pleased then most Gratious Lady for the matter belongeth vnto you to receiue vnder your favorable protectiō this Mirrour or memorial of the Martyrs who living had the protection of Angels and when the Lord shall haue perfourmed to your Grace all the good that hee hath promised and of all loyall hearts is earnestly expected it shall then bee no offence vnto your Princely mind that you haue so doone That great GOD who by his Omni-presence filleth Heaven and Earth with his Glorie fill and replenish your Graces heart with all the gifts and graces of his blessed Spirit which may beautifie and adorne your person in the sight of God and Man in this life and heereafter Crowne you with jmmortall Glorie for ever and ever in his Kingdome of Glory Amen Your Graces most humbly devoted In all humble and dutifull affection CLEM COTTON THE MIRROR OF the Martyrs ¶ In a short view liuely expressing and shewing the force of their Faith the feruencie of their Love the wisedome of their Sayings the patience of their Suffrings their Constancy Comforts and sweet meditations in the middest of all their Conflicts ¶ With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell Bishop Hooper THE Godly Bishop HOOPER being brought vnto the place where he should suffer seeing a Pardon lying vpon a stoole to be tendered vnto him if he would recant cryed to them that stood by If you loue my soule away with it If you loue my soule away with it A blind Boye being suffered to come vnto him after much entreaty to conferre with him M r. HOOPER hearing his talke the water stood in his eyes Ah poore Boy sayd he GOD hath taken from thee the sight of thy bodilie eyes for what cause he best knoweth but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more pretious for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith GOD giue thee grace that thou loose not that sight for thē should'st thou be blind both in body and Soule The day before his Martyrdome he spent the most of the day in prayer vnlesse any were licenced to speake with him amongst the which S r. Anthony Kingston was one who being brought into his Chāber found him at prayer and at the first view of him burst foorth into teares M r. HOOPER at the first blush knew him not Then sayd S r ANTHONY why my Lord know you not me an old friend of yours Anthony Kingston Yes M r. Kingston I know you well sayd M r. HOOPER and I am glad to see you in good health doe praise GOD for it KINGSTON But I am sorie to see you in this case for as I vnderstand you are come hither to die But alas consider that life is sweet and death is bitter Therefore seeing life may be had desire to liue for life hereafter may do good HOOPER Indeed it is very true M. Kingston I am come hither to die and to end this life heere because I will not gainesay the former truth I haue heeretofore taught in this Diocesse amongst you and I thanke you for your friendly counsaile though not so friendly as I could haue wished it Life indeed is sweet and death is bitter but alas cōsider that the death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet Therefore for the desire loue I haue to the one the feare and terror I haue of th' other I do not so much regard this death nor esteeme this life but haue setled my selfe through the strength of Gods Spirit patiently to passe through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me rather then to deny Gods word and truth The night before he suffred his desire was to go to bed that night betimes saiing that he had many things to thinke on and so did at 5 of the clock and slept one sleepe soundly and bestowed the rest of the night after in prayer Being got vp in the morning hee desired that none should come vnto him that hee might bee solitary till the hower of his death Bishop Ridley WOrthie Bishoppe RIDLEY going to his burning at Oxford looking backe espyed M r. LATIMER coming after to whome he sayd Oh be ye there yea sayd Father LATIMER haue after as fast as I can Bejng come to the stake he ranne to M r. LATIMER jmbraced him and kissed him and as they that stood neere reported comforted him saying Bee of good comfort Brother for GOD will either asswage the furie of the fire or else strengthen vs to abide it Being at the stake he held vp both his hands to Heaven and sayd Oh heauenly Father I giue thee most heartie thankes that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee euen vnto death A Fagot being brought which was kindled with fire and laid downe at M. RIDLEYS feet Father LATIMER spake on this manner to him Be of good comfort M. RIDLEY and playe the man wee shall by Gods grace light such a Candle this day in ENGLAND as I trust shall neuer be put out By reason the fire was ill made M. RIDLEY continued long in his torments in so much as he often cryed I cannot burne I cannot burne for Christs sake let the fire come to mee Lord haue mercie vpon mee let the fire come to me I cannot burne M. Iohn Philpot. THE valiant servant of Christ M. Iohn Philpot having the newes of his death brought him by one of the Sheriffes men that hee must the next day bee burned at a stake sayd I am ready God grant me strength and a ioyfull resurrection And so went to his chamber and powred out his spirit vnto the Lord giving him most heartie thankes that had made him worthy to suffer for his truth As hee was entring into Smithfield the passage was somewhat foule and twoo Officers tooke him vp to beare him to the stake Thē he sayd merilie What will ye make me a Pope I am content to go to my iourneys end on foote But first comming into Smithfield hee kneeled downe there saying these words I will paye my vowes in thee O Smithfield Iohn Bradford HOly BRADFORD having newes brought him in great haste by the Keepers wife of the Counter that hee should be burned the next day and that his Chayne was a buying with that put off his Cap and lifting vp his eyes to Heaven said I thanke God for it I haue long looked for this time and therefore it commeth not to me now sodainlie but as a thing expected euery houre the Lord make me worthy thereof After which he went alone and prayed secretly a long time A little before they carried him from the Counter to Newgate he made a notable prayer of his farewell with such plentie of teares and aboundance of the spirit of praier that it ravished the minds of the hearers Also when he shifted himselfe with a cleane shirt that was made for his burning hee made such a prayer of the wedding Garment that some there
