of thine Amidst these flames their spirits did ascend To glory which shall never have AN END Gloria Deo in Excelsis SECT Vlt. God's Judgements upon the Persecutors of hic Church and children SInce first the Gospel in the Ears did ring Of England under Lucius the King Never did King or Queen the Land so stain With Christian blood as in her four years reign Queen Mary did she burned in her fury An Arch-Bishop and he of Canterbury Four Bishops twenty one Divines or more Eight Gentlemen Artis'cers eighty soure Husbandmen Servants and poor Labouring men Five score Wives twenty six Widdowes twice ten to Nine Maids two Boyes and two young Babes heaven VVere sent in all two hundred seventy seven Sixty four more for Jesus Christ his sake VVere persecuted sore which could not shake Their heaven-built faith seven whereof were strip'd Stark naked and most mercilesly whip'd Sixteen in prison perishing had dung After the Nabathoean custom flung Upon their outcast bodies Some did lie In captivated chains condemn'd to die But were deliv'red from approaching death By th' happy entrance of Elizabeth Our glorious Queen our Pallas and Astraea Of Grace and Virtue the divine Idea Many did spend by reason of exile Their dayes in trouble and their years in toile But as Queen Mary lavished the blood Of her best subjects and the truth withstood Unto the utmost of her power so God Scourged her soundly with his flaming rod Both in her life and death for whilst she liv'd What did she prosper in which she atchiev'd To instance in a few particulars And first her fair'st and greatest man of War Unmatch'd i' th' Christian world cal'd the great Harry Was burnt by heavenly flames Then would she marry Spanish King Philip so expose to dangers Poor England under barb'rous foes and strangers She labour'd much but never could attain To joyn the English to the Spanish Raign Then did she set about the restauration Of Abbey-lands throughout the British nation Her self began according to the Popes Directions yet frustrate were all her hopes God o're her land then such a famine spred That her poor subjects upon Acorns fed Then Calice where the English did remain During eleven Kings reigns from her was ta'in Which loss so griev'd her as she did impart That Calice was engraven in her heart Again in child-birth never woman had S'unfortunate success as she so bad For if she was with child and had e're been In travel why why was it never seen If not why was the Kingdom so beguild Some in the Pulpit for her new-born child Returning thanks thus her desires b'ing crost She then th' affections of her husband lost She could not him enjoy nor might she smother This her first love by marrying another Although she did so many Judgements feel Yet would she not her bloody Laws repeal She had no minde to stop the opened vain Or close the bleeding Orifice again Of dying Saints At last the Lord did please To strike her with a languishing disease VVhereof she dy'd and having held the crown Five years and five months onely laid it down Horrible tempests mortal sicknesses Plagues famines burning fevers did perpess The grieved land the fourth year she did sway And swept a multitude of folks away So that in six weeks space in London there Dy'd seven Aldermen VVheat that same year Yielded four marks the Quarter Mault a Peck Fourty four shillings as much Pease did make Two pound six shillings eight pence to a crown The following year a Peck of VVheat came down Four shillings eight pence Mault of Ry a Strike Take for a groat you may if it you like In her fifth year a thundring tempest came And batt'red down two towns neer Notingham Flung sheets of lead abroad bells from the steeple Tore trees up by the roots slew divers people c. Also a great mortality was known In Autumn then Corn stood unreap'd unmown And rotted in the fields hence did ensue Great scarcity the lab'rours being few So much of her nor must my Muse pass by Her chiefest Instruments of cruelty First to begin with Stephen Gard'ner then Bishop of Winchester whose end my pen Disdains to mention twice I will therefore Add onely this That lying at the door Of merc'less death and being put in minde Of Peter his denying Christ he whin'd This answer out VVith Peter I deny'd The Lord but there is somewhat else beside VVanting in me Alas I never spent A tear nor can as Peter did repent Morgan St. Davids Bishop who high base Condemned Ferrar and usurp'd his place Did vomit up his meat through mouth and nose O horrible until his life did close Then Mr. Leyson high Sheriffe set away This Martyrs Cattel int'his own ground they No meant would eat nor touch a blade of grass But bellowed and roar'd till death Alas One Justice Morgan who condemned had Lady Jane Grey within a while fell mad Nothing but Lady Jane his voice did sound The Lady Jane Oh! how her name did wound The Lady Jane the Lady Jane O take The Lady Jane away no more he spake Dunnings the Norwich Chancellour for 's hate To the truth dy'd as in his chair he sate Berry of Norfolk Commissary one Burn'd harmless Saints fell with an heavy groan Down to the ground and never did recover One Bishop Thornton Suffragan of Dover A cruel man while on a Sabbath-day He looked o're his men to see them play At Bowles on him did the dead palsey fall Carry'd to bed he was defir'd to call The Lord to minde Yea said he so I do Not onely so but my Lord Card'nal too So desperately dy'd Another tool Of Hell at Greenwich went to Card'nal Pool To get his blessing but returning fast He fell down stairs and brake his neck for hast Grimwood a wretch who had himself forsworn Being in Harvest stacking of his corn His bowels suddenly fell out These two Capon and Jeff'ry Doctors undergo At Salsbury sudden deaths Mr. Woodroffe Sheriffe of London dyed soon enough One Clerk who did the Godly Saints devour Hanged himself at last in London-Tower Cox a Promoter going well t' his bed When the next morn arose was found stone dead Dale dy'd of lice One Troling Smith a great Foe to the truth dy'd suddenly â—'th'street Paul London Town-Clerk an accursed wretch Did voluntarily an halter stretch A lightning stroke did Robert Baldwin kill Cardinal Pool of an Italian Pill Dy'd as 't was thought Dr. Foxford Blomefield And Leland too to sudden deaths did yield One Dr. Williams Chanc'llour of Glocester Died the death before he was a ware One Lever said he had at Oxford been And that ill-favour'd knave Latimer seen Tooth'd like an horse but mark we what did follow His son soon hang'd himself One William Swallow Lost all his hair off all his nails did pill And 's wife was taken with the falling ill Brown Lardin Potto en'mies of George Eagles D'yd a dogs shameful death three pretty
