faithfully and truly set down and I hope God will give a blessing to these my true endeavours and this very useful Book at this time that all Protestants of whatsoever denomination may joyn together in the bond of unity to oppose this Bloody Cruel and Common Enemy of all that profess the Truth of the Gospel and to endeavour that the Hierarchy of Rome may never get Power and Dominion in this Land Which I pray God avert and protect us from And to which Prayer let all good People say Amen The Introduction THe Corruptions and great abominations together with the Heretical Idolatrous Impious and Blasphemous Doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome as also its bloody Persecutions abroad have been shewn in several volumes and by several Authors but since what hath been transacted by that Church in our own Kingdom more nearly concerns us I have here given you a true view of the Persecutions of the Papists from the beginning against all such as dissented from them and would not bow down to their Images or Worship God after their way by which you may see what Spirit they are of quite contrary to that of Christ and his Apostles and to what slavery we should be brought if God should permit once more the Papal Authority to get footing in these reformed Kingdoms which for so many years at the expence of blood and the lives of many holy Men and Martyrs have shaken off that Tyrannical Yoak of the See of Rome It is my design not to transcur the Bounds of our own Country for where ever the Papists have set up themselves they have continuâ—lly exercised the like bloody power of the Sword contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the practice of his Successors for some Centuries when the purity of the Gospel was professed in times near the first lighting up of the bright Candle of Christianity But I shall shew and expose to the World in this little Tract the bloody Cruelties and Persecutions of that Idolatrous Church exercised in this Kingdom only against such as dissented from them or that opposed the evil of their Doctrine and practises After that Errors were crept into the Church and that the Romish Church had sought and obtained by many impious practises the supremacy over other Churches she endeavoured to maintain this her usurpt Authority by Tyranny and bloody Persecution as she doth to this Day where ever her rule is permitted That is a most ridiculous Question of some of the Papists to many ignorant Protestants Where was your Religion before Luther All your Forefathers in England were Papists why should you then change your old Religion for many hundred years establish'd in England for one of a new date and but of the other days standing This has taken with some but they are such as are very ignorant or else they may reply to such Querors that though the Name of Protestants be new and came from Germany in Luthers time from protesting against the Romish decrees that were to have been imposed upon them yet the Doctrine and Discipline of the Protestant Churches are as ancient as Christianity itself and nearest to that of Christ and his holy Apostles and Successors in the primitive times before Rome came to challenge a supremacy over other Churches or to pretend to be the Spiritual Head of the World In all Ages and thorow the most Corrupt of times the purity of the Gospel has been preserved like a shining light has manifested itself in its dissent from the evil sinful practises from the false and heretical Doctrines of the Church of Rome and has been still persecuted by it long before the times of Luther as is manifested by the Albingenses and the Waldenses in France as also in Germany and Italy itself where many professing the purity of the Gospel and testifying against the errors and corruptions of the Romish Church fell under the bloody Sword of its Persecution But designing as I have said to speak only of our own Country we shall begin with the earliest Persecutions of the Romanists in this Land who always hated Dissenters from them or such as would not own their unjust Supremacy over their Brethren Christianity began very early in England and a Christian Church was planted here almost as soon as at Rome and continued without any acknowledgment of her Authority all the time of the British Reign for the Brittish Churches never owned any forreign Church supream or above them or suffered any to exercise Dominion or Authority over them but submitted themselves to their Kings and their Metropolitan as their head Austine the Monk was the first who endeavoured to bring into this Land the Authority of Rome and because the Brittish Bishops would not own it he stirred up the Heathen Saxon Kings then Conquerors of this Land to persecute them and others Converted to Christianity and of the Papistical Principles of setting up the