Then said the King commit thy self unto the hands of God and not unto mine Lambort I commend my Soul unto the hands of God but my Body I wholly yield and Submit unto your clemency Then said the King if you do commit your self unto my Judgment you must die for I will not be a patron to Hereticks and so caused the Sentence of Death to be read against him Shortly aâ—â—er he was had to Smithfield and there burnt in the midst of the Flames he cryed unto the people in these words None but Christ none buâ— Christ and so ended his life The aforesaid six Articles being consented unto and concluded by the King and Parliament the Bishops caused further to be enacted that whosoever denyed Transubstantiation or whosoever should be Alders Comforters Counsellors Consentors and A bettors therein should be adjudged Hereticks That every such Offender should have and suffer Judgment Execution and pain of death by way of burning without any Abjuration benefit of the Clergy or Sanctuary and should forfeit to the King all their Land and Tenements Goods and Chattels as in Cases of high Treason And for all such as did preach teach uphold maintain or defend any thing contrary to the five last Articles should be adjudged as Fellons and lose both life and goods as in the Case of Fellony When these Articles were in debate in the Parliament house Doctor Cranmer in favour to the Professors of the Truth earnestly disputed in defence of the Truth against them but notwithstanding all his opposition the Act was past By reason of these fix Articles a great Number were apprehended in London and other Places so that all the prisons in London were too little to hold them and many were imprisoned in Halls Amongst whem was one John Porter of London John Porter died in Prison who for reading to people in a Bible was sent for by Bonner and sharply reproved Porter answered he trusted he had no way offended contrary to the Law thereby Bonner charged him for making expositions upon the Text and for gathering Multitudes about him this Porter denyed yet did Bonner send him to Newgate where he was miserably Loaden with Irons both hands and legs with a great Collor of Iron about his neck whereby he was fastned to the Wall in the Dungeon after a while he sent for a Kinsman of his who by bribing the Keeper obtained that he was put amongst Thieves and Murtherers but Porter hearing and seeing their Wickedness exhorted them to amendment of life giving them good instructions for this he was complained of and carried down into the lowest Dungeon where he was so cruelly oppressed with Bolts and Irons that within few daies after he was found dead In the year 1544. One Robert Testwood living at Windsor being a favourer of the Lutherans Robert Testwood Martyr and seeing People licking and kissing a white Alablaster Image that stood behind the high Altar at which his Zeal was so stirred that with a Key that he had in his hand he struck off the Images nose saying see good People what it is it cannot help it self how then would you have it help you The noise hereof being spred abroad one Simonds a Lawyer took up the Nose and said one day it should be a dear Nose to Testwood And further upon a day whereon every one was to carry a Relick in procession Testwood amongst others had Beckets Rochet proferred him but he pusht it from him saying if they gave it him he would wipe his Tayle with it These doings so offended the Clergy that they said he was a Heretick and would roast a Fagot one day for this geer but notwithstanding their Threats he lived in quiet till the death of the Lord Cromwell and till Winchester had insinuated into the affections of the King and wholly ruled at which time Testwood being sick in bed was fetched out and cast into Prison together with one Anthony Person John Marbeck and Henry Filmer and after a while they were all brought forth to Judgment be fore Doctor Capon â—iâ—â—op of Salsbury and others Testwoods Indictment was for that when the Priest lifted up the Sacrament he said what wilt thou lift it up so high what yet higher take heed that thou let him not fall As also that at such times when the Sacrament was lifted up he used to look down on his Book or another way that he might not see the Sacrament whereupon he said Whereon did he look that marked me so well Marry quoth the Kings Attorney he could not be better Occupied then to mark such Hereticks The Prisoners being Condemned they spent the greatest part of the night before their Execution in prayer that the Lord would strengthen them and enable them with stedfast Faith and power to go through their Exercise About this time there rose a great Persecution in Callice in France which was then under Englands power Persecution in Callice there was at one time twelve persons Imprisoned for their Religion but the Lord Cromwell so called hearing of it wrote immediately to the Commissioners in Callice in the Kings Name requiring that the Hereticks with their Accusers should be sent over into England forthwith the Commissioners loading them with Chains sent them over as soon as Cromwell heard they were arrived he sent for them to his House and smiling upon them said Go your ways to the Fleet and Submit your selves Prisoners there and be of good cheer for if God give me life you shall shortly go home with as much honesty as ye came with shame But it pleased God that shortly after this Cromwell was beheaded so that the poor men then had no hope but in the Providence of their Heavenly Father who comforted them in their deep Troubles that as their Afflictions abounded their joyes and consolations abounded much more for when all hope was past the Lord Audley Chancellor of England sent for them and without any further examination discharged them of their Imprisonment In the year 1541. The King sent out a Commission for apprehending of such as offended against the six Articles and when the Commissioners satâ— at Mercers-Chapple being such as were chosen on purpose they enquired not only for such as offended against the six Articles but of such as came seldom to Church as it s called and received not the holy Bread and Water so that they indicted above five hundred persons most of which had either died in Prison or been burnt in Smithfield but that the King being informed by the Lord Audley that they were indicted of malice granted them his Pardon Richard Meekins Martyr beinâ— a Boy of fifteen years old About the same time one Richard Meekins a boy of fifteen years old was accused for spaking some words against the Sacrament of the Altar and when the first Jury would not find the indictment against him they were soundly ratled by the Bishop of London and another Jury impannelled that found it
wont to say that there was no more Miserable kind of Life than to be a Pope About this time William the first King of England years since Christ 1079 took down the Prelates in Temporallities in England for he ordained that they should exercise no Temporal Authority at all but in spirituallities he rather raised them as may be seen by a passage between Aldred Arch-bishop of York and the King for at a time upon the repulse of a certain suit the Arch bishop in great discontentment offered to depart when the King in awe of his displeasure fell down at his Feet desired pardon and promised to grant his Suit The King all this while being down at the Arch-Bishops feet the noble men that were present put him in mind that he should cause the King to rise nay said the Arch-Bishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger Saint Peter and as by this Story we see the insulting pride of a Prelate in those days so by another we may see the equivocating falsehood of a Prelate at that time for Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury would often swear he had not one Penny upon the Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasures About this time William the second King of England claimed the making of Bishops to be his right years since Christ 1098 and forbad Appeals and Enter-course to Rome For Appeals had been seldom used tell Anselm in this Kings raign Appealed to the Pope upon whose complaint the Pope was about to Excommunicate the King but having a little before Excommunicated the Emperor Henry the fourth he forbore at that time to do it least by making Excommunication common he should make it be slighted at this time great Contention arose between the King and Arch-Bishop Anselm and Anselm not yeilding to the King in any Point Perjudicial to the Popes Authority nor the King yeilding to Anselm in any point prejudicial to his own Prerogative the Contention continued long and hot Anselm often threatning his going to Rome the King told him plainly he would not thrust him out of the Realm but if he would go without his leave he would then keep him out during his pleasure and besides he should carry nothing out of the Realm with him yet Anselm ventured it and the King performed it for William Warlswast was sent to riffle him in his passage at Sea of all he had neither was he suffered to return as long as the King lived during all which time the King took all the profits of his Arch-Bishoprick to his own use At this time Henry the first being King of England at his first coming to the Crown he forbore his claim to the investitures of Bishops years since Christ 1112 but after he had been King some time he claimed that both to invest Bishops and to allow or hinder Appeals to Rome belonged to him In these Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury who was now returned into England opposed him affirming that both of them belonged to the Pope the contention at last was brought to the Pope to whom King Henry sent William Warlestwast Elect Bishop of Exeter who saying to the Pope that his Master would not for the Crown of his Realm loose the Authority of investing his Prelates The Pope started up and answered neither will I loose the disposing of spritual Promotions in England for the Kings head that wears the Crown before God I avow it so the Contention grew long and hot and many Messengers were sent to and fro about it the Conclusion was that the King should receive homage of the Bishop Elect but should not invest them by Staff and Ring to which the King said nothing for the present but forbore not to do it nevertheless for five years after the death of Anselm Ralph Bishop of Rochester was by the King made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury notwithstanding all the Popes threaâ—nings At this time there being two Popes chosen at one time made a great Schism and Tumult years since Christ 1159 the Emperor to quiet them sent for them to appear before him Alexander being one that was chosen scorns the motion Victor doth appear him therefore the Emperor aids to the City and settles him to be Pope Alexander flyes to France and Venice and requires aid against the Emperor at last the Emperor was fain to submit to the Pope who putting his foot upon the Emperors Neck spake these words Thou shalt walk upon the Adders and Basilicks and shalt tread down the Lyon and Dragon mean while the Emperor speaking to the Pope from under his foot not to thee but to Peter the Pope answers both to me and to Peter Thus the Emperor having subjected himself promising to take Alexander for the true Pope and to restore all that he had taken from Rome departed Henry Emperor is crowned on condition of restoring many things to St Peter pretended by the Pope to have been taken away the Pope holding the Crown between his feet and so the Emperor stoops with his head to take it on the Pope immediately with his foot strikes it off again intimating his power to depose him as well as Crown him the Cardinals taking up the Crown thus kicked of puts it on again years since Christ 1216 About the year 1216. after the death of Habert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Moâ—ks of that Covent secretly in the night elected one Reginald their Sub-prior to succeed him and caused him to go to Rome for confirmation but afterward doubting how the King would take it being done without his Knowledge they crave leave of King John to chose a fit man the King is content to allow them the Election but requires himself to have the nomination and thereupon commends unto them John Gray Bishop of Norwich whom he specially favoured and accordingly the Monks Elect him but the matter being afterward referred to the Pope which of these Elections should stand good after many Allegations on both sides the Pope to shew himself indifferent to both disallows them both and nominates a third man one Stephen Langton an English-man a Cardinal the Monks admit him but the King opposes it the Contest grew hot but at first the King gave the Pope as good as he brought for as the Pope threatned the King to Excommunicate him and to interdict the Kingdom so the King threatned the Pope to nullifie his Authority and to banish the Clergy men out of the Realm as the Pope acted as much as he threatned for he interdicted the Kingdom So the King performed as much as he had spoken for he drove the Monks out of the Cloysters yet at last when the Popes Legate came into England he told the King in what great danger he stood first of the King of France by invasion and then of his own Subjects by Rebellion forboth which there was no other help but reconcilement with the Pope this so touched him to the quick that he made him
