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
night and burn him before the people should know it as he came to his defence to answer They with a confused multitude of people came unto him in the night and drew him naked out of his bed bound his hands hard behind him and carried him away then he being marvellous weary and faint required to be set on horse-back for his feet were all cut and hurt with the yce because he was led all night barefoot when they heard him say so they mocked and laughed at him saying must we hire an horse for an Heretick he shall go on foot whither he will or not and after a world of indignities mockings striking and bustetting him he was burnt without any judgement his cause not being heard In the mean time a certain Woman as he passed by offered her self to suffer a thousand stripes and to give much money so that they would pacifie the matter and keep him in the prison untill that he might plead his matter before the whole convocation of the countrey people When they heard these words they waxed more mad and threw the Woman down under feet and trod upon her and beat the said Henry unmercifully the fire as often as it was kindled would not burn notwithstanding they satisfied their minds upon him striking and pricking him with all kind of Weapons the said Henry standing in the mean time in his shirt before all the rude people at the last they having gotten a great Ladder bound him hard thereunto and cast him into the fire And when he began to pray and to repeat his Creed one strake him upon the face with his fist saying thou shall first be burnt and afterward pray and prat as much as thou wilt Then another treading upon his breast bound his neck so hard to a step of the Ladder that the blood gushed out of his mouth and nose This was done to strangle him withall for they saw that for all his sore wounds he would not die After that with their weapons they had killed him they rosted him upon the coals for the Wood as often as it was set on fire would not burn out And thus this godly Preacher finished his Martyrdome and many moe godly Preachers were burnt About the same time many other godly Persons and such as feared God for the testimony of the Gospell were thrown into the River of Rhene and into toher Rivers were their Bodies afterward were found and taken up In the same year of God 1524. the Town of Mihtemherge in Germany was taken and ransacted and diverse of the inhabitants there slain and many impriâ—oned for mantaining and keeping with them Carolastadius to be their preacher The lamentable Martyrdom of John Clerk of Melden in France Melden is a Citie of France ten miles distant from Paris where John Clark was first apprehended and taken for setting up upon the Church door against the Popes pardon lately sent thither from Rome in which Bill hee named the Pope to be Antichrist for the which his punishment was this that three severall dayes hee should bee whipped and afterwards have a mark imprinted in his forehead as a note of infamy his mother being a Christian Woman although her Husband were an adversary when she beheld her son thus pitionsly scourged and ignominously deformed in the face constantly and boldly did encourage her son crying with a loud voice blessed be Christ and welcome be these prints and marks thereafter leaving the Town he came to Merz in Lotharing where he remained a certain space applying his Vocation being a Wool-carder in his Occupation whereas he the day before that the people of that City should go out to the Saburbs to worship certain blind Idols thereby after an old use and custome amongst them received being inflamed with the zeal of God went out of the City to the place where the Images were and brake them all down in pieces tryall being taken who should be the doer thereof this man was suspected and examined upon the same at first confesseth the fact rendering also the cause which moved him so to do he was condemned and led to the place of Execution where he sustained extream torments for first his hand was cut off from his right arm then his nose with sharp Pinsons was violently plucked from his face after that both his armes and his papes were likewise pluckt and drawn out with the same Instrument To all them that stood looking upon it was an horrour to behold and dolefull sighs of his pains Again to behold his patience or rather the grace of God giving him the gift to suffer it was a wonder Thus quietly and constantly he endured in his torments pronouncing or in a manner singing the Verses of the 115. Psa Simulachra corum sunt argentum aurm c Their Images be silver and gold the work only of mans hands c. The residue of his life that remained in his rent body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed A certain godly Priest in Suevia being commanded to come and give good counsell to sixteen Countreymen that should be beheaded afterward was bid himself to kneel down to have his head cut off no cause nor condemnation further being laid against him but only of meer hatred against the Gospel After that George Sherter had instructed the people in knowledge or the Gospel in Rastar ten miles distant from Saltzburg was accused of his adversaries and put in prison where he wrot a Confession of his Faith he was condemned to be burned alive but means was made that first his head should be cut off and his body afterward be cast into the fire going toward his death he said crying aloud that ye may know said he that I die a true Christian I will give you a manifest sign and so he did by the power of the Lord for when his head was taken off from his shoulders the body falling upon his belly so continued the space while one might well eat an Egge after that it softly turned it self upon the back and crossed the right foot over the left and the right hand over the left at the sight whereof they which saw it were in a great marvell The Magistraces which before had appointed to have burned the body after the beholding seeing this miraâ—â— would not burn it but buried it with other Christian mens bodies and many by the same example were moved to believe the Gospel Thus God is able to manifest the truth of his Gospel in the midst of persecution who is to be blessed for ever Amen Giles of â—rasels as he was brought to the place of burning where he saw agreat heap or Wood pyled he required the greater part to be taken away and be given to the poor a little said he would suffice him Also seeing a poor man coming by as he went that lacked shooes he gave his shooes unto him better said he so to do then to have his shooes burnt and the poor to