Church of Rome above others to kill and destroy the Brittish Christians as dissenters from them But yet till about the year 980 the purity of the Christian Doctrine preserved itself against Popish errors about which time Popery that is the Supremacy of that Church or the owning it to the head over others getting ground in England as well as in other places and with it all the filthinesses and abominations which dissenting Protestants disown and speak against all that any ways opposed this supremacy and erroneous Doctrines were persecuted and troubled by them tho they were not as yet come to fire and faggot wanting not will but power to do it I shall but mention only that good Bishop of Lincoln Robert Grosthead who wrote against the wickedness of the Popish Clergy in the time of King Henry the 3d. which vext them so much that Pope Innocent would have had the Bishops bones after his death to have been dug up and flung out of the Church where he was buried and intending to have wrote to the King of England for that purpose he was strucken by the said Bishop appearing to him in his sleep with his Crosiers staff reproving him of his wicked intention which prohibited him from proceeding therein After which time the Papal wickednesses increasing in this Nation Sathan was let loose and greater Persecutions began to arise against those who made a profession of the Gospel and opposed the Romish Superstition or dissented from it I shall therefore here end this introduction and begin the History of Popish persecutions here in England about the Reign of King Edward the 3d about which time they began more eminently to appear and so God willing I shall briefly prosecute them to our own times thorow that flood of Martyrs blood shed in Queen Maries days A TRUE VIEW OF ALL THE Popish Persecutions AND CRUELTIES IN ENGLAND The First Part. LOng before the namâ— of Protestants gave a distinction of such as dissented from the Corruptions of the Church of Rome and made them subject to
to brotherly Love and shewing the Vanity of the world exhorting to Alms and obedience to the Queen with many other excellent things and at last He made a short Confession of his Faith repeating the Articles of the Creed continuing I believe every Article of the Catholick Faith every word and sentence taught by our Saviour Jesus Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the new and old Testament anâ— now said he I am come to the great thing th t so much troublâ—th my Conscience more than â—ny â—oing thâ—t ever I did or said in my whole Late and that is the sâ—ttiâ—g my hand to a writing C ntrary to Truth which I now renounce being done only for fear of Death and for as much as my hand offended against my heart this my hand shall be first of all punishâ—d for it and assâ—on as I can coâ—e to the fire shall be first burâ—t As for the Pope I refusâ— him as Câ—riâ—â—s Eâ—â—my and Antichrist with all his f â—sâ— Dâ—ctrinâ— As for the Sacrament I believe is as I have taughâ— it in my Book against the Bishâ—p of Wincâ—ester which shall stand at the last dâ—y before the Judgment of God where the Papistiâ—â— Doctrine Contrary thereto shâ—ll be never able to appear All the people being amazed looked one upâ—â— another and all the Priests and Fryers were in an uprore seeing their great expectation frustrated and Cole bellowed from the Pulpit stop the Heretick Mouth pull him down pull him down Upon which the rabble of Priests and Fryers laid hands on Cranmeâ— and pull'd him off the stage and all things being prepared for his burning in the same place where the Martyrs Râ—â—ey and Latâ—mer suffered they haled and drâ—gged him thither to which place all the coâ—â—any râ—n yelping and hauling at the good Archbishâ—p When he came to the place he kneeled down making but short prayerâ— seeing them so â—ager to have his Life and putting off his garments to his shâ—rt which hung down to his seer which were â—â—re as likewise his head being thus stript they fâ—sâ—ned the holy Martyr to the Stake with a chain and after several of them â—ad tryed in vain to move him to recant and saw that he was stedfast they caused fire to be set to him into which assoon as iâ— began to burn he thrust his right hand which had signed the Recantation which he hâ—ld therein stedfastly and unmoved sâ—eing that once therewith being of a stâ—me be wipeâ— his face that all men might see his hand was burned before his body was touched His body aboad the burning and torment of the Flame with such Constancy and stedfastness that he was not seen to stir or move any more than the stake to which he was fastned shewing to their amazement a noble Constancy of mind and heroick fortitude His eyes were seen to be lifted up towards Heaven and he was heard oftentimes to repeat whilst his hand was burning O unworthy right hand at last in