declare what the Tree is for a good Man or Woman out of the good Treasure of their hearts bringeth forth good Fruits Wherefore dear Sister let our Faith be made manifest to the World by our deeds and in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation as St. Paul saith Let your Light shine as in a dark place O dear hearts now is the Gospel of God overwhelmed with many black and troublesome Clouds of Persecution for the which cause very few go about to have their Eyes made clear by the true light of the Gospel for fear of loosing their Treasures of this World which are but vain and shall Perish Let us not therefore be like unto them which light their Candle and put it under a Bushel but let us set our Candle upon a Candlestick that it may give light unto all them that are in the House that is to say let all the People of the Houshold of God see our good works in suffering all things patiently that shall be laid upon us for the Gospel sake if it be Death it self for Christ died for us leaving us an Example that we should follow his steps and as he hath given his Life for us so ought we to give our Lives for the Defence of the Gospel to the comfort of our Brethren How is it then that some will say that their Faith is good and yet they do all the deeds of Anti-christ the Devil St. Paul saith To believe with the heart justifieth and to confess with the Mouth maketh a man safe Here may all see that no man or woman can have a true Faith unless they have deeds also and he that doubteth is like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about of the Wind and can look for no good thing at the Lords hands Now is the acceptable time that Christ spoke of yea even now is the Ax put to the Root of the Tree that so every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit must be hewn down and cast into the Fire Now is the Lord come with his Fan in his hand to try the Wheat from the Chaff the Wheat he will gather into his Barn and the Chaff he will burn Now is the time come that we must go meet the Bridegroom with Oyle in our Lamps we are also bidden to the Feast let us make no excuses our Master hath delivered Talents unto us Now is the Lord come to see if there be any Fruit upon his Trees if he find none he will serve us as he did the wild Fig-Tree that is Never Fruit shall grow on him more If we go to meet the Bridegroom without Oyle in our Lamps and should go to buy the doubt is we should be served as the Foolish Virgins were to whom God said Depart I know you not If we use not our Talents well they shall be taken from us and given to others and all such unprofitable Servants shall be cast into Hell where shall be Weeping and Gnashing of teeth May not all People now perceive that this is the time that our Master Christ speaketh of that the Father should be against the Son and the Son against the Father and one Brother against an other that the Brother shall deliver the Brother to death yea and that the Wicked shall say all manner of Wicked sayings against us for his Name sake the which I have found by experience I praise God that gave me strength to bear it I have no mistrust but that the World shall see and know my Blood shall not be dear in my own sight whensoever it please God to give my Adversaries leave to shed it I do earnestly believe that God which hath begun this good work in me will perform it to the end for when I have been in Prison sometimes wearing Blots and Shackles lying on the bear ground and sometimes sitting in the Stocks and bound with Cords that my Body was swelled and I like to be overcome with pain sometimes lying in the Woods and Fields wandring to and fro brought before Justices Sheriffs Lords Doctors and Bishops called Dog Devil Heretick Whoremonger Traytor Thief Deceiver and such like Yea even they that did eat of my Bread that should have been most my Friends by Nature have betrayed me yet for all this I praise God that hath seperated me from my Mothers Womb all this that hath happened unto me hath been easie for I praise God they are not able to prove one tittle of their sayings to be true but that way which they call Heresie I serve my Lord God and at all times before whomsoever I have been brought God hath given me Mouth and Wisdom against which my Adversaries have not been able to resist wherefore dear Sister be of good comfort with all your Brethren and Sisters and take no thought what you shall say for it shall be given you the same hour according to the promises as I have alwayes found and as you and all others of Gods Elect shall well find when the time is full come and whereas I and many others have hoped that this Persecution would have been at an end ere this time now I perceive God will have a further Tryal to Root out all Dissemblers that no man should rejoyce in himself but he that rejoyceth should rejoyce in God wherefore if Prophecy should fail and Tongues should cease yet Love must indure for fear hath painfulness but a perfect Love casteth out all fear which Love I have no mistrust but God hath poured it upon you so abundantly that nothing in the World shall be able to seperate you from God neither High nor Low Rich nor Poor Life nor Death shall be able to put you from Christ but by him I trust you shall enter into New Jerusalem there to live forever After his Examination Sentence was past upon him and upon the 22th day of the Moneth called June he and nine more were burnt at Lewis as mention is made before The next Moneth following Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich S. Miller Elizabeth Cooper Martyrs This Simon Miller dwelt in Lyn he was a zealous man for the Lord and his Truth in those dayes detesting and abhoring the forced Religion of the Papists going from Lyn to Norwich and standing in the press of People as they were coming from their Popish service he spake some words to them at which some marvelled to hear and see his boldness but shortly after he was brought before Dunning Chancellor of Norwich when he was before him having his Confession of his Faith written and put in his Shoe part of which appearing was taken out which the Chancellor perusing askt him If he would stand to that Faith to which he said he should whereupon he was committed to Ward and shortly after was by the Bishop of Norwich and his Chancellor condemned and burnt with the â—â—â—esaid Elizabeth Cooper When Elizabeth first felt the Fire the shrunk and cryed out Simon Miller put his
Them that belived were of one heart and the Lord daily added to the Church such as should be saved and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one Soul and there was none among them that lacked for as many as had Possessions of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the prices and laid them down at the Apostles feet to be distributed to the use of the Poor in which business Barnabas that is the Son of Consolation shewed the first Example By the hands of the Apostles were many Miracles done among the People and many believed and were added to the Lord. But the high Priests and Sadduces that were with him moved with Envy cast the Apostles into Prison from whence the night following being freed by an Angel were commanded to Teach the people boldly and without fear from whence being brought to the Council by the advice of Gamaliel a Pharisee a Doctor of Law in much esteem among the People were delivered from death after they had been scourged and let go and they went from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus and they taught daily in the Temple and the Word of the Lord increased and the number of the Disciples multiplyed Stephen did many wonders and Miracles among the People and stoutly defended the Cause of Christ against the Jews of the Synagogue of the Libertines Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with them but when they could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake they turn to false accusing him and caught him and brought him before the Council and set up false Witnesses who should avouch that they heard him speak Blasphemous words against the Temple and the Law Stephen before Annas the High Priest and Council shews that the true worship of God was observed by Abraham and his Posterity before the Temple was built by Solomon Stephens Testimony of Christ yea before Moses was born and that Moses gives Testimony of Christ and that the outward Ceremonies that were given to their Fathers were to endure but for a time Then he sharply reprehends the Jews because they alwayes resisted the holy Ghost and had wickedly put Christ to death whom the Prophets had foretold should come into the World now concerning the death of Stephen see it at large in the Testimony of the Martyrs Persecution arose After the death of Stephen there arose a great Persecution against the whole Church that was at Jerusalem in which Saul exceedingly raging made havock of the Church for having received Authority from the chief Priests he not only when the Saints were put to death gave his voice against them but also he himself entering into every House and taking from thence both men and Women bound them and put them in Prison and some were compelled by denying Christ to Blaspheme This Persecution dispersed the Church into divers Countries but with great advantage to the Church It proves to the advantage of the Church for some that were dispersed into the Regions of Judea and Samaria preached the Gospel wheresoever they came others went to Damascus amongst whom was Ananias a devout man according to the Law and one who had a good report among all the Jews who dwelt there others travelled as far as Phenice Cypris and Antioch Preaching the Word of God to those that were dispersed among the Gentiles amongst them that went to Samaria was Philip who Preached Christ there when the Apostles at Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the Word of the Lord they sent unto them Peter and John upon whose praying for them and laying their hands on them they received the holy Ghost which Simon Magus who had a long time Simon Magus his wickedness bewitched the People of Samaria with his Sorceries