Prince of Spain and Mary Queen of England were married together by the Bishop of Winchester in the presence of a great number of Noblemen of both the Realms in the year of God 1554. Cardinal Pool is sent legate to the King and Queen to reconcile England to their mother Church Rome the Parliament suâ—mit themselves to the Pope his authority is restored which was matter of great joy to Rome Great was the bloody murthering of Gods Saints in the time of Queen Mary And first to begin with Master John Rogers he is condemned of the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor for two articles first for that he affirmed the Romish Catholick Church to be the Church of Antichrist and that he denied the reality of their Sacrament he cursed him to be disgraded and condâ—mned and put into the hands of the Lâ—itie and so he gave him over into the Shireffs hand which were much better then his 2. That in the Sacrament of the Altar there is not substantially nor really the natural body and blood of Christ After that this John Rodgers had been long and straitly imprisoned by the space of an year and an half at New-gate amongst Theeves often examined and very uncharitably entreated and at length unjustly and most cruelly by wicked Winchester condemned Such was the Bishop of Winchester and Boner Bishop of London their charity that he could not obtain of them that favour as to talk a little with his wife before his burning for his wife and children being eleven in number ten able to go and on sucking on her breast met him by the way as he went towards Smithfield this sorrowfull sight of his own flesh blood could nothing move him but that he constantly and chearfully took his death with wonderful patience in the defence and quarrel of Christs Gospel As he was going to Smithfield he said the Psalm Miserere by the was all the people wonderfully rejoycing at his constancy with great praises and thanks to God for the same A littâ—e before his burning at the stake his pardon was brought if he would have recanted but he utterly refused it so he was burned into ashes washing his hands in the flamme as he was in burning he was the first Protomartyr of all that blessed company that suffered in Queen Maries time that got the first adventure upon the fire he was viccar of St. Pulchers and Reader of Pauls in London After that Mâ—ster Rodgers had broken the yce here under Queen Mary there suffered in like sort an Archbishop four Bishops twenty one Divines eight Gentlemen eighty four Artificers one hundred Husband-men Servants and Labourers twenty six Wives twenty Widows nine Virgins two boyes and two Infants with many moe yea it is recorded that in lesse then four years they sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents here to their Idols in Queen Maries daies We shall take a view of them that are most memorable Lawrence Sanders Preacher a man of worshipfull Parentage was burned for the defence of the Gospel at Coventree being led to the place of Execution he went in an old Gown and a Shirt bare-footed and oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed When he came to the fire he fell to the ground and prayed he rose up again and took the Stake to which he should be chained in his arms and kissed it saying welcome the Crosse of Christ welcome everlasting life and being fastned to the Stake and fire put to him full sweetly he sleeped in the Lord. Mr. John Hooper Bishop of Worchester and Glocester was burnt for the defence of the Gospel at Glocester he was a worthy Bishop endued with these qualities that St. Paul requires in a Bishop he was condemned at London and degraded by Bishop Winchester and others and sent to Glocester to be burnt As he went to the fire he was led between two Sheriffs as it were a Lamb to the place of slaughter in a Gown of his Hosts his Hat upon his head and a staff in his hand to stay himself withall for the grief of the Sciatica which he had taken in prison caused him sometimes to halt All the way he was straitly charged not to speak the people mourned bitterly for him After he was entred into his prayer a Box was brought and laid before him upon a Stool with his pardon or at the least wise it was fained to be his pardon from the Queen if he would he at the sight thereof cryed if ye love my soul away with it if ye love my soul away with it the Box being taken away the Lord Shandois said seeing there is no remedy dispatch him quickly Mr. Hooper said God my Lord I trust your Lady will give me leave to make an end of my prayers Then said the Lord Shandois to Sir Edmund Bridges take heed that he do nothing else but pray if he do tell me and I shall quickly dispatch him so he prayed in these words following Lord said he I am hell but thou art heaven I am swill and a stink of sin but thou art a gracious God and a merciful Redeemer have mercy therefore upon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thy inestimable goodnesse Thou that art ascended into heaven receive me hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with tâ—y Father for well knowest thou Lord whereof I am come hither to sâ—ffer and why the wicked do â—â—â—secute this thy poor servant not for my sins and â—â—â—sgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the denyall of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy Spirit to instruct me the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch might being thereto called I have set forth to thy glory And well seest thou my Lord and God what terrible pains and cruel torments be prepared for thy creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to bear or patiently to passe but all things that are impossible with man are possible with thee Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I break-not the rules of patience or else aswage the terrour of the pains as shall seem most to thy glory After he had done he was put to the fire and he abode three quarters of an hour in the fire for it was slow in burnning and thrise it was kindled before he was consumed In the midst of the fire he prayed with a loud voice Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my spirit and these were the last words that he was heard to utter But when he was black in the mouth and his tongue swollen that he could not speak yet his lips went til they were shrunk to the Gams and he knocked his breast with his hands untill one of his arms fell off and then knocked