besieg'd the towns-men salli'd out And often put the en'my to the rout In one months space the soe lay'd on so hot That more then thirteen thousand Cannon-shot Discharg'd against the Rochellers which held Out siege fo long till famine them compell'd T'unlawful meats all their provision spent But O admired Providence God sent Them fishes and in such abundant store The like was never seen nor heard before As soon as the edict for Peace came out Which Legates sent from Poland brought about They went away and ne're return'd again Divers great Lords and Gentlemen were slain During this siege commanders full sixscore And twenty thousand souldiers or more That did from bloody Massacres retire Receiv'd at Rochel their deserved hire King Charles himself fall'n sick t' his mother cry'd Madam I pray revenge my foes then dy'd Rochel expecting help in time of need From England England prov'd a staff of reed Which ran into their hands whilst they depended Too much thereon the City ill befriended B'ing close besieged by the King of France And his adherents the inhabitants Shrewdly put to 't for want of better meat Did horses dogs cats rats and leather eat The poorer sort of people wanting bread Upon the buttocks of the dead did feed Young maids did look with such a wrinkled brow As though they had a hundred years ran through And all the English when the Freach had took The City like Anatomies did look How sad was it to see their hollow eyes And meagre cheeks lank bellies withr'ed thighs A strike of wheat at twenty at pounds was rated A pound of bread worth one pound estimated A quarter of a sheep did six pounds utter And thirty shillings bought a pound of butter For one poor egge eight shillings was layd down An ounce of sugar yielded half a crown A dry'd fish given for a piece in gold A pint of French-Wine for as much was sold A pound of grapes thrice twelve pence milk but filling A pint-pot full valu'd at thirty shilling c. SECT XXX The Persecution of the Church of Christ in the Valtoline Anno Christi 1620. THe bloody Papists in the Valtoline Rising in arms did furiously combine To th'extirpation of the Christian train Drown'd some in Alba others they did brain Shot some and strangled others some they bee With knotty clubs and many that they met They inhumanely murth'red some they drew Out of their naked beds and did imbrew Their hands in their effused gore they slit The mouths of some up to their ears and hit Others with the Strappado some were hack'd To pieces others slash'd and others rack'd One was compell'd to ride upon an Asse His face turn'd to the tail and he to pass The market-place holding in 's hand the tail As'cwere a bridle some when food did fail Were famished others were ston'd or drown'd Some had their very bones to powder ground Thus having made a quick dispatch at Tel These profane wretches marched thence and fell Upon the Protestants at Church elsewhere Kill'd old and young and shew'd no mercy there To Lords nor Gentlemen to death they shot The Ministers Ladies and Children got Into the Bell-free for security The place is fired and by fire they die The Popish party under a pretence Of standing for the Protestants defence At Sondres yet for all they kept a pother They one destroyed now and then another As if it had bin done by accident Concealing their malevolous intent Then did they fall to plunder and imbrew Their hands in blood all those they met they slew There was a Noble Lady which refus'd The Romish faith to whom such words they us'd Madam out of the tender love you bear To your young infant in your arms give ear To us or else you shall be kill'd together But she undauated thus I came not hither To abnegate my faith nor left I all I had behind in Italy to fall From my first principles yea I will rather Suffer a thousand death my heavenly father Spar'd not his son but up to death him gave Me and such sinners as I am to save How shall I then regard this babe of mine O foe said she into the hands of thine I give my little child God which takes care For the wing'd Cit'zens of the liquid Air Is much more able to save this poor child Though you should leave it on these mountains wild Unlacing then her gown she bar'd her brest And said Here is the body you may feast Your swords therewith to kill it you have power My sould is Gods it can you not devour They slay the mother and the infant spare Committing it t' a Popish nurses care Many that did refuse to go to Mass Were dragged to the mountaines tops Alas And thrown thence headlong down for want of food Others were famish'd into Adda's flood Some flung from bridges and with corpses dead The woods and mountains ev'rywhere were spread A Noble Virgin through the streets was led Disgracefully they put upon her head A paper-mitre buffeted her cheeks And so besmear'd her face with dirt that leeks Might grow thereon then was she bid to call Upon the Saints she smiling said All all My hope my trust and my salvation Is in my Saviour Jesus Christ alone As for the Virgin Mary 