the greatest of the flame he gave up the Ghost useing these his last words O Lord Jesus receive my Spirit This was the end of this blessed Martyr Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered about the middle of the Reign of the Cruel Queen Mary Two women burnt at Ipswich About the same time suffered in the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk two simple women â—he one named Agâ—es Potten the other Joan Trunchfeild the wife of a Shoemaker both for that they denied the bodyly presence of Christ in the Sacrament they both dyed with wonderful Constancy exhorting the people at their death today hold on and believe the word of God and to despise the ordinances of the Romish Antichrist and after fire was set to them they stood holding up their hands and calling on the name of God in the midst of the flames till they dyed In the same Month of march on the 24th day three men were burnt in one fire without Salisbury in Wiltshire for the same cause as other Martyrs before them for denying the Popes Supremacy Purgatory and that murthering Article of the bodily presence their names were John Mandrel an husbandman who had long professed the truth and in King Henry 8. days had done penance William Coberly a Taylor and John Spicer a free-mason all 3 Companions both before and at their Deaths They died with great fortitude and when the Sheriff offered them pardon if they would turn one of them replyed not for all Salisbury And John Spicer said O Mr. Sheriff must you be the Butcher of these Papists and be made guilty of Shedding innocent blood before the Lord Coberly was longer in burning than the other and when his Arms were burnt off and his body hung over the chain black and shrunk up so that all thought he had been dead he suddenly rose up again and then fell down and dyed Six men Martyred in Smithfeild About the 23d of April 1556. were burnt in one fire in Smithfield no less than 6 blessed Martyrs two of them being Ministers viz Robert Drakes Minister of Tundersley in Essex and William Tymes Curate of Hookley in the same County This Tymes upon his examination before Bonner one of his Articles being for denying the Popes Supremacy told him that he owned no more than what his Lordship had maintained in print Where have I written any thing against the Church of Rome said the Bishop angrily In your Preface replyed Tymes to the Chancellors Book Stephen Gardner which he wrot purposely against the authority of the Romish Church where also you in your preface inveigh against the Bishop of Rome reproving his Tyranny and falshood calling his power false and pretended only and this is still extant This much abashed the Bishop and made him speak more gently afterwards saying it was done in perilous times and when it was death to have declared otherways but that the Chancellour and himself had since owned their errors as he would now have him to do but Mr. Tymes told him that would be against his Conscience and he would never do it for what he himself had wrote against the Popes Supremacy was according to the Scriptures and he would prove it upon which he entred on his proofs was much too hard for them all in the Scriptures but at last he was condemned with the rest whose names were Richard Spurge Sheerman Thomas Spurge Fuller John Cavel Weaver and George Ambrose Fuller all of Essex and of the Diocess of London and so condemned by Bonner and suffered together in one Fire in Smithfeild with the true Constancy of other holy and blessed Martyrs In the same Month of April at Rochester suffered John Harpool and Joan Bench in one fire Also in the same month suffered at Cambridg John Hullier a Minister brought up at Eaton School and afterwards Scholar and Conduct in Kings Colledg in Cambridge where he at last suffered being condemned by the Bishop of Ely for preaching the truth and owning the Gospel and disavowing
sent to the Tower where he wrote an excellenâ— tract concerning the Sacrament which Sr. Tho Mâ—â—â— thought worthy of answer by himself But Frith treatise coming into several hands did much good and was some means of Converting Archbishop Cranmer He maintained his Arguments so strenuously and with so much learning against all the Bishops that they knew not what to say to him But in the end after many appearances before these wolfish Prelates on the 20th of June 1533. he received his sentence from the Bishop of London to be burnt thereupon directing his Letter to Sr. Scephen Peacock the Mayor of London and to the Sheriffs to receive him he was delivered over to the secular power who on the 4th of July following caused him to be burnt in Smithfield together with Andrew Hewet where he suffered Death with great courage and constancy For when the faggots and fire were put unto him he embraced them declaring with what quiet of mind he suffered for Christs Sake and the true Doctrine of which he that day gave a cheerful testimony with his Blood The wind bare away the flame from him to his fellow who was tyed to his back so that he was Longer in dying yet God giving him strength he bore it with such patience as if he felt no pain or torment but rather seemed to be joyful for his fellow than careful for himself As to the other Martyr who suffered with Mr. 