the either his divorce with the Lady Kathren Dâ—wager of Spain came into qâ—estion which being many wayes by the space of two or three years amongst the Canonists Civilians and other learned men diversly disputed and debated at what time Cardinal Campeius and Cardinal Volsey being in commission from the Pope to hear and determine that great cause in controversity between the King and the Queen his pretended wife dalied and delayed all the Summer time hearing the said cause in controversie debated and the little minding to pâ—oceed to sentence giving took occasion to finish their commission and not further to determine therein So on a night two Doctors of the kings side and Doctor Cranmer being lodged in one house and as they were at supper they conferred with Doctor Cranmer concerning the Kings cause and asking his judgement he answered that in his opinion they made more adoe in prosecuting she law ecclesiasticall then needed It were better I suppose quoth Doctor Cranmer that the question whether a man may many his brothers wife or no were decided and discurssâ—d by the Divines and by the authority of the word of God whereby the conscience of the Prince may be better satisfied and qâ—ieted then thus from year to year by frustretory delayes to prolong the einâ— leaving the very trâ—th of the matter unâ—oulted o it by the wâ—rd of God and this may be done as well in England in the Universities here as at Rome or else where in any foâ—raign nation When Doctor Cranmer had thus endâ—d his Tale the other two well liked of his devise The King hearing of this advise of â—ranmers caused in all haste to send for him I perceive said the King I peâ—ceive that that man hath the Sow by the right ear And if I had known of this devise two years ago it had been in my way a great peece of money and had also red me out of much disquietnesse he comes to the King and after conference between the King and him he layes a charge upon him to search the Scripture in the cause of his divorce and to write his mind therein so he went about the businesse and incontinent wrote his mind concerning the Kings question adding to the same besides the authority of the Scriptures of General Counsels and of ancient writers also his opinion which was this that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority as whereby he might dispense with the word of God and the Scriptue When Doctor Cranmer had made this book and committed it to the King the King said to him will ye abide by this that yee have here written before the B. of Rome that will I do by Gods grace quoth Doctor Cranmer if your Majesty do send me thither Marie quoth the King I will send you even to him in a sure Ambassage And this by means of Doctor Cranmers handling of this matter with the King not only certain learned men were sent abroad to the most part of the Universities in Christendom to dispute the question but also the same being by commission disputed by the Divines in both the Universities in Cambrige and Oxford It was there concluded that no such Matrimony was by the word of God lawfull Whereupon a solemn Ambassage was then prepared and sent to the Bishop of Rome wherein went the Earle of Wiltshire Doctor Cranmer and other Doctors And when the time came that they should come before the Bishop of Rome to declare the cause of their Ambassage the Bishop sitting on high in his cloath of state and in his rich apparâ—el with his Sandals one his feet offering as it were his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadours the Earie of Wiltshire disdaining thereat stood still and made no countenance thereunto so that all the rest keeped them from that idolatry howbeit one thing is not here to be omitted as a Prognosticat of our separation from the seat of Rome which then chanced by a Spaniel of the Earle of Wiltshire for he having there a great Spaniel which came out of England with him stood directly between the Earle and the Bishop of Rome when the said Bishop had advanced forth his foot to be kissed now whether the Spaniel perceived the Bishop foot of another matter than it ought to be and so taking it to be some kind of repast or whether it was the will of God to shew some token by the Dog unto the Bishop of his inoâ—dinate pride that his foot were moâ—e meet to be bitten of dogs then kissed of Christian men the Spaniel I say when the Bishop extended his foot to be kissed no man regarding the fame straight waies as though he had been of purpose appointed thereunto went directly to the Popes foot and not only kissed the same unmannerly but as some plainly reported and affirmed took fast with his mouth the great toe of the Pope so that in hast he pulled in his glorious feet from the Spaniel whereat one man smileing in their sleeves what they thought God knoweth But in fine the Pontificall B. after that sought no more at that present for kissing his feet but without any ceremony gave ear to the Ambassadors what they had to say Who entring there before the Bishop offered on the Kings behalf to be defended that no man Jure Divino