constancy and so embracing the Fire she sweetly slept in the Lord. Thus near the space of three hundred years was the Church of Christ assaulted on every side had small rest no joy nor outward safety in this present World but in much bitterness of Heart in continual tears and mourning under the Cross passed over their days being spoiled imprisoned contemned reviled famished tormented and martyred every where by night assembling to sing Praises to God in all which their dreadful dangers and sorrowful afflictions notwithstanding the goodness of the Lord left them not desolate but the more their outward Tribulations did increase the more their inward Consolations did abound and the farther off they seemed from the joyes of this Life the more present was the Lord with them with Gracâ— and fortitude to confirm and rejoyce their Souls and though their possessions and riches in this World were lost and spoiled yet were they inriched with heavenly Gifts and Treasures from above an hundredfold then was true Religion truely felt in the Heart then was Christianity not in outward appearance shewed only but in inward affection received then was the Name and Fear of God true in Heart not in Lips alone dwelling Faith then was fervent Zeal ardent Prayer not swiming in the Lips but groaned out to God from the bottom of the Spirit then was no Pride in the Church nor leisure to seek riches nor time to keep them contention for Trifles was then so far from Christians that well were they when they could meet to pray together against the Devil the author of all dissention But after this the Christians coming to be in favour with the Emperours and riches and worldly wealth crept into the Clergy and the Devil poured his venom into the Church so that true humility began to decay and Pride to set in his Foot and after the Church through favour of the Emperours was indued with Lands Donations Possessions and Patrimonies and the Bishops feeling the smack of Wealth ease and prosperity began to swell in pomp and pride and the more they flourished in this World the more Gods holy Spirit forsook them till at last the Bishops who were for a long time kept low and persecuted as before is related now of persecuted People began to be Persecutors of others and through their pride and riches were wholy degenerated from the true Religion and became Adversaties to God and persecuted and destroyed his living Witnesses and Members as any were raised up from time to time to bear a Testimony against their Apostacy as in this following History will appear Part III Containing an Account of the grievous Sufferings Persecutions and Martyrdom of the Servants of the Lord inflicted on them by the Papists after the Apostacy from the antient Primitive Gospel of Truth preached by Christ and his Apostles IOhn saw there would be an Apostacy from the blessed Faith in his daies Rev. 13. for he saw a Beast rise out of the Sea and the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority and all the World wondered after the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is aâ—le to make War with him And he opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to Blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World After this great Darkness had spread over Nations and People for some years the Lord raised up some from time to time to bare Testimony according to their measures of light and knowledge they had received against the blindness and ignorance that the World was under as in the following instances the Reader may observe Robert Grosthead living in the year 1240 wrot sharply to the Pope especially for the evils he committed in England that he was opposite to Christ a Murderer of Souls and an Heretick and complained on his death-bed of the corruptions which were sprung up in the Church and inveighed bitterly against the manifold abominations of the Church and Court of Rome saying well may these verses be applied to them The whole World cannot suffice their greedy covetous mind Nor all their drabs and naughty pack their filthy lusting kind For his thundring against the Romish Church and for his publick reproving of the covetousness pride and manifold Tyrannies of the Pope he was excommunicated to the pit of Hell by Innocent the fourth and cited to come to his bloody Court but he appealed from the Popes Tyranny to the Eternal Tribunal of Jesus Christ and shortly after died Yea before this there were some found in England who testified against the corruptions of the Church of Rome and suffered for the same for in the year 884. John Patrick Erigena wrot a Book about the Lords Supper which was afterwards condemned by the Pope and he martyred for it In the year 960. some were braned in the Face at Oxford and banished for saying That the Church of Rome was the Whore of Babilon Monkery a stinking Carion their Vows nurses of sodomy Purgatory and Masses c. inventions of the Devil In the year 1126. there was one Arnold an English Preacher was cruelly butchered for preaching against Prelates pride and Priest wicked lives About the year 1160. about thirty Waldenses came into England one Gerrard being their Minister these People labouring to win Disciples to Christ were quickly smelt out by the Popish Clergy and great complaints were made against them to the King being Henry the Second who caused them to be brought before an Assembly of Bishops at Oxford where Gerrard speaking for them said to this effect we are Christians holding the Doctrine of the Apostles in their Examinations they would not admit of Salt Spittle and Exorcisms in Baptism and the Eucharist nor of binding with the stool in Marriage and being admonished to repent and return to the unity of the Church they despised that counsel and scorned threats saying Blessed are they which Suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Then did the Bishops excomunicate them and so delivered them over to be corporally Punished by the King who caused them to be burnt as Hereticks in the forehead and to be whipt through Oxford they singing all the while Blessed are ye when men hate you and dispitefully use you and the King further commanded that none should persume to receive them to house nor to cherish them with any comfort whereby they miserably perished with hunger and cold none affording any comfort to them These Wâ—ldenses are repâ—ted the first Reformers after the darkness of Popery had overspread the
heard a Master of Divinity say That in such case it is all one to touch a Book as to swear by a Book Bishop There is no Master of Divinity in England but if he hold this opinion before me I shall punish him as I shall do thee except thou sware as I shall charge thee Thorp Is not Chrysostom and ententive Doctor Bishop Yea. Thorp If Chrysostom proveth him worthy of great blame that bringeth forth a Book to sware upon it must needs follow that he is more to blame that sweareth on that Book The Clark said lay thine Hand upon the Book touching the holy Gospel of God and take thy charge Thorp I understand that the holy Gospel of God may not be touched with mans Hand It was mentioned before that he was imprisoned by Thomas Arondell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and it is recorded that he was by the said Bishop at last secretly put to death in the year 1407. John Purvey was imprisoned by Henry Chicheley Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 1421. John Purvey Mâ—rty he writ a Book against the Pope wherein he calls him Antichrist and that his censures was like the blast of Lucifer He the said Purvey complained that many before him who had impugned the Romish errorrs had been imprisoned killed and their Books burnt and that none were suffered to preach but such as would swear obedience to the Pope For which he was imprisoned and secretly made away by the aforesaid Bishop In the year 1413. Roger Acton and other Persecuted Roger Acton John Brown John Beverly were persecuted and put to death for their Testimony to the Truth in Giles's in the field together with divers others to the number of thirty six all which were hanged with Fire made under them These godly persons in these dangerous times used to meet in the night in Giles's in the Fields to pray and preach which the Bishops having notice of they informed the King as if they intended to rebel whereupon the King going with many armed men at Midnight took these thirty six and caused them to be executed the number that were assembled was greater but they fled amongst whom was Wil. Murle of Dunstable Maultster who being afterwards apprehended was drawn hanged and burnt within few daies after their Execution Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop was so stricken by God in his tongue that he could neither swallow any food nor speak for diverse daies before his death A Judgment on a Persecutor whereby he died in much misery And this was thought to come upon him for that he so bound the Word of the Lord that it should not be preached in his daies About this time there began to spring forth some light in Bohemia the Bohemians having received some of Wickliffs Books began first to taste and savour Christs Gospel till at length by the preaching of John Hus they encreased more and more in knowledge insomuch that Pope Alexander the fifth hearing thereof began to stir Coals and directed his Bull to the Arch-bishop of Swinco requiring him to look to the matter that no persons should maintain that Doctrine and not long after this John Hus and Jerome of Prague were both condemned and burnt at Constance by the Council held there and yet their blood did not satisfie their Adversaries but they took further counsel for the destruction of these People in the whole Nation for when fifty eight of the cheif Nobles of Bohemia in the Name of all the Commons Anno 1416. had sent letters from Prague to the Council complaining that John Hus their Paster an innocent and holy man and faithful Teacher of the Truth was unjustly condemned the Council instead of answering them wrote Letters to some violent Papists who were in Authority to assist their Legate iâ— oppressing the Hereticks and thereupoâ—â—â—ey persecuted them all manner of ways useing great violence towards them insomuch that they raised Tumults and one Zisca a noble man of that Country being sore grieved for the death of John Hus and Jerome of Prague minding to revenge the Injuries which the Council had done greatly to the dishonour of the Kingdom of Behemia upon their Complices and Adherents he gathered together a number of men of War subverted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples pulling down and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols driving away the Monks and Priests which he said were kept up in their Cloisters like Swine in their Styes to be fatted when this Zisca died in remembrance of him the Bohemians ingraved over his Tomb in the Greek Language this Epitaph John Zisca a Bohemian Enemy to all wicked and Covetuout Priests but with a godly Zeal Yet still as the Popish party prevailed they exercised all manner of Cruelty upon the poor Servants of Christ till they were utterly suppressed by force many of whom fled into the hilly Country neer to Silesia to inhabit where throwing off all superstitious practices they applyed themselves to the best form that they according to the best of their understandings judged to be nearest to the primitive Christians calling themselves Brethren and Sisters They were branded with the Name of Piccards a Name by which the Waldenses in Piccardy were called The purity that was amongst them much displeased the Devil for he raised a sudden and violent Tempest against them and an Edict was proclaimed threatning death to all that should administer to the Piccards whereupon they were brought into great extremity A second Edict came forth that none of them should be suffered either to live in Bohemia or Moravia hereupon they were dispersed amongst the Woods and Mountains dwelling in Caves where yet they were scarce safe so that they were forced to make no Fire nor dress any meat but in the night time least the smoak should betray them In the cold Winter nights sitting by the Fire they applyed themselves to the reading of the Bible and holy discourses when in the Snow they went abroad to provide them necessaries they went close together and lest their foot-steps should betray them the hindermost of them did draw after him a great bough to cover the prints which their feet had made But to return again to give a futher account of Sufferers in England John Claydon of London Curryer in the year 1415. being examined before Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop of Canturbury upon suspition of Heresie he confessed that for the same cause he had been formerly impâ—â—soned by Robert Braybrock Bishop of London in Conway Prison two years and at another time three years in the Fleet and also that he had several English books that he took delight to hear read to him one of the books was entituled The Lanthorn of Light in which books were contained 1 Speaking or Treating of the Text how the Enemy did sow the Tears there is thus said That wicked Antichrist the Pope hath sowed his Popish and corrupt Decrees which are of no authority strength nor value and that the Bishops Licence for a man