〈◊〉 Frith his name was Andrew Hewet born in Feverâ—â—am in the County of Kent he was but a young man and had been at Apprentise to a Taylor in Waring Street but being suspected he was betray'd â—nd had to Prison in the Lollards Tower where one â—rocuring him a file he filed off his Irons and made â—is escape but was not long after retaken and uâ—ed much worse till at last after much hard usage â—nd long imprisonment he was condemned to be â—urnt and suffered in the same fire with the aforeâ—aid Mr. Frith when they were at the Stake and desired the Prayers of the People one Doctor Cook a Parson in London openly admonished â—he People not to pray for those Martyrs no more than for a Dog Mr. Frith desired God to forgive him and the People were much displeased The Martyrdom of Thomas Bennet The next that we read of was on Thomas Bennet who received his Martyrdom at Exeter He was born at Cambridge and there Commenced Master of Arts one well learned a familiar acquaintance of Mr. Bilney the glorious Martyr we have spoken of before Finding the great Corruption of the Clergy to be a great trouble to him and fearing to fall into trouble in his own Country that he might have the more freedom he went into Devonshire in the year 1524. dwelling at a Town called Torrington where he was utterly unknown Here he kept a School being Married but his expectation being not there answered he went to exeter about a year after where he also taught School and so maintained his Family He was a man of a quiet behaviour of a godly Conversation of a very courteous nature humble to all Men and offensive to none and a diligent and attentive hearer of Sermons All his spare time he gavâ— to the study of the Scriptures But when he hearâ— of one Wil. Stroud of Newnham of that County Esâ—â— was put into the Bishops prison for the sake of the Gospel he wrote to him many Comfortable Letters discloseing to him who he was and for whaâ— he came into that Country among other Expressions he had this That because he would not be 〈◊〉 whoremaster or an unclean person he had marrieâ— a Wife with whom he had lived out of thâ— Tyranny of his Antichristian persecutors for Six years he having been a Priest and taken Orders Thiâ— man being full of zeal for Christ and his Gospel beholding dayly the gross Idol-tries committed tâ— dumb Idols and hearing the blasphemies of the Popish teachers he could not be quiet in his mind tilâ— he had given his testimony against them and thâ—â— he knew the danger that he incurr'd thereby yet he thoughâ— he should do more good anâ— be more profitable to the Church of God by hâ—â— death than by his Life Therefore desiring hâ—â— friends that God would strengthen and support his in his Intentions he set upon the door of the Cathedral That the Pâ—pe was Antichrist and the Saints were not to be Woâ—shipped but God alone This did not a little inrage the Bishop and all the Priests and they caused the Mayor to mâ—ke a diligent search thorow the City for the Heretick who durst put up this Blasphemous Bill as they calâ—ed it and the most Learned among them were calâ—ed upon to preach against it but not being able to find out who did it they proceed however to curse the parâ—y with Bell Book and Candle which they perâ—ormed with great Fopperie and Ceremony The Priests being apparelled in White and the Monks â—â—anding round about the Cross and holy Candles â—eing holden up one of them ascending the Pulpit â—egan his Sermon with this Text Est blasphemia in â—asâ—is There is Blasphemy in the Army c. Spoâ—en by Joshua Concluding that the damnable Hereâ—ick who had put up that Blasphemous Bill was â—amnably accursed and so besought God our Laâ—y St. Peter Patron of the Church with all the Hoâ—â— Martyrs Confessors Virgins c. that it might â—e known what wicked and accursed Heretick had â—ut up that Blasphemous Bill that Gods People might â—voyd the Vengeance Then the Bishop stood up â—nd said by the Authority of God the Father Alâ—ighty and by the blessed Virgin Mary of St. Peter â—nd St. Paul and of the holy Saints we Excomâ—unicate we utterly Curse and Ban Commit and â—eliver to the Devil of Hell him or her whatsoâ—ver he or she be that have in Spite of God and St. â—eter whose Church this is in Spite of all holy Saints 〈◊〉 in Spite of our most holy Father the Pope and in â—pite of the reverend Father in God John Diocesan â—nd the Worshipful Canons Masters and