could or ought to Marrie his Brothers wife and that the Bishop of Rome by no means ought to dispense to the contrary Diverse promises were made and sundry dayes appointed wherein the question should have been disputed and when one part was ready to answer no man there appeared to dispute in that behalf So in the end the B. making to our Ambassadors good countenance and gratifying Doctor Cranmer with the office of the penitentiariship dismissed them undisputed withal the Ambassadors retuâ—ned but Cranmer went forward in his Ambassage to the Emperor and there to answer such learned men of the Emperors Counsell as would or could say any thing to the contrary part c. At this time B. Warhame then Archbishop of Canterbury departed this transitoâ—y life whereby that dignity then being in the gift and diâ—position of the King was given unto Cranmer as worthy for his travel of such a promotion He proved a notable B. being indued with all these qualities that the Apostle requires in a Bishop He had many enemies in King Henries time but the King held him up In Queen Maries time he is put to great trouble for his Religion he is imprisoned and keeped long in prison and brought out to his examination and tryall sundrie times he is degraded from his office and condemned The Doctors and Divines of Oxford busied themselves all that ever they could about Mr. Cranmer to have him recant assaying by all crafty practices and allurements they might devise to bring their purpose to passe he at last overcome with their perswasions whether through their importunity or by his own imbecillity or of what mind I cannot tell the recantation
Prince of Navar. To this pretended Marriage it was divised that all the chiesest Protestants or France should be invited and meet in Paris being met and conveened that same night of the Marriage Souldiours were appointed in diverse places of the City to be ready at a watch-word to break in into the Protestants houses at which watch-word given they brust out to the slaughter of the Protestants first beginning with the Admirall who was slain in his bed and thrown out at a window into the street where his head being first striken off and embalmed with Spices to be sent to the Pope At this time there was slain in three dayes above ten thousand Men and Women old and young of all sorts and conditions yea and slew all the Protestants they knew or could find within the city Gates inclosed So great was the rage of the Heathenish persecution that not only the Protestants but also certain whom they thought indifferent Papists they put to the sword in steed of Protestants In the number of them that were slâ—â—n of the more learned sort was Petrus Ramus Lumbinus and others And not only within the Walls of Paris was this uproar contained but extended further into other Cities and quarters of the Realm especially Lyons Orleance Tholous and Roan In which Cities it is almost incredible nor scarlely ever heard of in any Nation what cruelty was shewed what numbers of good Mâ—n were destroyed in so much that within the space of one month thretty thousand at least of Religious Protestants are numbred to be slain Furthermore here is to bee noted that when the Pope first heard of this bloody stir he with his Caâ—dinals made such joy at Rome with their procession with their Gun-shot and singing Te Deum that in honour of that lawful festival Act a Iubile was commanded by the Pope with great indulgence and much Solemnity whereby thou hast here to discern and judge with what spirit and charity these Catholicks are moved to maintain their Religion withall which otherwise would fall to the ground without all hope of recovery Likewise in France no lesse rejoycing there was the King commanding publick processions through the whole City to be made with Bone-fires Ringing and singing where the King himself with the Queen his Mother and his whole Court resorting together to the Caurch gave thanks and laud to God for that so worthy victory archieved upon St. Bartholomews Day against the Protestants whom they thought to be utterly overthrown and vanqâ—ished in all the Realm for ever And in very deed to mans thinking might appear no lesse after such a destruction of the Protestants having lost so many worthy and noble Captains-as then were cut off whereupon many for fear revoking their Religion returned to the Pope diverse fled out of the Realm such as would not turn kept themselves secret durst not be known or seen so that it was past all hope of man that the Gospel should ever have any more place in France but such is the admirable working of the Lord where mans help and hope most faileth there he sheweth his strength and helpeth as here is to be seen and noted by stirring up Rochel to stand to the defence or their Religion against the Kings power by whose example certain Cities hearing thereof took no little courage to do the like as Mountaban and others who being confederat together exhorted one another to be circumspect and take good heed of the false dissembling practises not to be trusted of the mercilesse Papists intending nothing but blood and destruction Rochel standing to the defence of their lives and consciences and to adventure the worst whereupon began great siege and battery to be laid against Rochell both by sea and land which was Anno 1572. The whole power of France is set against Rochel Thus the whole power of France being gathered against one power town had not the mighty hand of the Lord stood on their side it had been impossible for them to escape Daring the time of this siege which lasted about seven months what skirmishes and conflicts were on both sides it would require a long tractation In all which assaults ever the Popes Catholicks had the worst