lost the true Faith once delivered to the Saints and instead of being Sufferers which was once the portion of the true Christians were now became Persecutors and Destroyers of such as would not stoop to their Idolatry and to every foolish invention that the Popes from time to time did set up and commanded to be observed It is recorded that in the time of Pope Julius partly with his Wars and partly with his Cursings in the space of seven years about 200000. Christians were destroyed so addicted to Bloodshed was this Pope and as is written surpassed many other Popes in Iniquity that Wicelius wrot thus of him Marti illum quam Christo deditiorem fuisse that is that he was more given to War and Batail then to Christ which made Philip Melancton write an Epigram in Latine upon him the sence of which in English is as followeth When Julius Pope against the French determin'd to make War As fame reports he gathered up great Troops of men from far And to the Bridge of Tyber then marching as he were Wood His holy Keys he took and cast them down into the Flood And afterward into his hand he took a naked Sword And shaking it braks forth into this fierce and warlike word This Sword of Paul quoth he shall now defend us from our Foe Since that this Key of Peter doth nothing avail thereto In the year 1512. there was a fight between Lewis the French King and this Pope Julius at Ravenna upon Easter day where the Pope was vanquished and had of his Army slain to the number of Sixteen thousand and the next year this Apostolical Warriour which had resigned his Keys to the River of Tybris before made an end both of his fighting and living About this time began the reign of Henry the eighth King of England in whose reign great alterations and turns of Religion were wrought by the mighty operation of Gods Hand not only in England but in Germany and other parts of Europe such as had not been seen although much groaned for many hundred years before nevertheless many suffered great Persecutions and Martyrdom in this Kings reign both in England and elsewhere and many good men were raised up to bear witness to the Truth yet some were of opinion that it was not wholy the Kings fault that so much Blood was spilt in his time for the Bishops were the Draco to make the bloody Laws and it was the Bishops that were earnest to see the Laws put in Execution the King oftentimes scarce knowing what was done and but hearing of a Woman that was the second time put upon the Rack exceedingly condemned the party that was the cause of it for using such extreme Cruelty John Brown passing from London in a Gravesend-Barge in which Barge there was a Priest and Brown sate hard by him whereupon the Priest said dost thou know who I am Thou sittest too neer me Brown said no sir I know not who you are I tell thee said he I am a Priest What sir said Brown are you a Parson or a Viccar or a Ladies Chaplain I am said he a Soul Priest and sing for a Soul I pray you sir said Brown where find you the Soul when you go to Mass I know not said the Priest and where do you leave it when you have done Mass I cannot tell said the Priest Brown replyed if you neither know where the Soul is when you begin nor where you leave it when you have done how then do you save a soul Go thy ways said the Priest thou art an Heretick and I will be even with thee And accordingly when they came to Land the Priest taking two others with him that were present in the Boat went and complained to Arch-Bishop Warham who sent a Warrant presently to apprehend Brown and being apprehended the Messenger bound his feet under his horse belly and carried him away to the Arch-Bishop neither his wife nor friends knowing whether he went nor what they would do with him The Bishop cast him into Prison where he lay about six weeks then was carried to Ashford where he dwelt and there set in the flocks all night his wife hearing of it came and set by him all night to whom he shewed how cruelly he had been handled by the Arch-bishop telling her he could not set his feet to the ground for they had burnt them to the bones to make him deny Christ which said he I durst not do lest my Lord Christ should deny me hereafter Therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring up my Children Virtuously and in the Fear of God And so the next day this Godly Martyr was burnt calling upon God and saying into thy hands I commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth At the fire the n = ‖ Chilton by name Bailiff bid cast in his Children also for said he they will spring out of his Ashes And in Queen Maries time his son Richard Brown was sentenced to be burnt being a Prisoner at Canterbury but that the Queen dying he escaped suffering About this time many suffered very greatly for spaking against Worshipping of Saints against Pilgrimage for having Scripture books in English and a book called Wickliss wicket One of which Sufferers by name Elizabeth Stamford who being brought and examined before Fitz James Bishop of London Anno 1517. confessed that she was taught by one Thomas Beale of Henly these words Eleaven years before viz. That Christ faâ—deth and nourisheth his Church with his own pretious Body that is the Bread of Life coming down from Heaven This is said she the Worthy Word that is Worthily received and joyned unto man to be in one body with him so it is that they be both one they may not be parted This is not received by chewing of Teeth but by hearing with Ears and understanding with the Soul and wisely working thereafter and as Paul saith I fear me amongst us Brethren that many of us be feeble and sick therefore my Counsel is Brethren to rise and watch that the great day of Doom come not suddenly upon us as the Thief doth upon the Merchant And she said further that the said Thomas Beale taught her that she should confess her sins to God and that the Popes Pardons and Indulgences were nothing worth John Stillman in the year 1518. was apprehended and brought before the Bishop of London and examined for speaking against Worshipping Praying and Offering unto Images and for saying Wicklifs Wicket was a good book and that when he was apprehended he hid the same in an old oak and did not bring it out to the Bishop he was sent to the Lollards Tower and being afterwards brought openly to the Consistory at Pauls it was further objected against him that he should say the Pope was Antichrist and not the true Successor of Peter or Christs Viccar on Earth and that his Pardons and Indulgences which he granted in the Sacrament
in their Breast wrought upon their Habit in memorial of the Star that did appear at the time that Christ was born at Bethlchem There was saith the History so many Sects of Monks Fryars and Nuns Balaus in appendice at this time upon a suddain started up in England that the Common-wealth was so oppressed and exhausted by them that it was not able to satisfie their exorbitant and greedy desires The Monks years since Christ 1170 called Praemonstratenses descended down from Heaven as they themselves brag in the Bishopwrick of Lodan at a place which they call Praemonstratum Bruscius Polidor the Author of this order was Northbertus a Priest born in Lorrain who patcht up an order or rule for his New-begotten Monks out of Augustines rule which was afterwards approved and confirmed by Pope Calixtus the second they wear a long white Cloath Coat open before and a Lynnen Surplice over and over that along white Cloak a Corner Cap or Hat when they go abroad of the same colour and underneath all Dublets Breeches Linnen-Shirts Shoes and white Stokins these Monks have Lands and Revenues to maintain themselves and are Rich wheresoever they live this Sect began about the year 1170. and had Abbyes in England but at this time I hope there is not one English man of that Sect. About this time appeared first in England the Order of Crutched-Fryars years since Christ 2244 this order is more Antient then all the former Orders if the Reader will believe them for they say that Clitus Peters Disciple and the third Bishop of Rome after him was warned by an Angel to build for him an House to entertain all those that fled thither for the Christian Religion sake which he with all speed performed so that in a short time many godly men repaired thither and were entertained who for many years after bare a Cross in their hands in memorial of the Death of Christ A thing unlike to be true that Clitus should be warned by a Angel to build an House for a company of lazy Fryars to entertain all those that fled to Rome for the Christian Religion sake whereas the very names of Monks or Fryars was not then or many hundred years after either known or heard of in the Church of God and withal the Persecution was then so great in Rome that the Saints themselves were constrained to forsake the City Matth. West Monast Balaus and therefore it is not creditable that Christians should fly thither for relief Pope Pius commanded these Fryars to wear a Sky-coloured Habit but now this Order wears a Cross of red Cloath or Scarlet fixed to their Habit on their Breast and wear black these Fryars do likewise live by their Lands and Revenues they had a Monastery heretofore at Tower-hill which is now put to a better use being built up into Tenements In the time of Pope Innocent the third the Trinitarian Fryars began to shew themselves to the World one Johannes Matta and one Felix Anchorita who lived a Solitary life in France were warned in their sleep as they report to repair to Rome to the Pope and to seek for a place of him to build a Cloister and this Pope as they say was warned in a Vision to entertain them which he did and ordained that they should wear a white Habit with a red and Sky-coloured Cross wrought on their Breast in the same their charge was to go and gather Money to redeem Christians that were Captives under the Turks and were called Monks of the Redemption of Captives but instead of Redeeming Captives they purchased Lands with the Money they gathered so that the Captives if they had no reward from Christ for suffering for his sake they were like to have no Redemption from these Fryars Bridget of Sweethland being a Widdow did institute an Order of Fryars and Nuns and coming her self to Rome Sebellicus Enne 9. l. 4. Polydor l 7. c. 4. obtained of Pope Urban the fifth a Confirmation of the same Order or Institution that both Sex should live together in one Cloister having a Wall between them and that the Nuns should lie in the uppermost Chambers and the Fryars underneath them The next is the Minorite Fryars they wear a morish-coloured Habit and never eat Flesh Butter or Cheese but feed on the best Fish and Oyle the finest Bread and purest Wine the best Spices Fruit Herbs and Roots that they can buy for their Money they had a Cloister built for them at Barkhamsted in England in the Year 1257. The Mendicant or Begging Fryars do wear a long white Coat of Cloath down to their heels all loose with a Cowle or Hood of the same when they are in their Cloisters but when they go abroad they wear another black Coat over the other with another Cowle both their Coats are then bound close to their Bodies with a broad leather Girdle or Belt which Girdle is a very holy thing if they may be believed for they call it Saint Austins Girdle and many Lame people do wear it for pure devotion sake looking upon it to have some singular Virtue in it this leather Belt is given to none but those that are special good Benefactors and such as pay dearly for it which brings them in no small benefit The next is the Carmelite Fryars their first appearance in the word was in the year 1270. that is Fryars of the Order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel at first they were ordained to wear a party-coloured Habit white and red made in the form of a man the which they then dreamed to be like unto that which Elias did use to wear but afterwards Pope Honorius forbid them to wear that Habit as being not well befitting their Profession and therefore a black long habit and a Cowle was given them and over that a long white Robe or Cloak as best agreeing with Virginity Another sort is the Franciscan or Gray Fryars of whom it is said They would not touch any Money and made a show as if they abstained from all Flesh and did eat nothing but raw Herbs and Roots and did wear Wooden Clogs instead of Shoes railing against other Fryars who Possessed Money and eat Meat wore Shoes and Stokings c. But these did not long persevere in this Austere life but their delight was to fare delitiously and to cram their Guts with the best Dainties There is a sort of these Franciscans called Penitentiarian these wear no Linnen as they say neither Doublet Breeches nor Hose but only a little pair of Linnen Drawers to save their skin from their course habit instead of Shoes they wear wooden Clogs which are under their Feet bound over with Leather Straps their habit is made of a very course Cloath and close before reaching down to their heels with a Cowle close to their head made of the same and also a gray Rope made of hair full of knots instead of a Girdle about