't is confest She is above all other women blest Yet is she not omniscient and therefore Knowes not what we request what we implore Yea she her self her own son's merits needed And had bin damn'd had he not interceeded Christ hath despis'd rhe cross endur'd the shame And so will I thrice blessed be his name His holy name with that these villains drew her Into the fields and barbarously slew her Then came a letter from a Governour That these blood-suckers should with all their power Destroy both in the country and in City All that were Lutherans without all pity Whereat destroying all at Tyrane Tell Bruse Sondres and Malenco they more fell Then Hyrcan Tygres fell on Birbenno Caspano Trahen slaying high and low They kill'd a man and 's wife A cradled child Fair and well-favour'd in their faces smil'd They took her by the heels not mov'd at all And dashed out her brains against the wall At Bruse a very aged Matron was Sollicited by them to go to Mass And have respect unto her age not die To whom she answer'd God forbid that I Who have one foot already in the grave Should now forsake my Lord my Christ who gave Me to be constant in his truth profest And upon sublunary creatures rest Shall mens traditions or Gods holy word Take place so said they slew her with the sword SECT XXXI The Persecutions of the Church in Scotland which began Anno Christi 1527. ONE Mr. Patrick Hamilton by name Sprung from an honourable stock became An able Minister his holy zeal Did the despised Mysteries reveal To hood-wink'd souls so long untill at last Th' enraged Bishops him in prison cast
found the Saxons had the Land possest And turn'd out all the Christian Divines So done they did in the usurp'd confines The Heptarchy erect These Kings did smother All peace fell out and warr'd with one another Till disempowr'd they could not well defend Themselves much less with enemies contend King Lncius was the first that did receive The Gospel and in Jesus Christ believe From which time as 't in Chronicles appears It staid in Britain full four hundred years One hundred fourty and three years Gods word Grew cold but Austins comming it restor'd Some English children being brought to Rome There to be sold Gregory chanc'd to come Into the market-place when his fix'd sight Saw in their lovely cheeks pure red and white Contend for Mastership he much admir'd At their so sweet complexions and enquir'd What country they were of then being told That they were English heathens to be sold For slaves here 's choice enough if any wat 's Said he 't is pity such inhabitants So fair and so Angelical should dwell As subjects to the story Prince of hell Inform'd their Province Deira was said he Could wish them Manu-miss'd De ira Dei And further being given to understand That one nam'd Alle rul'd the British land There there saith he ought Praises to be given And Allelujab's to the King of heaven He also had a great desire to go To England and there preach but Rome said no. Pelagius dy'd he in his room assign'd Romes Bishop calling his intent to minde Austin and forty more Divines he sent To undertake this work they land in Kent At Thanets fertile Isle King Ethelbert In Canterbury City they convert And did baptize by whose example many Dayly came in the King enforc'd not any But much respected and affected those Who willingly with Christ would make a close Austin sends Greg'ry word how God did bless And crown their labours with desir'd success The joyful Bishop sendeth more Divines Over for to effect those great designs Were now on foot a letter of advise He writes to Austin not to be too wise In his own eyes not be puft up at all By those great miracles which did befall The English Church For why for this intent God onely us'd him as an instrument Ascribe all Austin to God's pow'r Divine His be the glory and the praise not thine And when thy heart t'ebulluate begins O think upon thy God-offending sins And that will humble thee all Gods elect Have of themselves no power to effect A miracle like this and yet heav'ns book Contains their names O do not do not look So much on thine own works be this thy strife To have thy name writ in the book of life What ever miracle the Lord hath brought To pass by thee know this it was not wrought For thy sake no 't was wrought for the salvation Of the seduc'd misguided English nation If I might be so worthy to advise The Temples built for heath'nish sacrifice I would not have demolish'd but th' abuse Remov'd converted to another use God go along with you and lest you stumble Through pride and glory keep you alwayes humble c. He an Epistle also did direct Unto the King which was to this effect He first prais'd God then did the King commend Wishing he might prove constant to the end In his professed faith and to his power Convert his Subjects to a Saviour Who holds forth life to those that will receive It freely and in 's promises believe And lastly he intreats his gifts may finde Acceptance coming from a willing minde Miletus by his preaching did convert Th' east Angles and the then-King Sigebert Who with his Unckle Ethelbert did found St. Paul his Church and built it from the ground Austin a Synod gath'red in this nation Of Bishops to consult of Reformation But nothing's done therein King Ethelbert Having a mighty force went to evert The Chestrian City where the Monks of Bangor Assembling pray'd God to divert his anger From their friends heads and turn it on their foes To shield the English from approaching woes When the King saw them so intent in pray'r Demand he did what sort of men they were And being credibly inform'd they pray'd For those that were his enemies he said Although unarm'd they fight against us do And with their prayers persecute us too My hearts fall bluntly on them upon pain Of our displeasure let them all be slain Eleven hundred Monks had their blood