few great Canvas Tent Cloths ; and after two nights he had a pair of Sheets allowed him, but no woollen Clothes, and there was kept without any be- ing fuffered to come at him, only twice a Day the Keeper when he bro't him in Victuals ; mortly after he was brought before the Earl, again, who examined him of the Sacrament $ at his anfwers the Earl feemed to be fomewhat pleafed, and hoped he would be conformable, and commanded that he mould have a Bed, and Fire, and liberty to go amongft his Ser- vants ; when he departed he was much troubled in his Spirit, for fear left he had given advantage to his Adverfaries, in not confeffing Chrift fa boldly as he ought to have done, and was much grieved, but confidering his condition, he cryed earneftly unto the Lord, faying, Strengthen me with thy holy Spirit , with boldnefs to confefs thee, and deliver me from their enticing words, that I may not be fpoiled thro' their Philofcphy and vain deceit : A day or two after, he was fent for before two Priefts, who began to difcourfe with him concerning the Mafs, afking him, what part of the Mafs offended him ? he anfwered, The whole Mafs did offend him ; upon which difcourfe, and other matters that pail between them, Articles, were drawn up againft him, and they exhorted him to Recant his Opini- ons, but he told them he could not change nor alter, and defired them to fpeak to the Earl, that during his Imprifonment, his Friends might be fuffer'd to relieve him with neceffariesj they ftill perfifted to advifehim to for fake his Opinions ; not regarding any Worldly pame : He anfwered, what he did was not for avoiding Worldly mamc , nor yet for any vain praife of the World, but in the reverend fear of God ; they told him, // was pity fuch a well favour edToung man fhould fo foolifhly cafi away himfelf ; he anfwered them to this effect ; My Wife, Children and other delights of this World, are as fweet to me, as another mans may be to him, and I am as unwilling to lofe them, as another would, if I might enjoy them with a good Conjcience, but mytruflis( faid he) that God wilTjirengthenme to lofe them all for his fake -,fcr I do not fay or do any thing either out of Stubbornnfs,vain Glory,or any other Worldly purpofe,but with a good Conscience in the fear of God-, And further, faid, I commit my caufe unto God, who hath numbred the hairs of my head,and appointed the days of my life, who is a Righteousjudge, and will make Inquijition for my Blood. From Latham he was carried to Lancafter Cafile, where he was threat- ned for preaching to the People out of the Prifon •, fhortly after he was carried to Lancafter, the Biftiop ofChefter came thither, and fent for the Goaler, and rebuked him for fuffering George Marfh to fare fo well, and from thence he was removed to Chefter, and being brought before the Bilhop, 86 |l*Uf»UleBr!l)p^1p^tft§ 4 Fart # »fflb-f>/iJ(F^fcPft»fte« bE»aiMfiedr>dahe^i»h¥%^e Sacrlment : , Vnd : 'other Fefopie, to this Effc&f 7&* Biftiop, faid he, W 8 £&# 'Shepherd, doth fee to his Fhck,that no f cabby difeafed Sheep infeB the btl?er^lp}?ifh¥e hiitordfhip htith ftntjoMhu Geofge^Marfh, as a Scabby SbceWW&&£^b]jit;Jeft'-ht &hrttybwbtrs ; and dfte^Peaa'th^Akid^^garnlAiihii jfncFa^'H'htrri; ■'$ k>ytHl1d fatofr Mercy ■ fr Afor/2> faidi,-&?' Fire-; - WhYift he ; Was^Prifoner he wrotefeveraVE^iftles'to his Friends and S4lat:on:s>,& foeh as", had beerrAfliftant to Mm in t&e time of his Sufferings; The Epiftles being large, I mall • only insert fome of the principal Fleads of fome-ofcthem -, which if the Reader perufeth, he Will find them to be AncV'fiYfr, I at Lang ton. An Epiftle by George Marfh to his Friends at Larigton. *-f~*\Ract-h unto you, and Peace be multiplied in the Knowlege ofjefus \J * Chris! our Lord x Amen. I tho'tit meet to write unto you, my c BdcVed'in the- Lord at Lnngtcn^o uir up 'your' pure Minds, and to if remenlbrapxe tHe Wore! s ; wnich' Have been told « to your -remembrance tlie 'Wc been told you before, & < tbExhort you,fas that goo\lman,& full, of the holy Gholl, Barnabas. i the Antioehians ) thatwith purpo.fe of Heart you continually cleave unco % the Lord, and that ye (land faftjand be not mov'd away from the hope of 4 che Ear? 3V tSc^Ctttrt! i)rtl)t-$a#$S. *7 * the Gofpfl, r ^h^Pe/fepi#^^ not. -fail \ .away like ilir;r)^ing C^ldr^^d-feitfakelMilT^uh ;,For after, this jjft, '.'the Godly beiri gdeiiv^'^.f^nl, their Tribulations-. & Pains* AiaM have 4 the End, that, we may be 'Saved : For unlefs we like good Wameft «f 4 Chrift }efus, endeavour our felves to pleafe him, who hath chofen us to * be his Soldiersjand^ghtxhe, .good, fight of Faith, even<«nto the End, we 4 mail not obtain the Crown ^f -#iflhtRSj&fnefl& x wintljLthe liords xjh^is s a \ righteous jju4gq»^M^^fy^:$9 ^^thcaK 1^ia$fiQ , ^ t)&l^n^llnMSg^ JL^ us . 4 therefo re, receive ;^t^^^P^K$ r Wc?rdcth^kigjiafeM( rao^s,' cwftbfr k 4 For as the Apoftle lakh, '6//^#^^ \ is already Jaydyivbichis J.eJUfi^Gkriftii Jf my tmft)foiildcn- thii'Fowtidaiim ' * Gold, Silyer, Precioiis/S*£ri£,$j, ^imbfir,^'^Sti\^ble^every:pja7is work* \Jbund&ri\:m<$sBerfevut-tdn/&; Trouble \iox 4 they which .do' truly preach ,-& profcfs;the Word e/.G.v/,' which is called 4 the Word of the Crojsfiiall be Railed upon, and AbhorredyiHaeed^ thtuit 4 out of the Company, Perfccuted, and Tried in the Furnace of Adverfity, 4 as Gold & Silver is Tried in $i$Steadlull in the IFcrd. By [Ximber^ Hay, and Stubble ~\ are-meant fuch 4 as inthe time cf Perfecutiqndo fall away frorp the T>uth .-» and when 4 CJinft/clet-h purge his 'Flow* A\idi the Wind- pf . Mveifity^ thefe falttr 4 away like Chaffy which mall, be burnt -with . wn^uenchatfcFird. ,'. 4 Wherefore, fny Beloved, give, diligent beed,tfrat yeas-IHsg Stones be »* built upon this lure Reck, and be made a fpirkual Houte, arad rfloly 4 Priellhood, to ofilr.up Spiritual Sacrifices, acceptable unto God by jefas 4 Chrift : .For.we are the true Temple of God ; and .t-he Spirit of God 4 dwtlle.th in us,, if fo be that we continue in the Deft rin Gofbel- 4 we are a!fo a Bojj| and Royafpriefthood, to offer up ^rituU-Sabftficcs 4 and Gelations. 4 And thus I commend yoiv(Brfthr$n)"unto -GqcVard. tcuitJVwd nf * bis Graee^hxh is able to build vou further, and ifcdgfrfitjftu an Inhi/i- 4 ta;.ce $s $ttttmtib ftp ttje itap(ft& part 3. « tance amongft all them that are fandlified, befeeching you to help me, * and all them that be in Bonds For the Gofpel fake, with your Prayers to * God for us, that we may be delivered from all them that believe not, 4 and from unreafonable and froward Men ; and that this our Imprifon- * ment and Affliction may be to the Glory and Profit of our ChriftianBre- < thren in the World, and that Chrift may be magnified in our Bodies, « whether it be by Death or Life, Amen. Salute me to all the Faithful Bre- * thren, let them hear my Letters •, The Grace of our Lord be with you all. * Aftien. George Marlr. The Subftance of another Letter to his Friends at Manchefter. * ^"lOnGder what I fay -, the Lord give us Underftanding in all things. \_j « Brethren,the Time is fhort : It remaineth that ye ufe this world * astho' you ufed it not 5 for the fafhions of this World vanifh away : See * that ye love not the World,neither the Things that are in the World ; * but fet your Affections upon heavenly Things : Be Meek,and long-Suf- * fering •, Serve and Edifie one another with the Gift that God hath given * you : Beware of ftrange Doctrin i lay afide the old Converfation of * greedy Lufts,and walk in a new Life : Beware of Uncleannefs,Covetouf- * nefs,and foolim Talking ; Rejoice and be Thankful towards God ; and * Submit your felves one to another : Ceafe from Sin ; be Sober,and apt to * Pray : Be Patient in Trouble •, Love each other : And let the Glory of * God, and Profit of your Neighbours be the only Mark you moot at in * all your Doings : Repent ye of the Life that is pafl,and take better heed * to your Doings hereafter. G.M. Another Letter to a Friend. < •^IRacebe withyou,and Peace be multiplied in theKnowlege of God, VJI * and Jefus the Lord. After heartyCommendations,andThanks to * God, for your large Token •, but much more for your loving Letters, * full of Confolation to me ; As touching my Perfon unknown toyou,thefe * Ihali be to Certifie you, that I Rejoice greatly in the Lord, when I « perceive to fee the Minds of my Friends ftirr'd up to bear part with me * in this my coftly Imprifonment, fending me things not only neceflary for * this prefent Life,but alfo comfortable Letters, encouraging & exhorting * me to continue grounded &eftablifhed in theFaith,and not to be moved * away from the hope of the Gofpel, whereof according to my fmall * Talent I have been a Minifter •, and dairy I call and cry unto the Lord, * in whom is all my Truft, and without whom I can do nothing, that He * which hath begun a good Work in me,would goon with it until the day * ©f Jefus Chrift, being furely Certified in my Confcience of this, that He * will Part 3. ®ttttttxttti up tt)e #apffts. 89 * will fo do, for as much as he hath given me, that not only I mould be- « lieve on him, but alio differ for his fake. The Lord ftrengthen me with « his holy Spirit, that I may be one of the Number of thofe Bieffed, which ' enduring to the end fhall be faved. « And whereas you fay that mySuffering of Perfecution with (Thrift is a « thing to you molt comfortable ; I anfwer, that in all my Adverfities and 1 Necemties, nothing on your behalf is greater Confolation unto me, than 6 to hear of the Faith & Love of others,and how they have good remem- « brance of us always,even as the Apoftle faid to the TheJJalonians, Now are ' we alive \ if yefiandfafi in the Lord ; beflrong, let your hearts be of good c comfort ,and wait you fiill for the Lord ^ -, he tarrieth not that will come ; ' look for him therefore,^ faint not, and h'e will never fail you. G. Marlh. The next that fuffered were John Cor dmaker, John Warn, Upholder of London,John Ardleyfe John Simfon of ' Wig borough m£/e#,Hu (band men : Againft thefe four Perfons many Articles were drawn up,' for not Confor- ming to the Dodlrin of the Popifh Church. According to common courfe of the Confifiory -Court they were called,and the Articles againft them read, which Articles were much alike againft them all ; and for refufing to Re- cant,they were all condemned & burnt, about the Month of May, 1555. The Examinations, Sufferings, and Martyrdom of Thomas Hawkes. AS touching his Education, he was born in EJfex of an honeft Stock, and bred up a Courtier ; his Perfon and Stature very Comly,and his Mind endued with excellent Qualities : A man of gentle Behaviour, and a fervent Love to true Religion and Godlinefs ; He was alfo fingularly adorned with Valour and Courage, whofe Example therein was a good Prefident to the reft of his Brethren ; And as it is recorded of him, few men ftood more notably or triumphed more glorioufly than this Young Man i for he was fo wife in the Caufe of God, and fo godly in his Life, and fo conftant to the Death, that he Ihined, as a Star, moft clear in the Church, by his Example. — But to the Relation of his Sufferings, his Trouble firft began for refufing to Sprinkle his Child after the Papiftical manner : For which the Earl of Oxford,(to whofe Family the faid Thomas Hawkes had not long before been a Retainder ) being Apprehended, and brought before "the faid Earl, he forthwith fent him to Bonner, with a Letter fignifying his Crime. His Examinations, and Anfwers before the Bifhop being very long, I therefore tho't meet to infert only fome of the Chief, or moft principal Matters contained therein. Being bro't before the Bifhop, the firft Queftion he afkt him, viz&JVby' he left his Child Unchrifiened fo long ? — Hawkes, Becaufe I am bound to N do 90 ^etfectttet) ftp tije #aptft& Part 3. do nothing contrary to the Word of God. - Bonner,JF£y Baptifm, is com- manded by the Word of God. -Hawkes,H\s Inftitution therein I do not deny. - Bonner, What deny you then ? - Hawkes, I deny things invented and de- vifed by men. -Bonn. What things are thofe that fo offend you ? - Hawk. Your Oyle, Spittle, Cream, Candle, and Conjuring Water. — Bonner, Will you deny that the whole W01 Id Sc your fore Fathers were contented withal? Hawks, 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 (land. Bonner, The Catholick Church hath taught it. ~ Hawks, What is the Catholick Church ? — Bonner, // is the faithful Congregation wherefoever it be difperfed throughout the world. — Hawks, Who is the head thereof ? Bonner, Chrift is the head thereof. — Hawks,hre we taught in Chrift or in the Church now ? ~ Bonner, In John its faid, he would fend the comforter which fhould teach you alt things. — Hawks, 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 ajkt htm if he knew,one Bagget ? He faid, Yea. Whereupon Bagget, by the Bifhops order was called ; the Bifhop telling Hawks, ( in mean time ) that he was a proud ftubborn man. — It feemeth fo to you, faid Hawks,beczufe I do not bow to you. Then Bagget appearing, the Bifhop faid, Do you know this man ? ~ Bagget, Yea. — Bp. He refufeth to have his Child Baptized after the cuflom now ufed in the Church,Whatfay you to it ?- Bagget , I fay nothing thereto. ~ Said the Bifhop, I'll make you tell me whether it be laudable,and ought not to be ufed in the Church. — Bagget, I befeech you pardon me, he is old enough, let him anfwer for himfelf. — Bonner, Ah, Sir Knave ! are you at that point ? go call me the Porter, ( faid the Bifhop ) Thoufhaltftt in theStocks,and have nothing but Bread andWater -, Iperceive J have kept you too well ; have I made thus much of you, and have Ijcu at this point ? The Porter being not in the way, the Bifhop took him afide, and bid one of his men talk with Thomas Hawks, the while ; who enquired of Hawks,whom he knew in Effex, and who were his Teachers ?~ Hawks replyed, When I fee your Commiffion, Til make you anfwer ; and then returned the Bifhop again, and fitting under a Vine in his Orchard, called for Bagget and Hawks to him •, and to Bagget he foid,Hcwfayyou to Bap- 1tfm ? ought it to be ufed as now it is in the Church ? Bagget faid, Yes» it is good. Bonn / befool your he art, could you not have faid fo before ? you have wounded this mans Confcience.—Then the Bifhop turned to Hawks,and faid, How fay you now, Sir ? This man is turned and converted.— Hawks, I build my Faith neither upon this man,norupon you,but upon Chrift only. Bon./ fmciveyou are a Jiubbom fellow ^Imufl work anotherway with you iowinyou. Part 3. ^etfecttteo bp tlje #apifts. 91 Hawkes, Whatfoever you do, I am ready to fuffer it j for I am in your Hands, and muft abide it. — Bonner, Well, you are fo, come on your ways, you fhall go inland 1 will ufe you Chriftian-like \ you /ball eat and drink : but in any wife talk not. — Hawkes, I purpofe to talk nothing but the Truth. - Bonner, f will have no Herefie talkt on in my Houfe. — Hawkes, Why, is theTruth become Herefie ? Bonner, If ye will have my favour take my coun- fel. — Hawkes, T^hen let your Doftors & Servants give me no occafion : For if they do, I will furely utter my Confcience. — After Dinner, fome of the Chaplains fell in difcourfe with Tbo. Hawkes, and whilft they were Reafoning,in came the Bp. who faid, Did not I give you a charge not to talk I Hawk. Did not I defire your Servants mould give me no occafion ? Then went he into his Orchard, and took his Doctors, and Hawkes with him, to whom he fpake to this EfFeft ; — Bonner, Will ye be content to tarry here, & your Child Jhall be baptized, and you /kail not fee it, fo that you will agree to it ? Hawkes,!?! would have done fo, I needed not to have come to you, for I had the fame counfel given me before. Bonner, Do not you think that the Queen & I cannot command it to be done in fpite of yourTeeth ? Hawkes, I fhall not Queftion what the Queen can do, but my Confent you get never the fooner for that. — Bon.Well,you are afiubbornyoung man, I perceive I muft work another way with you. - Hawk.You are in the hands ofGod,and fo am I. - Bon. Whatfoever you think,] would not have you fpeak fuch words t& me : Thou art a proper young Man,God hath done his part unto thee, I would be glad to do thee good •, thou know eft that I am thy Paftor,and one that fhall anfwer for thee, if I do not teach thee well - Hawkes, That I have faid I fhall Hand to it, God willing ; there is no way to remove it. Bonner, Nay, nay, Hawkes, thoujhalt not be fo wilful •, remember Chris! bid two go into the Vineyard,the one faid hewould,andwent not, the other faid he would not, and went. - Hawkes, The laft went. ~ Bonner, Do thou like- wife,and I will talk friendly with thee. How fay eft thou} It is in the Sixth of John,/ am the Bread of Life, and the Bread that I will give, is my Flejh ; Do you believe this ? Hawkes,! muft needs believe the Scripture. - Bonner, Then I hope you are found concerning the Sacrament. - Hawkes,! befeech you put no more to my Confcience than what I am accufed of to you. - Bonn. Well,well,Let us go to Evening- fong: With that Hawkes turn'd his back to go out of the Chappel. Bonn. Why, will you not tarry ? Hawkes ,No,I will not j it will not edifie me. Bon. I pray you tarry, you may pray by your f elf Hawkes, I will not pray in this place, nor in no fuch. Then faid one of the Chaplains, Let him go, my Lord, and he jhall not partake with us in our Prayers. Hawk. I think my felf beft at eafe when I am furtheft from you. So to Prayer they went, and Tho. Hawkes walkt in a Court, between the Hall and the Chappel till they had done, and then he was called up into N 1 tb* 9 2 ^erfecuteu bp tlje #ap«ts. Part 3. the Bifhops Bed-Chamber, where he examined him concerning the Sacra- ment •, faying, Tou would not have your Confcience examined any further, than in that you were accufed of. — Hawkes, I thought you would not be both my Accufer and Judge. And the Bifhop fpeaking further of the Sacrament of the Altar ; — Hawkes faid, I do not know it.-Bonner, Well, we will make you know it, 3 believe in it too, before we have done with you.- Hawk. No, you lhall never do that.— Bonner, Tes, a Faggot will make you doit. Hawkes, No, no, a point for your Faggot, what God thinketh meet to be done, that fhall ye do, and more mail ye not do.— Bonner, How fay you to the Mafs, Sarrah •, -— Hawkes, I fay it is deteftable, abominable, and profitable for nothing— Bonner, What ! nothing Profitable in it ? what fay you to the Epijlle and Gofpel P—Hawk. Its good, if it be ufed as Chrift left it to be ufed.— Bonner, Well, lam glad you fomewhat Recant.— Hawkes, I have not, nor will not Recant.—Bonner, How fay you to Confiteor ?—Haw. I fay, it is abominable, deteftable, and blafphemy againft God and his Son Chrift, to call upon any, to truft to any, or to pray to any but to Chrift Jefus. The next day he was brought before Bonner, and another old Bifhop ; to whom Bonner faid, 'This young man hath a Child,and will not have it Chri- flened ; and was Very angry with Tho. Hawkes, calling him Fool.— Hawses meekly replyed, a Bifhop ought to be Blamelefs, Sober, Difcreet, no Chider, nor given to Anger.--Then faid the old Bifhop that flood by, Alas I young man, you mufi be taught by the Church, and by your Antients, and do as your fore-Fathers have done before yon.— 'Then faid Bonner, No,no, he will have nothing but the Scriptures, and them he under/lands not ; he will have no Ceremonies in the Church ; what fay you to holy Water ?~Hawk. I fay to it as to the reft, and to all that be of his making that made them. BonntrJVhy ? the Scriptures allow it •, and we read that Eliiha threw Salt into the Water. —Hawkes, It's true, Efha threw Salt into the W.t.r,& the "Water became fweet and good, which before was corrupted ; when our Waters "re corrupted, if by throwing in your Salt you can make them fweet and wholfom,we will believe better of your Ceremonies. — Bonner, You believe no Boclrine but that which is wrought by Miracles. —Hawk. No, thefe tokens faid Chrift fhall follow them that believe in me, they fhall fpeak with new Tongues, they fhall caji out Devils,and if they drink any dead- ly Poyfon,it fhall not hurt them. Bonner, With what new Tongue do you -peak? Hawkes,— Whereas heretofore I was with my Tongue a foul Blafphemer, a filthy Talker •, fince I came to theKnowlege of the Truth, I have prai- fed God, and given thanks to him : Is not this a new Tongue ? -- Bonner, Did you ever drink any deadly Poyfon ?-Haw. Yes that I have, for I have drunk of the Peftilent Traditions and Ceremonies of the Bifhop of Rome. Bonner Part 3. ^erfecuteo bp tl)e $apfft& 93 Bonner,iVky youjhew your f elf to be a right Heretick -,youfhall he burnt if you continue in this Opinion. Hawk. Where prove you that Chrift or his Apoftles did kill any man for his Faith ? Bonner, Bid not Paul Excommu- nicate ? — Hawk. Yes ; but there is a great difference between Excommu- nicating and Burning. — Bonner, Have you not read of the Man and the Woman in the dels of the Apoftles whom Peter deftroyed ? — Hawkes, Yes, I have read of one Ananias & Sapphira his Wife, who were deftroyed for Ly ing agaihft the holy Ghoft ; which ferveth nothing to your purpofe. After fome other words the Bifhop went to Dinner, and Hawkes to the Porters Lodge. After Dinner the old Bifliop, by Bonner's advice, took Hawkes into his Chamber, and fitting him down in his Chair, faid to him, I would to God I could do you fome good •, you are a Toung Man, and I would not wifh you to go too far. - Hawk. I will bear with nothing contrary to the Word of God. And he looked that the old Bifhop mould have made him an Anfwer,but he was fatten fail Afleep. Then Hawkes, departed out of the Chamber, and went to the Porter's Lodge again. The next day Fecknam came and difcourfed with him. Fecknam, Hew fay you, Christ took Bread and brake it ^and faid, Take, Eat, this is my' Body. Hawkes,Is every word to be understood as Chrift fpake it ? Chrift faid, I am a Door, a Vine, I am a King, a Way, &c. Fecknam, Chris! fpake thefe words in Parables. Hawk. And why fpake he thefe in Parables, more than when he faid, Take, eat, this is my Body £ For after the fame phrafe of Speech he faid the one, he faid the other. Then Fecknam ftood up and &\d,Alas ! thefe places ferve nothing for your Purpofe : I perceive you build upon them at Oxford. -- Hawk. I build my Faith upon no Man : For if thofe men, and as many more fhould Recant, and deny that they have faid or done, yet will I ftand to it ; and by this fhall you know that I build my Faith upon no Man. -- Bonner, If any of thofe Recant, what will you fay to it ? -- Hawkes, When they Recant I will make you an Anfwer. Then Fecknam departed, and Hawkes- went to the Porters Lodge again," . The next day Do&or Chadfey, and the Bifliop entred Difcourfe with him ; he told Chadfey, This man is Stubborn,and will not Chrijlen his Child, but is againsl the Ceremonies of the Church. — Bonner, He thinketh there is no Church but in England and Germany. Hawkes, And you think there is no Church but the Church of Rome. Chadfey, What fay you to the Church of Rome? Hawkes, I fay, it is a Church of a fort of vicious Cardinals,. Priefts, Monks, and Friars, which I will never credit nor believe. Af- ter 5>4 f^etfccttteu bp tl)e 0apfft& Part 3. ter much more difcourfe, Chadfey at his parting faid, // w *z />*7y /£ a conftantRefolution he fatisfied them he fhould never Recant fo long as he Lived. Whereupon Bonner pafs'd the Sentence of Death upon him ; and fhortly after he was delivered to the Sheriff ©f Effex, and Burnt at. a Town, called Ccxball, in June 1555. An 96 ^erfecttteo bp tlje j&apt'fts. Part 5 , An Epiftle to the Congregation, by Thomas Hawkes. 6 tf~*\Race, Mercy,andPe ace from God the Father, and from our Lordjefus VJ[ ' Chrift, be always with you all for ever, ( my dear Brethren and * Sifters in the Lord Jefus ChrisJ )and his holy Spirit conducl& lead you in c all your doings, that you may always direct: your deeds according to his * holy Word, that when he mall appear to Reward every man according ' to their Works, you may, as obedient Children, be found Watching, ' ready to enter into his everlafting Kingdom,with your Lamps burning ; * and when theBridegroom fhall mew himfelf, ye need not to be afham'd c of this life that God hath lent you, which is but tranfitory, vain, and ■ like unto a vapour, that for a feafon appeareth, and vanimeth away ; fo * foon pafTeth away all our terreftrial honour, glory and felicity ; For all * Flejh ( faith the Prophet ) is Grafs , and all his glory as the Flower of the * Field,which for a feafon fheweth her beauty, £3 'as foon as the Lord bloweth ' upon it, it wither eth away,& departeth. For in this tranfitory and dan- c gerous Wildernefs we are as Pilgrims and Strangers, following the c foot-fteps of Mofes, among many unfpeakable dangers, beholding no- 1 thing with our outward man, but all vanities and vexation of mind, ' fubjectto Hunger, Cold, Nakednefs, Bonds, Sicknefs, Lofs, Labour, Ba- * nijhment, in danger of that dreadful Dragon and his Jznful Seed, to bt de- * voured, Tempted and Tormented, who ceafeth not behind every Bufh to * lay a bait, when we walk awry, to have his pleafure upon us ; caft- * ing abroad his dpples in all places, times and feafons, to fee if Adam * will be allured and enticed to leave the Living God, and his moft holy * Commandments, whereby he is allured ©f everlafting life, promifmg the * World at will, to all that will fall down in all Ages, and for a mefs of * Pottage fell & fet at nought the everlafting Kingdom of Heaven ; fo frail ' is Fleih and Blood ; and efpecially Ifrael is moft ready to walk awry, * whenhe is filled with all manner of Riches, as faith the Prophet. * Therefore I am bold, in bonds ( as intirely defiring your everlafting c Health and Felicity,) to warn you, and moft heartily defire you to * watch and pray, for our eftate is dangerous, and requjreth continual * prayer ; for on the highMountains doth not grow moft plenty of Grafs, 4 neither are the higheft Trees furtheft from danger, but feldom fure, and * alwayes fliaken by every wind that bloweth ; fuch a deceitful thing, * ( faith our Saviour ) is honour and riches, that without Grace it choak- * eth up the good Seed fown on his Creatures,and blindeth fo their feeing, ' that they go groping at noon-day in darknefs ; it maketh a man think 6 himfelf fomewhat, that is nothing at all •, for though for our honour we *' efteem our felves, and ftand in our own light, yet when we fhall ftand ' before Part 3. ^etfemteo bp tljc #apifts> 97 « before the Living God, there (hall be no refpe& of Perfons ; for Riches ' helpeth not in the day of V§ngeance,neither can we make theLord par- 4 tial for Money ', but as ye have miniftred unto the Saint?, fo ihall you * receive the reward,which I am fully perlwaded and allured (hall be plen- ' tioufly poured forth upon you all, for the great goodnefs fhewed to the 'Servants of the Living God ; and I moft heartily befeech almighty God 4 co pour forth a plentious Reward upon you for the fame, and that he 1 will afliU you with his holy Spirit in all your doing?, that ye may grow, « as ye have begun, unto fuch a perfe&ion as may be to God's honour, * your own Salvation, and the ftrengthening of the weak Members of c Chrift -,for though the World rage and blafpheme the Ele& of God, * you know that ic did fo unto Chrift, his Apoftles, and to all that were ' in the Primitive Church, andfo ic fhall be unto the Worlds end. * Wherefore believe in the Light, while you have it, left it be taken c away from you, if you (hall feem to neglecl: the great Mercy of God that f hath been opened unto you, and your hearts confented unto it, that it is ' the very and only Truth pronounced by God's only Son Jefus Chrift, by ' the good will of our heavenly Father ; therefore, I fay, in the bowels * of my Lord Jefus Chrift, ftick faft unto it, lee ic never depart out of r your Hearts and Conventions, that you with us, and we with you, ac ' the great day, being one Flock, as we have one Shepherd, may arife to f the Life Immortal, through Jefus Chrift our only Saviour, Amen' Yours, in him that Uveth forever, Thomas Hawkes> The Sufferings, Examinations and. Martyrdom of Thomas Watt$. THe faid T. Watts, ot Billery- Key, in the County of Effex, Linen- Dra- per, expe£V.ing,for his Non- conformity, to be (hortly Apprehended, he difpofed of his Eftate for the benefit of his Wife and Children; and according to his expectation, not long after was had before the Judges ac Chelmsford,vthtve the Lord Rich fpake to him to this effect ; Ton are brought hither ( Watts )beeaufe you will not obey the Queens Laws, and will not go to Churchy nor hear Ma(s, but have your Conventicles in corners — Watts y If I have offended a Law, f am here fubje& to the Law.— Then one Juftice Brown faid, Who fir ft taught thee this Religion ? — Watts, You taught it rue, and none more than you ; for in K. Edward's day?, in open Sefljons, yen fpokeagainft che Religion now ufed, calling the Mafs Abominable, exhort- ing People not to believe in it, but in Chrift only. - Brown, What a Knaw.uthitto hlye me to my face} [Hereupon a Letter was writ and Signed by the Junices, and Watts fent up to Bonner, as a Nonconform!!! ; what entertainment he received from the Bifliop ac their private Confe- rence, no mention is made of ic ; but about the beginning of May he was O brought 9 8 #etfectttei> by tl)e #apel y becaufe 1 know that it k True ; and becaufe I will not Deny here God's Gofpel,and beObedient to Mens Laws, I am con- demned to Die. And he faid further,0 Lord my God .' Thou haft written, ke that will not for fake Wife, Children, Houfe,and aU that ever he hath, and take vp thy Crofs, and follow thee, it not worthy of thee \ but thou Lord, knoweft that I have Fcrfaken all to come unto thee : Lord have Mercy upon mt, for unto thee I Commend my Spirit, and my Soul doth Rejoice in thee* At Chichefter, about the fame Month was burnt one Thomas Ivefon of Goodftons in the County of Surrey, Carpenter -, his Examinations and Ar- ticles were milch like Derick Carver and John Launders. When theBifhop preft him to Recant ; he faid, he would not Recant for all the Goods io. London ; I do Appeal, faid he, to God's Mercy, and will be none of your Church, nor fubmit my felf to the fame ; and what I have faid, I will fay again ;and if there came an Angel from Heaven to Teach me any other Do&rin than that which I am now in, I would not believe him. For which Anfwer he was condemned as an Heretick, and (hortly after bumc at Chichefter, as before is mentioned* James Abbies,* Young Man, which through companion ( of the Tfrdnnf then ufed) Travelled from Place to Place, to avoid the Peril of the Times, buc at laft happened to be apprehended, and to be brought before the Bifhop of Norwich, who examining him concerning his Rel-gion, arc! very ftridly charging hira, fo.netimes with threats,and other whiles with flatteries, perfwading him ; at laft the Young Man did vield to their Perflations, altho* againft his Confcience; then the Bifhop difrnift hirc>, giving him a fmall piece of Money. He way no fooner gone from the Bilhop,but his Confcience began to work, and inwardly to be accufed, how loa fttvltmttn by tlje l&apt'fts. Part 3. how that he had difpleafed the Lord, by conferring to their Delufions; whereupon he Immediately went back to the Biihop, and threw him his Monty again, faying, / Repent that ever I eonfented to your wicked Perfwa- fions, and received your Money \ Upon this, the Bifhop and his Chaplains fell a labouring to reduce him again, but all was in vain, for he would not Yield to them at all, but with Confiancy fuffered Death for his Religion, being burnt in Bury, the Second Day oi Auguft, ijff- The next that fufFeted were John Denly, John Newman and Patrick Tackington. The manner of their Apprehending are as followeth, One Edmund Terril, a Juftice in Ejfex, having been at the Execution of certain Martyrs^mtt with John Denly % and J Newman ( both of Maidfione in Kent ) Travelling upon the way,and going to vifit their Friends '■, npon fight of them,the faid Terril fufpe&ed chem to be Religious Perfnns, and caufed them to be apprehended,and fearched,and arlaft lent them to the Queen's Commiffioners at London, who jhortly after fen t them to Biftiop Bonner ; who, according to his accuftomed Manner, would have perfwaded them to Recant : To whom Denly faid, God k*ep me in the Mmd that 1 am in, and from your Counfel : For that you count Herefie, I take to be the Truth Shortly after they were brought to the of en Confiflory, where Articles were drawn up againft them ; but their unmoveable Confiancy appearing, they were foon condemned for Hereticks^nd delivered to the Sheiiffs of London, to fee them Executed* The chief Heads of the Examination of John Newman* Dr. Thornton, How (ayefi you to this,Tbis is my Body which is given for you ? Newman, It is a figurative Speech,one thing fpoken, and another meant. AsChrift faith,/ am a Vine ,/ am a Door,l am a Stone ; is he therefore a ma- terial Stone, a Vine,and a Door ? — G)r: This is no figurative Speech ; for he faith,Tkis is my Body which is given for you : And fo faith he not of t he Stone, Vine or Door, but that is a figurative Speech -• Newman, Chrift faith, This Cup is the New Teftament in my Blood •, if ye will have it fo meant, then let them take & eat the Cup. — Dr. Nay ,t hat is not fo meant ; for it is a common fhrafe of Speech among our [elves *, we (ay to our Friwd, drink a Cup of Drink,and yet we account he fhould drink the Drink in the Cup. Newman, Why, if you will have the one fo underftood,you mud fo underftand the other. Dr, Well, how fay you, is the Body of Chrifi really in the Sacrament, or no ? Newman, No, I believe not. -- Dr. Well, wtll you ft and to it I Newman, 1 muft nesds ftand to it,till I be perfwaded by a further Truth. £ Many other Quefiions Thornton ash, which for brevity 9 } fake are omitted. ] About this time there fuffer'd Death,for the fame Caufe 7 Perfons, viz,. Richard Booh burnt at Chichtfier in S«$w,and the other fix were burnt at Canterbury, Part 3. #erfemtet» Up t$e #apflts. 1&3 Canterbury ,viz. William Colter, William Hopper, Henry Lawrence, Richard CoUiar, Richard Wright,and William Steer. The laft Six were Perfecuted by the a- forefaid TW»rge ; but is racher fet up, and ere&ed to Mock God withal. Bon. Do you not belie ve,tbat it it the very Body ofChrift that wot born of the, PirgMaryflaturaSy, fubftantially,and really after the words of Confecration ? Smith, I (hewed you before, it was none of God's Ordinance, as you ufe it, then much lefs to be God,or any part of his Subftance ; but only Bread and Wine, erected to the ufe aforefaid : Yet neverthelefs, if ye can prove it to be the Body ye fpeak of, I will believe it -, if not, I will, ( as I do ) account it a deteftible Idol, not God, but contrary to God, and his Truth. [ Then after many raging Words,and vain Objections ] he faid, 'There wot no remedy but 1 muft be burned — Smith, Ye ftall do no more unto me than ye have done to better Men than either of us both : But think not thereby to quench the Spirit of God, neither thereby to make your Mattergood. For your Sore it too well feen to be Healed fo privily with Blood ; For even the very Children have all your Deeds in Derifion : So that altho' ye patch up one place with Authority, yet it (hall break forth in Forty, to your fhatne -. Then after much a Do, and many railing Sentences, the Bifhop faid, ( throwing away the Paper of mine Examination ) Well, even now by my Troth, even in good Earntfi, if thou wilt go and be Shriven, 1 will tare thk Viper in pieces.*- Smith, It would be too much to your Shame to fliew it to Men of Difcretion. — After which, I was carried down to the Garden, with my Goaler, and there remained until my Brother Harwood was Ex- amined, and then being again brought up before the faid Bonner, he de- ma ided if I agreed with Harwood in his Coafe (lion, upon this Article,^** fay you to the Catholick Church ? Do ye not canfefs there u one on Earth ? Smith t Yes verily, I believe chac there is one Catholick Church, or Faithful Congregation ,• which, as the Apoftle faith, is Builded upon the Prophets and Apofths, Chrift Jefus being the Head Corner Stone ; which Church in all her Words, and Work? maintaineth the Word, and bringeth the fame for her Authority ; and without it doth nothing, nor ought to do j Of which I am afTured, I am by Grace made a Member, Bon Tou (h ill under ft and , that lam bound, when my Brother Offendetb, and will not be Reconciled, to bring him before the Congregation : Now if your Church be the fame, where may a Mm find it, to bring hts Brother before the fame ? Snitb, It is written in the /itts of the Apoftles,Thn when the Tyranny of the Ri:Vp« wis' f> great againft the Church in Jury, they were fain to Congregate in Houies, and private Places, as they now do, and yet were P they ie6 #etfectttet> by tfje t&apttts. Part 3, they neverthelefs the Church of God ; and feeing they had their maters ledrefTed, being (W: up in a Corner,ma) not *^e do the like now-a-days '! Bonn. Tea, their Church was ln$wn full well, ft,r St Paul writ to the Corin- thians, to have the man punched and excommunicated that bad committed Evil with his Fathers Wife, whereby we may well perceive it was a known churchy hut yours is not known. Smithy Then could you not perfecute it as ye do ; but as ye fay, the Church of God at Corinth was raanifeft both to God and Paul, even fo is the Church of God in England ( whom ve perfecute ) both known to God, and alfo to the very Wicked, altho' they know not, nor will not know their Truth nor Converfation j Yea, and your finful Number have profef- fed their Truth, and maintained the fame a long feafon, Bonner, WeU, thou fayeft that the Church of God was only at Corinth, when Paul wrote unto them, and fo wilt 1 put it in writing, jhaS 1 ? Smith, I marvel greatly that you are not aihamM to lay Snares for your Brethren in this manner ; this is now the third Snare you have laid for me; 1 ft. To make me confefs that the Church of England is not theChurch of Chrift : idly. To fay it is not known : %dly, To fay the Church of God is not Universal, but Particular, and this is not the office of a Bifhop; for if an Innocent had come in your way, you would have done your beft, I fee, to have intangled him. Harpsfield, Well, Friend, you are no Innocent, as appeareth. Smith,By the Grace of God I am that Iam,and this Grace in me,l hope is not vain « Bonner laughed, faid, Tell me, how fa) ft thou of the Church? — Smith, I told you whereupon the true Church is builded, and 1 affirm in England to be the Congregation of God, and alfo in omnem Terr am, as it is written,T(&«V/"0«»until our Keeper feeing their miforder, fhut us up in a fair Chamber, while my Lord went into his Sy- nagogue to condemn M. Dcnly and John Newman. ] Then brought they up the L Mayor to hear our matter above in the Chamber, and I firft of all was called into the Chamber, where the Bifhop intended to Sup, where the L Mayor being fee, with the Bifhop, and one of the Sheriffs, Wine was walking on every fide, I ftanding before them, as an outcaft, which made me remember how Pilate and Herod were made Friends, but no man was forry for Jofephs hurt ; but after the Bifhop had well drunk, my Articles were fent for, and read, and he de- manded, Whether i faid not at was written ?. -. Smith, That I have faid, I have faid,and what I have faid, I do mean utterly. Bonner, Well my Lord Mayor, your Lordjhip hath beard fomewbat what a ft out fieretick tbit it, and that bit Articles have deferved death \yet never- thelefs, for at much at they do report me for to feel Blood, and call me Bloody Bonner, Whereas God knowetb, I never fought any mans Blood in all my lift, 1 have flayed him from the Confiftory this day, whither I might have brought himjuftly, and yet here before your Lordjhip I deftre bim to turn, and I will with all fpeed difpatch him out of trouble, and tbit I profefs before yew Lordfhip and all thts Audience. P 2 Smith% io8 ^)ttittttttti tV t|)e #aptftS. Part 3. Smith, Why do You pat on this fair Vizor before the Lord Mayor, to make him believe that Ye fee k not my Blood, to cloak Your Murthers through my Stouireft,as You call it ? Have Ye not had my Brother Tom- 'kins before You, whofe Hand, when you had burned moft Cruelly, Ye burnt alfo his Body, and not only him, but a great many of the Members of Cbrift, Men that feared God, and lived Vtrtuoufly, and alfo the Queens true Subje&st And feeing to thefe Saints you have (hewed fo little Aitrcy, fhall it feem to my Lord, and this Audience, that Ye (hew me more Fa- vour ? No, no, my Lord ; but if You mean as You fay, why then Exa- mine You roe of that I am not bound to Anfwcr You unto ? Bonner, Well,wbat fajeft thou to the Sacrament of the Altar ? Is it not the very Body of Chrift, Flejh, Blood, and Bone, as it was Born of the Virgin ? Smith, I have anfwered,that it is nonetof God's Order,neither any Sacra- menc,but man's own Invention, ( and (hewed him the Loid's Inftitution.) But when he was fo earner! before the Audience, declaring that we knew nothing,bringing out h\s,Hcc eft Corpus meum, to lay in my difli, I proved before the Audience, that it was a dead God -, declaring the diftin&ion appointed between the two Creatures of Bread, and Wine \ and that the Body without Blood, hath no Life. At which Harpfield found himfeif much Offended, and took the Tale out of my Lord's mouth, faying, / •will prove by the Scriptures, that you Blafpheme God in fo faying : tor it u given in two Parts, becaufe there it two Things (hewed, That u to fay, Bit Body, and hk Pafjion, at faith St t Paul, and therefore u the Bread hit Body, and the Wine the Rtprefentation of hit Deaths and Blood fhedding. Smith, You Falfifie the Word,and Rack it to ferve Your Purpnfe : For Wine was not only the fhewir.g of his Paffion, but the Bread alfo : For our Saviour faith, So oft as you do tbu, doit in Remembrance of Me And St* Vaul faith, So oft as you eat of this Bread, and drink of this Cup, you fhatl fhtw the Lord's Death till he comes : And here is as much Reverence given to the one as to the other. - Then rofe up the Lord Bi{hop,and the Lord Mayor defired me to fave my Soul- Smith, I hope it is faved thro' Chrift Jefus ; defiring him to have Pity en tkonn Ssul,and remember xvbofe Sword he carried. At which I was carried into the Garden, and there abode until the reft of my Friends were Ex- amined }and fo were we fent aw^y with many foul Farewels to Newgate again : The Lord Bifhop giving the Keeper a Charge to lay me in Limbo. Another Examination of Robert Smith, before the fatd Bifhop. U?on Saturday, at Eight of the Clock, I was brought to his Chamber again, and there by him ExamiaeJ, asfoiloweth, -- Qon.Thou Robert Smith fay" ft, that there it no C a' hohck Church here on Eartb.- $rpitb % Yo\x have heard me both fpeak the contrary, and You have written it Part ?♦ i&erfecuteti bp tlje $apfft& 109 it is a Witnefs of the fame. -- Bonner, Tea, hut J mufi ask th'u Queftion, How fa*tfi thou ? - Smith, Muft You of neceflity begin with a Lie ? Ic maketh maniieft that you determin to end with the fame •, but there (hall no Liars enter the Kingdom of God \ neverthelefs, if You will be anfwered, ask my Articles that were written Yefterday, and they (hall tell You, that I have confefled a Church of God, as well in Earth as ia Heaven,and yet all one Church,and one Man's Members,even Chrift Jefusi Bonner, Well, what fay eft thou to Auricular Confeffion, is it not nectffar) to be ufed in Ckrift's Church } And wilt thou not be Shriven of the Vricfl ? Smith y It is not needful to be ufed in Chrift's Church, as I anfwered Yefterday ; but if it be needful for Your Church, it is to pick mens Purfes* and luch Pick-purfe matters is all the whole rabble of Your Ceremonies ; for all is but Money Matters that Ye maintain. — Bon Hoiv art thou able to prove that Confffionis a Pick-purfe Matter ? Art thou not afhamed fo to fay ? Smith, I fpeak by experience, for I have both heard and fcen the Fruits of the fame ; for firft,^ve fee it hath been a beivrayer of Kings Secrets, and the Secrets of others mensConfciences.who being deliver'd,and glad to be difcharged of their Sins, have given to Priefts great Sums of Money to Ah- folvc them. and fingMufTes for theirSouls health ; and began to tell him an Example of a Gentleman in Norfoli,who being bound in Confcience,thro' theperfwafion of the Priefr, gave away a great part of what he had ; The which thing when his Brother heard,he went to London^nd declaring ic to the Counciljhow that bySubtilty the Prieft had robb'd his Wife & Children, he recover'd a great part again, to the value of two or three hundred Pounds. C As I was relating this the Bilhop faw it Savoured not to hi? purpofe, buc began to Revile me^nd faid] By the Mafs, if the Queens Majtfly were of his mind, lflwuld not come to talk before any man, but fhould be put into a Sack, and a Dog lied unto the fame, and fo fhould be thrown into the Water. Smith, I know You fpeak by Practice as much as Speculation •, for both You and Your Predeceffors have fought all means poffible to kill Chrift Secretly, witnefs M. Hun, whom Your Predeceffors cauf d to be thruft in at the Nofe with hot burning Needles, and then to be hanged, a«d fid, he hanged himfelf : and alfo a Brother of Yours, a Bifhop of Yo ;r Profef- fion, having in his Prifon an Innocent man, whom, becaufe hefiwhe was not able by the Scriptures to be Overcome, he made him privily to be fnarled, and his flefh to be torn, and pluckt away with a pair of Pinfors y and bringing him before the People, faid, the Rats bad eaten him : Thus according to your Oath, is all your Dealing, and hath been \ and as for taking upon You the Office, do not without Qaths open YcunMouths , no more do You without Murder maintain Your Traditions. Banner, tio #etfecttteti bptfte #aptfte. Part 3. Bonner, Ah : you are a Generation of Lyars, there it not on* true Word that tomet h out of your Mouths — Smith, Yes, my Lord, I haze faid thatje- fus Chrift is dead for m\ fin*, and rifen for 1117 Juftification,and this is no Lie.— Bonner, Hav fa.ejt thou Smith, to the Seven Sacraments ? Believefl thou not that they he of God's Order ? That it to fay, the Sacrament of 9 ejye. — Smith, As for the Sacrament of the Altar, and all your Sacraments, they may well ferve your Church, but God's Church hath nothing to do with them ; neither have I any thing to do with them, nor you to examine me of them, -- Bon. Why it Gods Order changed in Baptifm ? In what point do we differ front the Word of God ? -- Smithy Firft in Hallowing your Water, in Conjuring the fame, in Baptizing Children, with Anointing and Spitting in their Mouths, mingled with Salt, and with many other lewd Ceremonies, of which not one point is able to be proved in God's or- der. -- Bon By the Mafs, this it the tnoft unfliamcfactd Hereticl that ever lhsard/peat. - Smith, Well fworn, my Lord, you keep a good Watch. — Bonner, Well, Mr. Controler, you catch me at my Words, but 1 will Watch thee as veil, I warrant thee. £ John Mordant being by, faid, ] By my Troth my Lord, 1 never heard the like in all my life ; but 1 pray you, my Lord, mark well hit anfwer for Baptifm, he difalloweth therein holy Ointment, Salt, and other (uch laudable Ceremonies, which no Chriftian Man will deny. -- Smith, That is a (hameful Blafphemy againft Chrif?,fo to ufe any mingle-mangle in your Baptifm. — Bon. J believe, J teU thee, that if they Die before they are Baptized, they are Damned. -- Smith, You (hall never be Saved by that Belief : But I pray you, my Lord^ fhew me, Are we Saved by Water, or by Chrift ? — Bon. By both. - Smith, Then the Water died for our Sins, and fo mud you fay, that the Water hath Life, and it being our Servant, and created for us is our Saviour. Bonner, Why, bott> underflandeft thou thefe Scriptures^ except a man be horn of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God'? And again, fuffer (faith our Saviour ) thefe Children to come unto me •, if thou wilt not fuffer them to be Baptized after the laudable order, thou Ictttfl them to come unto Chrift. Smith, Where you alledge, except a man be born, &c* And will thereby prove the Water to lave. The Apoft'e a by tl)e #apfft& ? f j holy Ghoft, it is written that Simon received Water, and would have received the holy Ghoft for Money ;and many received the holy Ghofl before Baptifm, ind to Judge Children damned that be not Baptifed, it is Wicked. Mordant, By our lady, Sir, 1 believe that if my Child dye without Water % he is damned — Bonner, Tea, and fo do 1, and all Catholick men, good Ma- tter Mordant. - Smith, Well, my Lord, fuch Catholick, fuch Salva- tion. — Bonner, Well, Sir, what fay you to the Sacrament of Orders ? Smith, You may call it the Sacrament of Miforders, for all orders are appointed of God, bat as for your Shaving, Anointing, Greafing, Poling and Rounding, there are no fuch things appointed in God's Books, and therefore 1 have nothing to do to believe your orders ; and as for you, my Lord, if you had grace, or intelligence, you would not fo disfigure your fell as you do. Bonner, Sayeft thou fo now, by my Troth, and I wiBgofhave myfelf to anger thee ; ( withal, defiring me before he went to anfwer to thefe Articles*) Bonner, What fay you to the holy Bread and holy W 'at er, to the Sacrament of Anointing, and to all the reft of fuch Ceremonies of the Church} Smith, I fay they be Baubles for fools to play withal], and not for the Children of God to exercife themfelvcs in, and therefore they may go among the refufe. — Then went away Mr. Mordant, and my Lord- went to (having, leaving there certain Do&ors, to allay what they could do, of whom I was baited half an hour:, of whom I asked this queftion, Where were all vou in the days of K. Edward, that you fpake not that which you fpeak now ? — G)r» We were in England. Smitbfliijoxt then you had the Faces of men, but now you have put on I yoi:s p: c?s again ; you (hew your felves as full of malice as may be, for you have ior every time a vifor ; yea, and if another King Edward mould will ffcow y~i! whit I allow. -- Dr. In your Articles you allow not Auricular tonfejjiottt ■■- S-r.ith, I alb* it not, becaufe the Word alloweth ic not, nor commandetb it not — Dr. Wbyjt is Written,tbou (halt not hide thy Sins and Offerees, -- Smith, No, I do not, when I confefs them to Almighty God- Dr. Why, Tou cannot fay that you can hide them from God, and therefor* you muft undcrftand the words are ftohn, to he uttered to them that do not know them. Smith You have made a good anfwer.then muft the Prieft confefs him- felf to me, as I to him ; for I knew hiq faults and fscrets no more than he knows- lis pcrfectiteu bp tlje Capitis. Part 3. knows mine : And David faid, 7 will confefs my Sinr unto thee, Lord. £ And after fame more words pafled becween me and the Doftors, came in the Biihop from fhaving, and asked me ~\ How I liked him ? Smith, For footh ,You are even as wife as you were before you were fhaven. Bonner, Well, How ftandeth it, Mafler Doftors ? Have you done any good ? Dr. No, by my Troth, my Lord, we can do no good* — Smith, Then it is fulfilled which is written, How can an evil Tree bring forth good Fruit \ Bon. Nay, naughty Fellow, I fet theft Gentlemen to bring thee home to Chrift. Smithy Such Gentlemen, fuch Chrift's ; and as truly as they have that Name from Chrift, fo truly do they Teach Chrift. Bonner, Well, wilt thou neither hear them, nor me ? -- Smith,Yz s,l am compell'd to hear you,but you can't compel me to follow you. Bon. Well, thoufhalt be burnt at a Stake in Smichfield, if thou wilt not Turn,, Smith, And You fliall burn in Hell, if You Repent not. But, my Lord, to pnt You out of doubt, becaufe I am weary, I will ftrain Courtefie with You : I perceive You will not with Your Doftors come unto me, and I am not determined to come unto You, by God's Grace; for I have hardned my Face againft You,as hard as Brafs Then after many Railing %mtences, I was fent away. And thus have I left the Truth of my Answers in Writing, being thereunto defired by my Friends,xh&r you may fee how the Lord hach, according to His Promife, given me a Mouth and Wifdom to anfwer in His Caufe,for which I am condemued,and my Caufe not heard.] The laft Examination of Robert Smith before Bifhop Bonner, with hit Condem- nation in the Conjiflory. THe Second Day of July, I was, with my Brethren, brought into the Con- ftflory, and mine Articles Read before the Major, and the Sheriffs, with all the AJfifiants ; unto which I Anfwered. — Bonner, By my Faith, my Lord Mayor, 1 have (hewed him as much Favour at any man living might do, but I perceive all it l n ft, bath in him, and all hi* Company^ Smith, [ Ac this word, which he coupled with an Oath, came I in, and faid ] my Lord, it is written, Tou muff not Swear. Bon Ah,Mafter Controler ! art you come ? l.o, my Lord Mayor, this is Alafler Speaker, ( pointing to my Brother Tankerfi Id) andtbts is Majttr Controler, ( pointing to me ) and then began to Read my ^Articles. Smith, I Require You, my Lord, in God's behalf, unto whom pertaineth Your Sword, and Juftice, that I may here before Your Prefencc, anfwer to thofe Objeftions that are laid againft me ; and if any thing can be proved Herefia that I have faid, I will Recant before this Auditory, Mayor, Why Smlh, thou eanfi not deny, but this thou (aid'ft. Smith, Yes, I deny that which he hath Written, becauie he hath b ^h a..d,.dl Part 3, ^etfccttteo bp ti)t $aptfts. 