aliue there to cite and appeale the black frier campbell that accused him to appeare before the high GOD as generall Iudge of all men to answere to the innocency of his death and whether his accusation were iust or no between that and a certaine day of the next moneth which hee there named Moreouer by the same witnesse it is testified that the sayd Fryer dyed immediately before the same day came without remorse of conscience that hee had persecuted the poore Innocent Robert Farrar BIshop FARRAR being visited of a Knights sonne called RICHARD IONES a little before his death the sayd RICHARD seemed much to lament the painfulnes of the death he had to suffer To whom the Bishop answered that if hee saw him once to stâ—râ—e in the paines of his burning he should giue no credit to his doctrine And as he sayd so he right well performed the same For so patiently hee stood that hee neuer mooued but even as hee stood holding vp his stumps of his hands so hee still continued till one RICHARD GRAVELL with a staffe dashed him vppon the head and so stroke him downe into the fier Rawlins Whight THis Whight a fisherman a very aged man in the Towne of Cardiffe in Wales grew very expert in the Scriptures by the helpe of a little boy he had beejng his owne Sonne who dayly read the same to him every night after supper Sommer and Winter and now and then some other good Booke In which kind of vertuous exercise the old man had such delight and pleasure that as it seemed hee practised himselfe rather in the studie of the Scripture then in the trade or Science which before time hee had vsed so that RAVVLINS within few yeares in the time of King EDVVARD by the helpe of his little boy as a speciall Minister no doubt appointed by GOD for that purpose profited and went forward in such sort that hee was not onely able to resolue himselfe touching his former blindnes and jgnorance for by all likelihood hee was before King EDVVARDS dayes a Papist but was also able to admonish and jnstruct others So as when occasion serued hee would go from one place to another visiting such as he had best hope in And thus in that Countrey became a notable professor of the truth beejng at all times and in all such places not without the helpe of his little boy And to this his jndustrie GOD added to him a singular guift of memorie so that by the benefit thereof hee could and would doe that in alleadging and rehearsing the text which men of riper knowledge by their notes and other helps of memorie could hardly accomplish In so much that vpon alleadging some place of Scripture hee was able very often to cite the Booke the leafe yea and the very sentence such was the wonderfull worke of GOD in this simple and vnlearned Father In the daies of Queene MARIE it so fell out that GOD called him not onely formerly to beleeue in him but then to suffer for his sake in which his suffrings the Lord endued him with inuincible coÌ„staÌ„cie in so much as beeing convented before the Bishop of Landaffe The Bishop would needs with his company fall to prayer in his Chappell to see as he sayd if GOD would turne the poore Mans heart which RAVVLINS hearing sayd now you deale well my Lord and like a good Bishop indeed Go to therefore my Lord pray you to your God and I wil pray to my GOD I know that my GOD will heare my prayer and performe my desire By and by the Bishop and his men fell to prayer And RAVVLINS turning him to a pew somewhat neere fell downe vppon his knees covering his face with his hands Bejng all risen from praier The Bishop sayd now Rawlins how is it with thee wil 't thou revoke thine opinions or no Surely said Rawlins my Lord Rawlins you left mee and Rawlins you find me and by GODS grace Rawlins I will continue The Bishop seejng his prayers tooke none effect was perswaded by some about him before hee read the sentence to haue a Masse thinking that GOD would thereby worke some Miracle vpon the old man when RAVVLINS heard the sacring bell ring as the vse is hee rose out of his place and came to the quier doore and there standing a while turned himselfe to the people speaking these words Good people if there be any brethren amongst you or at the least if there bee but one brother amongst you lâ—t that same one beare witnesse at the day of iudgement that I bow not to this Idol meaning the host the Priest held over his head Hearing that the time of his burning drew neere he sent to his wife willing her to provide him his wedding garment in which he ment to be burned meaning his Shirt Beejng brought out of prison and seejng himselfe guarded with a great company of bils and gleaues he sayd alas what needs all this adoe I will not start away by GODS grace but with al my heart and mind I giue vnto GOD most hearty thank thâ—t hath made mee worthy to abide all this for his holy names sake At the light of his Wife and Children whome hee saw in the way as he went to be burnt it so pierced his heart that the teares trickled downe his cheekes but sodainely misliking his jnfirmitie he began to be angrie with himselfe and striking himselfe on the brest with his hand vsed these words Ah flesh stayest thou me so would'st thou faine preuaile well I tell thee doe what thou canst thou shalt not by GODS grace get the victorie When hee came to the sight of the stake hee set himselfe forwards very boldly but in going towards it he fell downe vppon his knees and kissed the ground and in rising againe the earth a little sticking vpon his nose he sayd these words Earth vnto Earth and dust vnto dust thou art my Mother and vnto thee shall I returne Then went hee cheerefully and very joyfully vnto the stake setting his back close vnto it and when hee had stood there a while casting his eye vpon the Reporter of this historie and callâ—ng him to him sayd I feele a great fighting betweene the flesh and the Spirit and the flesh would very faine get the masterie And therefore I pray if you see mee any thing tempted hold vp but your finger to mee and I trust I shall remember my selfe The reporter THere was observed in this good Father going to his death and standing at the stake a wonderfull change in nature For whereas hee was wont before to goe stooping or rather croked through the jnfirmitie of age and having a sadde countenance and feeble complexion withall a feeble and soft voice and gesture Now he went and stretched vp him selfe bare withall a most pleasant countenance not without great courage both in speach and behauiour Thomas Spurdance THis SPVRDANCE being asked of the Bish. when hee was at masse and received the
THE MIRROR OF MARTYRS IN A SHORT VIEVV lively expressing the force of their Faith the feruency of their Loue the wisedome of their Sayings the patience of their Suffrings c. With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell Whereunto is added two godly Letters written by M. BRADFORD full of sweet consolation for such as are afflicted in conscience ¶ They loved not their liues vnto the death Reuel 12.11 AT LONDON ¶ Printed by T. P. for Io Budge and are to be sold at his Shop at the great South doore of S. Paules and at Brittaines Bursse An. 1613. Deut. 15.15 ¶ Remember that thou wast a bond-man in the Land of EGYPT and that the Lord thy God redeemed thee Deut. 16.3 ¶ Remember the day thou camest out of the Land of EGYPT all the dayes of thy life TO ALL SVCH as from a true heart delight to see the mightie power of CHRIST magnified in his Martyrs salvation DEare Christian Reader who either wantest leisure to read or abilitie to buye that rich and plentifull Store-house of Storie Doctrine and Comfort the Acts and Monuments penned by the most innocent hearted man of God and true NATHANAELL M r. IOHN FOXE and yet knowing th'incomparable worth of the things contained therein doest often wish thy selfe some of that pretious store for thy present vse Loe here a Mirror fitched thence which how so euer in regard of the smalnesse it cannot shew thee all yet mayest thou here behold the choice of many memorable things which will yeeld thee sound comfort and profitable delight Accept then good Reader I praye thee in stead of the greater