that giving heed to him from the least to the greatest they said he was the great Power of God seeing the great signs and wonders that were done by the Apostles offered them Money that he also might receive the Gift of conferring the holy Ghost Peter reproveâ— him whose mad impiety Peter sharply rebuking warns him to repent of this his Wickedness and to ask pardon of God who desireth the Apostles that they would pray for him to the Lord The Apostles having cleared themselves in these parts they returned to Jerusalem Preaching the Gospel in the Villages of Samaria as they went Saul yet breaâ—hing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord obtains of the High-Priest Annas and the Council Saul breathes out threatnings against the Christians Letters to the Synagogues of Damascus that if he found any that were Christians he should bring them bound to Jerusalem that they might be punished and as he came nigh to Damascus at mid-night a Light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun shined round about him and them that journyed with him and when they were fallen to the Earth he heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew Tongue Saul Saul Why Persecutest thou me 't is hard for thee to kick against the pricks and when he had said Who art thou Lord it was answered him I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou Persecutest The Lord appears to him but rise and stand upon thy feet I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a Minister and a Witness both of those things that thou hast seen and those things in which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee that thou mayest open their Eyes and turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive remission of sins and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith that is in me and when as Saul full of fear and trembling asked further Lord what wilt thou have me to do The Lord said unto him Rise go unto Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do The Lord sends him to Damascus but the men that journyed with Saul were so amazed that they were speechless seeing indeed a Light and hearing the sound of words but neither seeing Christ which spake nor understanding any thing which he spake Saul arose from the Earth and being blinded with the Glory of the Light being led by the hand His sight was taken away he comes to Damascus and he was three dayes without sight and did neither eat or drink Now there was a certain Disciple named Ananias to whom the Lord spake in a Vision Arise and go into the Street that is called Streight and inquire in the House of Judas for Saul of Tarsus Ananias is sent by a Vision to him for behold he prayeth and Saul then saw in a Vision Ananias entering and laying his hand on him that he might receive his sight but Ananias answered Year since
constancy and so embracing the Fire she sweetly slept in the Lord. Thus near the space of three hundred years was the Church of Christ assaulted on every side had small rest no joy nor outward safety in this present World but in much bitterness of Heart in continual tears and mourning under the Cross passed over their days being spoiled imprisoned contemned reviled famished tormented and martyred every where by night assembling to sing Praises to God in all which their dreadful dangers and sorrowful afflictions notwithstanding the goodness of the Lord left them not desolate but the more their outward Tribulations did increase the more their inward Consolations did abound and the farther off they seemed from the joyes of this Life the more present was the Lord with them with Gracâ— and fortitude to confirm and rejoyce their Souls and though their possessions and riches in this World were lost and spoiled yet were they inriched with heavenly Gifts and Treasures from above an hundredfold then was true Religion truely felt in the Heart then was Christianity not in outward appearance shewed only but in inward affection received then was the Name and Fear of God true in Heart not in Lips alone dwelling Faith then was fervent Zeal ardent Prayer not swiming in the Lips but groaned out to God from the bottom of the Spirit then was no Pride in the Church nor leisure to seek riches nor time to keep them contention for Trifles was then so far from Christians that well were they when they could meet to pray together against the Devil the author of all dissention But after this the Christians coming to be in favour with the Emperours and riches and worldly wealth crept into the Clergy and the Devil poured his venom into the Church so that true humility began to decay and Pride to set in his Foot and after the Church through favour of the Emperours was indued with Lands Donations Possessions and Patrimonies and the Bishops feeling the smack of Wealth ease and prosperity began to swell in pomp and pride and the more they flourished in this World the more Gods holy Spirit forsook them till at last the Bishops who were for a long time kept low and persecuted as before is related now of persecuted People began to be Persecutors of others and through their pride and riches were wholy degenerated from the true Religion and became Adversaties to God and persecuted and destroyed his living Witnesses and Members as any were raised up from time to time to bear a Testimony against their Apostacy as in this following History will appear Part III Containing an Account of the grievous Sufferings Persecutions and Martyrdom of the Servants of the Lord inflicted on them by the Papists after the Apostacy from the antient Primitive Gospel of Truth preached by Christ and his Apostles IOhn saw there would be an Apostacy from the blessed Faith in his daies Rev. 13. for he saw a Beast rise out of the Sea and the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority and all the World wondered after the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is aâ—le to make War with him And he opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to Blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World After this great Darkness had spread over Nations and People for some years the Lord raised up some from time to time to bare Testimony according to their measures of light and knowledge they had received against the blindness and ignorance that the World was under as in the following instances the Reader may observe Robert Grosthead living in the year 1240 wrot sharply to the Pope especially for the evils he committed in England that he was opposite to Christ a Murderer of Souls and an Heretick and complained on his death-bed of the corruptions which were sprung up in the Church and inveighed bitterly against the manifold abominations of the Church and Court of Rome saying well may these verses be applied to them The whole World cannot suffice their greedy covetous mind Nor all their drabs and naughty pack their filthy lusting kind For his thundring against the Romish Church and for his publick reproving of the covetousness pride and manifold Tyrannies of the Pope he was excommunicated to the pit of Hell by Innocent the fourth and cited to come to his bloody Court but he appealed from the Popes Tyranny to the Eternal Tribunal of Jesus Christ and shortly after died Yea before this there were some found in England who testified against the corruptions of the Church of Rome and suffered for the same for in the year 884. John Patrick Erigena wrot a Book about the Lords Supper which was afterwards condemned by the Pope and he martyred for it In the year 960. some were braned in the Face at Oxford and banished for saying That the Church of Rome was the Whore of Babilon Monkery a stinking Carion their Vows nurses of sodomy Purgatory and Masses c. inventions of the Devil In the year 1126. there was one Arnold an English Preacher was cruelly butchered for preaching against Prelates pride and Priest wicked lives About the year 1160. about thirty Waldenses came into England one Gerrard being their Minister these People labouring to win Disciples to Christ were quickly smelt out by the Popish Clergy and great complaints were made against them to the King being Henry the Second who caused them to be brought before an Assembly of Bishops at Oxford where Gerrard speaking for them said to this effect we are Christians holding the Doctrine of the Apostles in their Examinations they would not admit of Salt Spittle and Exorcisms in Baptism and the Eucharist nor of binding with the stool in Marriage and being admonished to repent and return to the unity of the Church they despised that counsel and scorned threats saying Blessed are they which Suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Then did the Bishops excomunicate them and so delivered them over to be corporally Punished by the King who caused them to be burnt as Hereticks in the forehead and to be whipt through Oxford they singing all the while Blessed are ye when men hate you and dispitefully use you and the King further commanded that none should persume to receive them to house nor to cherish them with any comfort whereby they miserably perished with hunger and cold none affording any comfort to them These Wâ—ldenses are repâ—ted the first Reformers after the darkness of Popery had overspread the
