Good Christian people for Gods love be well war of these men for they else will beguile you and lead you blindfold into Hell with themselves for Christ saith plainly unto you If one blind man lead another they are like both to fall into the ditch After this he fell there down upon his knees and thus before them all prayed for his Enemies holding up both his hands and his eyes toward Heaven and saying Lord God Eternall I beseech thee of thy great mercy sake to forgive my persewers if it be thy blessed will And then he was delivered to Sir Robert Morley and so led forth again unto the Tower of London there to be imprisoned but he escaped afterward out of the Tower how and by what means it is uncertain and was in VVales about the space of four years at which time a great summe of Money was proclaimed by the King to him that could take the said Sir John Oldcastle either quick or dead about the end of which four years being expired the Lord Powes whether for love or greedinesse of the money or whether for the hatred of the true and sincere Doctrine of Christ seeking all manner of wayes how to play the part of Judas at length obtained his bloody purpose and brought the Lord Cobham bound up to London and was brought before the Parliament and being out-lawed in the Kings binch and excommunicated before the Archbishop of Canterbury for Heresie where he was adjudged that he should be taken as a Traitour to the King to the Realm What was the point of Treason is not expressed that he should be carried to the Tower of London unto the new Gallows in St. Giles without Temple-bar and there to be hanged and burned hanging Treason was falsly surmized against him his execution arose principally of his Religion which first brought him in hatred of the Bishops the Bishops brought him in hatred of the King the hatred of the King brought him to his death martyrdome The Clergy then tanqâ—am Leones rugientes ceased not to roar after Christian blood and whatsoever else was in fault still the Clergy cryed Crucifie Christ and deliver us Barrabas for then all horrible facts and mischiefs if any were done were imputed to the poor Lollards whom they so misnamed that is withered Darnell Lollard by the Popes interpretation is a word derived of Lollium that is Darnell Yet after the burning of the Lord Cobham the Bishops and priests were in great discredit both with the Nobility and Commons partly for that they had so cruelly handled the good Lord Cobham and partly again because his opinion as they thought all at that time was perfect concerning the Sacrament The prelats feared this to grow to further inconvenience toward them both wayes wherefore they drew their heads together and at the last consented to use another practice somewhat contrare to that they had done before they caused by and by to be blown abroad by their hyred servants friends and babling Sir John's that the said Lord Cobham was become a good man and had lowly submitted himself in all things unto the holy Church utterly changing his opinion concerning the Sacrament and thereupon they counterfeited an abjuration in his name that the people should take no hold of his opinion by any thing they heard of him before and so to stand the more in aw of them considering him so great a man and by them subdued At this time Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury died and this may seem strange that the same Thomas Arundell who a little before sat in Judgement against the Lord Cobham and pronounced sentence of death upon him did himself feel the stroak of death and the sentence of God executed upon him before the other who would have thought but that the Lord Cobham being so cast and condemned definitely by the Archbishops sentence should have died long before the Bishop but such be the works of Gods Almighty hand whoso turned the Wheel that this condemned Lord survived his condemner three or four years Now to leave England for a while and to take a view of the Church of Bohemia and the persecution there for the profession of the Gospel of Christ in the year of our Lord 1400. there was great divisions in Religion in the Country of Bohemia The Emperor Charles the fourth instituted the University of Prage and provided it of learned men and as a Prince given to Letters adorned often with his presence the Disputations made in Schools but because theâ— Teutonians or Almains in that University seemed to carry away the praise and honour there in Disputations above the Bohemians they were greatly ashamed that strangers should surmount them It came to passe that one of the Bohemians having recovered the Books of VVickliff communicated them to his companions and they drew out of them great Arguments which the Teutonians could not resist whereupon many dissentions fell amongst them even to Batteries and Murthers The Teutonians seeing this forsook the place in so much that more then 2000 Schollars on one day went out of Prage and came to Lipse where they began an University after leave obtained John Hus then had the greatest renown a man that came out of a Village called Hus which signisieth an Hen whereof he took his name he was of a great and quick spirit and well spoken beginning to recommend the Doctrine of VVickliff in his Sermons to the people the occasion how the Doctrine of wickliff came to Bohemia was this there chanced at this time a certain Student of the Countrey of Bohemia to be at Oxford one of a wealthy house and also of a noble stock who returning home from the University of Oxford to the University of Prage carried with him certain Books of wickliffs who being communicated to John Hus a man of great knowledge and of a prognant wit took such pleasure in reading of them that not only he began to defend this Author openly in the Schooles but also in his Sermon commending him as a good man an holy and heavenly man wishing himself when hee should die to bee there placed whereas the Soul of wickliff should bee The Bohemians being instructed with his Doctrine began first to set against the Pope esteeming him no more Honourable nor great nor other Bishops or Priests and thereupon reformed the Doctrine by the conclusions and Articles following First that the dignity makes not the Priest or Bishop honourable but Sanctity of life and good Doctrine 2. That souls separat from the bodies go right unto eternall pains o straight obtain happy life 3. That there is no witnesse in all the Scripture whereby can be proved that there is purgatory after this life 4. To make oblation and Sacrifices for the dead is an invention of the covetousnesse of Priests 5. Images of God or Saints benedictions of waters and such like things are forged of men against the Word of God 6. That the orders of begging Friers
are invented by Devils 7. That Baptisme ought to bee administred with water without cream oyle spittle and such pollutions 8. That the Temple of God is the world That such as build Churches Monastaries and Oratories therein to inclose him do inclose Majestie which is incomprehensible 9. That the Ornaments of Priests chasubles corporalls chaleices plates vestiments and Altars are all but vanitie 10. That in vain we implore the help of Saints and that it is time lost using the Cononicall hours 11. That fastings merit nothing 12. That the Eucharist ought to be administred under both kinds 13. They rejected the Masse and received only the communion of the Supper the word and prayer and many other Articles draw from the holy Scripture Before we come to the Counsel of Constance where John Hus compeared was condemned It shall not be impertinent nor out of purpose to repeat a certain merry History and worthy otherwise to be noted that fell out at that time Pope John 23. of that name holding a Synod at Rome In the first Session of the Synod as the aforesaid John was sitting on an high seat after the Masse of the holy Ghost was sung there came an owle who placing her self upon one of the balks of the Temple and looking directly upon the Pope Saluted him in a strange manner with her fearful Song such as were there present began to wonder looking one at another and also casting their view upon the Pope they could skant keep to be much ashamed to sweat to bee sore anguished and tormented in himself finally finding no other mean whereby he might remedy his so great confusion after he had given leave to such as were assembled he rose up and retired There was an other Session after this wherein came the like for this Owle could not be chased away neither for any cryes no nor yet for stones and staffes which were cast at it There was then many which by this spectacle were induced to believe that such spirituall pillars have long time governed the Church of Rome In the year of God 1414. there was a General Counsel holden at Constance by Sigismund the Emperor and Pope John the 23. for the pacifying of the Schisme in the Church which was then between three Popes striving for the Popedome The first was John whom the Italians set up the second was Gregory whom the French men set up the third was Benedic whom the Spainards placed all three were deposed â—nd Martin is chosen Pope he is inthronized with great solemnity the Emperor on foot leading his horse by the bridle on the right hand and the Marquesse of Brandeburg Prince Elector likewise leading his horse on the left hand the Pope himself ryding in the mids upon his Palfrey This Counsel of Constance continued for the space of four years and had in it 45 Sessions wherein many things were concluded as here it was inacted that the Popes Authority is under the Counsel and that the Counsel ought to judge the Pope And touching the Communion in both kinds althogh the Counsel could not deny that it was by Christ and his Apostles used yet notwithstanding by the same Counsel it was decreed to the contrare Great was the convention at this Counsel of Constance The number of Prelats conveened at this Counsel were 346. Of Abbots and Doctors 564. Secular men Princes and Dukes Earles and Knights Esquyers 16000. besides common women belonging to the said Counsel 450. Barbars 600. Minstrels Cooks and Jesters 320. So that the whole multitude which were viewed to be in the Town of Censtance between Easter and Whitsuntide were numbered to be 60500. Strangers and Forrainers at the Counsel At this time Wencâ—laus King of Bohemia was required by the Counsell to send John Hus that he might purge himself of the slanders that was raised upon him who went thither with the Emperors safe conduct given him he is brought before the Pope and the Cardinals and of them is slanderously accused of many crimes he is keeped a while in prison amongst them during which time hee wrot certain Books that is to say Of the Ten Commandements Of the love and knowledge of God Of Matrimony Of Pennance Of the enemies of Mankind Of the Prayer of our Lord And of the Supper of our Lord After Pope John fled out of Constance the Popes servants delivered up the Keyes of the prison where John Hus was unto the Emperor Sigismund and to the Cardinals then by the whole consent of the Counsell the said John Hus was put into the hands of the Bishop of Constance who sent him to a Castle of the other side of the River of Rhine not very far from Constance where he was shut up in a Tower with fetters on his legs that he could scarcely walk in the day time and at night he was fastened up to a Rack against the Wall hard by his Bed In the mean season the Nobles of Bohemia did all their endeavour to purchase hid deliverance having respect to the good renown of all the Realm the which was wonderfully desamed and slandered by certain naughty persons and to this effect the Nobles of Bohemia gave in a Schedul or Bill to the Counsell humbly entreating that John Hus might be delivered out of prison and defend his own cause openly he is brought before the Counsell where many things were falsly said to his charge by his adversaries whereof he cleared himself yet he is condemned for an Heretick and a teacher of false and erroneous Doctrine when sentence and judgement was given out against him kneeling down upon his knees he said Lord Jesus Christ forgive mine enemies by whom thou knowest that I am falsly accused and that they have used false witnesse and slanders against me forgive them I say for thy great mercies sake This his prayer and Oration the greater part and especially the chief of the Priests did deride and mock he is first degraded and deprived of all the Priestly ornaments and priviledges and before they deliver him over unto the Secular power they put this reproach upon him they caused to be made a certain Crown of Paper almost a cubit deep in the which were painted three Devils of wonderful ugly shape and this Title set above their heads Haeresiarcha the which when he saw he said My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake did wear a Crown of Thorns why should not I then for his sake again wear this light Crown be it never so ignominious truly I will do it and that willingly When it was set upon his head the Bishops said now we commit thy soul unto the Devil But I said John Hus lifting up his eyes towards the heavens I commit my spirit unto thy hands O Lord Jesus Christ unto thee I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed These contumelous opprobries thus ended the Bishops turning themselves towards the Emperor said this most sacred Synod of Constance leaveth now John Hus which hath no more any