113 added to, and diminifhcd from the fame; but what I have fpcken I will never deny. •-» Mayor, Wioy, thou Jpeakeft aga ; nftthe blejfed Sacrament of the Altar. — Smith, I denied it to be any Sacrament, and I do ft and here to make Proof thereof •, and if my Lord here, or any of his Do&ors, be able to prove either the Name or Ufage of the fame, I will Recant mine Error. — C Then fp* ke my Brother Tankerfield, and defended the Pro- bation of things which they cafl'd Herefie, 3 Unto which the Bi(hop An-, fwered.— Bon By my Troth, Mafter Speaker, you (hall preach at a Stake. — Smith, Well fworn, my Lord, you keep a good Watch, — Bonner, Well, Aiafter Controler, 1 am no Saint. — Smith, No, nor yet good Bifliop *, for a Bifhop, faith St. Paul, (hould be faultlefs and a dedicate Veflel unto God ; and are you not afhamed to fit in Judgment, and be a Blafphemer, Condem- ning nocents i — Bonner, WeU, Mxfter Controler, you. are Faultlefs, Smith fpeaking to the Mayor, faid, I require you in God's Name, that I may have Juftice : We are here this day a great many Innocents, that are wrongfully accufed of Herefie, and I require Youyif you will not feem. to be Fartial, let me have no more favour at your Hands, than the Apoftle had at the hands of Fefius & Agrippa, who being Heathens & lnfidel5,gave him leave not only to fpeak for himfelf, but alfo heard the probation of his Cauftx This require I at your Hands, who being a Chriftian Judge, I hope will not deny me that Right which the Heathen have fuffcred ; if ye do, then fhall all this Audience, and the Heathen fpeak ihame of your Fa& : For a City ( faith our SAVIOUR. ) that it budded on an Hill cannot be hid : If they therefore have the Truth, let; it come to light ; for all that do well co me to the Light, and they that do evil hate the Light. — Then the Mayor hanging down his Head faid nothing ; but the Bifhop told him he fhould preach at a Stake, and fo the Sheriffcried ( with the Bifcop ) Away with him. Thus came he before them four Times defiring Juftice, but could have none, and at length his Friends requiring, with one Voice, the ftme, but could not have it, they had Sentence ; and then being carried out, were brought in again, and had it every Man feverally given. • — But before the Bi(hop gave Sentence on Robert Smith, he told him in Derifion of his Brother Tankerfield, a Tale between a Gentleman and his Cock- -.- To which he anfwered, You fill the Peoples Ears with Phantafles & foolifli Tales, and make a laughing matter of Blood ; but if you v ere a true Bi- fhop, you fhould leave thele railing Sentence?,and fpeak the Words of God. — Bonner, Well, 1 have offered to that naughty Matter Sp"al;er, your Companion the Cook, that my Chancellor (hould here inftrutl him, but he hath here with great difdain for faken it. How fay eft thou, wilt thou have him ln- ftruft thee, and lead thee in the right Way ? Q, Smith it4 l^erfecuteD fep ti)t i^pt'fts. Part gs Sw'/fc, If Yoljt Chancel! cb tf'od, Friends, Ye have, feen & heard . the great Wrong that we have received this Day, and Ye are all Records, that we have de- fired the Probation of our caufe by God's Book, and it hath not been granted, but we are condemned, and our caufe not heard : Never- thelefs, M* Lord Mayor, for as much as heie You have exerciled God's Sword cauflefs, and will not hear the right of the Poor^ I commit my nighty G O D, that fball Judge all Men accordirg unto Righc, before whom we (hall both, ftand without Authority, and there will I ft and iii the Right to Yonr great Confufiori except You Re- pent, which the Lqrd grant You to do, ifit.be His Will. And then was I vvi.h the reft CT my Brethren carried away to JNemgate.: Vr as I can 1 have fet out the Truth of my i verity of mine unjuft Condemnation tor the Truth, God that it may not be laid to the cnarg'e of thee, O England* R Salvation, 3, 1 yray yoy^da gloria- Robert Smith. 1 thai you hate tie thing that is EviL ^ a full JleWicnofthechVftian Fortitude and y&L "i\\{ulMart]r y who[Q valiantly. & man{nty flood in the defence Part 3, tyzttttutm by fyt $mi&8> n$ defence of his Matter's caufe; and as thou feeft him here boldly ftand in Examination before the Bilhop & Doctors ; fo was he no lefs comfortable alfo in the Prifon among his Fella ws,who being together Prifoners in New* g«tc t d\<\ dady pray & exhort one aaother, and his care was not only (or thofe in che fame Prifon with him but for other Prifoners,to whom he fenC feveral goodEpiftles of Love & Exhortation ; and many were Converted by him from the Iniquity of the times ; fome of which Epiftles are as fol- lowech, A Letttr of Robert Smith'* to his Wife in Mcetre. Til GOD trur giveth Life and Light, and leadeth into reft, That breke r h Bonds, and bringeth out the Poor that are op pre ft, And keepeth merry f or the Meets, his Treafjre and his Store, E»cre4 thy Life in perfeft Love, both now and evermore • That as thoj halt be«»m to ground in Faith and fervent Love, Thou m yft be made a mighty Mount that never may remove, That chine Enfamrde may be (hewed among all thine Encreaie, That they may live and learn the like, and pafs their time in P«ace* Thy Salu^tnns that were Pent, I heartily retain, And fend thee Tevency time* as nuch to thee and thine again ; And for becaufe I kno v the Gold that thou d ft moll defire, 1 fend thee here a Paper foil, is fined in the Fire, In hope thou wilt accept it well, although it be but fmall, Becaufe I have no'np other good to make amends withal : For all thv free and friendly Fa&s which thy good Will hath wrought^ I fend thee furely for a fhift the thing tr/a't coft ms nought. Abft'ain from £11 tlngodlinefs •, in dread direS; your days, Foffeft not f?n,in any wife, beware of wicked Ways ; Hold f*ft your Faith unfeignedly, bui ; d as you have begtitl. And arm ydur felf in pereft Faith to do as you have dene, Left that 5 the wicked imke a mock that you'have, took iri hand, In leaving of the perf^cl Rotk to build upon the Sand: 'Beware thefefilrhy Pharifee?, th ir building is in Bio. d, Eat not wieh them in »nv wife, their Leaven*is not good, Their Salt is all un favour v, ai d under good intents Thev tn^intafn nil rheir Ktavery, and murde^; Innorents ', They feek to fe in ChriH's Seatand put him out of p' Aod.m-lH •!! mem chat may be rr)ade, his doings (to deface;' •They ke.-p hi.'n (frown wi-H BIT- and Bats, that made the blind to fee ; They make a God for Mice at;d Rats, and fay the fame is' He j ' Q.2 They 1 1 6 taetrecttteti t^ tije #apt'ft& Part 3; They fiiew. likeSheep,and fweatlikc Wolves, their Baits be all for Blood, They kill and Jhy the iimpie Sou's, and rib them of their good t The dark Iilufions of the Devil ha-h dimmed fo their Eyts t That thty cannot abide the Tiurh to ftir in any nife. And if You keep the perfect Path (as I have Hope Ton do ) Tou fha!) be fure to have fueh Shame *s they can put you to. For all that lead a Godly Life Anil furely fuffer Loft, And eke the World will leek their Shame, and make them kifs the Crofo Tc fhaB be Ki/lea 1 , faith Chrift, your Sorrows fhaQ, not Ctafe 3 And yet in your /iffliEiions i 1 am your ferfeft Peace : For in the World you (hall have Wo y becaufe you are TJnlnoven, dnd for becaufe you hate the World, the World trill Love his 0»*. Be fervent therefore to the Death againft all their Decrees, And God fhall furely Fi^ht lor thee againft thine Enemies. Commit thy Caufe unto the Lord, Revenge not any Evil, And thou fhalt fee the Wicked Want, when thou (halt have thy Wi% For all Afflictions that may faff, that they can fay or do, They are not fure of the Wealch we fhall attain unto. For I h.ve feen the Sinners fpread their Branches like a Bay^ And yet e'er one could turn his head were withered cleaa away Beware that Monty make you not in Riches to arife Againft the Gocdnefs of the LORD, amongft the Worldly.»ift * For many Mifchiefs it harh made, tba r may not be Expreft, And many Evils it hath begun, which may not be redrefs'd 1 For Mmey makech many a one in Ri hes to Rebel ; And he that makcth Gold a God, he hath a Soul to Sell : It maketh Kings to Kill and Slay, and wade their Wits in War^ In leaving of the Wolf at home, t~» hunt ihe Fox afar: And where they fhouli fee Jjftice done, and fet their Realm in Reft, By Mosey they be made a Mem, to fee the Poor Opprefs'd. It maketh Lords Obey the Laws that they do III and Nought: It makeih Biihops fuck the Blood, that GOD hath dearly Bought; And where thty mould be faithful Friends aid Fathers to the flock, By Monty they do turn ab »uc, even like a Weather-Cork The Pritft doth make a Money Me*n t to have again his Whores, To put away his wedded Wife and Children out of Doots : It holdeth bark the Bufband man, which may not be foiborn, And will not fuffer him to Sow and raft abroad his Com* In like cafe, it doth let again, when that the Seed they Sowe, It choakah up the Corn again, fo that it cannot grow* The Part 3. #etfecuteo bp tlje #api'fts. 117 The Hufb.md he would have a Wife with NobUs new and old ; The Wiie would have the Hi fband hang'd,that the might have his Gold. It nuketh Murders many a one, and beareth much with Blood : The Child would' fee the Parents fhin, to feife upon their Goods. And tho' it be a bleffed Thing, created in the kind, It is become an Evil thro' corruption of the Mind : For who fo playeth with the Pitch, his Fingers are defil'd, And he than maketh Geld a God, (hall furely be beguil'd. Be Friendly to the Fatherlefs, and all that are Opprefs'd, AffiiT them always out of hand, and fee them fet at Reft : In all your Doin/s y and your Duds, let Mercy ftiV) remain : For with the Meafure that you meet, (hall Tt be met again. Be always Lowly in your Life, let Love enjoy her own; The higheft Trees are feldom fure, and fooneft Overthrown, The Lions lack and fuffer fore irr Hunger and in Thirft, And they that do Opprefs the Poor, continue Dill Accutlt. The Bee is but a little Beaft in Body and in Sight, And yec (he bringeth more Encreafe than either Crow or Kite; Therefore beware in any wife, keep well your Watch al»ay t Be fure ot Oyl within your Lamp, let not ycur Light Decay % for Death defpifeth them that lack, and hateth them that have. And treaderh down the Rich and Poor together in the Grave. Exhort your Children to be Chafle, Rebuke them for their li), And let them not in any wife be wedded to their Will : Laugh not with them but keep them Low, {hew them no merry Cheer 9 Left thou do Weep with them alfo *, but biing them up n Fear' And let your Light and Living fhine, that >e be not Sufpeft To have the fame within ycur Stlf for which they aie Coned. Be Meek and Modeft, in 3 Mean let all your Deeds be done, That they which are without the Law may fee how right you Run. Keep well the Member in your Mouth,your Tongue fee that you Tatr.e • For out of little Sparks of Fire proceedeth out a Flame : And as the Poifon doth- exprefs. the Nature of the Toad, Even fo the Tongue doth manifeft the. Heart that feareth GOD s For therewith Blels we GOD Above, and therewith Curfe we Men 5 . And thereby Murders do arife thro* Women now and then : And feeing GOD hath given a Tongue, and put it under Power, The iurefi way is for to fee a Watch before the Door : For GOD hath (cc yoj in a Seat of double low degree, Firft unto GOD, and then to Man a Subject [or to be* I 1 1 8 ^ttttcut eu bp tlje papflte. p ar t £ I write not, that I fee in you thefe thing? to be fufpe&, But only fet before your face how Sin mould be corre& ; For Flefh and Bloo.1 I know you are, as other Womeoi be And if ye dwell in Fie(h and Blood, there is Infirmitie. ' Receive a Warning willingly that to thy Teeth is toid, Account the Gift of greater Price than if he gave thee Gold: A wife man ( faith Solomon ) a W*rnittj> will imbrace, A Fool will (ooner ( as he Jaith ) be fmttten on the face. And as your Me nbers muft be de*d from all things that are vain aven, £b by Bapiifm you are born co live with Chrifl again. Thus farewell, free and faithful Friend, the Lord that is above Encreafe in thee a perfefl: Faith, an^ lead thee in Ms Love ♦ And as 1 pray with perfect Love, a. d p>or >u, bitter Tears' For you and all that are at large aor ai *rn'mg the briars, Even fo I pray thee to prefer my Per ion and nff Bands Unto the EverlaQingGcd, that hath me in his hands, That I may paf 5 out of this- Pound wie.ein I am oppreft, Inclofed in a clod of Clay that here c n have no rd ; That as he hath begun in me his Mercies tinny one, I may attain to overtake m7 Brethren that be gme, That when that Death (hall do his worft. where he (ball point a place^ I may be able, like a man, to look him in the face ; For though he catch away my Cloak,, my Body into the Doft, Yet I am fure to fave a Soul when Death hath done his worft ; And though I leave a little Duft diflMved, without Blood, 1 mill revive it fafe agaiw, when God jhail fee it good; Foe my Redeemer, I am fure, doth live for evermore, And fittech high upon the Heavens, for whom I hunger fore, Even as the Deer, with deadly Wounds, efcaped from the Spoil, Doth hafte b v all the means he may, to feek unto the S nl, Of whom I hope to have a Grown that; always will lemain, And eke enjoy a perfect Peace for all my Wo ad Pain : The.God that given all encreafe, and leeketh ft ill to fave, Abnuwd in thee that per fed Peace which 1 do hope to have •, And I be-eecn the living God, to hold thee in his hand?; And wish thee even witrul my heart, the ble'Ting of my binds, Which I efleera of higher .Price than Peirl or nrrc' us Stttnei And man endure for evermore, when "'earthly ^things are ?o e *, For though the; Fire do coafume ourJTre.-Cjre <■ Sore, «Vec ftiall tlie goodnefs 61 the Lord endi^.e for evermore: And Part 3 ♦ mwtuub vy nje paptfts, u 9 And where thou art a Friend to him that is to me full dear, The God of Might make thee amends when all men fhall appear, That hath (hewed Mercv to the Meek, and rid them out of pain, And thus the Lord poffefs thy Spirit till we do meet again. If thou wilt have a Recornpence, Abide ftill in Obedience, Robert Smith'* Exhortation to hit Children. Give ear, my Children, to my Words,whom God hath dearly bcughr, Lay up my Law within Your Heart, and Print it in Your Thought : For I your Father have forefeet! the trail and filthy Way, Which Flefh and Blood would fallow fain, eve>: t > their own Decay* For all and every living Beaft their Crib do know full well, But Adams Heirs above the ieft are tedy to Rebel ; And all the Creatures on the Earth full we 1 ! cau keep their Way 7 Buc Mm above all other Beads is apt to go s,jlray : For Earth and Ailes is his Strength, his Glory and his Reign, And unto A&es at length fhall he return again J For Flefh doth nVurifh like a Flower, and grow up like a>Gra/3£ And is confumed in an Hour, as it is brought to pals. In me the Irnag' of Your Years, Your Treafure and Your Truft, Whom vou do fee before Your Face diffolved into E)ufl i For as You fee Your Father's Flefh converted into Clay, Even fo fhall Ye, M, Children dear, confume and wear away. The Sun and Moon, a d eke the Stars, that ferve the Day & Night 3 The Earth, ad every Harrhly Thing fbaH b« confuted qoite, And all the Worfhp that is wrought, thai: have been heard or fearr, Shall clean confume and come to nought, as if 't had never been. Therefore that Ye may follow Me, Your Fa her and Your Frie= d, And en er into that fame Life which never frail have End, I leave You hete a little Book for You .to look upon, That You may fee Your Farheis Fare when I am dead and gone; Who for the h< pe of Btavenly Things, while he did here Remain^ Gave over all his Golden Yea's in Prifon and in Pain t Where I among mine Imn Ba d , encloled in the Dark, A few Days before my Death dd Dedicate this Worlfj To You mine Heir? of Earthly Things, which I have left behind., ra r Te may Read ad Underfiand, a ;d keep it in Your Miud \ Thac m You ha*v< ? Even i'o You may Pofitfs the Fare which never ihall Decay. la i2o #etfecttfet) ftp ti)e t&apt'fts. Part 3, In following of Your Father's Foot in Truth, and eke in Love, That Ye may alfo be his Heirs for evermore Above : And in Example to Your Youth, to whom 1 wifh all Good, I Preach You hete a \ erfeft Faith, and Seal it with my Blood : Have GOD always before Your Eye«, in all Your whole Intents Commit not Sin in any wife, keep his Commandement?, Abhor that arrant Whore of ROME, and all her Blafphemies And drink not of her Decretals, nor yet of her Decrees. Give Honour to your Mother dear, Remember well her Pain, And Recomperxe her in her Age in like with Love again : Be always aiding at her Hand, and let her not Decay, Remember well Your Father's fall, that mould have been her Stayl Give of Your Portion to the Poor, sis Riches do arife, And from the needy naked Soul turf* not away your Eves : For he that will not hear tha CRY of fuch as are in N^ed, Shall Cry himfelf and not be heard, when he would hope to Speed. If God hath given You great Encreafe, and blefTed well Your Store, Remember You are put in Truft to minifter the more. Beware of foul and filthy Luft, let Whoredom have no place, Keep clean Your VelTels in the Lord, that He may You imbrace. Ye are the Temples of the Lord, for Ye are dearly Bought, And they that do defile the fame, (hall furely come to Nought* Pofiefs not Pride in any cafe, build not Your Nefts too high, But always have before Your Face, that Ye are Born to Die. Defraud not him that hired is, Your Labours to fuftain, But give him always out of hand his Peny for his Pain : And as Ye would that other Men againft You mould proceed, Do You again the fame to Them when they do ftand in Need 1 And part Your Portion with the Poor, in Money and in Meat, And feed the fainred fetble Soul with that which You mould Eat, That when Your Members lacketh Meat, and Cloathing to Your Back, You may the better think on them that now do live and Lack, Alk Counfel at the Wife, give Ear unto the End ; Refufe not You the fweet Rebuke of him that is Your Friend : Be Thankful always to the Lord, with Prayer and with Praife, Defire You Him in all Your Deeds for to direct Your Ways :, And Sin not like that Swearing fort, whofe Bellies beirg Fed, Confume their Years upon the Earth, from Belly unto Bed. Seek tuft, I fay, the Living GOD, fet Him alw3ys before, And then be fure that He will blefs Your Bafket and Your Store. And Part 3* f&etfecttteo bp t|je $apift& 1 2 1 And thus, If You direft Your Days according to this Book, Then (hall they fay, who fee Your Ways, how like Me You do look: And when You have fo perfe&ly upon Your Fingers Ends PofTeffed all within Your Book, then give it to Your Friends : And 1 befeech the Living GOD Replenilh You with Grace, That I may have You in the Heavens, and fee You Face to Face And tho' the Sword hath cue me of£ contrary to my Kind, That I could noc enjoy Your Love according to my Mind, Yet do I hope, when that the Heavens lhall vanifti like a Scrowl, I ftiall receive Your perfeft {nape in Body and in Soul ; And that I may Enjoy Your Love, and Ye Enjoy the Land, I do befeech the Living, GOD to hold You in His Hand. Faiewrl, My Children, from the World, where Ye muft yet remain^ The LOKD OF BO>TS be your Defence till we do Meet again. Fare* el my Love, and Loving Wife, my Children and my Friends, I hope to GOD to have You all, when all Things have their Ends. And if You do abide in GOD, as You have now begun, Your Courfe I'll warrant will be fhort, Ye have not far to Run : GOD grant You fo to end Your Years, as He (hall think it beft, That Ye may enter into Heaven, where 1 do hope to Reft. Robert Smith to hit Brotkir. AS Nature doth me bind, becaufe thou art my Blood, According to my Kind t© give thee of my Good, That thou may'ft have in Mind how I have run my Race, Although thou 'bide Behind but for a little Space, I give Thee here a Pearl, the Price of all my Good, For which I leave my Life to Buy ic with my Blood ; More worth than all the World, or ought that I can Note, Although it be clad in fuch a fimple Coat : For when I had obtain'd ths Pearl of fuch a Price, Then was I fure I gain'd the Way for to be Wife ; It Taught me for to Fight, my Flefti for to Defpife, To flick unto the Light, and for to leave the Lies, In fending out my Seed with Bonds and bitter Tears, That I might Reap with Joy in Everlafting Years, And have for all my Lof?, my Travel and my Pain, A Thoufand Tirr.es and more of better G«ods again •• And for becaufe tl.e Good that hath bfen got and gain'd, And that the LORD's Eleft hath Evermore Obtaind, R Is 122 #etfectttei> ftp tlje t&apfftg. Part 3. Is clofed in this Book, which I do give to Thee, Wherein I have my Part, as Thou thy Self may'ft fee ; In which I hope thou haft a Stock alfo in Store, And wilt not ceafe to Sail till GOD has made it more j I will Thee to Beware, be fuie to keep it Well, For if thou do it Lofe, thv P«rt (hall be in HELL And here I Teflifie before the i IVING GOD, That I deteft to do the Things that are Forbad : And as my Judgment is, my Body to be Brent, My Heart is furelv fet therewith to be Content. And flnce it is GOtJ's Will to put in me His Power, Upon His holy Hill to Fight againft this Whore, Full well I am Content, if He Allow it fo, To ftand with all my Might, the Whore to Overthrow : JEven with a willing Mind, the Death I will Out-face, And as I am Allured, the Battel to Embrace, That they which hear the Truth, how 1 have pafs'd the Pike, May fet afide their Youth, and Learn to do the like. And though it be my Lot, to let her Sutk my Blood, Yet am I well Adored, it (hall do her no Good i For (he is fet to Kill the Things ihe thinks Accurft, And (hall not have her Fill of Blood until fee be Burft. And when as thou (halt fee or hear of my Deceafe, Pray to the Living GOD, that I may pafs in Peace : And when I am at Reft, and rid out of my Pain, Then will I do the like for Thee to GOD again. And to my woful Wife and Widow Defolate, Whom 1 do leave Behind in fuch a Omple Sta^e, And CornpafTed with Tears and Mournings Many a One, Be thou her flaying Staff when I am dead and gone. My Mouth may not exprels the Dolours of my Mind, Nor yet my Heavinefs to leave her here Behind ; But as thou art my Bone, my Brother and my Blood, So let her have thy Heirt if it may do her Good : I to< k her from the World, and made her like the Crofi^ But if (he hold her own, (he lhall not fuffer L< fs ; For where (he had before a Man, unto her niike, That by the Force of Fire was Strangled at a Scake, Now (hall (he have a King to be her helping Hand, To whom pertains all . things that are within the Land. And Part 3 ; #etfectitei) by tl)t #apftt& 1*3 And eke my Daughter Dear, whom I Bequeath to Thee, To bs brought up in Fear, and learn the A, B, C, That (he miy grow in Grace, and ruled by the Rod, To learn to le d her Lite within the FEAR OF GOD, And always have in Mind, thy Brother being dead, That thou arc left behind, a Father in my Sread And thou my Brother Dear, and eke my Mother's Son, Come torch out of ail Fear, and do as I have done h And GOD (hall be thy Guide, and give thee fuch Increafe, That in the Fi^mes of Fire thou fhalc have perfect Peace ; Into Eternal Jov, and pafs out of all Pain, Where we (hall meet with Mirth, and never pare Again. If thou wijt do my Dau^hrer good, Be mindful of thy Brother's Blood, TEacb me, O LO R D, to walk thy Wayts, my Living to Amend, And I (hall keep it all mi Dayes^ even to my Lives End : Give me a Mini to underpaid, fo fhall 1 never fiart, But I fhall keep all thy Precepts, even wholly with my Heart ; Make we to go a ptr / eft Pace in that 1 have begun, For all my Love and my Deltght is m thy Hayes to Run : EncUne my Heart unto thy Wayes, fet thou there n my Thought, And let me not coafume my Dayts to Covet that is Nought i O quicken me in all thy Wayes the World for to Deftift, And from all fond and fooliflj Toys, turn thou avay mint Eyes l O plant me in thy perfect Word, which is to me fo Dear, Lay up thy Laws within my Heart, to keep me ftM in Fear ; And rob me of that great Rebuke, which I do fear full Sore ; For all thy judgments and thy Laws endure for Evermore. Behold t O L O R D, in thy Precepts is all my whole Delight ; O quicken me in all thy Wayes, that 1 may walk Aright. An Epifile to the Perfecuted Flock of CHR I ST, and to all that Love GOD Unfeignedly, and intend to Lead a Godly Ltfe, according to his Gofpel, and to Per fever e in his Truth unto the End. E not a r raid, moft dearly beloved in our Saviour Jgfus Chrift 9 at thefe „ mod perilous Days, wherein by the fuffering of God, the Prince of Datknefs is brcken kofe, and ragech in his members againft the Elett of God with all Cruelty, to fet up again the King Urn of Anti-chrift, againft whom fee that ye be lirong in Faith to refift his mod devilifh Do&rins with the pure Gofpel of God Arming your felves with Patience, to R 2 abide B i24 #erfecttteo by tlje #apt'ft& Part 3. abide whatsoever fhall be laid to your charge for he Truths fake, know- ing that thereun'O you are called, roc only to believe in him,buc alfo to fufferforhim : Oh ! how happy are ve, that in the fi^ht of GOD are counted worthy to fuffer for the Teftimony of Chrift.quit therefore your ielves( O my loving Brethren ! ) and rejoice in him for whom you fuffer, for unto you do remain the unfpf akable Joy?, which neither the Eye hath fecn f nor the Ear hath heard, neither the Heart of Man is able to com- prehend in any wife 1 Be not afraid of the bodily Deash, for your Names are written in the Bo k of Li e : And the Prophets do record, That in the fight of the Lord precious is the Death of his Saints. Watch therefore and pray that ye be not prevented in the Day of Temptation: Now coroech the day of your Trial, wherein the Waters rage, and the ftormy Winds blow ; now mail it appear whether you have builded upon the fleeting Sand, or upon the unmoveable Rock CHRIST,which is the Foundation of the Prophets and Apoftles, whereon every H< ufe that is builded groweth into an Holy Temple of the LORD, by the mighty working of the Holy Ghofi: Now approacheth the day of your 2?<*»*/, wherein it is required that you (hew your felves the valiant Soldiers of Chrift Jefus, with the Ar- mour Of GOD, that ye may be able tofiandfaft againft all the Crafty /ijjaults of the Devil CHRIST Is Tour Captain, and Ton are His Soldie-s, whofe Cognizance is the Crofs, to the which He "willingly Bumbled himfelf, even unto the Death, aud thereby fpoiled hi? Enemies, and now Triumpheth He over them in the Gl>ry of his Father, making Interceflion for them that do here remain to fuffer the Afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his M)flical Body : It behoveth therefore every One that will be accounted his Scholar, to take up his own Crofs, aid follow him, as you have him for Example ; and I allure you, that he being on your fide, nothing (hall be able to prevail againft you \ and that he will be with you even to the Worlds end, you have his promife in the 28th of Matthew, he will go forth with his Hoft as a Cor qneror to make a C01 queft •, he is the Man that fitteth on the white Horfe crowned with Immortality, and ye Bre- thren are his Fellowfhip, whereof he is theHerd : he hath your hearts in his hand, ss a bow bent after his godly will, he (hall dire& the fame ac- cording to the riches of his glory, into all fpiritual and heavenly Cogita- tion j he is faithful and will not fuffer you to be further affaulted than he will give you flrength to overcome, and in the mofl danger he will make a way that you may be able to bear it. Shrink not therefore,dear hearts, when ye fhall be called to anfwer for the hope that is in you ; for we have the Comforter, even the Spiritcf Truth which was fent from the Heavens to teach us •, he mall fpeak in us,he fhall ftrengthen us *, what is he then that fhall be able to confound us i Nay, what Tyrant is he that now boaft- eth Part 3. #erfectttet> bp tlje $apt'ft& 12? eth rrmfelf of hisftrength to do mifchief, whom the Lord (hall not with his Spirit, by the Mouth ot his Servants ftnke down to Hell- fire ; \ ea, fuddainly will the Lord bring down the glory of the Proud Philiflim by the hands of his Servant David ; their ftrength is in Shield and Spear, but our help is in the Name of the Lord, which made both Heaven and Earth \ he is Our Buckler, and our WaB, a firong Tower of defence, he is our God, and we are his People; he fhail bring the counfels of the urgodly to nought, he (hall take them in their own Nee, he (hall deftroy them in their own Inventions, the right Hand of the Lord (hall work this Wonder ; his Power is known amongft the Children of men ; their Fathers have felt it, and are confounded ; in like manner (hall they know thac there is no counfel againft the Lord,when their fecrets are open'd to the whole World, and are found to be againft the Living God ; work they never fo craftily, build they never fo ftrongly, yet down (hall their Babel fall, and the Builders themfelves (hall then be fcattered upon the face of the Earth as Accurfed of God ; the Juft (hall fee this, and be glad, and praife the Name of the Lord, that fo Marvelloufly hath dealt with his Servants, as to bring their Enemies under their feet ; then (hal) the fear- ful Seed of Cain Tremble and Quake *, then fhall t f ■ mocking Ifhmaelites be caft out of the Door •, then (hall the Prcud t\imrod fee his labour loft ,• then (hall the Beaft of Babylon be trodden under foot : then (hall the Scribes and Vharifees for madnefs Fret and Rage \ then (hall their pain- ted Wtfdom be known for extream folly; then fliall the Bloody Dragon be void of his prey ; then (hall the Whore of Babylon receive double Ven- geance ; then fliall they fcratch their Crewns,fox the fall of their Miflrefs Harlot,whom they now ferve for filthy Lucre, when no man (hall buy their Wares any more \ then (hall the Popijh Priefthood cry, Weal away, with care 3 even when the Lord (hall help his Servants, which day is not far off, the day wherein the Kingdom cf Antichrift (hall have an end, and never rife any more *, in the mean time, abide in certain and fure hope,cieaving unto the promifes of GOD, which in their own time (hall be fulfil ed. What better Quarrel can you have to give your lives for, than the Truth it felf ? Thac man that giveth his Lift tor the Truth, taketh the readieft way to Life : He that hath the Popes Curfe for theTruth,is fure of Cbrift's Blefling. Well then, my Brethren ! what (hall now ie^ but that you go for- wards as you have begun ? Nay,rather Run with theRimner/,that you may obtain the appointed glory : Hold on the right way, look not back, have the eye of your heart fixed upon GOD,and fo run that you may get hold of it: Caft away all your worldly Pelf, and worldly Refpe&s, as the Fa- vour of Friends, the Fear of Men, Senfnal Affetlion, Refp'8 of Perfons, Honour, Vraife, Shame, Rebuke, Wealth, Poverty, Riches i L.vids, VojJ-fJi»ns y ear rial 126 tytttttttttn t>p ti)e 0apt'flS, Part 3. carnal Fathers & Mothers Wife & Children, with the Love of yaar oip« fehts ; and in refpecl: of that heavenly Tteafure you look tor, let all thtf j be denied a- d utterly refufed of you, fo that in no condition they do abate your Zeal, or q tench vour Love towards God •, in this cafe make no account of them, bu rather repute them as vile in comparifon of Ever- laftingLiie; away wi h them as Thorns that choak the heavenly Seed of the Gofpel, where they be fu^fered to grow ; they are burthens of the flelh, which encumber the Soul, exchange ihem therefore, ' beieech you, for advantage ; doth not he gain that findeth hedvenly & \m nortal Trea- fure, for Eathly and Corruptible Riches * Loofeth that man any thing Which of his carnal Father and Mother isforlaken, when therefore he is received of God the Father to be his Child and Heir in Chrift ? Heavenly for Earthly, for Mortal, Immortal, for Tranptory Things Permanent t is great Gains to a Chriftian Confcience. Therefore as I began, 1 exhort you in the Lord not to be afraid ; flirtnk not my Bret hren, Miftruft not God, be of good Comfort, Rejoice in the Lord, hold fa ft your Faiths and continue to the End ; Deny the World, and take up the Crofs, and follow him which is your Leads man, and is gone before ; If you Suffer with Him, you fhall Reign with Him ? What way can You glorifie the Name of your Heavenly Father better, than by fuflfering death for hb Son's fake ? vVhat a Spefta de fhall ic be to the World to behold to godly a fellowfhip as You Servants of God, in fo juft a Quar- rel as the Gofpei of Chrift is, with fo pure a Confcience, fo ftrong a Faith, And fo lively a Hope, to offer Your felves to fuffer moR cruel Torments at the hands of God's Enemies, and fo to end Your days in Peace to receive in the Refurre&ion of the Righteous lite Everlafting ? Be ftrong therefore in Your Battel, the Lord God is on Your fide, and his Truth is Your Caufe, and againft You be none but the Enemies of the CSrofs of Chrift, as the Serpent and his Seed, the Dragon with his Tail, the marled man of the Beaft, the OfF-fpring of the Pharifees, the Congregation Malignant, the Generation of Vipers and Murtherers, as their Father the Devil hath been from the beginning. To conclude, Such are they a? the Lord God hath always Abhorred, and in all Ages Refifted and Over- thrown, GOD from whom nohing is hid, knoweth whit thev are, he tha: fearcheth the hearts of Men, He hath found out them to be Crafty, Subtil, full of Poffon, Proud, Difdainful, Si iff- necked, Devowers, Ravenours, aad Barkers againft the Truth, Filthy and Shamelefs ; and therefore doth the Spirit of God by the Mouthes of his holy prophe r s and Apofiles Call them by the nancies of Fxes, Serpents, Coekatrices, Lyons, Leopards, Buds, Bean, Wolves, Dogs, Swine, Beafts \ teaching us thereby to under- stand tbac their Natural Inclination is to Deceive, Poifon and Deftroy as much Part $♦ i&etfecttten b^ ti)e $ap*ft& 127 much as in them lieth, the Faithful & Eleft of God : But the Lord with his right Arm (ha!) defend his little Flock againft the wholeRabblement of thefe Worldlings, wheh have confpired againft him; he hath num- bred all the hairs of his Childrens heads, fo that not one of them fhall periCb without his Fatherly will ; he keepeth the Sparrows, much more will he pieierve them whom he hath purchafed with the Blood of the Im- maculate Lamb } he will keep them until the hour appointed,wherein the Name of God (ba'l be glorified in his Saints ; in the mean time lee them work their wills, lee them Envy, let them Malignejet them Blafpbime^Qt them Cur ft, Ban, Betray, Whip, Scourge, Hang and Burn ', for by this means God will try his Eleft, as Gold in the Furnace, and by thefe Fruits fhall they alfo bring themfelves to be known what they be for all their Sheep- ik-ns ; for as he that in fuffering patiently for the Gofpel of God is there- by k iown to be of Chrirf, even fo is the Perfecutor or him known to be a member of Antichrift : Befides this, their excream cruelty {hall be a means the fooner to provoke God to take pity upon his Servants, and to deftroy them that fo Tyranniouily entreat his People ; as we may learn by the Hiftories, as well in the Bondage of Jfrael under Pharoah in zsggypt, as alfo> in the miferable Captivity of Judah in Babylon, where when the People oi God were in raoft extream Thraldom, then did the Lord ftretch forth his mtgbty Tower to deliver his Servants ; and tho' God for a time fufTered them co be exalted in their own Pride, Yet (hall they not efcape his Vengeance, To conclude, My Brethren, I commit You to God and the Power of His Wcrd, which is able to eftablifli You in ail Truth, His Spirit be with You, and work alway, that Ye may be mindful of Your Duties towards him 3 whofe Ye are, both body and Soul, whom fee that Ye love, ferve, dread and obey, abo^e all worldly Power s t and for nothing un^er the Heavens defile Your Conferences before God: Diffemblc not with his Word, God will not be mocked i Nayjthey that difTemble with him deceive thea;felves,fuch fhall the Lord deny and caff out at the laft Day ; fuch, 1 fay, as bea< two Faces in one Hoon, fuch as Play on both hands, fuch as Deny the known Truth, fuch as t bfiinately Rebel agasnfl him ; all fuch, with their Partakers^ fhall the Lord Deftroy : God defend You from all fuch, and make Yots Perfedt unto the End, Your Sorrow fhall be turned into Joy.. The Grace and Peace of G D the FATHER, and our LOR D JESVS CHRIST, bt mth you all, AMEN. Robert Smith 128 #etfe«ttefc by tlje papiftg. Part $♦ ^ Letter fent to his Wife, Anne Smith. Tf/r Gfld 4»^ Father Eternal, which brought again from Death our Lord Jejus Cbrift, keep thee, dear Wife, now and ever, Amen, and all thy Varents a *d Friends ; / p>aife God for his Mercy, I am in the fame fiate that ye left me, rather better than worfe, looking daily for the living God before whom I hunger full fore to appear, and receive the Glory of which I trufi thou art willing to be a partaker ', I give God mofi hearty thanks therefore, defiring thee if all Loves, to ft and in that Faith which thou baft received, and let no man take away the Seed that Almighty God hath fown in thee ; but lay bands of Everlafiing Life, which [hall ever abide, when both the Earth and all earthly Friends (hall perifh, defiring them alfo to receive thankfully our Trouble, which is Momentary and Little, and as St. Paul faith, not worthy of the things which [hall be (hewed on us, that we patiently carrying our Crofs, may attain to the place where our Saviour Chrifl is gone before, to the which J befeecb GOD of his Mercy bring vs fpeedily : I have been much troubled about your deliverance, fearing much the Perfwafions of^Vor Idlings, and have found a friend which will, 1 trufi, find a mean for you, if you be not already provided ; defiring you in any cafe, to abide fuch Orders as thofe my Friends (hat appoint in GOD, and bear well in mind the words which 1 fpake at our departing, that as GO D hath found us and alfo elected us worthy to fuffer with him, we may endeavour our felves, to follow up- rightly in this our Vocation,defiringyou to prefent my hearty Commendations to all our Friends, and efpecially to your Parents, keeping your matters clofe in any wife : Give mofi hearty Thanks to my Friends, which only for our caufe are come to Wind for: Continue in Prayer, do well, be fauhlefs, in all things, beware cf Abominations, keep clean from (in, pray for mi as I do for you ; and mofi entirely defire you to fend me word if you lack any thing : The Lord Jefus \referve you and yours, Amen, From Newgate the i y th of April, Your Hufband, Robert Smith. A Sententious Letter of Robert Smith's to his Wife. SEek firfi to love God dear Wife, with your whole heart, and then fhall it be eafie to love your Neighbour, (l) Be friendly to all Creatures, and e(peciaU) to your own Soul- (;) Be always an Enemy to the Devil and the World, but efpecially to your own Flejh (4) In hi aring good things, joyn the Ears of your Head and fSeart together. (j) Seek Vnity and Qnietnefs with all men, but efpecially with ^our Confcience ; for he will not eafily be entreated. (6) Looe all men, but efpecially your Enemies' (7) Hate the fins that are fafi, but efpecially thofe to come. (8) Be as ready to further your Enemy as Fart 3. i&etlmttetj bp t!je $apf ft& i a? jta *'/ to hinder you, that you may be the Child of God. (9) Remember that God hath hedged in your Tongue, with the Teeth and Lips, that it might /peak undtr Correction. (10) Be ready at all times to look to your Brother's Eye 3 hut efpecially to your own Eye ; for he that warmth others of that he himfelf is faalty, doth give his Neighbour the clear Wine y and keepetb the Dregs for himfelf. (1 1) Shew Mercy unto the Saints for Chrifis [ake,and chrifr fhaB reward you for the Saints fake, (12J Amongft all other Pr if oners vi fit your own Soul, for it is inclofed in a Perilous Prtf on. (i;j Jf you mil love God, hate Evil, and you fhaB obtain the Reward of Well-doing. (14) Thus fare you weB, good Anne; have me heartily commended to aU that love the Lord unfeignedly \ 1 hefeech you have me in your Prajer while I am living, and 1 am affurcd the Lord will accept it: Bring up my Children and yours in the fear of God, and then (hall I not fail, but receive you together in the overlaying Kingdom of God, which J go unto. Your Hufband, Robert Smith* Content thy felf with Tatience, v With Chrifl to bear the Crofs of Vain, Which can and wiB thee Rtcompence A Tbouf and fold with Jojes again t Let nothing caufe thy Heart to Quail', Lanch forth thy Boat, hoyfe up thy Sail, Tut from the Shore, And be thou fure thou (halt attain Unto the Port that Jhall remain For evermore. ^f This Robert Smith, the valiant and conftant Martyr of Chrift, thus replenifhed, as you have read, with the fortitude of God's Spirit, was condemned at London by Bifhop Bonner, the 12th Day of July, and fuffered Death at Vxbridge the 8th of Auguft, 1 f c c. About this Time died Stephen Harwood at Stratford, and Thomas Fuji at Ware Alfo William Haile of Thorp in the County of EJfex, was condemned and burnt: When he received the Sentence of Condemnation, he gave this Exhortation to the Lookers on, Ah good People! faidhe, Beware of this Jdilatry, and this Antichrtff, pointing to the Bifhop of London : He was burnt at Bamet. George King, Thomas Leys & John Wade being Prifoners in Loiards Tower, fell lick and died, and were buried by fome of the faithful Brethren- William Andrew being twice brought before Bonner upon Examination, Manfully flood in the Defence of his Religion ; at length through ftrait handling in the Prifon of Newgate, there he loft his Life. S Rohrt i 3 o tyttlttuttn bv tlje #apfft& Part 3* ^o^rt SamueU committed to Ipfwicb Goa!,and from thence removed to jy^rir/c^where Bp. Hopton^v his Chancellor, were the caufe of his being kept very cloie prifoner at his rirft coming,where he was chained bolt up- right to a Poft,keeping him fome t me only with a fmall morfel of Bread, and a little Water \ he luffered Death the %\th of Augvft 15-5-9 Next after wa? William Allen of Walfmgham ,Labourcr -, upon Examinati- on, the Biihop ;fkcbim, Why he was imprifoned ? He laid, it was becaufe he would not follow the Crofs ; and faid, if he faw the King and Queen follow the Crofs, or bow down to it, he would not; for which, Sentence of Death was g/>/Theie is no Law to tranfgrefs that I know. « A.ccufer,M>r wili not know. Mi Lord, tu\ himwhtnhe received the Sacra- ment. . . . [Coo feeing tl e Accufer fo bold, faid to the Bifhop ] Ler him fit down and examine me himtelf : but the Bilnop would not hear that ; but after fome ether difcourie,the Bifhop afkt him, Whethtr he would not obey the King's Laws ?-- Coo, As tar ; s they agree with the Word ©f God, I will obey them « Bp Whether th?y agree with the Word of God or not, we Are bound to Obey them if the Kin{ were an Infidel. <•- Coo, If Shadrach, Me- fjheeh and Abednego had fo done, Nebuchadnezzar had not corfefleu the living Gcd— - This Roger Coo was an aged man, and after his fundry Troubles and Conflict with his Adverfaries, at length was committed to the Fire at Yexford in the County of Si^o/*,the nth of Auguft, 1 f ?f. In the fame Month Thomas Cobb of Haveril, was burnt in the Town of Tbatford. And George Catmer '<*nd Rob Streater of Httht, Anthony Burveard cf Calet, George Brcdiridge of Bromfitld, and James Tutty of Brenchly, were bro't before Thornton Bifhop of Dover ^ and Examined particularly touching the Sacrament of the Altar , Auricular Conftfjion, and other fuch like Cere- monies. — To which Catmer Anfwe^ed on this wife, Chrift fitteth in Heaven on the Right Hand of GOi3 the Father ; and therefore 1 do not believe Him to be in the Sacrament of the Altar, but he is in the worthy Receiver : Part 3* tyttfttrxttn ftp tlje t&apfttig. 131 Receiver : And your Sacrament, as you ufe it, is an abominable IdoL George Brodbridge faid, As for your holy Bread and holy Water, and your Mafs, I utterly defie them. They were all five condemned and burnt at Canterbury the Sixth Day of Auguft if 5c . About the middle of the fame Month, Thomas Hayward and Join Coreway were both burnt at Lichfield* • Tht Perfections and Sufferings of Robert Glover. IN September, iffy, there was a privy Comniiflion fent down to the Mayor of Coventry to apprehend John Glover, Brother of the faid Ro- bert ; but J->hn having fome Notice of the Officers coming, efcaped ; but they fearching in an upper Room fouiid Robert Glover lying fick in Bed, and had him away before the Sheriff, who being detained till the Bifhop came,was then Examined * A Relation of his Troubles & Gonfli&s he had with che Bilhop he fent his Wife in a Letter j fome Paffages, the moft material of which are ss follow eth. To my intirely beloved Wife, Mary GloveK THE Peace of C01 icience which pafleth al! Undemanding, the fweet confolar.ii g Ccmtort, Strength and Boldnefs of the Holy Ghoft, be continually increafed in our hearts, through a fervent, eat neft & ftedfaft Faith, in our moft dear and only Saviour Jefus Chrift, Amen. I thank you heartily moft loving Wife, for your Letters fent unto me in my Im- prifonment, I read them with Tears more than Once or twice, for Joy and Gladnefs, that God had wrought in you fo merciful a Work : Thefe your Letters, and the hearing of your moft godly proceedings, and con- ftant doing from time to time, have much revived and comforted me at al) Times, and (hah be a goodly Testimony with you at the great Day, If I would have given place to worldly Reafons,thefe might have mo- ved me.,/?r/£, the foregoing of you and my Children, the confideration of the ftare of my Children, being yet lender of Age and Youn?, apt and inclinable to Vertue and Learning, and To having the more need of my afijfVu.e, being not altogether defticute of gifts to help them withal, poflellioi is above the common fort of Men vbe anfe I was never called to be a Preacher or Minifter, (becaufe of my Sicknefs) fear of Death in Im~ prifonment before I mould come to my Anfwer, and fo my Death to be unpiofltable But thefe and fuch like, I char k my heavenly Father,who of his infinite Mercy infpired me with the Gioly Ghoft for his Sen's fake,pre- vailed not in mc,but when 1 had by the wonderful permiflion of God fal- len into their hands, at the firft fight of the Sheriff, Nature a little abafh* ed,yet e're ever I came to the Pnfon,by the working of God and through S 2 his 132 #ctfecttte5 ftp t|>e #aptft*. Part 3, his goednefs Fear departed. I faid to the Sheriff at his coming unto me, What Matter have you to Charge me withal I He anfwered, Tou (had know when you come before the Maflers. I look'd to have been bro't before the Maflers, and to have heard what they could have burthened me withal, but contrary to my expe&ation, I was committed forthwith to the Goal, not being called to my Anfwer : Little Juftice being (hewed therein ; but the lefs Juftice a Man findech at their hands, the more Confolation in Confcience fhal) he find from God : For whofoevtr is of the World y the World will love him. After I came into Prifon, and had repofed my felf there a while, I wept for Joy and Gladnefs my belly full, muling much of the great Mer- cies of God ; and as it were faying to my fell after this fort. Oh Lord ! Who am I, on whom thou (liouldefl beflow this great Mercy, to be Numbred among the Saints that Suffer for the G offers fake I And fo beholding, and eonfidering on the one fide, my- Imperfe&ion, Urioblenef?, fit.ful Mi- fery and Unworthinefs •, and on the other fide, the greatnefs of GOD's Mercy, to be called to fo high Promotion, I was as it were amazed, and overcome for a while with Joy and Gladnefs; concluding thus with my felf in my heart, Oh Lord ! Thou (heweft Tower in ffeaknefs, Wifdom in Foolifhnefs, Mercy in Sinfulnefs ! Who (had let thee to chufe where and whom thou wilt ? As I have %,ealoufly Loved the Confeffwn of thy Word,fo ever. thought I my felf to bt moft unworthy to be a partaker of the Affliction for the fame. Not long after came unto me Mr. Brajbridge, Mr. Phinees, and Mr. Hop" hns, Travelling with me to be difmifled upon Bonds : To whom my Anfwer was ( to my remembrance, after this fort J For as much as the Maflers have Imprifoned me, having nothing to burthen me withal, if J fit odd enter into Bonds 1 fhould in fo doing Accufe my felf and feeing they have no matter to lay to my charge^ they may as well let me pafs without Bonds as with Bonds. And when they were fomewhat importunate, I faid to one of them, That Liberty of Confcience was a precious Thing $ And took as it were apaufe, lifting up my heart to GOD, earneftly for his Aid and Help, that 1 might do the Thing that would pleafe Him : And fo when they had let their Suit fall, my heart, me thought, was wonder- fully comforted. Afterward, debating the matter with my felf, thefe Confiderations came into my head ; I have from time to time with good Confcience ( GOO I take to Record ) moved all fuch 1 had Conference withal, to be no daEitrs in God's matters, but to (hew themfel-ues after fo great a Light and Khowlege, Hearty, Earnefi, Conftant and Stable, in fo manifefi a Truth, and not to givt flitce one jot contrary to the farm \ now thought 7, */ / {hall withdraw my felf, Part ?♦ #etfectttet) bp tlje #apift& 133 felf, and make any fhifts to full my orrn Ned out of the Collar, 1 fhaU give great offence to my weak Brethren in Chrijt, and advantage to the Enemy, to flinder God's Word ; it mil he faid, he hath been a great bolder of others to be earnefl and fervent to fear no worldly Perils or Dangers, but he himfelf will give no fuch Example. Wherefore I tho't it my bounden Duty, both to GOD and Man, being ( as ic were ) by the great Goodnefs ot GOD marvelloufly called and ap- pointed hereunto, to fet afide all Fear, Peril and Dangers, all worldly Refpeds and Confiderations ^and like as I had hereto, according to th« meafure of my fmall Gift,from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted and perfwaded, all that profefs God's Word manfully, to perfift in the Defence of the fame, not with Sword and Violence, bat with Suf- fering and lofs of Life, rather than to defile themfelves again with the Tfhorifh Abominations of the Romifh Antichrifl : So the hour being come with my Fad & Example to Ratifle & Confirm the fame to the Hearts of all true Believers; and to this Endj ( by the afliftance of God's Holy Spitity I refolved my felf with much Peace of Confeience, willingly tofuftain whatfoever the Romifh Anticbrifi mould do againftme: So I remained a Prifoner about Ten Days in Coventry^ being never called to my Anfwer, contrary to Law, they having no Warrant to Apprehend me, but my El- der Brother : GOD lay not their extream Doing againfi me to tbtir Charge at the great Day. The fecond Day after, the Bifliop coming to Coventry, the Goaler was ordered to carry* me before him •, when I came before the Bilhop, he faid 3 He was my Biflwpfor lack of a better^ and willed me to fubmit my felf. — G!o- frr,I am not come to accufe my felf; what have You to lay to my charge ? — Bifhcp, Are you Learned ? -- Glover, Smally Learned. -- The Chancellor ftancing bv, faid, 7 trat a M*fter of Art,— Then the Bpt laid to my charge, my not coming to Church,- Here 1 might have dallied with him,and puc him to his proofs knowing that none of theCitizenswereable to prove any fuch thing a a^nft me,but I anfwer'd I neither had,nor would come at their Churches long as the'rMafs was ufed thereto fave,if Ihad thero,five hun- dred lives ; I willed him to (hew me one jot or tittle in the a'cripture for the proof & defence ot the Mafs.-- He anfwer'd,/fr came to Teach t and not to be Taught. -- Glovi* y \ was content,to learn of him fofar as he was able to teach me by the Word of God -. Bifhop, Wbo/W/ Judge the Word ? Glover, Chrift was con ent the Heople mould judge of his Doftrine by learching the Scriptures and lo was 'Paul ; ! am content the Primitive Church next the Apoftles Time, ftVuld jud^e betwixt you & me. But he r£fufed to be judged by thele. .-- Then he laid. I am your Bifhrp, and therefore you mvft believe ms* -• Giover, U vouiay Black is White, muft I fay as you fay ? — C Beie i34 #et&cttte& top tfje '#aptft$. Part 3, -— - C Here the Chancellor noted me to be Arrogant, becaufe I would not give place to my Bifhop. ] — Glover , If you muft be believed becaufe you are a Bifhop, why find you fault with the People that believed Latimer, Ridley & Hooper, who were Bifliops? --- Bifhop, Becaufe they were Herencks. — - Glover, And may not You Err ?