constantly persisted in the Truth in which she was planted a Woman of her acquaintance coming to Prison to visit her said to her why doest not thou keep silence and think secretly in thine Heart these things which thou believest that thou mayest prolong thy life here Oh said the Widdow you know not what you say it is written With the Heart we believe to Righteousness with the Tongue we confess to Salvation at her Execution she commended her self into the Hands of God and after a fervent prayer was burnt to death John Pistorius Martyr About this time there suffered many more in Germany for the witness of the Gospel viz. John Pistorius coming from Wittenberge for speaking against the Mass and Pardons and against the subtile abuses of the Priests he was committed to Prison with ten Malefactors whom he did comfort one of whom being half naked and in danger of cold he gave his gown his Father visiting him in Prison did not disswade him but bad him be constant being condemned and coming to the Stake he gave his neck willingly to the band wherewith he was first strangled and then burned saying at his death O death where is thy victory There using to be a great Meeting near Antwerp where one used to preach to a great number of People which Charles the Emperor hearing of gave leave to any that would to take the uppermost Garment of all them that came to hear and offered thirty Guilders to him that would take the Preacher afterwards when the People were gathered and their usual Minister being not there One Nicholas of Antwerp Martyr one Nicholas of Antwerp stood up and preacht to the People wherefore being apprehended by a Butchers Servant was put in a Sack and drowned at the Crane at Antwerp 1524. And certain of the City of Lovane were suspected of Lâ—â—â—â—ranism the Emperors Procurator came from Brussels thither to make Inquisition after which Inquisition made certain Bands of armed men came and beset their Houses in the night where many were taken in their beds pluckt from their Wives and Children and sent to divers Prisons through the terror whereof many Citizens revolted from the Gospel The terror of Persecution caused some to revolt from the Truth and returned again to Idolatry but twenty eight there were which remained constant in that Persecution unto whom the Doctors and Inquisitor of Lovane resorted disputing with them thinking either to confound them or convert them but so strongly the Spirit of the Lord wrought with the Saints that the Doctors went rather confounded away themselves when they saw disputing would not do they used cruel Torments to enforce them one of them was condemned to perpetual Prison which was a dark and stinking Dungeon where he was suffered neither to write nor read nor any man to come at him commanded only to be fed with bread and Water two of the said Prisoners were also burns constantly taking their Martyrdom One man beheaded and two women buryed afive There was there an old man and two aged Women brought forth of whom the one was called Antonia born of an antient Stock in that City these were condemned the man to beheaded the two Women to be buried Quick which death they received very chearfully and the rest of the Prisoners that would not abjure the Doctrine of Lather were put to the Fire One Percival of Lovane for owning the Truth was adjudged to perpetual imprisonment there to be fed only with Bread and Water which punishment he took patiently for Christ's sake he was secretly made away either famished or drowned no man could learn how Justus Jusberge a Skinner in Lovane in the year 1544. for having a New Testament in his House Justus Jusberge Martyr was persecuted by one Darsardus and committed to Prison and the Goaler commanded that none should speak with him shortly after the Doctors examining of him touching the Popes Supremacy Sacrifice of the Mass Purgatory and such Trumpery whereunto he answered plainly and boldly confirming his Answers by the Scriptures when they saw he would not be moved from his Faith then they condemned him to be burnt but as a pretended favour to him he was only beheaded Giles Tilman of Brussels Cutler born of honest Parents about the age of thirty years Giles Tilman Martyr he began to receive the Light of the Gospel for which he was very Zealous and fervent he was in his nature very mild and pittiful passing all other in those parts giving whatsoever he had to spare to the poor living only upon his Trade he was persecuted by the Priest of Brussels being taken at Lovane spreading that Religion which the Pope called Heresie his Adversaries used great care to make him objure but being a man of a singular wit and constant in his Religion they went away many times with shame after he had been kept eight Months in Prison he was sent to Brussels to be judged where finding Franciscus Ensenes and othes of the same Religion in Prison he exhorted them to be constant to the Truth that they might receive the Crown that was prepared for them When the Gray-Friars being sent unto him would mis call abuse him he ever held his peace at such private lajuries wheresore they reported that he had a dumb Devil in him he might several times have escaped out of Prison the doors being set open but he would not being removed to another Prison and on the twenty second of the Month called January 1544. he was condemned to be burnt privately for openly they durst not do it for fear of the People he being so well beloved when tiding was brought him of his Sentence he thanked God that the hour was some wherein he might glorifie the Lord and being had to the Fire he willingly refined up his life into the Hands of the Lord. Great Persecution in Gaunt and other parts of Flanders Anno 1543 1544. The Edict against the Lutherans to be read twice a year Charles the Emperor lying in Gaunt the Fryars and Docters obtained that the Edict made against the Lutherans might be read openly twice a year which caused a great Persecution to follow so that there was no City nor Town in all Flanders wherein some were not either Expulsed Beheaded Condemned to perpetual Imprisonment or their Goods Confiscate without respect either to Age or Sex especially at Gaunt where some of the cheif men in the Town were burnt for their Religion Afterward the Emperor coming to Brussels there also was terrible Slaughter and Persecution of Gods People namely in Brabant Honegow and Artois the horror and cruelty whereof is almost incredible insomuch that two hundred Men and Women were brought out of the Country into the City some of whom were drowned others buried Quick others privately made away others sent to perpetual Imprisonment whereby the Prisons were filled to the great sorrow of them which knew the Gospel the Professors whereof being now compelled
and so the poor Boy was burnt in Smithfield Persecuted at Callice By reason of the diligent preaching of Adam Damplip and one William Smith at Callice the Devil raised up his Instruments to Persecute them and others their Hearers and Letters were wrote over to the Council in England suggesting that by the means of Damplip they were infected with horrible Heresies and Errors Persons accused were Thomas Brooke Ralph Hare James Cock and James Barber who were sent for over and committed to Prison at VVestminster afterwards they were brought before the Bishops grievous Letters were written against them from Callice by their Adversaries so that if God had not preserved them they had all certainly Perished One of these viz. Ralph Hare though so unlearned that he could scarce read yet was very zealous and so holy and inofensive in his life that none of his Adversaries could accuse him of evil he was charged for speaking against Auricular Confession holy Bread holy Water as also for that he would not Swear nor use any Pastime but used to be in a Corner by himself looking on his Book when others were at Liberty Thus being charged he said to the Commissioners I take God to Witness I would not willingly maintain any Error or Heresie wherefore I beseech you let my Accusers come before me face to face for if they charge me with that I have spoken I will not deny it and if it be Truth I will stand to it if an Error I will with all my heart forsake it I mean if it be against Gods holy Word for the Lord is my Witness I daily pray to God that I may know the Truth and shun Errors and I hope God will preserve me from them The Bishop of Winchester said I perceive now thou art a naughty Fellow Alas said Hare what evil have I spoken Bishop replyed Marry Sir you said the Lord the Lord and that is Symbolum Hereticorum what is that said Hare Thou art naught thou art naught said the Bishop and further said I pity thee for I think thou art a good simple man and meanst well enough if thou hadst not bad bad School-masters and then Thomas Brook was called for who was charged with sedition and that he had contributed towards maintaining Adam Damplip and that he should say that what the Priest held up at Mass was not the Body of Christ Brook denyed the charge and after some debate was for that present dismissed The Suffering and Martyrdom of Anne Askew Anne Askew being apprehended for her Religion and examined before one Christopher Dare an Inquisitor who asked her if she did not believe the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real Body of Christ To this question she refused to answer Then he told her that she was accuâ—ed for reading that God dwelt not in Temples made with haâ—ds thereupon she shewed him the 7 and 17. Chapters of the Acts for it Then he asked her how she understood those texts she answered that she would not cast Pearls before Swine Then he charged her for saying that she had rather read five lines in her â—ible then hear a Mass she said the reason was because one did greatly edifie her and the other did not and after other questions askt her he had her before the Mayor of London The Mayor after some discourse with her ordred her to be had to Prison she askt if Sureties would not serve turn he said he would take none but after some time she was released from that imprisonment but not long after was apprehended again and carried before the Kings Council where the Chancellor askt her her Opinion about the Sacrament she said that she believed that so oft as she received the Bread in remembrance of Christs death she received therewith the frâ—â—â—s of his most glorious Passion the Bishop of Winchester bid her answer directly she answered she would not sing the Lords Song in a strange Land The Bishop told her she was a Pariat To which she replied that she was willing not only to recâ—â—ve rebukes from him but whatsoever should follow besides and that gladly after much other debate she was imprisoned until the next day at which time they asked her again what she said to the Sacrament she answered that she had said what she could say Then the Bishop of Winchester said he would speak with her familiarly she said so did Judas when he unfriendly betrayed Christ Then