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
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
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
What said he If God was so angry for an Apple that he cast our first parents out or Paradise for the same Why may not I being his Vicar be angry then for a Peacock since a Peacock is a greater matter then an Apple Behold here good Reader by this Pope the holiness of that blasphemous See and yet thou shalt see how what affection was born unto this Pope here in England by the Dirigies Hearses and Fâ—nerals commanded to be had and celebrated in all Churches by the Queen and her Counsel At what time it chanced a woman to come into St. Magnus Church at the Bridge foot in London and there seeing an Hearse and other preparation asked what it meant and others that stood by said it was for the Pope and that she must pray for him nay quoth she that will I not for he needeth not my prayer and seeing he could forgive us all our sins I am sure he is clean himself therefore I need not to pray for him she was heard to speak these words of certain that stood by which by and by carried her to the Cage of London Bridge and bade her cool her self there In the close of the Examination of John Simpson and John Audely two Husband-men is to be noted the sudden fear of Bishop Boner and his Doctors which was thus there was assembled at that time a great multitude of people that because the Consistory was not able to hold them they were fain to stand in the Church near about the said Consistory waiting to see the said prisoners when they should depart and hearing the Bishop say Have him speaking to Simpson being in a rage at his stout answers Have him away Now the people hearing in the Church these words and thinking because the day was far spent that the prisoners had their judgement they being desirous to see the prisoners had to Newgate severed themselves one running one way another another way which caused such a noise in the Church that they in the Consistory were all amazed and marvelled what it should mean wherefore the Bishop also being somewhat afraid of this so sudden fear asked what there was to do The standers by answering said that there was like to be so tumult for they were together by the ears When the Bishop heard this by and by his heart was in his heels and leaving his seat he with the rest of that Court betook them to their legs hastning with all speed possible to recover the door that went into the Bishops house but the rest being somewhat lighter of foot then my Lord did soon recover the door thronging hastily to get in keeped the Bishop still our and cried Save my Lord save my Lord but meaning yet first to save themselves if any danger should come whereby they gave the standers by good matter to laugh at the rediculous fear of Boner and his Doctors and so thereafter thir two godly persons Simpson and Audely were burnt The Counsell of Trent was in this Pope Julius his time betwixt the first and last Session thereof were eighteen years In it all the Articles of the Popish Doctrine were confirmed At this time by the Popish Clergy the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagins which had lyen almost two years in their graves were taken up and burned at Cambridge besides this they caused Peter Martyrs wife a woman of worthy memory to be digged out of the Church-yard to be burned on the dung-hill A little before Thomas Hawkes Gentleman his death some of his aqâ—â—intance friends which seemed not a little to be confiâ—med by the example of his constancy and by his talk yet notwithstanding the same again being feared with the sharpnesse of the punishment which he was going to privily desired that in the midst of the flamme he would shew them some token if he could whereby they might be more certain whether the pain of such burning were so great that a man might not therein keep his mind qâ—iet and patient Which thing he promised them to do and so secretly between them it was agreed that if the rage of the pain were tollerable and might be suffered then he should lift up his hands above his head towards Heaven before he gave up the Ghost In the fire when he continued long when his speech was taken away by violence of the flamme his skin also drawn together and his fingers consumed with the fire so that now all men thought certainly that he had been gone suddenly and contrary to all expectation the blessed servant of God being mindfull of his promise made before reached up his hands burning in a lighâ— fire which was marvellous to behold over his head to the living God and with great rejoycing as seemed did strike or clap them three times together At the sight whereof there followed such applause and out-cry of the people and especially of them which understood the matter that the like hath not commonly been heard And so the blessed Martyr of Christ straight way siâ—king down into the fire gave up his spirit Mr. John â—radfoord Preacher most constantly suffered for the tâ—stimony of Christ and his truth he was long in prison he had many conflicts with his adversaries he was burnt at Smithfield many Doctors and Bishops did talk with him in prison and two Spanish Friers dealt with him to recant and to leave his errors but he abode constant in the truth When he came to the Stake he took a Fagot in his hand and kissed it and so likewise the Stake And when he had so done he desired of the Sheriffs that his servant might have his rayment for said he I have nothing else to give him and besides that he is a poor man and the Sâ—eriff said he should have it And so forthwith Mr. Bradfoord did put off his Rayment and went to the Sâ—â—ke and holding up his hands and casting his countenance to Heaven he said thus O England England â—epent thee of thy sins beware of Idolatry bâ—ware of false Antichrists take heed they do not deceive you but he was commanded by the Sheriff to be quiet At that time with him was burnt a young man named John Lease a Prentise of ninteen or twenty years whom he greatly encouraged said to him be of good comfort brother for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night he spak no moe words that any man did hear but imbracing the reed sâ—id thus strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternal salvation and few there be that find it Here is not to be passed by a notable example of Gods hand upon Wâ—droff one of the Sheriffs that would not suffer him to speak but dealt churlishly with him It happened within half an year after the burning of this blessed Martyr that he was so stricken on the right side with such a Palsie or stroak of Gods hand whatsoever it was that for the space