Prince of Navar. To this pretended Marriage it was divised that all the chiesest Protestants or France should be invited and meet in Paris being met and conveened that same night of the Marriage Souldiours were appointed in diverse places of the City to be ready at a watch-word to break in into the Protestants houses at which watch-word given they brust out to the slaughter of the Protestants first beginning with the Admirall who was slain in his bed and thrown out at a window into the street where his head being first striken off and embalmed with Spices to be sent to the Pope At this time there was slain in three dayes above ten thousand Men and Women old and young of all sorts and conditions yea and slew all the Protestants they knew or could find within the city Gates inclosed So great was the rage of the Heathenish persecution that not only the Protestants but also certain whom they thought indifferent Papists they put to the sword in steed of Protestants In the number of them that were slâ—â—n of the more learned sort was Petrus Ramus Lumbinus and others And not only within the Walls of Paris was this uproar contained but extended further into other Cities and quarters of the Realm especially Lyons Orleance Tholous and Roan In which Cities it is almost incredible nor scarlely ever heard of in any Nation what cruelty was shewed what numbers of good Mâ—n were destroyed in so much that within the space of one month thretty thousand at least of Religious Protestants are numbred to be slain Furthermore here is to bee noted that when the Pope first heard of this bloody stir he with his Caâ—dinals made such joy at Rome with their procession with their Gun-shot and singing Te Deum that in honour of that lawful festival Act a Iubile was commanded by the Pope with great indulgence and much Solemnity whereby thou hast here to discern and judge with what spirit and charity these Catholicks are moved to maintain their Religion withall which otherwise would fall to the ground without all hope of recovery Likewise in France no lesse rejoycing there was the King commanding publick processions through the whole City to be made with Bone-fires Ringing and singing where the King himself with the Queen his Mother and his whole Court resorting together to the Caurch gave thanks and laud to God for that so worthy victory archieved upon St. Bartholomews Day against the Protestants whom they thought to be utterly overthrown and vanqâ—ished in all the Realm for ever And in very deed to mans thinking might appear no lesse after such a destruction of the Protestants having lost so many worthy and noble Captains-as then were cut off whereupon many for fear revoking their Religion returned to the Pope diverse fled out of the Realm such as would not turn kept themselves secret durst not be known or seen so that it was past all hope of man that the Gospel should ever have any more place in France but such is the admirable working of the Lord where mans help and hope most faileth there he sheweth his strength and helpeth as here is to be seen and noted by stirring up Rochel to stand to the defence or their Religion against the Kings power by whose example certain Cities hearing thereof took no little courage to do the like as Mountaban and others who being confederat together exhorted one another to be circumspect and take good heed of the false dissembling practises not to be trusted of the mercilesse Papists intending nothing but blood and destruction Rochel standing to the defence of their lives and consciences and to adventure the worst whereupon began great siege and battery to be laid against Rochell both by sea and land which was Anno 1572. The whole power of France is set against Rochel Thus the whole power of France being gathered against one power town had not the mighty hand of the Lord stood on their side it had been impossible for them to escape Daring the time of this siege which lasted about seven months what skirmishes and conflicts were on both sides it would require a long tractation In all which assaults ever the Popes Catholicks had the worst Concerning the first assault thus I find written that within the space of 26. dayes were charged against the walls and houses of Rochel to the number or thretty thousand shot of iron Bullets and globes where by a great breach was made for the adversary to invade the city but such was the courage of them within not men only but also of Women Matrons and maids with spites fire and such other weapons that came to hand that the adversary was driven back with no smal slaughter of their Souldiours Likewise in the second assault 2000. great field pieces were laid against the Town whereupon the adversary attempted the next day to invade the Town but through the industry of the Souldiers and citizens and also of women and maids the invaders were forced at length to flee away faster then they came No better successe had all the assaults that followed Mâ—ny were the tokens of Gods gracious dealings with them during the time of the siege and amongst the rest this was very memorable at Rochel whereas the poorer sort began to lack corn and victual there was sent to them every day in the River by the hand of the Lord no doubt a great multitude of fish called Surdones which the poor people did use in stead of bread Which fish the same day as the siege brake up departed and came no more testified by them which were present there in Rochel all the time The King in end being weary of those chargeable wars there was a peace agreed and concluded between the King and the Protestants of Rochel in which were included other Cities of the Protestants granting to them benefite of peace and liberty of Religion The next year following died Charels the 9. the French King and the Cardinal of Lorain brother to Guise The King died of the age of 25. years and the manner of his death is to be noted The constant report To goeth that his blood guishing out by diverse parts of his body he tossing in his bed and casting out many horrible blaâ—phemies laid upon pillows with his heals upward and head downward voyded so much blood at his mouth that in few hours he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and restified may be an spectale and example to all persecuting Kings and Princes polluted with the blood of Christian Martyrs The cruel Persecution and Bloody Boutchery of the MERINDOLIANS FOllows the Tragicall Persecution and horrible murther of the faithfull flock of Christ inhabiting in Merindol in the Countrey of Province in France this people of a long continuance and custome had refused the Bishop of Rome his Authority and observed ever a more perfect kind of Doctrine then others delivered them from the Father to the Son ever since the year of
the left arm was on fire and burned he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell from his body and he continued in prayer to the end without moving At the burning of James Baynham a Lawier appeared a miracle and wondrous work of God that as he was at the stake in the midst of the flamming fire which fire had half consumed his arms and legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold ye look for miracles and hear now may yee see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain then I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses These words spake he in the midst of the flamming fire when his legs and arms as I said were half consumed William Tracie a worshipful Esquire in Glocester and then dwelling at Todingtown made in his will that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying neither passed he upon masse and he further said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saved and not by any Saint This Gentleman died and his Son as Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury to prove which he shewed to the Convocation and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground and burnt as an Heretick This Commission was sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocesse of Worcestâ—r to execute their wicked of sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing his Subject to be taken out of the ground two years after his death and burnt without his knowledge or order of the Law sent for the Chancellor and laid high offence to his charge who excused himselâ— by the Archbishop of Canterbury which was late dead but in conclusion it cost him three hundred pound to have his pardon And as many were burnt at this time for the profession of the truth so multitudes both of men and women were compelled to abjure and recant and to do pennance and to bear faggots So great was the trouble of these times for either they were driven out of the Realm or were cast out from their goods and houses or brought to open shame by abjuration Such decrees and injunctions then were set â—orth by the Bishops such Laws and Proclamations were provided such watch and narrow search was used such wayes were taken by force of oath to make one detect another so subtilly that unneth any good man could or did escape their hands that either his name was known or else his person was taken yet neverthelesse so mightily the power of Gods Gospel did work in the hearts of good men that the number of them did no lessâ—lâ—ssen for all the violence or policy of the adversaâ—ies but rather increased King Henry is divorced from Lady Cathrene Dowager and married with Lady Annâ—â—ullen which was the fiâ—st occasion and beginning of a publick Refoâ—mation The King had married Prince Arthur hiâ— Bâ—others wife the Pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Julius the second by whose dispensation this Marriage which neither sense of nature would admit nor Gods Law would bear was concluded approved and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any doubt or scruple near the space of twenty years thereafter there arose doubts and scruples about the lawfulnesse of his Marriage that first hindered the Emperour to marry Lady Mary the Kings Daughter and upon the same doubt the King of France refused to marry the said Lady Mary the Kings daughter The King being herewith perplexed anent the lawfulnessâ— of his Marriage consulted the Universities of all Christendome by whom it was discussed to be unlawfull whereupon ensued a divorce between the King and the Queen In the Parliment in the year 1533. the commons gave in a supplication complaining of the strait dealing of the Clergy in their proceeding exofficlo this wicked act was broken by the King for the King having more clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy and in special of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same In the same parliament it was enacted and decreed that no man should appeal to the court of Rome even the Parliament decreeth the popes Annats to cease c. All exactions and sums of money used to be payed to the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peter Pence should utterly surcease As touching these Peter Pence they were first brought in imposed by King Iva about the year of our Lord 70. Which Iva king of the West Saxons caused thâ—ough all his dominion in every house having a Chimney a penny to be collected and payed to the Bishop of Rome in the name of Peter and thereof were they called Peter Pence And the said Peter Pence ever since or for the most part have used of along custom to be gathered and summoned by the Popes Collectors here in England from the time of Iva to this present Parliament The oath of the Clergy-men which they were wont to make to the Bishop of Rome now pope quondam was abolished and made void by stature and a new oath ministred and confirmed for the same wherein they acknowledged the King to be supream head under Christ in this Church of England these oaths were the occasion that the pope lost all his interest and jurisdiction in England within short while after In this Parliament amongst other diverse statutes most graiously and by the blessed will of God it was enacted that the Pope and all his Colledge of Cardinals with his Pardons Indulgences which so long had clogged this Râ—al n of England to the miserable slaughter or so manny good men and which never could be removed â—way before was never abolished eradicat and exploded out of this land and sent home â—gâ—in to their own country of Rome from whence they came God be everlastingly praised therefore Amen An act was made concerning the Kings highnesse to be the suppream head of the Church of England and to have authority to reform and redresse all errors heresies and abuses in the same When all other the Kings subjects and the learned of the Realm had taken and accepted the oath of the Kings supreamacy only Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor refused to be sworn who therefore falling into the danger of the Law were committed unto the Tower executed for the same This Fisher with Sir Thomas Moor were great persecutors of the saints of God Tindal betrayed be Henry Philips was delivered into his enemies hands and burnt in Flanders by Filfoord castle The worthy vertues and doings of this blessed Martyr who for his painfull travels and singular zeal to his country may be called in these our days an Apostle of England it were long to recite Among many other this because it seemeth to me worthy of remembrance I thought it not in silence to overpasse which hath unto me credibly been testified by certain grave Merchants and some of them also such as were present the same
cometh in with the keyes about nine of the clock at night after his usuall manner to view his prison and see whether all were present when he â—spied the said Cuthbert to ly there departed again locking the doors after him within two hours after about eleven of the clock toward midnight the said Cuthbert whether being in a slumber or being awake I cannot say heard one coming in first opening the outward door then the second afterward the third door and so looking in to the said Cuthbert having no Candle or Torch that he could see but giving a brighnesse ligh most comportable and joyful to his heart saying Ha unto him and departed again who it was he could not tell neither I dare define this that he saw himself he declared four or five times to the said Mr. Austen and to others at the sight whereof he received such joyfull comfort that he also expressed no little solace in telling and declaring the same Roger Holland in his examination by Bishop Boner propnefied thus this I dare be bold in God to speak which by his Spirit I am moved to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time ye shall not molest his Church And this shall ye in short time well perceive for after this day in this place shall there not be any by him put to the tryal of fire and fagot And after this day there was never one that suffered in Smithfield for the restimony of the Gospel So Roger Holland was the last that suffered in Smithfield This Loner was a bloody persecutor for in the space of three years he put three hundred to death The last that suffered in Queen Maries time were five at Carterbury burned about six dayes before the death of Queen Mary Thir godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made before their martyrdome desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and soit was Many were delivered by Gods providence from the fiâ—e in Queen Maries time amongst others the Dâ—chesse of Suffolk with her husband were preserved and fled out of the Countrey Great were the bâ—oubles of Lady Elizabeth in Queen Maries im her sister being assly suspect of Sir Thomas Wyats rising was sent for by the Queen with great routs and bands being armed men as the greatest traitor in the world And as at that time she was sick and not able to travel and yet notwithstanding they brought her to London and not seeing the Queen she was clapped into prison into the Tower And again tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison at length also prisoner in her own house and guarded with a sort of cut-throats and was continually in fear and danger of her life Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Chancelloâ— was a great foe unto her and sundry conspired against her to take her life but God graciously delivered her out of their hands especially out of the hands of the Bishop of Winchester being in prison at Woodstock in the hands of her enemies hearing upon a time a certain milk-maid singing pleasantly wishing her self to be a milk-maid as she was saying that her case was better and life more merry then was hers in that state as she was At this time died the Bishop of Winchester and so by Gods providence Lady Elizabeth was delivered from the snares and plots that by him was laid for her life three years after the death of Winchester died Queen Mary Queen Mary being long sick died on the 17. day of November Anno 1558. and the same day she died was Elizabeth proclaimed Queen As touching the manner of her death some sayes she died of a Tympany some by her much sighing before her death supposed that she died of thought and sorrow Whereupon the Counsell seeing her sighing and desirous to know the cause to the end they might minister the more ready consolation unto her feared as they said that she took that thought for the Kings Majesty her husband which was gone from her To whom she answering again Indeed said she that may be one cause but that is not the greatest wound that pierceth my oppressed mind but what that was she would not express to them but afterward opened the matter now plainly to Mr. Rise c. When I am dead and opened ye shall find Caleice lying in my heart she took though for the losse of Calice There was more English blood shed in Queen Maries time for the space of four years then ever was in any Kings raign before her and so her raign was unprosperous to her and to all her Realm in all respects for she had never good successe in any thing she went about She raigned only five years and five moneths The severe punishment of God upon the persecuters of his People and enemies to his Word with such also as have been blasphemers contemners and mockers of his Religion LEaving now Queen Mary being dead and gone I come to them which under her were the chief Ministers and doers in this persecution the Bishops I mean and Priests of the Clergy to whom Queen Mary gave all the execution of her power as did Queen Alexandra to the Pharisees after the time of the Machabees of whom Josephus thus writeth Ipsa solum nomen Regium serebat caeterum omnent Regni potestatem Pharisaei possidebant that is she only retained to her self the name and title of the Kingdome but all her power she gave to the Pharisees to possesse c. Touching which Prelats and Priests here is to be noted in like sort the wonderfull and miraculous providence of Almighty God which as he abridged the raign of their Queen so he suffers them not â—o escape unvisited First beginning with Stephen Gardiner the Arch-persecuter of Christs Church whom he took away about the midst of the Queens Raign or wâ—ose poysoned life and stinking end for so much as suâ—ficient hath been touched before I shall not need here to make any new rehearsall thereof After him dropped others away also some before the death of Queen Mary and some after as Morgan Bishop of St. Davids who sitting upon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr Bishop Farrar and unjustly usurping his room not long after was stricken by Gods hand after such a strange sort that his meat would not go down but rise and pick up again sometimes at his mouth sometimes blown out of his nose most horrible to behold and so continued till his death Where note moreover when Mr. Leyson being then Sheriff at Bishop Farrars burning had fercht away the Cattel of the said Bishop from his servants house into his own enstody the cattel coming into the Sheriffs ground diverse of them would never eat meat but say bellowing and roaring and so died Also Jâ—stice Morgan who sare upon the death of the Lady Jane and not long after the same fell mad and was beseft of his wits and so died having ever in his