desired the Bishop to speak with her alone but she refused he asked hâ—r Why she said that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every matter should stand after Christ and Pauls Doctrine Then the Chancellor began to examine her again of the Sacrament Math. 18.2 Cor. 13. she askt him how long he would halt on both sides then would be needs know where she found that she said in the Scripture then he went his way Then the Bishop told her she would be burnt she answered 3 Kings 18. that she had searched all the Scriptures and could never find that either Christ or his Apostles put any Creature to death and told them God would laugh their threatings to scorn After much other arguing wherein she answered them wifely and holily they dismissed her a few dayes after she was taken very sick like to die in which extremity of her sickness they sent her â—o Newgate After a time she was brought to her Tryal at Guild-hall where she was required to recant or else she was condemned by the Law for an Heretick she answered she was no Heretick neither deserved death by the Law of God Then they asked if she would deny the Sacrament to be Christs Body and Blood she said yea They wished her to shrive her self to a Priest at which she smiled and said she would confess her faults to God for she was sure he would bear her with favour Then they would know of her whether the Bread in the Box were God or no she said God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth After she was Condemned she wrot a few liâ—es to the King to this effect I Anne Askew of good memory although God hath given me the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Trouble yet be it known that for asmuch as I am by the Law condemned as an Evil Doer here I take Heaven and Earth to record that I shall die in my innocency and as I said at first I say at last I utterly abhor and detest all Heresies and concerning the Supper of the Lord I believe so much as Christ hath said therein which he confirmed with his most blessed Blood I believe so much as he willed me to follow for I will not forsake the Commandment of his holy Lips but look what God hath charged me with his Mouth that have I shut up in my Heart and thus briefly I end Anne Askew Shortly after she was sent from Newgate to the sign of the Crown where she said one
and so godly in his life and so constant to the death that he shined as a Star most clear in the Church by his Example But to the Relation of his Sufferings his Trouble first began for refusing to sprinkle his Child after the Papistical manner for which the Earl of Oxford to whose family the said Thomas Hawkes had not long before been a retainder being apprehended and brought before the said Earl he forthwith sent him to Bonner to London with a Letter signifying his Crime his Examinations and Answers before the Bishop are very long and therefore I have thought meet to insert only some of the chief or most principal matters contained therein Being brought before the Bishop the first question he askt him was Why he left his Child unchristned so long Hawkes Because I am bound to do nothing contrary to the Word of God Bonner Why Baptism is commanded by the word of God Hawkes His Institution therein I do not deny Bonner What deny you then Hawkes I deny things invented and devised by men Bonner What things are those that so offend you Hawkes Your Oyle Spittle Cream Candle and Conjuring Water Bonner Will you deny that the whole World and your fore-Fathers were contented withall Hawkes What my Father and all the World have done I have nothing to do with but what God hath commanded me to do to that I stand Bonner The Catholick Church hath taught it Hawkes What is the Catholick Church Bonner It is the Faithful Congregation wheresoever it be dispersed throughout the World Hawkes Who is the head thereof Bonner Christ is the head thereof Hawkes Are we taught in Christ or in the Church now Bonner In John It s said he would send the Comforter which should teach you all things Hawkes I grant the Comforter was to lead into all Truth but that was not to teach a New Doctrine Bonner Ah Sir you are a right Scripture man you will have nothing but the Scripture there are a great number of your Country men of your Opinion and askt him if he knew one Bagget He said Yea. Whereupon Bagget by the Bishops order was called the Bishop telling Hawkes in mean time that he was a proud stubborn man It seemeth so to you said Hawkes because I do not bow to you Then Bagget appearing the Bishop said Do you know this man Bagget Yes Bishop He refuseth to have his Child Baptized after the custom now used in the Church what say you to it Bagget I say nothing thereto said the Bishop I le make you tell me whether it be laudable and ought not to be used in the Church Bagget I beseech you parden me he is old enough let him answer for himself Bonner Ah Sir Knave are you at that point go call me the Porter said the Bishop Thou shalt sit in the Stocks and have nothing but bread and water I perceive I have kept you to well have I made thus much of you and have I you at this point The Porter being not in the way the Bishop took him aside and bid one of his men talk with Thomas Hawkes the while who enquired of Hawkes whom he knew in Essex and who were his Teachers Hawkes replyed when I see your Commission I le make you answer and then returned the Bishop again and sitting under a Vine in his Orchard called for Bagget and Hawkes to him and to Bagget he said How say you now to Baptism Ought it to be used as now it is in the Church To which Bagget said yes it is good Bonner I befool your heart could you not have said so before you have wounded this mans Conscience Then the Bishop turned to Hawkes and said How say you now Sir this man is turned and Converted Hawkes I build my Faith neither upon this man nor upon you but upon Christ only Bonner I perceive you are a stubborn Fellow I must work another way with you to win you Hawkes Whatsoever you do I am ready to suffer it for I am in your hands and must abide it Bonner Well you are so come on your wayes you shall go in and I will use you Christian-like you shall have meat and drink but in any wise talk not Hawkes I purpose to talk nothing but the Truth Bonner I will have no Hercsie talkt on in my House Hawkes Why Is the Truth become Heresie Bonner If you will have my favour take my counsel Hawkes then let your Doctors and Servants give me no occasion for if they do I will surely utter my Conscience After Dinner some of the Chaplains fell in discourse with Thomas Hawkes and whilst they were reasoning in came the Bishop who said Did not I give you a charge not to talk Hawkes answered Did not I desire your Servants should give me no occasion Then went he into his Orchard After he had been a while in the Orchard they went to the Chapple and had Hawkes with them and took his Doctors and Hawkes with him to whom he spoke to this effect Bonner Will you be content to tarry here and your Child shall be baptized and you shall not see it so that you will agree is it Hawkes If I would have done so I needâ—d not to have come to you for I had the same counsel given me before Bonner Do you not think that the Queen and I cannot command it to be done in spite of your Teeth Hawkes I shall not question what the Queen can do but my consent you get never the sooner for that Bonner Well you are a stubborn young man I perceive I must work another way with you Hawkes You are in the hands of God and so am I. Bonner Whatsoever you think I would not have you speak such words to me thou art a proper young man God hath done his part unto thee I would be glad to do thee good thou knowst that I am thy Pastor and one that shall answer for thee if I do not Teach thee well Hawkes That I have said I will stand to it God willing there is no way to remove it Bonner Nay nay Hawkes Thou shalt not be so wilful remember Christ bid two go into his Vineyard the one said he would and went not the other said he would not and went Hawkes The last went Bonner Do thou likewise and I will talk Friendly with thee How sayst thou It is in the sixth of John I am the Bread of Life and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh c. Do you believe this Hawkes I must needs believe the Scripture Bonner Then I hope you are sound concerning the Sacrament Hawkes I beseech you put no more to my Conscience then what I am accused of to you Bonner Well well let us go to Evensong with that Hawkes turned his back to go out of the Chappel Bonner Why will you not tarry Hawkes No I will not It will not edifie me Then said the Bishop I pray you tarry you may pray by your self He