this little Institution of a Christian Martyr with the same mind with which it is now offered vnto thee vse it to the same ends for which it was at the first framed into this so smal a Volume if in reading the whole or any part therof thou or any of thine doe reape but the least good be thankefull therfore to thy good God and helpe mee with thy prayers Thine ever in Christ C. C. THE FAYTHFVLL Soule to her spouse CHRIST I Am my welbeloveds my welbeloved is mine Set me as a seale on thine heart and as a signet vpon thine arme for Loue is strong as death Ielousie is cruell as the graue the coles therof are fiery coles and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench Loue neither can the flouds drowne it if a man should giue all the substance of his house for Loue they would greatlie contemne it A PREAMBLE before the Booke HAppy happy yea thrise and everlastingly happy is that Soule which by Faith feeles it selfe handfasted vnto Christ Thogh it meet with a prosperous estate in this world it easily swels not and if it meet with th' adverse things of the world it easily quailes not For it hath the word of Christ and the Spirit of Christ residing and dwelling in it Shee is not to learne in whome shee hath beleeued neither can she ever be finally forced from beleeving Bring her to triall and prooue whether of the two Christ or Belial she will embrace offer her Gold to forgoe CHRIST shee greatly contemns it Let the mighty terrify with threats shee feares not their feare nor is carefull vpon the perill of life to giue them a direct answere she regards not whippings she dreads not rackings vpon honorable conditions shee esteems the prison a Pallace fetters of jron Ornaments of fine Gold the darkest dungeon a delightsome dwelling rather then shee will violate the chastitie of her faith to CHRIST her onely Spouse she will willingly endure headding and hanging yea burning and broyling In a word nothing can be able to separate this sweet soule from that loue of GOD to her which is in CHRIST Iesus her Lord. Now the jmage of such a soule who desires to see and by sight thereof to be transformed inro the same jmage Let him often with a spirituall eye prie into this Mirrour of Martyrs following Where he shall behold their Faith victorious their Hope liuely their peace passing al vnderstanding their Ioy vnspeakable and glorious their Speach alwaies gracious their prayers full of Fervor their liues full of Beautie their ends full of Honor This Honor shal be to all the Saints Revel 7.13 WHat are these And wheÌ„ce come these Verse 14. THese are they that came out of great tribulation and haue washed their long white Robes in the bloud of the Lambe Verse 15. THerefore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serue him day and night in his Temple and hee that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them Verse 16. THey shal huÌ„ger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sunne light on them neither heat Verse 17. FOr the Lambe which is in the midst of the thron shal governe them and shall lead them to the liuely fountaines of waters and GOD shall wipe away all teares from their eies Revel 14.12 HEere is the patience of Saints heere are they that keepe the Commandemets of God and the Faith of Iesus Verse 13. ANd I heard a voyce from Heauen saying vnto mee write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Psal. 116.15 PRecious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal. 72.14 ANd deare shall their bloud bee in his sight Reuel 6.10 HOw long Lord which art holy true doest thou not judge and auenge our bloud on theÌ„ that dwel on the earth Verse 11. ANd it was sayd vnto theÌ„ that they should rest for a little season vntill their fellow servants their brethren that should bee killed even as they were were fulfilled TO THE RIGHT Noble and Vertuous Princesse the Lady ELIZABETHS Grace Eldest daughter to our Soveraigne Lord King Iames. THat neither this poore and weake seruice which is heere to be offred to the Church of Christ nor the memorie of his faithfull Martyrs which in this small Briefe I endevor to reviue and celebrate might bee the lesse esteemed of the good or any way vilified of the bad by comming abroad without the Patronage and protection of some person of Eminencie in the sayd Church it was needfull for me most Noble Lady to make choyse of such a Patron as for Eminencie of place and vertues might hâ—ue large romth in the hearts of the former and also whose sole authoritie might suffice to put to silence the jgnorance of the foolish All which meeting togeather in your Grace my humble sute is that through your Princely hands this poore Mite may now be cast into the Lords Treasurie Wherein your Grace shall walke in her Royall stepps who though dead yet now seemes to liue in you by her sacred hands did first consecrate the larger volume whence this Epitome is extracted to the vse of the Church and people of God Be
present so admired him that their eies were no lesse thorowly occupied in beholding him thē their eares gaue place to the hearing of his prayers At his departing the chāber hee made in like sort a prayer in which hee vehemently desired of God that his wordes might not bee spoken in vaine ¶ His behauiour at his death MR. Bradford cōming to the stake fell flat vpon his face praying the space of one minute of an hower the Sheriffe willed him to make an end because the presse was great at that word standing vpon his feet he tooke a Fagot in his hand and kissed it and so likewise the Stake so putting off his rayment he went to the Stake holding vp his hands and casting vp his countenance to heaven sayd thus O England Englād repēt thee of thy sins repent thee of thy sins c. To the young man that suffered with him hee sayd Be of good comfort Brother for we shall haue a merry Supper with the Lord this night and spake no more wordes that any man heard but jmbracing the Reeds sayd thus Straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth vnto life eternall and fewe there be that find it M. William Tims WIlliam Tims being convented before Bonner Winchester Tims said the Bishops thou hast a good fresh spirit it were well if thou had'st learning to thy spirit Yea my Lords sayd TIMS and it were well also that as you bee Learned men so yee had a good Spirit to your learning Bishop Latimer REuerend LATIMER writes thus to Bishop RIDLEY Lo Sir I haue blotted your papers and play'd the foole egregiously but so I thought it better then not to fulfill your request at this time Pardon me and pray for me pray for me pray for me I say For I am sometimes so scarefull that I could creepe into a mouse hole Sometimes God doth visit me againe with his Comforts So he is comming and going comming and going to teach me to know mine owne infirmitie that I might thanke him who is worthy least I should rob him of his glorie as many doe and almost all the world fare yee well ¶ The 3 requests which Father Latimer was wont to make THe first was that as GOD had appointed him to be a preacher of his word so also he would giue him grace to stand to his doctrine vnto the death and that he might giue his heart blood for the same The second was that GOD of his mercie would restore his Gospell to Enggland once againe and these words once