delivered him to the Provâ—st of Edenburgh to be burnt on the Castle-hill who incontinent made him to bee put into prison with Irons about his legs and neck At his forthcomming the Provest with great menacing words forbade him to â—peak to any man or any to him as belike he had commandment of his superiors Comming from the town to the Castle-hill the common people said God have mercy upon him and on you said he being beside the fire he lifted up his eyes to heaven twise or thrise and said to the people let it not offend you that I suffer the death this day for the truths sake for the Disciple is not above his Master Then was the Provest angry that he spake then looked he to Heaven again and said they will not let me speak The cord being about his neck the fire was lighted and so departed he to God constantly and with good countenance to our sights There arose in Scotland about this time a Schisme for the Pater Noster by reason of a Sermon of Richard Marshall a black Frier teaching that the Pater Noster should not be said to Saints whereupon the Doctors of the University of St. Andrews together with the gâ—ay Friers who long ago tâ—ught the people to pray the Pater Nâ—ster to Saints had great indignation that their old Doctrine should be repugned and stirred up a gray Frier called Toitts to preach again to the people that they should and might pray the Pater Nostâ—r to Saints Upon this followed incontinent a dangerous schisme in the Church of Scotland for not only the Clergy but the whole people were divided among themâ—elves one defending the truth and another the Papistry in such sort that there arose a Proverb to whom say ye your Pater Noster And although the Papists had the upper hand as then whose works were almost holden for Law so great was the blindnesse of that age yet God so inspired the hearts of the common people that so many as could get the understanding of the words of the Lords Prayer in English which was then said in Latine utterly detested that opinion holding that it should be in no wayes said to the Saints so that the Craftsmen and their servants in their Booths when the Friers came exploded him with shame enough crying Frier Pater Noster Frier Pater Noster who at last being convict with his own conscience was ashamed of his former Sermon was compelled to leave the Town of Sâ— Andrews Shortly the Christians were so hotly offended and the Papists on the other side so proud and wilfull that necessary it was to eschew greater inconveniences that the Clergy at last should be assembled to dispute and conclude the whole matter that the Lay people might be put out of doubt which being done and the University agreed whosoever had been present might have heard much subtill Sophistry for some of the popish doctors affiâ—med that it should be said to God formaliter and to Saints materialiter others ultimate non ultimatè Others said iâ— should be sâ—id to God Principaliter and to Saints minus Principaliter Others that it should be said to God Primarie and to Saints Secundarie Others that it should be said to God Capiendo stricte and to Saints Capieâ—do large Which vain distinctions being heard and considered by the people they that were simple remained in greater doubtfulnesse then they were in before so that a well aged man and a servant to the Superiour of St. Andrews called the Subprior Thome being demanded to whom he said his Pâ—â—er Noster he answered to God only Then he asked again what should be said to the Saints he answered give them Aves and Creeds enough in the devils name for that may suffice them well enough albeit they do not spoil God of his right Others making their vaunt of the Doctors said that because Christ who made the Pater Noster never came into the Isle of Britain and so understood not the English tongue therefore it was that the Doctors concluded it should be said in Latine This perturbation and open slander yet depending it was thought good to call a Provinciall Counsel to decide the matter which being assembled at Edinburgh the Papists being destitute of reason defended their parts with lies alleadging that the Univeasity of Paris had concluded that the Lords prayer should be said to Saints but because that could not be proved and that they could not prevail by reason they used their will in place of reason and sometime despitefull and injurious talk As Frier Scot being asked of one to whom he should say the Pater Noster he answered saying say it to the devil knave So the Counsel perceiving they could profit nothing by reasoning they were compelled to passe voting that is to the numbering of votes But then incontinent they that were called Church-men were found divided and repugnant among themselves for some Bishops with the Doctors and Friers consented that the Pater Noster should be said to Saints but the Bishops of Sr. Andrews Caithnes and others with other moe learned men refused utterly to subscribe the same Finally with consent of both parties commission was given by the holy Church to Dâ—an John Winram then Superior of St. Andrews to declare to the people how and after what manner they should pray the Lords prayer who accepting to the Commission declared that it should be said to God with some other restrictions which are not necessary to be put in memory and so by little and little the bruit and tumult ceased Queen Dowager past by sea to France and took with her diverse of the Nobility of Scotland with diverse Barrons and Gentlemen and many others The Dowager had to practise somewhat with her brethren the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorrane the weight whereof the Governor after felt for shortly after her return was the Governor deposed of his government justly by God but most unrustly by man and she made Regent in the year of our Lord 1554. She was an deadly enemy to the Gospell In the cruel persecution used by Queen Mary of England were godly men dispersed into diverse nations of whom it pleased the goodness of God to send some unto us for our comfort and instruction And first came a simple man William Harlaw whose erudition although it excelled nor yet for his whole and diligent plainnesse in doctrine is he to this day worthy of praise and remains a faithfull member within the Church of Scotland After him came that notable man John Willock as one that had some commission â—o the Q. Regent from the Dutchesse of Emden but his principal purpose to assay what God would work by him in his native country These two did some times in several companies assemble the Brethren who by their exhortations began greatly to be encouraged and did shew that they had an earnest thrist of godlinesse And last came John Knox who bot privatly and publickly preached the
the Revelation in these words And I saw an Angel descending from Heaven having a key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand and he took the Dragon the old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years and put him into the bottomlesse dungeon and shut him up and signed him with his seal that he should no more seduce the Gentiles till a thousand years were expired and after that he must be loosed again for a little space of time c. The thousand years being now expired Satan let loose he begins again to persecute the Church of God and the professors of the truth in the person of Wickliff in the year of our Lord 1371. in the dayes of Edward the third King of England This Wickliff was an English-man and a Professor of Divinity in Oxford a man of great spirit and of great learning he came to such a degree or erudition that he was thought the most excellent amongst all the Theologians at that time he perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be aduldeâ—at and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops Sects of Monks and dark errors and after long debating and deliberating with himself with many secret sighs and bewalings in his mind the generall ignorance of the whole world could no longer sâ—ffer or abide the same he at the last determined with himself to help and remedy such things as he saw to be wide and out of the way and so he began as from a deep night to draw out the truth of the Doctrine of the Son of God with the purity of the Doctrine which hee taught he also lively touched the abuses of the Popedome in so much that the Locusts that is to say the Monks and begging Friers listed themselves up against him to persecute him with all the rable of the Popish Clergie but the Lord gave him for a Protector King Edward the third the Duke of Lancaster the Kings son and Lord Henery Peircy the Marshaâ—l of England for all the time of King Edwards raign he had great liberty of his profession and that the King carried a speciall favour and good-will to him appears in this that he sent him with his Ambassadour over into the parts of Italy to treat with the Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pope with full commission This King Edward was a good man and hath this commendation that he was Orphanis quasi Pater afflictis compations miseris condolâ—ns oppressis relevaâ—s cunctis indigentibus impendens auxilia opportuna that is to the Orphans he was a Father competient to the afflicted mourning with the miserable releiving the oppressed and to all them that wanted a helper in the time of need c. Pope Gregory being informed of Wickliffs Doctrine that was pred abroad through the land He wrot to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London to cause apprehend the said John Wickliffe and to cast him into prison and that the King and Nobles of England should be admonished not to give any trust to the said John VVickliffe or to his Doctrine in any wayes As also he wrote unto King Edward or rather unto King Richard who succeeded King Edward to persecute this VVickliff but God shortned the rage and fury of this cruel Prelate against him for that in the same year or in the beginning of the next year following the forsaid Pope Gergory the eleventh turn'd up his heels and died Yet the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London did vex trouble him and held sundry meetings of the Clergy against him to condemne him and his Doctrine And here is not to be past over the great miracle of Gods Divine admonition or warning for when as the Archbishop and Suffraganes with the other Doctors and Lawiers with a great company of babling Friers and Religious persons were gathered together to consult as touching John VVickliffs books and that whole sect When as I say they were gathered together at the Gray-friers in London to begin their businesse upon St. Dunstanes day after dinner about two in the cloak the very hour and instant that they should go forward with their businesse a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell throughout all England whereupon diverse of the Suffraganes being feard by the strange and wonderfull demonstration doubting what it should mean thought it good to leave off from their determinat purpose But the Archbishop as the chief Captain of that Army more rash and bold then wise interpreting the change which had happened clean contrary to another meaning and purpose did confirm and strengthen hearts and minds which are almost danted with fear stoutly to proceed and to go forward in their attempted enterprise who then discoursing VVickliffs Articles not according to the sacred Cannons of the Holy Scripture but unto their own private affections and traditions pronounced and gave sentence that some of them were simply and plainly Hereticall other some false erroneous other irreligious some seditious and not consonant to the Church of Rome John VVickliff a long time after this returning again either from his banishment being banished by King Richard or from some other place where he was secretly keeped repaired to his Parish at Lutterworth where hee was Parson and there quyetly departing this mortall Life sleept in peace in the Lord 1384. Here is to be noted in this Man as in diverse others whom the Lord so long preserved in such rages of so many enemies from all their hands even to his old age This VVickliff had written diverse and sundry works the which in the year of our Lord 1410. were burnt at Oxford And not only in England but in Bohemia Likewise the Books of the said VVickliff were set on fire by the Archbishop of Prage who made diligent inquisiition for the same and burned them The numbers of the Volumes which he is said to have burned most excellently written and richly adorned with bosses of Gold and coverings as Aeneas Silvius writes were about the number of two hundred Great was the testimony given out by the Vniversity of Oxford touching the commendation of the great Learning and good Life of John VVickliff as also great was the testimony and commendation of Master John Hus concerning John VVickliff who affirmed that he was no Heretick and yet the Counsel of Constance condemned him for an Heretick and caused his Body and Bones to bee raised and burnt 41. years after his Death and took his Ashes and threw into the River thinking thereby utterly to extinguish and abolish both the Name and Doctrine of VVickliff for ever for though they digged up his Body and burnt his Bones and drowned his Ashes yet the Word of God and truth of his Doctrine with the fruit and successe thereof they could not burn which yet to this day for the most part of his Articles do remain After the Death of Pope Gregory