— To which the Bifhop inftcad of making anfwer, afierted his Authority, &c> The next day after I was had to Lichfield, which at firtt difmuraged me, confidering my weaknefs of Body, until I confidered the fame God that had preferved me,was able to preferve me there, fo long as I put my Truft in him. When 1 came to Lichfield, the fame Night I was put in a Prifon, where I continued until 1 was condemned, in a place next to the Dungeon, a narrow Room, ftrong of Building, and very Cold, with fmal] Light, and there I was allowed a bundle of Straw, inftead of my Bed, without any thing to fit down upon ; but GOD of his great Mercy { through Prayer ) gave me great Patience that Night, fo that it it had been his Pleafure,! could have been contented to have ended my Life : the Bifhop's Maa came to me in the Morning, who was my Keeper, to whom 1 faid, This is a great Extremity ; GOO [end us Patience ; and laid no more. Then they were content that I (hould have a Bed of my own procuring, but I was allowed no help Night nor Day,nor Company of any Man, not- withftanding my great Sicknefs, nor yet Paper, Pen, Ink or Books, fave my NewTeftament in L*M»,&another little Book which I gotjn privately. About Two Daysafter, the Chancellor and one Temfey a Prebendary came to the Prifon, and exhorted me to conform to the Bifhop, and to the Church, -- Glover, I refufe not to be ordered by that Church that was ordered by the Word of GOD. — Chancellor, How knov you the Word of Cod but by the Church} •--« Glover, The Church fheweth which is the Word of God, therefore the Church is above the Word of God : This is no good Reafon in Learning : For it is like unto this, John (hewed the People who was Chrift, Ergo, John was above Cbrtft. •--• Chancellor, He tame not to Reafon with me* — - So I remained without any further Con- ference with any Man by thefpace of Eight Days,t\W the Bifhop came; in Which Time I gave my U\f continually to Prayer & Meditation : I found in my felf daily an amendment of Health in my Body t and increafe of Peace in Confcience, and many Confolations from GOD, by the help of. his Holy Spirit , and fometimes a Tafte and Glimmering of the Lite to Come, though the Enemy ceafed not many Times, fundry Ways to /I (fault me. When the Bifhop c^me to Lichfield, I was had before him in a By Chamber, next my Prifon, when 1 came and faw none but bis Officers, Chaplains and Servants, except an old Prieft, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my Heart to GOD for his merciful Help and Affiftance. Some Part 3. f&etfccttteD bp tfje ?&ap!tts, 13^ Some difcourfe at that time the Bifhop bad with this faithful Martyr concerning the Sacrament and Gonfeffion, the ulual Snares *, but his laft Examination, when he was Condemned, I do not find upon Record : buC this 1 find noted, that after Condemnation,this Servant oi the Lord was under fume exerdfe of heavinefs,and dulnefs of fpirit, and defolate of aj] Spiritual ConfoJation, and full of much difcomfort and unaptnefsto bear the bitter Oofs of Martyrdom, ready to be laid upon him. Whereupon, he fearing in himfelf left the Lord had utterly withdrawn his wonted Fa- voui from him, made hi? condition known to one Auftin Brenher, his faith- ful Fr'erd how that he had earneftly Piayed Day and Night to the Lord, yer could not receive motion nor fenfe of any comfort from him. Auftiti ex o r 'ed himpaciently to wait theLord's pleafure,and howioever hispre- fent reeling was, Yet feeing his Caufe was juft and true, to flick Cenftamly to rie fame, and not to doubt but the Lord in his good time would vific him a d fa is*ie hi defire wi.h plenty of Confolation *, The next Day,as he v a fn jng to the pi ice of Execution, he was fo mightily Replen Ihed with ho y Comfort a d heavenly Joyts, that he cried out to Aufttn Brtnhr % anr (a d, sivftin, He is com^ 9 He is come. In the fane Fire, with him was burned Cornelius Bongey of Coventry^ and Condemned by faid &«d«/pfe' Bifhop of Coventry and Lichfield. The $tb Day ofO&ohr, were Condemned to be burnt William Woolfey and Robert Vy got ofUiJbidgc, in the lfle of Ely, by John Fuller, Chancellor to the Bifhop of Ety-and others. --- Doctor Fuller and fome others, com- ing to vifit W.me Month James Gore died a Prifoner in Colchefter for the Truth of GOD's Word. The next follow eth the Martyrdom of JohnPhilpot, who Suffered for the Part 3* $etfecttteo bp tlje $apfft& 137 ths fake of the«Gofpel of Chriit, and a Witnefs againft the Anti-chriftian See of Rome : He was a Knight's Son, and was born in Hampfhire, and brought up in learning} he was of a pregnant Wit, of Angular Courage and zealous in Religion- When Queen Miry cams to the Grown, /he caufed a Convocation to be held, where thlsjoh* Philpot was present, where he vindicated the caufe of theGofpel, manfully againft the adverfe Party, for the which caufe he was called to account by Bifliop Gardner the Chancellor, notwithftandingthe Liberty of the Houfe promifed before : after Gardner had examined him, hefenthimto Bonner and his Commif- fionerfj with whom he had fundry coafli&s, the mod material paffrges in which Examinations I have here inferted. Doctor Story looking on him, faid, He was well fed. Philpot, If I be Fat, it is no marvel, fince I have been ftaled up in Prifon a year and a half, in a clofe corner. — - Roper, We hear fay you are out of the Catholick Churchy and have been a diflurber of the fame ; wherefore, if you will come into the fame you (hall be received, and find favour. Philpot,, I am come before you, and I would know my Offence, and if I have done nothing contrary to the Laws, 1 defire I may have the benefit of a Subject, and be delivered out of my wrong imprifonmenf — - Story, Thou art an Hereticb, and holdeft againft the blejftd Mafu Ploilpot y What I fpoke in the Convocation Houfe, the Queen and Council gave Liberty to every man of the Houfe to utter his Gonfcience, and to fpeak his mind freely of fuch matters in Religion as were propounded by the prolocutor, for which /ought not to be mole (led, nor compelled by you to anfwer for the fame — Story, Thou fhaltgoto the Loilards Tower,and there (halt thou be handled like a Heretick as thou art, and be judged by the Bi(l)op of London. Philpot, I have been Examined and Irnprifoned by the ChanceDor mine Ordinary, and by the Law I may have exctptionem fori, and its againft all equity that I fhould be twice vexed for one caufe,and that by fuch as by the Law have nothing to do with me— — Storv, Thou (halt be had to the Lollards Tower —--Philpot, Since You will needs fhew me this Extremity, I defire to Qc Your Commiflion that gives You Authority fo to do Roper, Let him fee the Commiffion.-- —Story, Shad we let every vile Per - fon fee cur Comrniflion ?• Cholmly, Let him go from whence he came, and on Thurfday be (hall fee our commiffion. -Story, No, let him lie in the mean while in the l.o'hrd^ Tower ; / will (weep the Kings- Bench, and all the other prifons of thefe Hcretick% ; fo that th»y (hall not have that refort as they barje h*d to feat ter their Hurtful- Philpot, You have Power to trans'er my Body from place to place at your pleifure, but Yqu have no power over my Soul, and 1 Pafs not whither you Commit me; for I cannot be worfe entreated, than I am, kept all day in a clofe Ghamber.—Story, Marfhall, T Jake 1 38 #etfttttteD top ttje $&pfft& Part 3« T<*fo ^'w J^w* »*f fc 70a <*£<«», <*«d bring him on Tkurfday,«tnd,then we (halt rid your fingers of him, and afterwards of your other Hereticls. —.^Philpot, GOD bath appointed a Day fiortly to come, in the which He will ftfrdy Judge us with Rigbteoufnefs, howfoever you judge of us noyv> After fome further Difcourfe with him, he wa«, with Four others, had to the Keeper's Houfe in Pater-nofler-row, where the Arch Deacon #f Londorfs Servant, in his Mailer's Name,offered John Philpot a Bed for thac Night. To whom he gave Thanks, but faid^- It would be a Grief to him to lie well one Night, and the next Night worfe : Wherefore, faid he, / will btgin as ] am like to continue, and take fuch as my Ftllows do' Whereupon they were brought to the Bifhop's Cole-houfe \ unto which is joined a little blind Houfe, with a pair of Stocks, where they found one Perfon fitting with his Hand and Foot in. Ac his fifth Examination, as he wss going to the Cole-hwfe, he met wilh Bonner, who faid to him, Philpot, If there be any Pleafure lean fliew you in my Houfe, I pray you require it, and you fhall have it t — Philpot, The Pleafure that I require of you is to haften my Judgment, which is com- mitted unto you, and to difpatchme forth of this miferable World, unto my Eternal Reft. f Note, for all this fair Speech, I could never attain hitherto (this Fortnight fpace) neither Fire, nor CW/g,nor good Lodging. ] Another time, being fent for before Bonner, Bonner {aid, I charge you to anfwer, to fuch Articles as my Chaplain and my Regifitr have from me to Ob- ject againfi you Philpot, Omria Judicia debet eiTe publica, All Judg- ment ought to bePublick ; therefore if you have any thing to charge me law- fully withal, let me be in Judgment lawfully & openly called, and I will anfwer,otherwife in Corners I will not. At which the Bilhop was angry, and called him fooltfh Knave, and bid them, put him in the Stocks. -- Philpot, Indeed you handle me. with others 5 like Fools, and we muft be content to be made Fools at your hands : Stocks & Violence is your Bifhop=like Alms, So he was put in the Stocks alone,in the Houfe feparate from his Fellows, for which he praifed God, that he thought him worthy to fufFer any thing for his Name's fake. Not long after, the Bifhop coming to view the Cole-hottfe, faying, He was never there before, ( and his coming then was for no good ) for he tho't the place too good for J. Philpot, and called fot the Keeper, and caufed him to put the faid J. Philpot in another place by himfelf, where the Keeper pluckt offhis Gown, and fearched him, and took away his Pen, Jnk, and Papers. At another Examination the 4th of December, Chadfey faid, Ton fhall he confirained to come to us at length, whether you will or no. «- Philpot, Hold that Argument faft, for it is the beft you have j for you have nothing but Violence, Part 3 ♦ 0etfectttet> by tt)e #aptfts. 139 Violence. C Soo» after Bonner pronounfftt^the Sentence againft him, and delivered him to the Sheriff?, whofe Gfffeershad him to Newgate, ( in his way ) he faid, Ah, good People, Bleffed be God for this day. 3 At Newgate he was cruelly handled by the Keeper;havmg Irons put on, becaufe he had not wherewithal to fatisffe the unfeafonable 'Gtfafcrs demand for Fees. Upon the 17th day of December, *thQ Sheriff fent a Meflenger to hirn,to bid him make ready, for the next day he \hould fuffer,and be burnt at a Stake; He aafwered, / am ready ;%OD grant meftreng%h\ So he went into his Chamber,and poured out his Spirit unto the Lord God,giving him thanks that he of his Mercy had made him worthy to differ for his Truth .- And when he came into Smithfield, he kneeled do waiving thefe words, lwid fay my Vows in thee, O Smithfield, / And fo died a conftant Martyr. About this time died one of the great Styr&cutors, viz- Stephen Gardner, Bifhop ofWincbefter, at his Houfe in Southwark, of whole death it is Me- morable,that the fameDay in which Ridlej&c Latimer fufFered at Oxford, he would not go to ©inner till Four a Clock in the .Afternoon, tho* the Old Duke of Norfolk was come to Dine with him •, the Reafon was, becaufe he would flrft hear of their being burnt: And as foon as word of that was brought him, he prefently-faid, Now let us go to Dinner : Where fitting down, and Eating Aderri/fcupon a fudden he fell into fuch Extremity, that he was fain to b* taken from the Table and carried to his Bed, where he continued fifteen Days without voiding any Thing, either by Urine, or Otherwife, which caufedhfr Tongue to fwell in his Mouth: And fo he Died. About the 27th of January,! r y#,were burnt in Smithfield London, thefe Sqvqu ?errons,v\zTbomxs Whittle, Barttltt Green, John Tudfon, John Went, Thomas Browne, IJabel Fofler, Joan Warren, alias Lafhford ; which Seven as they were burnt together in one Fire,fo were they likewife upon one fort and form of Articles condemned in One Dai. This Thomas Whittle, one of thefe Sufferers, was the Perfon that John Pbilpot found in the Stocks, when he was put into the Bifhop's Cole-boufe : Whittle wa* forely beaten, and hardly ufed by the Bifhop ? For Two Nights he lay on a Table ivu]&mr*Bed er Straw ; the Bifhop telling him, He jhould be fed with Bread & Water". The Bifhop fomet ime< giving him fair Words.and fometimes Thr earning him .• And Or. Hzrpsficll pedwaded him very much to for fake his Opinions. Thomas anfw j red f he held nvhin? but the Truth. Bit he had made a &I1 for Thorn xs to Subfcribe, to this Effe&,TJb Harpsfield to come to me, and fo he did. And when he came, and the Regifltr with him', I told him that 1 was not well at eafe, but efpecially, 1 told him, I was grieved very much in my Confcienee and Mind, becaufe I had Subfcribed ; and I faid, that my Confcienee had fo Ac- cufed me, through the juft Judgment of God and his Word, that i had felt Hell in my confcienee, and Satan ready to devour me, and therefore J pray you, faid J, let me have the Bill again, for 1 will not fiand to it, fo be gently commanded it to be fetch, and gave it me, and fufferedme to put out my Name, whereof I *pas right glad wh:» 1 had fo done, although death fhould follow, and hereby 1 had experience of God's Providence and Mercy towards me, who tryeth his ?eople a and fuflereth them to fall, but not to be left \fcr in the midft of this Temptation and Trouble he gave me Warning of my deed, and alfo delivered me, his Name be praifed for *evtr more, Amen, Thomas Whittle. Bartelet Green, born in the City of London, in the Parifli of BafxnghaU, ef the Age of 2j ye?rs, being examined by Bifhop Bonner, with whom he had fundry Conference?, and Pubiick I:xaminations,"but in the end, Bunner ieeing his ftedtaftnefs to the Faith of Chrift to be fuch, as againft the which neither their threarnings, nor \ ec their flattering Promifes could prevail : vAfrer he had condemi cd the other Six,he calted for Bart- let Green, and pronounced the definitive Sentence againft him, and 10 committed him to the Sheriffs «f London, who lent him to Newgate ; and when Part 3* tyttt ecuteu bp ti)e i&aptftg* 1 4 1 when he came to Prifon, he was often exercifed in Prayer and godly Medi- tations and Exercifes, until the 28th day of January, when he whh his other (above- mentioned ) Brethren, went moft chearfully unto the place of their Torments, at the Stake repeating thefe Latin* Verfes following, Chrijle Deus fine te /pes mihi nulla falutis Te dute vara fequcr, te ducefalfa nego. In Englifli thus ; O Chrsft ! my God, fure hope of Healthy bt/ides thee have I none, Ihe Truth 1 love, and faljhood hate, by thee my Guide alone After thefe feven above rehearfed Martyred together in SmuhfielJ, {hortly after, in the fame month, being the 31th of January^ four Wo- men and one Man, were burnt for the Faith of the Gofpel at Canterbury, their Names areas followeth, viz. John homas, a Young man of the Parifh of Tenter den, Anne /ilbriglt, Joan Calmer of the Parifli of Hythe, Agnes Snoth Widow, of Smarden, and Joan Sole, of the Parifh of Her- ton ; which five Perfons were burnt at two Stake?, and one Fire,ratifyirg &confe/fingthe true Faith'of Chrift Jefus ; and when the flame wasabcus their ears they fung for joy ; whereat John Norton Knight, (landing by, wept bitterly, to hear and fee what was done The Judges ard others, Afliftants, which fate upon thefe Martys, were Richard Fai.cet, John Warren, John Mills, Robert Collins, and John Baker the Notary. Now we come to the time ot Cranmer'' s Execution, who the Year before ( ?s I have mentioned) was Condemned & Degraded by Commiflion from the Pope, alter which,being by the fubtilty of fome, put in hope oj lire, out of frailty, he Subfcribed to a Recantation,which yet did him no good 5 for whether it were that Cardinal Pool would no lenger be kept from being Arch-Bimop (which he would not be, as long ss he lived ) or that the Queen could not be gotten to fcrget his being the chief Tnfbumentofher Mothers Divorce, his Execution was refolved to be in the Jajrie Place ac Oxford^whexc Ridley and Latimtr five Months before had fuffered : Before the Execution Bottor Cole preached, who to maieufe of Cranrmr's Ke~ cantation,told thePeople,T^/?;Ott/^ do well to hearken to this Learned Man's Conftjfion, nho now at his Death, and with his Death) would tejltfe which was the true Religion. Never thinking Cranmer would have denied his former Recantation : But Cranmer being brought t© the Stake f contrary to Ex- pectation ) acknowleged that through frailty, he had Subfcribed it, pray- ing God heartily to Forgive it ; for that he had fee his Hard, contrary to the Truth that was in his Heart : And now for a Puniftjment, tl Hand which had done it,fhould firft fuffer , and therewithal tbruftjng Right Rand into the Fire, he there held it, till it firft ( then his whole Body ) was confumed. The 142 fytttttttttti b? tlje #apf(&» Part 3. The next that fuffered, were Agnes Potter and Joan Trunchfield, in the County of Suffolk, both Married Women; dwelling" both in one Town, they were burnt in Ipfwich,when they had prepared themfelves ready for the Fire,they exhorted the people very earneftly tolay hold on the Word of God, and not upon mans devices and inventions, defpifing the Ordi- nances and Inventions of the Romijh Antichrifl i with all his Saperftitions and rotten Religion. After thefe two Women, three Men were burnt at oneFire in Salisbury, viz- John Sptcer i William Coberlj, John Maundrel. The beginning of their Imprifonment was after this manner, going into aMafs-houie, and fee- ing theldolatry by the people performed in following theldol in procef. fion, exhorted them to return to the living God, fpeaking more par- ticularly to one Rohsrt Berkfdale, head man of the Parifh, bjt he took no regard to their wjrds- Soon after the Prieft came into his Pulpit, who being about to read his Bedral and Prayer for t be Souls in Purgatory, John Maundrel fpeaking with an audible Voice, faid, That that was the Popes Tinfold; after which words, by commandment of the Prieft, they were had to the Stocks, where they remained till their Worfhip was done, and then were had before a Juftice of Peace, and the next day were all three had to SaUfbury, and preferred before Bifhop Capon, and William Gtoffry, the Chancellor of the Diocefs, by whom they were imprifoned, and often Examined of their Faith in Pfivate,bjt feldom openly : In their Anfwers to the Articles charged againft them, they faid, that the Popifli Maft was abominable Idolatry, and injurious to the Blood of Chrift. And being asfced, Whether the Pope was fupream head of the Church ? They faid, He ufurpe i Authority ; and Paid, Chrift was the Head of the Church, and laid, ChrifVs Blood purged away their Sins, and not the Pope's Purgatory. And being &fliLZ&,Whetbcr Images were necefftry in the Church ? John Maun- dreU faid, Wooden Images were good to R^aft a (houlder of Mutton, but Evil in the Church * whereby Idolatry was committed. When the Articles were anfwered, the Chancellor read their Condemnation, and fo deli- vered them to the Sheriff, to whom John Spicer faid, Now you muft be their Butcher, that you may be guilty alfo with them of Innocent Blood before the Lord. The 24th Day ot March icct^they were had to the place of Execution, where chey kneeled down and prayed fece. l.y, and then being dHclothei to their Sh>r s, J bn Maundrel fpoke wich a loud Voice, and faid, Nor for all Stljbin ! Which words Men pdged to be an anfwer to the Sh©riff,who offered him the Queen's Pardon, if he would Recant : And after this, in like manner fpake John Spicer, Tha is tke Joy- full ft Day that ever 1 fair. Thus did they moft constantly give their Bodies to the Fire, and their Souls to the Lord, for a Teftimony to his Truth. About part 3, tytttttuttn by tije #apftts. 143 About the z$dDay of April , ijcS, were burnt in Smitbfield at one Fire thefe Six perfons, viz.. Robert Darkes, William Tymis, Richard Spruge, Thomas Spruge, John Cavel and George Ambrofe \ they were all of Effex, and fo of the Diocefs of London, they were fent tip at fundry times by Lord Rich, and others, and by Gardner Bifhop of Winchefter, then Lord Chancellor of England, committed fome to the Marfhalfea, and fome to the Kings- Bench, where they remained almoft a whole Year before they were brought to Examination : Some PafTages in their Examination, are as followeth ; After fix or feven hours difcourfe between the Bifhop of London and Bath with Wiliam Tjmis, they were weary, and began to Pity Tymis's cafe, and to flatter him, faying, Ah good Fellow \tbou art bold, aed thou haft agoodfrefh Spirit , we would thou hadft Learning to thy Spirit.- - Tymis, I thank you, and both you be Learned, and I would you had a good Spirit to your Learning. The Bifhop feeing Tymis's Hcfepart White,and part of a fheeps RufTet, in a mocking manner faid, Ah Sarrab ! are you a Deacon * — Yea, that I am, faid he- •■- So me tbir,kith, faid the Bifliop, Tou are decked like a Deacon. • - Lymis, Methink* ray Veflure doth not fo much vary from a Deacon, but your Apparrel doth as much vary from an Apoflle. And one of the Bifhops men Scoffingty, faid, My Lord, give him a Qbair^ aTcaft and Drink,andhe will be tvfiy. But the Bifhop faid, Have him away till another time. The 28th Day of March, the aforefaid fix Martyrs were brought to the open Confiflory in Paul's, before Bilhop Bonner, to be Condemned for Herefie, — Bifhop faid, Tymis, Vll begin with thee, for thou art and kafi been the Ring leader of thefe thy Companions, thou baft taught them Uerefies, and confirmed tbem in their erroneous Opinions, endeavouring to make them like thy [elf. •— Tymis, I marvel you will begin with a Lie : You call me the Ringleader and Teacher of this Company. There is none of all thefe my Brechren, which are brought hither as Prifoner?, but when they were at Liberty, and out of Prifon, diflented from you and your Doings as •much as they do now, and for that caufe are now Prifoners, fo that they learned not their Religion in Prifon; and as forme, I never knew chem till I was committed Prifener with them ; and as for mv fault which you make fo grievous, whatfoever you judge of me, 1 am well affined that I hold no other Religion than Chrift Preacbed, the ApcfMts Witr,efled' > the Primitive Church received, and of lace hath been faithfully Taoght by Evangelical Preachers, for which you have cruelly burned them, and now you feek our Blood alio* proceed on h?rdiy by what Rule you will, I fear not. Then the Bifhop proceeded to pafs the Sentence upon him,and then upon the reft, and after he had Condemned them heridded his bloody hands of them, delivering them to the SherifFof ZWw, who fent them to Newgate, 144 ^erfecttteD bp il)i Paptfite. Part §i Newgate, where They remained till the 14ft Day of Afrit, and then Sealed their Faith with their Blood. The Subftance of a Letter of W. Tymis, to his Friends in Hookly. ' THe Grace of God the Father, thro' the Merits of his dear Son Jefas our Lord and Only Saviour, with the continual Aid of his Holy and Mighty Spirit, to the Performance of his Will, to our everlafting Com- fort be with You, Mi dear Brethren, both now and evermore, Amen. My dearly beloved, I befeech God, to reward the great Goodnefs that You have (hewed unto me,fevenfold into Your Bofoms ; and a? You have always had a moft godly Love unto His Word, even fo I befeech Him to give You Grace to love Your own Souls,and then I truft that You will flee from all thofe things that fhould difpleafe our good and merciful God,& hate 5c abhor all the Company of thofe that would have You to Worfhip GOD any otherwife than is contained in his Holy Word ; and beware of thofe Mafters of Idolatry, that is,thefe Papiftical Priefts. — My dear Bre- thren, for the tender Mercy of God, remember well what I have faid unto You, and alfo written, the which I am now ready to 'seal with my Blood ; I Praife God that ever I lived to fee the Day -, and blelTed^be my good & merciful God that ever he gave me a Body to glorifie his Name. - And dear hearts! do now write untoYou for none other caufe, but to put You infle- membrance that I have not forgot You, to the end, that I would not have You forget Me, but to remember well what I have/F^p/f, by word of Mouth and Writing, taught You, the which although it were moft /imply done, Yet truly, as Your own Confcience beareth me Record ; and therefore in any Cafe, take good heed that You do not that thing which Your own Confcience doth Condemn •, Therefore come out of Sodom, and go to Heaven-ward, with the Servants and Martyrs of God, left You be Par- takers of the Vengeance of GOD, that is coming upon this Wicked Na- tion, 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 amongft You *, which thing is uncertain unto me as yet. By meyoar poorefi, and moft un- worthy Brother in Chri ft , William Tymis, in Newgate, the nth day of April Condemned to dje for Chriffs Truth. Joan Beech of Tunbridge, and John Harpool of Rochefter, were both Con- demned for the Truth of the Gofpel by Morrice, Bifhopof Ricbefhr, and were Sufferers together at one Fire in Rochefter the/»r/? day of April, 15 $6 The next day after fufored in the like Caufe at Carnbridge,or\Q John HuQieri 5ome Sentences taken out of a Letter of his, are as foHowerh, JOhn HfiUier, being of long rime Priloner, and now Openly Judge J for the Teflimony of the LORD JE^Uo, wifaeth heartily to the whole Congre- g --tun Pare ?♦ i&etfectttet) bp ttje $apfft& 145 gation of GOD, the Strength of his Holy Spirit, to the Everlafting Health both for Body and Soul. I now ( moft dear cbriftians ) having the fweet Comfort of God's faving Health, and being confirmed with his free Spikit, ( bs He only Praifed there- fore )am conftrained in my Confcience, thinking it my very Duty to Ad- monilh You, as ye tender the Salvation of your Soul?, by all manner of Means to feparate your felves from the Company of the Popes Hirelings -, confidering what is faid in the Revelation of St. John, by the Angel of God, touching all Men,the words be thefe ; If any Man worjbip the Beaft and his lmage,and receive bk Marl in hit forehead, or in his hand, the fame fhaU drink the Winz of the Wrath of God, which is poured into the Cup of bk Wrath t and be (hall he punished with Fire and Brimfl one, before the holy Angels, and before the Lamb ~, and the Smoak of their Torment afcendetb up evermore. Come out from among them, and Join not your felves to their unlawful Affeaiblies ; Yea,do not once (hew your felves with the leaft part of your Body to favour their wicked Doings : But glorifie GOD, (as moft right is) fo well in your whole Body outwardly, as inwardly in your Spirit, or elfe you can do neither of both well : For your Body doth belong to God as well asyour Spirit. At the dreadful Day of Judgment we (hall all receive the Works of our Bodies, according to that we have done, whether it be good or bid. Therefore whatfoever we do,we mav not bring the Spirit in Bondage to the Body* but contrariwife, we may fubdue the Body, and the willofths Flefh to tbe Spirit ; that the Spirit may freely accomplifh the Will of God in all things .- For otherwife we ihall never be partakers of his Promife, with the true Children of Abraham. For as Paul faith, They vohicb are the Children of the Fle(h, are not the Children of God. If we live according to the Fleih, we Ihall Die : For to be carnally Minded u Death, but to be jpirituallf Mmdid is Life & Peace ; bacaufe that the fleihly Mind is Enmity to God : For it is not Obedient to the Law of God, neither can be fo. Then they that are in tbi Ftefla cannot pltafs GOD. N:>w chufe you which way you will : Take either the narrow Way that Ieadeth to Life, which Chrift Himlelf and his faithful Followers have gone through before : Or elfe the broad Path-Way which Ieadeth to De- ftrudion,\vhich ihc wicked Worldlings take their Pleafure in for a while. I, for 1T17 p ;l rc, have now written this (hort Admonition unto You of good Will, ( as God be my Witnefs ) to Exhort You to that Way which ac length youyour felves ihall prove and find to be beft -, yea, and Repice thereof. And I do not only write tfr's, but I will alfo ( with the affiftaace of GO :> y sGrac*) Rati fie, Confirm and Seal the fame with the Effufion or mj Blood, when the full Time Ihall be Expired that he hath appointed, U which i 4 ee WoicCn, viz,. Katbrine Hut, Joan Homes, Elizabeth ThaciveH, Againft whom Bonner brought his ufual form of Articles^ to which when thev h*d anfwered, he paf> his fentence upon them Ka Hut at her Jaft Examination told the B.Jhop (he denied their Sacrament to be God, Part 3. #etfecttteo bp tije^aptfts. 147 God, becaufe, faid ftie, ic is a dumb God, and made with mens hands. Joan Hornet faid, That way yon call Herefie, I truft to ferve the Lord My God in. At the fame time there was one Margaret ESis^ who for the fame Truth was brought in Queftion, and was by Bonner adjudged and Condemned, but before the time of her burning came, (he died ia Newgate, whofe In- nocent fuffering was alio thought meet to be recorded with the reft of her Faithful Friends. A Relation of the burning of Thomas Drowry, a Blind Boy, and Thomas Croker Bricklayer, In Examination before Do&or WHiams t Chancellor of the Confiftory Ceurt at Qloucefter, amongil other Articles, he chiefly urged the Articles of Tranfubftantiation, faying.— ——Chancellor, Deft not thou believe, that after the Words of Confecration fpohn by the Trie ft, there remaintth the very real Body ofChriftin the Sacrament of the Altar ? .—Boy, No, that I do not,— —Chan* Then thou art an Heretict, and [halt be burnt \but who hath taught the this Here fie ?*.— — Bey, You.-*— Chan- Where I fray thee ?— Boy, Even in yonder place (pointing towards the Pulpit, the Court being held near it. ) —Chan. When did 1 teach teach thee fo ? Boy, When Yon Preached there upon the Sacrament, You faid,The Sacrament was to be received SpirituaBy, by Faith, and not Carnally,** the Papifls have heretofore taught. — — Chan, Then do as I have done, and thou (halt live as I do, and efcape Burning. «— Boy, Tho* You can fo EafUf difpence with Your felf, and mock with GOO, the World & Your Confcience, Yet I will not Co do. Chan. Then God have Mercy upon thee ', for I will read the Sentence againft thee. Boy, GOD's Will be fulfilled. And foon after, he and Thomas Croker were both Burnt in Gloucefter. About the Month of May, Thomas Spicer of Winfton, John Duny and Edmund Poole, being brought to Examination before Duming Chancellor of Norwich, who Obje&ed againft them the common Articles ; and after they had Anfwered, becaufe they would not Recant, he read the Con- demnation, and delivered them to the Secular Power ; and about the Twenty fir ft of the aforefaid Montb,they were all Bnrnt for their Teft'mony in one Fire in Becklefs, in the County of Suffolk. In this Month Wtlliam Slech, Prifoner in the Kings- Bench, for the Confeflioii of the Truth, there Died. On the firth day of June,there were four Perfons burnt at Lewie in Suf- ftx, for the Profeflion of the Truth, viz- Thomas Hading, of Woodtnancet^ John Ofwold, Thomas Auington of Ardinglj, and Thomae Read. Thefe Four,after a long Imprifonmenc in the Kings*bench, Suffered at the afore- U 2 fa 148 fyntttuttn bv t|)e #apttts* Part 3. faid place- John Ofwald denied to Anfwer any thing untiJ, his Accufers were brought face to face before him, arid faid, Fire and Faggots could not make him afraid ,• but as many good men were gore before him, fo he was ready to fuffer and follow after. In the fame Month and in the fame Town of Lewis, v;ttc burnt Thomas Wood and Thomas Mills. William Adheral, and John Clement, being Prifoners, died in the Kings- Bench, about the 24th f)ay of the fame Month. The 26th Dajot'tbe lame Month, a Young Man, Servant to a Mer- chant, was burnt by the Papifts at Liecefler. The 27th of the fame Month, there fuffered Thirteen Perfons in one Fire at Stratford, rear Bow by London, Eleven Men, and Two Women : The Eleven Men were tyed to three Stakes *, and theTwoWomen were loofe in the midft without any Stale. In the company ot thefe Thirteen were Three more Condemned to Die,viz Thomas Freeman, William Stamard^nd William jidany. The Names of the Thirteen that were burnt, were as follower!^ Ralph Jackjun, Henry AdUngton, Lyon Cavtch, William Halnoell, George Scarlet, John Bonth, Join Varijall, Henry Wye, Edmund Hurft, Lawrence Parnham,Tho»at B xoyer, Eli* Pefper, and Agnes George. After they were Condemned. the Bean of Pauls declared in hisSermcn, that they held as many Opi? inrs as there weie Perfons: Wherefore they drew up a Declaration of their Faith \ to which they all Signed :Some particulars of which were, That the See of Rome was the See 0/ Antichrift, viz the Congregation of the Wicked, &c whereof the Pope it Head, under the Devil. That the Mafs xrat net only a prophanation of the Lord's Supper, but a blafphemous Idol. That God was neither Spiritually nor Corporally in the Sacrament of the 'Altar j and there temaineth no Sub fiance in t he fame, but only the Subjlance of Bread and Water. For thefe Articles of our Belief ( faid they ) we being Condemned to Die, do willingly offer our corruptible bodies to be diJJ'olved in the Fire ; all with one Voice Ajfentino; and Conftntmg thereunto. When they were Examined before r he bloody Bi(h< p,and faid, They would believe all he or they could prove by Sn ipture ; He» faid, He would not ft and to prove it with Hereticis : Bur faid, Thiy were the holy Church, and you ought ( ftid he ) to believe us y or be cut *ff like withered Branches^ About this Time Thomas Parres, Mar in Hunt, and John Notice died Prifoners in the KmgS'Bench, who were ah buiied in the back-fide of the Prifon. T^e 30th of Tune, there were Three Perfrn* burnt in one Fire at Ed- tnufdjb-'y'm Suff Ik, whole Narj-,e« wee Reg" Pirn rd, Adam Fofter y and Robert Lawfon t • - When Roger Pynnrei ra.-i e before H 'opron, Bifhop of Norwich upon Examination, the Bif'hop ; fk d him, Wnether he had been with Part 3 ♦ 0n(tmttn\iv t\yt $ap(fls. 149 •with the Bifhtp at Eafler to be (hriven ? And "whether he had received the Sa- crament of the Altar, or no ? — Bernard faid, No, I have not been to confefs to the Prieft, but I have confefTed my Sins to Almighty GOD *, and I truft he hath forgiven me ; wheiefore I (hall rot need to go to the Prieft for fuch Matters, who cannot help himfelf, -- Bifliop, Surely Bernard/iW tnufl needs go and confefs thy f elf unto him. — Bernard, That mail I noc do,, bv the Grace 01 GOD, while I live- — Bifliop, What a fiout Boyly. Htretick u this ? Mow Maliptrtly he Anfwereth ? -- Bernard, It doth noc grieve me ( I thank God) to be called Herecick at your hands ; for fo your Fore-fathers called the Prophets and Confeffors of Chrift, long before this Time. - After fome other Words pafs'd between them, the Bifhop rofe up lore difpleafed, and commanded the Goaler to take him away,and lay Irons enough on him : For, faid he, I will come ere he go from me. The next day ^ being bro't before him again, the Bifliop afk'd him, If he< remembred himjeif, fince the day before ? -- Bernard faid, Yes, ! remember my felt very well ; for I am the fame Man 1 was Yefteiday, and I hope ihall be all tbedaysor my Life, concerning the Matter you talked witfc with me of. -- Then one of the Guard being by, undertook to Examine him, who had him to an Inn,wheremany Priefts were affembled together* who firft began to flatter Roger Bernard ; and then feeing that would not do, they threatned him with Whipping, Stocking, Burning ; and fuch i ike. Bernard tenderly Repl>ing, faid, Friends, 1 am no better than my M«fUr CHRIST* and the Prophets, which your Fore-fathers ferved after fuch fort ; and 1 for his Barnes fake am content to Suffer the like at your Hands ( if GO J ill a II fo permit) trufling that he will firengthen me in the fame according to his Promife. When they faw he would not Relent, or Yield, they faid, Behold, a right Scholar 0/John Fortune ( whom they had in Prifon ) fo they carried him again to the Bifhop, who immediately Condemned him as an Heretick, & delivered him to the Secular Power. He was a fingle Man, a Labourer, dwelling in Franfden in Suffolk, and was firft Apprehended for refufing to* go to Church* The Examination of John Fortune of H in tie (ham in Suffolk 1 ,. Black-Smith, about the 10th day of April, » $f 6, before Doctor Parker and the Bifhop, written with bit own Hand. This John Fortune was a Man of a zealous Spirit, and ready in the. Scriptures \ in Chrift's Caufe Stout and Valiant : And no lefs Patient in hi* wrongful Suffering, than Conftant in his Doctrine Fi»ft, Dr. Parker Afked, How I btlteved in the Catholick Fai'.b? — Fortune, I afked him which Faith he meant i Whether the Faith that Stephen had i Or r/e. Faith of them chat put Stephen to Death ? — Parker being moved, laid, What i jo ptrtttnttb bp tl)e papfftg. Part §,' #PW 4 naughty Fellow U tbu ? Tow fiiall fee anon be will deny the bleffed Sacra- ment of the Altar \ and faid, How (ayejt thou bytotbUfftd Mafs ? •- Fortune, and I flood ft ill, and made no Anfwer. - Then faid one Fofler, Why fpeakcft thou net, and make the Gtntlentan an Anfwtr ? — Fortune, Silence is a good Anfwer to a foolifh Queftion* « Parker, / am forty he will deny the bleffed Sacrament of the Altar. -- Fortune, I faid, I knew none fuch. — Parker, Tou deny the order oj. the feven Sacraments •, and why daft thou not believe in the Sacrament of the Altar ? — Fortune, Becaufe it is not written in God's Book. — Fofter, Tou (hall be whipped and burnt for this. — .— Fortune, If you knew how thefe words do rejoyce my heart, you would not have fpokcn them.—-- Away with him, faid he, for he is ten times wot ft than Samuel •, and fo he was carried away to Prifon again. At the fecond Examination. The Bifhop asked me, If 1 did not believe in the Catbolick Church l——— Fortune, I believe that Church whereof Chrift is the head. ••-- Bifhap, Doft thou not believe that the Pope u Su- pream head of the Church t — Fottme, No, Chrift is the Head of the true Church.— Fortune, Then I asked him, whether the Pope was a Spiritual Man ; . — To which he faid, Tea- «•- Fortune, They are fpiteful men ; for in leventeen Months there were three Popes 1 one Poifoned ano- ther for that prefumptuous Seat of Anti*Chrifl> — Bp» It is Mahcioufly fpo\en,fot thou, muft obey the power, and not the man. H%? (faid he) what fay you to the Ceremonies of the Church ? - Fortune, AH things that are not planted by my heavenly Father (hall be plucked up by the roots, faith Chrift* « Bp. "They ate good and godly, and necejfary to be u fed." Fortune, Paul called them weak and beggerly: At the third Examination. Bifhop, How btlieveft thou in the Sacrament of the Altar ? Doft thou not believe that after the Confecration there is the real fubftance of the Body of Chrift ? *- Fortune, That is the greateft Plague that ever came into England.-Bp. Why fo ?-. Fortune, If I were a Bifhop, and you a poor man as I am, I would be afliamed to ask fuch a Queftion ; for a Bifhop (hould be apt to teach, and not to learn- — Bp* hit Idolatry to worship the bleffed Sacrament or no} —Fortune, God is a Sprit, and will be worfhipped in Spirit and Truth. At another Examination* The Bifhop asked me, // / would fland to my Anfwers that I made him before ?— Fortune, Yea, for I have fpoken no- thing but the Truth. And after that he made a great Circumftance upon the Sacrament - Then I defired him to keep to the Text, and he read the Scripture which faid, / am the Bread which came down from Heaven ; believeft thou not this ? ••Fortune, Yea, truly. -- Bp. Why doft thou deny the Sacrament ? -— Fortune, Becaufe your Do&rine is falfe* -• Bp. How an thai befalfe which is Part 3. #eriecutet> bp tfje #apf ft*. 1 5 1 w fpoktn in the Scripture ? — Fortune, Ghrift faid, J am the Bread, and you iay,/J>« £re<«rf *j £* ; therefore your IDoftrine is falfe. — Bp. Dojt not thou believe the Bread is he? —Fortune, No. --Bp. J will bring thee to it by the Scriptures.- Fortune, Hold that faft, for that is the beft Argument you have yet— Bp. Thou [halt be burnt like an Heretitk'.-. Fortune, Who {hall give Judgment upon roe ?-»Bp. / will judge a hundred fucb as thou art, and never be fhriven for if— Fortune, Is not there a Law for the Spirituality, as well as for the Temporality ?--J* Higham, Tes, what meanefi thou by that ?— Fortune, When a man is perjured, by the Law he is caft over the Bar, and fitteth no more in Judgment ; and the Bifliop is a perjured man, and ought to fit in Judgment of noman.-Bp. How provefi thou that ?-- Fortune, Becaufe you took an Oath in King Henry's dayes to refift the Tope ; fo both Spiritual and Temporal are perjured, that here can be no true Judgment.--Bp Thinkefithou to efcape Judgment by that, no, for my Chancellor (hall judge thee, he took no Oath for he was then out of the Realm--- CI Higham, h is time to Weed out fucb FeSows at you be indeed.*-Then the Bifliop commanded the Bailiff f take him away. Thus much touching the Examination of this Man, but whether he Died by Fire, or were otherwife prevented by Death is not Recorded •, Only his Sentence of Condemnation was drawn up, and regiftred by the Re- gider of Norwich', but moft certain it is he never Recanted. John Careles Examined before Dcilor Martin. Martin, Where was you born ? Careles, At Coventry. Martin, Fiovt cameji thou hither * Careles, By a Writ* Martin, Thou art a bandfom man, and its pity but thou jhouldcfl do well, and play the Wife Mans fart, — Careles, I put you out of doubt, that I am mod fure and certain of my Salvation by Chrift Jefus, fo that my Soul is fafe already, whatfocver Pain my Body fuffer here for a little Time. After much more Difcourfe between them about Predeflination,Dr. Martin faid, The Lord knows that 1 would gladly make fome means to prtftrve thy Life, but thou fpcakeft fo much of the Lord, the Lord : How fajtfl thou ? Wilt thou be content to go into Ireland, and ferve the Queen there ? •- Careles, 1 am ready to do Service to the Queen, or her Officers : But if they Re- quire me to do any thing contrary to Chrift's Religion, 1 am ready alio to do my Service in Smithfield for not obferving of it, as others my Brethren have done — He endured Imprifonraent Two whole Year* in Coventry, and the Kings-Bench, where at laft he died,and was buried in a Dunghifl in the Fields. In the Time of his Imprifonment he writ a large Confolating Letter* the Subftance of which here iollows. TO a?2 fitttttutm ftp tlje #apifts. Part 3. TV 107 dl*<*r and faithful Brethren in Newgate, Condemned to Die for tht Tcftimony of God's Everlafting Truth. THe everlafting Peace of GOD in CHRIST JESUS,the continual Joy, Strength & Comfort of his moft pure,holy & mighty SPlRIT,with the increafe of Faith,and lively feeling of his eternal Mercy, be with you, my moft dear and faithful Brother Tyms\ with all the reft of my dear Hearts in the Lord ; Touftitbful Fellow (oldiers, and moft conftant Companions in Bonds: Yea, of Men Condemned moft cruelly for the fiucere Tefii- mony of GOD's Everlafting Truch, to the full Finishing of that good Work which he hath fo gracioufly Begun in you all, that the fame may be to Hit Glory, the Commodity of hit poor afflicted Church t and to Tour ■everlafting Comfort in Him, Amen Ah ! My moft fveet & loving Brethren, & deareft Hearts in the Lord. What fhall 1 fay, or how (hall 1 write unto you,in the leaft Point or Part, to utter the great J ^y that my poor Heart hath conceived in God, thro' the moft go Sly Example of Your Chriftian Conftancy, and iincere Con- feflion of Ch rift's Truth •, Truly, my Tongue cannot declare,nor my Pen exprefs the abundance of fpiritual Mirth & Gladneil fcfctat my Mind and inward Man hath felt, ever fince I heard of Your h^ty Bold nefs and modeft Rehaviour before the bloody Butcher, in the time of your crafty Examination*, efpecially at your cruel Condemnation in their curfed Confiftory Place: Blefled be God the Father of all Mercy, and praifed be Jhis N^me, who hath not only given you continual Aid, Strength & Com- fort of his holy & mighty Sp&it, in the faithful Confeffion of Chrift, for whole Caufe, ( Oh moft happy Men I ) Ye are Condemned toDie,buc hathalfo given you fuch a Mouth and WifJom, as all your .wicked Ene- mies were not able to Refift ; My dear Brethren, This is an evident Proof that GOD is on our fide. Therefore, my dearly Beloved ! Ceafe not fo long as ye be in this Life to Praife the Lord \ for that of his great Mercy and infinite Goodr.efs he hath counted You worthv of his great Dignity to Suffer for his fake, not only the lofs of Goods, Wife and Children, long Imprifonment, cruel Op~ pjedion, &c. bat alfo the deprivation of this mortal Life, with the -diifolution of your Bodies in the Fire. Ah, my moft dear Brother Tyms ! whofe Time rcfteth altogether in the hands of the Lord,in a full,happy Time cameft thou into this troublefome World \ but in a much more and blefled Hour fhalt thou depart out of the fime ; fo that the fweet Saying of Solomon, or rather of the Holy Gi/ofti ihall be full well Verified upon thee, yea, and on all thy faithful Fei.ows, Better it the day of Death, faith he, than the day of Birth ^ This faying Part 3 ♦ ^etfecuteo ftp ti)e $apifts* 153 faying cannot be Verified upon every Man ;but upon thee,way dear Brc~ thtrfind fuch as thou art, whofe Death is moft precious before God, and full dear fha ) your Blood be in his fight ♦ bieflfed be God for thee,mv dear Brother,that ever I knew thee ; for in a moft h\ppy time came 1 firft inro thy company ; pray for toe, ray dear Brothsr, pray for me, thac God will once vouch me worthy of that great dignity whereunto he hath now brought you* Ah, all my faithful Brethren ! what (hall I fay, or what (hall I write un- to you, but the fame that Elizabeth faid to Mary, Happy art thou ™hich haft believed, for all things which the Lord hath /poken to thee (hall be fulfilled ; fo I fay unto you, my dear hearts in the Lord, happy are ye all, >ea, twice happy fl.a'1 you be for evermore, becaufe you hsve ftedfaftly be- lieved the moft freet Promifes which God the Father hath made unto you, with his own Mouth, in that he hath promifed you ( which are the faithful Seed of the believing Abraham ) that ye mail be bleflfed ever World without end ; and as you do believe, fo do you bear record thac God is true, the Teftimony whereof you have full worthily born to the World, and (hortly will full furely feal the fame with your Blood, yea, even to Morrow, t'do underftand. Oh conftant Chriftians ! Oh valiant Souldiers of the high Captain Je * fus Ghrift, who for your fake hath conquered the Devil, Deatb> Sin and Hell, and hath given you full ViSory over them for evermore- Oh worthy Witneffe?, and moft glorious Martyrs, whofe invincible Faich hath overcome that proud, fturdy braggijg Prince of the World, and all his wicked Army, over whom you dial] Aprtly triumph for evermore. Thus committing you all to Gods moft merciful Defence, whofe Quarrel vou have defended, whofe Gaufe you have promoted, whofe Glory you have fet forth, and whofe Name you have conftantly confeffcd; farewel my dear Heart* in the Lord, I will make as much hafte after you as I may. Ail our dear Brethren falute you, they pray for you, and praife God for you continually ; Btejjed be the Dead that dye in the Lord, for theyfhaS reft from their Labours, And their Works follow them John Careles. About the fame rime that John Careles died, Juliut Palmer, John Gwitt and Thomas Askin were burnt together in Newberry, in the County of Berks. ----- — Julius Valmcr was born in Coventry, his Father had been Mayor of Cwfs^, who bred Julius a Srhollar. This Julius was a man of a prompt and reidy Memory, a Wit (harp and ptegnant, he was of Behaviour courteous, without curiofity, of countenance chearful, with- out high looks, of Speech pleaf3nt, he was affable and low as a Child, X and if 4 petfecttten ftp tlje $apttr& Part 3. and yet quick Spirited, and vehement in Reafoning, he pra&ifed no De- ceit towards any man, fer he was ot fuch fimplicicy, that he was apter to be deceived than to deceive : Jn King Edward's time he was a Fapift and an utter Enemy to the Proteftant Religion then appearii g, for which he was expelled the Houfe or College he belonged to • but in Queen Mary's reign was again reftored to the faid Houfe, but feeing the Con- ftancy of the Martyrs that fufferedin Queen Mary\ reign, and hearing a relation of the Cruelty infii&ed on fome of them, he cryed out, O raging Cruelty !o Tyranny ! and more than barbarous, and let himfelf to fearch into the Religion of the Troteftants }hat fuffcred, and foon after was fo far converted from Popery, that he could not bow to feveral Pcpijh Cere- monies, fo that he was conftrained in fhort fpace to yield up his FtlJow- ftip in Oxford, and betook him felf to teach Schoel at Reading, where he had not continued long, but force envious Perfons againft the Truth fought cccafion againft him, and finding an opportunity fearched his Clofet, where they found fome Books and Waitings, written by him againft the Popijh Proceedings, and efpecially againft their bruitim Ty- ranny executed againft the Martyrs ; whereupon they threatncd him, that except hedid without delay depart their Coafls, they would produce the Books before the Council ; whereupon he was forced to depart from the Town of Reading, leaving in the hands of his Enemies what he had there, and took his Journey to Evifham, where his Mother dwelt, ho- ping to get what his Father left him when he died •, his Mother under- standing his condition, as foon as me faw him, and had a little difcourfe with him, faid, I require thee to depart from my Houfe } and out of my fight ; at for Money and Goods I have none of thine, thy Father bequeathed nought for JJereticks ; Faggots 1 have to burn thee, more thou gets not at my hand. So with a foft anfwer and a few fweet words to her the Tears running down his Cheeks, he departed from her, which fo mollified her hard heart, that Jhe threw an Old Angel after him and faid, Take that to keep thee a true wan. This poor man being deftiruteof worldly Friend (hip, and caft off by her whom he took to be bis fureft Friend, knew not which way to go; at laft he concluded to go toOxford to fome Friends there,where a School was propofed to him in oloucefttrfhtre^ which he accepted •, and as he was travelling it came into his mii:d, that there w^s a quarters ftipend due to him at Reading for teaching School, and to look after his other things he had there, he refolved to go to Reading \ where, though he ufed what endeavours he could to be retired and private, was by the treachery of fome Hypocrites difcovered and apprehended, being taken out of his Bed by Oflkers,to whom he opened not his Lips, but wa* led away as a Lamb to the Slaughter, and was committed to Prifoi), where the Keeper like Part 3. tyttittttttn bp tlje #apitts, *ss like a ravening Wolf {greedy of his prey) put him into a blind ftinking and dark Dungeon, and there left him for a time hanging by the Hands and Feet in a pair of Stocks; in this Dungeon he remained about ten dayes, under the Tyranny of this unmerciful Keeper After this, he was brought before the Mayor , where he was accufed, ( by thofe that had pilledged his Study, of divers grievous Crimes ) but when he came to his anfwer he did fo deface their Evidence, and defend his own Innocency, that the Mayor was afliamed that he had given fo much credit to them,& fought how they might convey him privately out of the Country ; when thefe bloody Adverfaries faw this Stratagem would not ferve their turns, they found another Snare, which was to accufs Palmer of Herefie j to he was again called out of Prifon before the Mayor and Juftices, to render an account of his Faiih before them, and when they had intrap'd him, they caufed him, and a Bill of Inftruttion with*him to be fent to Newberry,to be examined by Dr. Jeffcry at the vifita- tion ^t Newberry, the i6ch of July, iff 6- In the mean time he ftiffered fome hardships in Reading Goal, for want of Money to fupply his occafion* The publick Examination of Julius Palmer at Newbery before Dotfor JefFe- ries, Bifhop of Sarum, and others* Bifhop, Art thou the jolly Writer of three half-peny Boohs, we hear of i -- Palmer t l know not what you mean— Biihop, Have you taught Latir.e fo long, th*t now you under (land not Ettglijh?** To this he aijwered no- thing .-. Bifliop^ We under/land by your Articles that you are convict of cer- tain Herefies, that you deny the Popes Holinefs and Supremacy ^ that the Prieft fhewetb up an Idol at Ma[s, and that there is no "Purgatory, &c.—> Bifhop afkc him, Whether he wrote fome Booh ? ( and he (hewed him the Books* •- ) Palmer, Yea, I did -.* Bifliop threatned him, That he would make lim recant, and would wring Piccavi out of his lying Lips e're he had done with him. Palmer, I know thac chough of my felf I am able to do nothing, yet if You and all mine Enemies ftould do Your worft, You fhall not be able to bring that to pafs, neither fhall Von prevail againft God's mighty Spirit by which we understand the Truth,and (peak it fo boldly. Bifliop, Ah > Are you full of the Spirit ? Are you inffrrcd with the Holy Ghoft ? Palmer, No man can believe but by the Inflation of the Holv Ghoft j therefore if I were not a fpiritual Man,and inl'pired ^i'h God's Holy Spirit, 1 were nOta true Chriftian : He that hath not the Spirit ofChrift is none of his. - Bifliop, / perceive you lack no words- - Palmer, Chrift hath nromifed not only to give usftoreof Words necefTary, but with them fuch force of Matter as the Gates of Hell (hail not be able to confound or prevail againft it. Bi(hop,CV//r made fuch a promije to hu .dpeftles ; you will not compare with them. X 2 Palmer, i56 t&etfecuten bp tDe #apftt$. Part 3. Palmer, With the Apoftles 1 may not compare ; Yet this promife I am cer- tain pertaineth to ail fuch as are appointed to defend Gods Truth againft his Enemies in the tirre of their Perfection for the fames- Bp- Then it pertaintth not unto thee.