he is filled with all manner of Riches as saith the Prophet Therefore I am bold in bonds as intirely desiring your everlasting health and felicity to warn you and most heartily desire you to watch and pray for our estate is dangerous and requireth continual prayer for on the high Mountains doth not grow most plenty of grass neither are the highest Trees furthest from danger but seldom sure and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth such a deceitfull thing saith our Saviour is honour and riches that without Grace it choketh up the good Seed sown on his Crentures and blindeth so their seeing that they go groping at noon-day in darkness it maketh a man think himself somewhat that is nothing at all for though for our honour we esteem our selves and stand in our own light yet when we shall stand before the Living God there shall be no respect of persons for Riches helpeth not in the day of Vengeance neither can we make the Lord partial for Money but as ye have ministred unto the Saints so shall you receive the reward which I am fully perswaded and assured shall be plentiously poured forth upon you all for the great goodness shewed to the Servants of the Living God and I most heartily beseech almighty God to pour forth a plentious reward upon you for the same and that he will assist you with his holy Spirit in all your doings that ye may grow as ye have begun unto such a perfection as may to be Gods honour your own Salvation and the strengthning of the weak Members of Christ for though the World rage and blaspeme the Elect of God you know that it did so unto Christ his Apostles and to all that were in the Primitive Church and so it shall be unto the Worlds end Wherefore believe in the Light while you have it lest it be taken away from you if you shall seem to neglect the great Mercy of God that hath been opened unto you and your hearts consented unto it that it is the very and only Truth pronounced by Gods only Son Jesus Christ by the good will of our heavenly Father therefore I say in the bowels of my Lord Jesus Christ stick fast unto it let it never depart out of your Hearts and Conversations that you with us and we with you at the great day being one Flock as we have one Shepherd may arise to the Life Immortal through Jesus Christ our only Saviour Amen Yours in him that liveth forever Thomas Hawkes The Sufferings Examinations and Martyrdom of Thomas Watts The said Thomas Watts of Billery Key in the County of Essex Thomas Watts Martyr Linnen Draper expecting for his non Conformity to be shortly apprehended he disposed of his Estate for the benefit of his Wife and Children and according to his expectation not long after he was had before the Judges at Chelmsford where one called the Lord Râ—ch spake to him to this effect Watts You are brought hither because you will not obey the Queens Laws and will not go to Church nor hear Mass but have your Conventicles in Corners Watts replyed If I have offended a Law I am here subject to the Law Then Justice Brown said to him Watts who first taught thee this Religion Watts You taught it me and none more then you for in King Edwards Dayes in open Sessions you spoke against this Religion now used calling the Mass abominable exhorting people not to believe in it but to believe in Christ only Then said Justice Brown what a Knave is this to bâ—ly me to my face Hereupon a letter was writ and signed by the Justices and Watts sent up to Bonner as a Non-conformist what entertainment he received from the Bishop at their private conference no mention is made of it but about the beginning of the Month called May he was brought to the publick Consistory where Articles were objected against him for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and saying the Mass was abominable being brought the second time into the Consistory the Bishop counselled him to Recant to which he answered I am weary to live in such Idolatry as you would have me to live in He was several times afterwards brought before them and continuing stedfast in his Religion which the Bishop perceiving fell to his last and strongest Argument which was to pass Sentence of Death upon him and delivered him to the Sheriff of London where he continued till the ninth day of the Month called June and then was carried to Chelmsford where his wife and his six Children met him to whom he said My Wife and Children I must now depart from you therefore henceforth know I you no more but as the Lord hath given you unto me so I again give you unto the Lord charging them to fear and obey him and to beware of the abominations of Popery and so sealed his Testimony in the Fire After this Watts there were three others suffered in this County of Essex viz. Thomas Osmond Fuller William Bamford Weaver Nicholas Chamberla Weaver all of Coxhall one and the same Articles were objected against them all viz. for denying the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular Confession c. according to the accustomed manner they were several times brought to the Consistory where they were sometimes flattered and sometimes threatened to see if they would recant after the common usage of the Ecclesiastical Court and at last were condemued as Hereticks and delivered to the Sheriffs and shortly after were all three burned in Essex John Bradford and John Lease Martyrs The next that suffered were John Bradford and one John Lease an Apprentize to a Tallow-Chandler the chief matter for which they suffered was for denying the real presence in the Sacrament Auricular Confession c. The said John Lease after he had been examined by the Bishop had the Articles of his Confession sent to him to the Courter Prison to sign after he hard them read because he could not write in stead of a Pen he took a pin and pricking his hand sprinkled the blood upon the paper and bid the Messenger tell the Bishop he had sealed them with his blood already The Words that John Bradford spoke at the Stake were to this effect O England England repent thee of thy Sins repeat thee of thy Sins beware of Idolatry beware of false Anti-christs take heed they do not deceive you Strait is the Way and Narrow is the Gate that leadeth to Eternal Salvation and few there be that find it This John Bradford during the time of his imprisonment exercised himself in writing several consolating Letters not only to particuler persons but to several Towns and Counties where he had laboured shewing his great Zeal for the encreasing and spreading the most reformed Religion earnestly exhorting all men and tenderly comforting the heavy hearted confirming and encouraging all to continue stedfast in the Way he had taught them Bland Frankish Shetterden and Middleton Marytr
Right hand of God the Father and therefore I do not believe him to be in the Sacrament of the Altar but he is in the worthy Receiver and your Sacrament as you use it is an abominable Idol George Brâ—dbridge said as for your holy Bread and holy Water and your Mass I utterly defie them They were all five condemned and burnt at Canterbury the sixth day of the 7th Moneth 1555. Two burnt at Lichfield About the middle of the same Moneth Thomas Hayward and John â—oreway were both burnt at Lichfield The Persecutions and Sufferings of Robert Glover About the Moneth called September 1555. there was a privy Commission sent down to the Mayor of Coventry to apprehend John Glover Brother of the said Robert Rob. Clover Martyr but John having some notice of the Officers coming escaped but they searching in an upper Room found Robert Glover lying sick in Bed and had him away before the Sheriff who being detained till the Bishop came and was then examined a Relation of his Troubles and Conflicts he had with the Bishop He sent his Wife in a Letter some Passages most material of which are as followeth To my intirely beloved Wife Mary Glover The peace of Conscience which passeth all understanding the Sweet Consolation Comfort Strength and Boldness of the holy Ghost be continually increased in our hearts through a servant earnest and stedfast faith in our most dear and only Saviour Jesus Christ Amen I thank you heartily most loving Wife for your Letters sent unto me in my imprisonment I read them with tears more then once or twice for Joy and Gladness that God had wrote in you so merciful a work These your Letters and the hearing of your most godly proceedings and constant doing from time to time have much relieved and comforted me at all times and shall be a goodly Testimony with you at the great Day If I would have given place to worldly reasons these might have moved me first the foregoing of you and my Children the consideration of the state of my Children being yet tender of Age and young apt and inclineable to virtue and learning and so having the more need of my Assistance being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them withal possessions above the common sort of men because I was never called to be a preacher or minister because of my sickness fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to my answer and so my death to be unprofitable But these and such like I thank my heavenly Father who of his infinite mercy inspired me with his holy Ghost for his Sons sake prevailed not in me but when I had by the wonderfull permission of God fallen into their hands at the first sight of the Sheriff Nature a little abashed yet ere ever I came to the Prison by the working of God and through his goodness fear departed I said to the Sheriff at his coming unto me what matter have you to charge me withal He answered you shall know when you come before the Masters I lookt to have been brought before the Masters and to have heard what they could have burthened me withal but contrary to my expectation I was committed forthwith to the Goal not being called to my answer little Justice being shewed therein but the less Justice a man findeth at their hands the more Consolation in Conscience shall he find from God for whosoever is of the World the World will love him After I came into Prison and had reposed my self there a while I wept for Joy and Gladness my belly full musing much of the great mercies of God and as it were saying to my self after this sort Oh Lord who am I on whom thou shouldest bestow this great mercy to be numbered among the Saints that suffer for the Gospel sake And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection unableness sinfull misery and unworthiness and on the other side the greatness of Gods mercy to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladness concluding thus with my self in my heart Oh Lord thou shewest Power in Weakness Wisdom in Foolishness Mercy in Sinfulness who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt as I have zealously loved the confession of thy Word so ever thought I my self to be most unworthy to be a partaker of the affliction for the same Not long after came unto me M. Brasbridge M. Phinees and M. Hopkins travelling with me to be dismissed upon bonds to whom my answer was to my rememberance after this sort for as much as the Masters have imprisoned me having nothing to burthen me withal If I should enter into bouds I should in so doing Accuse my self and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge they may as well let me pass without boÌ„nds as with bonds And when they were somewhat importune I said to one of them that liberty of Conscience was a pretious thing and took as it were a pause lifting up my heart to God earnestly for his aide and help that I might do the thing that might please him and so when they had let their sure fall my heart me thought was