to Preach is the true Character of the Beast and Antichrist And that the Court of Rome is the Chief Head of Antichrist And that no Reprobate is a Member of the Church His books being examined were condemned as heretical to be burnt in the Fire and Sentence of Condemnation was past upon him by the Arch-Bishop and he was delivered to the secular Power by whom he was carried into Smithfield and there burnt with one Richard Turning a Baker The next year after the burning of these men the Prelates of England seeing the daily increase of the Gospel and fearing the ruin of their papal Kingdom took counsel together with what deligence they could to maintain the same Wherefore to make their State and Kingdom sure by Statutes Laws Constitutions and Terror of Punishment Henry Chichly Arch-Bishop in his Convocation holden at London maketh another Constitution against the poor Lollards which was sent abroad Anno 1416. to be straitly executed in which their Officials or Commissaries were required twice every year at least to make diligent enquiry after such persons as were suspected of Heresie and Parishoners were to be sworn upon the Evangelifts to discover whether they knew any frequenting privy Conventicles or differing in their life and manners from other Common Catholick men or that should have any Books in the English Tongue After the setting out of this Constitution aforesaid great inquisition hereupon followed in England and many good men who began to have a love to the Gospel were much troubled and great Sufferers John Gale of London was summoned before the Arch-Bishop for having a Book in English entituled A Book of the new Law Ralph Mungin for the same Doctrine was condemned to perpetual imprisonment William White a follower of John Wickliff he was of a devout holy life is recorded as a Morning Star in the midst of a Cloud a man well learned an upright man and well spoken for the love of the Truth he gave over his Preisthood but not his preaching for he continually laboured to advance the glory of God by reading writing and preaching The chief matters charged against him were that he held That men should seek for the forgiveness of their sins only at the band of God That the Pope was an Enemy unto Christs Truth That men ought not to Worship Images That the Romish Church was the Figg-Tree which Christ Cursea because it brought forth no Fruit of the true Beleif That such as wear Câ—ules or be Annointed or Shorn are the Souldiers of Lucifer And that all such because their Lamps are not burning shall be shut out when as the Lord shall come He was apprehended for preaching and teaching such like Doctrine in Norfolk and being had before the Bishop of Norwich he was convicted condemned and burnt in Norwich in the 7th Moneth 1424. When he was at the Stake beginning to open his mouth to speak to the People to exhort them and confirm them in the Truth one of the Bishops Servants struck him in the mouth thereby to force him to keep silence And thus this good man received the Crown of Martyrdom and ended this Mortal life to the great grief of all good men in Norfolk his wife Joane following her Husbands steps A Woman Preacher according to her power teaching and sowing abroad the same Doctrine confirmed many in Gods Truth wherefore she suffered much trouble and punishment the same year at the hands of the said Bishop John Goose 1473. being called before the Bishops and accused for Heresie being condemned and delivered to Robert Beâ—â—isdon one of the Sheriffs of London to see him burnt in the afternoon the Sheriff like a charitable man had him home to his house and there exhorted him to deny his Errors he desired the Sheriff to be content for he was satisfied in his Conscience The Sheriff giving him some meat he being very hungry did eat so freely as if the hour of his death had not been known to be so nigh saying to the Standers by leat now a good and competent Dinner for I shall pass a little sharp Shower ere I go to Supper and having dined he required that he might be led to the place where he should yield up his spirit unto God About this time there being a war begun by the Turks against the Christians so called there was great invasions and victories obtained by the Turks against them insomuch that the Turks in the space of Thirty years subdued Arabia got Palestina Phenetia Siria Egypt and Persia raging with their Armies throughout all Asia and Europe Conquering as they passed The causes of which Invasions and Victories as is recorded were the dissention discord falshood idleness unconstancy greedy avarice lack of Truth and fidelity amongst Christian men of all states and degrees both high and low for by the wilful defection and back-sliding of the Christians the Turkish power did exceedingly encrease and them called Christians were by multitudes destroyed and as it is written there was hardly a Town City or Village in all Asia and Grecia also in a great part of Europe and Africa whose streets did not flow with the Blood of the Christians whom these cruel Turks Murthered after an inhuman manner Men and Women being by them cut in Pieces Children stuck upon Poles and Stakes till they gored them to death in the sight of their Parents draging some at their Horse tails till they famished them to death tearing some in Pieces tying their Arms and Legs to four Horses treading the aged and feeble under their Horses feet The Princes of Rasia had both their Eyes put out with Basons red hot set before them cuting some asunder in the midst and with other Torments putting many to death insomuch that the streets and ways of Chalrides did flow with Blood of them that were slain The Pretors Daughter of which City being the only Daughter of her Father and noted to be of singular beauty A remarkable story and worthy noâ—ing was saved out of the slaughter and brought to Mahumet the Turk to be his Concubine but she denying to consent to his Turkish filthiness was commanded therefore to be slain it would be long to recite and incredible to bâ—lieve the cruel and horrible slaughters and miserable tortures inflicted upon the Christians by these Turks in most parts of Asia and Africa but especially in Europe And during all these Wars and Slaughters the Pope ceased not continually calling upon Christian Kings and Princes and Subjects to take the Cross and to War against the Turks lest he should lose all whereupon in that time of Darkness and Popery many took Voyages to the holy Land and many Baâ—tails were fought for the winning the holy Cross and yet no success neither ever came it prosperoufly forward whatsoever the Pope attempted against him what the cause was may be easily judged if the Reader considers the gross Idolatry prophaness and degeneration those called Christians were fallen into having wholy
to shew further violence upon the poor flock of Christ calling them before his Tribunal Seat passing Judgment upon some and committing them to the Secular Arm to be burnt namely Thomas Bernard James Morden Robert Rave John Scrivener and others compelling Children to set Fire to their own Fathers and Example of such Cruelty as is contrary both to God and Nature The judicious Reader whose eyes are enlightned may see what darkness the World was drowned in at this time the purity of the Christian Religion being wholy lost and turned into outward Observations Ceremonies and Idolatry worshipping of Saints going Pilgrimages to see the Reliques which were as so many lying Miracles instead of worshipping the Living God worshipped dead Stocks and Stones how the People were led so the Priests were fed no care was taken the Popes Laws and Canons being more set by then Christs Testament or the Scriptures laying another Foundation then Christ and the Apostles laid upon which the Papists planted their infinite number of Masses Derriges Obsequies Mattens hours of singing Service Midnight-rising Bare-foot-going Fish-tasting Lent fast Ember-fast Stations Rogations Jubilees Advocation of Saints praying to Images Pilgrimage Walking Vows of Chastity wilful Poverty Pardons Indulgenâ—â—s Penance Auriculer Confession Shaving Powling Annointing saying Prayers by their Beads making Laws that none should wear Sumptions Garments or Rings or Ouches on their Fingers but Bishops only when they were saying Mass these with other such like filthy Stuff has been set up by the Popes Power in the night of Apostacy and People have been forced to Swollow it down though some did it against their Stomachs and Consciences and if the least Light appeared in any to testifie against their Trumpery the Beast and false Prophet made War with them and rather then they would fail in the extinguishing the Truth they would destroy the persons in whom the least appearance thereof manifested it self as in the Relation before and hereafter will appear about this time there were many eminent men raised up who were accounted Fathers of the Protestant Church as Zuinglius Occolempadius Melancton and Martin Lather this Martin Luther was a German born and being oppressed with the Popish Idolatry began to preach against the Authority of the Pope and to bring in a reformation of Religion for repressing of whom the Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul the third in the year 1542. which Council continued about forty years to no purpose for they made so many Decrees which caused a great confusion amongst the Papists themselves It is Recorded of Luther that he shined in the Church as a bright Star after a long Cloudy and Obscure Skie he preached expresly that Sins are freely remitted for the love of the Son of God and that we ought faith fully to imbrace this bountiful gift these good beginnings got him great authority especially seeing his life also was correspondent to his profession the consideration whereof took place in the hearts of his Hearers some of which were persons of note these things and his preaching against Indulgences and Pardons sticking in the Pope Stomack he put forth a new Edict wherein he declared this to be the Catholick Doctrine of the holy Mother Church of Rome Prince of all other Churches That Bishops of Rome which are Successors of Peter and Viccars of Christ have this Power and authority given to release and dispence also to grant Indulgences available both for the Living and for the Dead lying in the pains of Purgatory and this Doctrine he charged to be received of all faithful Christian men under pairs of the great Curse and utter Separation from all holy Church Whereupon Luther's Books were condemned as Heretical and the Popes Legat caused them to be burnt which Martin Luther hearing of got a Company together at Wittenberge and making a Fire burnt the Popes Decrees and Bull then lately sent out against him for which the Pope accurst him at Rome afterwards he was sent for by the Emperour to Wormes who though he was much perswaded not to go said As touching me since I am sent for I am resolved and certainly intend to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and did appear who according to a promise made by the Emperour was safe conducted thither and home again before the Emperour he said I can affirm no other thing but only this that I have taught hitherto in simplicity of mind that which I have though to tend to Gods Glory being asked whether he owned these Books published in his name he said they were his Books but he could not submit his Books to the Judgments of men which he had fortified by the Authority of Scripture unless they could prove by the Scripture the contrary professing that except they could convince him by Testimonies of the Scriptures for he did not believe the Pope nor their general Councils which have erred many times and have contradicted them selves This opposition made by Luther much troubled the Pope especially seeing the Followers of Luther to encrease and therefore he earnestly desired some speedy Remedy against the same and to that end sent to the German Princes to move them thereunto but the German Princes instead of putting the Apostolick sentence in execution against Luther and his Followers exhibited at the Councel of Norenberge 100 Grievances and Oppressions against the Court of Rome as forbidding Marriage to some forbidding Meats times of Marriages restrained and after released again for money selling remission of sins for money the licentious Life of the Priests and their great number of Holy dayes and such like other things which would be too much to Mention This Martin Luther continued notwithstanding all the opposition against him twenty nine year a Preacher and at last dyed in peace in his own Country But there continued great Disputations and Reformations in divers parts of Europe abolishing the Mass and all Images and foolish Ceremonies making Decrees against them that they should be utterly abandoned After the preaching of Luther great Troubles and Persecutions followed in many parts of the World and many Laws and Decrees were made against sech as bore Testimony against the Ignorance and Error of those times whereby many good Christian men were cruelly handled and lamentable it is to read how many poor men were troubled both in Germany France and England some being Racked some Exiled some driven to Caves in Woods and some burnt to death with many other cruel Torments It will be too large to mention every particular that suffered in those dayes for Religion but some of the chief are as followeth In the year 1523. John Esch and Henry Voes two young men for owning the Doctrine of Luther were proceeded against as Hereticks being Examined by the Popes Inquisitors at Lovaine John Esch and Henry Voes Marâ—yred the greatest thing that they were accused of as error was That men ought to trust only in God inasmuch as men are Lyars and