-- Palm. Yes, I am right well allured that it pertaineth unto me, «s it fhall appear if you give me leave to difpute with you before this Audience, in the defence of all that I have there Written. — Bp. Thou art but a be or die ft Boy, ftart up yejterday out of the Schools, and Jar eft th$u pre fume to offer Deputation, cr to encounter with a DoStor ?— Tal. Remember Mr. Docror, the Spirit breaiheth where it pleafes, &c. and cut of the Mouths ci Babes, &c. And thou haft hidden thefe things from the wjfe,efrc God is not tied to Time, Wit, Learning, Place, nor Perfon. — Regifter, If you fuffer him thus impudently to trifle with you, fa wi!i never have done t — Then the Bifhop faid, It wot not in hit Commijjion to Difpute with him', but had a great deal more Difcourfe with him,& afcer he had done Examining of him, the highSherifFafter dinner fent iotjulim V aimer to (peak with h'"m, and Exhorted him to Revoke his Opinion -, To fP&re his young Tears, Wit & Learning; and told him, That if he would be Conformable he would give him his Meat & Tin Pound a Tear, &c t -- Palmer thankt him, and faid, That as he had already inTwo places renounced his Living fcr Chrift's fake, fo he would, with God's Grace, be ready to Sur- render and Yield up his Life alfo for the fame, when GOD mould fend Time. — Then one Winchcom upon the Bench faid, Take piiy on thy golden Tears, and fteafant Flowers of lufty \Touth t before it be too late* -- Palmer, I long for thofe fpringing Flowers that (hall never fade away. -- Winch- com, If thou be at that Point, 1 have done with thee. Then wss Palmer had to the blind Houfe, and in the Afternoon John Gwin and Thomas J'Jkin had the Sentence of Condemnation, and were de- livered to the Sheriff,and the next Morning Palmer was Condemned ; and the fame Afternoon they were aliThree burnt. About an hour before they were Executed, Palmer comforted his Fe, Re- joice and be glad., for great it your Reward in Heaven : Fear m't them that Kill the Body, and be not able to touch the Soul. God is faithful, and ml! net fuffer us to he Tempted further than we foall be able to bear it. And being brought to the Stake, and the Fire kindled, they Cried, Lord Jefus ftrengtben m !• Lord Jefus, ajjiftus ! Lord Jefus, receive cur Souls, until they ended their Lives. A Rsmarhalle Providence, whereby Agnes Ward all was prefcrved from her Violent Perfecuttrs, in the Town of Ipfwich. This 4gnes Wardali was a Woman that lived in God'* Fear, and was at Defiance with their Rmifk Trajh, defiring rather with hard Fare and ill Lodging, Part 3. i^crfecuteD by tl)e #aptfts» 157 Lodging, to be abroad, than to be at home in her Houfe among the Tents cf the ungodly , her Hufband alfo being a Man living in the Fear of God, and for the Ttftimony cf his Conference being alfo haunted by force of the Law, was contained to leave his Houfe, and to go to Sea for a Lively- hood, which Imploymept he was unaccuitomed to : Agnes Wardall coming home one day to fee her Children ( which foe had leit wholly to the care of the Maid-fervant to look after ) ore Doctor Argentine a great Perfecu- tor having notice of her coming hcnQe^ined up the Conitable & Watch to apprehend her,who in the Night bcfet the Houfe,and knocking At the door, the Maid heard them, and awaked her Mifirefs, who immediately got up, creeping through a Ciitch fuU of Nettles ihe got into a Parlour wherein ftood a Cupboard with a fair Prefs, into the which the Maid lcckc her, and then going into a Chamber next the Street, fpake to the Watch, who threatned to Drea k the door down, if ih.Q did not open it, with that (he opened the door, and the Watch fearchei the Houle very narrowly, and came into the Room where Agnes wss in the Pref?, and one of them faid, here is a fair Cupboard, and laid his hand on it, fhe may be here for any thing that is done \ that is true., faid another ; yet they looked no further, but went into another Room, and when they had fearchi the Houle, they went into the Field?, at the back- fide of the houfe, and in the mean time the poor Woman was almoft fmo;.hered incr.ePreis, buc at lait bv a Neighbour, with much ado (for being a Granger (he could noc in along time unkck the Prefsj was let out, and being let out (he get through the Garden Pales into the Fields, and there hid her felf in the IDicch, whereby fh'e cicaped thefe envious Perfecutors who fought in their cruelty to ha\ T e Ruined her. Thomas Moore % a Huibandmao, and a Servant in the Town of Licafitr, for laying, that his Maker was in Heaven, and not in the Ptx y was appre- hended ; the P^rfonthat examined him, pointing to the high Altar, ask- ed h Blood and Bcr.es ? — Moor, No, that I do not.-- Whereupon he whs immediately Con- geroned to dye, and was the iwd day oijune, fy j6. burnt in the Iowa of Lieccfier» The Examination of John Jackfon before Vtttor Ceok*, Jackson When firft I came before him, be railed, ?rA called me $e+ rttkk-i faid, I am no Here tick.- -Cook, Mr%. Read toid t»e thou waft 15-8 ^etfecttteo bp tyt Paptfts. Part 3. thtranhfl Bereticl of aS them in the Kings- Bench. — Jackfon, I knew him nO"» — Cook, No, quoth he f Yes, he Examined thte at the Kingt- Bench. — Jackfon, He Examined Five others, but not me. -- Cook, What fayeft thou to the blejjed Sacrament of the Altar ? — Jackfon, It is a deffufe Que ft ion to afk at the firft Dafh *, You promifed to deliver me. — Cook, What a Heretick u this ! »- Jackfon, it is eafier to call a man a Heretick, than to prove him one. — Cook, What Church art thou of? -- Jack, What Church, quoth I, I am of the fame Church that isbuilded on the Founda- tion of the Prophets and Apoftles Jefus Chrift being the Head Corner- ftone « Cook, Thou art an Heretick. — Jack. How can that be, feeing that I am of that Church? I am fure you will not fay that the Prophets and Apoftles were Hereticks. -- Cook, No, but xshat fayeft thou to the Biffed Sacrament of the Altar ? -- Jack' I find it not written. ~ Gook, No \ Keeper, away with him. But I had fome further difcourfe with him, and then he called again to the Keeper to have me toPrifon. — Jackfon, I am contented with that ; and fo we parted, and I anfwered no further in this matter, becaufe I thought he mould not have my Blood in a Corner -,buc I hope in the living God, that when the time (hall come before the Congregation, I foall fhake their Building in another manner of Fafhion *, for they build but upon Sand, and their Walls be daubed with untempered Morter, and therefore they cannot ftand long : Therefore, good Brothers and Sifter?, fee of good cheer, for I truft in my God, I and my other Prifon-fellows fhall go joyfully before vou, Praifing God moft heartily, that we are counted worthy to be WicnefTes of his Truth. John Jackfon,. The next that fuffered was one Joan Waft, a poor blind Maid about twenty two years of Age- This poor Woman had fuch an efteem of the Scripture?, that though fhe was blind, and had little Money, Ihe faved fo much Money together as would buy her a New-Teftament ( which in thole days were very fcarce )and fhe would give Monev, to fome at their fpare time to read to her, whereby fhe became perfeft in the Scripture, fo that (he retained feveral Chapters in her Memory, and in King Ei- ivard y s time (he was zealous for the Religion then eftablifhed, and when he died bp ti)ef0apflJ& 159 on Chrift to have Mtrcy upon her \ and fo with Patience fuffered Mar- tyrdom. The Sufferings of William Dangerfield. William Danger field ot Wooton near Eriftol, for fear of Persecution, Icept abroad from his Houfe & Family •. but coming home to vific his Wife and Children, his Houfe was foon befetr, and he apprehended & imprifbned, Where under Bilhop Brooks's Cruelty, he was fb handled for fome Time, Yea, fo long till the Flelh was fretted ofFhis Legs with Irons : And after he was apprehended, his Wife likewife was taken with a Young Child, but Fourteen Days Old, and was put into the Common Goal amongft Thieves & Murderers,where me was kept without any Fire ; but was for- ced to warm her Childs Cloathes in her own Bofom t In the mean feafon while the Hufband and Wife lay in Two Prifonf, the Bilhop began to praftice (not with the Woman firft, as the Serpent did with Eve, bur) with the Man, craftily deceived his fimplicity with fair words, falfly perfwading him that his Wife had recanted, and when he perceived he was inclinable and confented, he fufferedhim to go to his Wife in the Common Goal, where they with melting htarts opened their m'mds one to another, and he told his Wife how the Bilhop with his fubtil Flatte- ries circumvented him *, at the hearing of which the Womans heart clave afunder ; and fhe faid, Alack I Thtu long have we continued One, and hath Satan fo prevailed? but the fenfe of the Aclion refle&ed fo much upon his Confcience that it break the mans heart, fo that in a ffiort time after he died, after he had endured twelve Weeks Imprifonment,* Sometime after, his Wife was had in Examination before the Bifhop ; what her Aufwers were at her Examination, are not recorded, but flhe was kept in Prifon with her tender Infant till they both died ; the Child was fenC out of the Pnfon, but it was paft remedy firft, being almoft ftarved with cold and wane of things neceflary, 3s the man's Mother, a Woman of eighty years of Age, being left in the Houfe after their apprehenfion, for l*ck of comfort, there perifhed alfo. ►Ybout this time there were five Perfons famifhed in Canterbury Cattle,' by the unmerciful Tyranny of tht Papifls, as by the Copy of this folding Letter, which the Prifoners threw out of the Cafile Windovr,mav appear. Be it Known unto aU Men that (hall rtad.or bear read tloeje iiu y Letters y th* y>e the poor Prifoners of the Cafile of Canterbury, for Gad's Truth are Kept and Lie in cold Irons, and our Kfeptrs will not fuffer any Meat to be b' ought to tu 7 to comfort as , and if any do bring any Bread, Butter, Cheeft, or oih>r p:,od^ the "Keeper will charge them to carry it back, or elfe Keep it for htmld t fo that we have nothing thereof ; infomwh tb.it there are Four of us Prifoners for God's Truth, ■itfo |0rrfecttteu top tlje Capias. Part 3. Truth fa •nifhed already, and thus is it in his mind to fa mi ft us all, and we think he is appointed thereunto of the Bi(hops, and Pnefts and Jnfiices fo to fa- tmfh us t a>idmt only us of the [aid Caflle, but alfo all other Prifoner* in other Prifons, for the like Cauje, to be alfo f.tmilhed '. Notwithstanding, we write not thefe our L°tter.< to that intent we might not afford to be famifhed for th: Lord Jefui fake, but for thU Caufe and Intent, that they having no Lam fo to famifh us in Prifon,fiiould not do it privily \ but that the Murderers hearts jhould be openly Known to all thi World, that afl mm mxy Know of whit Church they are, and who it their 'Father* Out of the Cattle of Canterbury. About this ti trie there was a confultation held at Cambridge by the Clergy, concerning Martin Bucer and Paulm Pbagins, two Perfons dead three or four years before ^ and after much debating they agreed alto- gether in their deterrnmation,That they were Se&aries and famous Here- ticks, and a Application fhould be made to the Lords Commiflioners in the Name of the whole Univerfity,that their dead Carcafes might forth- with be digged up, for that it was againfi the rule of the holy Canons, that their Bodies mould be buried in Ghriftian burial. And Cardinal Poole fent a Commiflion to make inqueft upon Herefie ; now after the aforefaid Condemnation was paft, and the faid Commifiion was read from the Cardinal, Dottor Pern deflred procefs might be fent out for Bucer and Vhagim to appear or any other that would take upon them to plead jttieir Csufe, to which the Commiflioners condefcended, and the next day procefs went out to cite the Offenders, which Citation V7as fixed up in feveral public 1 ? places in Cambridge, and foon after Wit- neffcs were fworn and examined agunfl; Martin Bucer and Phagim. t and a time was fetfor a Jury to bring in their Verdift, and in the mean time a Commandment was gi'^en forth by the Commiflioners, for bringing in all heretical Bocks -,and a day there was appointed for Judgment to be gi- ven againft thefe Heretirks •, but when the day came, and that neither Bucer nor Phagias would appear at their call in the Court, nor that any put forth himfelf to defend them, yet the courteous Comrmflio< ers would riot proceed to Judgment ( which fortheir contumacy in abfenting them- felves they might have done )confidering how that da? was^eremjttory, but to (hew their Mercy and Eq iity, had rather (hew f me favour than to take the extent of the law* Whereupon Vincent publifhed the fecond Proce's, and ftuck it up ; n pubUck places as before, putting off the day of Judgment from He eighteenth to the twenty fixthday of the fame Month, which day \ ■ come, the Mayor and BurgeiTes were warned to be preftnt when 1 tence was publiflied, which was done by DoSor Scot Bffhop of C^efter, in Part 3. $ttttmttn by ttje $apttte» i€i in which Sentence he condemned Bucer and Phagius of Herefie : After the Sentence, the Bifhop commanded their Bodies to be digged out of their Graves, and being degraded from holy Orders, delivered them into the Hands of the Secular Power : Then the Cardinal was advertifed how- far they had proceeded, and he was defired that the Writ De HtriticU Comburcndo, might be ient to Smithy Mayor of Cambridge, elfe the Buftnete could not be finilhed. In the mean time while the Writ was coming,an d order was made than theBooks before commanded to be fearcht for ihou'd be thrown into the Fire with them ,• the Writ being come, and the dead Bodies being taken up they were guarded to the Market place, a grtat train of People following them, and there chained to a Poft, Fire was ft t to them, the Books were thrown in and burnt with them ; and thus ends this piece of Popifh folly. And becaufe one Univerfity mould not mock the other, the like piece of folly was a&ed upon the dead Body of Peter Martyrs Wife of Oxford, an honeft grave and fober Woman while fhe lived, and of poor People alway a great helper 9 me died in the year 1591* The Cardinals Vifi- tors coming to Oxford, among other things had in Gommiflion to take tip this good Woman out of her Grave, and to confume her Garcafs with Fire. Stephen Kemp, William Hay, William Waherer, William Prowting, William Lowick, and Thorn* Hudfon, were all burnt in Kent in January 1 c 5-7. The next that fuffered were thefe Five Perfons following, viz,. Thoma* Lofefy, Henry Ram fey, Thomas Tbirtet, Margaret Hide & Agnes Stanley, who were examined upon the general Articles before Bonner's Chancellor, to which they particularly anfwered, being thereunto required before Sen- tence, and to declare whether they would recant, and what they had to fay, why he (houid not pronounce the Sentence of Condemnation. Thomas Lofeby, firft anfwered, faying, God give roe ftrength to ftand againft you and your Sentence; and your Law, which is a devouring Law, for it devoureth the Flock of Chrift, and I perceive there is no way with me but Death, except I would confent to your devouring Law, and believe in that Idol the Mafs — Thomas Tbirtet faid, if you make me an Heretick, then you make Ghrift and his Apoftles Heretick« ; for I ana in the true Faith, and 1 will ftand in it ; for I know full well I (hall have Eternal Life therefore « Henry Ramfey faid, Will you have me to go from the Truth that I am in ? -• Msr^aret Hide fold, You have no caufe to give Sentence againft me, for 1 am in the true Faith, and will rievc t Kfake ir, and I do wifh I were more ftronger in it : And the fe- cond time b n 5 c ailed before the Bilhop, fhe faid, 1 will not depart from my flyings till I be burned. — Agnes Stanley faid, I had rather Y* every 1 6a laetfecttten by tl)e Papffts. Part ?. every hair of my Head were burned, if it were never (o much worth, than that I fhould forfake my Faith, which is the true Faith. -- After they had been twice called and examined, they were condemned, and a. bout the utb Day of April, /^7»o 1557, were all burnt in one Fire in Smith field. After thefe, in the Month of May, Three others fuffered in Georges* fittds in Sounthwark, viz. William Morrant, Stephen Gratwich, and one •- King This Stephen Gratwick in his Examination was very hardly & illegal- ly dealt with ;for firft, he was condemned by the Bifhops of Winchefier and Gloucefler, towhofe Diocefs he did not belong. Secondly, when he made his appeal from thefe incompetent Judges to the Bifhops of the Dio- cefs he lived in,his appeal would not be allowed •, when they had no other fliift to colour their inordinate proceedings withal, they procured a Prieft to counterfeit himfelf to be Bifhop of Chefier, and brought him 10 fit as Judge over him. When he was before the Bifhop of Winchefier in St. Mary Overs, be- caufe the People cried out, God ftrengthen thee; the Bifhop threatned, faying, Now let me fee him here, that dare open hu Mouth to bid God ftrengthen thee \ he [h all die the Death that thou (halt die* — Gratwick Anfwered, I know your Cruelty doth extend more largely than your Pity. They fur- ther fliewed their Injuftice againft him, in that they brought in Arti- cles againft him, which were not grounded upon his own Examinations and Confeffions : And becaufe he refufed to Anfwer to them, tho' they had no other juft Matters againft him, but only for faying thefe Wordy, viz. That which I have [aid ', 1 have [aid \ they proceeded to read the Sen- tence of Death againft him. - When he was afked, Whether he would Re* cant * He faid,My Faith is grounded more ftedfaftly than to change in a Moment jits no procefs of Time can alter me, unlefs my Faith were as the Waves of the Sea. When the Sentence was read, the Bifhop delivered him into the hands of the Sheriff to be carried Prifoner to the Marfhalfea, whereupon the Prifoner with a loud Voice, defired God, that He would not lay his Blood to their Charge, if it were his Will : And as he was pafling away,becaufe he fpake to thePeople,his Perfecutors Cried out,C«r hi* Tongue out : Stop hit Mouth : And fo he was had to the Marfhalfea, and put in Irons, and fhortly after was burnt in Georges Fields, with Morrant^ and one — King, about the latter End of May. By reafon of a Proclamation publiQied in Ftbruary i 1556, the Srorm of Perfecution grew rather greater in many Places than befure ; but efpeci- ally in the Diocefs of Canterbury : Whereupon the 1 $th day of June ;even Perfons were burnt at Maidftone : The Relation of wtiofe Apprehenfion, Examination and Execution is not Regiftred, excepting fomething con- cerning Part 3. $ttttmttD bp tl)t $apift& 1 63 cerning Edmund ABen of Frytendenxn Kent, Miller, who for Reading the Scriptures,and Expounding upon them,was complained of by John Taylor y ( Parfon of the ParifhJ to the Juftice, who fending for him, committed both him and his Wife to Prifon, but not long after they were fet at liberty, and went over to CaSice, where his Gonfcience being troubled; after fome time the Lorddifcovered to him that he had work for him to do in England, and thereupon he and his Wife (hortly after returned home to Kent ; Parfon Taylor hearing of their Return, altho' he was in the midft of his Mafs, when the News was brought him, he turned to the Peo- ple and commanded fome with all fpeed to g© and Apprehend them : When his Mafs was over, he went and Apprehended the faid AlUn, and had him before one Sir John Baker, a Juftice, who fent him to Prifon,and caufed an Inventory to be made of his Goods,and they took ThirteenPounds in Money away from him. When he was bro't before Juftice Baker, he faid, Who gave thee Authority to Preach ? « Allen, Give me leave to anHver, 1 am perfwaded that God bath given me thit Authority , at he bath given to aO •thf.r Chriftianst Why are we called Chriftians, if we do not follow CHRIST, nor Read bis Laws ? Is not CHRIST our Father ? Shall not the Son follow t be Father's Steps ? li not CHRIST our Mtfter ? And (hall the Scholar be hindred from Learning and Preaching hit Precepts ? Is not CHRIST our Redeemer, and JhaSwenot Praife hk Name, and Serve him that bath Redeemed us from Sin and Damnation ? Did not C HRIST( being but of Twelve Tears of Age) difpute with the DoStors, and interpret the Prophet Ifaiah, although he was not of the Tribe of Levi t whicb were Prieftsjfut of the Royal! ribe of]\id&h>neitber bad t*~ ken any outward Priefi.hood ? wherefore, if we be Chriftians we muft do the fame. One Collins ftanding by, faid to the Juftice, What a Knave it this, that compareth him [elf with Chrift ? - Juftice Baker, Let him alone, be will pump out art infinite heap of Herefies. Haft thee any mire to fay for thy felf ? -- Men, Yea, that I have, Adam was Licenfed of God, and Abraham was commanded to teach his Children and Po(ierity,and David teacheth in divers Pfalms, and Solomm alfo preached to the People as the Book of the Preacher pro- vetb, where he teacheth, that there is no immortal felicity in this Life ,• and Nm».— Then Woodman would have an- fwered,but the Bifhop defired them both to give him place- Bifhop,W^tf, Neighbour Woodman, 7 call you Neighbour, becaufe you are one of my Diocefs, and you are fent to me, that I fhould give you fpiritual Counfel, for 1 am your ffiiritual Paflor, therefore hear what 1 fay unto you- •* Woodman, Firft, I defire you to hear me a few words ; You have faid,you will give me fpirw tualCounfeh Are You fure you have the Spirit of God ? Bifhop, No J am mtfure ; I dare not be fobold to fay Jo. -- Woodman, Then you are like the Waves of the Sea, tofled about with every Wind, and unliable in all your Ways, and can look for no good thing at the Lord's Hand : Yea, You are neither hot nor cold, and therefore GOD will Spue you out of His Mouth. -- Then in a Fury Story faid, What a pervtrfe Fellow it thit ? He hath a Devil in him, and it Mad. And the Bifhop faid, He it fent to me to Learn, and taketh upon him to Teach me. Then Richard Woodman feeing their Blindnefs, and Blafphemy, it made fuch an Imprefiion upon him, that his Heart was melted, and his Eyes gufht out with Tears ; and he fpoke 10 them after this Manner, The Jews faid to Chrift, He had a De- vil, and was Mad, as you have here faid to me : But I know the Servant is not above his Mafter ', and God forbid that I fhould Learn of him that confeflech he hath not the Spirit of God. — Bifhop,lfiby do you think that you have the Spirit of God 2?ou boafi more than ever Paul did, or any of the dpo- Z ftles; 1 70 0etfecttteD t>p tlje #apfft& Part 3, files, the which in great prefuvption. — Woodman, 1 boaft not in my felf, bit in the Gift of God, as Paul did, who U\d, He verily believed that be bad the Spirit of God, m sking thereof no queftion, lO^.^Chichefter, It is not fo, you btly the Text.—' Woodman, If it be not fo, let me be burnt to morrow.-- Story, Theu fi) alt not be bwm to morrow, but J willpromife thee thou fl) alt be burnt within fix dayes.'- Bp« If it be fo, it's wrong Tranf* land, as it is in a thousand places wore.-* Woodman, Tike heed that you be- Jie not the Trar flators ; I believe they had the fear oi God mere before their Eyes, than you report of them ;but if that placebe wrongtra fUted, 1 can prove by places enough that Paul b d die Spirit of God,*. Bp How Prove you that ? .- ^ciwow, No roan can believe that Jefus is the Lord but by the holy Ghoit \ for he that bat h not the Spirit or Chrift is noneof his : And again, wc have not received the Spirit of Bondage to fear any more, but v>e have received the t-pirit of Ad ption, whereby we cry ^^4 3 Father^ the fime Spirit certifieth us, tl-a: we are the. Sons of God; .alfo, John faith, he that belteveth not that Chufl is come in the Flefh, it an Antichnfl, and denyeth both the father and the Son ; and he that tel eveth in God, dwelleth in God, and God in him— Story, What an Herettck is this ? why do you htar him ? Send him to Prtjen to his fchvws in the Matifulfea, and they fhali be difpatcht within theft tv-ilve days, -• Woodn an, When I heard him fay fo, 1 repiced greatly in my heart, defiling God, if it were his will, to keep them in that mind ; f r 1 expe&e J to have been fent to the Bilhop of London's cole-boufe, or Lollards Tower, but they fent me to the Marflmlfea to my Brethrerr and c Id Prifbn Felloes, whereby it pleafed God that the b irden I locked for, was fomsthing eafed ; when they faw I rather nj>yctd, than feared ^nriprifonmenr, the Bifhopfaid,- Me thinks he is not afraid of the Pnfon.-- Woodman, No, I praife the Living God. ■- Story, He bath the right terms of an Htretick, the living God, &c / pray you, be there dead God's, that you fat the Living God f .-Woodnan, Are you angry wirh me for Ipsaking the words written in the Bible?-* Story, Btible- Babble, what fpeakeft thou of the, BtHc f there is nofucb Words in all the Bible." Then, faid Woodman, \ am much to blame, and brought feveral Scriptures to prove that there wn, in whofe Diocefs you now are ; And after other difcourfe, askt him, What belaid to the Sacrament of the Altar}-- Woodman, Do You mean Chrift to be the Altar ?— Biihop, Imeanthe Sacrament of the Altar in the Church.— Woodman, What the Altar of Stone i - Bp, Yes, 'tis that Altar 1 mean, how do you underfiand the Altar otherwise ?— - Woodman, It is written, that wherefcever two or three are gathered to- gether in ChrifVsName, there is he in themidftof them, and whatfoever they ask in his Name it (hall be given unto them ; when thou comeft to erfer thy Gift at the Altar, and there remembreft that thy Brother hath ought againft thee leave there thy Offering, and go firft, and be recon- ciled to thy Brother, and then come and offer thy Gift"— A Prieft ftand- ing by, would have interrupted him, but the Bifhop faid, Let him alone.-. Then Woodman faid, By thefe two places of Scripture 1 prove that Chriir is the true Altar whereon every Chriftian, that is in the Love and Charitv, ought to offer their Gifts— Bp. I never heard any man underfiand (be Al ar fo, no t not Luther the great Hiretick, that was condem- ned by a general Council, and- his PicJure burnt. — Woodman, If he were Z 2 an i7* #etfectttet> bp tf,t paptflte. Part ?♦ an Heretick, I think he underftood it not fo indeed, but I am fure all Chriftians ought fo to underfland it And afcer further difcourfc- they laughed at him, and faid, This u a Htretick indeed, it u time he were burnt. — Then Woodman replied, Judge not left ye be Judged } for in that way you call Herefie I ferve my God. — Then Story laid, What y you are a Preaching ? You (h*fl Preach at a Stake [hortly with your Fellows \ carry him to the Marfhalfca again, and let him be kept doft, and let none come to jptukwitb bim. -- At another time being brought before the Bifhop of Wincbefler, and others, the Bifhop fpoke to him to this eifeft • When you were lafl before us, (Woodman )you would not confefs that you were fent to Prifon for Herefie,but called for your Accufers,and flood flout ly in defence of four felf. -- Woodman replied, faying, You faid I was fent to Prilbn for He- refie, I told you wherefore I was fent to Prifon, which was upon the breach of a Statute, for fpeaking to a Prieft in the Pulpit, and tor that caufe, the Jufticesof that County thought I had offended che Stature, and fent for me before them, and would have bound me to the good be- haviour ; and becaufe I refufed they fent me to Prifon. He was at his Examination before the Bifhop of Winchefler prefs'd to anfwer to feveral things objected againft him, but he retufed, faying, He was not of his Diocefs. The Bifhop being difpleafed at his anfaeis, called him, Peruerfe Pillian, and Obfiinate Fool, and Heretick j and Cried, Hold him a Book, Vll make him J wear, and anfwer, or tlfe I will condemn him : Hold thy band on the Booi^faid the Bifhop.-- I will lay no hand on the Book for none of you all, faid Woodman : And looking on the People, the Bifbop cried, See how he looks about for Help ! •- I look for no Help (laid he) from Men ;for God is on my fide, and therefore 1 do not care who is againft me. — Then they Cried, Away with him, and bring us another- -- At another Time being bro't before the Bifhop of Winch ft er, the Bi(hop afkt him, His Belief concerning the Sacrament of the Altar ? -- Woodman Replied, I pray you be content, I will anfwer no more Queftions, for that I perceive you go about to fhed my Blood •- Bifhop No, hold him a Book if he refufe to Swear, be it an Anabzptift, and (hall be Excommunicated. -- Woodman, 1 will not Swear, Excommunicate me if you will •- Af* ter fome more Words paft between them, the Bifhop paft the Sentence age inf) the faid Woodman, and then they Cried, Away, with him, away with him, not fufFering him to fpefe viayes,de:enii § & abhojrring.rhe forced Religion oi the Papifts^ g>ii g from Lyt to ■ Nirvnch^ and /landing in the preft of People, e .he itted to Ward, and fhortly aker was by the biih°p of N«r&icl> an i his ha-ce'lor condemned, and burnt With the afoieiaia Ehz.ihe.yh ^o.oper : When fJiz-abeth firlf felt the Fire, fhe (hruj k and c-yed o«t ( - bu*: ^iman JWtllcr par his hand behind him, towards her, and wiiht her to be ftrong , fo they both ends i their live? jovf'jlly. Ab^ut this time feveral Perfons perfe:u r ei in Cokheffer fuffered in Ef- fex, being pr: fecmed by one floras Tye Priefr, who wro:e a Letter to Bonner aga-.r ft rheru to this eff cr, lUy dffembte Tfaid he), together upon the Subiath day, daring the tirqp 0' D'-utne Service, fometimet in one Hou'e. and >he Offi e;s with hm, who told William Munt and his Wile, they muff go with them ro Cfkbffter Caftie j,The Woman beuig^ick in tfeJ,dc Itied herOaughiei » might -fiift fetch her fomeDrink,for fh'e w Terrii giv^pg her Daughter leave, as (he was coming b?ck with the Di and a Candle in her hand, He wiiht ber r to give her 'Fatten goodCoun(cl\ThQ Maid ieplied, they have ab.tter lnftrucTor than roe* 1 76 tyttttcum b? tfle #aptftS. Part 3. for I hope the holy Ghoft doth teach them, which will not fuffcr them to err: Then faid Terril, Art thou in that mind,tbou naughty Houfewife ; marry, it u timtto look upon fucb Hereticks indeed. The Maid replyed, with that you call Herefie, dol worfhip my Lord God. Terril, Then I perceive Gofftp, you wiS burn with the reft for Company fake. No, faid fhe, not for Compmy fake, but for ChrifVs lake, if I am compelled ; and I hope, it he call me to it, he will enable me to bear it : Then the faid Terril took the Candle out of her hand, and held her Wrift and the burning Candle Under her hand, faying, Thou young Whore\ wilt thou not cry ? She replyed, fhe had no caufeto cry, but rather to rejoyce, and quietly fuffered his rage for the time : At laft (hs faid, have you done what you will do * he faid, Tea, and if thou think it not well, tben mend it : Mend it faid (he, nay, the Lord mend you, and give you Repentance; and now, i! you think it good,begin at the Feet,and burn the Head alfo •, for he that fet you on work, mall pay you your Wages* Then the faid Terril fearched the Houfe, and took one John Thurfton and Margaret his Wife, and William Mum and his Wife, and Rofe his Daughter, whofe hand he had burat, and carryed them to Colchefter Caftle immediately ; there was in all ten Perfons Prifoners in Colchefter for not conforming, and for denying the real Prefence in the Sacrament, who were all feverally fentencedto be burnt. When Rofe AUen, whofe hand was burnt by Terril, was Exami- ned concerning her belief, concerning Auricular Confefjion, and the Maft, &c She faid, they ftunk in the Face of God \ and being afkt, What (he faid concerning the See of Rome, and whether fhe would obey the Bifhop of Romes Authority} (he anfwered boldy, fhe was none of his, and as for his See, it is for fuch Ravens & Crows as You be, to Swim in ; for I (hall not fwim in that Sea while I live,neither will I have any thing to do thero with ; whereupon (he was Condemned as the reft were After thefe poor Vames were Condemned, they were delivered into the hands of the Secu- lar Power, and were by them committed every one unto the Prifon, from whence they came, where they remained with much joy and great com- fort, in continual reading and calling upon God, ever looking for, and expetting the day of their diiftlution, which was upon the fecond day of Auguft following, ard becaufe fbme were in the Caflle Prifon, and fome in the Town Prifon, called the M^e-haS, therefore it was agreed by the Officers, that they in the Mote ball, viz William Bongeer, William Purest, Thomm Rt*old, Agnes Silver fide, alias Smith, EHen Earing, and Elizabeth Fowlks, fhould be burnt in the Forenoon, and Willi*™ Munt, and his Wife and Daughter, and John Jackson, Prifoners in the Caftle, (hould be burnt in the Afrernoon, who when thev were tyed to the Stakes, they called upon God, and earneftly exhorted the People to flee from Idolatry, and fo Part 3* ^etfecttten bp tlje #apttte. 177 fo ended their Teftimonies Joyfully j And as for John Thurfton, before mentioned, he Died in Prifon. The next that fuffered, was George Eagles , a Man of gocd Utterance, and Eloquent in Speech, though but a Taylor by Trade. In this Time of great Perfecution, he left his Trade, and Travelled about from pbce to place, to comfort and ftrengthen fuch as had received ths Truth in any meafure, fomstimes Lodging in the Fields and Woods, and becaufe he travelled much abroad he was called Trudgevtr ; in his Diet he was fpa« ring, and for his Drink it was moftly Water for three Yeats, to which necelfities of denying himfelf he was drove to, through the heat of this time of Perfecution; for he was fain to keep pretty much in Woods and Moles ; for the Queen had put out a Proclamation in four Counties for apprehending of him, and twenty Pounds was to be given to the party that took him, and fhortly after he was taken in a Corn- Field in Eftx t and being apprehended, was had Prifoner to Colcbefter, and from thence within four days was had to Chelsmford, where he abode one Night, and did neither fleep, eat nor drink, and the next day he was carried to^ Lon- don, and there Examined by the Bifhop or Council, and from thence fent back to Chelmsford again, and at the Seffions there he was indifred for Treafon, for having Meetings contrary to the Law, and for praying that God would turn Queen Marys heart, or elfe take her away ; the which words that God would take her away, he denyed that he fpake,neverthe- lefs, he was Condemned,and executed for the fame* The Examination of Richard Crafhfield of Wymondbarm The Chancellor faid, How fay you, Sarrab, to the Ceremony of the Church 9 What Ceremonies ? faid Crafhfield. — Chancellor, Do yon believe in the Sacrament of t be Altar ? — Crafhfield faid, He knew not what it was. — Chancellor, Do you not btlieve Chrifi took Bread, gave thanks, break «, and faid, Take eat, this it my Body ? ~ Crafhfield, Even as Chrift fpake, fo did he perform the work. -- Chan. How fay you to the Confejfton to the Prieft ? when were you Confejfed? — Cra[h. I confefs my felf daily unto the eternal God. - Chan. Doyounot take the confe(fion to tbe Prieft to be good ? -. Crafh. No, but rather Wicked. - Chan- What fay you to Singing, and the Organs, it that godly ? — Crafh, I perceive faid he, no godlinefs in it, and yet he faid, he approved of Spiritual Songs, b^c yours is of the Flefh, aid of the Spirit of Error, and though to you it be plea- fant, and glorious, yet to the Lord it is bitter and odious. — Then faid the Chancellor, Stand nearer Country-man, why ft and you fo far off ? — Cra(Ij. I am near enough, and a litcle too near : And further faid, I have done with you. - Chan. Wloatjhtll I tell my Lord of you ? -- Crafh. If A a you 178 #erfemfxt> bptlje #apffte. Part 3. You have nothing to tell him, Your Errand will be the fooner done -•- Chan Will you turn from this wicked Error ? ( Ton have been an evil Example, by jour wicked reading, you have perfwaded fimyle women to this Error ) and you pall have Mercy. — Craft. I a t k Mercy of God, whom I have offended, and not of You. -- Ghan. When were you at jour Parifh Church ? Jou have been Excommunicated this two years, and therefore you are condemned ; and fo paft Sentence upon him ; and he was (hortly after burnt at Norwich. The next that fuffered, was ore Joyce Levis, Wife to Thomas Lewi* of Manchefler. This Joyce Lewis ,was a Woman jfrWy brought up in the plea- fures of the World ; (he was turned fron the tcptfl) Rdigion, by feeii g the great Sufferings and Death of Lawrence Saunders At Coventry; Aid be- ing afterwards inflamed with the love of God, fhe purpofed to abftain from thofe things that difpleafed him •, but her Hufband being furious againft her, compelled her to go to Mafs ; but being there, in Tejlimony againft their Idolatry, when they fprinkled the Holy Water, fhe turned her back towards it, for which fhe was (hortly after Accufed before the Bi- ftiop; (he told the Bilhop, by refufing their Holy Water, fhe neither Of- fended God nor his Laws *, the Bilhop thereat was offended, and bound her Hufband in a Hundred Pound Bond for her appearance a Month after, the Month being ended, her unnatural Hufband carried her himfelf to the Bifliop, who afked her, Why fhe xeould not go to Mafs, and receive the Sacra- ments* She anfwered, Becatfefhe found them not in the Word needful Jor mens Salvation, wherefore fhe was Condemned : After her Condem- nation fhe continued a Year in Prifon, where her behaviour both in word and deed was fuch, that her death was greatly Lamented. When the She- riff brought her news of the hour of her death, (he faid to him, Your MefTage is welcome to me 1 When the rite was fet to her, fhe never flrug- led nor ftrived, but ended her life Patiently. About the 17th Day of September were burnt at Iflington Ralph Ahrton, James Auftoo, Margery Aufloo his Wife, and Richard Roth. Ralph AUerton, after his apprehending, was kept a whole Year in Prifon before he was Condemned ; he was firft accufed before the Lord Dor fey of Cbicbefler, for not conformirg to the Idolatry and Superflition of the Times, and for praying and exhorting the People of the Pariih where he lived, not being a Prieft; Before he was apprehended he kept himfelf in Woods and Barns, and other Solitary Places; and at laft being Appre- hended, was fent up to the Council, and from them to Bonner, Bifhop of London : In his Examination he told the Bi(hop, there were Three Reli- gions in England \ then faid Bonner, Which be thefe ? AUerton Replied, The firft is that which You hold ; the fecond is clean contrary to the fame; and the third is a Neuter x Then faid Bonner ^ Of which of thefe three art thou Part 3. #etfecttteD ftp ttje t&aprfts. 1 7? *Jta» 0/ ? Mtrtcn faid, I am of that which is Contrary to that which You teach to be believed on the pain oi death. After lcme other difcourfe be- tween them.the Bijhop in a Rage called him Knave^nd. Whorjon Prick-loufe, and demanded what he had to fay, why he (hould not pronounce the Sentence of Condemnation againfi him ? To which he anfwered, You ought not to Con- demn me, for I am a Chriftian : But do as You have Determined •, for* I fee Right and Truth are fuppretTed, and cannot appear upon the Earth. Thefe words ended, the Bijhop pronounced the Sentence of Death a- gainft him, and delivered him to the Temporal Officers, who on the day aforefaid, caufed him, and the other Three to be Burnt* There is notmuch Recorded what pafs'd in theTrial of the other Three, only James Auftoo, when he was brought upon Examination before the Bifhop in his Chappel at Fullam, the Bifhop faid to him, Doft thou Know where thou art, and before whom ? To which he Replied, I know where I am, for 1 am in an Idol-Temple ; whereupon the Bifhop pafs'd Sentence a- gainft him and his Wife, who fuflered deeply a Prifoner in the Bifhop's Houfe, being kept in his Dog-Kennel, under a pair of Stairs. One Arti- cle againft Richard Roth, ( One of the Four that was burned ) wag, That be was a Comforter of Heretieks ; and to that End had writ a Letter to certain Perfons that were burnt at Colchefter- The Subftance of which Letter written by him, and directed to his Brethren and Sifters in Chrift, ( Con- demned at Colchefter ) ready to be burned for the Teftimony of the Truth, is as folio we ch« OH, dear Brethren and Sifters ! How much have You to Rejoice in God, that He hath given You fuch Faith,to Overcome this Blood- thirfly tyrant thus far, and no doubt He that hath begun that good Work in You, will fulfil) it unto the End : Oh, dear Hearts in Chrift ! What a Crown of Glory fhall ye receive with Chrift, in the Kingdom of God ? Oh ! That it had been the good Will of GOD, that I had been Ready to have gone with Ycu \ for 1 lie in the Bijhop' j Little*Ea[e in the Day, and in the Night Hie in the Cole-houfe, from Ralph /illerton, or any Other % and we look every Day whe nwt fiali be Condemned ; for he faid, That 1 fhould be Burnt within Ten Days before Eafter : But I lie ftill at the Pools-brink, and very many go in before roe ; but we abide Patiently the Lprd's Leifure with many Bonds, in Fetters and Stocks, by the which we have received great Joy in GOD : And now Fare je we0 9 Dear Brethren and Sifters, in this World. Oh, Brother Munt % with your Wife, and my dear Sifter Rofe ! How Bleffed are you in the Lord, that God hath found you Worthy to Suffer for His Sake ; with all the reft of my dear Brethren and Sifters, known and A a 2 unknown! 180 ®ttfUUttb tip tl)e $apfti& Part 3. unknown ! Oh, be joyful even unto death, fear it not, faith ChriO, For 1 have overcome death, faith he ♦ Oh dear hearts ! feeing that Jefus Chrift will be our help, Oh tarry you the Lords leifure ! be ftrong, let your heart? be of good comfort, and wait you ftill for the Lord, he is at har d, Yea, the Angel of tbe Lord pircheth hisTe^r round about them that fear him, 2r,d d> I vceth them which way he feerh beft ', for cur Lives are in the Lords hand, and they can do nothing unto us, before God fuffer them *, therefore give all thanks to God; Oh! dear hearts, you (hall be clothed with long White Garments upon Mount Zion, with the Multi- tude of Saints, and Witfi Chrift Jefus our Saviour which will never for- f ks us \ Oh / BlefTed Virgins, you have play'd the wife Virgins part, in that vou have taken Oyl in your Z.«mp;,thar. you may go in with tbe Bride- groom when he Cometh, into the ever Idling joy with him -,but as for the Foolifh they man belhut out, beciufe they made notthemfelves ready to fuffer with Chrift, neither go about to take up his CroJs. Oh, dear hearts ! How precious fhall your death be in the fight of the Lord, for deir is the death of his Saints ; Oh ! fare you well, and Pray • the Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all Amen, Amen. Pray, Pray, Pray. Written with my own Blood, by me, Richard Roth* I mentioned before, how that ten Perfons fuflercd at Cokhefier, a- mongft whom was one Agnes Bengeer, who fhould have fuffered with them fix that went out of Mote-hall, but her Execution was fufpended for a time, her Name being miftaken in the Writ, and inOead of Agnes Bengeer, called Agnes B oyer ; this poor Woman, when (he f Tou are, a ft ub- born Fellow, and an Heretick ; and fpeaking to him of Obedience to the Laws of the Realm, -* Thomas, replyed, You muft confider that I have a Soul and a Body, and my Soul is none of the Quten's, but my Body and Goods are the Queen's ;and I muft give God my Soul, and all that belongs eth unto it •, that is, I muft obey the Laws and Commandments of God, and whofoever commandeth obedience to Laws contrary to Gods Laws, I may not obey them, left Iloofe my Soul, but muft rather obey God than man \ and further told the Bifhop, that their graven Images and Ceremo- nies, were but the Inventions and Imaginations of their own Brain. — Then one ftanding by, faid to the Prifoners, Are you wifer than all men ? Will you willingly caft away your felves ? My Lord would fain fave you, there* fore chufe fame man where yon will, and take a day, my Lord will give it you K —- Thomas, If I fave my Life, I mall lofe it, and if I lofe my Life for Chrifis fake, I (hall find Life Everlafting \ and if I take a day, when the ■day cometh, I muft fay then even as I fay now, except I will lye, and therefore thatneedeth not. -- Well then ( faid the Bifhop ) have him away, and after he had been foms time a Prifoner in Bury m Suffolk, he was burnt in November, 1577. In the fame Month were three Perfons put to death in SmithfeU, viz. John HaUingdaU, William Sparrow, and Richurd Gibfon, they were feveral times brought before Bonner, who produced feveral Articles againft them, aid ufed Arguments to perfwade them to recant, before he paft Sentence upon them, to which John Hallingdal replyed, Becaufe I will not come ) to your Babylonical Church, therefore you go about to Condemn me. Then ; the Bifhop ask'd him, Whether he would prfevere in hts Opinions ? He re- plyed, He fnould perfift in them until the death } whereupon Bonner read the bloody Sentence againft him. William Sparrow being asked the fame Queftion by the Bifhop, he made anfwer to this efTeft, That way which you call Herefieis good and Godly, and if every Hair of my Head were a man, I would burn them all rather than go from the Truth \ and faid, your Laws and Mafs is naught and abominable ; whereupon the Bifhop Immediately read the Sentence of Death againft him, and delivered him to the fecular Power, who fent him again to Prifon. -- After the Bi- shop haol miniftred feveral Articles againft Richard Gibfon ; the f *id Richard Part 3. ftttUtuttts by ttie #apfll& 185 Richard propofed feveral Articles to him to Anfwer,Yea,or Nay,or clfe to fay, he could not tell, viz- 1, Whether any man by the holy Ordinance of God, ever was, is, or (hall be Lord over Mans Faith ? 2. By what lawful Authority any Man, of what Dignity, Eftate, or Calling by Office foever he, or they be, may ufe Lordfhip, or Power over any Man for Faith or Conference fake ? 3, By what lawful Authority, or Power any Man of what Dignity, Eflate, or Calling foever be, or they be, may be fo bold as to alter or change the holy Ordinances of God, or any Part of them ? 4. By what evident Tokens Antichrifl, and his Miniflers may be Known, feeing it is written that Satan can change him f elf into the fimilitude of an Angel of Light ? f. What is the Beaft which maketh War with the Saints of God, and doth not only kill them, but alfo will fnffer none to buy nor feB, but fuch at Worfhip hit Image, or receive his Mark in their Right- hands, or in their Fore-heads, his Name, or the Number of his Name, or do Worfhip his Image ; which fa the jufl, and terrible Sentence of God already Decreed, jhall Perijh in Fire, and Brimfione, before the holy Angels, and, before the Lamb *, and they fhaB have no Reft Day nor Night, but the Smoke of their Torment fhaB Afcend up for Evermore ? 6. Alfo, what is the gerdiotts glittering Whore that fittetk upon the Beafl, with a golden Cup in her Hand, full of Abominations, with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication, and the Inhabitants of the Earth, and (he her felf alfo is Drunken with the Blood of the Saints, which is the Wine of her Fornication, whofe Flefh the Horns of the Beafl Jhall tear in pieces 9 and burn her with Fire ? At the Ian Time of his appearing at the Confiftory t the Bifhop afked him, If he knew any Caufe,why Sentence fhould not be pafs'd againfl him ? -- Gibfon % You have nothing againfl me/«/?/y to Condemn me for.-- B\(hop % You are an evil Man.--Gibfon,l may fay fo of You alfo. -- Then the Bi(hop haftning on to his Sentence, Admoniftfd him to remember bimfelf, and fave his Soul* But Gibfon told him, He would not hear his Babling ; and further faid, BlefTed am I that I am Curfed at Your Hands. At,d fo the Sentence was read againft him,and he was committed to Prifon, and ftiortly after burnt wifh the Two before mentioned. At the bottom of hisArticles he inferted thefe two Scriptures, Afcribe unto the Lord, O ye mighty, afcribe unto the Lord Worjhip,&S!reng;th : Give unto the Lord the Honour of his Name, and Bow your f elves to the Mayefty of the Lord' I will hearken what the Lord God wii fay ; for he fhalljpeak Peace unto his People, that they turn not themfelves unto Foolifh- nefs. April the 6th, iff?, By me Richard Gibfon* In this furious time of Perfection, John Rough & Margeret Mearing, were alfo burnt at London, on the jid day of December : This John Rough was birn in Scotland,atid in his Zeal for the Truth, he abhorred the Ido- latry and Super flition in Religion Pra&ifed in chat Country, and there- B b fore %u #erfccttteti bp tDe #apflte. Part 3; fore travelled into England, where after the death of K. Edward the 6th, perceiving the alteration that was like to be in Religion, and the Perfe- ction that would thereupon arife, and looking at his own weaknefs fled with his Wife into Fretz.eland, where they laboured with their EUndr, for their Maintenance ; but fhortly after he returned again into England, and arriving at London, he heard of a Society of godly People that aiTem- bled privately in Religious Exercife, to whom he joyned himfelf, and continued exercifing his Gift in preaching unto them, until he was through the treachery of a falfe Brother betrayed, and apprehended by the Vice-Chamberlain of the Queens Houfe, being taken at a religious Meeting at the Sarrafons- head in Islington ; after Examination before the Gouncill. he was fent to Newgate, and his Examination in a Letter to Bonner, to proceed againft him as an Heretick. Bonner being minded to make quick difpatch with him,within three dayes after the receipt of the Letter, fent for him from Newgate, to his Palace at London, where hehadfeveral Articles ready drawn up againft him, for denying the [even Sacraments, the Laiine Service, and the Popes Supremacy, &c. After he hadanfwered to thefe Articles, he was difmilTed till next day, and then he was brought again before the Bifhop and others, who percei- ving his conftancy to his ProfeiIion,they ordered him to be brought the next day to the open ConGftory,& there condemned him as an Heretick,& delivered him to the Secular Power,who fent him to Newgate, & fhortly after he was burnt in Smithfeld, about five a Clock in the Morning, A Letter written by John Rough, unto certain of lets Friends^ THe Comfort of the Holy Ghoft make you able to give Confolation unto others, in thefe dangerous days, when Satan is let loofe, but to the Tryal only of the Chofen, when it pleafeth our God to fift his Wheat from the Chaff, I have not liefure nor time to write the great Temptations I have been under ; I fpeak to God's Glory, my care was to have the fenfes of my Soul opened, to perceive the Voice of God, faying, WioofocvLr denyetlo me before men i him will I deny before my Father, and his Angels ; And to fave the life Corporal, u to loft the life Eternal ; And he that will not ftffer with Chrift, fljall not Reign with him> Therefore moft tender One?,l have by God'sSpirit given over the Flefli, with the fight of my Soul, and the Spirit hath the Vi&ory, the Flefb (hall now, e're it be long, leave off to (in, the Spirit fhall reign Eternally : 1 have choien the Death, to confirm the Truth, by me Taught : What can I do more ? Con fider with yourfelves,tbat 1 have done it for the confirmation of God's Truth ; piay that I may continue unto the end, the greateft part of my aflkult Part ?