office or to do in any Church of God unto the Civill Judgement and power Then the Emperor commanded Lodovieus Duke of Bavaria which stood before him in his Robes holding the Golden Apple with the Crosses in his hands that he should receive John Hus off the Bishops and deliver him unto them which should do the Execution by whom as he was led to the place of Execution before the Church doors he saw his Books burning whereat he smiled and laughed And all men that passed by he exhorted not to think that he should die for any error or heresie but only for the hatred and ill-will of his adversaries which had charged him with most false unjust crimes all the whole City in manner being in Armour followed him When as he was brought to the place of Execution he kneeled down upon his knees and lifting up his eyes to heaven he prayed and said certain Psalms and especially the 50. and 31. Psalms and they which stood hard by heard him often times in his prayer with a merry and chearfull countenance repâ—â—t this verse In thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit c. Which thing when the Lay-people beheld which stood next unto him they said what he hath done before we know not but now we see and hear that he doth speak and pray very devourly and godly In the mean time while he prayed as he bowed his neck backward to look upward unto heaven the Crown of Paper fell off from his head upon the ground Then one of the Souldiers taking it up again said let us put it again upon his head that he may be burned with his Masters the Devils whom he hath served When as by the commandement of the Torments he was risen up from the place of his prayer with a loud voice he said Lord Jesus Christ assist me and help me that with a constant and patient mind by thy most gracious help I may bear and suffer this cruell and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for the preaching of thy most holy Gospel and Word Then as before he declared the cause of his death unto the people in the mean time the Hangman stripped him of his garments and turning his hand behind his back tyed him fast unto the Stake with Ropes that was made wet And whereas by chance he was turned towards the East certain cryed out that he should not look toward the East for he was an Heretick so he was turned toward the West Then was his neck tyed with a Chain unto the Stake the which Chain when he beheld smiling he said that he would willingly receive the same Chain for Jesus sake who he knew was bound with a far worse Chain Under his feet they set two Fagots admixing Straw withall and so likewise from the feet up to the chin he was inclosed in round about with Wood. But before the Wood was set on fire Lodovicus Duke of Bavaria with another Gentleman with him which was the son of Clement came and exhorted John Hus that he would be yet mindfull of his safeguard and renounce his errours To whom he said what errour should I renounce when as I know my self guilty of none for as for these things which are falsly alledged against me I know that I never did so much as once to think them much lesse to preach them for this was the principall end purpose of my Doctrine that I might teach all men pennance and remission of sins according to the verity of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the exposition of the holy Doctors wherefore with a chearfull mind and courage I am here ready to suffer death When he had spoken these words they left him and shaking hands together they departed Then was the fire kindled and John Hus began to sing with a loud voice Jesus Christ the Son of the living God have mercy upon me And when hee began to say the same the third time the wind drave the flamme so upon his face that it choaked him yet notwithstanding he moved a while after by the space that a man might almost say three times the Lords Prayer When all the Wood was burned and consumed the upper part of the body was left hanging in the Chain the which they threw down stake and all and making a new sire burned it the head being first cut in Gobbets that it might the sooner be consumed into ashes The heart which is found amongst the bowels being well beaten with staves and clubs was at last pricked upon a sharp stick and roasted at a fire a part untill it was consumed Then with a great diligence gathering the ashes together they cast them into the River of Rhine that the least remnant of the ashes of that man should not be left upon the earth whose memory notwithstanding cannot bee abolished out of the minds of the people neither by water neither by any kind of torment And here is to bee considered that notwithstanding the Emperor had promised unto Master John Hus safe conduct that he might come freely unto Constance but also that he should return again unto Bohem without fraud or interruption yet the Emperor is forced by the importunity of the Cardinals and Bishops to breake promise for said they that no defence could or might be given either by safe conduct of or by any other mean unto him which was suspected or judged to be an heretick Not long after followed the burning of that famous and learned man and godly Martyr of Christ Master Jerome of Prage burned at Constance for like cause and quarrel as Master John Hus was This Jerome grievously sorrowing for the slanderous reproach and defamation of his countrey of Boheme And also hearing tell of the manifest injuries done unto that man of worthy memory Master John Hus freely and of his own accord came unto Constance to declare openly before the Counsel the purity and sincerity of his faith and his innocency and how to purge himself of Heresie whereof he was slandered and defamed and gave intimation set up in diverse places of the town of Constance charging his slanderers of what Nation or Estate soever they be which will object against him any crime of error or heresie to come forth openly before him in the presence of the whole Counsell to object against him and he shall be ready to answer openly and publickly before the whole Counsel of his innocency and to declare the purity and sincerity of his true Faith And finding no safe conduct to compare before the Counsel the Nobles Lords and Knights specially of the Bohemian Nation present in Constance gave unto Master Jerome their Letters parents confirmed with their Seals for a testimony and witnesse of the premisses with the which Letters the said Master Jerome returned again into Bohemia but by the treason and conspiracy of his enemies he was taken and brought back again bound with fetters and chains and was cited to compear before the Counsel and
The furniture of his Books cost him 70â—0 Florents a little before his death his mind was to give all away and to take a Towl and Preach but the Lord would not permit him With two Popes that is with Pope Innocent and Alexander the sixt he had much vexation Under the Raign of Fredericus the third Emperor of Germany was one Iohn a Pastor or a Neat herd which was a keeper of Cattel him the Bishop of Herbipolis condemned and burnt for an Heretick because he taught and held that the life of the Clergy was ignominious and abominable before God But to proceed in the Persecutions of the Godly in England in King Henry the seventh his Raign In the Diocesse of Lincoln in Buckinghame-shire William Smith being Bishop of the same Diocesse one William Tylesworth was burned in Amershame his only Daughter being a married Woman a Godly and a Faithfull Woman was compelled with her own hands to set fire to her dear father and at the same time her husband did penance at her fathers burning and bare a Fagot as did also many moe At the burning of this William Tylsworth were sixty and above that were put to bear Fagots for their Penance of whom diverse were injoyned to bear and wear Fagots at Lincoln for the space of seven years some at one time some at another c. In which number was also Robert Barlet a rich man who for his Possessions sake was put out of his Farm and Goods and was condemned to be kept in the Monasterie of Ashange were he did wear on his right Sleeve a square piece of Cloath the space of seven years together About the same time also of the burning of Wilâ—iam Tylesworth was one Father Roberts burned at Buckinghame he was a Miller and dwelt at Missenden and at his burning there were about twenty persons that were compelled to bear Faggots and to do such pennance as the wicked Pharisees did compell them After that by the space of two or three years was burned at Amersham Thomas Bernard a husband man and James Mordan a labourer and they two was burned both at one fire Also there were thirty burned on the right Cheek at the same time and bare Faggots the cause was that they would table against Superstition and Idolatrie and were desireous to hear and read the holy Scriptures The manner of their burning on the cheek was this their necks was tyed fast to a Poast or Stay with Towels and their hands holden that they might not stir and so the Iron being hot was put to their cheeks and thus bare they the Prints and Marks of the Lord Jesus about them At this time also in the dayes of King Henry the seventh was one Laurence Ghest which was burned in Salisbury for the matter of the Sacrament he was of a comely and tall Personage he was kept in Prison the space of two years This Laurence had a Wife and seven Children wherefore they thinking to expugne and perswade his mind by stirring his fatherly affection toward his Children when the time came which they appointed for his burning as he was at the Stake they brought before him his Wife and his foresaid seven Children at the sight whereof although Nature is commonly bent to work in other yet in him Religion overcoming Nature made his constancy to remain unmoveable in such sort as when his Wife began to exhort and desire him to favour himself he again desired her to be content and not to be a block in his way for he was in a good course running towards the mark of his Salvation and so fire being put to him he finished his life renouncing not only Wife and Children but also himself to follow Christ As he was in burning one of the Bishops men threw a fire-brand at his face whereat the brother of Laurence standing by ran at him with his Dagger and would have slain him had he not been otherwise stayed It is recorded likewise in the raign of this King Henry the seventh when the people was returning from the burning of a faithfull woman at Cheaping Sadbery for alledged Heresie by Doctor Whitington the Bishops Chancelour who was present at the execution as hee returned with the rest there happened that a Bull escaping from the Butcher into the street he passed through the throng of the people every one drawing aside and shifting for himself and touching neither man nor childe till hee came where the Chancelour was against whom the Bull as pricked with a sudden vehemency ran upon him with his horns and taking him upon the paunch gorred him throw and throw and so killed him immediatly carrying his guts and trailing them with his horns all the streets over to the great admiration and wonder of all them that saw it Here we see a plain miracle of Gods mighty power and judgement both in the punishing of this wretched Chancellour and also in admonishing all other like persecutors by his example to fear the Lord and to abstain from the like cruelty Besides these before mentioned many moe in this King Henry the seventh his raign were persecuted for their Religion specially in the diocesse of Coventree and Lich-field among whom we shall name these few First John Blomston was openly and publickly infamed accused reported and apeached that he was a very Heretick because he had preached taught holden and affirmed that the power attributed to St. Peter in the Church oâ— God by one Saviour Jesus Christ immediatly did not flitte or passe from him to remain with his Successors Item that there was as much vertue in an Herb as in the Image of the Virgine Mary Item that prayer and Alms avail not the dead for incontinent after death he goeth either to Heaven or hell whereupon hee concludeth there is no Purgatory c. Richard Heghame in the same City of Coventree was accused to be a very Heretick because that hee did hold that a Christian man being at the point of death should renounce all his own works good and ill and submit him to the mercy of God Item It was fondnesse to worship the images of our Lady of Tower in the forsaid City or of other Saints for they are but stocks and stones Item that if the image of our Lady of Tower were put into the fire it would make a good fire Item that it were better to deal money unto the poor folks than to offer to the Image of Christ and other Saints which are but dead stocks and stones John Smith was accused to be a very Heretick because he did hold every man is bound to know the Lords Prayer and the Creed in English if he might for these false Priests Thomas Butler was likewise accused to bee a very Heretick because he did hold that there were but two wayes that is to say to heaven and to hell Item that there was no Purgatory for every man immediatly after death passeth either to heaven or hell Item that prayers
so often or so long as it pleased their ordinary to appoint by which long rigorous and open punishing of them they meant as it should seem utterly to terrifie and keep back all others from the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and his Gospel But the Lord be evermore praised what effect their wicked purposes therein have been taken these our most lightsome dayes of Gods glorious Gospell doe most joyfully declare William Sweting and John Brewster were put to death and burnt together in Smithfield the chiefest case of Religion alledged against them in their Articles was their Faith concerning the Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood which because it differed from the absurd grosse and Capernaiticall opinion of the new School men was counted as most hainous Heresie John Brown was put to death and burned at Ashford in the year of God 1517. about the fourth year of King Henry the eighth upon the declaration of a Priest in a conference between him and the Priest who took him for an Heretick whereupon he was apprehended and committed to Prison the same night as he was in the Stocks at Ashford where he and his Wife dwelt his Wife came and sat beside him all the night before he should be burned to whom he declaring the whole story how he was handled shewed and told how that he could not set his feet to the ground for they were burned to the bones and told her how by the two Bishops Warham and Fisher his feet were heated upon the hote coals and burnt to the bones to make me said he to deny my Lord which I will never do for if I should deny my Lord in this World he would hearafter deny me I pray thee therefore said he good Elizabeth continue as thou hast begun and bring up thy Children vertuously and in the fear of God and so the next day this godly Martyr was burned commending his spirit into the hands of the Lord At the fire the Bayllie Arrant bade cast in his Children also for they would spring said he of his ashes This blessed Martyr John Brown had born an Faggot seven years before in the dayes of King Henry the 7. Richard Hunne Merchand Tailyour dwelling within the City of London and free-man of the same who was esteemed during his life and worthily reputed and taken not only for a man of true dealing and good substance but also for a good Catholick man this man was suspect of Heresie and committed to the Lollords Tower where he was first murthered by his adversaries the Priests and by them hanged whereupon they made the people to believe that he had desperatly hanged himself and after his death led a processe against him and condemned him of Heresie and at last burned him in Smith-field Thomas Man for alledged Heresie suffered much trouble and long imprisonment and in end was condemned and burnt in Smithfield This Tomas Man called Doctor Man confessed that he turned seven hundred people to his Religion and Doctrine for the which he thanked God Against the faithfull Christians of Amershame was great trouble and persecution in the time of William Smith Bishop of Lincolne At which time diverse and