againe once againe hee did so inculcate and beat into the eares of the Lord as though hee had seene god face to face and would haue no nay His third request was for the Lady ELIZABETH our late Soueraigne whō in his prayer hee was wont to name euen with teares begged of God that shee might liue to be a comfort to this comfortlesse Realme Bishop Ridley RIDLEY writes thus in a Letter to Bradford wee looke euery day to be called on I weene I am the weakest many waies of our company and yet I thanke our Lord God and heauenly Father through Christ that since I heard of our deere Brother ROGERS departing and his stout Confession of Christ and his truth euen vnto death mine heart blessed be God reioyced so in it that since that time I say I never felt any lumpishnesse nor heauinesse of heart as I grant I haue felt sometimes before O good Brother Bradford blessed bee God for thee and blessed be the time that euer I knew thee Iohn Rogers MAISTER ROGERS that Morning hee should be burned being in a sound sleepe was hardly awaked with much shogging whē the keepers wife came sodainely vp to giue him warning of his burning At length beeing awaked and bid to make hast Nay then sayd hee and if it be so I shall not need to tye my points The Sunday before hee suffred hee dranke to M. HOOPER being then in a Chamber vnderneath him in Newgate and bad them commend him to him and to tell him that there was never little fellow would better sticke to a man then he would sticke to him supposing they should haue beene burned together Laurence Saunders MR. SAVNDERS at the time of his first examination before STEVEN GARDINER reporto his bed-fellow that lay with him the night following that in the time of his examination he was so wonderfully comforted that not onely in his spirit but also in body hee receiued a certaine tast of that holy Communion of Saints whilst a most pleasant refreshing issued from euery part and member of his body vnto the seat of the heart and from thence did ebbe and flow to fro vnto all the parts againe In a Letter to his Wife faine would this flesh make strange of that which the spirit doth imbrace Oh Lord how loth is this loytring sluggard to passe foorth into Gods path It fancieth forsooth much feare of fraybugs and were it not for the force of Faith which pulleth it forwards by the raines of Gods most sweet promise and hope which pricketh on behind great aduenture there would be of fainting by the way But blessed euerlastingly blessed be that heauenly Father of ours who in his Christ our sufficient Sauiour hath vouchsafed to shine in our hearts by the light of his knowledge in the face of Iesus Christ. His Wife comming to visit him in prison was forbidden to enter the prison by reason whereof the keeper tooke the little babe shee had in her armes and caried him to his Father LAVRENCE SAVNDERS seeing him reioyced greatly saying that hee esteemed more of such a boy then if 2000 pound should be giuen him And to the standers by which praysed the goodlinesse of the child he sayd what man fearing God would not loose this life presently rather then by preserving it heere hee should adiudge this boy to be a bastard and his wife an Whore and him-sefe an Whoremonger yea were there no other cause why a man of my estate should loose his life yet who would not giue it to avouch this child to be legitimate and his mariage to be lawfull and holy Beeing come to the stake where hee was burned hee fell prostrate to the groūd and prayed And rysing vppe againe hee tooke the stake in his armes to which he should be chained and kissed it saying Welcome the Crosse of Christ Welcome euerlasting life Robert Glouer Gen. MR. GLOVER a day or twoo before hee should bee burnt felt his heart so lumpish and heavy that hee found in himselfe no aptnes not willingnesse to die but rather a dulnesse of Spiritfull of much discomfort to beare the bitter Crosse of Martyrdome ready now to bee layd vppon him Wherevpon fearing in himselfe least the Lord had vtterly withdrawen his wonted favour from him he made his moane to one AVGVSTINE BERNHERE his deere friend signifying vnto him how earnestly hee had praied vnto the Lord and yet could receiue
him hee sayd good Lord deliver me from you and gojng from them vp to his chamber hee sayd good Lord deliuer me from you good Lord deliuer mee from you Iohn Leafe THis IOHN LEAFE a prentise to one HVMPHREY GAVVDY tallow Chandler who was burned with M. IOHN BRADFORD had 2 bils sent him into the Counter in breadstreet after his judgement th' one containing a recantation th' other his confession to know to which of them hee would subscribe Hearing first the bill of his recantation read vnto him because hee could nether write nor read himselfe that hee refused and when hee heard th' other read vnto him which hee liked well off in stead of a pen he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinkled the blood vppon the sayd bill willing the reader thereof to shew the Bishop that hee had sealed the same with his blood already Richard Woodman THe conflicts whieh Richard Woodman had with the feare of death recorded in his owne words as followeth Then 3 daies after my Lord Chamberlain sent 3 of his men to take mee whose names were Deane Ieffrey and Frauncis I being at plough with my folkes right in the way as they were comming to my house least mistrusting them of all other came vnto them and asked them how they did And they said they arrested me in the King and Queenes name and that I must goe with them to my Lord Chamberlaine their Maister Which words made my flesh to tremble and quake in regard the thing was sodaine But I answered them that I would goe with them Yet I desired them to go with me to my house that I might break my fast and put on some other geare And they sayd I should Then I remembred my selfe saying in my heart why am I thus afrayd They can lay none euill to my charge If they kill me for well dooing I may thinke my selfe happy I remembred how I was contented gladly to dye before in that quarrell and so haue continued euer since and should I now feare to die God forbid I should for then were all my labour in vaine So by and by I was perswaded I praise god cōsidering it was but the frailtie of my flesh which was loth to forgoe my wife children goods for I saw nothing but present death before mine eies And as soone as I was perswaded in mine heart to die I regarded nothing in this world but was as merrie glad and ioyfull I praise God as euer I was This battaile lasted but a quarter of an houre but it was sharper for the time then death I dare say M. Glouer ROBERT GLOVER had a contrarie effect in his troubles as his owne words testifye After I came into prison sayth hee and had reposed my selfe a while I wept for joy and gladnes my bellyfull musing much of the great mercies of GOD and as it were saying thus vnto my selfe O Lord who am I on whome thou should'st bestow thus thy great mercie to bee numbred among thy Saints which suffer for thy Gospell sake And so beholding on the one side my jmperfection vnablenes sinnefull miserie and vnworthines and on th' other side the greatnes of Gods mercie to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladnes concluding thus with my selfe in mine heart O Lord thou shewest power in weakenes wisedome in