♦ ^crfecttteo by tlje $apt'ft& 1 87 aflault is paft,! praife my God : I hare in all my afTaults felt the prefenc aid of my God,l give him moft hearty thanks for it ; look not back,nor be a (named of (Shrift s Gofpel, nor of the Bonds I have fuffered for the fame, thereby you may be afpjr ed it is the true Word of God, the holy Ones have beenfealed with the fame ( Mark) Its no time for the lofs of one man in the Battel, for the Camp to turn back, up with Mens Hearts, blow down the daubed Walls of Herefie, let one take the Banner, and ano- ther the Trumpet, I mean not to make corporeal refiftance, but pray, and ye feall have Elias'% defence and Elista's Company to fight for you; the caufe is the Lords : Now my Brethren, I can write no more, time will not fuffer, and my heart with Pangs of Death is aiTaulted, but 1 am athomewiihmy God, yet alive; Pray for me, and falute one another with a holy Kifs; The Peace of God reft with you all, Amm. From New- gate Prifon, in bafie $ being the day of my Condemnation, John Rough* Another Letter of J* Rough's, written to the Congregation, two dajes be- fore be fuffered, T He Spirit of all Confolation be with you, aid you, and make you ftrong to run to theFight that Is laid before you, wherewithal God in all Ages hath tryed his Ele&, and hath found them worthy of himfelf, by coupling them to their Head Chrift Jefus, in whom, who fo defireth to live godly,the fame muft needs fuffer Perfecution ;for it is given unto them not only to believe, but alfo to iuffer •, and the Servant, o£ Scholar can- not be greater than his Lord or Matter : But by the fame way theHead is entered, the Members muft follow : No Life is in the Members which are cut from the Body* Likewife we have no Life but in Chrift : For in him we live, move, and have our being. Dear Hearts, Now departing this Life to my great advantage, I make change of Mortality for Immortality, of Corruption to put on Incorruption, to make my Body like to the Com caft into the Ground, which except it die firft, can bring forth no good Fruit .; wherefore Death is to me great advantage •, for thereby the Body ceafeth from fin, and afterwards turneth into the flrft Original, but after it (hall be changed, and made brighter than the Sun or Moon ; what mall I write of this corporal Death, feeing it is decreed of God, that all men fliall once dye ; happy are they that dye in the Lord, which is to dye in the Faith of Chrift, profefftng and confefling the fame, before many Wit- nefTes; I praife mv God, 1 have paft the fame Journey, by many Temp- tations ; the Devil is verv bufy to perfwade, the World to entice with promife< and fair Wor 1s, which I omit to write, left frme might think Idihuitaf'er v Sigl^rv, which is fa r theft from my heart : Laftly, the danger of iome fwfe Brethren, who before the Bifhop of London pur- B b 2 pofed 1 88 $ttltmtti* bp tyt #apffts. Part 3. pofed to confefs an Untruth to my face *, yet the God that rul'd Balaam, moved their hearts, where they thought tofpeaktomy Accufation, he made them fpeak to my Purgation j What a Journey ( by God's Power ) I have made, thefe eight days before this day, it is above Flefli & Blood to bear ; but as Paul faith, / may do all things in him which worketh in me, Jefus ChrifV My courfe ( Brethren ) have I run, I have fought a good fight, the Crown of Right coufnefs is laid up for me ; my Day to receive it is not long to: Pray Brethren, For the Enemy doth yet afTault \ Stand con- ftant unto the End, then (hall you pofTefs your Souls ; Walk worthily in that Vocation wherewith you are called ; Comfort the Brethren ; Salme one another in my Name • Be not afljamed of the Gofpel by me Preached, nor yet of my Suffering : For with my Blood I affiim the fame. I go be- fore ; I fuffer firft the Baiting of the Butchers Dogs ; Yet 1 have not done what I fhould have done; but my Weahnefs I doubt not is fupplied in the Strength of Jefut Ckrift : And your Wtfdom and Learning will Accept that fmall Talent, which I have diftributed unto You, ( I truft ) as a Faithful Steward: And what was Undone, impute that to Frailty and Ignorance; and with Your Love cover that which is, and was Naked in me. GOD lenoweth Ye are all Tender unto me \ my Heart burfleth for the Love of You *, Ye are not without the great Paftor of your Souls, who io Loveth You, that if Men were not to be fought out, ( at God he Praifed, there it no want of Men) he would caufe Stones to minifter unto You. Gaft Your Care upon that Rock, the Wind of Temptation fhafl not prevail againft. Fafi and Pray, for tJfe Bays are Evil : Look up with your Eyes of Hope, for the Redemption is not far off. And alfo that which is behind of the Blood of our Brethren, which mail alfo be laid under the Altar, fhall Cry for Your Relief. Time will not now fuffer me to Write longer Letters i The Spirit ofQod guide You in, and out, Rifing and Sitting, cover You with the Shadow of His Wings, Defend you againft the7jr<*w»/of the Wicked >& bring you Happily unto the Port of Eternal Felicity, where all Tears (hall be wiped from your E;w,and you (hall always abide with the Lamb. John Rough* The Sufferings ,and eruel Torments fuftained b) Cuthbert Simfon, This Cuthbert Simfon was a Man of a Zealous & Faithful Spirit for Chrift, and the true Flock in London : In that Day wherein they greatly Suffered, he ceafed not Daily to Labour, and Earneflly to Endeavour their Prefervation from the Corruption of the Popifh Religion, his Pains, Zeal, Travel, Patience, and Fidelity was not eafily to be Expreffed, as faith the Record* A Relation of his cruel Ufa ge in the Tower, is as tolloweth. On the 13**6 Pay of Pecember, i $ J7, he was fent to the Tower by the Council, Part 3, \utlttttttn bp tije #apftts. 18? Council and on the Tburfday following, he was called into the Ware* houfe before the ConRable of the Town, and the Recorder of London, who preft him to difcover the Perfbns he had willed to come to the Meeting he belonged to ; but he anfwered, he would declare nothing, whereupon he was fetin the Rack of Iron the fpace of three Hours,then they a«ked him, // ht would teS them ? he anfwered as before. Then was he loofed and carried to his Lodging, and on the Sabbath day following was brought to the fame place again, before the Lieutenant, and Chelmly Re- corder of London, who again examined him, he anfwered as before : Then the Lieutenant fwore by God, he fhould tell, and caufed his two lore- Fingers to be bound together, and put a fmall Arrow betwixt them, and drew it threw fo faff thai the blood followed, and the Arrow broke ; then they Rackc him twice, and then carried him to his Lodging again ; and ten days after the Lieutenant asked him, If he would eonfefs ? To whom he anfwered, he had faid as much as he would ; then about five Weeks after, tie fent him to a high Prieft, who paft the Popes Curie upon him for bearing Witnefi to the Refurre&ion of Jefus Chrift. When he was brought before Bonner, feveral Articles were objected againft him, as denying the Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church, and for being at feveral great Meetings, AlTemblies and Conventicles. At the fame time there were two other Perfons examined before Bon* ner, viz Hugh Fox t and John Levenifk, againft whom the general com- mon Articles were produced, and they were Condemned and Burnt with Cuthhert Sim[on in Smitbfield, upon the 28th day of March, for whole cenftancy to the Lord in his Quarrel, his Name be exalted for evermore. Some Paffages out of a Letter of Cuthbert Simfon'j to his Wife. D Early beloved in the Lord Jefus Chrift, I cannot write as I do wifh unto you ; 1 befeech you with my Soul Commit Your felf under the mighty hand of our God, truftingin his Mercy, and he will furely help us, as fhall be moft unto his Glory, and our everlafting comfort, being fureofthis, that he will fuffer nothing to come unto us, but that which fhall be meft profitable for us ; for it is either a Correction for our Sins, or a Tryal of our Faith, or to fet forth his glory, or for ail together, and therefore muft needs ba well dOne,for there is nothing that cometh unto us but by our Heavenly Father's Providence; and therefore Pray unto our heavenly Father, that he will ever give us his Grace to confider it ; let us give moft hearty thanks for thefe his Fatherly Corrections ; for as many as he loveth hecorreð : And I befeech you now, be of good cheer, and count the Crofs of Chrift greater Riches than all the vain pleafures of E*g' land ; I doubt not but you have Supped with Chrift at his Table, I mem : beLeved 1 90 ^ctfectttea fa? tfje $apf #& Part 3. believed in him,for that is the effeft, and then muft you drink of his Cup, I mean his Croft ( for that doth the Cup fignifie unto lis ) take the Cup, and then mall you be Cure to have the good Wine, Cbrift's Blood to thy poor thirfty Soul ; pray continually, in all things give thanks. In the Name of Jefus fhall every knee bow Cutkbert Simfon. One thing more I thought meet to mention,which I find upon record concerning this Cutkbert Simfon, which fome may hardly believe who are apt to think all things incredible^which vary from the common courfe & order of Nature, and may look upon this to be more a Phantafie- than a real Vifion, but I relare the matter infhort, as 1 find it, and fo leave it to the tender Reader to jadge if, wa, The day before this Cutkbert was Condemned, he being in the Stocks in the Bifhops Cole-kouft, Cluny the Keeper, about Nine at night ( aceordii g to his ufual manner ) came to fee whether his Prifoner was fafe, and loekt. the Doors; about two hours after Cutbbert heard one coming in to him^firft opened the outward- Door, then the innersDoor, and though there was no Candle, yet he faw a great Brightnefs and Light, moft Comfortable and Joyful to his heart, and this he declared to one Auflen ard others, and exprefled much joy and folace in declaring of it •, and the Viiion that he faw was comfort- able unto him* Soon after fuffered William Nichol t who was burnt for the fame caufe at Haverfordwefi in Wales \ and William Seaman, Tkomai Carman and Th«- mas Hudfon fuffered in Norfolk. »- William Seaman, was an Huftnndss man,of the age of twenty fix Years,dwelling in Mendlefham in the County of Suffolk ; he was perfecuted by one Sir John Terril, who fearched his houfe for him by night, but miffing of him, he fent his Servants to fearch for him, and when they apprehended him, brought him before their Mafter, who afkedhim, Wky he would not go to Mafs, and receive the Sa- crament ? — Se<*wtf»,Becaufe it is an Idol. Wherefore Terril fent him to Hopton, Bifliop of Norwich, to deal with him, who after he had exami- ned him, foon paffed his bloody Sentence of Death againft him. This Seamen, when he dved, left behind him a Wife and three young Chil- dren, which her hufband being taken away, one would have thought ffaoald have moved thofe pretended Chriftians to fome pity towards her, but inflead of (hewing pity, they perfecuted her out of the Town of Mendlefham, becaufe (he refufed to hear Mafs ; and one Coles, Lord of the faid Town, caulcd all her Goods and Corn, to be feized and taken away. Another of thefe Sufferers, was Thomas Ffudfon, of Ailejham in Nor- felk t hi was thirty years of Age, by Trade a Glover, and a very honeft Poor Partg, tytttttuUbbv tfje Papfftjg* i?i Poor man, having a Wife and three Children, and labouring alwayes di- ligently in his lmployraent, being Zealous for that Truth which bore Teftimony againft the Papifts Blafphemous preaching, who put the Draugh and Darnel for the Wheat, and that he might avoid their Idola- tries and Superftition, he abfented from his houfe, and went into Suffolk a long time, and there remained, Travelling from one place to another •< at laft he returned home again, to comfort his Wife and Children, who were troubled at his abfence. When he was come home, he perceiving his continuing there would be dangerous, he and his W 7 ife deviled to make him aplace among his Faggots,to hide himfelf in,where he remain- ed all day, exercifing himfeltin Reading and Prayer, and thus he conti- nued for about the fpaceofhalfayear ,• but at laft his Zealand Courage arofe, and he walked abroad feveraldayes openly in the Town, crying out continually, againft the Mafs, and fuch lika Trumpery, and for three dayes and three nights together refufed Meat, or to talk wi h any* Then one Berry, Vicar of the Town, and one of the Bimops Commif- faries, caufed the Officers to watch for him, who upon the 2zd day of dfril, apprehended him by the break of the day, and led him to Berry, the Commiffary, who examined him after this manner- « Dofl thou not believe ( fiid Berry) in the Sacrament of the Altar? What is it} -- H*d> It is Worms meat \ my belief is in Chrift. — Berry, Dofl not thou be- lieve the Mali to put away Sins ? - Hudfon, No, God forbid, it is a patchc Monfter, and a difguifed Poppet, more longer a piecing, than ever was Solomon's Temple. -- C At which words Berry ftamped and fumed, and faid ~\WeO, thou Pifiain, I will write to my good Lord the Bifhop. — Hudfon, There is no Lord but God — [ Then he asked him ] Whether he would Recant * To which he replyed, the Lord forbid ; I had rather dye many deaths than do fo. This Thomas Hudfon, and the other two being brought to the Lollards pit t and tkere ftanding with Chains about them, on a Hidden Thomas Hudfon came forth from under the Chain,which made fome to doubt that he would have recanted, but his two Companions at the Stake exhorted him, and comforted him, in the Bowels of Chrift ; but Hudfon felt more in his Heart and Confcience than they did conceive was in him, for he wascompafled with great grief of mind, not for his Death, but tor lack of the feeling of Chrift, for which he kneeled down, and prayed earneftly unro the Lord, who at laft, according to his Mercies, gave him comfort, and then he faid, Now J thank God, 1 amftrong, and fo went to the Sc-ke to hi* Fellows again, and they all fuffered conftantly, and py- fuilv, to v\t Magnifying of the Lords Name. Beiore I proceed to give a further Account of fuch as fuffered Martyr- dom, i5>2 i&etferoteD tv tfje $apt'(t& Part 3; dom, its necefifary to give a fhort Account of the fad End of this perfecting Comrniffary, Btrry, who perfecuted Thomas Hudfan, and others to death. This Berry in his rage was very fierce againft many godly People in the Town of Ailefoam, he burnt all good Books he could get, and perfe- cuted men for their Confciences, and compelled many to Idolatry 5 and being Rich, and in great Authority, he had the more power to Perfecute;he divorced many Men and Women for Religion, he was a great Swearer, and given to Women, to write (faith Hiftory ) how many Concubines and Whores he had, would be incredible ; but mark what Judgments the Lord brought on him for his Wichdnefs. On a time, a poor man fpeaking a word to him,he ftruck him fuch a blow, with the fwingte of a Flail, that he prefently died thereon, for which Berry held up his Hand at the Bar. And fhortly after one Alice Oxes, of the Parilh of AiUfyam, coming into his Houfe, and going into the Hall, he met her ( and being before moved ) fmote her with his Fift, whereby me was fain to be caried home, and the next day was found dead in her Chamber* When this Prieft heard that Queen Mary was dead, and that the glory of their triumph quailed, the Sabbath day following, he made a great Feaft and had one of his Concubines there prefent, wih whom he was in his Chamber after Dinner, until he went to his Evening fong, wheie he miniftred Baptifm, and as he was going home, between the Grave Yard and his Houle, he fell down fuddenly to the ground with a heavy groan, and never ftirred after : And thus the Judgments of God were evident- ly feen to be executed upon him, by all that beheld him* In the fame Month that the aforefrid three fuffered at Norwich, there was two Men and one Woman burnt at Colcbefter, viz. William Harris^ Richard Day and Ckriftian George. l In the next Month a fhort, but fharp Proclamation came forth to pro- hibit the fpreading feveral good Books, therein condemned under the Tide of Herefie and Sedition, laying the Inj mftion fo ftri&, that who* foever fhould be found to have any fuch Books in their cuftody after the Proclamation came forth, fhould be reputed as Rebels, and to be exe- cuted forth with, according to the order of Martial Law. Shortly after feveral Perfons were apprehended, being affembled in a Religious Ex* ercife in a back Clofe near lflington, two and twenty of whom were com- mitted to Newgate, and there remained feven Weeks before they were examined, feven of thefe twenty two were afterwards burnt in Smithfield, aad fix at Brainford, one of them, viz Reginald Eaftland being required by the Bilhop to anfwer upon Oath to the Articles charged againft him, sefuied, faying, An Oath was to end Strife ♦ but to begin Strife ( faid he) an Part $1 ^erfecttteo ftp tl)e $apift& 1*3 an Oath is not lawful ; and therefore chofe rather to fuffer what punish- ment they would inflict upon him, than to fwear the matter againfr him- felf. — After Bonner had paft Sentence upon Roger Holland, one of them that was burnt in Smithfield, Roger fpoke to this effect ; I am, faid he, moved by the Spirit of God to fay, that God wiO lhorten yodr hand of Cruelty, and after this day, in this place there (hall not be any put to the tryal of Fire and Faggot ;and as he was fpeakingand exhorting the Peo- ple, the Bifhop turned back and charged the Keeper, that none fhould fpeak with him without leave j being brought to the Stake, he fpake af- ter this manner; Lord 1 1 mo ft humbly thank thy Majeftytbat thou baft called me from the ft ate of Death, unto the Light of thy heavenly Word, and now unto the fellowfhip of thy Saints, that I may fing and fay, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hofts \ and Lord, into thy hands 1 commit my Spirit \ Lord, blefs thefc thy People, and fave them from Idolatry Amongft thefe Perfons appre- hended at IJlington, fome of them were fcourged or whipped by Bonner with his own Hands ; upon his deformed Effigies in Whipping them, one made {ome Latine Verfes, the which in Englifh are as foHoweth \ Mufe not fo much, that Natures work, is thus deformed now : with Belly blown, and Head fo fwoln, for 1 ftiaU tell you how ; This Canibal in three Tears [pace two hundred /Martyrs [lew, They were his Food, be lov'd fo Blood, be fpared none he knew* It fhould appear that Blood fteds fat, if men lie weU and foft : For Bonner's Belly waxed with Blood, though he feem'd to faft off. Oh, bloody Beaft ! bewail the death of thofe that thou baft flaitt ; In time repent, fince thou can' ft not their Lives reftore again* Thorn** Hinfhaw and John Wills, were taken and fent to the Cole houfe, and from thence Wills was had to Fullham, and there was kept eight days in the Stocks j in which time Bonner much abufed him, often times rap- ping him on the head with a Stick, and flirting him under the Chin, fay- ing, he looh down like a Thief, and then had him into his Orchard, and in an Arbour, where he whipt Tbo. Hanjhaw ;he whipt him firft, with a Willow Rod, and then with a Birchen Rod, labouring and dealing with Blows fo long as his fat Paunch could endure with Breath, often times the Bilhop fpake to WiUs to this effect, They caU me ( faid he ) bloody Bonner, I would fain be rid of you* a vengeance on yon, you have a delight in Burning : // / might have my Will, faid he, 1 wou'd fow up your Mouths, and put you into a Sack and drown yow Thus much concerning the two and twenty taken a* lft^ton. The next that fuffered Wis Richard Teamon ; who when the Perfecution C c arofe. 194 #etf«ttte& bv tf)e #apt'ft& Part 3. arofe, was put out of his Living, and put to great flraits, fo that he * as forced to travel from place to place, felling Pins and Lace to get a livelihood to maintain his Wife and Children, at laft was appre- hended by order from one Juftice Moyle, who fee him in the Stocks a Day and a Night, but having no evident matter to charge him with, let him go again, and returning home to Hadlty, Perlecution againft him was io hot, that his Wife kept him privately a whole Year in a Room lockt up all day, where he carded Wooll to get Bread for his Family, although he wasfeventy Years old ;at laft the Prieft of the Town, one Newall, having intelligence ot it, fearched his Houfe one night, and took him out of his Bed, & put him in the Cage and in the Stocks until Day. At the fame time the laid NewaU had caufed to be put into the Stocks one John Dale, aad there had kept him two or three days, for fpeaking to him in the time of his executing the Rom$(h Service, and faying, O mife- r able blind Guides I will ye ever be blind Leaders of the Blind ? Will ye nsvtr amend ? Will ye never fee the Truth iWiH ntitber Gods Threats nor Promifes enter into your Hearts? Will the Blood of Martyrs nothing mollifie you ?0 troohd and freverfe Generation ! Out of the Stocks they were both taken, and bound like Thieves, and fet on Horfe-Back, and their Legs bound under the Horfes Belly, and fo carried to the Goal at Bury, where they were put in Irons, and thrown into the loweft Dungeon, where John Dale fell fick and died ; after he was dead Richard Ttamon was removed to h'orwicb- Prifon, where after dofe Imprifonment for fome Time, being Examined & Required to Submit to the Pope ; he faid, 1 Defy him, and all his deteftable Abominations ; whereupon he was condemned and burnt. There was alfo a Young man, one John AIcoqI % aSheersman by Trade, who"being in the Market ixUadlej, and Prieft NewaU coming by with Proceflion,becaufehe would not move his Gap, nor (hew any fign of Reverence, he catcht hold on him, and called for a Conftable, and faid, Hert y s an Htretick, and a Traytor, have him to the Stocks, and afterwards he was committed to Prifon, and fhortly after carried him up to London, where he was long time kept Prifoner in Newgate ; where after many Ex- aminations, and Troubles, for refufing to fubmit to the Romifh Religion, he was thrown into the lower Dungeon, where falling fick he dyed in Prifon. Thoma* BenbriJge of the Diocefs of Winclefter, a (ingle Man, and a Gentleman who thought he might have Enjoyed the Pleafures of the World if he would have Conformed, yet he rather chofe Quietnefs and peace of Confcience, and therefore manfully withftood the Pofifi Voftrins, and was therefore condemned by Dottor White Bilhop of Win- fhtfter, but being brought to the Stake, they ufed many Infinuations, to caufe Part 3. t&etfecttteti by tf)e #ap(ft& *9t caufe him to recant, to whom at firft he faid, Away Babylonian, away ; the Fire being kindled, he was furprifed with fear, fo that he cried out, / Recant ; but before they would take him from the Stake, his Adverfary eaufed him to fubfcribe Articles upon a mans Back, and then he was ta- ken from the Stake, and commuted to the Prifon, where being troubled in Confcience that he had fubfctibed the Artie !e% he (igniried fo much un- to his Enemies, who about a Week after brought him again to the Stake, and there burnt him. In this fame Year ( which was the laft Year of Queen Mary ) "jo. Croot, Robert Miles, Alexander Lane and James Afhly, were all four examined. before Hoyton, Bifliopof Norwich, Edward Wdgrave Knight, and othe<9; the chief thing they demanded in their Examination, was, To know vshy they refufed to go to Church ? To which they anfwered, to this effeft, That it was againft their Confciences, and that they could not follow falfe Gods. After their Examination they were all four condemned, and burnt at Edmundsbury about the beginning of Anguft, which was not long before Queen Mary fell fick. In November following, Alexander Couch and Alice Driver fufFered at Ipfwicb- The Woman in her Examination failing upon Doctor Spencer that examined her, he faid, Woman why doft thou laugh us to fcorn ? — She replyed, Whether I do or no, I may well enough, to fee what Fools you be» - Then the Chancellor afkt her, Whir ef ore fit was brought be- fore him i — Alice, Wherefore, faid (he, I think I need not tell you that, for you know it better than me, and if you know not, you have done me much wrong to keep me in Prifon,and know riot the caufe why. — Chancellor, Woman, Woman, what (ay eft thou to the blejjed Sacrament of the Altar ? [To which flie made no anfwer, till he aOt her the fecond time, and then me told him 3 (he knew not what he meant thereby, ha- ving nor read in all the Scriptures of fuch a Sacrament ; and afkt him, what a Sacrament was ? — Chancellor, It is a Sign ; and another De- fter ftanding by, faid, It voas a Sign of an holy thing. — Alice, Its true it is a Sign indeed, and therefore cannot be the thing figoified *, thus far we do agree. - A Doctor ftanding by, faid, Chrift faid to ha Difciples, Take eat, this is my Body \ Ergo. — Alice, Whether was it Bread he gave unto them ? - Do&or, No, U wm his Body -■ Alice, Then, was it his Body they did eat over Night ? — Do&or, Tes it was hu Body -- Alice, What Body was it $en was crucified next day ? — Doclor, It was Chrift's Body — Alice, How could that be, when his Difcrpleshad eaten him over night, except he had two Bodies? Then the Chancellor commanded the Goaler to take her away -3 -- Alice, Now you are not able to refift the Truth, You Command me to Prifen C c 2 agaia 196 ^etfecuteo ftp tlje #apift£. Part 3, ggain. Well, the Lord in ihe end fhall judge our caufe, and to him I leave it* « The next day (he was brought before themagain, The Chancellor askt her, What fie faid to the Bliffed Sacrament of the Altar > •- Alice, I will fay nothing to it, for you will neither believe me, nor your felves ; for yeflerday I asfcc you what a Sacrament was, and you faid it was a Sign, and I agreed thereto ,• and now you ask me again of fuch a Sacrament, which { never read ofin the Scriptures* — Chan Thou naughty Woman, thou Lieft ', we did not fay it wot a Sign. — Mice, Why ! Are not You the Men that you were Yefterday ? Will you eat your own Words f* Are not You afhamed to Lie before all this Multitude here prefent, who heard you fpeak the fame ? The Doclor that fate by, told her jhe was deceived ; there was Three Churches. -- Alice, Is there mention of fo many in the Scrip- ture ; fhew me the place where it is written i — The Doftor feeling for a Bible but had none*-. Alice, You area good Do&or, to fit here a Judge, and have not the Book of the Law by which you mould Judge. *- Dr. Have you one ? No, fliid me, Then faid he, I am of good a Doclor as you, «-- Alice, I had one, but you took it trow me ( as you would take me from Chrift if you could ) Then the Chancellor having no more to fay, rofe up, and read the Sentence in Latine againft her, and committed her to Ihe fecular Power •, and Shortly after Alexander Gouch and flie were burnt together at Jpfwich* Shortly after Philip Humfery t John David, and Henry David h\s Brother, were all three burnt at Bury in Suffolk, for the caufe of Religion, being profecuted by Clement Higham Knight, the fame Month that Queen Mary died. About this time alfo fuffered at Exeter a poor Woman whofe name was Prefi, this Woman going into St. Peters Church ( fo called ) in Exeter, and feeing one making new Notts to certain Images which were disfi- gured in King Edwar ds time, (he reproved him, faying, What a madman Art thou to make them new Nofes which within a few days jhall lofe their heads I for thefe words (he was clapt faft and clofe in prifon ; this poor Woman was by many ways tryed both by hard Imprifonment, Threatnings, Taunts and Scorns, but neither Frowns nor Flatteries would prevail to move her from her Profeffion, but (he continued an Example of Conftancy to all that profefled the Truth, which her Enemies perceiving, they re- moved her from the Bi&ops pri fdh to Guild- Hall, where Ihe was exhorted to leave her fond Opinions, telling her, She wot not fit to meddle with futh high Matters. Though I am not, faid (he, yet with my death I am con- tent to be a Witaefs of Chrift's Death ; And 1 pray yea, make no longer delay Part ?♦ ^etfecttteo hv tyt $aptft$. 197 delay with me, for my heart is fixed, and 1 will never turn to your fuper- ftitious doings. — Then the Bi'fhop faid, The Devtl did lead her, — No ( faid Jne ).ic is the Spirit of God which leadeth me,and \wfcich- called me iQ my Bed at Midnight,and opened his Truth to me. — Then the Priefts and others, S h out ed and laughed at her. --When the Sentence was read againft her, and (he was condemned to be burnt to death, fhe lifted up her Voice, and faid, 1 thank thee, my Lord, myGod^ thk day have 1 found that which I have long fought for : At which words, Tkeymockt her, and fo being brought to the Stake, (he was as lively and chearlul in her Countenance, as if the had been prepared for that day of her Marriage, to meet the Lamb ; and fo fhe ended this Mortal Life* She was a Woman very patient in her Words and Anfwcrs; in he* Apparel, Meat and Drink, Moderate and Sober, and would never be Idle, and was a great comfort to fuch as talked with her \ and in her trouble fhe refufed to take Money, faying, whilft I am here, God has Promifed to teed me, and 1 am going to a City where there is no need of Money j And in the time oi her iuffering foe forfook Hufband and Children, who Perfecuted her becaufe (he would not fioop to Idolatry ; and after Sen- tence and Judgment was given againft her, they offered her that' if (he would recant and turn, her life fhould be fpared ; Nay, faid me, God for- bid that 1 mould lofe Life Eternal for this Life ■ 1 will never turn from my heavenly Hufband to my earthly Hufband, from the fellowfhip of Angels to Mortal Children. If my Hufband and Children were Faithful, then am I theirs : God is my Father, my Sifter, my Brother, and my Friend moil Faithful. We are now come to a flop of the liTue of Blood, and the rage of Per- fecution, for the Teft imony of Truth in Queen Maryts time, and the laft that fufFered in her time, were five that were burnt at Canterbury^ about fix days before her Death, viz. John Cornford of Wonham y Cbrif* tophcr Browne of Mridftone, John Hurfi of j4(hford r Alici Sloths Katberine Tynley, which five Perfons being in the cuftody of the Arch*Deacon of Canterbury who being at London, and underftanding the danger of the Queens dying, Pofted home to difpatch them out of the way ; in the which Fad, the tyranny of this Arch- Deacon, feemed to exceed Bonner'* Cruelty *, for feveral that were under his cuftody, were delivered by the Death of the Queen, after they had fufFered many great Exercifes and Trials* i§»8 $tvittnttn bv t|je $apitt«. Part 3* An Account of fitch who fuffered Trials \ and Imprifonments for their Profeffton if the Truth ; and who in all likelihood had alfobeen Burnt for the fame, had not GOD, through His Mercy, and Providence preferved them by the Death of Q. Mary. AT this time divers there were in many places of the Realm Imprifon- ed, whereof fome were but newly taken, and not Examined, fome begun to be Examined, but were not Condemned, feveral were Exami- ned and Condemned, but no Writ being fent down efcaped \ others were Condemned, and the Writ fent down for their burning, but the Bifhop, Chancellor and Queen happening to dye together, about one time, they were Marvelloufly preferved, amongft whom was one John Hunt, and &*- shard White, both Imprifoned at Salifbury, and other places, where they lay above two years, and were often troubled by Priefts and Biftiops \ Richard White being brought before Capon Bifliop of Salisbury, and Brookes Bifliop of Gloucefier, and a great number of other Priefts ; Bifliop Broehs faid, Is thk the Prifcner ? and faid, Friend, wherefore comeft thou hither ? — White, I truft to know thccaufe, for the Law faith, in the Mouth of two or three WitnefTes, things muft ftand. — Dr» Capon, Did not I Examine thee of thy Faith ? — White, No, you did not Examine me, but commanded me to the Lollards Tower, and that no man mould fpeak with me, and now 1 do require mine Accufer ; lay what I have faid, and I will anfwer you »- Chancellor, Thou fhalt confefs thy Faith e y re thou depart, and my Lord of Gloucester , fhall Examine thee. - White, I am not afliamed of the Gofpel of Chrift, becaufe it is the power of God to Salvation to all that believe ; and St. Peter faith, J/ any man do atk thee a Reafon of thy Hope that it in tkee,make him a dirttt Anfwer, and that with Mftk&fT. And being referr'd to theBifhop toExamine him,he faid, Will you take the pains to wet your Coat in my Blood ? Be not guilty thereof,I warn you,and that before hand — Brooks, 1 will do nothing contrary to our Law ; declare thy Faith ( faid he ) concerning the Sacrament of the Altar. -- White, What is a Sacrament ? I find not that word Sacrament in the Scriptures — Much dilcourfe they had concerning the Sacrament of the Altar, which for brevities fake is omitted ; and at laft the Bimop cried, Away with him to the Lollards lower, &nd di/patch him m foon as you can. This was the Subttance oi his Examination* — The occafion of his and his Compa- nions long detainment in Prifon, and not executed, was the moderation of the under- Sheriff, who when he had received the Writ to bjrn tbem, faid, / will not be guilty of thefe Mens Blood', and immediately burnt the Writing. Within a few clays after, the faid John Hunt, and Richard White, being Part 3, f&etCecitteD bp tTje $aptfl#. i?* being in a low and dark Dungeon, in an Evening fell upon their Knees to Prayer, but could not utcer words for weeping and tendernefs of Heart, and lb continued a - great while in Tears. The next Morning news was brought them, that the Chancel 1 or 4 their great Enemy, was dead, who died about the fame time that they were in fuch a weeping frame ; however, they there continued in Prifon till the coming in of Queen Elizabeth, and then were let at Liberty Ac this time alfo was delivered by the Providence of God, one John Fetty, a poor Taylor of CUrhenwtl, whom his Wife complained of to the Prieft of the Parifh, for that he would not go to Mafs, and be par- taker of their Idolatry ; notwithftanding this unkind fad of his Wife, yet did he cherifh her, and provide well for her ; but notwithftanding his gentle dealing with her, and that (he had recovered her health ( ha- ving been ill ) did again accufe him, whereupon he was apprehended, and by one of the Queens Gommiffioners fent to the Lollards Tower, where he was put into the painful Stocks, and a dim of Water fet by him with a Stone put in it, after he had lain there about Two Weeks hanging in the Stocks, fometimes by one Leg and one Arm, and fometimes by the other ; and fometimes by both : It happened that one of his Children, a Boy of the Age of about Eight or Nine Years came to the Bifhop's Houfe to fee if he could fee his Father. At his coming thither, one of the Bi^ (hops Chaplains afked him, What he Uckt f The Child anfwered, That he came to fee his Father : The Chaplain faid, Who it your Father ? The Boy pointing towards Lollards Tower, told him, that his father was in Prifon there- Why, (faid the Prieft,) thy Father is an Heretick- No, faid the Boy, my Father is no Heretick •, but you are an Her^iick, for you have Balaam's mark. -- With that the Prieft took him by trie Hand, and led him into the Bifhops Houfe, and there ftript him naked amongft them, and in a moft fhameful manner, without all pity, Whipt and Scourg'd this poor Child, till he was all in a ,gore Blocd, and then caufed Cluttty the Keeper to carry him in his Shirt to his Father in Prifon, the Blood running down his Heels. The poor man feeing his Child cried out for forrow, Alas, Will, who has done thit to thee ? The B07 anfwered, As 1 was feeking to come to fee you, a Prieft with Balaam's mark, took me into the Bifhop's Houfe, and there I was fo ufed- Clancy the Keeper hearing this, pulled the Boy out of his Fathers hands, and carried him b3ck again to the Bifhops Houfe, where they kept him three days, at the three Days end, the Childs Father was brought before Bonner, and coming into the Bilhops Chamber, he faid, God be here, and Peace. *• Bonner, That it neither God {peed, nor good morrow,, — Then faid Fcttj, If you kick againft this Peace, this is not the place that I 200 $erfectttet> bp tl)e #apift& Part & I fcekfor,& efpying a Crucifix lying in the Window, he afked the Bifhop, whether Chrift was handled (o cruelly as he was there pi&ured ? .- Tea, that be wasfi'id eheBifllop - FettyJlvQn fo cruelly do you handle fuch at come before you ; for you are unto God s People as Caiaphas was unto Chrift Bifhopj'Hwa art a vile Heretick and I will burn thee, or elfe I will fpend at that 1 have to my Gown. — Nay, faid Fetty, you were better give your Gown to fome poor Body,that he may pray for you. But notwitbftanding this Talk, the Btfhop confidewng what danger the Child was in, by reafon of their cruel Whipping,and Cruelty ufed towards him, let the Father and faim both go at Liberty, but within fourteen days after the Child died. The Scourging of Thomas Greeru Thomas Green, Servant to one WayJand, a Printer, for difperfing a Book called Antickrift, was brought before Doctor Story, who asked him, Where he had that Book, and called for Cluney the Keeper of the Lollards Tower, and bid him Jet him in the Stocks \ he had not been two hours in the Lollards Tower, but Cluney took him out and carried him to the Cole* houfe, where he took a French- man out of the Stocks, and putting a Bolt and Fetter upon Thomas Green's right Leg and left Hand, he fet him crofs Fettered in the Stocks, and tockthe French-man away with him, and there he lay a Day and a Night , the next day the Keeper came and faid, Let us jhift your Hand and your L, ha- ving upjn his Leg a Bile and Fetter,' and his Hands mamckled together with Irons, and there continued ten days; hiving nothing to lie on but bare Stones, or a Board, -- Whilft he lay there in Prif>n, two Wo- men being brought in, he was carried to the Lollards Tower and put into the Stock*, and there kept Night and Day more than a Month, and none fuffered td come to him or fpsak with him, but the Keeper who brought him Meat ; (hortly after he was fent for before one tiujfey, who threatned him he mould be whipped j So Thomas thanked him, and went away with his Keeper to the Lollards Tower again, where he remained two or chree days, and then was brought to the Gray-Fry trs, now called Cbrift's-Hofpital, where he was whipt, and delivered him to the Porter, who put him into a (linking Dungeon : After he had remained a Pri- foner a Month, Dp Story came to him, and calling for two Beadles, and Whips to whip him, and cm u fed him to be ftripped, and to be whipt with Rods; the Dotftor (lauding by, Commanded to give him one hun- dred Stripes, crving, If 7 might have my Will, I -would cut out his Tongue : But upon the iocreaty of forne that flood by, who had more pity than the Do&or, he received not fo many Stripes j and then after they had Whipt him, they bid him go his ways. About this time, cne WBiam Living, and John Lithal fuffered deeply in the caufe of the Gofpel. -- WiUiam Living being brought before Bon- ner't Chance-lor, where after fhort Examination, he commanded Cluney to take him to the C>k Roufe t and took from him his Purfe, Girdle, and New-Teftatuent,& pit him in the Stocks, faying, Put in both your Legs and your H<*ndf alfo.& except you pity your Fine, I will put a Collar about y our Neck. What is the Fine, ftid William* Forty Shillings , laid the Keeper* lam never able to pay it, fn'd William. -- A Kinfwoman feeing him in this condition, gave the Keeper forty Pence to take him out of the Stocks, he took her Money, and lee him out to eat his Suppr, and at feven of the Clock he put him in the Stocks again, and fo he remained till two of the Clock the next day. -- The Thurfday following, in the Afternoon, he was had to the Lollards To^er, ani there put in the Stocks, having the favour to put his Legs in the fame holes that John Philpots Leg had been in, and lb lay ail Night, no Body coming to him either with Meat or Drink ; and ihorrly after two Men were furety for him, and paid his Fee?, and he wasdifcharged* — When John Litbal was examined before the Chancellor, who a?kt him, Wvat Church he was of, and why he came not to his Pariih Chwch ? — Lithal anfwered, I am of the Church of Chrift, the Fountain of all goodnefs* — He was ufed with great ex- tremity and cruelty by Cluney the Keeper at Lollards Tower, who hanged D d ' him 2 ot #erfecttte& bp tf)e #apt'ft*. Part 3. him in a great pair of Stocks, where he lay three Days and Night*, till he was lb lame that he could not ftir nor move : In the time of his great fuffering feveral of his Neighbours Importuned the Chancellor for his deliverance, whereupon the Chancellor fent for him, and fpake to him to this effeft, Willyou that ycur JSieighbours enter into Bends jtr )ou t ornot?-- Lithal, By my mind they fhall not ; wherefore 1 defire ycu that you would not bind me, but let ire ferve God with my Gonfcierice freely ; fork is written, 7hey that lead into Capivity [hall go into Caftivity, and they that ftrihe with a. Sword, (halt Ttrifh with the Sword ; 1 dcfiie you, faid he, that lie my Neighbours, that you would not enter into Bond for me, it goeth againft my Confcience that you fhouJd. •* Chan* 1 will not bind you to do any thing againft your Confcience. — Then the Bond was made, but he would not feal it; wherefore the Chancellor faid, Its pity thou haft [0 much favour (hewed thee ; for tbefe bontft mens fakes I will difcharge thee. The Examination of Elizabeth Young before M. Huffey. He examined her of many things \ Fir ft, Where fhe was born 1 and who was her Father and Mother i -« Elizabeth Tounge, Sir, all this is but vain Talk, & very Superfluous, I think you have not put me in Prifontoknow who was my Father and Mother ; but 1 pray you goto the matter that I came hither for. — Huffey, Wherefore wenteft thou out of the Realm ?-- Eliz. To keep my Confcience clear* — After forae other difcourfe, he asked her, What age [he was ; me reply ed, Forty and upwards. — Huffey, Twenty of thofe Tears thou wenteft to Mafs. — Elizabeth, Yea, and Twenty more I may,and yet come home as wife as I was at firil ; for I underftand it not. 0- Huffey, Why wilt not thou goto Mafs? .- Eliz- My Con- fcience will not fuffer me, for I had rather all the World mould accufe me than my own Confcience. — Huffey, But, why wilt not thou Swear upon the Evangelift before a Judge * •- Elizabeth, Becaufe I know not what a Book Oath is. - Hufley, Woman, thou art come from btyond Sea, and baft brought Books with thee of Herefie and Trcafon, and thou muft confefs to tts who Translated them, and Printed them, and who [ent them over, elfe thou Jhalt be racked Inch-meal, thouTrayttrous Whore and Herttich, but thou (halt Swear before a Judge before thou go ; yea, and thou (halt be made to confefs how many Books thou haft fold, and to whom. «- Elizabeth, I underftand not what an Oath is, and therefore will take no fuch thing upon me — Then faid Doftor Mtrtin to her ( who had formerly delivered her ) being brought before him at Weftminfter ; I delivered thee ( faid he ) and thy Husband, and J though thou wouldeft have done ctherwi[e than new thou deft ; for if thou badfi been before any Bifhoj) in England, and faid the Words thou didft before me t thou iadftfryeda Faggot; and though then didft net burn then^ thou art like Part j* i^etfecttteu ftp tl)e ^apt'ftsf. 203 Ufa to burn or hang now. — Elizabeth, Sir, I promifed you then that I would never be {ei with an unknown Tongue, and no more will I yet — Dr- Martin, Thou jijalt be fed with that which (hall be fmally to thine eafe. -» Elizabeth, Do what Gcd (hall fuffer you to do, for you (hall do no more. — Martin charged the Goaler's Wife to give her one day Br tad, and another day Water.— Elizabeth, If you take away my Meat, 1 hope God will taki away my hunger,&then (he was (hut up under two Locks in the Clink as (he was before, -- At another Examination, Doctor Martin faid, Wilt not thou confefs, and keep thee from the Rack ? - Elizabeth, Sir, I can confefsno more, do with my Carkafswhat you will, - At another time Do&or Cook faid, Let her Head be trujfed in a fmaU Line, and make her to confefs. — Then faid the Bifhop, Why wilt not thou Swear before a Judge that was the right Trade of the Anabaptifts ? — Then faid flie, I will noc Swear that this Hand is mine *, my Lord Ghrift faith, That whatfoevtr it more than Tea, Tea, and Nay, Nay, it cornet h of Evil. -- Roger Ccolmly being by, faid, It was a Man in Womans Clothes *, Think you fo, faid Bon- ner r Swear her upon a Book, feeing it is but a Qutjtion. •- Then Doctor Cook brought her a Book, and commanded her to lay her Hand thereon — Elizabeth, (but (he refufei ) faying, I will not Swear,-- Do&or Cook faid, Swear before us, whether thou, he a Man or a Woman. -- Elizabe'-h, If you will not believe me, fend for Women into a fecret place, and I will be tryed. « Cholmly, thou art an iS favoured Whore, — Then laid Bonner, How believe ft thou in the Sacrament of the Altar f And after fome other Queftions, they cryed Away with her. « And fpeaking of Spirit and Faith, Cholmly faid, What nothing but Spirit and Faith, Whore} «- Then was (he carried into the Cole-houfe % and fearched for Books, and put into the Stock-houfe, and a Knife,Girdle and Apron taken from her, and there both her Hands were manackled in one Iron, for feveral days and afterward (he was removed into the Lollards Tower, and there (he remained with b )th her Feet in the Stocks and Irons, til) the next time of her Examination. — But (hortly upan the requeft of two Women, who fought for her Liberty, and became furety for her appearance before the Bifhop of London, (he was fet at Liberty. " In the Town of Beddeld, in the County of Sufjolk t was an ancient Wo- man, one Elizabeth Law(on t apprehended by the Conflable of the Town as an Heretick, becaufe (be would not go to hear Maft, for which they laid her in a Dungeon, and after that (he was carried to Norwich, and from thence to Bury Goal, where at lad (lie was condemned to be burnt. After Sentence was pafi,Sir. Jebn Sylliard the high Sheriff* took her home, to his Houfe, where (he was hardly kept, and wrapt in Irons, til) at length, when by no means they could move her to Recant, fhe was fent D d 2 to 204 i^ctrccuteu by tlje 'ftapftfo Part 3. to P/iibn again with fhameful Revilings- -- Thus (lie continued in Pri- ion the fpace of two Years and three quarters ; in the mean time there was burnt her Son, and many othejs, whereby (he would often fay, Lord ! what u the .gauft that I may not come to thee with my Children ? U'eD,thy d Will be done, and not mine' »- Through the death ot Queen Mary fhe was preferved, although (he had been before condemned to Die. It is aifj very remarkable to read and confider the many Prefervations from time to time trmthefe People ( perfecuted fo hotly ) received through the Lord's gocdnefs in their Meetings in the City of London ; for they mec in prvate places, fcrnetimes one Hundred, fometimes two Hundred ; about the latter end of Queen Mary they greatly encreafed, and one reraarkble PalTage of their prefervation was as fcllowerh ;one Cuthbert Simpfon, one of their Church, ulualy carrying a little Book in his Pocktt ot the Names of fuch as weie Members of the Congregation, the which had been found about him when he was apprehended, had not Rough their Minifter been warned in a Dream of the rfangaw the eof, and thereupon fen c to Cuthbert Si mpfon to leave the Bock out of his Packet, which he did, otherwifeall their Names had been difcovered- At this time the Popifh Party {0 much sbhor'd tbtfe defpifcd Peoples Preaching, or ftrengthening one another at the time of their Si-fFering and Martyrdom, that the Queen put forth a Proclamation, which was proclaimed at Newgate, ami at the Stake, where feven wee condemned to fuffer, (tri&ly forbidding any to pray or foeak to them, or any ways to comfort them ; but notwithstanding this Proclamation, one Bentham, one of their Minifters, in his Chriftian Zeal and Charity opened his Mouth, and aloud faid, / know they are the People of God, and therefore cannot chufe but wi(h well to them, and fay, God ftrengthen them; which Words many People (tanking by, confirmed, faying, Amen, Amen; fo that then fo many appeared to fpeak well of them, that the Officers knew not what to fay, nor who to accufe. -- The faid Bunt ham was at another time marvelloufly preserved ; for as he was puffing the Streets, he was ta- ken hold on co be 1 Quelt-man,upon the death of a man found drowned, being loath to meddle,he was very.carnsit with the man to beexcufed.al- ledging h; had little experience in fjch a mattered deiired them to take another that nrght have more Skin, but finding what he had faid wou'd not fatitfie them to excufe him 5 he further alJedged.that he was a Schol- lar of Oxford, and thereby priviledged from being of any Inqueft ,• the Coroner demanded the fight ©f hii pitiledge, he laid, if he would give him leave, he would fetch it \ then kid the Ccronep, The Queen mufi be ferved without delay ; and ronftrair.ed him to ftay and hear the matter » when the Book was offered him to Swear upon, Bentham opening the Book, Part 3* ^etfecuteD bp tlje $aptfts* 20$ Book, and feeiwg it a Popifh Primmer,refufed to fwear thereupon,fpeakin g againft the fuperftition therein contained ; What,U\d the Coroner, / think we jhall have an Heretick among us \ and after further reafoning, committed him to an Officer til) further Examination ; but: mark .what happened, For while thefe matters about Herefie were in Debate, fuddenly came the Coroner of the Admiralty and difcharged the firft Ir.queiT, faying, It belonged to bis Officer to chufe a Jury and fit there ; by reaion of which Bentbam efcaped their Hands, and had no more faid to him. The Sufferings, and Prefervation of Thomas Rofe, Jged Swenty-Six Tears, in the Town of Luton, and County of Bedford. This Thorn v Rofe for his Z^al for the Gofpel, was informed againft to the council, whofent a Meffenger down to Hadlty in Svffvlk to appre- hend him, being before the Council, the change againii him was, that he was privy to the burning of tie Rhood of Dover Court, for th s he was committed to Piifoli to the Bifhop of Lincolnt Houfe in Holburn, and there remained from the time ca^ed Shrovetide till Mdummer^ety ftre flocked, the Scocks being very high and great, fo that Day ana Night he-did lis with his Back on the Ground upon a little Straw, with his Heels 10 hij»h that the Blood fell from his Feet, fo that his Fe£t were almoft without fenfefora long time, and he fell tick, inforouch that the Keeper pitcy- irg him, acquainted the Bilhop thereof, and told him, He would net keep him to dje under his Hands ; whereupon the Bifhop extended fome Charity and gave him fome more, ejfe and liberty ,• but would not fufTer Tho* mis Rofefs cwn Mother to vifit him, but bid her go home, for (he might not fe him ;but (he giving the Keeper four Sniftrngs, he let her fpe«k to him through a Grate *, from thence he was removed Prifoner to Lambeth, but was morel-' after delivered •, and after he was at liberty, for preach- ing againft Auricular Couftffion, Tmnfubftantiatiov, and fiKh other Points contained in the fix Articles ( which then fo to do was Death by the Law ) wherefore he was narrowly fought; after by the Duke of Norfolk, who being Lieutenant, ommanded that whofoever (hould take him, should hang him on the next Tree ; 7 homos having notice of what was intended againft him, was conveyed into Flanders, where he remained fome Years, and afterwards coming over into England again, was received by the Meeting at London-' to be their Preacher, who at their AfTemblies would often at a Night gather Ten Pounds for the afliftance and help of fuch as fufferedin prifons for the Truths ftke. •- He was fecrecly preserved often limes in this Affembly ac London, yet at length through Treachery was taken with thirty five at a Meeting in Bow-lard in Chtapfidc, at a Sheer- mans io years-day, and was had before Stephen Gardner Co be examined, who committed him to the Clir.k till a feafon- abfe time to do ii : He was f v^ral times brought before the Bifhop upon Examination, where the chief difcourfe was upon the common Snares of Tranfubftantiation, Auricular Conftffieti y &c. And after long Difputa- tion?, to and fro betwixt them, the Bilhcp took him by the Hand, and faid, Father Rofe, you may be a worthy Inflrumtnt in the C torch, and IT* committing him only to his own Lodging than Night, and afterwards be- ing fee at liberty by the hand of Providence, he travelled beyond Sea, and there remained till the Death of Queen Mary. The Suffering, and Preferv ation of Richard Bar tie of Lincoln (hire, and Katherine, Dutchefs of Suffolk, his Wife. !n the Reign of Queen Mary, Stephen Gardner Bifhop of Winchester fur- snifing the Dutchefs of Suffolk to be one of his ancient Enemies, becaufe he fcnew he had deferved no becter of her, began to pra&ife fome Re- venge upon her for former Grudges, and thereupon fjpsened her Hhs- band Richard Bartie to appear before him at his Houfe at Mary-Overs, when he came before him, after much difcourfe, at laft he faid, ]/ / may ash the Queftien of my Lady your Wife, Is (he as ready now tofet up the Mafsm fhe was lately to pull it dovtn ? Dot b (he think her Lambs noxofafe enough, whs faid to me, when I vailed my Bonnet to her out of my Chamber Window in the Tower, that it was merry with the Lambs novo the Wolfe was Pint uf} •• Tlicbard Bartie, after he had heard him, endeavoured to moderate things, faying, that though them Words feemedatthat feafon bitter, yet if the caufe were confidered, one would purge the other; and for letting up of Mais, flie had learned by the perfwadons of exce'lent men for fix Years $>aft inwardly to abhor, and if (he mould then ourwa >d!y allow it, (he ihould (hew her felf a falfe Chriftian,and to her Prince a nrnkingSubjeft; you know my Lord one by Judgment reformed,is more worth than a thou- sand transformed Temporiz.tr* to force a Confeflion of Religion by Mouth, contrary to that in the Heart, worketh Damnation, where Salvation is pretended. — Then faid the Bifhop, That deliberation wmli do well, if fhe wert required to come from an Old Rgligi..',t to a New, but now (he is to return from a New to an Anticnt Religion. «- My Lord, faid Bartie, in anfwer to that, not long fince me anfwered a Friend of hers, ufing your Lord- (hips Speech, that Religion went not b/ Age, but by Truth, and there- fore (he was to be turned by Perfwafion, and not by Commandment. — The Dutchefs and her Husband daily underHandm* by their Friends, that the Bifhop intended to call her to Account of her Faith, and conii dering the Sufferings and Extremity that might follow, endeavoured to &et Part 3. ®tvtttuttn bv tlje #apf(t& 207 get the Queen's Licence to travel beyond Sea, which in a few days h« obtained, and then firft went over by hirnfelf, leaving the Dutchefs be- hind, who had agreed to follow him, which with much difficulty (he did, and in their Travels beyond Sea they fuffered very much, for having ta- ken a Houfe in a Town called Stanton, a Haunce Town, under the Duke of Cleves Dominion, to which Town divers Walloons, were fled for Reli- gion, it was muttered about the Town, that the Dutchefs and her Huf- band were greaterPerfons of note than they difcovered themfelves to be, and the Magiftrates being not very well inclined to Religion, a fudden order was given out,that the Dutches and her Hufband fhould be exa- mined of their Condition and Religion ; Bartie hearing this, took his Wife and Child, and two other with him, and on Foot travelled forth- with towards WeeftB, which proved a wee and wearifom Journey, being notuled to Foot it,and Paflage other ways they could not hiie 5 he be- ing fain for fotne part of the way to carry the Child himfelf, and fhe to carry his Cloak ; and that which was worfe, when Night approached, coming to Wctftl, they could not get Entertainment at Inns, the Innhol- ders fufpe&ing him to be a Launce Knight, and the Dutchefs his Wo- man ; fo that they were brought to a great Straight : For it Rained hard, the Child with cold cried, and the Mother wept : The Husband feeing themfelves deftitute of Succour, refolved to get fome Straw & Coals, and lay them in a Porch that Night, if he could get no better Lodging ; buc in the midft of this hardfhip he met with Two Boys that fpoke Latint, fir. through their Directions he found out a Wahcm Houfe, where he met with one of his Acquaintance, and one that had been a Friend to him ; who meeting together, and feeing the Duchefs,and her Husband in fuch a dirty wet Condition, could not fpeak for fome Time to each other for Tears ^ but at I aft the Comfori they received from their Friend revived them,and in a few Days he hired a fair Houfe for them ; and it was foon noifed about the Town what they were, and the Uncivilly of the Inn- holders towards them was Openly and Sharply Rebuked by the Preachers in their Pulpits for being (o unkind to Strangers ; but they were n°* long fettled, but they were unfettled aga'n ; for a Snare was laid to apprehend them there, which through the kindnefs of the Englijl) Em- baffadour they had intimation of, whereupon they travel'd to the Valf- graves Country, and after fome time of abode there, the King of Poland hearing of their Troubles, invited them into his Country where chey were Quietly and Honourably Entertained till the Death of Queen Mary. Thus the judicious Reader, whofeEyes are enhgbtneci, may fee what Darknefs the World was drowned in; the Purity cfthe Cbriftian Reli- gion beiog wholly loft, and turned into outward Qbftrvations, Ctrtrnv- mtsy 2o8 #CtfrCtttet> \>V tty l^apiftS. Part 3, mes t Idolatry, worjhipping of Saints, going Pilgrimages to fee the Reliques, ( which were as fo many lying Miracles ) and inftead of worshipping the Living Gy their Buds, &c. Thele with f;ch o.her like fil hy Scuff,' has been fet up by the Popes Power in the N ghc of Apaftacy, and People have been forced to fvallow ii down, though feme did ic againft heir Stomachs and Confciences,and if Mi leait Light appeared in any (as here- by plainly appeareth ) to eftifle againft their Trjmpery, the Bean" md falfe Prophet made War with them, and rather than they would :ail in the extinguifhing the Tru'h, they would deftroy the Pa fomin whom the leaft appearance thereof manifefted it felf, as in the Relation before, and hereafter will appear. The following Fourth Part being a brief View of the grievous Slaughters, fore Perfeeutions, favage Cruelties, inhumane Murder % } and un- heard-of Majfaercs of the Poor, DiftrefTed Protaflams in Forein Parts. ®^Sl^«Si^§^2^^1SI^^§231ilSISI^a?lSgSISIIg! Part IV 209 est?ty& W W W ^S 5 W PART IV. ii Relation of the Barbarous Cruelties, Persecutions, and Maf acres, Exercifed upon the Protcftants in Forein Parts, by the Papifts* IN the Year 141 3, began to fpring forth fome Light in Bohemia, the Bohemians having received fome of Wicklijf's Books, began firft to tafte, and favour ChrifVs GofpeJ, till at length by the preaching of John Hut they encreafed more and more in Knowlege ^infomuch that John But their Paftor, an innocent, and holy Man, and faithful Teacher of the Truth, was unjuftly Condemned. The Council, inftead of Anfwering them, wrote Letters to fome Violent Papijts, who were in Authority, to affift their Legate in Suppreffing the Hereticfcs : And thereupon they Periecuted them all manner of ways ; ufing great Violence towards them, Infomuch that they raifed Tumults : And one Zifca, a Noble Man of that Country, being fore grieved for the Death of John Hut, and Jerome of Prague, minding to Revenge the Injuries which the Council had done, greatly to the dishonour of the Kingdom of Bohemia, upon their Com- plices and Adherents, he gathered together a Number of Men of War, Subverted the Monafleries and Idolatrous Temples, pulling down, and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols \ driving away the Monks and Priefts, which he Aid were kept up in their Cloifters like Swine in their Styes to be Fatted. When this Zifca Died, in Remembrance of him the Bohemians Ingraved over his Tomb, in the Greek Language, this Epitaph ; John Zifca, a Bohemian, Enemy to all Wicked and Covetous Priifts ; bttt with a godly Zeal. Yet ftill as the Popijl) Party prevailed, they Exercifed all manner of Cruelty upon the poor Servants of CHRIST, till they were utterly Sup- prtfled by Force: Many of whom fled into the Hifly Country, near to fr'tCia, to Inhabit ; Where throwing ofFall Superftitious Practices, they ap- pu'd chemfelves to the beft Form ihat they,(according to the beft of their Understandings ) judged to be neareft to the Primitive ChiifliatjS • r. iling themfehes Brethren and Sifters. They were branded with the N e of E e PhiAtds % sio $etfemtet) bp tlje #apffts. Part 4. Piccards, a Name by which the Waldtnfes in Viccardy were called. The Purity that was amongft ehem much difpleafed the Devil -, for he raifed a hidden and violent Tempeft againft them, and an Edi& was proclaimed, threatning death to all that fhould adminifter to the Piccards ; whereupon they were brought into great Extremity .