Priests 〈◊〉 Clarks which serve God dayly in this Cathedral â—hurch fixed up with wax a cursed and heretical â—ill full of Blasphemy upon the door of this holy â—hurch Excommunicate plainly be he or she and â—elivered over to the Devil as perpetual malefaâ—â—ors and Schismaticks Accursed may they be and â—iven Body and Soul to the Devil Cursed be they â—e or she in Citys and Towns in Fields and in Ways in Paths in Houses out of Houses in all other places standing lying or riseing walking or running waking or sleeping eating or drinking or whatsoever thing they do besides We separate them him or her from the Threshold and from all the prayers of the Church from the participation of the Holy Mass from all Sacraments Chappels and Altars from Holy Bread and Holy Water from all the merits of Gods Priests and religious men and from all their Cloysters from all
â—ashforâ—â— being the d ngâ—â—er â—f onâ— Robert Lâ—shford a Cutler who dying her Mother married John Warren an Upholster of whose Maâ—â—yâ—dom and also her Mothers Elizabeth Warreâ— we hâ—â—â— spoken and now the dâ—ughter was also broâ—ght to the Stake she was a maid of about 20 years of Age and was brought before Bonner that â—â—mercâ—fal Butcher before whom she Confessed her saith â—nd told him she could not goe to Mass nor acknowledg the bodily presence in the Sacrament and hâ— seeing he could by no Perswasions make her turn from her Religion she was condemned and suffer'd in the same fâ—â—e with the rest leâ—ling her faith with her blood And thus these 7 blessed Martyrs ended theiâ— lives in the flames being sent to heaven in a fiâ—ry Chariot On the 31 of the same mâ—â—th and yeer no less than 5 more viz. 4 women and one man suffered in one fire at Canâ—â—â—â—â—y Their names were Jâ—hn Lâ—mns a young man Ann Albâ—ight Joâ—n Câ—â—more Agâ—is Sâ—â—th a widdow and Jâ—â—n Sole a Married wife all of them being condemned for the same things denying the Popish Mass to be a Sacrament but Idolatry for which they all joyfully received their Martyrdom with â—reat constancy when they were in the midst of the Flames they all fâ—ll to singing of Psalms to the â—reat amâ—â—â—n 〈◊〉 of their persecutors some of them weeâ—ing to bâ— hoâ—â—â—hem Archbishop Cranmer Marâ—â—'d 〈◊〉 Oxford In pursuance 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 view of â—â—â—istical persecutions we shall â—â—â—e yoâ— a very â—â—â—â—â—nct Relation of the Life and 〈◊〉 of that â—â—st worthy and Religious Prelate Dr. 〈◊〉 Arâ—hbishop of Canterbury who suffered for the Gospel sake at Oxford On the 21th of March 〈◊〉 He was born in Notâ—â—ghamshire of a very 〈◊〉 â—â—mily bred up carefully at School and sent to the University of Cambridg where he profited wâ—ll in his Studies and was at last made Fellow of 〈◊〉 Colledg When he was Master of Arts and Fellow of the Colledg he married a gentlemans daughter and so lost his Fellowship and was made thereupon Reader in Buckingham Colledg But not long after his wife dying in Childbed his old Companions desirous of his Company chose him again Fellow of the Colledg where he grew in great repute and Commenced Dr. in Divinity and was commonly appointed one of those who were to examine such as were to take the Degrees of Batchelours or Doctors of Divinity now he favouring the knowledg of the Scripture often put by such whom he found ignorant in the History of the Scripture which extreamly enraged the Priests and Fryers many of which Mass-mongers could not tell who was Solâ—mons Father so little were they acquainted with the History of the Bible studying other Authors to little purpose This First begat the envy of the Papists against him He was however chosen to be one of the Fellows of the Cardinal 's new founded Colledg at Oxford which he refused not without the great indignation of that proud Prelate But it hapned that whilst he Continued at Cambridg the plague raging in the University that he removed to a friends at Waâ—tham and the King passing that way some of his followers as Gardner his secretary and Fox his Almoner lying at the same house with Dr. Cranmer whom they knew had accidentally some discourse of the Kings scruple of Conscience for marrying his Brother's wife and upon the Divorce he had sued for at Rome and the proceedings thereupon which was the general Discourse at that time Dr. Cranmer without any design declared his mind so to the purpose telling them that he thought they did not goe the ready way to work by prosecuting the Laws Ecâ—lesiastical when it had been more proper to have 〈◊〉 the point discoursed by Divines and the auâ—â—ority of the Word of God in the Scripture which â—â—ght be better done in England and in the Univer … than at Rome This being told to the King he caused Dr. Cranmer to be sent for to him to London to the Doctors great trouble not desiring to