that behalf looking upon Christ the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him abode the Cross and dispised the shame nevertheless though we suffer the wrong after the example of our Master Christ yet we are not bound to suffer the wrong cause for Christ himself suffered it not but reproved him that smote him wrongfully likewise Paul Acts 23. saith we must not suffer the wrong but boldly reprove them that sit as Righteous Judges and act contrary to Righteousness therefore according both to God and mans Law you are not bound to make answer to any cause till your Accusers came before you which if you require and thereon do stick the false Brethren shall be known to the great comfort of those who now stand in doubt who they may trust and also it shall be a means that they shall not craftily by Questions take you in Snares and Acts 20. its written It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man that he should perish before he that is accused have his Accuser before him and have License to answer for himself as pertaining to the Crime whereof he is accused and also Christ said that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses all things shall stand wherefore seeing that in Accusations such Witnesses should be you may with a good Conscience require it and thus the God of Grace settle strengthen and establish you that to him may be the glory and praise for ever This is the Substance of the Letter now follows the Substance of Tracy's Will William Tracy of Taddington in the County of Gloucester in his Will declared amongst other things that touching the burying of his body it availed him not whatsoever was done thereto when he was dead for said he Funeral pomps are rather for the Solace of them that live then the wealth and comfort of them that are dead Which Will being brought by his Son his Executor to the Bishop of Canterbury to be proved the Bishop shew'd it to the Convocation who past a Sentence that a Commission should be sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocess of worcester to take up Tracy's dead body and to burn him as an Heretick for making such a Will which accordingly was Executed notwithstanding he had been buryed almost two years before About this time the House of Commons assembled in Parliament put up a Supplication by way of Complaint to the King against the Clergy this Complaint the King seemed at first not to take much notice of yet afterwards coming to have a clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy especially of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same and wholly excluded the Popes Authority out of his Realm but thinking the work not sufficiently done as long as Abbies and Priories kept their Station which were as it were his Fortresses and Pillars there was not long after means found to have them suppressed for aspersions being laid upon them of Adulteries and Murders they by Act of Parliament at least near four hundred of them were suppressed and all their Lands and Goods conferred upon the King and afterwards all the rest and all Colledges Chanteries and Hospitals also the same Parliament enacted that Bishops should pay no more Annals or Money for their Bulls to the Pope and that no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome and an Act was made that the King should be the Supream head of the Church of England c. But although the Popes Wings were thus cut and his Power and Authority in England abrogated by Act of Parliament as before is mentioned yet the Bishops here went on persecuting such as they accounted Sectaries and Hereticks but before I give an account of such as further suffered here in England for Religion it falls in order to give an Account of the Sufferings of William Tindal beyond Sea This William Tindal was burnt near Wales William Tindal Marryr and being a man Zealous for Reformation and Religion and considering that if the Scripture were turned into the vulgar Speech it might much conduce to â—he propagating thereof and finding his purpose could not be well effected here in England by reason of the strictness of the Bishops and Chancellor he travelled into Germany and there he first translated the New Testament and then the Old and writ several other Books against the irreligious Practice of the Prelates which Books being published and sent over into England it cannot be spoken what a door of Light they opened to the whole English Nation who before were many years shut up in darkness But though the spreading of these Books wrought much good to the upright and such as had in any measure a desire to advance the Truth yet the envious and persecuting Spirit of the Bishops was also much more stirred up thereby seeking by all means how to stop them from being spread lest their Hypocrisie and works of Darkness should he discerned wherefore they made great stir and search as Herod did at the birth of Christ and sought out by what means they might hinder the travels of this Tindal and of his Printing and Publishing the said Books and set persons to search and examine at Antwerp how things stook with Tindal which when the Bishops and Chancellors in England understood how things were they sent over one Henry Phillips to betray him into the hands of the Emperors Procurator General at Brussells the said Procurator through the treachery of Phillips seized upon all Tindalls Books and apprehended him and sent him Prisoner to Filford Castle eighteen English Miles from Antwerp being brought to his Tryal they offered him to have Councel to plead for him he refused saying he would answer for himself after much reasoning and Dispute he was Condemned by virtue of the Emperors Decree made in the Assembly at Ausbrough and upon the same was brought to the place of Execution at Filford Anna 1536. being ryed to the Stake he cryed with a fervent zeal and a loud voice Lord open the King of Englands eyes and so was burnt to death When the King had taken the title of Supremacy from the Bishop of Rome and Stated the same to himself he perceived by the Wisdom and advice of Thomas Cromwell one of his Privy Councel that the corrupt State of the Church had need of Reformation in many things This Cromwell was through the goodness of God raised up to be a friend and a favourer of those that profest the Gospel who though but a Smiths Son born at Putney for the pregnancy of his wit he was first entertained by Cardinal Woolsey and by him employed in many great Affairs the Cardinal falling the King took him unto his Service and finding his great Abillities advanced him for his worth to great places of Honour and Trust through whose perswasions several Injunctions were put out by the
nod its Head hang the Lip and move and shake his Jaws according to the value of the Gift offered if it were a small piece of Silver then would he hang a frowning Lip if it were a piece of Gold then should his Jaws go Merrily Thus were poor peoples Souls seduced and their pockets pickt by these Idolatrous Forgers until Cromwel caused the said Image to be carried publickly to Pauls where the People tore it in pieces He was a man not only Zealous for the publick Reformation but also always ready to help private persons that were in distress and though its common amongst men that are raised from low estate to great place and outward preferment to forget themselves what they formerly were and the persons from whom they received benefits It was not so with him for in his Travels beyond Sea being brought to a low condition and being relieved by a Rich Merchant in Florence and entertained in his House when he was in great distress and when he was minded to return to England the Merchant gave him a Horse Money and Apparel which Cromwel received with great thankfulness This Merchant not long after through great losses fell to decay and having money owing him in England came over to see if he could get it and arriving at London not thinking of the kindness he had shewed to Cromwel but as he was travelling the Streets Cromwel as he was riding along espied him and knew him and alighted and took notice of him and of his former kindness and invited him to Court who coming there after he had dined with him he had the Merchant into a private Room and paid him fully for all he had of him at Florence and gave him sufficiently over as a Recompence for his kindness and kept him in his House all the time of his remaining in England This is but one example of many that might be mentioned to shew this Cromwells Gratitude and Courtesie His care and Zeal for the setling the Protestant Religion was that which brought him to his end for that for the better estalishing thereof he devised to effect a Marriage between the King and the Lady Anne of Cleeve whose Sister was Married to the Duke of Saxony a Protestant Prince by which Marriage it was supposed there would be established a perpetuall Peace and Amity between this Kingdom and the Protestant Princes of Germany which would much strengthen the Protestant Party against the Tyranny and Oppression of the Pope and his Adherents But presently after the Marriage Stephen Gardner who had soon after crept into favour with the King as is before related suggested to him some occasions of distaste against the Duke of Saxony and some apprehensions of fear by reason of that Odium which he had pulled upon himself by rejecting the Pope and demolishing Abbies and Monasteries whereby as he told him he had made the Pope the Emperour the King of France and the King of Scotland his Enemies but especially his own Subjects who were much distasted with the Innovations in Religion and that the only way to heal all was to shew himself Sharp and severe against the new Sectaries This occasioned the King to withdraw his favour from Cromwell for being one day in the Council Chamber he was suddainly apprehended and committed to the Tower of London at the hearing whereof many good men were much troubled the charge laid against him was that he was a supporter of Hereticks and a Spreader of their Books and that he had caused to be translated into English Books wrote against the Sacrament of the Alter and that he had spoke words against the King but whatever he was accused of he was soon after condemned in the Tower without coming to his Answer and was beheaded his death the King shortly after bewailed wishing he had his Cromwel alive again so that it appears it was more the malice of his Adversary that stirred up the King against him then any real cause by him given or acted that might justly occasion his death In this year viz. 1545. one John Athee was indicted by the Kings writ for speaking certain words against the Sacrament That he would not believe in the thing that the Knave Priest made neither in that which Longs wife selleth but only in God which is in Heaven and when it was told him that God through his Word could make it Flesh and Blood he answered so he might if he would turn it into a Chickens leg Here followeth a Narative of a sudden Fear and Surprizal that fell upon the Doctors and others at Mary's Steeple-house in Oxford by reason of a mans Crying Fire in the Street and what hapned thereupon There being a Sermon to be preached in the aforesaid Steeple-house at the Recantation of one Malory the Priest had no sooner got into the Pulpit and Malory come forth with his Faggot on his Shoulder accompanied with a great Congregation of people but one in the Street seeing a Chimney on Fire cryed out Fire Fire which so alarumed the People in the Steeple-house that the Doctor and Congregation were amazed expecting the Steeple-house had been on Fire and at last they all generally concluded it was on Fire and that the Hereticks had set it on Fire and with eagerness running on heaps to get forth they raised such a dust that it seemed like Smoak of Fire and thrusting many together to get out they stopt up the Doors that few could pass and thus being afrighted as if great Danger or present Death were at hand did they crowd one upon another the Heretick throwing down his Faggot and shifting as well as he could among the rest the Doctor that was preaching his Recantation cryed out Lord have Mercy upon me this is the Hereticks doings amongst the rest a Monk one of the Auditors fearing the Danger and seeing the way to escape stopt he got up to a Window and breaking the glass thrust himself part thorow but there stuck and could get no further neither in nor out a Boy also endeavouring to escape got upon the Door and jumping down jumpt into a Monks Cowle as it hung at his Back the Monk hearing one in his Cowle cryed out who is that at my Back The Boy cryed I am Bertrams Boy Who art thou said the Monk I am Bertrams Boy good Master let me go and with that the Cowle began to crak the Monk took him out and the Boy ran away Some lost their Clothes in the throng and some their Money in this Surprizal and Fright at the noise of a Fire that did them no hurt About this time one Sr. George Blague of the Kings Privy-Chamber was falsly accused for speaking against the Mass whereupon Wrisly the Lord Chancellor sent him to Newgate and the next day he was arraigned and Condemned at Guild-Hall and within a day or two after should have been burnt in Smithfield but some of the privy-Chamber making suit to the King on his behalf the King was