- A fecond Edift came forth, That none of them fhould be fttjfered either to live in Bohemia or Mo- ravia •, hereupon they were difperfed amongft the Woods and Mountains dwelling inGaves, where yet they were fcarce fafe, fo that they were forced to make no Fire, nor drefs any Meat^but in the Night time, left the Sm< ke mould betray them, In the cold Winter Nights fitting by the Fire they applyed themfelves to the reading of the Bible, and holy Difcourfes ; when in the Snow they went abroad to provide them necef- faries, they went clofe together, and left their Foot-fteps fliculd betray them, the hindermoft of them did draw after him a great Bough to cover the prints which their Feet had made, Martin Luther was a German born, and being opprefied with Popifli Idolatry, began to preach againft the Authority of the Pope, and to bring in a Reformation of Religion • for repieffing of whcm the Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul the third, in the Year 1 $42 which Council continued about forty Years to no purpoiejfor they madefo many Decrees, which caufed a great confufion among the Papifis them- felves. It is recorded of Luther, that he (hined in the Church a? a bright Star, after a long cloudy and obfcure Skie ; he preached exprefly, That Sins are freely remitted for the love of the Son of God ; and we ought faithfully toimbrace this bountiful gift ; Thefe good beginnings got him great Au- thority, efpecially feeing his Life was correfpondem to his Proteffion ; the confideration whereof took place in the Hearts of his Heareis, fome of which were Per fens of note; thefe things, ard his preaching againft Indulgences and Pardons flicking in the Popes Stomach, he put forth a new Edidt, wherein he declared this to be Catholick Doftrine of the holy Mother Church of bp tlje $apttt& Part 4 . that they Monks, accompanied with the People according to their accuflomed manner, went to their Idolatrous place of Worihip-, where they found all their Bloclfcand Stocks broken to pieces upon the Ground, which fight fore offended c hem, and fearching out for the Author of the Fa&, and John Clark being fulpe&ed, was apprehended, and upon Exa- mination, confeft he did it, and ihewed them the cauie wherefore j and being brought ro-rryal, hede .-e, ded the pure Doctrine of tbeSonot God agaii.ft cheir Images and falfe Worfhips, for which he was condemned : Bern* led to the place of Execution he there fuflained extream Torments, for fin hi* ri^hc hand was cut off,then hisNofe with i>arp Pinchers was violently pluckt from his Face : Ali which,and much more heQuietly & Conftaivl Enduied,Teftif*ing at the Fire againft his Pcfecw on, faying, Their Images wtre Stiver & Gold, the Work only of Mens Hands. Genrge Carpenter of Emering in Bavaria was burnt to death. When he was led out of the Tower where he was Prifoner before the Council, di- vers Friars and Monks followed him to Infiruct and Teach him, whom he willed to tarry at Home, and not follow, him : When he came before the Council they read hi* OjFences \ V-Z That he did not believe that; a Prieft could Hrgive a Man ku Sins ; That be did not believe that G id nas in the Bread, which the Priefis hang over the Altar : and, that the Element ,of Water in Baptifm doth not give Grace. Being urged to Revoke thefe hi? Opi- nions, and that then he mould be fee at Liberty, and go Home to his Wife and Children : To which he anf*ered,A/y Wife and Children are fo dearly Beloved unto me, that tbty cannot be Bought from me for all} be Riches and TofJe([i>ni of the Duke of Bavaria ; but for. the Love of my Lord G,od,_ I can wil- lingly F^riakethetn- At hi.s Exec ution,a Schru 1 mafter repeating, the Lord's Prayer, George Carpenter laid as followeth, Truly thou art our Father, and no other -, thit Da* I trufi to be with thee : OJb, my God ! How little it thy Name hall wed in thit Worlds For thit Caufe,0 Father, am 1 now here that thy Will might be fulfilled, and not mine : The only Living Bread, Jefas Ckrtft } Jhall be my & 14 #etf ecittcti b? tf)t $apt(i& Part 4. my Food ; with a willing Mini do I Forgive aH Mtn^ both my Friends and Ad- verfaries> my Lord ! without doubt thou (halt deliver me \ for upon thee have I laid all my Hope ; in thee alone do / truft ; in thee only it all my ConfiJtnce. I knew that I muft fujfer Perfection if I did cleave unto Cbrift, who J aid, Where the Heart the Treafure it alfo : And what fo ever thing a man doth fix in hit Heart to Love above God, tha t he maketh hie Idol. And then being caft into the Fire fey the Hangman, he joyfully Yielded up his Spiric unto God. Weendtt Muta, a Widow of Holland, receiving the Truth of the Gofpel in her Heart, was apprehended, and committed into the Caftle of Wtr- den 9 and from thence (hortly after was bro't to the Hague to Trial, where certain Monks were appointed to Talk with her, to win her to Recant : But fhe conftantly perfift ed in the Truth, in which (he was planted : A Woman of her Acquaintance coming to Prifon to Vifit her, faid to her, Why do(r not thou keep Silence ,and Think Secretly in thine Heart thefe things which thou Believeft, that thou mayefl prolong thy Life here ? Oh, ( faid the Widow ) you know pot "what jou fay 1 ft is Written, With the Heart we believe to Righ- teoufnefS) with the Tongue we confefs to Salvation. At her Execution Ihe commended her felf into the Hands of God ; and after a fervent Prayer, was Burnt to Death. About this Time there fuffered many more in Germany, fox the Witnefs of the Gofpel, viz. John Pi/ioriue coming from Wittenberge, for fpeaking againft the Mafs, and Pardons, and againft the fubtil Abufes of the Priefts, he was committed to Prifon with Ten Malefactors \ whom he did Com- fort i One of whom being half Naked, and in danger of Cold, he gave his Gown. His Father Viliting him in Prifon, did not difiwade him } but bid htm be conftant : Being condemned, and coming to the Stake, he gave his Neck willingly to the Band, wherewith he was firft Strangled, and then Burned ; faying at his Death, O Death, where is thy Victory \ There ufing to be a g reat Meeting near Antwerp, where one ufed to Preach to a great Number of People, which Charles the Emperor hearing of, gave leave to any that would, to take the uppermoft Garment of all them that camotoHear,and offered Thirty Guilders to him that would take the Preacher: Afterwards, when the People were gathered, and their ufual Minifter being not there, one Ntcbolav of Antwerp Stood up and Pfeach'd to the People, wherefore he being apprehended by a Butcher's Servant, was put in a Sack and drowned at the Crane at Antwerp, 1524. And certain of the City ci Lovane being fufpe&ed of Luther anifm, the Emperor's Procurator came from Brujfels thither to make Inquifuion •, afcer which Inquifition made, certain Bands of Armed Men came and befes their Houfes in the Night,where many were taksn in their Beds, pluckt from their Wives .and Children, and fent to divers Prifcns, through the terror Part 4* i^etfecuteD by tl)e $aptfts. ti$ teror whereof many Citizens revolted from the Gofpel, and returned again to Idolatry ; but twenty eight there were which remained conftant in thac Petfecution, unto whom the Do&ors and Inquifitor of Lrvanc re- ibrted, difputing with them, thinking either to confound them, or con- vert them ; but fo ftrongly the Spirit of the Lord wrought with the Saints, thac the Doftors went rather confounded away themfelve$i when they faw difputing would not do, they ufed eruel Torments to enforce them j one of them was condemned to perpetual Impnfonment,which was in a dark & (linking Dungeon,where he was fuffered neither to write nor read, nor any man to come at him, commanded only to be fed with Bread and Water ; two of the faid Prifoners were alfo burnt, conftantly taking their Martyrdom — There was there an old Man and two aged Wo- men brought forth, of whom the one was called Antonia % born of an antient Stock in that City ; thefe were condemned, the Man to be be- headed, the two Women to be buried quick, which dea h they received very chearfully ; and the reft of the Prifoners that would not abjure the Dxftrine of Luther were put to the Fire. One Percival of Lovane for owning the Truth was adjudged to perpe- tual Imprifonment, there to be fed only win Bread and Water ; which Punifhment he took patiently for ChrifVs fake; he was fecretly made away, either Famtflsed or Drowned, no man could learn how J tftus Jusberge, a Skinner in Lovane, in the Year I J44, for having a New Teftament in frs floufe, was perfecuted by one Darfadus, and com# mitte 1 to Prifon, and the Goaler commanded that none fhould fpeak with him -, fhortly after t.he Doctors examining of him touching the Popes Supremacy, Sacrifice of the Mafs;, Purgatory, and fuch Trum- pery, whereunto he anfwerei plainly and boldly, confirming his An-' / fwers by the Scriptures ; when they faw he would not be moved from his Faith, then thev condemned him to be burnt, but as a pretended favour to him, he was only beheaded. Giles Jilman of Brujfets, Cutler, bom of honeft Parents, about the Age of thirty Years, he began to receive the Light of the Gofpel, for which he was very zealous and fervent ; he was in his Nature very mild and pitiful, puffing all others in thofe parts, giving whatfoever he had to fpare to the Hoor, living onlv upon his Trade, he was perfecuted bv the Prieft of Brufftls, being taken at Lovane fpreading that Religion which the Popec^ed Herefie, his Adverftries ufed great care to make him ab- ju e, but being a man of Angular Wit, and conftant in hi> Religion, they weut away many time with fhame •, after he had been kept eight Months in Prifon, he was fent to Bruffels to be judged, where finding* franjcijctu Ettfenet, and others of the fame Religion in Prifon, he exhor- ted 216 tyltttttttoH bV tl)e 0aptftS. Part 4. ted them to be conftant to the Truth, that they might receive the Crown that was prepared for them. When the Gray Fryars ( being fent unto him ) would mifcall & abufe him,he ever held his Peace at fuch private Injuries; whereof they reported that ht had a dumb Devil in him. He might frveral Times have efcaped out of Prifon, the Doors being fet open, but he would not ; being remo- ved to another Prifon. And on the udday ci January % 1544, he was condemned to be burnt privately ; for openly they durft not do it,f or fear of the People, he being fo well Beloved . When Tidings was brought him of his Sentence, He thanked God that the Hour wot come wherein he might glo~ rife the Lord : And being had to the Fire, he willingly refigned up his life into the hands of the Lord. Great Perfection in Gaunr, and other farts of Flanders, Anno j 5- 43,44. Charles the Emperor lying in Guant, the Fryers and Doctors obtained, That the Edid made againft the Luherans, might be read openly twice a Year ; which caafed a great Perfecution to follow : So that'there was no City nor Town in all Flanders, wherein fome were not either Expulfed, Beheaded, Condemned to perpetual Imprifonment, or their Goods Con- fifcate, without refpett either to Age, or Sex, efpecialiy at Guant, where fome of the chief Men of the Town were burnt for their Religion, Afierward,the Emperor coming to Brujfels t there alfo was tcrnblcSlaughter & Perfecution of God's People,namely,at Brabant ,Honegou>&Artoh y the horror ^cruelty whereof is almoft incredible j infomoch that fir* hundred mcn&vxfi men were bro't out of theCountry'mto theGry ; fome of whom were drowned, others buried ^*/ci,many privately made away, others fent to perpetual impri- fonment ; whereby the Prifons were filled, to the great Sorrow of them which knew the Gofpel : The Proftff^rs where f being now compelled, either to Deny the fame, or Confirm it with their Blood. The Relation whereof was at large fet forth by Francis Enfenes in Latine % v/ho himfelf was a Prifoner at the fame time in Brujjels for the Truth's fake. Martin Hterblock, Fifhmonger in Guant, 15-49, being converted to the Truth, from the Superftitious Idolatry of the Papifts, and a great change wrought in him *, having all his Time, till then.lived a wicked and flelhly Life,was a wonder to his Neighbours to fee luch a iud Jen Change : The Franfcifcdtt Fryers, who before knew him,and remembring how Beneficial he had been to them, now feeing him fo altered ; and taking Notice of his Vificingthe Prifoners, and Comforting them in Perfecution, and Con- firming them that went to the Fire, they foon caufed him to be Detected *nd Imprifoned ; and wich grievous and fharp Torments would have conftrained Part 4. #etfecttteD bp tl)e #apffts. 2 1 7 conflrained him to utter more of the fame Religion, to whom he anfwer- ed, That if they could prove by the Scripture, that his detecting and accufing of his Brethren, whom they would afflid with the like Tor- ments, were not againft the Law of God, then he would not refufe to prefer the honour of God before the fafeguard of his Brethren. He was foon after had to the Council in Flanders, where the Caufes laid agairaft him, were, the Sacrament, purgatory, ejrc. For which Caufe he was con- demned and burnt at Gaunt, all his Goods being; confiscate. Nicholas & Francit Thiefien, Anno i?4c, for ftanding firm in the Truth, and bearing Witnefs againft the Church of Rome, and their Auricular Con- ftjjion, Purgatory, &c were condemned to be burnt : And coming to the place of Execution, for Exhorting the People,they put wooden Gaggs in their Mouthes. When they were fet to the Stake they Patiently endu- red the Fire. The Mother of thefe Two Men was ( for her fteadfaftneis to the Truth )condemned to perpetual Imprifonment. Adrian Tayler and Marion his Wife, of Dorniek, 1 c4>, by reafon of the Emperor's Decree at Worms againft the Lutherans, weie apprehended,and persecuted. Adrian, not fo ftrong as a Man, for fear gave back, tnd was only Beheaded : The Wife ftronger than a Woman, withftood their Threats, and abode the uttermoft ; and being incloftd in an Iron-grate, formed in fhape of a Pafiy,was laid in the Earth,and buried quick. When the Adverfaries firft told her that her Husband had relented, Ihe believed them not, but as (he was going to the place where (he was to die, paffing by the Tower where he was, ihe called to him to take her leave, but he was gone before. Peter Bruly, of Stratshrge, at the earneft requeft of faithful Brethren, went down to vifit the lower Countries, about Artou, .which the Magi- ftrates ef Dorniek hearing, (hut the Gates of the Towo, and made fearch for him three days ; he was privately let down the Wall in the night by a Basket, but as he was lee down into the Ditch, ready to take his way, one of them which let him down leaning over tfe Wall to bid him fare- well, caufed ( unawares ) a Stone to flip out of the Wall, which falling Upon him, brake his Leg, by reafon whereof he was heard of the Watch- men complaining of his Wound, and fo was taken : So lo;;g as he re- mained in Prifon, he ceafed not to preach the Truth to all that came unto him •, he wrote his own Con(eflion and Examination, and fent it to the Brethren ; alfo another Epiftle to them that were under Perfection, and one to all theFaithful ; the laft Letter he wrote was to his Wile,the fame day he was burned ; he remained four Months in Prifon before he was fentenced to be burnt : Letters were fent from Duke Frederick of the Lant- gravc, to intreat for him, but he was burnt before the Letters came. f 1 Fettr 2 1 s idetfecttteD bv ti)e #aptfts. Part 4. Peter Motet being cenverted to the Truth by Peter Bruly, was appre- hended,and let down iuto a deep Durgeon under the Caftlc-ditch,which was full of fikhy Vermine ; the Friars coming to examine him. he told them, whilft he lived an ungodly Life they never concerned themfelves with him, but now for favouring the Word of God,they fought his Blood. Being brought before the Senate, he would have boldly anfwered to what they obje^ed againft him, but they interrupted him, to whom he faid, If you mil not ft jfer vie to anfwer for my felf, fend me back to Prijon among the Toads and fro£s f which will not intirrupt me, while 1 talk with. my God • and continuing conftant in the Truth, was «t laft burnt to death. Nicholas Frenchman having been at Ge»ei/*,intending to go into England, but in his way was appjehencedby the Lieutenant of Dornick, and being bound hands and feet, was brought to Burges y and there laid in a Dun- geon ;the Friars when they came to examine him, went away in a ftame- ful Rage, faying, Be had a Devil ; and crying, To the Fire with him, Soon after the Judges condemned him to be burnt to Afoes, at which Sentence giving, he blelTed the Lord which had counted him worthy to be a Wit- nef? in the caufe of his beloved Son ; going to the place of Execution he was threatned, that if he fpake they would put a wooden Ball in hjs Mouth -, neverthelefs, being at the Stake, he minded not their Thieais, but cried out with a loud Voice, faying, Ob Charles ! Charles ! how long Jhall thy Heart be hardned\ With that one of the Soldiers gave him a blow, then he faid, O miferable People I who are not worthy, to whom ths Word of God fhould be preached. Then the Friars cried out, He hath a Devil. To whom he faid, Depart from me, all you Wicked', for the Lord hath heard the Voice of my Weeping \ {0 in the midft of the Fire commended his Spirit unto God, and ended this Life- Bertrand Le Bhis at Doraick, m the Year 1 y S"S> fuffered lamentably, his Torments being almoft incredible that the Tyran.s fhewed unto him, his conflancy was admirable. This Bertrand being a Silk- Weaver,having fomething upon his Spirit, fet his Houfe in order, and defired his W.ifje & Brother to pray that God would eftabliGi him in his enterprize that he was going about, which was upon Chrift>ma[s day ( f called ) he went to the high place at Dornick, where he took the Cake out of the Prices Hands, as he would have lifted it over his Head, at Mafs, and ftampc it under his Feet, faying, That he did it to fhew the Glory of that God, end what little Power he hath * at the fight thereof the People were amazed,and he hardly efcaped with his Life ; it was not long before the Governor of the Caftle heard of th ; s pAfiTage, who like a mad man threatned he fhould be an example to all Pofterity ; Bertrand being brought before him} he asked him, If he had repented of his Matl * who anfwered, No, and Part 4* t^erfecttteti bp tl)e f&apifts* 219 and if he had a hundred Lives he could give them in that Quarrel ; then was he ihrice put to the Pin bank, and tormented mod miferably, to ut- ter his fetters on, then they paft fentence againft him, and this was ex- ecuted ,• firil he was drawn from the Caftle of Dor nick to theMarket-place, having a Ball of Iron put in his Mouth, then he was fet upon a Stage where his Righc Hand wa? crufht and preft between two hot Irons, with (harp Iron edges fiery red ; in the like manner they ferved his rightFoot •, whichTorments he endured with marvellous conftancy; that done, they took the Ball of Iron out of his Mouth, and cut out his Tongue ; not- withstanding his Tongue was cutout, he Mill called upon God as well as he could,whereby the Hearts of the People were greatly moved,wI)ere- upon the Tormentors thruft the Iron Ball into his Mouth again, from thence they brought him down to a lower Stage,where his Legs and Hands were bound behind him, with an Iron Chain going about his Body, and fo he was let down flac upon the Fire,theGovernour ftanding by, caufed him to be plucked up again, and fo down and up again, till at laft the whole Body was confumed to Aflies. James Faber, and three others fuffered at Valens. James Faber being an Old Man, faid, That though he could not anfwer nor fatisfie them in Reafoning, yet he would conftantly abide in the Truth of the GojpeU GoJfry Hamel/y a Taylor, taken and condemned at Vornich : When they had condemned him by the Name of Heretick ; Nay, faid he, not an Heretick, but a Servant of Jefus Chrift. When the Hangman went about to Strangle him, to diminiui his Punimment, he refufed, faying, That he would abide the Sentence that the Judges had given. Befides thefe that fuffer'd in Germany before- rnentioned,a great number there were,both in the Higher & Lower Countries alGer many 9 wh\ch were put to Death for Religion : Many of them were burnt ; fome buried alive, fome fecretly drowned. Many of their Names are mentioned in the Atts and Monuments, But little ot the Circumftances of their Trial & Execu- tion being mentioned, I have omitted them for Brevities fake. Four Martyrs burnt at Lile in Flanders, viz.. Robert Ogvier, and Jane hk Wife, Baudicon and Martin, hit Two Sons. Few places can be named where the Truth was more Freely, and with greater Zeal received, than in this City of Lile ( where AntichrirVs Ty- ranny was great ) For Three Years together it was fecretly Preached amongft them ; fometimes in Houfes, in Woods, in Fields, and in Caves of the Earth,not without hazarding of their Lives, if they had been dis- covered ; Yet could not thefe apparent Dangers,under fuch Tyranny, cool F f 2 or 220 ^erfecttteD bv tfje #apt'ft& Part 4. or abate the burning Zeal, which slmoft confumed the hearts pf his Peo- ple, hungering and thirfting after fpiritual Food of their Souls. What was amongft them preached, wa^ accordingly practifed ', works of Mercy and Charity were there exercifed, not only towards thofe of the Houfhold of Faith,but even towards them which were without,fo as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Chrift: They ordained certain Perfons, who were men fearing God, ar;d appro- ved of, tvho went weekly from houfe to houfe to colleS the Alms of fuch as they knew to be fskhful, admonifhing every one how to carry them- felves in their Vocations, and of their duty in contributing towards the Relief of the poor Saints. And thus, each one, according to his place, endeavouring to exprefs and maniieft his Faith b? the Fruits thereof, namely ,good lVorhs,m a fhorttime the Lord raifed up a flourishing Meeting in this place, fo that they confirm- ed of a competent number of Men, Women and Children, not only of the City, but of the Villages nigh. In the mean whi'e, Satan and his Adhe- rents ceafed not to dorm and rage hereat, not being able long to endure thefe their holy Meetings* — Upon the 6th day of March, if $6, about ten at night, the Provoft of the City, with his Serjeants, armed themfelves to make fearch if they could find any met together in houfes, but as then there was no AfTembly } therefore they went to the houfe of Robert Ogvitr and there violently Entred, feeking here & there for their Prey ; they found certain Books, which they carried away ^ but he whom they prin- cipally aimed at was not then in the Houfe, viz,' Baudicon, the Son of the faid Robert Ogvier, who, according to his ufual manner, was gone abroad to vifit fome Brethren, but returning home, knocking at the Door, his Brother Martin watching his coming, bid him be gone, wifhing him not to come in; but he thinking his Brother took him for fome other, faid, It is /, open the Door ; with that the Serjeants drew nigh, and opened it, and he came in- Then faid the Provoft, / Arreft you all in the Emfdrors Name; and commanded each of them to be bound, to wit, the Husband and his Wife, with their two Sons, leaving their two Daughters to look to the Houfe, Now as they conveyed them along through the Streets, BauJieon, with a Voice fome-what extended, ( which might eafily be heard at that time of the night) faid, Ajjifl us, O Lord, by thy Grace, not only to be Prifoners for thy Name fake, but to confefs thy holy Truth in all purity before men, fo far as to feal the fame with our Bloods, for the edification of thy foor Church. Thus were they brought into feveral Prifons, where they were feverely handled, yet ceafed they not to blefs & praife the Lord with one confent; within a few days after they were brought before the Magiftrates of the City, and examined, who firft fpoke to the Father in thefe words, U k told Part 4. ®ttttmttn bp tt)e f&apifts. 221 told us, that you never come to Mafs, and alfo dijpwade others from coming thereto ; and that you maintain Conventicles in your Houfe, whereby you have tranfgrejjed the Laws of the Emperial Majtfiy. — Robert anfwered, We read not in all the Scripture, that either Chrift or any of his ApoOks ever faid Mafs: As for the fecond Accufation, I cannot, nor will deny, buc there have met together in my Houfe honeft People fearing God, I allure you, not with Intention to wrong or harm any, but rather for the ad- vancement of Gods glory, and the good of many : I know indeed, the Emperor bath forbid it, but what then * I know alfo that Chrift hath commanded it, who (aid.Wbtre two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am 1 in the midft of them. Thus you fee I could not well obey the Emperor, but I maft difobey Chrift ; in this cafe then, I chofe rather to obey my God, than man. When they were brought to the Fire, the laft words they were heard to pronounce, were, Jefus Cb*ifi ! thou Son of God, into thy hands we commend our Spirits ; and fo they ended their Teftimony. Within eight days after, Jane the Mother, and Martin her Son, were both executed in the fame City. The Perfection of the Waldenfes in Angrcgne, Lucerne, Peroufe, Pied- mont and other Places. T Hough thefe People, by long Perfecution were driven from place to place, and in all places afflic.ted,yet they were not utterly deliroy'd, nor would ever yield to the Superftitions of the Popifh Religion, but abftained from their Idolatry : They had many Books of the New Tefta- ment tranflated into their own Language: They lived in great Simpli- city, and with the fweat of their Brows, were quiet and peaceable among their Neighbour?, abftaining from Oathes, Games, Dancing, and filthy Songs- The faid People at Angrcgne having drawn up a Confeffion of their Faith, it was by learned men, at the King's Court condemned as Heretical ; wherefore the King required them, To give Obedience to the Church o/Rome, on pain of lofs of Goods and Life, and to give their Anfwer in three days. But upon fome of the Germane Princes interceeding with the French King on their behalf, deiiring him to (how fome pity to thefe Churches, they were not molefted for three years ; only one of their Minifters, that travelled from place to place, was apprehended, and fuf- fered Martyrdom, to wit. J'jfery Parnigle : but the Pope envying this Liberty, ftirs up the Duke of Savoy againft them ( who in his own nature was rather inclin'd to let them live in quietnefs ) telling him, That he ought to banifh the Waldenfes, for that they were a Rebil'iom People againfi the holy Mother Church. Thefe Inftigations caufed great Perfecutions on thefe poor People ; for foon after feveral of them were burnt, many fled, 222 0etCectttcD bp fyt $apffts. Part 4. fied,and their Houfes were ranfackt, fome taken and fent to the Gallieg ; and Proclamation was put out, That none fhould go to their Ajfemblies on fatn of Death, In the mid ft of this Suffering, they thought the beft way to pur a flop, was to fend to the Duke a Declaration of their Religion, and wherefore they fuffere-J, which they did, withal declaring, That if by the Word of God it could be proved that they were in Error, they (l)ould not be ObfUnatt^but bs reformeJ,&c After th ; s, the Perfecution feemed fome- whac to abate for a time; bit in June following, it was firft propofed to them, To puc away their Miniftcrs, that were Strangers ; which they refufing to do, it was then commanded of them, in the Duke's Name. That thiy fliould bani\h from them all their Miniflers that were Strangers: And a new Proclamation was put out, and Perfecution began afrefh, and many of the faid People were flain, imprifoned and cruelly handled, the Monks being very a&ive in this Perfection : In one piace they caufe J two Wo- men to carry Faggots to the Fire, where their Minifter wa3 burnt, and * to fpeak thefe words to him, viz. lake this, thou wicked Herettck, in Recom- mence of the naughty Doctrine thou baft taught us. To whom he faid, Ah, Woman ! I have taught you well y but you have learned ill. — Great wss the Havockand Ruin they made upon thefe poor Peoples Eftates and Bodies in this Perfecution : And not long after, an Army was raifed to deftroy the Waldenfes, which they hearing, their tMinifters met with the chief Rulers, to advife what they were bed to do in fuch an Extremity ? Upon due Confidaration, they concluded not to defend themfelves by Force of Arms, but to flee to the Mountains, and to carry their Goods with them : others of their Miniflers hearing of the Refolution that they at Angrogne and Luam had made, thought it (trange that they might not defend themfelves againft their Enemies Violence in fo juft a caufe, knowing that it was the Pope and his Minifters who were the caufe of their Trou- bles *, and fome ftood in their own defence, and made great Slaughters upon their Enemies at times ; and when they purfued their Enetnies,they often retir'd to avoid (hedding Blood,meaning only to defend themfelves, and held their Adverfaries fo tightly to it, that they were at laft brought to make a Peace upon Articles and Conditions, fo that the Perfecution was ftopt, and the Pride, Malice & Rage of their Adverfaries was abated. A Relation pffucb things *t fell out under the Government of Alva* IT is well known that the Spaniards ufing all their endeavours to Rule over this Country at their pleafures, had no better opportunity to accomplish their defigns than to eftablifh among them their Inquifition, thereby to domineer over the goods 4 honours and lives of every one ; the nobles Part 4. tyzttttuttn bp trje #apfft& 223 noble Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppofe the fame,to which purpofe they had inftantly befought the King to afford them his Royal prefence, that hearing once their Complaints, his Majefty might take fome order for matters of fo great Importance, alledging to this end the Example of the Emperour Charles his Father,who upon a bufinefs far inferiour to this, adventured himfelf with much diligence to pafs through the Enemies Country,who were but a while before reconciled, only to ftay fome Mutinies begun in the City ofCand, Thefe things had fo mo- ved the King that he made them a promife by Letters of his coming -,but his intentions were broken off by fuch as were the upholders of the In- qui(Ition,that fo they might with the more facility attain the end of their defires, inftead of their King then, they had fent unto them the Duke of Aha, who at hfs Entrance the Prifons replenished with Gentlemen, and other Perfonages of note, whom the Dutchefs of Parma had left in bonds after her death- Long did they languifh in this Captivity, whilft the Duke of Alva by fair promifes diffembled a kind of meek and gentle carriage of mind to- wards them, giving them fome hope of a general Pardon, proceeding from the Kings Clemency, that thus he might catch the Lords, and Go- vernours the more cunningly into his Nets, whereof the Lord Ltmoral, Eailot Egmond i Prince oiGaud, Governour of Flanders and slrtoit, and others of quality gave but too Lamentable experience, who being led with vain hopes were at length inhumanly put to death. The fixteen Provinces alfo fubjefting themfelves under this new Go- vernment, loft their antient Liberties and Privileges, which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the year 1 J67 hitherto by a new Council of twelve, eie&ed and letled there by the Duke, the principal of which were Vtrgat and Elrio Fathers of thekquifition,which Council waa commonly cared. The Council of BLOOD. In the year 15-68, the Dike of 'Alva began to declare to the World his feigned meekr.ei?, putting to death two Brethren, Barons of Battem- bourg, and feveral others he Executed at the fame time at Br iff J. Thefe two Brethren from the flower of their youth had conftantly profefted the pure Doctrine of the Gcfpel, and in the end were put to death for their Teftimony to the fame. Shortly after there were taken and imprifoned at Antwerp, Scobland) fon of Barthil, John de Hues and Jorii Comans, whofe constancy to Death milf appear by what they writ to certain of their Brethren, Dated the 17th of March, p.s folio weth. Seeing it it the Will of God that we foould fuffer jofhif holy Name, and tit ' the Quarrel of bis Gofpel • we cer ttfit you. Brethren, tWt we are hitherto of good courage hew [oner toe fiefs continually rthds againft the Spirit ? c9Un filling is tvm 22 4 i^erfecttteo bp tlje $apt'ftg. Part 4 . ever and anon according to the advice of the Old Serpent ; but -we are well a fared that Chrifi Who bath bruifed, will alfo fltll bruife the Serpents Head, and not leave m comfortltfs j true it is, we are now and then pricked in the heel, but that ts all the Serpent can do, nor are wt difcouri(gt>d, but hep our faith cllfe to the Promt fes of God, who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, having created all things of nothing : He forfook not Jofeph in /Egvpt, nor left the three young Men tnthe fiery Furnace ; no, nor Daniel in the Lyons Den ; this is the God of Abra- ham, ifaac and Jacob, and of their Righteous Pofterity, fo that we can with- out fear fay with the Prophet David, The Lord is my Help, Tower Strength and Refuge : By fuch, and the like Scriptures, dear Brethren, we comfort our felves in our Bonds, rejeft aS confidence in man whatfoejer. Be net difmayed then, good Brethren and Sifters, for our Bonds and Imprifonment , j 'or it is the good Will of God now towards w, and therefore pray rather, that ha would give m Grace to per f ever e conftamly unto the end. So be it. One of thefe three imprifoned in Antwerp wrote a few Lines to the Church of God in Antwerp, as followeth ; Brethren, I write unto you, be- ing left alone } whereas we were three in number, John Hues is now dead in the Lord,! did my beH to comfort him whilft he breathed, fo as now I am alone ; and yet not altogether alone, feeing, the God of Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob is with me, he is my exceeding great Reward, and will not fail to reward m^ as foon as I have laid down this earthly Tabernacle.- Pray unto God that he would ftrengthen me to the end,for from hour to hour I expett the diffolution of this houfe of Clay. When Joris one 01 the three was examined before the Magistrates, the Marquefsfud unto him, / have hitherto fpared you, hoping to fee you recant, but you grow worfe and worfe, Jcrw replyed during the time of my Imprifonment I have (lied many tears ; and further faid, he was now become refolute, and could not fa- fhion himfelf according to their deiire, although they burnt him as they had done his Brother Scoblant t Marquefs, I can tell you, it will cofi you but little better cheap* Jo? it , 1 am ready if it be to morrow. Thenfaid one of the Standers by, He bat neither Wife, Child, nor Goods to lofe, and that makes him fo willing to Die. -- JorU, You mall Anfwer thefe your doings at the laft day,where you muft all appear, and then there will be no refpeft of Perfons. -- Marquefs, We have heard you preach too long; take him Goaler, and cafi him into the Hole, Then was he put among Thieves, as a Lamb among fo many Wolves, Thus this conftant Wicnefs remained firm til! Death. The Speftacles of dead Bodies flain by the bloody Inquifition, was a dreadful light, being gazed on, in a manner, in every place, efpecially in Part 4. #ctfectttet» bj> tlje 0apfft& • 22? in the City of fournay, and of the Valentians, even Multitudes of Belie- vers, both of Men and Women, whb had long languished in fundry Prifons, in great Miferies and NeceflitJes. Now that we may not forget what fell out in the beginning of this Year, if 69- thus it happened in the City of '/aler.ce, Seven and Fifty Perfons were executed for no other caufe, but for cleaving to the true Faith of Gbrift Jefus, not without much. ARoniftmentof the poor People of that City. Among thcfe fad Relations, a little to qui. ken and refreOi the Spirit of the Reader, I will here infert a Letter, full of Confola^ions written out of Prifon, to the faithful, by one William Tovart, Merchant, who had his dwelling in the City of Lile in Flanders. This honourable Perfbn being come to the Age of Eighty years, or there abouts, ufed his Houfe for the fp ce of fourteen or fifteen years, for the Aflembly in the City of Lile to meet in : Being chafed and banifhed thence, in the year ie6i. he withdrew himfelfl for a while to Tournay, whence he was conftrained to flee, and to go to Amiens and Moundeica, Cities of Prickardy ; afterwards returning into his own Country, he cime to refide in the City of Antwerp where after he had continued many Years, he was at length condemned to be burnt with two others, who fuffered for the fame caufe, but they put him to another kind of Death, for they drowned him in a Ciftern of Water in Prifcn. Among many Letters which he wrote, during the Time of his Imprifonment, I have Selected out this One, which here followeth. DEar Brethren and Sifters in Jefus Chrift, 1 moft humbly thank my God, thzt he hath fo fortified and comforted me by hu Grace, that I feel my felf more cheared by lying in this dark Prifon, than if 1 were walking in the open Streets or Fields ; / (ay, this f feel according to the Spirit ; for as touching the Fleflj, what doth it apprehend here, but fiinktng Vapours and Smoke ? Where' fore, my Beloved, if it fo fall out, that you be apprehended for the Name of Jefus Chrift, fear not the Prifon, nor tbofe that have Power to kill the Body, for having done that, they can go no further. Be not afraid then, feeing it ij thg Reward which our good Captain Jefus Cbrift^ hath promifed to all his faithful Souldiers and Servants : He who turns bis back in this Confticl, goes by the lofs • but whofoever fyhts manfuRy, obtains in the end the Crown, not a Crown of Gold, but of Glory Immortal : We here lay down a fading Life, filled with griefs and troubles, to change the , fame for a Life Everlafiing : We put off the Raggs of this Mortal Flc(h, to be clothed with Robes Immortal : We for fake a loatbfome Life, for Joy and Felicity Eternal. Ought any Gain or Exchange to be compared with this ? O fweet and happy Martyrdom ! how dofl thou dig- nific and enrich us > in defpite of the World t Devil and our own Flefh ? And G g which 226 $etfectttet> by tyt #apifts. Part 4, which of us now can complain, feeing our Sovereign Lord And IMafter has fo exfrffy foretold it to all bit Followers ? Will any man come after me, fait h he, lec him take up his Crofs and follow me. Let us bear, Oh ! let tu then bear the Crofs chear fully, and with Jcyfulnefs, that we may be received in the prefence of bk heavenly Father ; for it is not only given us for to believe in Chrift, but alfo to fufftr for ha fake *, and if we fufftr with him',then jhall we alfo rtign with him' Ob ! that we could admire his Bounty, who no feoner imployes us in his WorJt, but hath the Wages ready in kit hand wherewith to recommence us ; Your Sor- row, faith he, fhall be turned into Joy. Let m then cafi off every weight that preffcth down, and whatfoever elfe that ftands in our way to Heavenward, be it Father, Mother, Brother, Sifters, Husband, Child, yea, and our own Lite alfo : Let us with the wife Merchant-man fell all, that with him we may purchafe that precious Peari ; how happy do I efteem them that are called to fufftr, and leave their Life for the conftffmg the "Name of Jefus Chnfl ; for the Eternal Son of Godwin confefs their Names before his heavenly Father, and bk holy Angels; they fhall be clad with white Robes, and fhine at the Sun in the Kingdom of Heaven, filled with Gladnefs in the prefence of the Lamb ; they fiiaH eat of the Fruit of the tree of Life, which is in the midfi of the Varadife of God : Let us fix the Bye of our Minds upon thefe fo great and precious Pro- mifes of "Jefus Chrifl, which he hath made to all thofe who perfevere in WtU~ doing unto the end, Ob ! how happy fliaH we be when we are delivered from thefe Bodies of Death, to live forever with our God ? Let us then continually pray with the Difciples, Lord increafe our Faith. Oh, dear Brethren ! Remem- ber me always in your Prayers, who am bound here in the Bonds of Anticbrifi ; Remember thofe alfo, who are in Bonds, as if you were bound with them : Pray, 1 fay, without ceafing, for our Adverfary the Devil is always compaffmg us nbout, to caufe our Hearts to faint \ and you are not ignorant what a potent Enemy our own Flefh is unto us ; bat 1 confidently believe, that our God, who hath begun this good Work in me, will per ft cl the fame, even unto the day of Chrift, Farewell* William Tovartt The manner of the Mercilefs Jnqui fit or s Termenting fueh as are brought into the Popifh Inquifuion in Spain. WHen they purpofe to Torture any one, the Goaler is command- ed to bring forth his Prifoner into the accuftomed place, which is under the Earth, and very obfeure ; then going thorow many Turnings, and fandry Doors, fo as the horrible Cryes of thofe who are there tortured, can in no wife be heard, there is a Seat prepared for the Inquilitors Part 4. #etfectttet> bp t^e 0apflJ& 227 Inquifitors on high, with a Regifter alio, to behold their Tragical A& ; The Torches being lighted, thofe who are to aft their parts in this wo- ful Tragedy, are brought in, the Tormentor, who attends their coming is covered all over with a black Garment, clofeto his Body, and on his Head a black Hood, which hides his face from being feen, having onl/ two or three holes mids therein for himfelf to fee and breathe at ; and all this is toterrifie the more the poor patient, who beholdeih as it were a gr-m Devil ready to Torment him ; thefe Fathers being fee upon their Sear, begin again to charge the Prifoner voluntarily to confefs the Tr .th, which if he refufetodo, and if it then happen, that Arm, or any other Member of his Body be broken, or that they die on the Torture ( for that is all the favour he hath fhewed him ) they m ke it his own fade, and none of theirs ; after they have ufed all the terrible threats that cdn be, they caufe him or her to be (tripped ftark naked, whether Man, Wo- man or Maid, though they be never fo modeft and bafhful, manv having fallen into their bloody fingers thus to have their nakednefs dtfeovered in the fight of others, was more grievous than all their Torments betides which they endured ; laying afide then all Humanity in unclothing them, they put upon them Linen Breeches, as if rheir ferret parts were berrer, and more honeftly covered with Breeches than with Shut cr Smock, or as if the Torments they meant to put them to would not pierce deep enough as well in the one as in the o her ; with fuch thameUfs Speft-cics the chafle Inquifitors fed their Ape?, and with iuch cruel Luff, fatisfied their infamous and deteflable virginity* The Man or Woman {landing rated, then only cohered with little Breeches, they beckento the Tormentor, ( who is wel) acquainted with their Secret Sign and Watch Word, and can readily difcern what Tor- ments the holy Fathers would have chem put to, to teach them the F^ith of he Roman Church' Then Harding thus naked, they exhort them once again to tell the truth. If the Patient be to endure the Cord, they tye his hands behind hh back pulling him upe'?,htor ten times, according to the number of rwitches limited by the Inquifitors to the Tormentor, that To nothing may be done there without oruer ; at the firft encounter are reckoned up to him all his Articles, and then, befides binding his hands, they tye his Thumbs to- gether with a imall Cord, then they tye his Hands and thumbs unto a greater Cord, hoifting him np by a Pulley very high, which done, they put upon his teg$ heavy Bolts, if he have not them-on before, to which are vet added, for the? firft pull, ah Iron weight of twenty five pounds, which is hanged to thbfe Bolts between his Feet ; being thus arrayed the Tormentors ar«wi him up on high, the Register and Inquifitor mixing G g 2 therewith 228 ^tVittttttti by tJ)e 0aptftS. Part 4. therewith their former Exhortations, Confefs : When he comes to touch the PuUey with his Head, they urge him yet then to confefs ; if he obey, they prefently let him down, if rot, then they let him hang in this con- dition until he have anfwered their demand?, now after he hath hung thus without making any Confeflion, they let him down to redouble en his feet the former weight, and then pulling him up again, thi earning him, to hang there tili he die, it he declare not to them what they a«k of him commanding the Tormentor to let him hang a long while, that through the heaviness or the weight, which hangs at his Feet, all his Members and Jovnts are Wretched out beyond meafure ; when the Patient through the excremity of Torment which he endures cryes cut, they inhkefort cry as loud as she/ can, that he mould now confefs what he knows, if not, then they let him fall , for when they perceive he continues conflant,then they command the Officer to jet go the Cord, which is as foon done as fpoken, yet not wholly and altogether to the mid way, but a certain flop which hinders his falling to the ground, by leafon whereof he receives iiich a fuddain check, his Body is pitifully and milerably flretcbed But yet th sfufficeth not,for then, if through their importunity he will confefs nothing, they augment the weight the third time, ar.d if the poor creature, in regard of his intolerable pain, call upon the Lord to help him, and defire to be let down, then they Scoffand Mock at him, prefling him to confefs, telling him, that is not all, threatning him by the Strafp ado, as before. This Helhfli Torture beginueth at nine, and laft- eth till one a clock ; and when they pleafe to make an end, they ask the Tormentor, if he have the other Engines ready, and at their going, all the comfort they give their difiblate Patient, is thus ; this mail fuffice, fay they, for this time, but look between this and to morrow, thou advifeft thy felt well, what thou oughteft to confefs, otherwife, then art like to die Under Torture ; nor think to efc^pe by what thou haft endured, for that is but a Bed of Rofes in regard of the Torment which is to ccme ; they being gone, his clothes is put on, and if he be not able to go, he is carried again unto Prifon^afew dayes afcer they fend for him again, renewing their threats, that if he will not reveal thofe that ate of his O- pinion he mud prepare himfelf for [he Torture, wherein if he any way mf:arry, or Death folio ws^ the fault /hall be his. and not theirs; if he continue unmovable in his mind, they caufe the Goaler to bring him to the place of Torture, and there they fitting in their Tribunal command him to be (hipped naked, and then tormented after the fame manner as is before related -, befides, as an addition thereunto, they iye his thighes and ham- firings together with a fmall Cord, forcing the fame with pieces of Wood, id that the.Gords do eac into his very Flefh,in which extremity they leave m ' his* Part 4. i&etfenitto bp ttye #apftt& 229 him for three or four hours plying him the whilft with infinite threats and derifions, which is all the comfort that they minifter unto him in this his moft miferable condition. A Relation of the lamentable Suffering of William Gardner, an Englifj Merchant in Portugal. William Gardner was born at Brifiol of honeft Parents, and naturally- given to gravity, of a mean ftatute of Body, but a comely and pleafant Countenance, yet in no part fo excellent as in the inward qualities'of the mind, which from a Child he had kept without fpot of ieprehenfion ; be- ing Apprentice with a Merchant at Briftol, his Matter fent him a Voyage into Spain, but by accident the Ship arrived at Lisbon in Portugal } where after he came aChore, he was very ftritt in keeping himfelf, leaft he mould ba defiled with the Portugah