spill'd Which God reveng'd the bloody Tyrant's kill'd In fight by Christian Edwin who obtain'd The crown and the Christ-builded faith maintain'd The Idols and the Altars he destroy'd Making all ancient ceremonies voyd He caused brazen dishes to be tide By ev'ry fountain in the High-wayes side That so each passenger without controul Might be refreshed with a liberal boul He alwayes carried himself propitious Unto the good but rig'rous to the vitious So that a woman charg'd with gold might pass From Sea to Sea unquestion'd who she was At last by Penda and Cadwalla's might Subdu'd Josiah like he dy'd in fight His Christian Subjects felt the worst of woes Nay eruelst deaths by those insulting foes The Queen her daughter and Paulinus went To save their lives by water into Kent Oswald was crowned next whose pray'rs did gain A glorious Victory Cadwalla slain His love to piety his fervent zeal To spread the Gospel in his common-weal Was known to all From Scotland he procur'd Aidanus Bishop and the King inur'd To Scoth himself interpreted the words Aidanus preach'd unto his noble Lords And Subjects in their mother tongue more known To them then the exotique Scotish tone He to the poor was so compassionate That when on Easter-day at meat they sate And serv'd in silver he was told the poor Stood flocking thick and threefold at the door He caused them for to be serv'd in state With his own food taking a silver place And straight-way breaking it in pieces small Distribute it he did amongst them all Aidanus seeing this admir'd and got Him by the hand O may this never rot That to the poor so beneficial was Said he as Authors say it came to pass This Oswald also was a means to bring Kinigilsus of the West-Saxons King And Quicelinus King of Dorsetshire With many of their Subjects to the clear Knowledge of Christ under the Minist'ry Of Berinus famous for piety Thus Oswald having reigned nine years space Mercian Penda did his life uncase Oswic succeeded him Oswic as glorious A Prince as pious and no less Victorious He rais'd an army fought and overthrew A greater force and impious Penda slew And now the Bishops and the Ministers Sequester'd from the World and its affairs Preach'd freely to the people until they About the celebrating Easter-day Which bone amongst them Satan cast contended A Synod's call'd nor was the diff'rence ended Wolferus now a license having gain'd Converted the south-Saxons then there
defence your tower So slep'd he in the Lord and was the last In Scotland that the fi'ry tryal past SECT XXXII The Persecution of the Church in Ireland Anno Christi 1642. THe factious Archbishops Abbots Pryors False Jesuites Romish Priests and knavish Friars Stirr'd up rebellion by their instigation Against the English in the Irish Nation And when they thought their malice had invented Such thriving plots as could not be prevented They in their publick prayers recommended The good success of their designes which tended To the advancement of the Cath'lick cause And told the people 't was no time to pause Their nation over-run with hereticks Call'd Protestants sworn foes to Catholicks Who were not to be suffered alive Amongst them and for any to deprive Them of their breaths the crime was not more great Then to destroy a dog to give them meat Or yield to them relief at any time 'T was mortal O unpardonable crime Romes Doctrine they pretended to suppress And root out those that did the same profess They Laws would make they thought should under All Pop'ry after Englands good example trample Observe we how their words and deeds did vary Said one thing but did act the quite contrary And now they fall to murthr'ous blows and glory 'T will save them from the pains of Purgatory None that spake English the least mercy found The English language was a loathed sound All are resolv'd to scowre the Irish borders From these supposed Authors of disorders Poor Protestants some were to exile packt Some kill'd 't was thought a meritorious act To slay those Devils in the shapes of men For so they called them not one of ten Escap'd their clutches what a deal of good Said they it does us thus to bath in blood When these injurious wretches are destroy'd In Ireland and their habitation voyd We 'll then for England have at England then We will not leave alive one English man Put case we should be of our lives bereaven Immediately our souls would fly to heaven Why should such scoundrels breath to work let 's fall And take away their lives estates and all Strip strip man woman child base rougues and whores Leave not a rag on turn them out of doors So now they shelter them but woods and caves Sha'n't be their dwellings but shall be their graves Whom wee 'l But many by the high-wayes side For want of sustenance fell down and dy'd And many thousands that for succour fled To towns by that time they came there were dead To tell their horrid Massacres would make The ear to tingle and the heart to ake In Armagâ— and Tyrone this barb'rous rage Spar'd neither rich nor poor nor sex nor age And elsewhere many thousands did expire By sword by water famine or by fire Some had their guts rip'd out some drag'd thro bogs Young children thrown to be devour'd by dogs If any chanc'd to beg but leave to pray And kneeled down they lost their heads straightway Some in dark dungeons lie others half slain Earnestly beg'd to be rid out of pain They cover'd some alive with dirt and stones And laugh'd to hear their lamentable grones Some were from bridges into rivers flung Others on tenter-hooks by the chin hung They hang'd up some by th' arms with their swords trying How long an English-man would be a dying Young infants rip'd out of their mothers womb Were given to the hogs for to entomb Children were forc'd to kill fathers and mothers Parents their children and brothers brothers Wives their own husbands husbands