interest himself in the business but the King sending his peremptory command he was forced to obey against his mind and having by several discourses well satisfied the King he commanded him to write his mind fully on the point and ordered the Earle of Wiltshire to entertain him in his house at Durham place and to let him have Books and what ever he wanted Accordingly Doctor Cranmer wrot his mind fully and delivered it to the King in which he shewed by the Authority of the Scripture and of general Councels and ancient Writers that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority whereby he might dispence with the word of God and the Holy Scripture This opened the Kings eyes and rejoycingly he asked the Dr. if he durst stand by it which he told him he would even to the Popes face at Rome if he would be pleased to send him thither whereupon the King sent the question to most of the Universities of Europe to be disputed on and by most it was Concluded that no such Matrimony could be Lawful by the Word of God or Authority of the H. Scripture The King also sent Dr. Cranmer to dispute the point at Bonnonie where the Pope then was with his Ambassador the Earl of Wiltshire and several other Doctors and learned men in company When they came before that proud Antichristian Bishop he sat inthroned in great State under a Canopy in Rich Robes and Sandals on his feet which in a proud manner he held out to the Earl to Kiss but he disdaining it stood still but his spaigniel by what instinct we know not ran to his held up foot and caught it in his mouth so rudely and unmannerly that the old Bishop was somewhat afrâ—ghted which made the English men smile But after the first Complement the Earl told him from his Master that he had brought with him certain learned men who were there ready to prove that no man jure divino could or ought to marry his brothers wife and that the Bishâ—p of Rome could or ought noâ— to dâ—spence to the Contrary Promâ—se was made that the point should be discussed but thâ— old fox after many put offs and delays â—â—ut them away without aâ—â—â—ing so ingrareful a dispute The Eâ—â—bâ—â—s dot and the rest returned home but Dr. Câ—â—mer by order went to Vienna to the Emperor to answer what the Emperors learned Council could say against it and he so satisfied the greâ—t and Learned Corâ—â—â—tus â—grâ—ppa with his reasons that no publick Disputation would be suffered to be had for which that learned mâ—n fell into the Emperors displeâ—suâ—â— Upon his return home having done to the King such singular service and Archbishop Wâ—rren then dying the King made Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Câ—â—â—â—buâ— in his place Here he got the Envy of all the Popish Prelates his enemies for oppugning the Popes authority but this good and worthy man shewed himself a Bishop according to the Rule of St.
into trouble above 450 persons most of them poor ignorant men many of them only for having in their houses and reading some English Books And having gotten the Kings Letters to the Sheriffs and others to assist him in the Suppression of Hereticks he layd about him like a bloody Tyrant Causing all that he suspected to abjure doe pennance or be burnt So that he forced above 50 persons to abjure their opinions against their consciences for fear of Death But many of them recanting were laid hold on and Suffered Martyrdom among whom were Thomas Bernard James Mordent Robert Rave John Norman Thomas Holms and John Scrivener at the burning of this last his own children were Compelled to set fire to their Father a Barbarity heardly to be parallell'd among the Heathen Seven Martyrs at Coventry Much about the same time 7 godly martyrs sufer'd at Coventry viz. Mrs. Smith a Widdow Roberâ— Hatcher a Shoemaker Archer a Shoemaker Hawkins and Thomas Bond both Shoemakers Wrigshamâ— Glover and Landsdale an Hosier one of the chiâ— crimes objected against these persons was the teaching their Family the Lords Prayer and the teâ— Commandments in English all which were burned in a little Park near the city Anno 1519. This thing being noysed abroad and the people grumbling because of their hard usage the Bishop and his Priestâ— gave it out that they were not burned for havinâ— the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandmentâ— in English but for eating Flesh on Fridays so thâ—â— you see they mended the matter much Aboutâ— years after one Robert Silkby was burned at the same place for the same crimâ—s About the samâ— time Mr. Patrick Hamtiton and Henry Forest of St. Andrews were both Martyred in Scotland Thomas Harding Martyr Under the aforesaid John Longland Bishop of Lincoln suffered Thomas Harding of Chesham in the County of Buckingham being forceâ— with his wife to abjure by the said Bishop with many more being injoyned penance â—nâ— wearing