good to rost a shoulder of Mutten but evil in the Church whereby Idolatry was committed when the Articles were answered the Chancellor read their Condemnation and so delivered them to the Sheriff to whom John Spicer said now you must be their Butcher that you may be guilty also with them of Innocent Blood before the Lord. The 24th day of the Moneth called March they were had to the place of Execution where they kneeled down and prayed secretly and then being disclothed to their Shirts John Mundrell spoke with a Loud voice Not for all Salsbury which words men judged to be an answer to the Sheriff who offered him the Queens Pardon if he would recant and after this in like manner spake John Spicer This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw Thus did they most constantly give their Bodies to the Fire and their Souls to the Lord for a Testimony to his Truth Six persons burnt in Smithfield About the 23th day of the Moneth called April 1556 were burned in Smithfield at one Fire these six persons viz. Robert Drakes William Tymis Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge John Cavel Q. Mary An. 1556 and George Ambross they were all of Essex and so of the Diocess of London they were sent up at sundry times by Lord Rich and others and by Gardner Bishop of Winchester then Lord Chancellor of England committed some to the Marshal-sea and some to the Kings-Bench where they remained almost the whole year before they were brought to Examination Some Passages in their Examination are as followeth After six or seven hours discourse between the Bishop of London and Bath with William Tymis they were weary and began to pity Tymis's case and to slater him saying Ah good Fellow thou art bold and thou hast a good fresh Spirit we would thou hadest learning to thy Spirit I thank you said he and both you be learned and I would you had a good Spirit to your learning The Bishop seeing Tymis his hoase part white and part of a sheeps russet in a mocking manner said Ah Sirrah are you a Deacon Yea that I am said he So me thinketh said the Bishop you are decked like a Deacon Said Tymis Me-thinks my Vesture doth not so much vary from a Deacon but your Apparel doth as much vary from an Apostle And one of the Bishops men said Scoffingly my Lord give him a Chair a Tost and Drink and he will be Lusty But the Bishop said Have him away till another time The 28th day of March the aforesaid six Martyrs were brought to the open Consistory in Pauls before Bishop Bonner to be condemned for Heresie Bishop said Tymis I le begin with thee for thou art and hast been the Ring-leader of these thy Companions thou hast taught them Heresies and Confirmed them in their Errâ—ous Opinions endeavouring to make them like thy self Tymis said I Marvel you will begin with a Lye you call me the Ring-leader and Teacher of this Company There is none of all these my Brethren which are brought hither as Prisoners but when they were at liberty and out of Prison dissented from you and your doings as much as they do now and for that cause they are now Prisoners so that they learned not their Religion in Prison and as for me I never knew them till I was committed Prisoner with them and as for my fault which you make so greivous whatsoever you judge of me I am well assured that I hold no other Religion then Christ Preached the Apostles Witnessed the Primitive Church received and now of late hath been faithfully taught by Evangelical Preachers for which you have cruelly burned them and now you seek our Blood also proceed on hardly by what rule you will I fear not Then the Bishop proceeded to pass the Sentence upon him and then upon the rest and after he had condemned them he ridded his bloody hands of them delivering them to the Sheriffs of London who sent them to Newgate where they remained till the 14th day of the Moneth called April and then sealed their Faith with their Blood The Substance of a Letter of William Tymis to his Friends in Hookly The Grace of God the Father through the Merrits of his dear Son Jesus our Lord and only Saviour with the continual aid of his holy and mighty Spirit to the performance of his will to our Everlasting comfort be with you my dear Brethren both now and evermore Amen My dearly beloved I beseech God to reward the great goodness that you have shewed unto me seven fold into your Bosoms and as you have alwayes had a most godly love unto his Word even so I beseech him to give you grace to love your own Souls and then I trust that you will flee from all those things that should displease our good and mercifull God and hate and abhor all the Company of these that would have you to Worship God any otherwise then is contained in his holy Word and beware of those Masters of Idolatry that is these Papistical Priests My dear Brethren for the tender mercy of God remember well what I have said unto you and also written the which I am now ready to seal with my Blood I praise God that ever I lived to see the day and blessed be my good and mercifull God that ever he gave me a body to glorifie his Name And dear hearts I do now write unto you for none other cause but to put you in rememberance that I have not forgot you to the end that I would not have you forget me but to remember well what I have simply by word of Mouth and Writing taught you the which although it were most simply done yet truely as your own Conscience beareth me record and therefore in any case take good heed that you do not that thing which your own Conscience doth condemn therefore come out of Sodom and go to Heaven-ward with the Servants and Martyrs of God least you be partakers of the Vengeance of God that is coming upon this Wicked Nation from the which the Lord God defend you c. Thus now I take my leave of you forever in this World except I be burned amongst you which thing is uncertain unto me as yet By me your poorest and most unworthy Brother in Christ William Tymis in Newgate the 12th day of April condemned to die for Christs Truth Joan Beech of Tumbridge and John Harpool of Rochester were both condemned for the Truth of the Gospel by Morrice Bishop of Rochester and were Sufferers together at one Fire in Rochester the first day of the Moneth called April 1556. The next day after suffered in the like Cause at Cambridge one John Hullier Some Sentences taken out of a Letter written by the said John Hullier are as followeth John Hullier being of long time Prisoner and now openly judged for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus wisheth heartily to the whole Congregation of God the strength of
hand This John Fortune was a man of a Zealous Spirit and ready in the Scriptures in Christs Cause Stout and Valiant and no less patience in his wrongful Suffering then constant in his Doctrine The Examination is as followeth First Doctor Parker asked How I believed in the Catholick Faith Fortune I asked him which Faith he meant whether the Faith that Stephen had or the Faith of them that put Stephen to death Parker being moved said What a naughty Fellow is this you shall see anon he will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar and said How sayest thou by the blessed Mass Fortune And I stood still and made no answer Then said one Foster Why speakest thou not and make the Gentleman an answer Fortune I said Silence is a good answer to a foolish Question Parker I am sure be will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Fortune I said I knew none such Parker You deny the order of the seven Sacraments and why dost thou not believe in the Sacrament of the Altar Fortune Because it is not written in Gods Book Foster You shall be Whipped and Burnt for this Fortune If you knew how these words do rejoyce my heart you would not have spoken them Away with him said he for he is ten times worse then Samuel and so he was carried away to Prison again At the second Examination Bishop asked me If I did not believe in the Catholick Church Fortune I believe that Church whereof Christ is the head Bishop Dost thou not believe that the Pope is Supream head of the Church Fortune No Christ is Head of the true Church Fortune Then I asked him whether the Pope were a Spirtual Man To which he said Yea. Fortune I said They are spightfull men for in seventeen Months there were three Popes one Poisoned another for that presumptous seat of Anti-chhist Bishop It is Malishiously spoken for thou must obey the power and not the man well said he What say you to the Ceremonies of the Church Fortune All things that are not planted by my heavenly Father shall be blucked up by the roots saith Christ Bishop They are good and godly and necessary to be used Fortune Paul called them weak and beggerly At the third Examination Bishop How believest thou in the Sacrament of the Altar Dost thou not believe that after the Consecration there is the real substance of the Body of Christ Fortune That is the greatest Plague that ever came into England Bishop Why so Fortune If I were a Bishop and you a poor man as I am I would be ashamed to ask such a Question for a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learn Bishop Is it Idolatry to Worship the blessed Sacrament or no Fortune God is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth At another Examination Bishop asked me If I would stand to my Answers that I had made him before Fortune Yea for I have spoken nothing but the Truth And after that he made a great Circumstance upon the Sacrament Then I desired him to keep to the Text and he read the Scripture which said I am the Bread which came down from Heaven believest thou not this Fortune Yea truly Bishop Why dost thou deny the Sacrament Fortune Because your Doctrine is false Bishop How can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture Fortune Christ said I am the Bread and you say the Bread is he therefore your Doctrine is false Bishop Dost not thou believe the Bread is he Fortune No. Bishop I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fortune Hold that fast for that is the best Argument you have yet Bishop Thou shalt be burnt like an Heretick Fortune Who shall give Judgment upon me Bishop I will judge a hundred such as thou art and never be shreven for it Fortune Is not there a Law for the Spirituality as well as for the Temporality Clement Higham said Yes what meanest thou by that Fortune When a man is perjured by the Law he is cast over the Bar and sitteth no more in judgment and the Bishop is a perjured man and ought to sit in Judgment of no man Bishop How provest thou that Fortune Because you took an Oath in King Henry's dayes to resist the Pope so both Spiritual and Temperal are perjured that here can be no true Judgment Bishop Thinkest thou to escape Judgment by that no for my Chancellor shall judge thee he took no Oath for he was then out of the Realm Clement Higham It is time to Weed out such Fellows as you be indeed The Bishop commanded the Bailiff to take him away thus much touching the Examination of this man but whether he died by Fire or were otherwise prevented by Death is not recorded only his Sentence of Condemnation was drawn up and registred by the Register of Norwich but most certain it is he never recanted John Careless Examined before Doctor Martin Martin askt him Where he was born Careless said John Careleses Examination At Coventry Martin said How camest thou hither Careless By a Writ Martin Thou art a hansom man and its pity but thou shouldest do well and play the Wise mans part Careless I put you out of doubt that I am most sure and certain of my Salvation by Christ Jesus so that my Soul is safe already whatsoever pains my Body suffer here for a little time After much more discourse between them about predestination Martin said The Lord knows that I would gladly make some means to preserve thy life but thou speakest so much of the Lord the Lord How sayest thou wilt thou be content to go into Ireland and serve the Queen there Careless I am ready to do service to the Queen or her Officers but if they require me to do any thing contrary to Christs Religion I am ready also to do my service in Smithfield for not observing it as other my Brethren have done He endured Imprisonment two whole years in Coventry and the Kings-Bench where at last he died and was buried in a Dunghill in the Fields Sentences taken out of a Letter written by John Careless in the time of his Suffering and Imprisonment To my most dear and faithful Brethren in Newgate condemned to die for the Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth The Everlasting Peace of God in Christ Jesus the continual Joy Strength and Comfort of his most pure Holy and Mighty Spirit with the increase of Faith and lively feeling of his Eternal Mercy be with you my most dear and faithful loving Brother Tyms with all the rest of my dear hearts in the Lord you faithful fellow Souldiers and most constant Companions in bonds yea of men Condemned most cruelly for the sincere Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth to the full finishing of that good work which he hath so gratiously begun in you all that the same may be to his glory the commodity of his poor afflicted Church and to your Everlasting comfort in him