foolishnes Mercie in sinfulnesse who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt As I haue euer zealously loued the profession of thy word so haue I euer thought my selfe vnworthie to bee partaker of th' afflictions of the same The same ROBERT GLOVER at an other time was much discouraged by Satan not to persevere in his suffring suggesting to him his vnworthines to suffer for Christ and his Gospell but these his suggestions were thus repelled by him What were all those whome GOD in former time chose to be his witnesses were they not men subiect to sinne and imperfection as other men bee All wee sayth Iohn haue receiued of his fulnes They were no bringers of any goodnes to GOD they were altogether receiuers They chose not GOD first but hee chose them They loued not GOD first but hee loued them yea when they were enemies to him and full of sinne Hee is and wil be the same God still As rich in mercie as mighty as ready as willing to forgiue sinnes now without respect of persons as hee was then and so wil be to the worlds end to all that call vppon him It is no arrogancie nor presumption in any man to burthen God with his promise chalenging his ayd and assistance in all perils and daungers Calling vpon him in the name of Christ for whose sake whosoeuer commeth to the Father is sure to receiue more then hee can wish or desire I also answered the enemie on this manner I am a sinner and therefore vnworthy to be a Martyr What then must I deny GODS word because I am a sinner and not worthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so dooing but adding sinne to sinne What is a greater sinne then to deny the truth af Christs Gospell I might also by the like reason forbeare to doe any of GODS commaundements when I am prouoked to pray th' enemie may say vnto mee thou art not worthy to pray and therefore I shall not pray I shall not forbeare to steale c. because I am not worthy to do any of GODS commaundements These be delusiōs of the Deuill which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of GOD applied according to the measure of euery mans gift George Wise-heart THis WISE-HEART a Scottishman rightly so called in regard of that true wisedome of the spirit wherewith his heart was filled beejng come to the place of execution the hangman came vnto him vppon his knees craving forgiuenesse of him To whome he answered come hether to me when hee was come nie him hee kissed his cheeke and sayd loe here is a signe that I forgiue thee my heart doe thine office And by and by hee was put vpon the Gibbet and martyred Walter Mill. WALTER MILL a Scottish Minister beejng disturbed in his praier in the time of his examination having ended the same sayd wee ought more to obay GOD then Men. I serue one more mightie even th'omnipotent Lord. And where ye call me S r. Walter they vsually call mee WALTER and not S r. WALTER I haue beene one of the Popes Knights too long Beejng threatned with the sentence of death I know I must die once saith he and therefore as Christ said to Iudas Quod facis fac citius Ye shall know that I will not recant the truth for I am Corne I am no Chaffe I will not be blowne away with the wind nor burst with the flaile I will abide both Patrick Hamleton MR. Patrick Hamleton beejng in the fire was heard by certaine faithfull men of credit then
heavenly father through his Sonne Iesus Christ my certaine Saviour Iohn Warren IN the confession of his Faith hath this sweete speach Without Christ no heauenly guift is giuen nor sin forgiuen Iohn Warren Vpholster Alice Binden SHee beeing at the stake tooke forth a shilling of Phillip and Marie which her Father had bowed and sent her when she was first sent to prison desiring her Brother there present to returne the same to her father againe with obedient salutations and to tell him It was the first peece of money that he sent her after her troubles began which as she protested shee had kept and now sent him to doe him to vnderstand that shee neuer lacked mony while she lay in prison And yet what extremity she endured in prison this briefe Relation following may testifie Her constancy beeing such in the profession of the trueth that shee could no waye bee remooved from it her fond husbād who first had procured her jmprisonmēt had also taken money of the Constable to carrie her to prison himselfe told the Bishop that she had a Brother called Richard Hale who if his Lordship could keepe from her she would turne for he comforteth her sayd hee and giveth her mony and perswadeth her not to relent This councell beeing as soone apprehended as tendered was forth-with put also in execution For thervpon the Bishop gaue cōmandement she should bee committed to his prison called Mondayes hole giving also straight charge that if her Brother at any time came at her he should be layd hold on This prison was within a Court where the Prebends Chambers were beeing a vault beneath the ground and the window beeing jnclosed with a pale of height by estimation 4 foot and a halfe and distant from the same three foot so that she looking frō beneath might onelie see such as stoode at the pale Her Brother in the meane while sought her with no lesse danger of life then diligēce But in regard of many impediments hee could never know where she lay till comming by gods vnsearchable providence very earlie thither in a morning her Keeper being thē gone to Church to ring for he was Bel-ringer chanced to heare her voice as she poured out her sorrowfull complaints vnto God saying the psalmes of David in which place hee could none otherwise releeue her but by putting money in a loafe of bread and sticking the same on a pole and so reached it vnto her for neither with meate nor drinke could hee sustaine her And this was 5 weekes after her cōming thither All which time no creature was knowne to come at her more then her keeper Her lyjng in that prison was onely vppon a little short straw between a paire of stocks and a stone wall beeing allowed 3 farthings a day that is a halfe peny bread a farthing drinke neither could shee get any more for her money wherfore she desired to haue her whole allowance in bread and vsed water for her drinke Thus did she lye 9 weekes during all which time shee never chaunged her apparell whereby she became at the last a most piteous loathsome creature to behold At her first comming into this place shee did greevously bewaile her state with great sorrow and lamentation reasoning with her selfe Why her Lord God did with so heauie iustice suffer her to be sequestred from her louing fellowes into so extreame miserie In these dolorous mournings did she continue till on a night as shee was in her sorrowfull supplications rehearsing this verse of the Psalme why art thou so heauie O my soule And againe The right hand of the Lord can change all this she received comfort in the middest of her miseries and after that continued very joyful vntill her deliverance from the same In March following the Bishoppe called her before him demaunding of her whether shee would goe home and goe to Church or no promising her great favour if shee would be reformed To whom she answered I thinke and am throughly perswaded by the great extremitie that you haue already shewed mee that you are not of God neither can your dooings bee godly