their own wives And they themselves in fine must lose their lives No mercy's shown man woman no nor child The dead's dig'd up th'alive in cauldrons boil'd Some had their hands cut off and eyes pluck'd out Many were left alive their guts about Their very heels and of some's grease and fat Candles were made while others rosted at Slack fires Nay boys and women were employ'd To perpetrate such deeds and therein joy'd The Rebels in the country Portendown Did many thousands in the river drown At Lisgool Tullah Lissenskeah and Cumber All Castles a considerable number Were brought unto untimely ends Man woman And child was kill'd at Killmore and Killoman An ancient dame which towards Dublin went Was strip'd in one day seven times and sent To seek her God and to her God complain And bid him if he could cloath her again All mercy was exil'd these murth'rous Cains Brain'd some stab'd others with their swords forks skeins Thousands of Protestants in snowy weather Turn'd out stark naked perish'd all together Through cold and hunger many that were sick Were drag'd out of their beds and hang'd up quick One Gcodwife Lin they hanged in the Air And then the daughter by the mothers hair Upon a day a Cittadel they fir'd Over the Christians heads therein retir'd And thus express'd their joy Behold how high The flames mount O how sweetly do they fry A Divines mouth up to the ears they slit So don they put a Bibles leaf to it And bid him preach and teach some pretty stuff For now he had a mouth was wide enough A naked woman her bare skin to hide A wisp of straw about her middle tide They fit'd it boasting how it did enhance Their spirits to see the English jade so dance They stab'd Jane Addis and her young child stuck T' her brest and said Suck English bastard suck If any hid themselves in cellars caves They all were murther'd by these hell-sent slaves Who made their boast they pleas'd the devil well In sending him so many souls to hell Against God and his holy word likewise They belch'd out execrable blasphemies Bibles they burnt and said They burnt hell-fire Cut some and soaked others in the mire Then dash'd them on the owners faces some They stamp'd on saying Hence all mischiefs come A plague upon them all in a short time We hope to see none in our Irish clime They told th' Apostates that they thought it good To kill them while they were in a good mood Anne Nicholson said boldly she 'd not turne And rather then she would her Bible burn As they would have her she the death would die And did as it fell out for by and by She and her mate was stabb'd but he that acted The vill'ny grew immediately distracted At Glascow fisty English men and Scots They made recant and then cut all their throats In Mayo and in Tiperary too Both Counties not a few did undergo All sorts of cruel deaths these bloody ones Did slash hew hack and pellet them with stones They forc'd some in the Sea swoln big with waves To take possession of those watry graves In Sligo forty Protestants were strip'd And lock'd up in a cellar then there slip'd A butcher in appointed so to do And with an axe cleav'd all their heads in two Into the Jail belonging to this town Poor Protestants were sent and there knock'd down About Dungannon Tyrone Charlemount
from the Sacred Writ Two hundred sixteen years this faith did flame Amongst them till the Pagan Saxons came Religious Lucius without issue dy'd And now the Barons and the Nobles vy'd For King and while they for the crown contended In step'd the Romans so the quarrel ended For they usurp'd the crown and did o'rewhelm With misery and ruine the whole Realm Sometimes th'Idol'trous Romans bore the sway Sometimes the Christian Britans won the day By turns they got the best by turns they got The worst as Providence did them allot In Dioclesian's time and in the Reign Of Maximinian the Christians slain In Britany and elsewhere did amount To sev'nteen thousand One of great account Alban his name the Proto-Martyr was Of Englands Isle and many more did pass That way he went Religion decaid Bibles were burned and the Churches laid Laid level with the ground disord'red orders Took place and Piety forsook our borders But the fore-named Tyrants over-tir'd With blondy butcheries at last respir'd Experience telling them the more they shed The Christians blood the more the faith still spread They both went down from the Imperial seat Constantius next Constantine the Great Succeeding in the British government The Church was quiet and enjoy'd content Which peace continu'd till the Arrian Sect The novelty-affectors did infect Hereat God raised up the Picts and Seots Two barb'rous nations and to them alots The Victors wreath poor England was opprest And did for many years enjoy no rest Which made them send Embassadors to Rome With sad complaints entreating them to come To aid them so a Roman Legion came Slew some making the rest retreat with shame And quit these coasts advising us withal To raise betwixt us and the Scots a wall A wall being builded by the English men The Roman force returned home agen This news was brought unto the Picts and Scots One this side of the wall they landed boats O're-ran the country laid the corn-sields waste And bare down all before them as they past The Britans send their Legates unto Rome A second time the sent-for souldiers come And vaequish'd them the rest put to disorders Enforcedly desert the British borders Which done they told the Britans flat and plain They should expect no aid from them again Besides it stood not with their ease to take So long and tedious journeys for their sake Now therefore arm your selves and exercise In Warlike feats said they if yee be wise Go go and build you firmer walls that so You may be able to keep out your foe The Romans having took their last farewel Of Britany the Picts and Scots soon fell On the re-builded