Concerning the first assault thus I find written that within the space of 26. dayes were charged against the walls and houses of Rochel to the number or thretty thousand shot of iron Bullets and globes where by a great breach was made for the adversary to invade the city but such was the courage of them within not men only but also of Women Matrons and maids with spites fire and such other weapons that came to hand that the adversary was driven back with no smal slaughter of their Souldiours Likewise in the second assault 2000. great field pieces were laid against the Town whereupon the adversary attempted the next day to invade the Town but through the industry of the Souldiers and citizens and also of women and maids the invaders were forced at length to flee away faster then they came No better successe had all the assaults that followed Mâ—ny were the tokens of Gods gracious dealings with them during the time of the siege and amongst the rest this was very memorable at Rochel whereas the poorer sort began to lack corn and victual there was sent to them every day in the River by the hand of the Lord no doubt a great multitude of fish called Surdones which the poor people did use in stead of bread Which fish the same day as the siege brake up departed and came no more testified by them which were present there in Rochel all the time The King in end being weary of those chargeable wars there was a peace agreed and concluded between the King and the Protestants of Rochel in which were included other Cities of the Protestants granting to them benefite of peace and liberty of Religion The next year following died Charels the 9. the French King and the Cardinal of Lorain brother to Guise The King died of the age of 25. years and the manner of his death is to be noted The constant report To goeth that his blood guishing out by diverse parts of his body he tossing in his bed and casting out many horrible blaâ—phemies laid upon pillows with his heals upward and head downward voyded so much blood at his mouth that in few hours he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and restified may be an spectale and example to all persecuting Kings and Princes polluted with the blood of Christian Martyrs The cruel Persecution and Bloody Boutchery of the MERINDOLIANS FOllows the Tragicall Persecution and horrible murther of the faithfull flock of Christ inhabiting in Merindol in the Countrey of Province in France this people of a long continuance and custome had refused the Bishop of Rome his Authority and observed ever a more perfect kind of Doctrine then others delivered them from the Father to the Son ever since the year of
the left arm was on fire and burned he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell from his body and he continued in prayer to the end without moving At the burning of James Baynham a Lawier appeared a miracle and wondrous work of God that as he was at the stake in the midst of the flamming fire which fire had half consumed his arms and legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold ye look for miracles and hear now may yee see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain then I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses These words spake he in the midst of the flamming fire when his legs and arms as I said were half consumed William Tracie a worshipful Esquire in Glocester and then dwelling at Todingtown made in his will that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying neither passed he upon masse and he further said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saved and not by any Saint This Gentleman died and his Son as Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury to prove which he shewed to the Convocation and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground and burnt as an Heretick This Commission was sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocesse of Worcestâ—r to execute their wicked of sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing his Subject to be taken out of the ground two years after his death and burnt without his knowledge or order of the Law sent for the Chancellor and laid high offence to his charge who excused himselâ— by the Archbishop of Canterbury which was late dead but in conclusion it cost him three hundred pound to have his pardon And as many were burnt at this time for the profession of the truth so multitudes both of men and women were compelled to abjure and recant and to do pennance and to bear faggots So great was the trouble of these times for either they were driven out of the Realm or were cast out from their goods and houses or brought to open shame by abjuration Such decrees and injunctions then were set â—orth by the Bishops such Laws and Proclamations were provided such watch and narrow search was used such wayes were taken by force of oath to make one detect another so subtilly that unneth any good man could or did escape their hands that either his name was known or else his person was taken yet neverthelesse so mightily the power of Gods Gospel did work in the hearts of good men that the number of them did no lessâ—lâ—ssen for all the violence or policy of the adversaâ—ies but rather increased King Henry is divorced from Lady Cathrene Dowager and married with Lady Annâ—â—ullen which was the fiâ—st occasion and beginning of a publick Refoâ—mation The King had married Prince Arthur hiâ— Bâ—others wife the Pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Julius the second by whose dispensation this Marriage which neither sense of nature would admit nor Gods Law would bear was concluded approved and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any doubt or scruple near