Superftition ; whilft he remained there a Marriage was to be folemnized, between the King of Portugal} Son and the King of Spain* Daughter, the which, amongft other people he going to the Publick pice to lee and beholding the Peoples great Idolatry, the young man was fore pricked and moved in his Confcience againft it, yet had not an opportunity to bear his Tefiimony againft it ft that time, butlelithe place, and went away with a great Burthen upon bis mind which continued, infcmuch that he fought out fecret and folitary Places where he might call upon God with Tears, and eafe his micd, bewail- ing himfelf for negkcling his duty in testifying againft the Impiety and Superftition of that People,* concluding in his mind to take another op- portunity to clear himfelf, and to that end made up his Accounts with all men, and then gave himfelf continually to Prayer and Meditacion oa the Lord, taking Jittle Meat by Day, or Sleep by Night. And fhortly alter went on a Sunday to the Publick Place of Worfhip again, where the King was prefent, and a great Affembly of peop'e, get- ing as near to the high Altar as he could, having a Teftament in Englifh in his hand, in which he read while the Mafs was celebrated by the Cardinal, until the Cardinal took the Hoft in his hand, and then William being moved with Zsal, and not longer able to forbear, he ftept fpeedi- ly and matched the Cake out of the Priefts hand,& trod it under his Feer, and overthrew the ChaUice^ which made the People all arrived, and to •fife in a great Tumult, and one run him into the Shoulder with his Dag- ger, and they would have killed him, but that the King Commanded he ihould be faved. d l After the Tumult Ceafed, he was brought before the King, who a«3rtv What Cci.ntry tnax ke -was, and how he du-fi he fo bold to do juch an a&ion in Contempt to him and the Sacrament aftht Church f Qmdntf 9 , 230 $ttkt\XttH tV tl)t l&ap^ftg. Part 4* i Gardner, told him, He was an Engllfh man, 5c came thither a Merchant, and feeing fo gre< by t!)e #aptftg. Part 4. Upon a Complaint made to the Council, call'd, Le Chamber Ardante, That the Judges fuffered Hereticks to have their Tongues ; immediately thereupon .a Decree was made, That all which wire to be burnt, unlefs they recanted at the Fire, fhould have their Tongues cut out • which Law after- wards was diligently obferved. Stephen Polliard, coming out of Normandy, in the year IC46, (where he was born ) unto Meux, tarried there not long, but he was compel'ed to flee, and went to a Town called Vera, where he was apprehended, ard brought 'to Paris, and there caft into a foul and dark Prifon, and there kept in Bonds and Fetters a long time, where he faw alrnoft no light; at length being call'd for before the Senate, and his Sentence given to have his Tongue cut out, and to be burnt alive, his Satchel of Books hanging about his Neck ;0 Lord, faid he, is the World in Blindnefs and Darknefs ftia ! for he thought, having been clofe Prifoner fo long, that the World had been alter'd from its old Darknefs, to better Knowledge ; at laft with his Books about his Neck, he was burnt to death. Florent Venote remained a Prilcner in Paris four tears, during which time he was put to divers Torments, one kind of Torment was, he was put in a narrow place, fo {trait that he could neither ftand nor lie, which they caTed the Hofe or Boots, becaufe it was firait below and wide above; in this he remained feven Weeks, where the Tormentors affirm, that no Thief or Murderer could ever endure fifteen dayes, but were in danger of Life or Madnefs; and at laft, on the 9th of Jul?, he was burnt to death, with divers other Martyrs, who were bjrnt as a Spe&acle, at the King's coming into Paris. The next that f ffered was a poor Taylor in Paris, who for working- upon Holy-days ( fo called ) and denying to obferve them, was clapt in Prifon, the King hearing of it fent for him before him, and fome of his Peers *, 'being before the King, he anfwered with great boldnefs, wit and memory, defending the caufe of Chrift, neither flattering their Per- fons nor fearing their threats, which ftnck the King in a great damp, in mufing in his mind ; which the Bifliops feeing, committed the poor Tay- lor again to the hands of the Officer, faying, he was a ftnVbom Fellow, and fitter to be puniflit, than to be marvelled at -, within few days after he was condemned to be burnt alive. The next year two men for friendly admoniihing a certain Prieft which in his Sermon had abufed the Name of God, were both burned -, another young man of the Age of eighteen years, for rebuking a man in Paris for Swearing, being iuipefted to be a Lutheran,' was apprehended, ard broughc before the Council at Paris, who committed him to Prifon, where he was fo cruelly Racked and Tormented, that one of the Perfecutors fee- ing Part 4; ^etfemtetj by tDe #apttt& 453 ing it, could not but turn his back and weep ; when he was brought and put in the Fire, he was pluckl up again upon the Gibbet, and asked whether he would turn, to whom he (aid, that he was in His way towards God, and therefore deluedthem to lee him go. John Joytr, and his Servant being a young man, in the year 1^5-2, comr ing from Geneva to their Country with certain Books, were apprehended by the way, and had to Tholoufe ; where the MaRer was firft ccnaemned, the Servant being young, was not fo prompt to anfaer, but directed them to his Mafter, to anfwer them; when they were brought to the Stake, the young man firfl going up, began to weep, the Mafler fearing left he fliould recant ran to him, and he was comforted ; as they were in the Fire, the Mafter ftanding upright to the Stake fhifted the Fire, from him to his Servant, being more carefull for him, than for hire felt ; and when he faw him dead, he bowed down himfelf in the flame and fo expired. Matthias Dimonetus, Merchant at Lyons, in the year i^h having been a man of a Vicious and deteftable Life, was notwithstanding through the Grace of God bro't to the knowlege & favour of hi*Truth,for aTeftimony to which he was foon after Impnfoned \ being in Prifon he had great con- flicts with the infirmitv of his own Flefh, but efpecially with the temp- tation of his Parents, Brethren and Kinsfolks, and the great forrow of his Mother ; neverthelefs the Lord fo affined him that he endured to the end, and was burnt to death. In the year 1 5-5-8^ the fourth day cfStptembtr, there being a Company of the Faithful, to the number of three or four hundred met together ac Tark in a certain Houfe,in the beginning of the night.they were difcover- ed by fome Priefts, the Houfe was foon befet, and the City in an uproar, many being in an excream rage, furioufly feeking to have their blood ; at the fuddennels of this thing, the poor people were ftrucken in great fear ; and fell to prayer, about fix or feven fcore of them having Weapons, efcaped thorow the Multitude, fave only one, who was knockt down with Stones, and deftro/d; the Women remaining in the Houfe were taken by the Magistrates and had to Prifon ; in their paffing to the Prifon they were pluck'd & hailed by the rude Mulcitude,who t( re their Gar- ments, and pulled off their Hoods, and disfigured their Faces with dirt; they were" accufed to the King by a Prieft, that they put out the Candles in their Meetings, and went together Jack and Gill; and that they main- tained there was no God,and denyed the Divinity and Humanity of Chriff; the Immortality of the Soul, and the RefurreSion of the Body, &c thele things a lying Doctor charged on them, without any proof moving the King & People to deftroy them j and Shortly after a Commiffion was di- H h reaed «34 Pttlttum bv tf)e #apflte. Part 4, re&ed out by the King to certain Councellors to try and give Judgment upon the aforefaid Sufferers, a particular Relation of whofe Execution is at large inferted by my Author, but there being little material circum- ftances either in their Tryal or Execution, wherefore I thought not meet here to infrrt them. In the Kingdcm of Naples in the Year ic6o, in the time of Pope Pius the fourth, was begun a hot Perfecution againft the Proteftants, many men and their wive? being flain. Li'kewife the fame year in CeUbria, the number of Eighty eight Per- fens both old aad young fuffered for the Prottftant Religion by the Papilla all which were put together in one Houfe, and taken out one after an- cther, and laid upon the Butchers Stall like the »Sheep in the Shamble?, with one bloody Knife chey were all killed one after another. A Speftacle moil Tragical tor all Pofterity to remember, and almoft incredible to be- lieve, but that it is confirmed by two Epiftles of fufficient credit, which are at large ine'erted in the Book of Martyrs. The next matter to be treated on is the great Perfecution and DeftrutT:- ion of the People of Merindol and Cabries^ in the Country of Province, where not a few Perfons, but: whole Villages, and Townfhips, with the moft part of all the Country, both Men, Women, and Children, were put to all kind of Cruelty, and fuffered Martyrdom for the profeflion of the Gcfpel. From the year 1200. they had refufed the Bifliop of Rome's Authority, for this caufe they were often accufed and complained of to the King, as Contemners & Defpifcrs of the Magift rates,and Rebels ; wherefore they were caled by divers names according to the Countries and places where they dwelt \ for in the Country about Lions, they were called the poor People of Lions •, in the borders of Sarmatia, and Livonia, and other Countrys towards the North, they were called Lollards; in Flanders and ArtoU, Turrelupints, of a Defart where Wolves did hunt in Dolphine ; with great defpite they werecaPed C^g/w^becaufe they lived in places open to the Sun, without Houfe or harbour, but moft commonly they were called Waldoyt viWaldo, who fhft inftrucled them in the Word of God, as before is related, which name continued till the name ol : Luthtr- ans came up, wheh above all oihe s was moft hated and abhorred, Notwithstanding in thefe moft fpiteful Contumelies and Slanders, the People dwelling at the foot of the Alpts, and alfo in Merindol, and Cab- riss alwayes lived fo Godly, fo uprightly and juftly, that in all their life and converfation there appeaed to be in them a great fear of God ; and that little Light of true Knowledge which God had given them, they U» homed by all means to kindle and encreafe daily more and more> fparing no Part 4» #etferotet> by fyt #ap bp t|)e #apttte. Part 4, the Kings Letter the Parliament ordained, that John Durand Counceller of the Farliament,with the Secretary, and the Bifhop of Cavtllon, with a Do&or of Divinity fhould go to Mtrindol, and there declare to the Inha- bitants the Errors and Herefie,which they knew to be contained in their confeiiion of their Faith and make them apprent by good and fufficientln- formation,and having fo convi&ed them by the Word of God,they fhould make them to renounce and abjnre the faid Herefies ; and if they did re- fak to abjure, then to make report thereof, that the Court might appoint how to proceed againft them i the Biihop of Cavillon would not tarry till the time appointed by the Court for the Execution of this Matter, but he himfelf with a Doftor went to Merindol to make them abjure, but they refuiing he grew very angry with them. Shortly after John Durandus, Councellor of the Parliament, went to execute the Commiffion, according to order, to whom the Bailiff of Me* rindol faid, it feemeth unto me that there is no due form of Procefs in this Judgment, for there is no party here, that doth accufe us ; if we had any Accufer prefent, which according to the rule of the Scripture, either mould prove by good demonftration out of the New and Old Teftament, that whereof we are accufed, or if he were not able, mould fuffer puniih- ment, due unto fuchas are Hereticks \ I think he will be as greatly troubl- ed to maintain his Accufations, as we to anfwer unto the fame. Thus things debated for fome time, but the Biihop and Do&or were much confounded, and the Inhabitants of Merindol were in reft and quiet* nefs for a fpace, until John Miniers, an exceeding bloody Tyrant began a new Perfecution ; he put five or fix of his own Tennants into a Ciftern under the ground, and Clofing it up, there he kept them till they died for Hunger, pretending that they were Lutherans : But it was to get their goods and poflelHons : By thefe practices this Wretch grew great and wealthy, and became Prefident of the Parliament, and Lieutenant Ge- neral in the Country of Province ; he irnploy'd all his power to obtain Let- ters Pattents from the King, to profecute the Decree againft the people of Merindol^ which by the help of the Cardinal of Touwon, he did obtain. After this he gathered all the Kings Army, and imployed them to the de- ft ruction of Merindol, Cabries, and other Towns, to the nuiuber of twenty two, giving Commiffion, To [foil, ranfack, burn and defiroy all together, and to kiH Man, Woman and Child without mercy. The people of Merindol feeing all in a flame round about them, left their Houfes, and fled into the Woods, carrying their Children upon their fhoulders a days Joumey^but the way that they were to pafs thorow being rough and cumberfom they thought it expedient to leave the Women and Children behind, hoping that the Enemy would (hew mercy to the Women and Children, being deftitute Part 4. lactfecutco ftp tl)e $aptft& 239 deRitute of all Succour : But no Tongue can exprefi, what Sorrow, what Tears, wbat Sighings, what Lamentation there was at that Woful de- parting, when they were compelled to be thus feperated afunder, the Husband from his Wife, the Father from his tender Children, and ne- ver like to fee each other again : They were not gone far, but the Ene- my fuddenly came upon them, finding them aflembling together at pray- ers, and fpoiled them of all that they had, fome chey Ravilhed, and fome they Scourged, practifing what Cruelty and Villany they could devife a- gainft them ; the women were in number about five hundred. This Mi- mers caufed Thirty Men to be carried into a Meadow,& there to be mife- rably cut and hewed to pieces by Souldiers, and he caufed forty Women to be put into a Barn full of Straw, and the Barn to be fet on fire to de- ftroy them : the number of thofe that were fo unmercifully murdered by this bloody Tyrant were about one Thoufand perfons, Men, Women and Children. It is unexpreffible how Lamentably and cruelly thefe poor People were Perfecuted, infomuch that no kind of Cruelty and Tyranny was left unpraclifed ; for them that efcaped into the Woods and Moun- tains, being taken, were either flain out-right, or put in the Gaily and made Slaves ; fome werefamifhed in Rocks and Caves with Hunger ; and thus it continued till God by his juft Judgments cut off the bloody Tyrant Minim by death. A jhorf Relation of the cruel M*jfwrttt in France.' In no cafe ought we to negleft to remember the Tragical and Furious MaiTacrees in France, wherein were Murdered Co many Hundreds and Thoufandsof ProteHantS' And firft, for brevities fake to over-pafs the bloody Butchery of the Papi/ts in Orange, againft the Proteflams, moft fiercely and urawares breaking into their Houfes, and there unmercifully killing Man, Woman and Child, fome of whom they threw out into the Streets, fome they fmothered with Smoke, with Sword and Weapon fparing none ,• the Car kales of fome they threw to Dogs: Likewife, to pals over the cruel Slaughters at Roan, Diepe, Ligoltum, Anjou, Cefarodum, Abbats Vilia, Palonia, Cafter, SamarobriJge, Galliacum, and many other I brief] over flip, to enter now into the rnatrer above-promifed, that,}?, briefly to fpe^kof the horrible and moft barbarous MalTacee wrought in Paris t fuch as 1 fuppofe was never heard of before among the very ifc** then. In few words to touch the fubftanee of the matter : After long endeavours, the Catboticks feeing no good to be done againft theTrote- ft ants by open Force, beg An by crafty means to entrap them, whereupon they z\6 tyttlttUtttt ty tyt $apfll& Part 4; they devifed a Marriage between the Prince of Navarre, (a Proteftant ) and the Kind's Sifter, to the Conftmnmation of which all the chief Pro* ttflants in France mould be invited, and meet in Tans ; which being done, and the Marri. ge folemnized, about three days after the Admiral coming from the Council Table, by the wav, was ftruck in both Arms, with a Piliolct, charged with three Pellets whereupon certain Souldiers were appointed in divers places of the City, to be ready at a Watch- word, which given, they burft out to the Slaughter of the Protectants^ firft be- ginning with the Admiral himfelf, who being forely wounded, was ca ft cut of the Window into the Street, where his Head being firft ftruck off", and enbalmed with Spices to be fent to the Pope, the favage People cut off his Arms and Privy -Me rubers, dragging his Body along the Streets three days together, in which time the Armed Souldiers, with rage and Violence ran upon all other of the fame Proleffion, flaying and killing all the Proteftants they kne«v, or could find. In which bloody Slaughter were Numbred to the 11 an about Ten Thoufand, Men, Women, Young and Old, of all forts and Conditions. The Bodies of the dead were carried in Carts to be thrown in the River, fo that not only the River was all ftain'd therewith, but alfo whole Streams in certain places of the City, did run with gore Blood of the (lain Bodies. And not only within the Walls of Paris this uproar was continued, but it extended further, into other Cities and Quarters of the Realm, viz, Lyons, Orleans, Tboloufe, Roane, and many other. At Meldes two Hundred we e call into Prifon, and being brought out as Sheep to the Slaughter, were cruelly murthered. At Orleans One Thouiand Men, Women and Children were Mur- thered' At Lions eight hundred were moft mifcably and cruelly murthered, the Children banging at their Fathers N cks.andthe Fathers imbracing their Children, &c Three hundred were fl,;in in the Bifhops houfe. At Tkohffa two hundred were Marthered. The Citizens of Augnftabona, when they heard of the Miflacree at Taris, (hut the Gates of their Town, that no Proteftant might efcape, and caft all that they mfpe&ed into Prifon, which aicerwards were bright forth and Murthered' At Roan c huicfed were put to death : Tbuanus, who writes the Hiftory of thefe things, writeth thus \ This Example ( faith he ) faffed into other Cities % and from Cities to Towm and Villages, fo that it is by many publifhed, that in at the Kingdom above Thirty Thou/and wtre in tbefe Tumults divers ways deflrefd by the Papifts. There Part 4. s^etrrecttteu bp t^e #aptftg. 241 There was wonderful joy in Rams for this Mafiscree, and the Pope, with his Cardinals went a Procefljon, to give Thanks unto God for this great Benefit beftowed upon the See of Rome, aid the Chriftian World ; a Jjbile was alfa publiihed ; and in the Evening the great Ordnance was fhot off at the Cattle : And one thoufand Crowns was given to him that brought the News of this bloody Maffrcree. Thus this unholy Father delights ro hear of the deftruttion of fo many innocent People : Well might GhriP, fay, You are of your Father tie Devil, and the Lujls of your Father ytu will 4o \ hi, hath been a Murthertr from the beginnings and abode not in the Truth, becaufe there is no Truth in him. When the MaiTacreers began to play their parts in Rovan, they coun- felted thofe of the Rel gien, to get themfelves into the Prifons, as into places of greateft* fecurity,from the fury and rage ofthepeople.bat fuch as followed this advice were there even ready to be devoured, as poor Sheep, by thefe greedy Wolves at their pleafure. Thofe who were murdered in the City in a few days, fome in their Houfes, and others in the Prifons amounted to fix thoufand, befides more than fifty Women, unto whom they exercifed no lefs Cruelty than upon men. Their names for brevity fake are here omitted, their dead bodies be- ing piled together were conveyed out of the City in Tumbrils, and thrown by heaps one upon another into great pits, digged for that pur- pofe : Their garments being warned in the River, from their Blood, by certain poor Women, were afterwards diftributed here and thereto the Poor by the Pafifis, that they might feem with their mercilefs and unjuft Cruelty to mingle fome Works ofjufticeand Charicy. Up n the eighth day after the Maffacree at Paris, about eight of the Clock in the Morning, the chief of the Papifis at Tholoufe, received Ad- vertifement of that which had pa/Ted, with Letters directing them what they .were to do, then, a Council was called ; at the breaking up whereof the great Gates of the City were (hut, only the little wickets left open and fhortjy after, they entredjnto the houfes of thofe of the Religion, whom tjbey imprifoned in fundry Prifons of the City, about three weeks after they put all thefe Prifoners together into the Confcierfery, which is a fpecial Prifon, deferring the Slaughter of them until they received War- rant and Authority from Paris, which having received, the Prifoners*- were called down to the Stairs foot, one after another, and there Maf- facred, not permitting them fo much leafure as to fpeak ; the Councel- lors who were or the Religion, after they had Maflacred them, they hanged them up in their Gowns upon a great Elm which was in the Court of the Palace, and in the mean time facked and pillaged their houfej. I i A 242 0etfectttet) b£ tfie ®&$itt&. p^rt 4, A true Relation of the Martyrdom of fivt Englijh men burnt at Rome. Richard Atkins, born in Htrtfordlhire, about the Month July, Anno 158% came to Rome, and having found the £»?/*/& College, knoekc at the Door,to whom divers of the Students the?e came forth to welcotn him, hearing he was an Englifh man • amongft other talk had With him, they wifht'him to go to the Hofpital, and there to receive his Meat arid Lodging according as the order was appointed ; whereunto he anfwer'd I came not (my Country- men) to any fuch intent is ybu fudge, but I came lovingly to rebuke the great diforder of your lives, which I grieve to hear, and pity to behold \ I come likewife to let your proud Anti-chip underftand, that he doth Offend the heavenly Majefly, Rob God 6f his Honour, and Poyfon the whole World with his Abominable Blaf- phemies, making them do Homage to Stocks and Stones, and that filthy Sacrament, which is nothing elfe but 3 fcolifh Idol: When they heard thefe words, one Hugh Griff en a. Welch-man, and Student of the Golledge., caufed him to be put in the fnquifition • what he ai fvvered there to their Examinations is not recorded, but after fome days he was fet at Liber- ty again* And one day going in the Street he met a Prieft carrying the Sacrament, Which fo offended his Conference to fee the People crouch and bow down to it, that he catchedat it to have thrown it down, but- sniffing of his purpofe, and it being judged by the People that he did catch at the holi- nefs, that (they fay) cometh from the Sacrament, upon meer devotion, he was let pafs and nothing faid to him ;a few days after he came to the place called Saint Peters Chursh, where divers being hearing Mafs, and the Prieft at the Elevation, without mewing any reverence he ftept amongft the People to the Altar, and threw down the Chalice with the Wine, driving likewife to putt the Cake out of the Priefls hands, for which divers rofe up and beat him with their fifts, and one drew his Rapier, and would have {lain him ;and away he was carried to Prifon, where he was Examined, wherefore he had committed fo hainous an Of- fence $ he anfwer'd, that he came purpofely for that intent to rebuke the Popes Wickednefs, and their Idolatry ; upon this he was condem- ned to be burnt, which Sentence (he faid) he was right wining to fuffer, and the rather, becaufe the fum of his offence pertained to the Glory of Codi during the time he remained in Prifon, {midry Enghfh men came to him, wifhing him to be forry for what he had done, and to recant of his Damnable Opinion \ but all the means they ufed were in vain \ he confuted their dealings by divers Places of Scripture, and willed them to be forry for their Wickednefs while God did permit them time, e»fe they Part 4« $etfectiteo bp tlje #apt'ft& 243 they were in danger ci Everlafting Damnation jthefe words made the Ettflijh-wtn depart, for they could not abide to hear them : Within a while after he was fet upon an Af$ y without any Saddle, being from the middle upward naked, having fome Englifr Priefts with him to calif with him • but he regarded :hem not, but fpake to the People in as good Lan- guage as he could, and told them, they were in a wrong way, and there- fore wiflied them to have regard to the faving of their Soufc? All the way as he went, there were four that did no.hing elfe but thruft at his body with burning torches, whereat he never moved nor (hnxnk one jot, but with a cheerful Countenance laboured to perfwadethe People to good ; at which the People not a little wondred -, thus he continued al» mod the fpace of half a mile until he came to the Place of Execution, which was before the Mafs-kou[e y called Saint Peters ; where they had made a device, not to make a Fire about him, but to burn his legs firft, which they did, at which he was no whit difmayed, but fuffered all cheerfully, at which the People much admired. Then they offered him a Crofs to embrace, in token that he died aChriftian, but he put it away with his hand, calling them evil men to trouble him with fuch poltery fluff when he was preparing himfelf for his God, whom he beheld in ma- jefty & mercy,ready to receive him into the Eternal reft ; they feeing him in this mind,departed,faying, Come let us go and leave him to the Devil, whom hefervts. Thus ended this faithful Souldier,and Martyr of Chrift his life, a Witnefs againft the Pope and his Followers wickednefs. In the year 1599 a young man, about the age of twenty five years being at Rome, was much Birred in a Religious Zeal, againft their horrible Idolatry, as the Bifhop was going a Proceflion the young man pluckt the pixout of his hand, and threw it to the ground, calling, Wretched Idolater, for which he was apprehended a,nd fent to prifon, and fhortly after Pope Clemtnt the eighth hearing of it, ordained, that he (hould be immediately burnt, but fome of the Gardinalsadviled, that he might rather be kept till a further examination % and accordingly they kept him eight days in prifon, but when they fa w nothing could be drawn from him, but thefe words, vjzSuch was the will of God-. Then they, flripped him naked to the middle,and put on the form of a Devil or Dra- gon upon his head, and then bound him in a Cart, and carried him to th$ place of Execution, where he was burnt alive I find alfo a Relation of three other Englijh-men put to death at Romt % the manner of their fufferings are as followeth : They meeting together entered into a Cosference, concerning the ftate of the Church a 1 : that time, complaining chat the Zeal of Gods Glory was wonderfully cooled amongft men,* yea, and that even thofe of the Religion, were grown I i * but 244 l^etfecttten ftp tt)e 0aptft& Part 4; but too worldly wife*, that Satan by little and lirtle was fbwing the feed of Atheifm ever? where, by rockirg men afleep in the Cradle of Security ; whereupon, commending themfelves into the bands of God, they determined to take their Voyage to Rome, and there to encounter with the Adverfjry of Chrift : thither they came, and after two or three days, two of them behaving themfelves modelHy, did in fecret mani- feft to fofhe the Truih of the Gofpel, who being betrayed, wereitn- prifoned and put to death* without any further ado ; the third refolved to bear his Teftimony more publick, and tbereiore taking an oppor- tunity, when the Pope was in the -midft of his Mailing devotion, flepc quickly to him, and pluckt the hofr out of his hands, and trod it under his feet, teftifying againft the Mais and Antichrift ; the people in a rage fell upon him, beating and bruifing of him, and he was forthwith bound and fet upon an A is, and the Executioners with 1 gh ed Torches burnt his Face, Mouth and Tongue firft, when the flames came over- thwart his Cheeks, he was heard to Cry, Lord forgive them, they know not what they do; and then they confumed his body with Fire to Afhes. And herein the Reader hath feen the invincible Conftancy of thefe Martyrs, who in their burning Zeal for Religion, dryed up the Ri- vers of Perfecution ; and were never Tired in Suffering, until the Perfecutors Swords were blunt with the Slaughter. Bleffed are they that are Terfecuted f$r Righteoupiefs (ah % theirs h the Kingdom of Heaven* An H1 P A R T V. An Account of fitch as Suffered in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, I^m now come to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, in whofe firft year the Parliament: rellored the firft fruits and tenths to the Grown, and the Proteftant Religion was again eftablifhed, the Bifhops that refufcd the Oath of Supremacy were removed, and others put in their rooms ; in this Queens time, about the Eleventh year of her reign arofe a people making a Profeffion of the Pure Religion, and would allow of nothing but what was direftly taken out of the Scripture's, openly condemning the received Difcipline of the Church of England, td- ge:her with the Liturgy, and the very calling of the Bifhops, as favour- ing too much of the Romi[h Religion, declaring it to be an impious thing to hold any thing common with the Church of Rome, and ufed all dili- gence to have the Church of England reformed in every point accord- ing to the rule of the Church of Geneva •, amongft thefe DilTentcrs were Coleman. Burton, Hallirgbam and Ben/on, whom the Q.jeen commanded to be committed to Prifon, yec it is a thing almoft incredible how on a Hidden their Followers encreafed, known by the envious name of Puri- tant, who preached nothing more than Evangelical Purity, crying down the Ecclefiaftical Form of Government, as a thing polluted with Roman Dregt, fetting out Books in Print to the fame effect, relufing to goto the Publick Worfhip, as it was then ufed ; whereupon many endeavours, were ufed to fupprels them, and the Law was commanded to be put in Execution, which required Uniformity, and the Books wrote by the Puritans to be delivered into the Bifhops hand', on pain of Imprifonment \ by thefe courfes of Perfecution and force they were kept down for a rime, the Arch BiOiop of Canttrbury ufing his utmoft endeavours to fettle an uniformity in Ecclefiaftical Difcipline, according to the Laws, which he- faw lay gafping, if the Puritans encreafed, and thereupon provided Ar- ticles for all Mmifiers to fubferibe, but he found greit oppofincm or di- "Wbaace jn this his Defign, both at home and abroad - 7 for one Robert Browtf *4<* &ome£ccotmtoffttc|) as Stiff ereti Part f. Brown, a young man of Cambridge, from whom a People called Brownifis took their name, and one Rich. Harrifon a School-mafter, thefe fee forth Books in Zealand, and difperfed them over England, condemning the Church of England for no Church; thefe Bock? were by Authority pro- hibited, and feveral of the chief of thefe Brownifis were executed at Bury in Suffolk, as the Reader ihall underftand more particularly in this follow* ing Difcourfe, as far as I can give a difcovery by the Authors I could procure. As I havefaid, though by the forcible courfe the Bifliops took, thefe People were kept under at times, yet in the one and thirtieth year of the Queen, Puritans Flames brake forth again, and Books were written by the names of Martin- Mar- -prelate, and another Book by Penery aad Vdal againft the Government of Bifhops, and Barrow and Greenwood wrote a ihort Treatife, called, a Plat-Form, in which was contained iharp Re- proofs to the Clergy, faying, That all falfe and Antichriftian Minifters, ought by the Princes Authority to be rooted out, and that their A nti- chrirtian and Idolatrous Livings ought to be converted to charitable civil ufes, an 1 are not to be appropriated or given to Gods true Miniftry, for the maintenance thereof, neither ought it to receive the fame; for it (lands not with the honour of God, that Bethel, Gods Houfe, fhonld be garnilhed and fupported with the things belonging to, or taken from Betbaven, the Houfe of Idols, as if the Almighty wanted other means for fupport of his own Houfe, and muft needs be beholden to the Houfe of Idols to help him and his. For thefe, and fuch matters by them openly divulged, they were im- prifoned, and all that would not bow, the Bifhops refolved to break them to pieces ; on the other hand, the more hotly they were peifecuted by the Bi (hops, the more the Zeal ftirred in them to oppofe, ftrengthen- ing themfelves daily through their diligence in Reading the Scriptures, that they might be enabled to oppofe the Clergy, whole Reformation they faid was no more than cafting out the name and Perfons of the Pope and Papifts, and yet referved all their Livings and Priviled^es, even all the fat and gainful Ware of Amaleck unto themfelves- But in the end of thefe things, as it feldom hath been known, fo far as I have obferved, that whenfoevcr the Truth appeared, though in the leaft meafure, but it coft fome blood, which fheulJ make men love ic the better : So in thefe times, this Barrow, Greenwood and Penery, and feveral others, fealed their Teftimony, firft by hard Imprifonment, and at laft by death it felf, as in the f q el will appear ; and if what I find upon record be true(as 1 have no cauie to believe otherwifej the chief Inftruments of their deaths were the Clergy, and not the Queen : For when Part S* <» t|)e BefStt Of & Elizabeth, 247 when the Queen asked Do&or Raynolds what he thought of thofe two men (meaning /farrow and Greenwood) he anfwered, It would not avail any thing to (hew his Judgment concerning them, feeing they were put to death, and being loth to fpeak his mind further, the Queen prefled him, and charged him to (peak, whereupon he anfwered, that he was pe? (waded if they had lived, they would have been two as worthy ln- firuments for the Church or God, as hath been raifed up in this Age : The Queen fighed, and faid no more : But after that riding to a Park, by a place where they were executed, cal'ed to mind their fuffering of death, (and being willing to have further information concerning them) demanded of the Earl of Cumberland (that was prefent when they fufTer- edj what end they made ; he anfwered, a very Godly end, and Prayed for your Majefty and the State ; moreover one Philips, a famous preach- er, having both heard and feen Barrows Speeches and Preparation for death, faid, Barrow ! Barrow ! my Soul be with thine And now before I give Account of the places where thefe Perfons were executed, it will be necelTary to infert their Complaint to the Parliament, relating their hard ufage in Prifons, a Copy, of which is as followeth. The Humble , mojl earneft y and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the VerftC'ited and Prefcrifod Church, and Strvants of Ckrift, ft>lfly called Brownifts, unto the High Court of Parliament' ""TpHe moft high God, Pofftflfbr of Heaven and Earth, bringcth at this X prei'ent before your Lordfhips and Wifdoms (right honourable,) his own Caufe, his own People ( his own Sworn, and moft treacherous Enemies ) together with the moft fliameful Ufage of his Truth and Ser- vants, that ever hath been heard of in the days of Sions profeiTe'd Peace a-d Trai q ilLy. His Caufe and People he offereth unto your ConlTderation and De- fence in our Proteffiow and Perfons; His Enemies and their Out-rage againft his Jruth and Strvants in the Perfons and Bloody Proceedings of the Prelates of this Land, and their Complices. We profefsthe fame Faith, and Truth of the Gofpel with her Ma- yfly, which your honours, this whole Land, and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day do hold and Maintain. We go beyond them (being our Only fault, even in the Judgment of our tyrannical and molt lavage Enemies) in the deteftation of all Popery, that moft fearful jtnti'cfaiftian Religion, and draw nearer in (ome Points bv our practice unto Chrifls holy Order and Inflitution ; this is our Faith, this is our Caufe (Right Honourable) yea, the Lords Caufe in our finful hands. Fojt 248 s>ome Account of fuel) as S>ttfferet) Part 4. For the Profeflion and Maintenance of which Faith, the fore-named Enemies of God detain in their hands within the Prifons about London, (not to fpeak of other Goals throughout the Land, about threefcore and twelve Perfons, Men, Women, Young and Old, lying in Cold, in Hunger, in Dungeons, and in Irons ; of which Number they have taken the ^ords day laft, being the third day of the fourth Moneth, 1C92, about fome fixteen Perfon?, hearing the Wotd ct Goa truly taught,' Praying and praifmg God for his favours fhewed unto us, unto her Majefly, your Honours, and this whole Land, and defiring our God to be merciful to us, unto our Gracious Prince and Country ; being em- ployed in thefe holy Actions, and no other ( as the Parties who difturb- ed them can teftifie ) they were taken in the very place where the Perfc- euted Church and Martyrs were enforced to ufe the like Exercife in Queen Marfs days- The former Number are now unbailable, com- mitted by the Prelate or Bifliop of London, unto whofe Clofe ( for the moll part) feveral Prifons, as Bridewel, the Limboe or Dungeon in New- gate, the Fleet, the Marfialfea, the Counters, the Clyni, the Gatehoufe, the White Lyon, &c. wherein we willingly acfcnowlege the Lot and In- heritance, in this Life of our Fore-Farhers and Brethren the holy Mar- tyrs of the former Age, and the entailed Aceldama, or Bloody ^ucceffion of the See of London, and that whole Lineage. Wen, here our Brethren lie ( how long, Lord, H ly & Triu?,rhcu knoweft ) in Dungeons, in Hun- ger, in Cold, in Nakednefs, and all outward difiref? \ for thefe Bloody jnen will allow them neither Meat, Drink, Fire, Lodging, nor fnffer any whofe Hearts the Lord would ftir Up for their relief to have any *c- cefs unto them,purpofmg ( belike ) to imprifon them unto death, as they have done Seventeen or Eighteen others in the fame noilome Goals with- in thefe Six Years. The Husbnnd and Wife, being now taken by them, they permit not to be int he ftme, but have Cent them to be clofe kept in other Prifons ; What the poor Family do.h at tome in the mean time, your Lordfhips may confider, and juftly pity. Some of this Company had Dot one penny about them when they were fern into cl fe Pufon, nor any thing, being abroad ( which is the cafe of molt of them, if nc t all ) to procure themfelves,and their poor Families any Maintenance, fave only their handy Labours and Trades, whereby it is come to pafs that thefe Enemies of God, do not only ftarve & undo a Number of Men in the Prifons, but even a lamentable Company of poor Orphans and Servants abroad: Their Unbridled Slanders, their Lawlefs Privy Search^, their Violent Breaking Open & Rifling our Honfej,their Lamentable &. Bar- barous Ufage of Women and Young Children in thefe Hoftile AiTaults, their Uucontrouled Thievery, Robbing and Taking away ot whatfoever they Part ?♦ in tlje ftet'gn of &. Elizabeth. 44? they think meet from u< in this cafe, their unappe^fed and mercilefs pur- fuitofusfrnm our Houfes, Trades, Wives, Children, efpecially from the Hoh $-)citty of the Saints and Church ofG.d, We are hforced to omit left we fliould be over tedious to Your Lord mips ; but their Deal- ing this way towards us is {0 woful ( right honourable ) as we may truly Demand with grief of heart, whether the Forein Enemy, or our Native Country men, do p ffcfs and bear rule over us in our dear and Native Country. Their whole Dealing herein is moft Barbirous, raoft Inhu- mane, but especially HK.ft Unchriftian, and fuch as exceeds the Cruelty of the Heathen and Popijb Profeffcd Tyrants and Perfecutors ; the Records of the HiAtben Perfection uad^r Nero, Trajan, Deciut, Galienus^ Maxi- minian,fkc can fcant affud us anv Examples of the l'.ke Cruelty & Uavock. For the Hea hen Ror/tans would Murder Operly and Profejjedly : Thefe Godlefs men have put the Blood of War abcut them, in the day of the Peace and Truth, which this whole Land profeffrth to hold with Jefus Ghrift, and his Servants- Bifhop Banner, Story, Wefton y dealt roc after this f re ; for thofe whom They committed clofe, They would a'fo either feed or permit to be fed by others, and they brought them in ftiorc fpace openly into Smithfield to end their Mifery t and to begin their never ending joy. Whereas Bifhop Elinar, Dr. Stanhope, and Mr. Juftice Young, with the reft of that Perfecuting and Blood-thirfty Faculty, will do neither of thefe : No Fellows, no Murderers, no Traytors in this Land are fo Idea It with. There are many of us, by the Mercies of God flill out of their Ha^ds : The former Holy Exercife and Profeffion, we purpofe not to leave by the Affiftance of God : We have as good Warrant to rejeft the Ordi- nances of Antichrist, and labour for the Recovery of Chrift's Holy Insti- tutions, as our Fathers and Brethren in Queen Marys Days had to do z the like : and we doubt not, if our Caufe were truly known unto Her Majefty and Your Wifdoms, but we mould find greater favour than They did, whereas our Eftate now is far more lamentable. And therefore we Humbly and Earmfily Crave of Her Mijefty, and Your Lordfhips, both for our felves abroad, and for our Brethren now in wm- fer able Captivity \ but Jufl and Equal Tryal } according unto Her Majefty's Laws, if we prove not our Adverfaries to be in a moft Vefiilent and godlefs courfe, both in regard of their Offices, and their Proceeding, in tbem } and our ftlves to be in the right Way, we defire not to have the benefit of her M*je(liet true and faithful Subjttls, which of all Earthly Favours we account to be one of the grcateft. Are we Malefactors ? Are we any wife Undutiful unto our Prince ? Maintain we any Errors ? Let us then be Judicially Convifted thereof, and delivered to the Civil Authority j bat let not thefe Bloody K k men 2?o ^ome&ccotttttoffucljas&uffettti Part?, men both Accufe, Condemn, and clofly Murther after this iort, Contrary to all Law, Equity and Confcience, where the/ alone are the Plaintiffs, the ^ccufeis, the Judges, and the Executioners of their moft feat ful and barbarous Tyranny. They (hould not by the Laws of this Land go, any further in Cafqs of Religion, than their own Ecclefiaftical Ceniure, and then refer us to the Civil power *, their Fore- fathers Gardner, Bmntr and Story dealc thus equally, ardwt crave but this Equity. Oh let her Excellent Majefly, cur Soveraign, and your Wifdoms confider and accord urto this our juft Petition ;ior Streams of Innocent Blood are hki to be fpih in fecretby thefe Blood-thirfty-men, except her Majefty.and your Lordthips, dp take order with their moft cruel and inhuman proceeding*. We crave for all of u? but the Liberty, either to, die openly, or to live openly in the Land of cur Nativity, If we defire death, it befeemeih the Mr jefty of Juftice not to fee us clofely murthered ; yea, fiarved to death with hunger and cold, and ftifled in loatbfotre dungeons ; If, we be guiltlefs, we crave but the benefit of our Innccency, v z< That we may have peace to ferve our God and our Prince in the place of the Sepulchre of our Fathers. Thus proteftingour Innocency, complain ; n£ of Violence and Wrong, and crying fir Juftice on the beralf, and on he name of that righteous Judge the God of Fquity and J- ftice, we continue our Prayers, unfo him for Her Majefty and your Honours, whofe hearts we beleech him to incline towards this our moft equal and juft Suit, through CHRIST JEaUS our Lord. And now I find, thatbefio'es many that ended their days in loathfome Prifons, there were fix executed, who fea'ed up their TefHnmnie* with their b!ood, the fix that were executed ate thefe, v'z Henry Barrow and John Greenwood at Tyburn, John Penry at Thomas a Waterings, near London, Wtliiam Dennis ac Thetford in Norfolk and Coppin and EUas at Edmunds Bury in SiffAk. 1 have here inferred ( as fottoweth ) two Letters of John Penry, which was all I could meet with, bv which Letters the Reader roav lee wfuta Zeal and religious Courage was Itirring in thefe People ac this Day* 7* Part 1. in t!)e fteiStt Of St* Elizabeth 251 To the Difireffed, faithful Congregation of Chrtft in london, and all the M mbers thereof, thefe be delivered ', My Beloved Brethren, Men arid Women ( as if particularly I Named you all ) which ftand Members of this Toor Afflicled Congregation, whether at Liberty or in Bonds, Jefus Chrift that Great Kiny and Frince of the Kings of the Earth, Blefs you, Comfort you with His invincible Sfirit, that you may be able to Bear, and Overcome thefe great Tryals whtch you are yet, and I with you, if I Live, to Undergo for His N*mes fake in tbis Tefltmony. BEloved, let us think our Lot and Portion more than blefled, that now are vouchfaled the favour not only to know, and to profefs, but alfotofuffer for the fincerity of the Gofpel ; and let us remember, that great is our reward in Heaven, if we endure unto the end ; I teOifie unto you for mine own part, as I ft»all anfwer before jefus Chrifl and his Eleft Angels, that I never faw any Truth more clear and undoubted, than this witnefs wherein we ftand ; Firft, Againft falfe Offices Second- ly, The callings- Thirdly, The woks. Fourthly, The maintenance left and returned in this Land by and from Popery. Fifthly, Againft the obedience which fpiritually either in Soul or in Body, is yielded, and the communion that is had with thefe inventions ot dark nefs. Sixthly, The mingling of all forts in thefe Aflemblies. Seventhly, The worfhip done but fcant in one of the three parts of the Corrmiffion given by our Saviour, fcant done, 1 fay, in one of the three parts of the Commiffion by the beft Teachers of this Land ; and I thank my God, 1 am not only ready to be bound and baniflbed, but even to die in his Caufe by his ftrength ; Yea, My Brethren, I grea Jy 1 ng, in regard of my felf, to be diffulved, and to live in the bleflH Kingdom of Heaven with Jeius Chrift and his Angels, with Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Mofes, Job, Da" *vid, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul the great Apoftle of the Gentiles, and with the reft of the holy Saints, both men and women, with the glorious Kings, Prophets and Martyrs, and WitnefTes of Jefus Chrift, that have been from the beginning of the World ; particularly with my two dear Brethren Mafter Henry Barrow, a ;d Mafter John Greenwood, which have laft of all yielded their Blood for this precious Teftimony -,confeffing un- to you, my Brethren and Sifters, that if I might live upon the Earth f he days of Mtthufalah twice told, and that in no lefs Comfort then Peter, James, and John were in the Mount, and after this life might be lure of the Kingdom of Heaven, that yet to gain all this I durft not go from the former Teftimony ; wherefore, my Brethren, I befeech you, be of like mind herein with me ', I doubt not but yon have the fame precious faith K k 2 with 2*2 &ome£ccotmtoffttc!)agg>ttffereti p a « ?> with me, and are partakers alfo of far more glorious Comfort than my barren and linful Soul can be ; ftrive for me, and with me, that rhe Lord our God may m ke me, and all u», able to end our Caufe with joy and patience ; ftrive alfo, that he may ftav h's blelTed hand (if it be his good pleafure) and not m .ke any further breach in his Church, by the taking away of any more of us as yet, to the difcouraging of the weak, and the lifting up of the horn of our Adverfaries. I would indeed, if it be his good pleafure live yet with You, to help You to bear tha grievous and hard Yoke, which yet Ye are like to fufiain cither here, or in a ftrange Land :ad^ good Brethren, feeing Banifhment, with lcfs of goods is likely to betide you all, prepare your [elves for this hard entreaty, and Rejoice that You are n^de worthy for CHRIST's Caufe to fuffer and bear all thefe things* And I befeech you in the Boweh of Jeftu Chrift, that none of you in this cfb Lok upon his particular Eftate, but regard the general ftateof the Church of God, that the fame may go and be kept to- gether whitherfcever it fhall pleafe Gcd to fend you. Oh, the Bleffing will be great that (hall enfue this care •, whereas, if you go every man to provide for his own Houfe, and to look for his own Family, firft neglect- ing poor Sion. the Lord will fet his Face againft you, and fcatter you from the one end of Heaven to the other, neither fiVll you find a retting place for the Soles of your Feet, or a bleffing upon any thing you take in hand. The Led, My Brethren and Sifters, hath not forgotten to be gra- cious unto Ston, You (hall yet find Days of peace and reft, if you continue faithful : This (landing and treading of us under his t&et, this fubvert- ingofour caufe aud right in Judgment is done by him, to the end that we Oiould fia-cb and try our wayes, and repent us of our Carelefneft, Prophanenefs and Rebellion in his fight; buc he will yet maintain the Caufe of our Souls, and redeem our lives, if we return to him •, Yea, he will be with us in Fire and Water, and will not forfake us, if our Hearts be only and efpecially of the Builiing of Zion, whicherfnever we go. Let not thofe of you then that either have Sto< k» in your hands, or fome likely Tra *es to live by, difpofe of your fe!ves where it may be mod commodious for your outward Eftate, and in the mean time fuffer the poor ones that have no fuch means, either to bear the whole Woik upon their weak Shou ders, or to end their da\s in furrow and mourning for vant of outward and inward comforts in the Land of Strangers ; for the Lord will bean Avenger ot aU fuch dealings \ but confulc with the Whole Church, Yea, wirh the Brethren in orher places, how the Church may be kept together, and built whitherioever chey go; let not the JPoor and the Friendtefs. he forced tojtay hhtnd lure, aud to bre*k a good Part ?♦ t'tt t|je taet'fitt Of til> Elizabeth. 25 3 good Conference for want of your fupport and kindnefs und t whom T mofl: heartily falute, and defire much to be comforted in their God, who oy his BlerTing, from above will countervail unto them the want of io no- table a Brother and Husband. I would with you earned!? townee yea,, to lend, it y < u may, to co ; nony of my *ove, towards Co de r a Sifter and loviug a Wife in the Lord, as you have been unto me. Firft then Ibefrech you, flandfaft in that Truth which you and T profefs at this pre'ent in much cuiw<* I wi4 nkenata tytetiugat R,tc ff the Two and twentieth dav of the third Month 1 jo2, aud committed clofe- by M* Toung to the Foully Our, ?r • fooie *5T6 £ome account of fttci) as £>ttffet:e& Part*. fome days after, fome were fent privately to confer with me, I anfwer- ed, for private Conference, inafmuch as ray Caufe was m?,ds publick, I faw no Caufe why I (hould Yield unto any, I deiired publick upon cq jsl conditions ; they faid no •, and after nvich needlels fp^ech departed Upon the fifth day of the fifth month, I wa< fent for to the Si-fjions Houfe, whereafter fome difcourfe I was fent back again ; I cannot (ee but they thirft atter my Blocd, therefore pray for me, and defire all the Church to do the fa me To draw to an End, falute the whole Church from me, efpecially thofe in Bonds, and be you all much and heartily fa- inted in the Lord ', let none of you be difmayed, the Lord will fend a glorious IfTue to Sioris troubles ; yet you muft all be prepared for Suffe- rings,! lee no other likelihood. Let not thofe which are abroad mifs to Frequent the holy Meetings. Salute my Mother and Yours in Wales, my Brethren, Sifters and Kindred there, and my God knoweth, yea Your ftlf knoweth, how eameftly and often I have defired that he would Vouchfafe my fervicein hisGofpel among thera, to the winning of their Souls for evermore unto him : Salu&e Your Parents and mine in Northamp- ton, with my poor Kinfman Jenkin Jonet, and M- Davis alfo, though I had not thought that any ourward refpetts would have made him withdraw his Shoulders from the Lords way, bui the Lord will draw him forward in his good time- Salute all ours in Scotland upon the Borders, and every way Northward, efpecially M. Jewel, always dear unto me ,• I got means this day to write thus much, whereof no Creature living knoweth- *the fixth of the fourth Mmth l?92/ in great bafte, with many Tears, and yet in t fa great fpiritual comfort of nty S ml, your Husband John Penry, A Witness of Ckrift, again]} the abominations of the Roman Antichrift and his Souldiers ; fure of theVittory by the Blood of the Lamb' Thefe Puritans fuffered greatly alfo in King James's Reign, altho'the original Caufe thereof, fo far as I can perceive, did not appear to proceed from the King, for in his Speech to the Parliament in the eighteenth Year of his Reigo, in the Year 1620. He faid, 'As touching Religion, Laws * enough are made already : It flands in two points, Perfwafion, and Compul- *jion: Men may perfwade, but God muft give the blefjingx Jefuits, Priefls, * Puritans and Sectaries, erring both on the right hand, and left hand, are ' forward to perfwade unto their twn ends, and fo ought you the Bifhops in your * Example and Preaching ; but Compulfim to obey, it to bind the Conference- How much foever the Kiag inclined to favour, the Reader mav under- Hand by this following Rda.ion, being the Copy of an Addrefs thefe People made to the King and Parliament, relating the great Oppreffions they were under. T# fart ?