walls and put to flight The trembling Britains noitrain'd up to fight They that stood out were barb'rously destroy'd And all their goods the enemies enjoy'd Loan Aceldama of blood what store Of slaughtred Carkasses ev'n swim in gore Rome b'ing again solicited to send Relief refus'd the Britains in the end Took heart to grass when earthly comforts fail'd Sought God and ' gainst their enemies prevail'd Gave them the total rout the Picts began To keep their bound save onely now and than They inroads made into the Land the Land At last became under her own command The ground was now manur'd the Lord did bless Th' industrious Britains with a large encrease Of full-ear'd corn that such abundant store Scarce ever in the Land was seen before But Oh! mans sinful heart this Peace this Quiet This Plenty led them to excess and rior To pride contention envy and the like God sent the plague among them which did strike So many dead that the alive were all Unable to afford them burial Yet could the judgements that abroad were sent Not melt their hearts nor move them to repent The death of friends the danger they were in Themselves but hardened them more in sin Not work'd their Reformation oftentimes Judgements prove Shooing-horns to greater crimes They wax still worse and worse the Laity chose And Clergy too to live like ranc'rons foes Gods thundring vengeance which upon them fell My breathing Muse shall in the sequel tell SECT II. The Persecution of the British Church under the Heathen Saxons and English Anno 429 c. THE Britains with ill-neighbours re-infested Instead of turning to the Lord requested The Pagan Saxons aid for to oppose The raging fury of these Northern foes They came and coming conquer'd them at length The Saxons knowing their sufficient strength To over-pow'r the weaker Britains they Fell foul on them exacting greater pay And more provision or else they would Side with the Picts and do the best they could To spoil their country This their resolution No sooner said was put in execution All goodly edifices they destroy'd The Ministers the while they were employ'd In Divine service were of lives depriv'd And rev'rend Bishops with their flocks disliv'd Some left their country and beyond Seas fled Some on the mountaines tops were murthered Some pin'd with hunger creeping from their caves Were soon dispatch'd or made perpetual slaves The English Nobles summoned to treat Concerning peace did on a fix'd time meet At Almshury but by the faithless train Of Saxons were most treacherously slain At Stomheng and that they were bury'd there The yet-remaining monuments declare Now when the Britans found no other way Lay open to redress they fell to pray A fast was call'd and all with one accord Humbled their souls before th' Almighty Lord. Ambrosius Aurelian being chose To be their King did profligate their foes And from that day Gods hand appearing glorious They went out prosp'rous and return'd Victorious At last Aurelian with poyson dead Uter Pendragon reigned in his stead He bidding battail to the enemy Two of their Chieftains took who scaping fly To Belgia for more aid and in the mean The Saxons flock'd in conflicts past between Th'English and them now these and sometimes they As Providence saw good did win the day Octa and Cosa with a force renew'd Came o're again the Britans are subdu'd Their pastors slain Churches demolished No mercy 's shown King Vter sick in bed Seeing his Subjects fall would needs be brought Into his camp so resolutely fought His souldiers then they under God obtain The Victors wreath Octa and Cosa slain Soon ever this great Victory was won Uter of poyson dy'd Arthur his son Was crowned King who twice six Victories Obtain'd against the Saxon enemies His stranger acts and unbeliev'd success As fabulous I leave but questionless Much peace and safety to the British Isle Was in his happy reiga enjoy'd yet while They were at Peace with others they agin Returning to their loathed wayes of sin Fell to intestine broils embracing evil In stead of good and worshipped the Devil Under the notion of an Angel bright The Priests withheld the Gospels purer light From deviating souls which soon procur'd The wrath of God too great to be endur'd Driv'n out of house and home no ease no rest They
any other thing they would Provided that she did her self so carry As fits a duteous Subject Lady Mary Having receiv'd this answer heavy hearted From out the City's circuit streight departed Hereat the Councel did set out a band Of armed souldiers under the command Of the Northumbrian Duke Mary withdrew her Self into Suffolk many flocking to her And while she in Fermingham Castle staid All Suffolk freely proff'red her their aid And best assistance to procure her Reign With this Provisoe that she would maintain Religion established of late By her good brother and not broach debate Amongst her Subjects nor foment the seed Of war to this she easily agreed And did to God so solemnly protest That no man could suspect her in the least Now with this power of those Godly men She vanquished her foes yet after when The self-same party spplication made Unto her Grace to do as she had said She answer'd Forasmuch as you that are But members arrogantly seek to bear Rule o're your head I fear me to your cost You 'l once know what it was to rule the rost By sad experience you shall find one day That Subjects may not rule but must obey Then in the Pill'ry famous Mr. Dobbe Exposed was to many a bitter bobbe Some others for presenting that request Were laid up fast to terrifie the rest The Marches of the Duke not over-long The Lady by his ling'ring grew more strong So that the London Councel having heard How much the Commons for her aid appear'd And that some of the Nobles too did lean That way they presently proclaim'd her Queen The Gen'ral by his souldiers forsook At Cambridge left