the space of twenty years thereafter there arose doubts and scruples about the lawfulnesse of his Marriage that first hindered the Emperour to marry Lady Mary the Kings Daughter and upon the same doubt the King of France refused to marry the said Lady Mary the Kings daughter The King being herewith perplexed anent the lawfulnessâ— of his Marriage consulted the Universities of all Christendome by whom it was discussed to be unlawfull whereupon ensued a divorce between the King and the Queen In the Parliment in the year 1533. the commons gave in a supplication complaining of the strait dealing of the Clergy in their proceeding exofficlo this wicked act was broken by the King for the King having more clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy and in special of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same In the same parliament it was enacted and decreed that no man should appeal to the court of Rome even the Parliament decreeth the popes Annats to cease c. All exactions and sums of money used to be payed to the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peter Pence should utterly surcease As touching these Peter Pence they were first brought in imposed by King Iva about the year of our Lord 70. Which Iva king of the West Saxons caused thâ—ough all his dominion in every house having a Chimney a penny to be collected and payed to the Bishop of Rome in the name of Peter and thereof were they called Peter Pence And the said Peter Pence ever since or for the most part have used of along custom to be gathered and summoned by the Popes Collectors here in England from the time of Iva to this present Parliament The oath of the Clergy-men which they were wont to make to the Bishop of Rome now pope quondam was abolished and made void by stature and a new oath ministred and confirmed for the same wherein they acknowledged the King to be supream head under Christ in this Church of England these oaths were the occasion that the pope lost all his interest and jurisdiction in England within short while after In this Parliament amongst other diverse statutes most graiously and by the blessed will of God it was enacted that the Pope and all his Colledge of Cardinals with his Pardons Indulgences which so long had clogged this Râ—al n of England to the miserable slaughter or so manny good men and which never could be removed â—way before was never abolished eradicat and exploded out of this land and sent home â—gâ—in to their own country of Rome from whence they came God be everlastingly praised therefore Amen An act was made concerning the Kings highnesse to be the suppream head of the Church of England and to have authority to reform and redresse all errors heresies and abuses in the same When all other the Kings subjects and the learned of the Realm had taken and accepted the oath of the Kings supreamacy only Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor refused to be sworn who therefore falling into the danger of the Law were committed unto the Tower executed for the same This Fisher with Sir Thomas Moor were great persecutors of the saints of God Tindal betrayed be Henry Philips was delivered into his enemies hands and burnt in Flanders by Filfoord castle The worthy vertues and doings of this blessed Martyr who for his painfull travels and singular zeal to his country may be called in these our days an Apostle of England it were long to recite Among many other this because it seemeth to me worthy of remembrance I thought it not in silence to overpasse which hath unto me credibly been testified by certain grave Merchants and some of them also such as were present the same
Almighty and from thence he shal come to judge the quick and the dead Lo this is the heresie that I hold and for it must suffer the death But as touching the holy and blessed Supper of the Lord I believe it to be a most necessary remembrance of his glorious suffering and death Moreover I believe as much therein as my eternall and only Redeemer Jesus Christ would I should believe She is brought into Smithfield to her execution in a Chair because she could not go on her feet by means of her great torments there she patiently endured death with sundry moe that at that time was burnt with her Then Urisley Lord Chancellor sent to Anna Askew Letters offering to her the Kings pardon if she would recant who refusing once to look upon them made this answer again that she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master Then were the Letters offered unto the other who in like manner following the constancy of the woman denyed not only to receive them but also to look upon them whereupon the Lord Major commanding fire to be put to them cryed with a loud voice fiat Justitia Queen Catherine Parre late Queen and wife to King Henry the eight was in great danger for the Gospel the Chancellor Bishop of Winchester and others of their conspiracy but she was graciously preserved by her kind and loving Husband the King King Henry died in the thirty eight year of his Reign King Henry of his own nature and disposition was so inclinable and forward in all things vertuous and commendable that the like interprise of redresse of Religion hath not lightly been seen in any other Christned Prince as in abolishing the stout and almost invincible authority of the Pope in suppressing Monâ—steries in repressing custome of Idolatry and Pilgrimages c. which interprises as never King of England did accomplish though some began to attempt them before him so yet to this day we see but few in other Realmes dar follow the same So long as Queen Bullâ—n Thomas Cromwell Bishop of Cranmer and such like good counsellours were about him he did much good So again when sinister and evil