many were abjured and it was called abjuratio magna the great abjuration and they which were noted of that Doctrine and profession were called amongst themselves by the name of known men or just fast men as now they are called by the name of Protestants At this time although publick authority then lacked to maintain the open Preaching of the Gospel yet there were many in secret good Christians and true Professors of the Gospel truly the fervent zeal of those Christian-dayes seemed much superiour to these our dayes and times as manifestly may appear by their sitting up all night in reading and hearing also by their charges and expenses in buying of Books in English In which rarity of books and want of Teachers this one thing may be much marvelled and mused at to note in the Registers and to consider how the word of truth notwithstanding did multiplie so exceedingly as it did amongst them wherein is to be seen no doubt the marvellous working of Gods Almighty power for so it is found and observed in considering the Registers how one neighbour resorting and conferring with another oft seemed with a few words of the first and second Table did win and turn their minds to that wherein they desired to perswade them touching the truth of Gods Word and their Sacraments To see their travells their earnest seeking their burning zeal their readings their watchings their sweet assemblies their love concord their godly living their faithfull meaning with the faithfull may make us now in these our dayes of free profession to blush for shame Four prinipal points they stood in against the Church of Rome in pilgrimage adoration of Saints in reading of Scripture-books in English and in the carnall presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament After the death of William Smith succeeded John Longland a bloody and cruell persecutor of the Saints of God he caused the Wife to detect the Husband the Husband the Wife the Father the Daughter the Daughter the Father the Brother to disclose the Brother and Neigbour the Neighbour neither were there any Assemblies nor readings kept but both the persons and also the books were known neither was one word so closely spoken nor Article mentioned but it was discovered So subtilly and slightly these Catholick Prelats did use their inquisions and Examinations that nothing was done or said among these known men fifteen or twenty years before so covertly but it was brought at length to their intelligence as appears in a Table describing the grievous afflictions of good Men and Women in the Diocesse of Lincolne under John Longland their Bishop with the names both of the accusers and of them that were accused also with the crimes to them objected out of the Registers of the said Diocesse all these were constrained to abjure and do penance and they which were Relapse were committed to the Secular power and burnt As touching the burning of John Scrivener here is to be noted that his Children were compelled to set the fire unto their Father in like manner as Joan Clerk also Daughter of William Tylesworth was compelled to give fire for the burning of her own naturall Father The example of which cruelty as it is contrary both to God and Nature so it had not been seen nor heard of in the memory of the Heathen Now to leave England for a while and to take a view of other Countreys and the Persecutions for Religion there we shall begin first with Germany OF MARTIN LUTHER by whom God began the Reformation of his CHURCH MARTIN LUTHER born at Isleben in Saxonie one Augustine Frier arose in the year of God 1516. to detect and discover the errors of the Church of Rome and to cry out against indulgences upon this occasion Leo the tenth of that name Pope of Rome
having intelligence that he was to be apprehended was willed by his friends to flee and shift for himself but he would not saying that he had rather that he had never been born then so to doe It was the office of a good shepherd he said not to flee in time of perill but rather to abide the danger least the flock be scartered or least peradventure in so doing hee should leave some scruple in their minds thus to think that he had fed them with dreams and fables contrary to the word of God therefore beseeching them to move him no more therein he told them that he feared not to yeeld up both body and soul in the quarrel of that truth which hee had taught saying with St. Paul that hee was ready not only to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the City of Burdeaux but also to die the Somner came and was in the City three days during which time Aymondus preached three Sermons the people in defence of their Preacher flew upon the Somner to deliver him out of his hands But Aymond desired them not to stop his Martyrdom seeing that it was the will of God that he should suffer for him he would not said he resist Then the Consuls suffered the Somner and so Aymond was carried to Burdeaux there he was accused and false witnâ—sse brought in against him all their accusation was only for denying purgatory after long and miserable imprisonment he is put to death and burnt Frances Bonbard was said to be Secretary of the Cardinall of bellare who being also for the Gospel condemned after his tongue was cut off did with like constancy sustain the sharpnesse of burning The enemies of the Gospel seeing that these that were condemned to die at the place of the Execution moved many with their speech therefore they obtained a decree of the Judges that all which were to be burned unlesse they recanted at the fire should have their tongues cut off which Law diligently afterward was observed Michael Michelot a Taylour being apprehended for the Gospels sake was judged first if he would turn to be beheaded and if he would not turn then to be burned alive who being asked whether of these two he would choose answered that he trusted that he which hath given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire He was burned at Warden by Turney Seven men and women of the City of Langres for the Word and Truth of Christ Jesus were committed to the fire wherein they died with much strength and comfort but especially Joan which was Simon Marshall his Wife being reserved to the last place because she was the youngest confirmed her Husband and all the other with words of singular consolation declaring to her Husband that they should the same day be married to the Lord Jesus to live with him for ever Anne Andebert an Apothecaries Wife and Widow going to Geneva was taken and brought to Paris and by the Counsell there judged to be burned at Orleance When the Rope was put about her she called it her Wedding girdle wherewith she should be married to Christ And as she should be burned upon a Saturday upon Michaelmas-even upon a Saturday I said she I was first married and upon a Saturday I shall be married again And seeing the Dung-cart brought wherein she should be carried she rejoyced thereat shewing such constancy in her Martyrdome and made all the beholders to marvell Among many other godly Martyrs that suffered in France a story of a poor Taylour of Paris that dwelt in the Street of St. Antony is not the least and worst to be remembred his name is not expressed he was apprehended of a certain Officer in the Kings house for that upon a certain Holy-day he followed his Occupation and did work for his living before he was had to the Prison the Officers asked him why he did labour and work giving no observation of the Holy-day to whom he answered that he was a poor man living only upon his labour And as for the day he knew no other but the Sunday wherein he might not lawfully work for the necessity of his living he is clapt into Prison word hereof coming to the Kings ears the poor man was sent for to appear that the King might have the hearing of him who being come before the King the King commanded Petrus Castellanus Bishop of Mascon to question with him The Taylour being entred and nothing appalled at the Kings Majesty after his reverence done unto the Prince gave thanks to God that he had so greatly dignified him being such a wretch as to bring him where he might testifie his truth before such a mighty prince Then Castellanus entring talk began to reason with him touching the greatest and chiefest matter of Religion Whereunto the Tailyour without fear or any halting in his speach with present audacity wit and memory so answered for the sincere Doctrine and simple truth of Gods Gospell as was both convenient to the purpose and also to his Questions aptly and fitly correspondent notwithstanding the Nobles there present with cruell taunts and rebukes did what they could to dash him out of countenance yet all this terrified not him but with boldnesse of Heart and free Liberty of Speech he defended his cause or rather the cause of Christ the Lord neither flattering with their persons or fearing their threats which was to them all a singular admiration to behold the simple poor Artificer to stand so firm and bold answering before the King to these Questions propounded against him Whereat when the King seemed to muse with himself as one somewhat amazed and which might soon have been induced at that present to further knowledge the egregious Bishop and other Courtiours seeing the King in such a muse said he was an obstinate and a stubborn person obfirmed in his own opinion and therefore was not to be marvelled at but to be sent to the judges and punished and therefore least he should trouble the eares of the said King Henry he was commanded again to the hands of the Officers that his cause might be informed and so within few dayes after he was condemned by the high Steward of the Kings house to be burned alive And least any deep consideration of that excellent fortitude of the poor man might further peradventure pierce the Kings mind the Cardinalls and Bishops were ever in the Kings ear telling him that these Lutherans were nothing else but such as carried vain smoak in their mouths which being put to the fire would soon vanish Wherefore the King was appointed himself to be present at his excution which was sharp and cruel before the Church of Marie the Virgin where it pleased God to give such strength and courage to his servant in suffering his Martyrdome that the beholding thereof did more astonish the King then all the other did before Thomas Sanpaulinus a Young Man of the Age of
shewing it to the people he in like manner counterfeiting the priest took up a little dog by the legs and held him over his head shewing him unto the people for this he was by and by apprehended and condemned to the fire and burned and the dog with him About the same time John Longland Bishop of Lincoln burned two upon one day the one named Thomas Bernard and the other James Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in English and the other for keeping the Epistle of St. James translated into English Richard Mekins a boy not past the age of fifteen years was condemned to be burnt by Boner for speaking against the Sacrament of the Altar In Oxford also the same time or not much there-about recanted one Master Barker master of Art of that University a man excellently learned who being called up to Lambeth before the Archbiâ—hop Thomas Granmer was in his examination so stout in the cause of the Sacrament and so learnedly defended himself therein neither Cranmer himself nor all they could well answer to his allegations brought out of Auâ—eu wherein he was so promp ripe of himself that the Archbiâ—hop with the residue of his company were brought in a great admiration of him notwithstanding by compulsion of the time and danger of the six articles at last he relented and returning again to Oxford was there caused to recant After which the good man prospered not but wore away The year 1541. The King was divorced from the Lady Anna of Cleve which was his fourth wife and married to the fifth which was to Lady Cathren Howard Nice to the Duke of Norfolk and Daughter to my Lord Edmund Howard the Dukes brother but this Marriage likewise continued not long At this time were six Popish Monks executed for denying the Kings Supremacy Now as touching the late Marriage between the King and the Lady Howard this Matrimony endured not long for in the year next following 1542. the said Lady Cathren was accused of the King of incontinâ— nâ— living not only before her marriage with Frances Durham but also of spouse breach since her marriage with Thomas Culpeper for the which both the men aforesaid by act of Parliament were attained and executed for high Treason and also the said Lady Cathren late Queen with the Lady Jane Rochford Widow late Wise to Georg Bullen Lord Rochfords Brother to Queen Anna Eullen were beheaded for their deserts within the Tower The King missing Cromwell his old Counsellour Earle of Essex and smelling somewhat the wayes of Winchester began a little to set his foot again in the cause of religion And therefore in the same year after the execution of this Queen the King understanding some abuses yet to remain unreformed namely about pilgrimages and Idolatâ—y and other things moe besides to be corrected within his dominions directed his letters unto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the speedy redress and reformation of the samâ— A proclamation concerning white meats as milk egges butter cheese and such like during the time of lent without any scruple or grudg of conscience any law constitution use or custom to the contrary notwithstanding All this time great was the persecution in Caleice for Religion Amongst the rest one Adam Damlip was falsly accused for Treason and innocently put to death At his death Sir Ralph Elleker Knight then knight marshall there would not suffer the innocent and godly man to declare either his faith or the cause he died for but said to the executioner dispatch the knave have done Sir Ralph Elleker saying that he would not away before he saw the traitors heart out But shoâ—tly after Sir Ralph Elleker in a skirmish or road between the French-men and us at Eullen was amongst others slain whose only death sufficed not his enemies but after they had stripped him stark naked they cut off his privy members and cut the heart out of his bodie and so left him a terrible example to all bloody and mercilesse men for no cause was known why they shewed such indignation against the said Sir Ralph Elleker more then against the rest but that it is â—ritten faciens justitias Dominus judicia omnibus injuria pressis It is reported of a certain poor labouring man of Caleice who being in a certain company said that he would never believe that a priest could make the Lords body at his pleasure whereupon he was then accused and condemned by one Harvie Commissary there which Harvie in time of his judgement inveying against him with approbrious words said that he was an Heretick and should die a vile death The poor man answering for himself again said that he was no Heret ck but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou sayest said hee that I shal die a vile death thou thy self shal die a viler death and that shortly and so it came to passe for within half an year after the said Harvie was hanged drawn and quarterd for Treason in the said town of Caleice Here is a notable example of Gods judgement upon a bloody Persecutor The rigour of the six Articles were a little aswaged in a Parliament Anno 1544. Mistrisse Anna Askew was brought before the Inquisitors and examined and after that sundry times examined and put to great trouble and put to the rack because she would not confesse what Ladies or Gentlewomen were of her opinion and therein sayes she they keeped me along time and because I lay still and did not cry my Lord Chancellor and M. Rich took pains to rack me with their own hands till I was nigh dead then the Leivtenant caused me to be loosed from the Rack incontinently I sowned and then they recovered me again After that I sat two long hours reasoning with my Lord Chancellor upon the bare floor whereas he with many flattering words perswaded me to leave my opinion but my Lord God I thank his everlasting goodnesse gave me grace to persevere and will do I hope to the very end then was I brought to an house and laid in a bed with as weary and painfull bones as ever had patient Job I thank the Lord my God therefore Then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leave my opinion I should want nothing if I would not I should forth to Newgate and so be burned I sent him again word that I would rather die then to break my faith heareafter she is condemned to be burnt for her opinion touching the Sacrament for holding that after the Priest hath spoken the words of Consectation there remaineth bread still they both say and also teach it for a necessary Article of faith that after these words be once spoken there remaineth no bread but even the self same body that hang upon the Crosse on goodfryday both flesh blood and bones to this belief of theirs said I nay for then were ouâ— common Creed false which saith that he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