almost alone was took And brought to London-Tower in a short season On Tower-hill he lost his head for treason After his condemnation he was Promis'd his life if he would go to Mass Which he assented to his words regrest The truth he had so formerly profess'd He to the Cath'lick cause the people led To th'papists great joy yet did he lose his head Queen Mary thus possessed of the crown Began the pure Religion to disown As soon appear'd by her displacing all The godly Bishops Ridly Coverdale Poinet Hooper and Scory Gardiner Set free was made Bishop of Winchester Also Lord Chancellour of England Bonner Too undeservedly attain'd the honour Of being London's Bishop To the Fleet Was Mr. Hooper manded O unmeet To see the Queen good Doct or Ridly went But on a lame Jade to the Tow'r was sent A Parliament was call'd a Proclamation Forthwith the Queen set forth throughout the nation Wherein she shew'd She could by no means brook To smother that Religion which she took In with her Infant-milk and to her power Meant to observe until her latest hour Wishing that all her Subjects which would sleep Secure in their whole skin the same might keep She also did declare whereas there were Evil-disposed persons who did dare To preach God's word misled by their own brain She therefore did by strict command ordain Such should not henceforth preach as held unfit Read or interpret any Sacred Writ Or other points Religion concern'd Or Print Books by the which it might be learn'd Without a special licence from the Queen On pain of stirring up her Highness spleen Requiring all her Officers to see Her will and pleasure executed be If herein any wilfully offend She authoriz'd them them to apprehend And send them forthwith to the neighb'ring gaol Without admitting Mani-prize or bail Till for their punishment and the example Of others Orders be procur'd more ample Also the London Aldermen were will'd To send for all the Ministers which fill'd The streight'ned Wards and silence them on pain Of death commanding them that none explain Or preach or read the Scripture in their stead But such as by the Queen were licensed One William Rutler Humphry Palden too He must to prison this to th'Counter go For speaking but against what was express'd At Paul's Cross by one Bourn a Popish Priest Good Mr. Rogers was t' his house confin'd Bradford Vernon and Beacon were assign'd Close pris'ners in the Tower Then did they send For Coverdale and Hooper to attend The Councel and for Newgate they allot John Melvine a Divine by birth a Scot. Mr. Hugh Latimer was sent to th' Tower And so was Dr. Cranmer by this power Mr. Simonds Sanders Horn Durhams Dean Were summon'd to appear before the Queen Soon after this the Parliament began Where Mr. Harly a judicious man Bishop of Hereford degraded was For marrying a wife and shunning Mass Sir James Hales Justice of the Common-Plea In charge against the Popes supremacie Producing Statutes c. into prison cast Was there so roughly dealt with that at last Recant he did but O dire consequence He felt the terrours of his conscience And his own executioner had been Had not God's special goodness step'd between The knife and him From prison he releas'd His self-made wounds recur'd no inward rest Enjoy'd at home so having made his will He drown'd himself and 's end began his ill At the same time for their dis-approbation Of a presented Bill the Convocation By Bonner was dissolv'd From Coventry For their oppugning of Idolatry Baldwin Clark Careless Willcocks all in hast Sent up to London by the Mayor lay fast Bishops imprison'd were Archdeacons Deans All Beneficed men put by their means Who closely to the truth reveal'd adher'd And Popish Parsons in their roomes prefer'd Too bad supplies within a little season Archbishop Cranmer for no less then Treason At Guild Hall was araing'd clear'd of that charge For 's heresy he might not live at large One Mr. Thomas Wotton an Esquire And Doctor Crome did in the Fleet retire Now Hymen went to joyn with Nuptial bands Iberian Philip's and Queen Maries hands Some of the Nobles and the vulgar sort Not very well resented this report The Duke of Suffolk labour'd to prevent The match Sir Thomas as Wyat rais'd in Kent Some sorces to oppose it for he fear'd The Realm would be enslav'd and Popery rear'd Wyat for London march'd Queen Mary then At Guild Hall stirred up the City-men Wyat came into Southwark having found Entrance block'd up he went by Kingstone round And faced Lud-gate which to entertain Such guests refusing he return'd again And having got the worst at Temple-Bar Became Sir Clement Parson's prisoner Who sent him to the Tow'r on Tower-Hill He and the Lady Jane their dayes fulfill Bonner did in his Diocess disperse Injunctions to all the Ministers Wherein they were required to give in The names of all whoever were agin Auricular confession the next Lent Encroaching on Queen Mary also sent To Bonner Articles commanding streight The Church-Laws made by Henery the eight Should be in force that heresy abhor'd Should fall the Popes supremacy restor'd That Ministers which did lead marri'd lives Should be divorced from themselves their wives And that processions should be said or sung From that