counsell under subtill and crafty pretences had gotten once the foot in thrusting truth and verity out of the Princes ears how much Religion and all good things went prosperously forward before so much on the contrary side all revolted backward again Prince Edward succeeded his father being of the age of nine years and Reigned six years and eight months and eight dayes and deceased Anno 1553. He was a vertuous and religious Prince of admirable gifts and graces far beyond his years Religion flourished in his time for by the advise of his Governours especially by his Uncle Lord John Simer Duke of Somerset Protector of the Realm that monstrous Hydra with six heads the six Articles I mean who devoured up so many men before was abolished and taken away the holy Scriptures were restored to the Mother Tongue Mastes extinguished and abolished these that were before in banishment for the danger of the truth were again received to their Countrey for the most part of the Bishops of Churches and Diocesses were changed Such as had been dumb Prelats before were compelled to give place to others then that would preach take pains Besides other also out of foraign Countreys men of learning and notable knowledge were sent for and received among whom was Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius which were set into the Universities Of the old Bishops some were committed to one Ward some to another but these meek and gentle times of King Edward under the Government of this noble Protector hath this one commendation proper unto them for that amongst the whole number of the popish sort of whom some privily did steal out of the Realm many were crafty dissemblers some were open and manifest adversaries yet of all that multitude there was not one man that lost his life for during all the time of King Edwards Reign which was about six years neither in Smithfield nor any other quarter of this Realm any was heard to suffer for any matter of Religion either Papist or Protestant either for one opinion or other except only two one an English-woman called Joan of Kent and the other a Dutch-man named George who died for certain Articles not much necessary here to be rehearsed Besides these two there was none else in all King Edwards Reign that died in any manner or cause of Religion but that one Thomas Dobbie who in the beginning of this Kings Reign was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Masse and in the same Prison died whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained of the Lord Protector and should have been brought him if he had continued The horrible and bloody Time of Queen MARY QUeen Mary succeeded her brother King Edward to the Crown ingyring her self by force and violence notwithstanding that Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen before her by King Edwards testament and the consent of the Nobility She altered Religion that was in King Henries time and King Edwards she made an Inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or read openly in the Churches the word of God the Masse is set up and a proclamation that no man should interrupt any of these that would say masse the Popes Authority is restored In a word she banished the Gospel and true Religion and brought in the Antichrist of Rome with his Idolatry supperstition turned the English service into Latine again c. About this time a priest of Canterbury said masse the one day and the next day after he came into the Pulpit and desired all the people to forgive him for he said he had betrayed Christ but not as Judas did and there made a long Sermon against the Masse Marriage is concluded between Queen Mary and the King of Spain Strange sights were seen before the comming in of King Philip and subversion of Religion for in the month of February 1553. there was seen within the City of London about the 9. of the clock in the forenoon two Suns Shining at once the one a good pretty way distant from the other At the same time was also seen a rain bow turned contrary and a great deal higher then hath been accustomed it stood with the head downward and the feet as it were upward In the second year of Queen Mary there was a Cat hanged upon a Gallows at the crosse in Cheap apparelled like a priest ready to say masse with a shaven crown her two fore feet tyed over her head with a round paper like a wafer cake put between them whereon arose a great ill-will against the city of London for the Queen and the Bishops were very angry withall and therefore the same afternoon there was a proclamation that whosoever could bring forth the party that did hang up the Cat should have twenty Nobles but none could or would earn it Philip
Town called Patrick Lermond refused to be his temporall Judge to whom it appertained if the cause had been just Also the B. Chamberlane beeing therewith charged would in no wayes take upon him so ungodly an office yea the whole Town were so offended with his unjust condemnation that the B. servants could not get for their money so much as one cord to tye him to the Stake or Tar-barrel to burn him but were constrained to cut the cords of their own masters Pavilion to serve their turn Neverthelesse one servants of the B. more ignorant and cruel then the rest called Allexander Somervel interprysing the office of atemporal judge in that part conveyed him to the fire While he was exhorting the people there was gâ—eat mourning and lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his patience stournesse and boldnesse constancy and hardinesse were greatly moved and stirred up and their hearts mightily inflammed for him This Walter Mill was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion and his death the every death of Popry in this Realm John