still with the other what time the fat water and blood dropped out at his fingers ends untill by renewing of the fire his strength was gone and his hand did cleave fast in knocking to the iron upon his breast So immediatly bowing for wards he yeelded up his spirit Doctor Tailyour was burned at Hadley for the testimony of the Gospel when he was going to execution the people greatly lamented him and cryed one to another Ah good Lord there goeth our good Sheepherd from us that so faithfully hath taught us so fatherly hes cared for us and so godly hath governed us O mercifull God what shal we poor scattered Lambs do What shall come of this wicked world Good Lord strengthen him and comfort him with such other most lamentable and pitious voices And he cryed to them I have Preached to you Gods word and truth and am come this day to seal it with my blood Coming against the Almes-house which he well knew he cast to the poor people money which remained of that good people had given him in time of his imprisonment As for his living they took it from him at his first going to Prison so that he was sustained all the time of his imprisonment by the charitable Almes of good people that visited him he is not permitted to speak at his death and therefore he kneeled down and prayed and a poor woman that was among the people stepped in and prayed with him but her they thrust away and threatned to tread her down with horses notwithstanding she would not remove but abode and prayed with him When he had prayed he went to the Stake and kissed it and set himself in a pitch Barrel which they had set for him to stand in and so stood with his back upright against the Stake with his hands folded together and his eyes toward Heaven and so he continually prayed So stood he still without either crying or moving with his hands folded together till Soyce with an Halbert stroke him on the head that the brains fell out and the dead Corps fell down into the fire and burnt The Lord Chancellor and other his fellow Bishops caused the Image of Thomas Becket that old Romsh traitor to be set over the Mercers Chappel-door in Cheapside in London in the form and shape of a Bishop with Miter and Crosier howbeit within two days after his erection his two blessing-fingers were first broken away and the next day his head also was stricken off whereupon arose great trouble and many were suspected among whom one Master John Barnes Mercer dwelling over against the same Chappel was vehemently by the Lord Chancellor charged withall as the doer thereof and though rather for that he was a Professor of the truth wherefore he and three of his servants were commited to Prison and at his delivery although it could not be proved upon him he was bound in a great sum of money as well to build it up again as often as it should be broken down and also to watch and keep the same And therefore at his compelled charges the Image was again set up the second day of March then next ensuing but for lake belike of careâ—ull watching the 14. day of the said month in the night the head of that dangerous beast over whom there was such a charge given was again the second time broken off which thing was so hainously taken that the next Day there was a proclamation made in London that whosoever would tell who did strik off his head though he were of counsel and not the principal doer he should have not only his pardon but also an hundreth crowns of Gold with hearty thanks but it was not known who did it Thomas Tomkins of the Diocesse of London having first his hand burned after was burnt himself by Bishop Boner for the constant testimony of Christs true profession This Tomkins was a weaver by his occupation he was of so godly life and disposition that if any woman had come to him with her Web as some time they did three or four in a day he would alwayes begin with prayer Or if any other had come to talk with him of any matter he would first begin with prayer and if any had sought unto him to borrow money he would shew him such money as he had in his purse and bid him take it and when they came to repay it again so far off was he from seeking any usury at their hand or from strait exaction of his due that he would bid them keep it longer while they were better able When Boner saw that by no means he could prevail with Tomkins to forsake the truth he found out a cruel device First he burnt his hand at a Taper or wax-candle supposing that by the smart and pain of the fire being terrified he would leave off the defence of his Doctrine which he had received In the time that his hand was in burning the said Tomkins afterward reported to one James Hinse that his spirit was so rapt up that he felt no pain In the which burning he never shrunk till the veins shrunk and the sinnews brust and the water did spirt into Mr. Harpfields face one that was with the Bishop insomuch that the said Mr. Harpsfield moved with pitie desired the Bishop to stay saying that he had tried him enough this burning was in the hall at Fulham and such was the cruelty of this Boner that he was not contented with the burning of his hand rested not till he had consumed his whole body into ashes at London in Smithfield Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor seeing he could not prevail by cruelty to reduce men to the unity of the Catholick faith and to call them from their errors and heresies he gave over his murthering office to Boner Bishop of London who supplied that part right doughtily as in the further processe of this History hereafter evidently and too much may appear William Hunter a young man of nineteen years a Prentise in London is burnt for the Gospels sake when hee is condemned to die his father and his mother came to comfort him and desired heartily of God that he might continue to the end in that good way which God had begun and his mother said to him that she was glad that ever she was so happy to bear such a Child which could find in his heart to lose his life for Christs name sake As he came to the place of execution The Shireff said unto him here is a letter from the Queen if thou wilt recant thou shalt live if not thou shall be burned No quoth William Hunter I will not recant God willing then he went to the staik and prayed saying Son of God shine upon me and immediatly the Sun in the Element shined out of a dark cloud so full in his face that he was constrained to look another way whereat the people mused because it was so dark a little
is drawn up and subscribed by him the Doctors and Prelats without delay caused the same to be imprinted and set abroad in all mens hands this made the Papists greatly to rejoice all this while Cranmer was in no certain assurance of his life although the same was faithfully promised to him by the Doctors The Queen having now gotten a time to revenge her old grief received his recantation very gladly but of her purpose to put him to death she would nothing relent The Queen appoints Doctor Cole to make his Funerall Sermon before his death At the day of his execution he makes his Sermon at S. Maries Church in Oxford there was a Stage set up over againâ—t the Pulpit of a mean height from the ground where Cranmer had his standing waiting untill Cole made him ready to his Sermon The lamentable case and sight of that man gave a forrowfâ—ll spectacle to all christian eyes that beheld him he that late was Archbishop Metropolitane and Primat of England and the Kings privie Counsellour being now in a bare and ragged Gown and ill favouredly cloathed with an old square Cap exposed to the contempt of all men did admonish men not only of his own calamity but also of our state and fortune wherein he declared against him that being a traitor he had dissolved the lawfull Matrimony between the King her Father and Mother besides the driving out of the Popes authority while he was Metropolitane that he had been an heretick c. Besideâ— these there were other just and weighty causes which seemed to the Queen and Counsell which was not meet at that time to be opened to the common people c. He encâ—urageth him to take his death patiently by many places of Scripture Doctor Cole rejoyced in his conversion but that lasted not long After the Sermon Cranmer was required to declare his faith he declared the true confession of his faith without all collour or dissembling for now is no time to dissemble whatsoever I have said or written in time past I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Farth c. And now I come to the great thing that so much troubleth my conscience more then any thing that ever I did or said in my whole life that is the setting abroad of a writting contrary to the truth which here now I renounce and refuse as things written wiâ—h my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart and written for fear of death and to save my life if it might be c. And for asmuch as my hand offended writing contrary to my heart my hand shall first be punished therefore for may I come to the fire it shall be first burned And as for the Pope I refuse him as Christs enemy and Antichrist with all his false Doctrine And as for the Sacrament I believe as I have taught in my Book against the Bishop of Winchester the which my Book teacheth so true a Doctrine of the Sacrament that it shall stand at the last day before the Judgement of God where the Papisticall Doctrine contrary thereto shall be ashamed to shew her face Here the standers by were all ashamed marvelled were amazed did look one upon another whose expectation he had so notably deceived Some began to admonish him of his recantation and to accuse him of falshood briefly it was a world the Doctor beguiled of so great an hope I think there was never cruelty more notably or better in them deluded and deceived for it is not to be doubted but they looked for a glorious victory and a perpetual triumph by this mans recantation so the Papists were in a great chafe against him he is plucked down from the Stage by Friers and Papists for the true confession of his faith he is led to the fire when he is brought to the fire he putteth his right hand which subscribed first in the fire which he held so stedfast and immoveable saving that once with the same hand he wiped his face that all men might see his hand burned before his body was touched his body did so abide the burning of the flame with such constancy and stedfastness that standing alwayes in one place without moving of his body hee seemed to move no more then the Stake to which he was bound his eyes were lifted up unto heaven and oftentimes he repeated his unworthy right hand so long as his voice would suffer him and using oft the words of Stephen Lord Jesus receive my spirit in the greatnâ—sse of the flamme he gave up the Ghost At this time in Suffolk at Ipswich Agnes Potten and Joan Trunchfield were burnt for affirming that in the Sacrament was the memoriall only of Christs death and passion for said they Jesus Christ is ascended up into heaven and is on the right hand of God the Father according to the Scriptures and not in the Sacrament as he was born of the Virgin Mary for this they were burned which they constantly suffered which was to be wondered at who being so simple women so manfully stood to the confession and testimony of Gods word and verity The burning of Agnes Potten was revealed to her before in her sleep for being asleep in her bed saw a bright burning fire right up as a Pole and on the side of the fire she thought there stood a number of Queen Maries friends looking on Then being asleep she seemed to muse with her self whether her fire should burn so bright or no and indeed her suffering was not far unlike to her dream Hugh Laverock Painter an old lame man of sixty eight years John Apprice a blind man Martyrs were burned at Stratford the Bow In this discourse of this parcel or part or History I know not whether more to marvell at the great and unsearchable mercies of God with whom there is no respect in degrees of persons but he chooseth as well the poor lame and blind as the rich mighty and healthfull to set forth his glory or else to note the unreasonable or rather the unnaturall doings of these unmercifull Catholicks I mean Bishop Boner and his complices in whom was so little favour or mercy to all sorts and kinds of men that also they spared neither impotent age neither lame nor blind as may well appear by these poor creatures They after their tryall and examination by B. Boner were condemned and delivered unâ—o the civill power to be burnt At their death the old lame man casting away his Couch and comforting the blind men his fellow Martyr said unto him be of good comfoâ—t my brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will heal us both shortly thee oâ— thy blindnesse and me of my lamenesse so patiently these two good Saints of God together suffered After the burning of this lame and blind man were brought to the fire aâ— Smithfield a widow and three maids they constantly suffered for the cause of Christ There was also