♦ ttt tlje ftetfitt Of Bittff James. 257 7*0 ««r Sovereign Lord the Kings moft Excellent Mtjefty, together with the honorable^ Nobility, Knights and Burgeffes now jjftmbkd at the High-Court of Parliament, MAy it pleafe your Majefly, Honors, Worfhips gracioufly to refpecl the humble Suit of God's poor affli&ed Servants, and wellaffeftei loyal ^ubjefls to your Highnefs and Honours, We are many of us con- tained te live in Exile out of our native Country, others detained in Prifons, all of us in forae Affli&ion, which the Prelates and Clergy of this Land have inflitted upon us for our Faith in God, and Obedience to the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift : We have never to this day been con~ vinced of Herefie, Hrrour or Crime, for which we fhould fuftain the great Calamities we have endured. The grounds of Chriftian Religion profefc fed and maintained, in this Land, and other Churches round about, we alfo with one heart and Spirit aflent unto and profefs : Enemies we are to all Popery, Anabaptijiry or Other Herefie, Schifm, Rebellion, Treafon, or Faction, and whatfoever elfe is contrary to the wholefome Dotlrine of the Gofpel, or the Profperity and good eftate of this Realm ; our on- ly defire is fo to ferve God as that we may pleafe him with reverence and fear, abftaining and keeping our Souls and Bodies from all remnants of the Roman Religion, Idolatry, Jmpofition, and vain will worfhip, of what fort (oever : We witnefs againft the unlawful pompou? Hierarchy and Priefthood of this Nation, as utterly difagreeing from the Tefta- ment of Chrift, and Miniftry there appointed, in their Offices, Calling?, Adminiftrations, and Lord-like Livings and Maintenance ; againft the confufe prcphane and irreligious multitude of all forts of vicious Livers, baptized into, and retained in the Body of the church of England, with- out voluntary profeffion of, and holy walking in the Faith of the Gofpel ; againft their manner of Worfhip and Service, by reading Prater? out of a Book, inftead of true Spiritual invccuion on the Name of the Lord ; and briefly, againft all their Popilh Abufes and Relicks of the man of lin whatfoever: And becaufe this our Teftimony maketh againft the irre- gular Authority of the Prelates, reproveth their evil Adions, and dif. proveth their Pomp, Statelinefs, Rich Revenues, Stipends, &c. there- fore have they in all hoflile manner fee themfelves againft us, Perfecutir g us unto Bands, Exile, and Death ic felf, reproaching us as Scbifmanch, Vpnatiils, Brownifls, Seditious perfons, &c. though they could never Con- vince us of thefe, or any thel ke crime's ;and though we have not ce^fed, neither by Gods Grace will ceafe to wi(n and procure good to their Souls and Bodies in the Lord t now therefore our humble Requeft is unto v-ur L 1 Majcfly; 2*8 «5)ome^ccoittttoffttcI)ajBi5>iiffereD Part*. Majefty, Honours and Worfhips, that notwithflanding thefe differences we may be fuffered to return into our native Country, there to live in Peace praftifmg the Faith of Chrift, which we profefi, and have long fince fet forth to the view of the World in our publickConfeffion, where- in none hitherto have (hewed us any Error ; ar.d feeing the People of other Nations are by Your M^jefty and Honours fuffered in this Realm, though differing from the Ecclefiaftical Hate of the fame, we hope that Your Highnefs Natural and Loyal Subjects may find like favour at Your hands $ for although we cannct but hold and Witnefs the Truth of God againft the corruptions remaining, yet hold we in no wife lawful for our ie! ves or any Subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of thefe, or any the like abufes ', for God hath committed the Sword into YourMa- jefiies hand alone, who in his time will perfwade \ we truft ) Your Royal heart to fulfil his will, and execute his Judgments upon the Remainders of the Spiritual Babylon, which will turn to as great Honour to Gcd, Hon- our to Your Majefty,and good of this Realm, as the abolishing of Abbots, Munh, Fryars, Mafs, linages, &c. hath turned heretofo;e. So the Lord of Lords and Ruler of Rulers of the Earth will eftablifh your Crown and Kingdom unto Length of days *, and howfoever this our Suit fhall be regarded, we will not ceafe in all places of our Pilgrimage to pray for, and procure the good of Your Majeftv, Your Honours, Worfhips and all our Country, whom GOD Almighty blefs with Long Life, and Happy Days on Earth, and Crown with Everlafting Glory in the hjgheft Heavens, Amen, I find that in the Year 1^04, in this King's Reign four Perfons were banifhed the Land of England., after they had fuffered three Months Im« prifonment, for no other caufe but feparating themlelves from the Churrh of England, refufing to Communicate joyn or partake with the fame in their publick Miniftry and worfhip, reputing many corruptions to be Hill remaining amongft them, which were derived from Popery, And thus, 1 have given an Account of fuch as fuffered, for Religion in thofe times ; and now to conclude, I have this further to write, by what I have obferved upon Hiflories in feveral Ages, viz.. That while any People were under Suffering and Oppreffion for their Conferences, endea- vouring to ferve and worfhip God in that Way tbev believed co be more agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth, than the publick Way eftablifhed in the Kingdom 1 whilft they travelled under this Bondage and Suffering they were low in their minds, and the Lord had regard unto them, for their hearts were tender, and the Lord appeared for them ; and now, when the Lord had tryed this People, and at laft put Power into their bands, Part ?♦ t'tt tlje &et'S» Of &, Elizabeth, 2 s* hands, and raifed them as it were from a low efface, they fooh forgof his kind dealings with them ; as for Example, The Independents and PrH EOH Serpent the Devil, was the firft Perfecutor for Righte- oufnefs fake that ever was in the World, who for that verv caufe hath hunted after the B ood of the Saints, even from the begin- ning onto this day, was for his Perflation curfed ot God above all Crea- ture*, Gen. 5. 14. CW/». perfect] ted his godly Brother Abel unto death, and that for no ether caufe bat for Righ eoulneft fake, even becaufe his own works were evil, and his Brothers good and Righ cus, r John 3 12. Was the efore curfed of God wirh a bitter Curie, even fr m the prefence of God, and from rhe fiarth, and made a Fugaave and Vagabond in the- Earth ; yea, fo greu was h : s Punifhment, that he faid 4 It was greater than be could bear, Gen 4 11, n, 1 1 lfhmael wa« another Pe'fecutor,for he was a Mocker of his Brother Jfaac, the true Seed of God •, and therefore was caft out with his Mother out of the Family of the Paithful,that he might have no part in the Inhe- tance of the true Seed, uuto whom the Promife was, (?*»• 1 2 9, 10, 11. Jofffb 9 ! Brethren were pnnimed by Famine and Diftref*, who perfe- cted their righteous Brother Jofepb, in that they hated him, and fold liim for twenty pieces of Silver to the lfhmaelites&i is confeft and acknow- ledged by themlelves to be juftly come up-jn them for that thing ; We art verily guilty fay they one to another, concerning our Brother, in that we ~ • (aw part 6, tnfltdetj on i&etfectitojs. 261 faw the anguifh of bit Soul, when he he fought tts, and we would not hear ; there- fore it thu Diftrefs come upon us, Reuben anfvmed them, faying. Spake I not unto you, faying, Do not Sin againft the Child \and ye would not hear ; therefor? behold alfo his blood it required, Gen. 37. 4,28* King Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the great Perfircutors of the Children of Ifrael, who kept them long in Captivity in Egypt, the houfe of Bon- dage, who by all the wifdom they had ftudied how to vex and torment them by Task- matters, to afflift them by Burthens, and make them te: ve with rigour, and thereby made their lives moft bitter unto them with hard Bondage in Mortar and Brick, to be made without Straw, and yet exacting upon them the full Tale of Brick, as when they had Straw ;and beating of them irthev did not fulfil the number of their wonted daily Ta k ', and laftly by commanding all their Male Children to befhin and Icill'd, ai d would not lee them go to do Sacrifice unto the Lord theic God ; bat tor all this they did not go unpunished, but the Lord moll juft* ly, an 1 molt feverely punifhed them for all their Cruelty and wicked Per- fecu ion: Fr Firft, Their Water was all turned into Blood, infrmuch that their Fifh d ed, and they themfelves could not drink of it '..Secondly They we e plagued with Frogs in their houfes, and in their Chambers in their Beds, in their Ovens, and in their Kneeding Troughs,and upon him- felt and his People Thirdly, Their duft was turned into Lice, and the/, we* e upon man and beaft.aniin their houfes,and they covered the ground. Fourthly. They were plagued with fwarms of Flyes in like manner. Fifthly,, With the M Train am >og their Beafts. Sixthly, With Blanes and Boyles upon man and beaft. Seventhly, With grievous Hail mingled with Fire, killing men and beaft, that ic fell upon, and every Herb of the Field throughout the Land, and every Tree Eighthly, With grievous Locufts, whi *h went over all the Land, covering the tare of the whole Earth, Co that the Land was datk<]ed,and they did eat every Herb of the Land, and all the Fruit of the Trees which the Hail had left. Ninthly, With thick darknefs over all the Land, even darknefs that may be felt, for three days together, fo that they fiW not one the other, neither rofe any from his place tor three days; but the Children of Ifrael had light in their dwel- lings ^H the while Ttnthly, The Lord did cut offall the Firft bom in the Lard, from the Firfr-born of Pharaoh, that fits upon the Throne, to the Firft b »rn of the Ma'd- fervant that was behind the MiP,and all the Firft- bi-rn of Beafts. Then, L*ftly, The Lord drowned them all in the midft of the Red-Sea, even Pharaoh, and all the Egyptians, with all their Chari- ots and Horfe men, and all his Hofts ', fo as there remained not one of them. Thus was the Judgments of God executed upon cruel perfecting Fharaoh, and all the Egyptians. * 262 %fyz juft 3ub$\ntnt8 of d5oa Part *♦ The Wicked King Akab, who fold himfelf to work Wickednefs, a great Perfecutor and Hater of good Micah, a true Prophet of the Lord, who for fpeakmg the truth in the Name of the Lord, when commanded bv the King f.> to do, though it were againft the King himfelf, was for that by him commanded to bz put in Prifon, and fed with Bread .and Wa- ter of Affli&ion, and frffered him to be fmitcen on the F^ce by Ztdckiab in his prefence without reproof, was at iaft met wi;h by the hand of Juftice and true Judgment according to the Word of the Lord, fpoken by the faid Prophet ; foi he, was flain in Battel by a Dart (hot out of a Bow at venture, wfrch fmote him, the King of /frael, between the joints of the harneis, whilft he was in his Chariot, and was fain to be carried out of the Battel, and at Evening about Sun fet he died, 2 Chroti, 18 7. 2 ^ 3? 34- Jezebel that curfed Woman, and great Perfecutor of the Saints, who flew and cut offmany of the Prophets of the Lord, who caufed Nahth to be accufed falfly of Blafphemy, that fo he might be ftoned to death, as he was ; fo that King Ahab her Husband who tbirfted for poor Naboths Vine- yard might take pofTeflSons thereof, as he did. She threatned the man of God and Prophet of the Lord Elijah, in fwearing by her gods, She would CAuft him to be jlxin by to morrow this time, and make his life at the life of one of the Prophets of Baal which be had flxin ; was moft j jftly rewarded at the hand of the Lord, according as the Prophet of the Lord Elijah had afore told ; who faid, The Do%$ fhouU eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel, which was the very Wall of Naboth s Vineyard, which fhe caufed to be taken moft wickedly from him, as aforefaid ; for when Ihe reckoned with her felf to let out herfelf in the moft fumptuous manner ffje c >uld,to the like- ingof the King, by triming and decking her felf, by paining her Face, and tiring her Head,to lo k out of the Window upon the King \ then did King Jehu command her to be thrown down out of the Window ; and fo they tfre v her down out of the Window, and flied her bleod, and tram- pled her under their feet \ and when he would have buried this curfed wo- man as he called her (beeaufe fhe was a Kings Daughter ) they found that the Dogs had lick'd up her blood, and had eaten her fLfh, fo that there remained only her Skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands: Then faid the King, when he heard of it, This makes good the word of the Lord which be fpake by hit Servant Elijah ffcsTifhbite, faying, In the Portion of Jezreel, jhaS Degs eat the Flefh of Jezebel, and the Carkafs of Jezebel (hall be as dun£ upon the face of the Fields in the Portion o* Jezreel ; fo that thty (halt not fay, this k Jezebel, 1 Kin. 18.4, 13 and 21 8, 16, 21,23. 2 Kin 923, 36, %i. King Joa(h when he began to reign ruled weD, and fo continued while h^had good Councilors about him ; but when he began to hearken unto evil Part 6. t'ttflttet) Ott $etfcCtttO?& 263 evil Councellors, t//£. The Princes otjudab, (his chief good Councellor Jeboiadathe Prieft being dead) and took their evil Council, they drew away his heart, and inclined it to Idolatry, and to Perfecution ; fo that when Zubariah (the Son of Jthoiada) came to him from the Lord, being filled with the Spirit, to bear Teftimony againft him and their Idolatry, and tgainft his and their Tran[greflions y and to reprove him and them for it ; they confpired againft him, and ftoned him with ftones ac the command- ment or the King, in the Court of the Houfeof the Lord, and flew him ; but the Lord foon,according to thi3 good mans Prayer at his death,look'd upon this evil, ar.d required it at his and their hand?, by executing Judg- ment upon the King and his evil Councellors ; for at the end of that year the Lord fent the Hoft of Affyria againft him, even but a fmall Company, anddeftroyed all the Princes of the People (the Kings evil Councellors rlrft) from among the People, and fent the fpoil of them to the King of Damafctts, and delivered a very great Army into their hands, becaufe tkef had forfahn the Lord God of their Fathers •, and fo they executed Judgment: againft Joajh the King ; and when they had departed from him, having left him in great Diftrefs, by reafon of great Difeafes, his own Servant confpired againft him, tor the blood of the Sons of Jehoiada, and flew him on his Bed that he died, 2 Chron. 24 Hainan the Perfccutor, who perlecuted Mordecai, becaufe he would not bow unto him, and do him reverence according to the Kings Com- mand, who therefore fought to deftroy all the Jews that were in the King- dom, promifiag to pay into the Kings Treafure Ten thoufand Talents of Silver, if he would grant his writing for their Deftruclion, unto which the King confented to ; and in the mean time Haman builds a Gal- lows fifty Cubits high to hang Mordecai upon, for not moving norrifing up, nor doing reverence unto him ; but the Righteous God the Judge of Heaven and Earth, who feeth all things, foon overtook this perfecutor, in his furious Pride and Blood thirftinefs, and put a flop to his intended Perfecution by turning the Kings Heart againft him, by the interceffion of Efthtr the Queen, whereby he came to be hanged himfelf upon the fams Gallows he had fet up ior Mordecai the Jew, Efther 3. Nebuchadnezzar that Proud Perfecting King of Babylon and Caldea', how did the Lord humble him for his pride and cruelty exercifed towards the three Children, in cafting them into the Fiery Furnance, which he caufed to be heat feven times hotter than ordinary for them, becaufe they would not Worfhip the Golden Image which he had fet up, by renting his Kingdom from him, and driving him from Men, and making his dwelling with the Beafts of the Field, and to eat grafs as an Ox, till fe- ven times paft oyer him, and that his hair grew like Eagles Feathers, an*/j*e/,that they might accufe him to the King con- cerning the Kingdom, but could find no occafion nor fault, forafrauch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him, fave only in that matter, concerning the Law of his God, againft whom, that they might have fomething againft him in that matter alfo, they are con- tained to procure a Decree, that whpfoever fhall ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty days, fave only the King, he fhould be caft into the Ben of Lions, which he the faid Daniel (even as they thought ) would not obey } but immediately, as foon as he underftood it was figned, he went into his houfe, his windows being opened in his Chamber towards JeruUlem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before God, as he did before time } for which thofe men accufed him before the King, by whc-fe means, according to the faM De- cree, he was caft into the Lions Den, but God fenc his Angels, and (hut the Lions Moaches, that they could not hurt him, for no manner of hurt was found upon him, becwfc he was Innocent, and believed in God; but his Perfecucors foon felt the j jfl & righteous hand of God upon them, For their lb wicked perfecting the Innocent for Conlcience fake, for the King commanded thofe men to be brought, that had accufed Damel y and he caft them, their Wives and their Children into the Lions Den, and the* Lions had the MUftery of them,and bresk all their bones in pieces er'e they came to the bottom of the Den, Dan. 6 f King Part 6. tttfWrtet)' on #etf*ctttoj& *6jr King Annocbus, furnamed Epiphanes, a great Perfecutor of the Jiws t who committed greac Evils at Jerufalem,&n& took all the Vefiels of Gold and Silver that were therein, and fent to deflroy the Inhabitants ofjudea, without a caufe and as himlelf confefled,who in a Proud and infolent man« ner protefted he would make Jerufalem a common burying place, and the Streets thereof s un with the blood of God's People,was by Gods juft Judg- ment plagued with a grievous Sicknefs, having a remedilefs pain in his Bowels, and an intolerable Torment in his inward Partf, his Body bred abundance of Worms, continually crawled out of the fame ; yea, he fo rotted above ground, that by reafon of an intolerable ftink, no m3Q could endure to come near him, neither could he himfelf endure the fame j but in a flood of extream Mifery ended his days, which, as he confefled, came upon him, for the evil aforefaid ,• fee the Life of Judas Maccabeet in Clarkes Martrol, page 15. as alfo the firft Bock of Maccabees, Chap. 1. 1 f. and Chap- 6, 8, &c. Sennacrib King cf Jfyria, the great Oppreflbr and Perfecutor oflfrael and Judab,zi\d horrible bhfphemer & reproacher of the living God ( the God of Ifrael and 3W<*fc,though they were left of him for a time, for their forfaking him, and falling to Idolatry) and a great Defyer of him by the Mouth of wicked Rabfhaketb, boafling and threatning what he would do unto yerufalem, and unto the men in it, viz.. He vsould make them eat their own Dungy and Drink their own Pia Shall be brought down ; the Lord of Hois hath fWorn, faying, furely as I have thought, fo fliall it come to pafs, and as I have purpofed, io fhal! it ftand , that 1 will brake the Ajfyrian in my Land, and tspon my Mountain tread him under foot, Ifa. 14 24,25-. who had before trod down his people under his feet, and this purpofe the Lord hath purpufed concerning sijjyriafltid who (hall difanul it ; and his hand.is ftretcbed ou8,and who frail tnrn it back? It is very remarkable alfo to fee and confider all along the Scripture, how exceeding jealous the Lord hath ever been over his people and Chil-. •hen for good, and how very watchful and tender he hath been over them, lei) any mould wrong them, or any way hurt them ; and how ready he hath always been to revenge the lead irj.iry done unto them, either by word or deed ; yea, the Lord hath kept them, as Mofes confefTed, as the Apple of his own Eye, and hsth at certain times rebuked all their Ene- mies for them before their Faces, fo faith the Pfalmifly he fuffered no man, to do them wrong; yea, he reproved Kings tor their fakes, faying, Touch not mine Anointed, do my Prophets no barm, for he that toucheth them toucheth the Apple of kit E\e 9 Zepb, % 8. The truth of which this Tia& hath plen- tifully proved, and now rhere remaineth to (hew from Scripture, as well as from Hin\>ry,how ready the Lord hath ever been,and ftill is to revenge upon whole Kingdoms and Nations^ as weli as upon particular perfoLS, all injuries done unto his Servants and Children, ss for Example. The Amonites becaufe they did but fay Aha,a£a?nft theSan&uary of ihe Lord, when it was prophaned ? and againft the people of Ijrael, and their 2-and, when it was defolate^ and againft tbe'Houfe of Judab when they went into Captivity • fee in what manner the Judgments of the Lord were threatned agaiuft them; behold therefore, faith the Lord. 1 will deliver thee to the rmri of the E/j/r, for a Poffifjlm, end they frill ftt their Places tn th\f 9 and make their dwelling in thee yi>iy , frail eat thy fruit , they frail drink jfy milky and I will make Rabbab, which was the r^alCit^ and Seat of tfo King Part 6. fttflfrteU Ott $tKlttUttJl& a«7 King ( where hit pre at Iron Bedftead flood, Deut 5. i¥. 2 Sam. 12. 26, ;o. f*tf*d .(&"' Or* #/ Waurs for ptea/antnefs ) a Stable for Camels, and the Amo- pites <» couching place for Floch,and ye (hall know 1 am the Lor^, Ezek 2 f ^,4,5, Again, the ^monites, becauie they clapt their hands, and ftamped with their feet, and rejovced in their hearts, with all their defpite againft the Land and People or Ifrael ; therefore thus faith the Lotd, Becauft thou haft done fo, behold therefore, I "will ftretch out my hand upon thee, and will de- liver thee for a fpoil to the Heathen, and I will cut thee off from the People, and •will caufc that to perifh out of the Country, I will deftroy thee, andtbou fhall know that I am the Lord, Ezek, 25" 6,7. Moab an ■'» S«>,becaufe they did but fay, Behold tjoe boufejbe houfe o/Judah is like unto an the Hratben ; therefore behold, faith the Lord, / will open the fide of Moab from the Cities, from bit Cities which are in kit Frontiers, the glory of the Country Betnjeihimoth, Baalmeon and Kiriathain unto the mm of the Eaft } with the Amonites, and will give them in pojfefJion y that the Amo« nites may not be rem.mbred among the Nations ; and J will execute Judgment upon Moab, and they (hall hnow that I am the Lord, Ezek. 2f 8 9 Edom for revenging themfelves ?gainft Judah, therefore, thus faith the Lord, Becaufe that Edom hath dealt againft the Houfe 01 Juclah, by taking •vengeance, and have greatly cjftnded, and revenged himfelf upon them ; there- fore, ihus faith the Lord God, I will alfo ftretch out my band upon Edom, and will cut oft Mm and Braft from it, and will makt it defolate from Yema.n,and they of Dedan fhall fall by the Sword ; for I will lay my vengeance upon Edom, by the hand of my Peeple ?frael, and they fjhafi do in Edom according to mine an- ger , and at cor ding to my fury, and they jhaU know my vengeance faith the Lord God. Tyrus, for faying but Aba .igainft Jtrufalem, I (hail be replenifbed, new fhi in laid wafle,and iu broken to pieces that was the Gates of th? People • therefore^ thus faith the Lord, Beheld I am againft thee O Tyres, and will caufc many Nations to cone up againft thee, as the Sea caufeth his Waves to come up, and they (hall deftroy the walls of Tyru's, and break down her Towers ; I will alfo fcrape her duft from her, and make her like the top of a Reck ; It flsall be a place for the fpreading of Nets in the mid ft of the Sea ,• for 1 have fpuken it, faith the Lord God ', and it (hall become a fpoil to the Nations ; and hsr daughm ters which are in the field (hall be ftnn by the fword, and they (hall know that 1 am the Lord ; behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezer King of Baby- lon, a King of Kings from the North, with Horfes, and with Chariots, and with H-jrfmen, and Companions, and much People : In a word, the Lo(d threatens her to be deftroyed m h a fore deftru&ion by war, from ^potent and Mighty Army, who (hail befiege her, railing Forts and Mounts againft her, and lift up Axes, and Bucklers, and Engines of war againft her, and break M m 2 down i6B %$t ftlft gittt>SmentS Of Part 6. in the days of Tiberius Nero, then Emperor, through the PunMhment of God. wastirft Apprehended, and Accufed at Rome, and Depofe i, and then Banimed to the Town of Lyons, at length KiDed himfelf, A&% and Mon< p^g. co. Caiaphas 9 that wicked High- prieft, that fatcpon the Judgment-Seat, and Condemned Chrift, was in the Reign of the Emperor Caiar Caligula, Re- moved from his Highpriefts Office, and did not long after Efc&fe with his Life. ABs and Man, pag. 50. Tiberius Cefar, who was alio called, Tiberius Nern, under whofe Reign and Government Chrift himfelf Suffered, was Poifoned to Death, ji&t and Mon. pag yo. Gr/ar Cahgula, that widwd Emperor, and Moody- minded Man, that wilhed, That all the People of Rome had but One Neck, that he might at his pleafure Deftroy them at once, was cut off by the hands of a Tribune and others, be ng Slain when he had Reigned but Four Years. Ibid. Claudius Nero, Of whom it is faid, That he had Ruled Thirteen Years with no little Cruelty to the Chriftians, was in the end Slain. Ibid. Dowitias Nero, which fucceedei next in the Empire,* but exceeded all the reft of the N^o';, for F > ry, Wicktdneis, and Tyranny : Infomuch, as he was counted a prodigious Monfter of Nature, n>c?e 1 ke a Beafl ; yea, father a Devil than a Man, in that he was fomon ft really given toUn- eleannofs, that he abftained not from his own Mother, and his Natural Sifter *, and in that he was fo wretchedly Cruel, as that he caufed to be pat to Death his own Mother, his Brother- in- Law, his own Sifter, his own Wife great with Child, and his Tutor Semca and Lucane; with di- vers more of his own Kindred : Befides ;he A ponies Peter and Paul, who are faid to be put to Death at the latter End of his Reign, for the Tefti- mony of Chrift : And not only fo, his Wiclcednefs ended not here ,♦ but alio he fet on Fire the City of Rome in Twelve Places, and fo continued it Six Days and Seven Nights Burning ♦, and to avoid the Infamy thereby, laid the Fault upon the Chriftians, and then caufed them to be Perfec- ted. He Reigned Fourteen Years, even fo long in Cruelty, till at laft the Senate Proclaiming htm a publick Enemy of Mankind, Condemned him to be drawn through the City, and to be Whipt to Death : For the Fear wnereof, he flying the Hands of his Enemies in the Ni^hr, fled to a Mannor of his Servants in the Country; w here he was force 1 to flay him- felf, complaining that- he had neither Friend nor Enemy that would do fb much for him Ibid. In a word, If Biftory fpeak true, few, or none of the Persecuting Ro* man Emperors Died in their Beds- Dmtti she Perfecutor being Overcome in War, to avoid his Enemies hand part 6. fttfUtfeu on #etfectttoj& 271 hand, he leaped with his Horfe into a Whirlpool, and was drowned, Cla. Gent, Martyr ^4. Ftkrinus the Emperor, and Perfecuror of the Chrifliant, was taken Prifoner of the Per (tans wheu he was feventy years of Age, and Skporer^ the King of the Perfians^ uf-d him for his riding Bl xk *, tor whenfoever che King wa* minded to mount his Hotfe openly in the fight of the Peo- ple, VaUtion the quondam Emperor was brought forth,infle id of a Block for the King to tread on his back in going to his Horfe batfk ', and in the end he was condemned to be ilain, and powdered with Salt, for a perpetual Monument of his own wre'rchediieie. ASis and Mow 10c. Ex Eujtb Galienu; killed by Au-eolu-,, Atis and M»n. 51. Auretianus the rimperor began his reign with moderation snd difcreti- on, giving Toleration to the Chriftians •, but at length giving ear to evil cpunfel, his nature inclined to Severity, was altered to plain Tyranny, which he (hewed in Murdering, Br(t, his own Sifters Son, then purpo- fing in himfeif to perfecu. e the Chriftians, he framed a Proclamation againft them for their Perfecution, and being ready, and about to fign ic with his own band, was by thetnightv firoke of the hand of the Lcfcd f d- denljr from above ftopt in his purpofe, binding, as a man might fry, the Emperors hinds behind him, totVtropius and Popi feus affirn?, that as the faid Aureliarus was purpofing to raife Perfecution againft the Chrifti- ans, he was fuddainly Terrified with Lightning, and fo flopped from his wicked Tyranny. DiocUfun, that Wicked and Impious Perfecting Emperor, during whofe life a great and raJ gievous Perfecution was moved asainft the Chriftians Ten years together, and then he Jepofed bimfe'r, ^nd as fome fay at Tbtitona, Anno 319. pDvfoned himfeif, A&s and Mon. F< I ft, nr Maximinus was hanged, as it is faid, by C.r.fiantine at MaJJilm about the year Three hundred and ten, ABs aid Mon. 1231 Galerws the chief Minifter of the Perfecution, after his terrible Perfe- cution, fell into a wonderful ficknefs, having fch a fore Riling in the ne- ther part of his Belly, which confumed his privy members, and f > did fwarmwith Worms, that being not curable, neither bv Cbytu-gery nor Pnyfirk,. he confefted ic happa ei for his Cruelty agrnnff the ehriftian& and lb, called in his Proclamation ageinft them ; notwi h'.a v n .-•; he 1.0c abe to faf!ain,?s it.* (aid, the ijanch of his Sore.fLw h : w.^\i,A^ kMotil r $ r. M*xirmnm ( the f:;-n ; as it is thought ) that arch Ederri to t$& ChrifH'ans^, ad great Irecfecutcc of tender Confeie ; -ces, and/fih vy. of other's the«e«jiito,a-5 vricp.«ifieg Jfsadviflng his -dJ-Prkf;; toes? re (v^V Office wi-h great Authority and I -, and with wdrlaly I ting ca Christian picy„ and Religion moil incenfed, exercifirij I ^u ;on ioy7ards 372 %ty jttft 3I«t»2tt1tt1tjB! Of «50t> Part €, towards the Eaft Churches ( fo called ) was by the juft Judgment of God fuddainly and forely vexed with a fatal difeafe, moft filthy ard dcfperate, and very Orange, caking its tirft being in his Fle(h outwardly, and from thence proceeding into the inward parts of his Body •, for in his Members there hapned to him a fuddain Putrifa&ion, and botchey cor- rupt Boyles, with a Fiftual, confuting and eating up hi? Intrales, out of the which eame fwarming forth an innumerable multitude of Lee, with fuch a peftifferous ftench, that no man could abide him, or to be near him, by reafon whereof, the Phyfitians that had him in cure, ibme or them not able to abide the intolerable flench, were ccmraai ded to be flain, others becaufe they could not heal him, being fo fwoin,& psft hope of cure, were all cruelly put to Death •, at length being put in mind and in remember- ance, that his difeafe was fentof God , he began to bethink himfelf of the wickednefs that he had done againft the Saints of God, and coming unto himfelf, confeiTeth his fins to God,and fets forth his Editts to command all men to ceafe from 'Perfecuting the Ckri/iians, defiring the Cbriftians to pray to their God for him, and this occafioned the very Infidels themfelves to extol the only true God of the Chriftian* ; and not long after, by the very Violence of his Difeafe he ended his life, Atts and Mon. ny. 116 122. Maxtntiut was vanquished by Conftantinc, and drowned in Tyber, Afts and A4w. page. 51. Lycinius, being overcome by Conft amine the great, was depofed from his Empire, and afterwards flain of his Souldiers, Ibid. CHAP. III. The Juft Judgments of Cod that befel fome inferiour Officers, and Miniftevs of State, that execute J the Tyrannical Perfections of the aforefaid Empe- rors upon the Chriftians, during the time of the Ten Perfections. c .Ertain men of the Jewifh Nation, Informers, accufed the Martyr V-J S^mon (Son of Clcopbas, an J reputed nephew to Chrift ) for being a Chrifiian, and one of the Stock of David, againft whom Trajanus the Emperor had given forth a commandment, that whoioever could be found of the Stock of 0.4 W, he 'hojid be inquired out, and put to death ; of which Stock, upon v q liry tbefc his Accufeis were fouid to be, and fo right juflly we e put to Execution theroielves, which fought the deftru- £Uon of another ; though it was not loug after, bur the good man Stmon t after he had been feourged many days, bearing it with Angular eonftan- Part 6. intli&tH Ott $ttttt\XtOl& 273 cy when he was a hundred and twenty years old, was Crucified to death, finiihing his courfe in the Lord, A3s and Mon. 6 c, 66. Three other wicked evil-difpofed perfons (Informers ) feeing the foundnefs, grave, conftancy and vertuous life of Narciffus, the Bifhop of Jerufalem, aged an hundred and fixty three years, accufed him as be.ng guilty of a heinous crime, that he was clear of, and having laid ic to his charge, the better to make their Accufation feem more probable before the People, they bind it with a great Oath, one wilhirg to be defiroyed by Fire, if hefaid not true ;the other to be confumed with a grievous ficknefs*, the third, to loofe both his Eyes, it they did Lye ;N4rcif[us, although having his Confcience clear, yet not able, being but one man, to withftand their Accufation, bound with fuch Oathe?, gave place > and removed himfelf from the Multitude into a folitary Defert by himfclf, where he continued many years ; in the mean time to them which fo will- ingly and wickedly forfwore themfelves, this happened : The fir ft, by cafualty of one little fmail fparkle of Fire was burnt, with his gooc's and all his Family The Second was taken with a great ficknefs, from the top to the toe; and devoured with the fame. The Third hearns and fteing the punifhment of the other, confefied his fault, but through great Re- pentance poured out fuch tears that he loft both his Eyes, and thus was their falfe perjury puniihed, and Narciffus^ after long ablence returned home again, was by this means both cleared of the Faft, and received in- to his Bi/ho prick again, ABs and Mon. 80. Antiechw, Tormentor and Executioner of extream torments ( under Alexander Severn* the Emperor, and Periecutor of the Chriftians ) upon a young youth, called Agayitas, of the Age of fifteen years : whofrff.red Martyrdom for not Sacrificing to Idols, after he hid been afiav'ed with fundry Torments, viz. Firft, with whipi fourged, then hanged by the feet, after having hot water poured upon him, at laft caft to the wild Beafts; with all which Torments, when he could not be hurt ; finally with the Sword was Beheaded. This faid Antiochus y in Executing the aforefaid Torments fuddenly fell down from his Judicial Seat, Crying out, that all his inward Bowels burned within him, and fo gave up the Ghoft* Hen. dt Erjordia, Lib 6. Ch. Atts and Mon t 8f. The like Serericy of God's terrible Judgments is alfo to be Noted in Claudius his Prefident ; this Prefident and Minifter of his Perfections, who was pofleffed and vexed with a Devil in fuch fort, that he biting off his own Tongue in Many fmall pieces, fo ended his life, Hen, dt Erjordi* Afts and Mon. 10;, Nn CHAP. 274 %ty fttft $Ut)$mtntSt Of d50D Part 6. CHAP. IV, The Juft Judgments of God upon Perfecators in Queen Maries Rtign. AFter the Death of Queen M*ry 9 the bloody Work ceafed, although a flop there was before her Death in London, in fome meafure ; for as Roger Holland had declared to Bonner, that the Lord would ihonen their c rue ley j and as he foretold, there was not one burnt in Smttbfield for Religion after him ; for though the vehement zeal of this Queen was fuch, for the fetting up of Popery in England, as if (be intended to ettablifh it for ever ; yet the fecret hand of Providence had a regard to his fuffering Seed, and put a period to her cruelty, and it is an evident token that the Religion (he endeavoured to fettle did not pleafe God, although it plea- f d her, fince we fee the bad efFefts it brought forth $ for had it been as godly as it was bloody, no doubt the fuccefs would have been better, and the ftridt Hand of Gods Judgments would not have been executed upon the bloody "Perfecutors of fuch as diflented, as evidently appears they were by the many Examples of divine Juftice, fhewed from time to time, and the unprofperous fuccefs of this Queen in all her affairs, are a full af- furance the Lord difhked her effufion of {o much blood in the matter of Religion •, neither in all her undertaking had (he any good fuccefs ; for though (he endeavoured to reftore again the Monks, and Nun*, Abbv es, Fryars, &c. which were partly dilTjIved in her Fathers time, yet fhe was fruftrated in her defigns, and how unprofperous fhe was in her State affairs may be read at large in the Chronicle; for fhe loft Callice which had been won by the valour of Edward the Third, and marrving with Philip of Spain, a Papift, by him (he had no lffue,and though fhe promiled to her felf great felicity in him, but it proved otherwife ; for he withdrew firft his affe&ion from her, and at laft his Company alfo ; and thus the Almighty ordered things, but no Admonitions would take place with her, to caufe her to revoke her bloody Laws, nor to flop the Tyranny of thefe bloody Pricfts and Bifhops, but the Servants of God were drawn by heaps as Sheep to the Slaughter, andfoit continued till by death fhe was taken away, after fhe had reigned Five Years and Five Months. 'Anjnow 1 fhrd give a fhort Account of the fevere punifhment that God inflict* id upon feveral Perfecutors (of his People) from time to time in thts Queens reign, which are not already mferted in this Book. Dr- Dunning, Chancellor of Norwich, a bloody man, who condemned feJ veral Innocent perfonsjin the snidft of his rage died fas 'tis faid) fating in his Chair. „,, The Part 6. fttflttftfc Otl ^ttttttXtOlS* 275 The like Judgment fell upon the Bifr»opT/&w»f<»>,Sufrragan of Dovtr,who after he hid exercifed great cruelty in Perfecuting, at length upon a 5»«- day (fo called ) looking upon his men, playing at Bowl?, fell fuddenly in a Palfie, and being had to Bed, was put in mind to remember God ; Tea, faid he, fo 1 do, and my Lord Cardinal too, and fo died- After he was dead, the Cardinal ordained another Bilhop in his room, who being at Greenwich, after he had received the Cardinals bleffing, go- ing down a pair of Stairs from the Chamber, he fell down and broke his Neck : to thefe Examples alfo may be added, the terrible Judgments of God upon the Parfon at Crundall in Kent, who having received the Popes Pardon from Cardinal Pool, coming home to his Pariih exhorted the People to receive the fame, faying, That be now flood a* clear in hit Confci- ence as when he wat fi>ft born, and mattered not if he died the fame hour he ffoke it; whereupon, being fuddenly ftricken by the Hand of God, and lean- ing a little on the one fide, immediately fluunk down in the Pulpit, and fo was found dead, not fpeakingone word more. * Not long before the death of Queen Mary, died Dottor Capon, Bilhop of Salisbury, Perfecutor, about the which time alfo followed the unpre- pared death of Doftor Jeffry 9 Chancellor of Salisbury, who not long be- fore his death had caufed above ninety perfons to be fummoned to appear before him, to the end he might Examine them by Inquifitiun concerning their Religion, but by the Providence of God he was prevented from executing the evil he intended againft them ; for in the midft of his build- ings, he was fuddainly taken away by the mighty Hand of God* And now to come from Priefts to Lay-men, where firft an Account is given of one Woodrove, who was SherifFof London, who rejoiced much at the Death of the Innocent, and was very cruel in his Office,/or when one Rogers was going in a Cart towards SmitkfitU to be burnt, and in the way hisChildren being brought to him, becaule the Car-man flopped his Cart that he might fpeak to them, he caufed the Car. mans head to be broke but what happened ? Within a week after this SherifTcame out of hisOffice he was fuddenly fmote by the hand oi God, the one half of his Body bdn^ Benumed, and lay Bed-rid, and in this infirmity he continued Seven 01 Eight Years till his Dying Day. Alexander ,Keeper of Newgate,* cruel Hnemy to thofe that lay there for Religion, died very miferably, being iwelled more like a Monfter than a man, and fo rotten within, that no man could abide the Smell of him •, this cruel Wretch to harden the poor Lamb3 to the Slaughter, would go toBon- tier, Story, Cholmley, and others, Crying out, Rid my Frifon, Rid my Vrifon % 1 am too much peftend with thefe Hereticks. James, Son of the faid Alexander, having left unto him.Jjy his Father N n 2 great 2j 6 %ty jtttt SttDsmetttS Of 0OU Part K great Subflance, w it hio three Years wafted all, fome marvelling how he jpent h >fe good- fo faft •, Oh faid he, EM gotten Eugh it be uncertain to many, it was fufpe&ed that he took fome Italian Phyfick that did him no good. The fudden death ofnuny more Perfecutors might be mentioned, who were cot offin this Queens time and before ', but by what is inlerted may be feen that the Lord was againft thofe perfecuting priefts and Bimops- CHAP.V. A Relation of the end of Dotter Story, a bloody Perfecutor. HT^His Dp Story was an Arch Enemy to,and a bloody Perfecutor of Gods JL people ; when Q. Mary died Q. Elizabeth flaying the S*ord of Perfecution from raging any further, caufed this Dr. Story to be appre- hended, and committed to Prifon, where after a little while, he broke out of prifon, and fled beyond Sea gettinginto favour, and growing fami* liar with the Duke dealva in Antwerp, he received a fpecial CommiflGon to fearch for Englifh Books, and in this Authority he continued for a time, by which means he did much hurt, bringing manv into trouble and peril of their lives, Raging in his perfecting blood thirfty cruelty ( but when his Iniquity was full, ) the Lord proceeded againfl him in Judgment, and cut him off, afrer this manner, Some in England being concerned to hear of his wicked behaviour, to- wardslnnocert People, lent over one Parker a Merchant to Antwerp, who had undertaken fome means to convey Story into England -, Parker got fome privately to inform Dr. Story that in fuch an EngHih Ship he might find ftore of Enjlifh B oks ; Story hearing this, fulpetting nothing, but hafled towards the Ship as to a prey, and faid he came to fearch tor He- retical Books being between Deck?,clapped down the Hatches upon him, hoyfling up their Sailes, brought him awav into England : where for fay- ing, that he was a fworn Subject to the King of Spain, and no Subjeft to the Queen of England., he was condemned to be hanged, and accordingly was Execute* Part 6. t'ttfKcte& on &ttttt\xm& *n CHAP. VI. Tbejufl Judgments of God on fever al Perjecutors in forein Tarts. IN the Englifh Tranfhtion of the HiOory of John Canon Fol. 2co. he writeth concerning the Dea h of John Eckins as followed ; this Year, died at Ingeldftate, Dr. Echins,* faith full Servant and Champion for the Pope, and a Defender of the abominable Papacy : But as his Life was full of all' Ungodlinefs, Unclear nefs and Blafphemv,fo was his end Miferable, hard and pitiful, for his 1 ft words were the'e, In cafe, faid he, the four tboufand Guilders were ready, the matter were difpatcbed, dreaming belike of fome Cardinal Ship that he (hould have bought; what an end this was, I leave to the Readers judgment* John WanderwafezBifard, Son of a Stock or Kindred cabled Warfe^ man of a cruel natuie, of a perverfe and corrupt Judgment-, a fore Per fe- asor of Chrifts flock, with greedinefs, feeking and (bedding innocent blood, having drowned divers good men and women ..for which, he was caPed, A Blood- hound, of others, Sheltade, becaufe of a fhort, grundy, and little Stature ; he did commonly ride with a broad Hat,as a Churle of the Country. On a Time, having been at Antwerp at a Feaft, and Loaden with Wine, Riding home over a Bridge, the Waggon was blown over the Bat into the Town-Ditch, where his Neck was broken, his Wife being with bim, was taken up Alive, but Died within Three Days after. The Truth of this was Witneffed by feveral Merchants of Antwerp. Erafmtu in his Apology mentions a Noble Man, who having purpos'd before hi? Death to go to fee Jerufalem, and fetting things in Order for his Journey, left the Care of his Wife, who was great wrh Child, and his Lordfhips, and Caftles to an Arch-Bithop, as to a moft Sure & Trufty Father i In fltort, it hapned this Noble Man died in his Journey, as foon as the Arch-Bifhop heard of ic, inftead of a Father, he became an Er.ctny and Dcftroyer, Seifing into h s Hands all his Lord flips and PofTeflif ns ; neither was he therewith Contented, but he laid 5ie e againft a strong Fort, into the which the Wife of the N »ble Man was fled tor Safeguard j And in conclufion, She, with the Child ihe went withal, waj railerably Slain* Thus the Reader may fee what the IfFe&s «f this mans blind Super- ftition wa«, and the ill Fruits his rafli vo*s, to defend idolarous pilgri- mage, did produce: Therefore, faith my Author, it is rightly faid of Jiierom, To have been at Jerufalem is no great mattery but to live a godly and vertuous Lift, that u a great matter indeed* in Gaunt in Ilanders 7 one William If weaver was accufed and impriioned, by 2 7 8 %l)t jttft JttOjmetttSi Of d50D Part & by the Provoft in Gaunt, w ho had in his Cloifter a Prifon and place of Exe- cution ; being fee in Judgment Seat, in Examination and Trial of the faid D' weaver, he charged him with denying lo pray toSaints, & denying Pur- gatory ; on a fuddain the faid Provoft, was fmitten with a Paine, that his Mouth was drawn aimoft to his Ear, and fo he fell down and never fpake word more, and next day about ten a clock he died, neverthelefs they burned William D^wsaver within three hours after the fame. The like Example of the Lord's Judgment was fhewed upon another great Perfecutor, called, Sir Garret Tritfi, who long promifed to the Re- gent to bring down the preachers, for which the Regent promifed to make him an Earl, the faid Garret being at Gaunt,wkh other c i the Lords, received a Commiffion from the Regent tofware the Lords and Commons onto the Romifh Religion *, Garret being at Supper, fpake to his Wile to call him an hour fooner than he ufe to rile, for that he fhould have much bufi- nefs to fwear the People in the Town houfe the next day •, but fee what happened, the laid Garret going to Bed in good health, and his Wife cal- ing him in the morning, according to his appointment, found him dead by her, and fo not able to profecuie his wicked purpofe. However the Lords of Guant, coming to the fown-boufe, proceeded to give the Oath, according to their Commiffion ; but Martin dePrfler, the Se- cretary, being appointed to tender the Oath, at the firft man he offered it to, the laid Secretary was ftricken with prefent death ; and falling down, was carried away in a Chair, and never fpake more *,to witnefs the Truth hereof, my Author produceth ten perfons names. CHAP. VII. A Letter tranflattd out of French into Englifh, to Henry the Second of France, proving out of divers Htftories, what dfflitlions and Calamities from time to time, by Gods Righteous Judgments, have befaln fuch as have been Enemies to ba People, and refifted the free f*ffage of Truth. COnfider, I pray you Sir, and you fhall find, that all your Amnions have come upon you fince you have fet your felf againft thoie called Lutherans ; for when you made the Edict, of Chaff eaubri ant, God fent you Wars; but when you ceafed the execution of the faid Edict, and were Enemies to the Pope, and going into Armain, for the Defence of the Liberty of the Germans, afrMtd for Religion, your Affairs prolpe.ed, as yoa could with or ddire Oi the contrary, What have come upon vou fince you joined with the Pope again, having received a Sword from him, for his own fafeguard ? And who was it that caufed you to bre*k the . ° Truce? Part 6. (ttflftten on #erl*ecttto?g, 279 Truce ? God hath turned in a moment your profperity into fuch Afflicti- ons, that they touch not only the ftate of your own Perfon,but your King- dom alio. To what came the enterprife of the Duke of Guife in Haly 9 going about the Service of the Enemy of God, purpofing after his return to deftroy the Valleys of Piedmont, to offer or Sacrifice them to God for his Victories ; the event hath well declared, that God can turn upfide down our Counfels and Enterprizes, as he overturned of late the Enter- prize of the Conftable of France at S Ouintinu, having Vowed to Sod, that at his return he would go and deftroy Geneva, when he had gotten the Viclory? Have you not heard of V Pouchet Arch-Bifliop of Towers who made fuic for the erection of a Court called Chamber Ardent, wherein to condemn the Protejiants to the Fire? who afterwards was flritken with a difeafs, called, The Fire of God, which began at his feet, and afcended up- wards, that he caufed one Member af:er another to be cut off, aud fo died miferably without any Remedy. Aifo one CaftMamis, who havisg imiched himfelf by the Gofpel, and fcrfaking the pure Doftrine thereof, and returning to his vomit again, went to perfeeuce the Chriftians at Orkans l was by the Hand of God flricken in his Body with a ficknefs unknown to the Phyfitians, one Half of his Body burning ss ho? as Fire,the other as cold as Ice^nd fo moft mife- rably crying and lamenting, ended his life. There be other infinite Examples of Gods Judgments worthy to be re- membred, as the death of the Chancellor, and Legate Duprat, which was the full that opened to the Parliament the knowledge of Herefier, and' gave out the firft Commiffions to Put the faithful to death, who afterward died ih his Houfe at Natakt, Swearing and horribly Blafpheming God; hisftomack being found pierced and gnawn afunder with Worm«;alfo John Ru(c, Councellor in che Parliament, coming from the Court after he had made report of theprocefs againft the poor Innocents, was tafcen with a burning in the lower part of his Belly, and before he could be brought home to his Houfe the fire invading all his fecret parts, he died miferably. Al fo one named, Claude De /Jftes, a Councellor in the Court, the fame day he g^e his Opinion and Confent to burn a faithful Chriftian (albeit it was not done indeed as he would have itj after he had dined, committed Whoredome with a Servant in the Houfe, and even in doing the a£ was Rricken wi h a difeafe called an Apoplexia t whereor he died out of hand. Peter Lffet, chief Pretlient of the faid Court, and one of che Authors of the aforefaid boning Chamber, was depofed from hi« Office, for being known to be out of h»s right Wit, and bereaved or his Underftanding. Alfojohn Moran, Lieutenant Crimnet of the Provoft of ' Pan* % after he had been the caufeof the Death of many Chriftians, was ftricken wrth-* : difeafe a8o %ty I'Hft 3(ttti3mettt)g Of d50tl Part 6* difetfe in his Legs,called the #Vw/,whereby he loft the Ufe of them, and died alfo out of his Wits, many Days before Denying and Blafpbtming God* Likewife John Andrew, Bookbinder of the Palace, a Spy forthePre- iident Lifer, and of Bu fear d the King's Soliciror, died in a Fury of Mad* nefs. The Inquificor John De Rmna y in Province •, his Flefli ftU from him by Tiece-mtai % and fo linking, that no Man might come near him for the Smell thereof A'CoJobn Minentts of Province, who was the Caufe of the Deaxh of a great Number of Men, Women and Children at Cabriers, and Merindol died ( with bleeding in the lo*er Parts, the Fire having taken his Belly ) blafpheming and defpifn g God- There are many others we might make Recital of, who were Punifhed with the like kind of Death. It may pleafeYour M«jefty to renr ember Your felf.thatYe had no fooner determined to fet upon u?, but new Troubles were by and by Moved by Tour Enemies, with whom Ye could make no Agreement, which God would not fufFer, forasmuch as your Peace was grounded upon the Perfe- ction which ye pretended againft God's Servants ; as alfo your Cardinals cannot let, through their Cruely, the Courfe of the Gofpel, which hath taken fuch Root in your Realm, that if God mould give you leave to de- flroy the Profeflbrs thereof,you mould be almoft a King without Subjects. Tertullian hath well faid, That the Blood of Martyrs is the Seed of the Gofpel, wherefore to take away all thefe Evils coming of the Riches ot the Papiftsjwhich caufe fo much Whoredom, Sodomitry and Inceft, wherein they wallow like Hogs, feeding their idle- Belies ; the beft way were, to put them from their Lands, and PoiTeffion$,as the Old Sacrificing Levitts were,according to the exprefs Commandment given to Joflrna ; for as long as the Commandment of God took place, and that tbev were void of Arn- bition,the purity ot Religion re nairei whole and perfect •, but when they began to afpire to Principality, Riches and worldly Honours, began the Abomination of Defolacion, that Chrift foretold. It was even fo in the Primitive Church, for it flourished and continued in all Purenefs, as long as the Mmiflers were of fm*ll Wealth, and fought not their particular Pr fit, but the Gl ?ry of God only ; but fince the Pope began to be Prince-Lke,and to ufurp the Dominion of the Empire under the colour of a fal e Donation of Con/I amine , I hey have turned the Scrip- tures from their true fenfe,and have attribute d the Service to themfelves, which we owe to Gud, wherefore Y >ur M^jefty may Seifc with good right upon all the Temporalities, f