wonderfully comforted Afterward debating the matter with my self these considerations came into my head I have from time to time with good Conscience God I take to record moved all such I had Conference withal to be no dalliers in Gods matters but to shew themselves after so great a light and knowledge hearty earnest constant and stable in so manifest a Truth and not to give place one jot contrary to the same now thought I if I shall withdraw my self and make any shifts to pull my own neck our of the Collar I shall give great offence to my weak Brethren in Christ and advantage to the Enemy to slander Gods Word it will be said he hath been a great boldner of others to be earnest and fervent to fear no worldly perrils or dangers but he himself will give no such example Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty both to God and man being as it were by the great goodness of God marvelously called and appointed hereunto to set aside all fear perril and dangers all worldly respects and considerations and like as I had hereto according to the measure of my small gift from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved exhorted and perswaded all that profess Gods Word manfully to persist in the defence of the same not with Sword and Voilence but with suffering and loss of life rather then to defile themselves again with the Whorish abominations of the Romish Anti-christ so the hour being come with my fact and Example to ratific and confirm the same to the hearts of all true Believers and to this end by the assistance of Gods holy Spirit I resolved my sâ—lf with much peace of Conscience willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Anti-christ should
hand This John Fortune was a man of a Zealous Spirit and ready in the Scriptures in Christs Cause Stout and Valiant and no less patience in his wrongful Suffering then constant in his Doctrine The Examination is as followeth First Doctor Parker asked How I believed in the Catholick Faith Fortune I asked him which Faith he meant whether the Faith that Stephen had or the Faith of them that put Stephen to death Parker being moved said What a naughty Fellow is this you shall see anon he will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar and said How sayest thou by the blessed Mass Fortune And I stood still and made no answer Then said one Foster Why speakest thou not and make the Gentleman an answer Fortune I said Silence is a good answer to a foolish Question Parker I am sure be will deny the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Fortune I said I knew none such Parker You deny the order of the seven Sacraments and why dost thou not believe in the Sacrament of the Altar Fortune Because it is not written in Gods Book Foster You shall be Whipped and Burnt for this Fortune If you knew how these words do rejoyce my heart you would not have spoken them Away with him said he for he is ten times worse then Samuel and so he was carried away to Prison again At the second Examination Bishop asked me If I did not believe in the Catholick Church Fortune I believe that Church whereof Christ is the head Bishop Dost thou not believe that the Pope is Supream head of the Church Fortune No Christ is Head of the true Church Fortune Then I asked him whether the Pope were a Spirtual Man To which he said Yea. Fortune I said They are spightfull men for in seventeen Months there were three Popes one Poisoned another for that presumptous seat of Anti-chhist Bishop It is Malishiously spoken for thou must obey the power and not the man well said he What say you to the Ceremonies of the Church Fortune All things that are not planted by my heavenly Father shall be blucked up by the roots saith Christ Bishop They are good and godly and necessary to be used Fortune Paul called them weak and beggerly At the third Examination Bishop How believest thou in the Sacrament of the Altar Dost thou not believe that after the Consecration there is the real substance of the Body of Christ Fortune That is the greatest Plague that ever came into England Bishop Why so Fortune If I were a Bishop and you a poor man as I am I would be ashamed to ask such a Question for a Bishop should be apt to teach and not to learn Bishop Is it Idolatry to Worship the blessed Sacrament or no Fortune God is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth At another Examination Bishop asked me If I would stand to my Answers that I had made him before Fortune Yea for I have spoken nothing but the Truth And after that he made a great Circumstance upon the Sacrament Then I desired him to keep to the Text and he read the Scripture which said I am the Bread which came down from Heaven believest thou not this Fortune Yea truly Bishop Why dost thou deny the Sacrament Fortune Because your Doctrine is false Bishop How can that be false which is spoken in the Scripture Fortune Christ said I am the Bread and you say the Bread is he therefore your Doctrine is false Bishop Dost not thou believe the Bread is he Fortune No. Bishop I will bring thee to it by the Scriptures Fortune Hold that fast for that is the best Argument you have yet Bishop Thou shalt be burnt like an Heretick Fortune Who shall give Judgment upon me Bishop I will judge a hundred such as thou art and never be shreven for it Fortune Is not there a Law for the Spirituality as well as for the Temporality Clement Higham said Yes what meanest thou by that Fortune When a man is perjured by the Law he is cast over the Bar and sitteth no more in judgment and the Bishop is a perjured man and ought to sit in Judgment of no man Bishop How provest thou that Fortune Because you took an Oath in King Henry's dayes to resist the Pope so both Spiritual and Temperal are perjured that here can be no true Judgment Bishop Thinkest thou to escape Judgment by that no for my Chancellor shall judge thee he took no Oath for he was then out of the Realm Clement Higham It is time to Weed out such Fellows as you be indeed The Bishop commanded the Bailiff to take him away thus much touching the Examination of this man but whether he died by Fire or were otherwise prevented by Death is not recorded only his Sentence of Condemnation was drawn up and registred by the Register of Norwich but most certain it is he never recanted John Careless Examined before Doctor Martin Martin askt him Where he was born Careless said John Careleses Examination At Coventry Martin said How camest thou hither Careless By a Writ Martin Thou art a hansom man and its pity but thou shouldest do well and play the Wise mans part Careless I put you out of doubt that I am most sure and certain of my Salvation by Christ Jesus so that my Soul is safe already whatsoever pains my Body suffer here for a little time After much more discourse between them about predestination Martin said The Lord knows that I would gladly make some means to preserve thy life but thou speakest so much of the Lord the Lord How sayest thou wilt thou be content to go into Ireland and serve the Queen there Careless I am ready to do service to the Queen or her Officers but if they require me to do any thing contrary to Christs Religion I am ready also to do my service in Smithfield for not observing it as other my Brethren have done He endured Imprisonment two whole years in Coventry and the Kings-Bench where at last he died and was buried in a Dunghill in the Fields Sentences taken out of a Letter written by John Careless in the time of his Suffering and Imprisonment To my most dear and faithful Brethren in Newgate condemned to die for the Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth The Everlasting Peace of God in Christ Jesus the continual Joy Strength and Comfort of his most pure Holy and Mighty Spirit with the increase of Faith and lively feeling of his Eternal Mercy be with you my most dear and faithful loving Brother Tyms with all the rest of my dear hearts in the Lord you faithful fellow Souldiers and most constant Companions in bonds yea of men Condemned most cruelly for the sincere Testimony of Gods Everlasting Truth to the full finishing of that good work which he hath so gratiously begun in you all that the same may be to his glory the commodity of his poor afflicted Church and to your Everlasting comfort in him
Amen Ah my most sweet and loving Brethren and dearest hearts in the Lord what shall I say or how shall I write unto you in the lest point or part to utter the great joy that my poor heart hath conceived in God through the most godly Example of your Christian-constancy and sincere Confession of Christs Truth truly my Tongue cannot declare nor my Pen express the aboundance of Spiritual mirth and gladness that my mind and inward man hath felt ever since I heard of your hearty â—oldness and modest behaviour before the Bloody Butcher in the time of all your crafty Examinations especially at your cruel Condemnation in their cursed Consistory place blessed be God the Father of all Mercy and Praised be his Name who hath not only given you continual Aid Strength and Comfort of his holy and mighty Spirit to the faithful Confession of Christ for whose Cause Oh most happy man ye are condemn'd to die but hath also given you such a Mouth and Wisdom as all your Wicked Enemies were not able to resist my dear Brethren this is an evident proof that God is on our side Therefore my dearly Beloved Cease not so long as ye be in this life to praise the Lord for that of his great mercy and infinite goodness he hath counted you Worthy of this great dignity to suffer for his sake not only the loss of Goods Wife and Children long Imprisonment Cruel Oppression c. But also the deprivation of this mortal life with the dissoluation of your Bodies in the fire Ah my most dear Brother Tyms whose time resteth altogether in the hands of the Lord in a full happy time camest thou into this Troublesome World but in a much more blessed hour shalt thou depart out of the same so that the sweet saying of Soloman or rather of the holy Ghost shall be full well verified upon thee yea and on all thy faithfull Fellows better is the day of Death saith he then the day of Birth This