about this time a blind boy named Thomas Drowrie put to death at Glochesâ—er in his examination besides Doctor Williams then Chancellor of Glocester amongst other Articles he urged the Article to Transubstantiation saying dost thou not believe that after the words of Consecration spoken by the Priest there remaineth the very real body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar the blind Boy answered that I do not Then â—aid he then thou art an Heretick and shall be burned but who hath taught thee this heresie Ye Mâ—ster Chancellor when and where did I teach so when ye preached naming the day a Sermon to all men as well as to me upon the Sacrament Ye said the Sacrament was to be received spiritually by faith not carnally and really as the Papists have therefore taught Then said the Chancellordâ— as I have done and thou shalt live as I do and escape burning Then said the Boy though ye can so easily dispense with your self mock with God the world and your consciâ—nce yet will I not so do then said the Chancellor God have mercy upon thee for I will read the condemnatorie sentence against thee Gods will be done said he The Register being herewiâ—h somewhat moved stood up said to the Chancellor Fye foâ— shâ—me man will ye read the sentence against him and condemn your self away away and substitute some other to give sentence and judgement No said the Chancellor to the Register I ill obey the Law and give sentence my self according to mine office and so he read the sentence condemnatory against the Boy with an unhappy tongue and more an unhappy conscience delievering him over to the Secular power So he was bâ—ought to the fire burnt who constantly suffered for the defence of the truth There were burned at one fire at Stratford the Bow by London eleven men and women whole dwellings were in sundry places in Essex the eleven men were tyed to three Stakes the two women looâ—e in the midst without any Stake and so were all burnt with such love to each others and constancy in our Saviour Christ that it made all the beholders to marvel The Sheriff that attended upon them came to the one part and told them that the other had recanted and their lives theâ—efore should be saved willing and exhorting them to do the like and not to cast away themselves Unto whom they answered that their faith was not builded upon man but on Christ crucified Then the Sheriâ—ff perceiving no good â—o be done with them went to the other part and said like a liar the like to thâ—m that they whom he had been with before had recanted and should therefore not suffer death counselling them to do the like and not wilfully to kill themselves but to play the wise men c. Unto whom they answered as their brethren had done before that their faith was not builded on man but on Christ and his sure word The Martyrdome of a learned and vertuous young man called Julius Palmer some time Fellow of the Magdalen Colâ—edge in Oxford burned at Newberie This young man in all King Edwâ—rds daies when the Gospel was preached professed was a Papist within the University of Oxford and so obstinat that he did utterly abhorre all godly prayer and sincere preaching and almost of all them with whom he lived was therefore likewise abhorred and as I may say pointed at with the finger yet did after in Queen Mariâ—s time when the Gospel was surpressed and the Masse let up suffer most cruel death so the Lord does call when and whom it pleases him according to his good will and pleasure and animats and strengthens them to give their life for his cause When Palmer came to the fire and two other with him they fell all three to the ground and Palmer with an audible voice pronounced the 31. Psalm but the other two made their Prayers secretly to Almighty God And as Palmer began to arise there came behind him two popish Priests exhorting him yet to recant and save his soul Palmer answered and said away away tempt me no longer away I say from mee all ye that work iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my tears and so forthwith they put off their rayment and went to the Stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the Post Palmer said good people Pray for us that we may persevere unto the end and for Christs sake beware of Popish teachers for they deceive you As he spake this a servant of one of the Bailiffs threw a Fâ—ggot at his face that the blood gushed out in diverse places for the which fact the Sheriff reviled him calling him cruel tormenter and with his walking staffe brake his head that the blood ran about his ears And when the fire was kindled and began to take hold upon their bodies they lift their hands towards Heaven and quietly and chearfully as though they had felt no smart they cryed Lord Jesus strengthen us Lord Jesus asist us Lord Jesus receive our souls And â—o they continued without any strugling holding up their hands and knocking their hearts and called upon Jesus untill they had ended their mortal lives Among other things this is also to be noted that after their three heads by force of the raging and devouring flames of fire were fallen together in a plump or cluster which was marvelous to behold and that they all were judged already to have given up the ghost suddenly Palmer as a man awaked out of sleep moved his tongue and jaws and was heard to pronounce this word Jesu So being resolved into ashes he yeelded to God as joyfull a soul confirmed with the sweet promises of Christ as any one that ever was called beside to fuffer for his blessed Name The Martyrdome of three women with a young infant burned to wit the mother her two daughters and the child in the Isle of Garnsey for Christs true Religion the year of our Lord 1556. Among all the Martyrdomes of this Book rehearsed there is none almost either in cruelty to be compared or so far off from all compassion and sense of humanity as this mercilesse fact of the Papists done upon these women their challenge was for not coming to the Church Upon rash information given before their cause was tried was condemned and ordained â—o be burnt foâ— Hereticks and notwithstanding that these three women were willing to be conformed to the Queens ordinances were condemned they made their appeal to the Queen but could not be heard One of the women being great with child by the vehemency of the flame the infant being a fair man child fell into the fire and eftsoones being taken out of the fire by one standing by and was laid upon the grasse then was the child had to the Provest and from him to the Bayliff who gave censure that it should be carried back again and cast into the fire and so was the child
apprehended and at one time 22. prisoners were sent up together for Gods word to London from Colchester all whom bloody Boner B. of London was minded to have executed by perswasion of the Cardinal he was stayed This Cardinal was a Papist but no bloody papist alwayes for fear of stir among the people to see so many execute at once upon a reasonable submission were sent away again yet the rage of the persecution ceased not so that sometime ten at once sometime seven sometimes five excuted and burnt in Smithfield and some in other parts of the Countrey A certain woman being condemned of the Bishop to be burnt at Canterbury had two children named Patience and Charity who then said to the Bishop that if he would need burn her she trusted that he would take and keep Patience and Charity meaning her two children Nay quoth the Bishop by the faith of my body I will meddle with none of them both for the Bishop will neither keep patience nor charity At Colchester there were three men and three women burned in the forenoon besides four other burned at afternoon There that were put to the fire before noon they clapped their hands for joy in the fire that the standers by which were very many cryed generally all almost the Lord strengthen them the Lord comfort them the Lord pour his mercies upon them with such like words as was wonderfull to hear thus yeelded they up their souls and bodies into the Lords hands for the testimony of his truth Cicely Ormes was burnt at Norwich she was a very simple woman but yet zealous in the Lords cause she did for a twelve month before she was taken recant but never after was she quiet in conscience untill she was utterly driven from all their Popery between the time she recanted and that she was taken she had gotten a letter made to give the Chancellor to let him know that she repented her recantation from the bottome of her heart and would never do the like again whilest she lived but before she exhibited her bill she was taken and sent to prison and going to execution she said unto the people I would ye should not think of me that I believe to be saved in that I offer my self here unto the death for the Lords cause but I believe to be saved by the death of Christs passion and this my death is and shall be a witnesse of my faith unto you all here present Good people as many of you as believe as I believe pray for me Note well this saying of hers Then she came to the Stake and kissed it and said welcome the sweet crosse of Christ and so gave her self to be bound thereto After the Tormenters had kindled the fire to her she said my soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour And in so saying she set her hands together right against her breast casting her head and eyes upward and so stood having up her hands by little and little till the very sinews of her arms brast asunder and then they fell but she yeelded her life unto the Lord and quietly as she had been in a slumber or as one feeling no pain So wonderfully did the Lord work with her his name therefore be praised for evermore Amen In this furious time of persecution was burned John Rough Minister he was born in Scotland At the age of 17. years he entred into the order of the black Friers at Sterling he remained the space of 16. years untill such time as the Lord Hamiltoun Earle of Arrane and Governour of the Realm of Scotland casting a favour unto him did sue unto the Archbishop of St. Andrews to have him out of his professed order that as a Secular Priest he might serve him for his Chaplaine At which request the Archbishop caused the Provincial of that house having thereto authority to dispense with him for his habit and order This sute being thus by the Earle obtained the said Rough remained in his her service one whole year during which time it pleased God to open his eyes and to give him some knowledge and thereupon was by the said Governour sent to preach in the freedom of Air where he continued four years and then after the death of the Cardinal he was appointed to abide at St. Andrews and there he had assigned unto him a yearly pension of twenty pound from King Henry the eight King of England howbeit at last weying with himself his own danger and also abhorring with himself the idolatry and superstition of his countâ—ey and hearing of the freedome of the Gospel within the Realm of England he went to England in King Edwarâ—s time and there was preferrâ—d by the Duke of Somerset as a Preacher to serve at Caâ—lill and other placâ—s but in the beginning of the raign of Queen Mary he fled with his wife into Friesland there labouring truly for his living in knitting of Capes Hose and such like things till about the end of the moneth of October last before his death At which time lacking yarn and other necessarie provision for the maintenance of his occupation he came over again into England here to provide for the same he joyneth himself to the Congregation at London and was there Minister and thereafter he was betrayed and apprehended and sent to Newgate he is brought to his examination before Boner After his examination he is condemned as an Heretick and degraded exeeming him from all bene fits and priviledges of their Church and committed his body to the Secular power Touching him two things may be noted first he being in the north Countrey in the dayes of King Edward the sixth was the mean to save Doctor Watsons life who in Queen Maries time was Bishop of Lincoln for a Sermon that he made there The said Watson after that in the said dayes of Queen Mary being with Boner at the examination of the said Mr. Rough to requite the good turn in saving his life detected him there to be a pernicious Heretick who did more hurt in the north parts then an hundred beside of his opinion Unto whom Mr. Rough said again Why Sir Is this the reward that I have for saving your life when ye preached erroneous Doctrine in the dayes of King Edward the sixth 2. Being before Boner among other talk he affirmed that he had been twise at Rome and there had seen plainly with his eyes which he many times heard of before namely that the Pope was the very Antichrist for there he saw him carried on mens shoulders and the false named Sacrament born before him yet was there more reverence given unto him then unto that which they counted to be their God When Boner heard this rising up and making as though he would have torn his garments hast thou said he been at Rome and seen our holy father the Pope and dost thou blaspheme him After this sort and with that flying upon him he plucked
to spare these men then to put them to death whereat the idiot Doctors offended said what will ye do my Lord Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinall and the other Bishops and we have done If ye so do ye shew your self enemy to the Church and us and so we will repute you be ye assured At which words the faithlesse man afraid adjudged the innocents to die according to the desire of the wicked and so they were burnt constantly triumphing over death and Satan in the midst of the fire The King at this time was ruled wholly by the Cardinal and made a solomn vow that none should be spared that was suspect of heresie yea although it were his own son which put many into fear The fearfull vision which the King had by night much terrified him that he withdrew his mind wholly from the extremities on which the Clergy had set him The King died in the year of the Lord 1542. being overwhelmed with grief and passion for the losse of his Army received at Solway by the Englishes he departed this life at Falkland in the 32. year of his age some few dayes before he died he had advertisement that his Queen was deliveaed of a daughter at Linlithow at which time it is said he brust forth in passion saying it came with a Laste meaning the Crown and will go with a Lasse fie upon it after which he was not heard to utter many words The Earle of Arran Lord Hammilton was chosen Regent and Governour of the Realm At this time there was a certain act of Parliament made giving priviledge to all men of the Realm of Scotland to read the Scripture in their Mother tongue and language secluding neverthelesse all reasoning conference convocation of people to hear the Scriptures read or expouned Which liberty of private reading being granted by publick proclamation lacked not his own fruite so that in sundry parts of Scotland thereby were opened the eyes of the elect of God to see the truth and to abhor the Papistical abominations Now there was certain in St. Johnstoun that were apprehended and accused for transgressing the act of Parliament before expressed and then conference and assemblies in hearing and expounding the Scripture against the Tenor of the said act All these were condemned and judged to death as Robert Lamb William Anderson James Hunter and his wife Helen Stirk and others and that by an assise by violating as was alledged the act of Parliament in reasoning and conferring upon the Scripture for eating flesh upon the dayes forbidden for dishonouring of images c. There was great intercession made by the Town in the mean season for the life of these persons aforenamed to the Governour who of himself was willing to have done that they might have been delivered But the Governour was so subject to the appetite of the cruel Priests that he could not do that which he would yea they menaced to assist his enemies and to depose him except he assisted their cruelty the men were hanged and the women drowned Robert Lamb prophesied of the ruine and plague that came upon David Beton the Cardinal thereafter The Martyrdome of Mr George Wisher This Mr. George was a brother of the house of Pittarrow in Merns a great knowledge c. He made his chief resort in the Towns of Dundie and Montrose where hee taught publickly with great profite and applause He is discharged from preaching at Dundie he goeth to the West where the Archbishop of Glasgow seeketh to apprehend him In end he is apprehended and put to his tâ—yall and condemned to be burnt as an heretick As he came forth of the Castle gate there met him certain beggars asking his almes for Gods sake To whom he answered I want my hands wherewith I should give you almes but the mercifull Lord of his benignity and aboundance of grace that feedeth all men vouchafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies and souls then afterward met with him two false fiends I should say Friers saying Mr. George pray to our Lady that she may be Mediatrix for on to her Son to whom he answered meekly cease tempt me not my brethren After this he was led to the fire with a rope about his neck and a chain of iron about his midle After