Knox returns again from Geneva to Scotland and joynes himself to the congregation for the Reformers of Religon at this time were called the congregation he preached to them at Perth where the Reformation began The people having heard how odious idolatry was in Gods presence what commandment he had given for the destruction of the Monuments thereof and what idolatry and what abomination was in the Masse they were so inflammed that neither could the exhortation of the Preachers nor the commandment of the Magistrat stay them from destroying the place of idolatry So the Monastry at Perth was demolished the Charterhouse a building of exceeding cost and largnesse was not only ruined but the stones and timber so quickly taken away as in lesse then two dayes space a vestige thereof was scarce remaining to be seen the Images were publled down at Cowper in Eyfe which the Curat took so heavily as the night following he put violent hands in himself And so the Images Altars and Monasteries were demolished throughout the Country and by the just judgement of God in the same place where Walter Mill was burnt the Images of the great Church of the Abbey which passed both in number and costlinesse were burnt as the rest were When Q. Regent heard what was done at Perth she was so inraged that she did vow utterly to destroy St. Johnston Man Woman and Child and to consume the same by fire and the reafter to salt it in sign of a perpetuall desolation The congregation labours to pacifie the Q. Regents rage by their Letters directed unto her but her rage and the Priests could not be stayed but forward they move against these who then were in St. Johnston a very few and mean number of Gentlemen who perceiving the extremity to approach did write to all their brethren to repair toward them for their relief to the which they found all men so ready bent that the work of God was evidently to be espied for the Earle of Glencarn and the brethren of the West came with all haste for the relief of St. Johnston by whose presence the tyranny of the enemy was bridled There is an appointment concluded between Q. Regent and them and so the Lords departed out of the Town but before their departure they make a new Covenant to concur and assist one another for the mentinance of Religion The Q. entered into the Town the Duke Monsieur Dosel and the Frenchmen who in discharging their volley of Harquebuts killed a Son of Patrick Murray about ten or twelve years of age who being brought to the Q. presence and understanding whose Son he was said It is pity it chanced on the Son and not on the Father but seeing it is so chanced we cannot be against fortime She erects idolatry against the appointment The Q. began to rage against all godly and honest men their houses were oppressed by the French the lawful Magistrats as well Provest and Bâ—illies were unjustly and without all order deposed from their Authority She left four colours of the Souldiers to abide in the Town to mantain idolatry and to ressist the congregation and so she left the Town in extream bondage but shortly after from this bondage was the Town delivered by the Congregation and the French forced to leave the Town and made parent to all the Kings subjects When the Nobility and Gentry and others of the Congregation saw that their just petitions was rejected of Queen Regent for Reformation of Religion and strangers brought in to suppresse them their commonwealth and posterity Idolatry mantained and Christ Jesus his true Religion despised while idle bellies and bloody tyrants the Bishops maintained and Christs true Messengers persecuted while finally vertue contemned vice extolled and while that a great part of the Nobility and Commonallity are most unjustly persecuted after consultation and good advice they deprive her from all regiment and authority amongst them and this was divulgaâ— by sound of Trumpet at the Mercat crosse of Edinburgh and proclamed by officers of Arms in head Burrows within the Realme of Scotland The day following all the Souldiers in Leith French and Scots are summoned by sound of Trumpet to depart out of Leith within the space of 12. hours defyance is given whereupon there was Skirmishing without great slaughter and preparation of Scalls and Ladders was made for the assault which was concluded by common consent of the Nobility and Barrons The French Souldiers issued many a time out of Leith and did great harm through the Country the Congregation not able to suppresse them Queen Regent her faction they were constrained to implore the Q. of England her aid and support which she most willingly granted upon certain conditions specified in a Treaty past at Barwick betwixt the Duke of Norfolk Lievtenant to her Majesty on the one part and certain of our Commissioners on the other part The Army she sent by Land was esteemed ten thousand men the Town is assaulted The Queen Regent sate all the time of the assault which was both terrible and long upon the fore-wall of the Castle of Edinburgh and when she perceived the overthrow of us and that the Ensignes of the French were again displayed upon the walls she did laugh heartily and said now I will go to the Masse and praise God for that mine eyes have seen The French proud of the victory stripped naked all the slain laid their dead carcasses before the Sun along the wall where they suffered them to ly more dayes then one And here we may see the inhumanity of the mercilesse French The siedge is continued and 2000. fresh men sent for that purpose which the Camp greatly comforted began to forget the former discomfiture and to sustain the daily Skirmishing as they did before In the which the French after the day of the assault did ever receive the hurt and the repulse At this