of eight years after till his dying day he was not able to turn himself in his bed but as two men with a sheet were fain to stir him and withall such an insatiable devouring came upon him that it was monstrous to see And thus continued he the space of eight years together This godly Eradfoord and Heavenly Martyr during the time of his imprisonment wrote sundry comfortable Treatises and many godly Letters of which some he wrote to the City of London Cambridge Walden to Lancashire and Chasshire and diverse to his privat friends and to his mother brethren and sisters Bradfoord was a godly and learned man while he was in prison he teached twise a day continually unlesse sickness hindered him where also he ministred the Sacrament often Preaching Reading and Praying was all his whole life and he was in great credit with his Keeper that he might go out and in when he pleased He counted that hour not well spent wherein he did not some good either with his Pen Study or in exhorting of others c. He was had in great reverence and admiration with all good men that a multitude that never knew him but by fame greatly lamented his death yea and a nâ—mber of the Papists themselves wished heartily his life In his Letter to his mother he disswades her from the Masse and tells her the difference betwixt the Lords Supper and the Masse The Supper was ordained to be received of us in the memoriall of his death for the confirmation of our faith that his body was broken for us and his blood shed for pardon of our sins But in the Masse there is no receiving but the Priest keepeth all to himself alone Christ saith Take eat no saith the Priest Gape peep There is a sacrificing yea killing of Christ again as much as they may there is Idolatry in worshipping the outward sign of Bread and Wine here is all in Latine yea cannnot tell what he saith To conclude there is nothing as God ordained wherefore my good mother come not at it In mortem Johannis Bradfordi constamissimi Martyris Discipulo nulli supra liâ—et esse Magistrum Quique Deo serrit tristia multa ferret Corripit omniporens natum quem diligit omnem Ad Coelum stricta est difficilisque via Has Bradforde tuo dum condis pectore voces Non hominum rigidas terribilesque minas Sed nec blanditias non vim nic vincula curas Tradis accensae membra cremanda pyrae There were at this time also two Ministers Rland and Frankish Sheterden and Midletoun burnt at Cauterbury at two severall Stakes but all in one fire together where they in the sight of God and of his Angels and before men like true Souldiers of Jesus Christ gave a constant testimony of the truth of his Gospel Sheterden wrot sundry Letters from the prison in Westgate and one to his mother before his execution to whom he gives warning to beware of the great idolatry and blasphemous Masse O let not that be your God which Myce and Worms can devour behold I call Heaven and Earth to record that that it is no God yea the fire that consumeth it and that moistnesse that cauâ—eth it to mould and I take Christs Testament to witness that it is none of his Ordinances but a meer invention of men and a snare to catch innocents blood and now that God hes shewed it unto you bewarned in time O give over all customes and become new in the truth what state soever your fathers be in leave that to God and let us follow the counsell of his Word Thomas Jueson Carpentar being earnestly travelled with all to recant said in this wise I would not recant and forsake my opinion and belief for all the goods in London I do appeal to Gods mercy and will be none of your Church nor submit my self to the same and that I have said I will say again and if there came an Angel from heaven to teach me any other doctrine then that which I am in now I would not believe him Which answer thus made he was condemned as an heretick and committed to the secular power and burned at Chicesher persuing him in his constant faith unto the end Among many that travelled in these troublesome days to keep a good conscience there was one James Ables a young man which through compulsion of the tyranny then used was inforced to his part with his brethren in wandring and going from place to place to avoid the peâ—il of apprehending but when time came that the Lord had another work to do for him he was caught by the hands of wicked men and brought before the Bishop of Norwich Doctor Hopton who examining him of his Religion and charging him therewith very sore both with threats and fair speach at the last the said poor James did yeeld and resented to their naughty perswasions although his conscience consent not thereto Now when he was dismissed and should go from the Bishop the Bishop calling him again gave him a piece of money which when the said James had received and was gone from the Bishop his conscience began to throb and inwardly to accuse his fact how he had displeased the Lord by consenting to their beastly illusions In which combat with himself being pitteously vexed he went immediatly to the Bishop again and there threw him his said money which he had received at his hand and said it repented him that ever he gave his consent to the wicked perswasions and that he gave his consent to the taking of his money Now this being done the Bishop with his Chaplaines did labour a fresh to win him again but in vain for the said James Abbes would not yeeld for none of them all although he had played Peter before through infirmity but stood manfully to his Masters quarrel to the end and above the force of the fire to the consuming of his body into ashes which tyrany of burning was done in Berie Mâ—ster John Denly at Uxbridg was burnt for the testimony of the truth being set in the fire with the burning flamme about him he sang in it a Psalm Then cruell Doctor Story being there present commanded one of the toâ—mentors to huâ—le a Faggot at him whereupon being hurt therewith upon the face that he bled again he left his singing and clapt his hands upon his face truly quoth Doctor Story to him that hurled the Faggot thou hast marred a good old song The said John Denly being yet still in the flame of the fire put his hands abroad and sang again yeelding at the last his spirit into the hands of God through his Son Jesus Christ There was six godly Martyrs burnt at one fire at Canterbury for the testimony of the Truth Elizabeth Narne widow that was one of them that was burnt at Stafford bow nigh unto London her husband was burnt before for the profession of the truth in the month of May last by past the