saying cannot be verified upon every man but upon thee my dear Brother and such as thou art whose Death is most pretious before God and full dear shall your Blood be in his sight blessed be God for thee my dear Brother that ever I knew thee for in a most happy time came I first into thy Company pray for me dear Brother pray for me that God will once vouch me Worthy of that great dignity whereunto he hath now brought you Ah all my faithfull Brethren what shall I say or what shall I write unto you but the same that Elizabeth said to Mary Happy art thou which hast believed Luke 2. for all things which the Lord hath spoken to thee shall be fulfilled so I say to you my dear hearts in the Lord happy are ye all yea twice happy shall you be for evermore because you have stedfastly believed the most sweet Promises which God the Father hath made unto you with his own Mouth in that he hath Promised you which are the faithfull Seed of the believing Abraham that ye shall be blessed ever World without end and as you do believe so do you bear record that God is true the Testimony whereof you have full worthily born to the World and shortly will full surely seal the same with your Blood yea even to Morrow I do understand Oh Constant-Christians Oh Valliant Souldiers of the high Captain Jesus Christ who for your sake hath conquered the Devil Death Sin and Hell and hath given you full Victory over them for evermore Oh Worthy Witnesses and most glorious Martyrs whose invincible Faith hath overcome that Proud Sturdy-Bragging Prince of the World and all his Wicked Army over whom you shall shortly triumph for evermore Thus committing you all to Gods most merciful Defence whose Quarrel you have defended whose Cause you have promoted whose glory you have set forth and whose Name you have constantly confessed farewel my dear Hearts in the Lord I will make as much haste after you as I may Rev. 11. All our dear Brethren Salute you they pray for you and praise God for you continually Blessed be the Dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their Labours and their Works follow them John Careless About the same time that John Careless died Julius Palmer John Gwin and Thomas Askin were burnt together in Newberry in the County of Berks. Julius Palmer Julius Palmer Martyr was born in Coventry his Father had been Mayor of Coventry who bred Julius a Schollar This Julius was a man of a prompt and ready memory a wit sharp and pregnant he was of behaviour courteous without curiosity of countenance chearfull without high looks of Speech pleasant he was affable and loâ— as a Child and yet quick Spirited and vehement in reasoning he practiâ—ed no deceit towards any man for he was of such simplicity that he was apter to be deceived then to deceive In King Edward's time he was a Papist and an utter Enemy to the Protestant Religion then appearing for which he was expelled the House or Colledge he belonged to but in Queen Maryes reign was again restored to the said House but seeing the Constancy of the Martyrs that Suffered in Queen Maryes reign and hearing a Relation of the cruelty inflicted on some of them he cryed out O raging Cruelty O Tyranny and more then Barbarous and set himself to search into the Religion of the Protestants that suffered and soon after was so far converted from Popery that he could not bow to several Popish Ceremonies so that he was constrained in a short space to yield up his Fellowship in Oxford and betook himself to teach School at Reading where he had not continued long but some envious pâ—â—â—â—us against the Trâ—th sought Occasion aganst him and finding an opperâ—â—â—â—ty searched his Closet where they found some Books and Writings written by him against the Popish Proceedings and especâ—lly against their brutish Tyranny executed against the Martyrs whereupon they threatned him that except he did without delay depart their Coasts they would produce the Books before the Councel whereupon he was forced to depart from the Town of Reading leaving in the hands of his Enemies what he had there and took his Journey to Evisham where his Mother dwelt hoping to get what his Father left him when he died his Mother understanding his Condition as soon as she saw him and had a short discourse with him said to him I require thee to depart from my House and out of my sight as for Money and Goods I have none of thine thy Father bequeathed nought for Hereticks Faggots I have to burn thee more thou gets not at my hand so with a soft answer and a few sweet words to her the tears running down his cheeks he departed from her which so mollified her hard heart that she threw an old Angel after him and said take that to keep thee a true man This poor man being destitute of worldly
wait for me for God put in my mind that they would lay wait for me at all Sea-Coast Towns as they did So when all was husht I went abroad among our Friends and Brethren and at length I went beyond the Seas both into Flanders and France but I thought the time long till I came home again I was there but three weeks but it was known among Baals Priests who could not abide it but got Warrants and searched my House for me sometimes twice in a week sometimes I went privily sometimes openly from home staying abroad two or three weeks together otherwhile living a Moneth together at home doing openly such work as I had to do and yet mine Enemies laid no hands on me till the hour was fully come and then mine own Brother according to the flesh delivered me into their hands The Examination of Richard Woodman before the Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and others Bishop What is your name My name is Richard Woodman Then said the Bishop I am sory for you you have been a man of good report and esteem in your Country till now of late therefore look to your self your Wife and Children and Friends and be ruled and think not your self wiser then all the Realm but be informed and you shall have their favour as much as ever you had Woodman My Life my Wife and my Children I love them but they are all in Gods hands and I have them as if I had them not Bishop Q. Mary An. 1557. The Sheriff told me that you were desirous to spake with me Woodman I thought meet to appeal to you because you have taken upon you to be the Physitian of our Country for many unjust things are laid to my charge and they seek my Blood and I have appealed unto you that if my blood be shed unrighteously it might be required at your hands Doctor Story Is not this a perverse Fellow dost thou think thou shalt be put to death unjustly and that thy Blood shall be required no said he and further added that he could condemn a hundred such Hereticks and threatned that he would help to rid him Then Woodman would have answered but the Bishop desired them both to give him place Bishop Well Neighbour Woodman I call you Neighbour because you are one of my Diocess and you are sent to me that I should give you spiritual counsel for I am your Spiritual Pastor therefore hear what I say unto you Woodman First I desire you to hear me a few words you have said you will give me Spiritual counsel are you sure you have the Spirit of God Bishop No I am not sure of that I dare not be so bold to say so Woodman Then you are like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about with every wind and unstable in all your wayes and can look for no good thing at the Lords hand yea you are neither hot nor cold and therefore God will spue you out of his Mouth Then in a fury Story said What a perverse Fellow is this he hath a Devil in him and is mad and the Bishop said He is sent to me to learn and taketh upon him to teach me Then Richard Woodman seeing their Blindness and Blasphemy it made such an impression upon him that his heart was melted and and his eyes gusht out with tears and he spoke to them after this manner The Jew's said to Christ he had a Devil and was mad as you have here said to me but I know the Servant is not above his Master and God forbid that I should learn of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Bishop Why do you think that you have the Spirit of God you boast more then ever Paul did or any of the Apostles the which is great presumption Woodman I boast not in my self but in the Gift of God as Paul did who said He verily believed that he had the Spirit of God making thereof no question 1 Cor. 7. Chichester It is not so you bely the Text. Woodman If it be not so let me be burnt to morrow Story Thou shalt not be burnt too morrow but I will promise thee thou shalt be burnt within six dayes Bishop If it be so it 's wrong Translated as it is in a thousand places more Woodman Take heed that you bely not the Translators I believe they had the fear of God more before their Eyes then you report of them but if that place be wrong translated I can prove by places enough that Paul had the Spirit of God Bishop How prove you that Woodman No man can believe that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and again we have not received the Spirit of Bondage to fear any more but we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father the same Spirit certifieth us that we are the Sons of God also John saith he that believeth not that Christ is come in the Flesh is an Anti-christ and denieth both the Father and the Son and he that believeth in God dwelleth in God and God in him Story What an Heretick is this why do you here him send him to Prison to his Fellows in the Marshalsea and they shall be dspatcht within these twelve dayes Woodman When I heard him say so I rejoyced greatly in my heart desiring God if it were his will to keep them in that mind for I expected to have been sent to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house or Lollards Tower but they sent me to the Marshalsea to my Brethren and old Prison-Fellows whereby it pleased God that the burden I looked for was something eased when they saw I rather rejoyced then feared imprisonment the Bishop said My thinks he is not afraid of the Prison Woodman No I praise the Living God Story He hath the right terms of an Heretick the living God c. I pray you be there deads Gods that you say the Living God Woodman Are you angry with me for speaking the words written in the Bible Story Bibble Babble what speakest thou of the Bible there is no such word written in all the Bible Then said Woodman I am much to blame and brought several Scriptures to prove that there was a Living God and dead Gods for David said My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyce in the living God Story My Lord I will tell you how you shall know a Heretick by his words that is they will say the Lord and we praise God and the Living God c. Woodman The Lords Name be praised from the rising of the Sun until the going down of the same also as many as fear the Lord say alwayes the Lord be praised Story My Lord this is an Old Heretick send him to Prison you will do no good on him I will leave you and go to Church