and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty For neither Eye hath seen nor the Ear hath heard neither can it enter into the heart of man what good things the Lord hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. Ye are brought neither with Silver nor Gold but with the pretious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. There is none other Name given to men wherein we must be saved Acts 4. So fare ye well Wife and Children and leave worldly care and see that ye be dilligent to pray Take no thought saith Christ Mat. 6. saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothed for after all these things seek the Gentiles for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things but seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be ministred unto you The Sufferings of Cicely Ormes Wife of Edmund Ormes of Norwich Worsted-Weaver burnt about the twenty third day of September The occasion of her first apprehending was for that she being persent at the death of two Martyrs burnt in the Lollards-pit Ciâ—ely Ormes Martyr without Bishops-gate in Norwich for that she said she would pledge them of the same Cup that they drunk of she was apprehended and had before the Chancellor who Examining her concerning the Sacrament of the Altar He askt her What it was the Priest held over his head she replyed It was Bread and if said she you make it any better it is worse Whereupon the Chancellor with threatning words sent her to the Bishops Prison shortly after she was brought before him again who offered her If she would go to Church and keep her Tongue she should be at liberty but she refusing his offer he past Sentence of Death upon her and delivered her to the Sheriff to see her burnt when she came to the Stake she said Welcome the sweet Cross of Christ and when the Fire was kindled about her she said My Soul doth Magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour and so finished her Testimony in patience At this time the rage of Persecution was very hot in many Counties and many were Persecuted at Litchfield and about seventeen were put to death in Sussex in the Diocess of Chichester a particular Relation whereof there is little left upon record to make manifest but the Popes Tyranny was great in many Counties in England in this Queens time The Examination of Thomas Sprudence before the Chancellor of Norwich Chancellor askt him Whether he had been with a Priest and confest his sins Tho. Spancer Martyr He replyed I have confest my sins to God and that is sufficient for me Then said the Bishop Wilt thou be sworn to the Pope as supream head of the Church No said he not as long as I live for you cannot prove by the Scripture that the Pope is head of the Church Yes said the Bishop As the Bell-weather which weareth the Bell is head of the Flock of Sheep even so is the Pope the head of the Church of Christ and now good fellow thou hast wandered long out of thy way like a scattred Sheep therefore hear this Bell-weather and come home with us to thy Mother the true Church again Thomas answered All this is but Natural reason and no Scripture Oh said the Bishop I see you are stout and will not be answered therefore you shall be compelled by Law Thomas replyed So did your Fore-fathers intreat Christ and his Apostles they had a Law and by their Law they put him to death and likewise you have a Law which is Tyranny and by that you would force me to believe as you do but I trust the Lord will assist me against all your beggerly Ceremonies and make your Foolishness known to all the World Then said the Bishop When were you at Church Thomas said Never since I was born How old are you then said the Bishop I think said he about forty Then the Bishop not well understanding him he explained himself saying never since I was born anew for Christ said unto Nicodemus Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Then the Bishop told him He was a stubborn Fellow and an Heretick and speaking to him of Obedience to the Laws of the Realm Thomas relyed You must consider that I have a Soul and a Body and my Soul is none of the Queens but my Body and Goods is the Queens and I must give God my Soul and all that belongeth unto it that is I must obey the Laws and Commandments of God and whosoever commandeth obedience to Laws contrary to Gods Laws I may not obey them lest I loose my Soul but must rather obey God then man and further told the Bishop that their graven Images and Ceremonies were but the Inventions and Imaginations of their own brain Then one standing by said to the Prisoners Are you wiser then all men Will you willingly cast away your selves My Lord would fain save you therefore chuse some man where you will and take a day my Lord will give it you Then Thomas replyed If I save life I shall lose it and if I lose my life for Christs sake I shall find life Everlasting and if I take a day when the day cometh I must say then even as I say now except I will lye and therefore that needeth not Well then said the Bishop Have him away and after he had been kept some time a Prisoner in Bury in Saffolk he was burnt in November In the same Moneth were three persons put to death in Smithfield viz. John Hallingdal William Sparrow and Richard Gibson Three persons burnt in Smithfield they were several times brought before Bonner who produced several Articles against them and used Arguments to perswade them to recant before he past Sentence upon them to which John Hallingdal replyed Because I will not come to your Babylonical Church therefore you go about to condemn me then the Bishop askt him Whether he would persevere in his Opinions He replyed He should persist in them until the death whereupon Bonner read the bloody Sentence against him William Sparrow being asked the same Question by the Bishop he made answer to this effect That way which you call Heresie is good and godly and if every hair of my head were a man I would burn them all rather then go from the Truth and said their Laws and Mass was naught and abominable whereupon the Bishop Immediately read the Sentence of death against him and delivered him to the Secular Power who sent him again to Prison After the Bishop had ministred several Articles against Rich. Gibson the said Richard proposed several Articles to him to answer yea or nay or else to say he could not tell viz. Whether any man by the holy Ordinance of God ever was is or shall be Lord over mens faith And by what Lawfull Authority any man of what
our God trusting in his Mercy and he will surely help us as shall be most unto his Glory and our everlasting comfort being sure of this that he will suffer nothing to come unto us but that which shall be most profitable for us for it is either a Correction for our Sins or a Tryal of our Faith or to set forth his glory or for all together and therefore must needs be well done for there is nothing that cometh unto us but by our heavenly Fathers providence and therefore pray unto our heavenly Father that he will ever give us his Grace to consider it let us give most hearty thanks for these his fatherly corrections for as many as he loveth he correcteth And I beseech you now be of good chear and count the Cross of Christ greater Riches then all the vain-pleasures of England I doubt not but you have Supped with Christ at his Table I mean believed in him for that is the effect and then must you drink of his Cup I mean his Cross for that doth the Cup signifie unto us take the Cup and then shall you be sure to have the good Wine Christ's Blood to thy poor thirsty Soul pray continually in all things give thanks In the Name of Jesus shall every knee bow Cuthbert Simson One thing more I thought meet to mention which I find upon record concerning this Cuthbert Simson which some may hardly believe who are apt to think all things incredible which vary from the common course and order of Nature and may look upon this to be more a Phantasie then a real Vision but I shall relate the matter in short as I find it and so leave it to the tender Reader to judge of it The day before this Cuthbert Simson was condemned he being in the Stocks in the Bishops Cole-house Cluny the Keeper about nine at night according to his usual manner came to see whether his Prisoner was safe and lockt the Doors about two hours after Cuthbert heard one coming in to him first opened the Outward-door then the Inner-door and though there was no Candle yet he saw a great brightness and light most comfortable and joyful to his heart and this he declared to one Austen and others and expressed much joy and solace in declaring of it and the Vision that he saw was comfortable unto him Soon after suffered William Nichol who was burnt for the same cause at Haverfordwest in Wales and William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson suffered in Norfolk William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of twenty six years dwelling in Mendlesham in the County of Suffolk William Seaman Martyr he was persecuted by one Sr. John Terril who searched his house for him by night but missing of him he set his servants to search for him and when they had apprehended him brought him before their Master who asked him why he would not go to Mass and receive the Sacrament Seaman replyed because it was an Idol he would not receive it wherefore Terril sent him to Hopton Bishop of Norwich to deal with him who after he had examined him soon passed his bloody sentence of death against him This Seaman when he died left behind him a Wife and three young Children which her Husband being taken away one would have thought should have moved those pretended Christians to some pity towards her but instead of shewing pity they persecuted her out of the Town of Mendlesham because she refused to hear Mass and one Coles Lord of the said Town caused all her Goods and Corn to be seized and taken away Another of these Sufferers was Thomas Hudson of Ailesham in Norfolk he was thirty years of age by trade a Glover and a very honest poor man having a Wife and three Children and labouring alwayes dilligently in his imployment being zealous for that Truth which bore testimony against the Papists blasphemous preaching who put the Draugh and Darnel for the Wheat and that he might avoid their Idolatries and Superstition he absented from his house and went into Suffolk a long time and there remained traveling from one place to another at last he returned home again to comfort his Wife and Children being troubled at his absence when he was come home he conceiving his continuing there would be dangerous he and his Wife devised to make him a place among his Fagots to hide himself in where he remained all day exercising himself in reading and prayer and thus he continued for about the space of half a year but at last his Zeal and Courage arose and he walked abroad several dayes openly in the Town crying out continually against the Mass and such like trumpery and for three dayes and three nights together refused meat or to talk with any one Berry Vicar of the Town and one of the Bishops Commissaries caused the Officers to watch for him who upon the twenty second day of the Month called April apprehended him by the break of the day and led him to Berry the Commissary who examined him after this manner Doest thou not believe said Berry in the Sacrament of the Altar what is it Hudson replyed it is worms meat my belief is in Christ Berry Dost thou not believe the Mass to put away Sins Hudson No God forbid it is a patcht Monster and a disguised Puppet more longer a piecing then ever was Solomons Temple At which words Berry stamped and fumed and said Well thou Villain I will write to my Good Lord the Bishop Hudson said There is no Lord but God Then he asked Hudson whether he would Recant to which he replyed the Lord forbid I had rather die many deaths then do so This Thomas Hudson and the other two being brought to the Lollards-pit and there standing with Chains about them on a suddain Thomas Hudson came forth from under the Chain which made some to doubt that he would have recanted but his two Companions at the Stake exhorted him and comforted him in the Bowels of Christ but Hudson felt more in his Heart and Conscience then they did conceive was in him for he was compassed with great grief of mind not for his death but for lack of the feeling of Christ for which he kneeled down and prayed earnestly unto the Lord who at last according to his mercies gave him comfort and then he said now I thank God I am strong and so went to the Stake to his Fellows again and they all suffered constantly and joyfully to the Magnifying of the Lords Name Before I proceed to give a further Account of such as suffered Martyrdom its necessary to give a short Account of the said end of this Persecuting Commissary Berry who Persecuted Thomas Hudson and others to death as I find it recorded This Berry in his rage was very fierce against many godly People in the Town of Ailesham he burnt all good Books he could get and persecuted men for their Consciences and compelled many to Idolatry and being