Badges of Faggots which he did till the year 1532. Being also ordered to live in a certain place and no where else to fast every Corpus Christi Even and to goe on Pilgrimage during his life every year to Ashrige and there make his offerings both him and his Wife But Thomas Harding neglecting and being troubled in his mind retired into the Woods in privat on the Easter Holydays whilst others went to church to bow down to the Idols he was espied at his prayers which he read out of an English Book And the Officers of the Bishop being made acquainted with it they went immediatly to his house and searching narrowly found Certain English Books hid under the boards of the flower most of them parts of the Holy Scripture Upon which he was had before the Bishop then at Wâ—oburn where being examined he was sent to the Bishops prison called Little ease Where he endured much hardship both of hunger and pain but they seeing him to remain constant the Bishop soon after condemned him as a relapsed Heretick to the fire committing the charge of his execution to Rowland Messenger Vicar of great Wickham who accordingly had the aforesaid Martyr to Chesham where he dwelt where he made a sermon in the behalf of the Popish Clergys Jurisdiction making Thomas Harding to stand before him all the time And after sermon was done he caused him to be brought before the High Altar where he asked Tho. Harding if that he â—elieved that the Substance of the Bread after Consecration was any other than the Body of Christ â—orn of the Virgin Mary To which he repyled he belieâ—ed what the Articles of the Creed had taught him That our Saviour Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary that he suffered under Pontius Pilate and that on the Third day he arose again from the Dead and sitteth now in Glory at the right hand of God the Father After this he was had to a mans house where he remained all night in prayer and about 10 of the clock the next morning the aforesaid Vicar Rowland with many Billmen to guard him hurried him away many men and women following him lamenting and others Rejoycing thereat When he was bound to the stake he desired the people to pray for him and as soon as they had set fire to him he prayed God to forgive his enemies and with great patience lifting up his hands towards Heaven he said Jesus receive my spirit when one of the wicked Crew tâ—king up a Billet flung it at him and dashed out his Brains And proclamation was made aâ— the same time that whosoever should bring a Faâ—got towards the burning of an Heretick should havâ— 40 days pardon At the same time there was generally a great persecution of all good men and wâ—men dissenting any way from the Romish Idolatrie thorow out the whole Diocess of Lincoln In the year 1530. about the time of the fallâ—â— of Cardinal Wolsey one Thomas Hitten a Preacherâ— Maidston being much persecuted by the Archbishoâ— of Canterbury Warham and Fisher Bishop of Râ—chester and after they had tormented him and keâ— him in prison they at last caused him to be burnt 〈◊〉 Maidstone for his Constant profession and testimonâ— of Jesus Christ and of his free grace and salvatioâ— which he still maintained to the death The story of Thomas Bilney Martyr Thomas Bilney was brought up in the University Cambridge even from a child profiting in all kiâ—â— of Sciences â—â—d in the Profession of both Laws bâ—â— at last being Converted to Christ he studied the Gâ—â—pel being much inflamed with the Love of the 〈◊〉 Religion and Godliness anâ— by his pious life aâ— great learning he Converted many of his fellows 〈◊〉 the true knowledg of the Gospel viz. Mr Thâ—â— Arthur Mr Hugh Latimer and others at last he left the University and went about preaching the Gospel which begot him many Enemies and among the rest Card. Wolsey the Bish of Norwich The Fryers of Ipswich D. Stokes Sir Th. More others for he much inveighed against the pride of the Popish Clergy and the authority of the Bishop of Rome This enraged Wolsey the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Bishop of Rochester Ely Bath and Wells with many others who Combined against him and caused him and Mr. Arthur who had accompanied him to be brought before them at the Chapiter house in Westminster where they examined Mr Bilney whether he had privately or publickly preached or taught the Opinions of Luther or any other Contrary to the Catholick Church and that whether he had not made Oath that he would not preach or defend the Opinions of Luther To which Mr B lney made answer that he had made such an Oath but not Lawfully After which they caused them both to take an Oath to Answer such Questions as they should ask them Then certain Witnesses were called to prove the Articles Exhibited against them but the Cardinal having other great matters of State to follow the business was