and I see sayth she that you seeke my vtter destruction shewing how lame she was of the cold shee had taken and for lacke of foode while she lay in that painefull prison Then did the Bishop deliuer her from that filthie hole and sent her to West-gate where after shee had been changed and for a while been cleane kept her skinne did wholly pill and scale off as if shee had been poysoned with some mortall venom where shee continued till the 19 of Iune on which day shee was bereaved of life by the terrible fier One thing more touching this good woman is to be noted that while she was in prison shee practised with a prison fellow of hers the wife of one Potkin to liue both of them with 2 pence halfe-penny a day to try thereby how wel they could sustaine penurie and hunger before they were put to it for they had heard that when they should remoue from thēce to the Bishops prison their allowance should be but 3 farthings a day a peece and thus they lived 14 daies ere shee was remoued ¶ Thomas Wats his farewell to his Wife and children AFter his priuate praier made to himselfe hee came to his Wife and sixe Children being there and sayd these words in effect Wife and my good Children I must now depart away from you Therefore hencefoorth know I you no more but as the Lord hath giuen you vnto me so I giue you againe vnto the Lord whom I charge you see you obay and feare him aad beware yee turne not to this abhominable Papistrie against the which anon you shall see mee by Gods grace giue my blood Let not the murthering of Gods Saints cause you to relent but take occasion therby to be the stronger in the Lords quarrell and I doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull Father vnto you In the end hee bad them farewell and kissed them all was carried to the fier ¶ BRADFORDS Mementoes to the Lord RVSSELL afterwards called the good Earle of Bedford REmember LOTS Wife which looked backe Remember that none are Crowned but such as striue lawfully Remember FRAVNCIS SPIRA Remember that all you haue is at Christs commaundement Remember he lost more for you then you can loose for him Remember that it is not lost which you loose for his sake for you shall find much more heere and elsewhere Remember you shall dye when where and how ye cannot tel Remember that the death of sinners is terrible Remember that the death of Gods Saints is precious in his sight Remember the multitude goeth the wide way which windeth to wo. Remember the straight way which leadeth to life hath but few trauellers Remember Christ biddeth you enter in thereat Remember hee that trusteth in the Lord shall receiue strength to stand against all the assaults of his enemies Be
certaine all the haires of your head are numbred Be certain your good Father hath appointed your bounds over which the devill dare not looke Commit your selfe to him hee is hath been and will bee your keeper Let Christ be your marke and scope to prick at Let him be your patterne to worke by Let him be your ensample to follow giue him as your heart so your hand as your mind so your tongue as your Faith so your feet And let his word be your Candle to goe before you in al matters of Religion Blessed is he that Walketh not to these Popish praiers nor standeth at them nor sitteth at them glorifie God both in soule and body ¶ Fifteene short sentences left by Robert Smith Martyr to ANNE SMITH his wife 1 SEEke first to loue God deere wife with your whole heart and then it shall be easie for you to loue your neighbour 2 Be friendly to all creatures but especially to your owne Soule 3 Be alwaies an enemie to the Deuill the world but chiefely to your owne flesh 4 In hearing of good things ioyne the eares of your head and heart together 5 Seeke vnitie and quietnesse with all men but specially with your conscience for it will not easily be pacified 6 Loue all men but specially your enemies 7 Hate the sinnes that are past but especially those to come 8 Be as ready to further your enemie as hee is to hinder you that yee may bee the child of God 9 Defile not that which Christ hath cleansed least his blood bee layd to your charge 10 Remember that god hath hedged in your tongue with the teeth and lippes that it might speake vnder correction 11 Be ready at all times to looke to your brothers eye but especially to your owne eye For he that warneth an other of that hee himselfe is faultie giueth his neighbour the cleere Wine and himselfe the dregges 12 Beware of riches and worldly honor for without vnderstanding prayer and fasting it is a snare like to consuming fier of which if a man take a little it will warme him but if too much it will consume him 13 Shew mercie to the Saints for Christs sake Christ shall reward you for the Saints sake 14 Among all other prisoners visit your owne Soule for it is inclosed in a perillous prison 15 If you loue GOD hate euill c. Your Husband RO SMITH If yee will meet with me againe Forsake not Christ for any paine CERTAINE deuout Prayers which some of the godly Martyrs made at the hower of their death ¶ The Prayer which M r. HOOPER Bishop of Glocester made at his death LORD sayd he I am Hell but thou art Heaven I am swill and a sincke of sinne but thou art a gracious GOD and a merciful Saviour and Redeemer Haue mercie therefore vppon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thine jnestimable goodnes thou art assended into Heaven receiue me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with the Father For well thou knowest Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer and why the wicked doe persecute this thy poore seruant not for my sinnes and transgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow of their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth wherwith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to jnstruct mee the which with as much diligence as a poore wretch might being called thereto I haue set forth to thy glory And well thou seest my Lord God what terrible paynes and cruel torments be here prepared for thy poore Creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare or patiently to passe But all things that are jmpossible with man with thee are possible Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I breake not the bounds of patience or else asswage the terrour of the paines as shall seeme most to thy glory Heere the party who heard thus much of his prayer beeing espied of the Maior was commaunded away and could be suffred to heare no more ¶ The Prayer of Doctor CRANMER Archbishop of Canterburie when it was thought he would haue made his Recantation O Father of Heauen O Sonne of GOD redeemer of the world O holy Ghost three persons and one GOD haue mercy vppon me most wretched Caytiffe and miserable sinner I haue offended both against Heauen and Earth more then my tongue can expresse Whether then may I goe or whether should I flee To heauen I am ashamed to lift vppe mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore o Lord do I runne to thee do I humble my selfe saying O Lord my GOD my sinnes be great but yet haue Mercie vppon mee for thy great Mercie The great mistery that God became man was not wroght for small or few offences Thou didst not giue thy Sonne O Heauenly Father vnto death for little sinnes onely