against the Mass and Antichrist the people in a rage fell upon him beating and bruising of him and he was forthwith bound and set upon an Ass and the Executioners with lighted Torches burnt his Face Mouth and Tongue first when the flames came overthwart his Cheeks he was heard to cry Lord forgive them they know not what they do and then they consumed his body with Fire to Ashes And herein the Reader hath seen the invinceable Constancy of these Martyrs who in their burning Zeal for Religion dryed up the Rivers of Persecution and were never tyred in Suffering until the Persecutors swords were blunt with the slaughter Blessed are they that are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven Part IV. Q. Eliz. An. 1558. Containing an Account of such as suffered Persecution and Martyrdom under Episcopacy c. I Am now come to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth in whose first year the Parliament restored the first fruits and tenths to the Crown and the Protestant Religion was again established the Bishops that refused the Oath of Supremacy were removed and others put in their rooms in this Queens time about the Eleaventh year of her reign arose a People making a Profession of the Pure Religion and would allow of nothing but what was directly taken out of the Scriptures openly condemning the received Discipline of the Church of England together with the Liturgy and the very calling of the Bishops as savouring too much of the Romish Religion declaring it to be an impious thing to hold any thing common with the Church of Rome and used all diligence to have the Church of England reformed in every point according to the rule of the Church of Geneva amongst these Dissenters were Coleman Burton Hallingham and Benson whom the Queen commanded to be committed to Prison yet it is a thing almost incredible how on a suddain their Followers encreased known by the envious name of Puritans who preached nothing more then Evangelical Purity crying down the Ecclesiastical Form of Government as a thing poluted with Roman Dregs setting out Books in Print to the same effect refusing to go to the publick Worship as it was then used whereupon many endeavours were used to suppress them and the Law was commanded to be put in Execution which required Uniformity and the Books wrote by the Puritans to be delivered into the Bishops hands on pain of Imprisonment by these courses of persecution and force they were kept down for a time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury using his utmost endeavours to settle an uniformity in Ecclesiastical Discipline according to the Laws which he saw lay gasping if the Puritans encreased and thereupon provided Articles for all Ministers to subscribe but he found great opposition or disturbance in this his Design both at home and abroad for one Robert Brown a young man of Cambridge from whom a People called Brownists took their name and one Rich. Harrison a School master these set forth Books in Zealand dispersed them over England condemning the Church of England for no Church these Books were by Authority prohibited and several of the chief of these Brownists were executed at Bury in Suffolk as the Reader shall understand more particularly in this following Discourse Q. Eliz. An. 1558. as far as I can give a discovery by the Authors I could procure As I have said though by the forciable course the Bishops took these People were kept under at times yet in the one and thirtieth year of the Queen the Pur̄itān̄s Flames brake forth again and Books were written by the names of Martin-Marprelate and another Book by Penry and Udal against the Government of Bishops and Barrow and Greenwood wrote a short Treatise called a Plat-Form in which was contained sharp reproofs to the Clergy saying That all false and Antichristian Ministers ought by the Princes Authority to be rooted out and that their Antichristian and Idolatrous Livings ought to be converted to chartiable Civil-uses and are not to be appropriated or given to Gods true Ministry for the maintenance thereof neither ought it to receive the same for it stands not with the honour of God that Bethel Gods House should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Bethaven the House of Idols as if the Almighty wanted other means for support of his own House and must needs be beholden to the House of Idols to help him and his For these and such matters by them openly divulged they were imprisoned and all that would not bow the Bishops resolved to break them to pieces on the other hand the more hotly they were persecuted by the Bishops the more the Zeal stirred in them to oppose strengthening themselves daily through their diligence in Reading the Scriptures that they might be enabled to oppose the Clergy whose Reformation they said was no more then casting out the name and Persons of the Pope and Papists and yet reserved all their Livings and Priviledges even all the fat and gainful Ware of Amaleck unto themselves But in the end of these things as it seldom hath been known so far as I have observed that whensoever the Truth appeared though in the least Measure but it cost some Blood which should make men love it the better So in these times this Barrow Greenwood and Penry and several others sealed their Testimony first by hard Imprisonment and at last by death it self as in the sequel will appear and if what I find upon record be true as I have no cause to believe otherwise the chief Instruments of their deaths were the Clergy and not the Queen For when the Queen asked Doctor Raynolds what he thought of those two men meaning Barrow and Greenwood he answered It would not avail any thing to shew his Judgment concerning them seeing they were put to death and being loath to speak his mind further the Queen pressed him and charged him to speak whereupon he answered that he was perswaded if they had lived they would have been two as worthy Instruments for the Church of God as hath been raised up in this Age The Queen sighed and said no more But after that riding to a Park by a place where they were executed called to mind their suffering of death and being willing to have further information concerning them demanded of the Earl of Cumberland that was present when they suffered what end they made he answered a very godly end and prayed for your Majesty and the State moreover one Philips a famous Preacher having both heard and seen Barrows Speeches and Preparation for death said Barrow Barrow my Soul be with thine And now before I give Account of the places where these persons were executed it will be necessary to insert their Complaint to the Parliament relating their hard usage in Prisons a Copy of which is as followeth The Humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint and Supplication of the Persecuted and Prescribed Church and
other Heresie Schism Rebellion Treason or Faction and whatsoever else is contrary to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel or the Prosperity and good estate of this Realm our only desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence and fear abstaining and keeping our Souls and Bodies from all remnants of the Roman Religion Idolatry Imposition and vain will-worship of what sort soever We witness against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy and Priesthood of this Nation as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and Ministry there appointed in their Offices Callings Administrations and Lord like Livings and Maintenance against the confuse prophane and irreligious multitude of all sorts of vitious Livers baptized into and retained in the Body of the Church of England without voluntary profession of and holy walking in the Faith of the Gospel against their manner of Worship and Service by reading Prayers out of a Book instead of true Spiritual invocation on the Name of the Lord and briesly against all their Popish Abuses and Relicks of the man of sin whatsoever And because this our Testimony maketh against the irregular Authority of the Prelates reproveth their evil Actions and disproveth their Pomp Stateliness Rich Revenues Stipends c. therefore have they in all hostile manner set themselves against us Persecuting us unto Bands Exile and Death it self reproaching us as Schismaticks Donatists Prownists Seditions persons c. though they could never convince us of these or any the like crimes and though we have not ceased neither by Gods Grace will cease to wish and procure good to their Souls and Bodies in the Lord now therefore our humble Request is unto your Majesty Honours and Worships that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to return into our native Country there to live in Peace practizing the Faith of Christ which we profess and have long since set forth to the view of the World in our publick Confession wherein none hitherto have shewed us any Error and seeing the People of other Nations are by your Majesty and Honours suffered in this Realm though differing from the Ecclesiastical state of the same we hope that your Highness Natural and Loyal Subjects may find like favour at your hands for although we cannot but hold and Witness the Truth of God against the corruptions remaining yet hold we in no wise lawful for our selves or any Subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these or any the like abuses for God hath committed the Sword into your Majesties hand alone who in his time will perswade we trust your Royal heart to fulfil his will and execute his Judgments upon the Remainders of the Spiritual Babylon which will turn to as great Honour to God Honour to your Majesty and good of this Realm as the abolishing of Abbats Munks Fryart Mass Images c. hath turned heretofore So the Lord of Lords and Ruler of Rulers of the Earth will establish your Crown and Kingdom unto Length of dayes and howsoever this our Suit shall be regarded we will not cease in all places of our Pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majesty your Honours Worships and all our Country whom God Almighty bless with Long Life and happy dayes on Earth and Crown with Everlasting Glory in the highest Heavens Amen I find that in the year 1604. in this Kings Reign four Persons were banished the Land of England after they had suffered three Moneths Imprisonment for no other cause but seperating themselves from the Church of England refusing to Communicate joyn or pertake with the same in their publick Ministry and Worship reputing many corruptions to be still remaining amongst them which were derived from Popery And thus I have given an Account of such as suffered for Religion in those times and now to conclude I have this further to write by what I have observed upon Histories in several Ages viz. That while any People were under Suffering and Oppression for their Consciences endeavouring to serve and worship God in that Way they believed to be most agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth then the publick Way established in the Kingdom whilst they travelled under this Bondage and Suffering they were low in their minds and the Lord had regard unto them for their hearts were tender and the Lord appeared for them and now when the Lord had tryed this People and at last put Power into their hands and raised them as it were from a low estate they soon forgot his kind dealings with them as for Example the Independants and Presbyterians some of whom I have seen neer forty years since dregged out of their Meetings in private Houses and their Cloathes tore and their Faces covered as it were with dirt and their blood spilt and in this suffering condition they made many Covenants and Vowes to the Lord but this very People afterwards coming into Places of Authority and killing and taking Possession got themselves into the High-Places of the Earth and soon forgot their time of deep Sufferings and being exalted into Goverment they tread in the same steps those had trodden that were their great Persecutors and then they turn'd as riggid Persecutors if not worse then those they had turned out as witness the Innocent Blood they shed both in old-Old-England and New whose Cruelty under the Visor of a more righteous Cloak is too large here to insert but will be matter sufficient for another Volum and therefore I here conclude this AN ACCOUNT OF THE Just Iudgments of God INFLICTED UPON PERSECUTORS Wherein is shewed The Wicked Lives and most horrible Untimely Deaths of many of the Persecutors of Old Collected out of Ancient Histories and out of the Scriptures CHAP. I The remarkable and righteous Judgments of God which have befaln several Persecutors for Conscience sake mentioned in the Old Testament THe Old Serpent the Devil The Old Serpent who was the first Persecutor for Righteousness sake that ever was in the World who for that very cause hath hunted after the blood of the Saints even from the beginning unto this day was for his Persecution cursed of God above all Creatures Gen. 3.14 Cain persecuted his godly Brother Abel until Death Cain and that for no other cause but for Righteousness sake even because his own works were Evil and his Brothers Good and Righteous 1 John 3. 12. was therefore cursed of God with a bitter curse even from the Presence of God and from the Earth and made a Fugative and Vagabond in the Earth yea so great was his punishment that he said It was greater then he could bear Gen. 4.11 12 13. Ishmael was another Persecutor for he was a Mocker of his Brother Isaac Ishmael the true Seed of God and therefore was cast out with his Mother out of the Family of the Faithful that he might have no part in the Inheritance in the true Seed unto whom the Promise was made Gen. 12.9 10