these things are too far above thy reach Said they the shrub is lower then the Beach I am said she indeed and yet my breath I 'll give in witness of my Saviours death O do not put me off with longer stay For Ah! I am impatient of delay My love hath wings it hovers up and down Nor can it rest till glory is her own My heart is fixed I will never go From what I said nor do as others do Then said the Bishop There 's no hopes to win her The devil leadeth her the devil is in her Not so my Lord quoth she Christ is my guide His Spirit upholds me that I cannot slide She when she heard deaths sentence past upon her Advanc'd her voice and said Unmated honour The Proverb 's true Long look'd for comes at last My Lord my God I thank thee that thou hast Granted to me this day my hearts desire In listing me with thy celestial Quire Woman said one be thou a happy wife By thy recanting O the sweets of life No said she by no means my life is hid With Christ in God now the good Lord forbid That for this life at best but transitory I should lose heaven and eternal glory I have two husbands but will onely cleave Unto my heavenly and my earthly leave The fellowship of Saints in heaven I trow Exceeds the having children here below And if my husband and my children prove Faithful then am I theirs they have my love God my good father is God is my mother God is my sister and God is my brother God is my kinsman God 's my faithful friend Who will stick close unto me till the end To execution then led along She was attended with a num'rous throng Bound to the stake she by the Popish Priests Was set upon again unwelcom guests To whom she thus for God's sake now give o're Your bibble babble trouble me no more With empty sounds fain would I Oh! divorce My self from your impertinent discourse O God be merciful to sinful me For Ah! I onely do depend on thee She stood with admirable patience Amidst the flames and so her soul flew hence Sh 'had such a cheerful look that one would say It was her wedding not her burning day She had been alwayes sober in her diet Neat in apparel peaceable and quiet Alwayes a doing never fitting still During her health and limbs by her good will Chain'd to her house she ever would refuse To gad abroad as most ill-houswives use To all that came to her her gracious heart Would streams of consolation impart Gods word was her delight she gave good heed Ther husband in the Lord a wife indeed According to her power she at her door And at their sev'ral homes reliev'd the poor And in the time of her calamity Would take no proff'red coyne for said she I Am going now to Heaven a City where No mony any Mastery doth bear And whilst I here remain the Lord will feed My craving stomack and supply my need It is his promise and full sure I be That he which feeds the Ravens will feed mâ— One Richard Sharp a Weaver by his trade In Bristel City apprehended made A large confession of his faith before One Dr. Dalby the there-Chancellour Who by perswasive Arguments so wrought Upon his weakness that he soon was brought To make a promise That he would appear And publickely recan and when and where But after this Apostacy Sharp felt His conscience gall'd hell's horrour so indwelt His soul that he his calling could not minde His colour went away his body pin'd Next Sabbath day going to Church he made To the Quire-door and with a loud voice said That Altar neighbours pray bear me record Is the Great Idol I deny'd my Lord But from the bottom of my heart am sorry For what I don in hazarding my Glory He caught condemn'd and burn'd with Thomas Hale Climb'd up to heaven from this tearful vale One Thomas Benson of the same town went To pris'n for saying That the Sacrament Was as they us'd it nothing else but bread And not the body of the Lord indeed As for the Sacraments which you call seven Five were ordain'd by men but two by heaven Give me the two which I acknowledge true And all the other five I 'll leave to you Soon after this he did receive death's sentence And executed to his God he sent hence His blessed soul which left its bodie 's jail For Paradise death having put in bail Now to conclude The last that did maintain The Gospel with their hearts-blood in the Raign Of Mary Queen that hell-begotten fury Were these five Citizens of Canterbury John Hurst John Cornford Captains in the fight Christopher Brown Alice Swoth and Kath'rine knight The things imputed to their charge were that Christs real presence they denyed flat Affirming onely those that do believe Not wicked men Christs body do receive The Pope they said was Antichrist the Mass Abominable that a sin it was To pray to Saints that cringing to a cross Was meer Idol'try and an errour gross c. Sentence of condemnation being heard Forthwith John Cornford was in spirit stirr'd And with an ardent zeal for God express'd In the name of himself and all the rest This doom I'th'name of Christ our Saviour The Son of God the High'st and by the power Of his most Holy-Ghost as also by The Holy and Divine authority Of the Apostolick and Cath'lick Church Never yet totally left in the lurch We here turn over to the Prince of hell As slaves eternally to howle and yell In sulph'ry flames the bodies of all those Blasphemers Hereticks who do oppose The living God and bolster up their errours Against the Truth hence to the King of Terrours So that by this thy righteous judgement shown Against thy foes great God thou mayst make known Thy true religion to thy greater glory And our souls comfort when we read the story Of thy great power and to th'edification Of all our well-nigh ruinated Nation Good Lord so be it be it so Amen And this his excommunication then Took great effect against truth's enemies Queen Mary within six dayes after dies And Tyrannie with her there is no hope Of any longer footing for the Pope In England now great joy betides to all The faith-ey'd Saints who wish'd proud Babels fall Yet the Archdeacon and 's associates quick Knowing the Queen was dangerously sick Condemn'd those pious persons to the flame And hurri'd them away When there they came In Christ his name they offer'd up their prayers As holocausis to the Almighties ears To God they pray'd to God for ever blest Preferring this request amongst the rest That if it were his will their blood might be The last that should be shed so Lord pray we No sooner had they pray'd but heaven return'd A gracious answer they the last that burn'd Great God said they we cheerfully resign Our souls into those blessed hands