his prayer made to God and his exhortation to the people the hangman that was his tormentor â—ate down upon his knees and said sir I pray you forgive me for I am not gullty of your death to whom he answered come hither to me when that he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy office and by and by he was put upon the Gibbet and hanged and there burnt to powder At his execution he prophecies of the Cardinals death he who from you higher place beholdeth us with such pride shal within few dayes lye in the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself The Cardinals death is conspired by Normond Lesly brother to the Earle of Rothesse John Lesly his Unckle William Kirkaldy of Grange Peter Carmichel of Fyfe and James Melvill one of the house of Carnbie they met at St. Andrews and entered into the Cardinals chamber and killed him in his chamber The people of the town crying for a sight of the Cardinals corpes was brought to the very same place where he sat be holding Mr. George Wishart his execution many then did call to mind the Martyr his last words were thereby confirmed in the opinion they had of his piety and holinesse After this David Betoun succeeded John Hammilton Archbishop of St. Andrews who to the intent that he would in no wayes appear inferiour to his predecessor in augmenting the number of the holy martyrs of God in the next year following called a certain poor man to judgement whose name was Adam Wallace he was accused for teaching saying and teaching of abominable heresies which are particularly laâ—d to his charge as first thou hast said and taught that the bread and wine on the Altar after words of consecration are not the body and blood of Christ He turned to the L. Governor who was there present with a number of Noblemen and of the Câ—ergy saying I said never nor taught nothing but that I found in this book and writ having there a Bible at his belt in French Dutch and English which is the word of God and if ye will be content that the Lord God and his word be judge to me and this his holy writ here it is and where I have said wrong I shall take what punishment ye shal put to me for I never said nothing concerning this that I am accused of but that which I find in this write c. They gave forth sentence and condemned him by the Laws and so left him to the hands of the secular power in the hands of S. J. Campbâ—l Justice Deputy who
lay heavy upon him nor could he ever after this again recover his former favour with the Queen Anno. 1566. the 19. of June betwixt nine and ten of the Clock in the evening the Q. was brought to bed of a son to the exceeding joy of the Subjects for which the Nobles and whole people assembled the next day in the Church of St. Geils gave solemn thanks to God The Queen waxing strong went by water to Allaway a house belonging to the Earl of Mar and keeped private a fâ—w dayes In that place brake out first her displeasure against the King her husband for he followed her thither was not suffered to stay but commanded to be gone And when at anytime after he came to Court his company was so loathsome unto her as all men perceived she had no pleasure nor content in it such a deep indignation had possessed her mind because of the disgrace offered to her in the slaughter of her man Davie the envy whereof was all laid upon the King as she would never digest it Preparation is made for the Princes Baptism he is baptized in Stirling the 15. day of December 1566. Ambassadors were sent from France to be Gossips and witnesses to the Baptisme The Earle of Bedford is sent from the Queen of England who brought with him a Font of Gold weying two stone weight with a Basen and Ewer for the Baptism 's the King was neither admitted to come to the Baptism nor suffered to come to the feast the Ambassadors had a watch word given them not to see nor salute him the King all this time keeped his Chamber his Father hearing how he was used writ to him to repair unto him who soon after went without goodnight toward Glasgow to his Father he was hardly a mile out of Stirling when the poyson which they had given him wrought so upon him that he had very great pain and dolour in every part of his body At length being arrived at Glasgow the blisters brake out of a blewish colour so the â—â—â—ysicians presently knew the disease to come by Poyson he was brought â—o low that nothing but death was expected yet the strength of his youth at last did surmount the poyson The Queen hearing that the King was recovered she went to Glasgow to visite him and thereafter goes with her to Edinburgh where he is murthered by Bothwell and the house where he lay burned with powder about twelve of the clock in the night his body was cast forth in a yaird without the Town wall adjoyning close by there was a servant likewise murthered beside him who had been also in the Chamber with him he had been King but 18. Months he was of a comly stature and none was like unto him within this Island he died under the age of 21. years The Earl of Lennox in the mean time wrote to the Queen to cause punish Bothwell with his other complices for murthering the King A day is appointed for his triall by an assyle he is acquite of the murther by the Jury yet the suspicions of the people were nothing diminished Bothwell is devorced from his wife the banes of Bothwell with the Queen asked Mr. John Craig protesteth against it notwithstanding of his opposition the marriage went on and was celebrated the 15. of May by Adam B. of Orkney in the Abbey of Halyrudhouse after the manner or the reformed Church yet was no sooner finished then the ill fruits thereof began to break out The Qâ—een by Bothwels perswasion taking purpose to visite the Borders and having chaâ—g d the Subjects to accompany her thither with a provision for 15. dayes it was publickly rumoured that these forces were gathering for some other businesse and that the intention was to have the Prince her Sone in her own custody and taken out of the Earie of Mar his hands The Noble men that had combined themselves at Stirling took Arms Bothwell flieth and the Qâ—een rendereth her self to the Lords she is sent prisoner to Lochlevin and Bothwell was declared by open proclamationâ— not only the murtherer of the King but also the committer of it with his own hand and a thousand crowns were offered to any man that would bring him in Bothwell taketh the sea and there he playes the Pirat and made spoyl of all that came in his way he is pursued by Grange with five ships well manned who comming upon him unlooked for as he lay in one of the Creeks of Orkney gave him the chase and had certainly taken him if they had not been hindered by Rocks and shallow waters Shortly after hee was taken upon the coast of Norroway and conveyed to Denmark where being detected by some Scotish Merchants he was put in a vile and loathsome prison and falling in a frensie which keeped him 14. years made an ignominious and desperat end such as his wicked and flagitious life had deserved The Q. is moved to make resignation of the Crown the King is Crowned at Stirling the Earle of Murray is elected Regent Few dayes after the commitment of the Quenn the Earle of Glencairn with his domesticks went to the Chapell of Halyrudhouse where he brake down the Altars and the Images which fact as it did content the zealous Protestants so it did highly offend the Popish affected The Bishop of Orkney was conveened before the Generall Assembly of the Church and deposed from his function and Office for marrying the Queen and Bothwell and the Countesse of Argyle ordained to make publick satisfaction for giving her presence at the Princes baptisme at the Papistical rites there used At this time John Hepburn called Bolton John Hay younger of Tallow and two chamber boyes of Bothwells Powry and Dalgleish were brought to triall for the Kings murther and found guilty by their confessions being entised to the said wicked fact by Bothwell The Queen after eleven months imprisonment escapeth out of Lochlevin The Queens resignation is decerned null being extorted by fear and proclamations made in her name commanding all the Leeges to meet is Armes at Hamilton for pursuing the Rebels that had usurped the Royal Authority Many of the Nobility took her part The Regent assembleth his Forces there gathered to him about 40â—0 The Queens power was much greater The Earle of Argyle was Lievtenant on the Queens part the battel between them was foughten at Langside the 13. of May 1568. The Queen who stood a mile off from the battell on a little height perceiving the field lost made towards the borders the rest that escaped fled the readiest way they could find every man to his own house the number of the slain was about 300. Many were taken prisoners amongst whom the most eminent was Lord Seaton Rosse the Mrs. of Cassels and Eglinton Sir James Hamilton of Evendale and Sherifts of Air and Linlithgow Of the Regents side one only was slain the Lords Hoome and Ochilerie wounded all the rest with few escaped that followed the chase too
Almighty and from thence he shal come to judge the quick and the dead Lo this is the heresie that I hold and for it must suffer the death But as touching the holy and blessed Supper of the Lord I believe it to be a most necessary remembrance of his glorious suffering and death Moreover I believe as much therein as my eternall and only Redeemer Jesus Christ would I should believe She is brought into Smithfield to her execution in a Chair because she could not go on her feet by means of her great torments there she patiently endured death with sundry moe that at that time was burnt with her Then Urisley Lord Chancellor sent to Anna Askew Letters offering to her the Kings pardon if she would recant who refusing once to look upon them made this answer again that she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master Then were the Letters offered unto the other who in like manner following the constancy of the woman denyed not only to receive them but also to look upon them whereupon the Lord Major commanding fire to be put to them cryed with a loud voice fiat Justitia Queen Catherine Parre late Queen and wife to King Henry the eight was in great danger for the Gospel the Chancellor Bishop of Winchester and others of their conspiracy but she was graciously preserved by her kind and loving Husband the King King Henry died in the thirty eight year of his Reign King Henry of his own nature and disposition was so inclinable and forward in all things vertuous and commendable that the like interprise of redresse of Religion hath not lightly been seen in any other Christned Prince as in abolishing the stout and almost invincible authority of the Pope in suppressing Monâ—steries in repressing custome of Idolatry and Pilgrimages c. which interprises as never King of England did accomplish though some began to attempt them before him so yet to this day we see but few in other Realmes dar follow the same So long as Queen Bullâ—n Thomas Cromwell Bishop of Cranmer and such like good counsellours were about him he did much good So again when sinister and evil counsell under subtill and crafty pretences had gotten once the foot in thrusting truth and verity out of the Princes ears how much Religion and all good things went prosperously forward before so much on the contrary side all revolted backward again Prince Edward succeeded his father being of the age of nine years and Reigned six years and eight months and eight dayes and deceased Anno 1553. He was a vertuous and religious Prince of admirable gifts and graces far beyond his years Religion flourished in his time for by the advise of his Governours especially by his Uncle Lord John Simer Duke of Somerset Protector of the Realm that monstrous Hydra with six heads the six Articles I mean who devoured up so many men before was abolished and taken away the holy Scriptures were restored to the Mother Tongue Mastes extinguished and abolished these that were before in banishment for the danger of the truth were again received to their Countrey for the most part of the Bishops of Churches and Diocesses were changed Such as had been dumb Prelats before were compelled to give place to others then that would preach take pains Besides other also out of foraign Countreys men of learning and notable knowledge were sent for and received among whom was Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius which were set into the Universities Of the old Bishops some were committed to one Ward some to another but these meek and gentle times of King Edward under the Government of this noble Protector hath this one commendation proper unto them for that amongst the whole number of the popish sort of whom some privily did steal out of the Realm many were crafty dissemblers some were open and manifest adversaries yet of all that multitude there was not one man that lost his life for during all the time of King Edwards Reign which was about six years neither in Smithfield nor any other quarter of this Realm any was heard to suffer for any matter of Religion either Papist or Protestant either for one opinion or other except only two one an English-woman called Joan of Kent and the other a Dutch-man named George who died for certain Articles not much necessary here to be rehearsed Besides these two there was none else in all King Edwards Reign that died in any manner or cause of Religion but that one Thomas Dobbie who in the beginning of this Kings Reign was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Masse and in the same Prison died whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained of the Lord Protector and should have been brought him if he had continued The horrible and bloody Time of Queen MARY QUeen Mary succeeded her brother King Edward to the Crown ingyring her self by force and violence notwithstanding that Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen before her by King Edwards testament and the consent of the Nobility She altered Religion that was in King Henries time and King Edwards she made an Inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or read openly in the Churches the word of God the Masse is set up and a proclamation that no man should interrupt any of these that would say masse the Popes Authority is restored In a word she banished the Gospel and true Religion and brought in the Antichrist of Rome with his Idolatry supperstition turned the English service into Latine again c. About this time a priest of Canterbury said masse the one day and the next day after he came into the Pulpit and desired all the people to forgive him for he said he had betrayed Christ but not as Judas did and there made a long Sermon against the Masse Marriage is concluded between Queen Mary and the King of Spain Strange sights were seen before the comming in of King Philip and subversion of Religion for in the month of February 1553. there was seen within the City of London about the 9. of the clock in the forenoon two Suns Shining at once the one a good pretty way distant from the other At the same time was also seen a rain bow turned contrary and a great deal higher then hath been accustomed it stood with the head downward and the feet as it were upward In the second year of Queen Mary there was a Cat hanged upon a Gallows at the crosse in Cheap apparelled like a priest ready to say masse with a shaven crown her two fore feet tyed over her head with a round paper like a wafer cake put between them whereon arose a great ill-will against the city of London for the Queen and the Bishops were very angry withall and therefore the same afternoon there was a proclamation that whosoever could bring forth the party that did hang up the Cat should have twenty Nobles but none could or would earn it Philip