but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as I doe heere at this present Wherfore haue mercie vppon mee ô GOD whose property it is always to haue mercie haue mercie vpon mee ô Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing for mine owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christs sake And now therefore O our Father c. His repentance for subscription vttered a little before his death And now I come to the great thing that so much troubleth my conscience more then any thing that ever I did or sayd in my whole life and that is the setting abroad of a writing contrarie to the truth which now I heere renownce refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in mine heart and written for feare of death and to saue life if it might be and that is all such bils and papers which I haue written or signed with mine hand since my degradatiō wherein I haue written many things vntrue And for as much as my hand offeded in writing cōtrary to my heart mine hand shal be punished therefore for may I come to the fire it shall first be burned which accordingly he did For being at the stake whē the fire began to flame hee put his right hand vnto it which hee held so stedfast and jmmoueable saving that once with the same hand hee wiped his face that all men might see his hand burned before it touched his body ¶ The Prayer of Steven Knight made vppon his knees at his death O Lord Iesus Christ for whose loue I willingly leaue this life and desire rather the bitter death of the Crosse with the losse of all earthly things then to abide the blaspheaming of thy most holy name or to obay men in breaking thy holy Commandemēt Thou seest oh
sayd do not leaue the company of thy friends and acquaintance which loue thee and will let thee lacke nothing The spirit sayd the company of Iesus Christ and his glorious presence doth farre exceed all fleshly friends The flesh sayd doe not shorten thy time now for thou maist if thou wilt liue much longer The spirit sayd this life is nothing to that which is to come which lasteth for euer and ever ¶ The Prayer of Richard Browne who standing at the stake and holding vp both his hands sayd O Lord I yeild mee to thy grace Graunt mee pardon for my trespasse Let neuer the feend my soule chase Lord I will bow and thou shalt beat Let neuer my soule come in hell heat Into thy hands I commend my spirit ¶ A Godly and deuout Prayer mentioned in the storie of M r. Philpot Martyr fit for such as suffer at the stake MErcifull God and father to whome approached our Sauiour Christ in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whome Steuen called in his extreame need and receiued strength Most benigne and holy spirit who in the midst of all crosses and death did'st comfort th'Apostle ST Paul with more consolations in Christ thē hee felt sorrows terrors haue mercie vpon me miserable vild and wretched sinner who now draweth neere vnto the gates of death deserued both in body and soule eternall by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eies ô Lord are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee for the bitter death and bloodshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy justice do require in respect of my sinnes that thou shouldst not heare me measuring mee with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiestie contēning al thy gracious calls yet let thy mercie which is aboue all thy works and wherwith th' earth is filled let thy mercy I say prevaile towards mee through and for the Mediation of onr Saviour for whose sake it hath pleased thee now to bring mee foorth as one of thy witnesses and a record bearer to thy veritie and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore To which dignitie ô Lord and deere father I acknowledge there was never any so vnfit nor vnworthy no not the theefe that hanged vppon the Crosse so I therfore most humbly beseech thee that thou woldst accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heavenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may find comfort with Steven I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all others which for thy names sake haue suffred affliction and death I may find thy sweet consolation so present with mee that I may by my death glorifie thy name propagate and ratifie thy truth comfort the hearts of the heavie confirm thy Church in thy veritie convert some to be converted so depart foorth of this miserable life where I doe nothing but heape sinne dayly vppon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed presence and mercie whereof giue and encrease in mee a liuely trust sence and feeling where through the terrors of death the torments of the fire the pangs of sinne the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may never depresse mee but may bee driven away through the working of thy most gratious spirit which now plenteously endew mee withall that I may offer as I now desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy Soule and body to be an holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice in thy sight Deere Father whose I am and alwaies haue been even from my Mothers wombe yea even before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe soule and body familie friends Countrey and all thy whole Church yea even my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting foorth of the same Oh deare Father now giue me grace to come vnto thee purge and so purifie mee by this fire in Christs death passion through thy spirit that I may bee a burnt offring of sweet smel in thy sight who liuest and raignest with the son and holy Ghost now and for ever more Amen M. Bartlet Greene. ¶ A Sweet description of the miseries of this life and of the ioyes of the life to come written by M r. Bartlet Greene. BEtter is the day of death sayth Salomon then the day of birth Man that is borne of a woman liueth but a short time and is replenished with many miseries but happy are the dead that dye in the Lord. Man of a woman is borne in trauell to liue in miserie man through Christ doth dye to liue Straight as he commeth into this world with cries hee vttereth his miserable estate straight as he departeth with songs hee praiseth God for ever Scearce yet in his cradle 3 deadly enemies assaile him after death no adversarie can annoy him whilst he is heere hee displeaseth GOD when hee is dead hee fulfilleth his will In this life hee dyeth through sinne In the life to come he liueth in righteousnesse Through many tribvlations on earth he is still purged with joy vnspeakable in heaven hee is made perfect for ever Heere hee dyeth every houre there hee liveth continually Heere is sinne there is righteousnes Here is time there is eternitie Heere is hatred there is loue Heere is paine there is pleasure Heere is miserie there is felicitie Heere is Corruption there is jmmortalitie Heere we see vanitie there we shall behold the Maiestie of God with triumphant vnspeakable joy in glory everlasting Seeke therefore the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father to whom with the holy Ghost be all glory and houour world without end Amen Lady Iane. ¶ An effectuall Prayer made by the Lady IANE in the time of her trouble O Lord thou god father of my life heare me poore and desolate woman who flyeth vnto thee onely in all troubles and miseries Thou O Lord art the onely defender and deliuerer of those that put their trust in thee therfore I beeing defiled with sinne encombred with affliction vnquieted with troubles wrapped in cares over-whelmed with miseries vexed with temptations and grieuously tormented with the long jmprisonment of this vilde masse of Claye my sinfull body do come vnto thee O mercifull Saviour crauing thy mercie and helpe with the which so little hope of deliuerance is left that I may vtterly despaire of any libertie Albeit it is expedient that seeing our life standeth vpon trying we should be visited sometime with some adversity whereby we might be tried whether wee be thy flocke or no and also know thee and our selues the better yet thou that sayd'st thou would'st not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be merciful vnto me now a miserable wretch
hath given you he open your eyes to see what how great benefits you receiued that you may be lesse covetous or rather jmpatient for so I feare me it should be called and more thankfull Haue you not receiued at his hands sight to see your blindnes and thereto a desirous and seeking heart to see where he lyeth in the midde day as his deare Spouse speaketh of her selfe in the Canticles Ah Ioyce my good Ioyce what a guift is this many haue some sight but none this sighing none this sobbing none this seeking which you haue I know but such as hee hath married to himselfe in his eternall sweet mercies You are not content with the Magdalen to kisse his feet but you wold with Moses see his face forgetting how he biddeth vs seeke his face Psalme 27. yea and that euer more Psa. 105. which signifieth no such sight as you desire to haue in this life who would see God now face to face whereas he cannot be seen but covered vnder some thing yea somthing which is as you would say cleane contrary to God as to see his mercie in his anger In bringing vs to Hell Faith seeth him bringing vs to Heaven in darkenesse it beholdeth brightnesse in hyding his face from vs it beholdeth his merry countenance How did Iob see God but you would say vnder Satans cloake For who cast the fire from Heaven vpon his goods who overthrew his house and stirred vppe men to take away his Cattle but Satan And yet Iob pierced thorough all these and sawe Gods working saying The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken c. In reading the Psalmes how often do you see that Dauid in the shaddowe of death saw Gods sweet loue And so my dearely beloued I see that you in your darknes dimnes by faith do see charity britnes by faith I say because faith is of things absent of things hoped for of things which I appeale to your owne conseience whether you desire not And can you desire any thing which you know not And is there of heauenly things any other true knoledge thē by faith Therfore my deare heart bee thankefull for before God I writte it you haue great cause Ah my Ioyce how happye is that state in which you are Verilie you are in the blessed state of gods deare children for they mourne and doe not you so and that not for worldly weale but for spirituall riches Fayth Hope and Charitie Do not you hunger and thirst for righteousnes And I pray you sayth not Christ happie are such How should GOD wipe away the teares from your eyes in heaven if on earth you shed no teares How could Heaven bee a place of rest if on Earth you did find it How could you desire to be at home if in your journey you found no griefe How could you so often call vpon God talke with him as I know you doe if your enemie should sleepe all the daye long How should you elsewhere bee made like vnto Christ I meane in joye if in sorrow you sobbed not with him If you will haue joye and felicity you must needs feele sorrow and misery If you will go to heaven you must saile by hell If you will imbrace Christ in his robes you must not thinke scorne of him in his ragges If you will sitte at Christs table in his Kingdome you must first abide with him in his temptations If you will drinke of his Cup of glorie forsake not his cup of jgnominie Can the head corner stone be reiected and the other more base stones in Gods building bee in this world set by you are one of his living stones in this building be content therfore to be hewen and snagged at that you may bee made more meet to be joyned to your fellowes which suffer with you Satans snatches and freats of the flesh wherethrough they are enforced to crie Oh wretches that wee are who shall deliuer vs you are of Gods corne feare not therefore the flayle the fanne milstone nor oven You are one of CHRISTS Lambs looke therefore to bee fleeced halled at and even slaine If you were a market sheepe you should goe in more fat pasture If you were for the faire you should be stalled and want no meate but because you are for GODS owne vse therfore you must pasture vppon the bare common abiding the stormes and tempests that will fall Happy twice happy are you my deare sister that God haleth you now whither you would not that you might come whither you would Suffer a little and be still Let Satan rage against you let the world crie out let your conscience accuse you let the law leade you and presse you downe yet shall they not prevaile for Christ is Emanuell that is GOD with vs. If God be with vs who canne bee against vs. The Lord is with you your Father cannot forget you your spouse loveth you If the waues and surges arise crie with Peter saue Lord I perish and hee will put out his hand and helpe you Cast out your ankor of Hope and it will not cease for al the stormie surges till it take hold on the rocke of Gods truth and mercie Thinke not that hee which hath given you so many things corporally as jnductions of spirituall heavenly mercies and that without your deserts or desire can deny you any spirituall thing desiring it For if he hath given you to desire hee will giue you to haue and enioy the thing desired The desire to haue and the going about to aske ought to certifie your conscience that they bee his earnests of the things which you asking hee will giue you yea before you aske and whilst you are about to aske hee will grant the same as Isaiah saith to his glorie and your eternal consolation He that spared not his owne Son for you will not nor cannot think any thing too good for you my heartely beloved If he had not chosen you as certainly he hath he would not thus haue called you hee would never haue justified you hee would never haue so glorified you with his gratious gifts which I know to be in you praysed be his name therefore hee would never haue so exercised your faith with temptations as he hath done and doth if I say hee had not chosen you If hee haue chosen you as doubtlesse deere hart he hath don in Christ for in you I haue seene his earnest and to me you could not deny it I know both where and when if I say hee haue chosen you then neither can you nor ever shall you perish For if you fall hee putteth vnder his hand you shall not lie still so carefull is Christ your keeper over you Never was Mother so mindfull over her child as he is over you And hath hee not alwaies been so Speake woman when did he finally forget you And will he now trow ye in your most need doe otherwise you calling vpon him and desiring to