other Heresie Schism Rebellion Treason or Faction and whatsoever else is contrary to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel or the Prosperity and good estate of this Realm our only desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence and fear abstaining and keeping our Souls and Bodies from all remnants of the Roman Religion Idolatry Imposition and vain will-worship of what sort soever We witness against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy and Priesthood of this Nation as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and Ministry there appointed in their Offices Callings Administrations and Lord like Livings and Maintenance against the confuse prophane and irreligious multitude of all sorts of vitious Livers baptized into and retained in the Body of the Church of England without voluntary profession of and holy walking in the Faith of the Gospel against their manner of Worship and Service by reading Prayers out of a Book instead of true Spiritual invocation on the Name of the Lord and briesly against all their Popish Abuses and Relicks of the man of sin whatsoever And because this our Testimony maketh against the irregular Authority of the Prelates reproveth their evil Actions and disproveth their Pomp Stateliness Rich Revenues Stipends c. therefore have they in all hostile manner set themselves against us Persecuting us unto Bands Exile and Death it self reproaching us as Schismaticks Donatists Prownists Seditions persons c. though they could never convince us of these or any the like crimes and though we have not ceased neither by Gods Grace will cease to wish and procure good to their Souls and Bodies in the Lord now therefore our humble Request is unto your Majesty Honours and Worships that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to return into our native Country there to live in Peace practizing the Faith of Christ which we profess and have long since set forth to the view of the World in our publick Confession wherein none hitherto have shewed us any Error and seeing the People of other Nations are by your Majesty and Honours suffered in this Realm though differing from the Ecclesiastical state of the same we hope that your Highness Natural and Loyal Subjects may find like favour at your hands for although we cannot but hold and Witness the Truth of God against the corruptions remaining yet hold we in no wise lawful for our selves or any Subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these or any the like abuses for God hath committed the Sword into your Majesties hand alone who in his time will perswade we trust your Royal heart to fulfil his will and execute his Judgments upon the Remainders of the Spiritual Babylon which will turn to as great Honour to God Honour to your Majesty and good of this Realm as the abolishing of Abbats Munks Fryart Mass Images c. hath turned heretofore So the Lord of Lords and Ruler of Rulers of the Earth will establish your Crown and Kingdom unto Length of dayes and howsoever this our Suit shall be regarded we will not cease in all places of our Pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majesty your Honours Worships and all our Country whom God Almighty bless with Long Life and happy dayes on Earth and Crown with Everlasting Glory in the highest Heavens Amen I find that in the year 1604. in this Kings Reign four Persons were banished the Land of England after they had suffered three Moneths Imprisonment for no other cause but seperating themselves from the Church of England refusing to Communicate joyn or pertake with the same in their publick Ministry and Worship reputing many corruptions to be still remaining amongst them which were derived from Popery And thus I have given an Account of such as suffered for Religion in those times and now to conclude I have this further to write by what I have observed upon Histories in several Ages viz. That while any People were under Suffering and Oppression for their Consciences endeavouring to serve and worship God in that Way they believed to be most agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth then the publick Way established in the Kingdom whilst they travelled under this Bondage and Suffering they were low in their minds and the Lord had regard unto them for their hearts were tender and the Lord appeared for them and now when the Lord had tryed this People and at last put Power into their hands and raised them as it were from a low estate they soon forgot his kind dealings with them as for Example the Independants and Presbyterians some of whom I have seen neer forty years since dregged out of their Meetings in private Houses and their Cloathes tore and their Faces covered as it were with dirt and their blood spilt and in this suffering condition they made many Covenants and Vowes to the Lord but this very People afterwards coming into Places of Authority and killing and taking Possession got themselves into the High-Places of the Earth and soon forgot their time of deep Sufferings and being exalted into Goverment they tread in the same steps those had trodden that were their great Persecutors and then they turn'd as riggid Persecutors if not worse then those they had turned out as witness the Innocent Blood they shed both in Old-England and New whose Cruelty under the Visor of a more righteous Cloak is too large here to insert but will be matter sufficient for another Volum and therefore I here conclude this AN ACCOUNT OF THE Just Iudgments of God INFLICTED UPON PERSECUTORS Wherein is shewed The Wicked Lives and most horrible Untimely Deaths of many of the Persecutors of Old Collected out of Ancient Histories and out of the Scriptures CHAP. I The remarkable and righteous Judgments of God which have befaln several Persecutors for Conscience sake mentioned in the Old Testament THe Old Serpent the Devil The Old Serpent who was the first Persecutor for Righteousness sake that ever was in the World who for that very cause hath hunted after the blood of the Saints even from the beginning unto this day was for his Persecution cursed of God above all Creatures Gen. 3.14 Cain persecuted his godly Brother Abel until Death Cain and that for no other cause but for Righteousness sake even because his own works were Evil and his Brothers Good and Righteous 1 John 3. 12. was therefore cursed of God with a bitter curse even from the Presence of God and from the Earth and made a Fugative and Vagabond in the Earth yea so great was his punishment that he said It was greater then he could bear Gen. 4.11 12 13. Ishmael was another Persecutor for he was a Mocker of his Brother Isaac Ishmael the true Seed of God and therefore was cast out with his Mother out of the Family of the Faithful that he might have no part in the Inheritance in the true Seed unto whom the Promise was made Gen. 12.9 10
Augastinus said Some disturbed the Peace of the Church while they went about to root out the TARES before the time and through this Error of Blindness said he are they themselves separated so much the more from being united unto Christ Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his Hands with Blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion The State of Holland testified Dat waer vervolginghen Zijndatter daer al in roere is maer waer geen en sijdor verscheijden Religion dat dare alle saclren stilder sijn so oâ—lr in onse ijden is levon den that is Where there was Persecution there was all in distraction but where there was none though there were several Religions there all things were the quieter as hath been evident in our dayes said they Vide Urede Handel Van. Col. Fol. 53. Calvin said That those that are set over us must be obeyed if that the Command of God be not thereby disobeyed but if they lead us from obedience to God and presumptionsly strive against the Lord then must they not be regarded said he to the end that God with his Authority may retain the preheminence A Book written in French by N. M. Anno 1576. hath this Sentence in it Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects alwayes greatly Prospered and Reigned long But on the contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Perfidious and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon fallen they and their Estate into danger or total ruin Veritus said Seeing Christ is a LAMB whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same WEAPONS which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and wild Beasts but only of SHEEP wherefore if you lose the Nature of Sheep said he and be changed into Wolves and wild Beasts and use fleshly Weapons then will you exclude your selves out of his Calling and forsake his Banner and then will he not be your Captain Stephanus King of Poland said It belongeth not to me to reform the Conscience I have alwayes gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the WEEDS to grew untill the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers are but small therefore said he when some were proceeding in persecution ' Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum that is I am the King of the People not of their Consciences he also affirmed That Religion was not to be planted with FIRE and SWORD Chron. Van. de Rel. Urijh 2. deel Tindal said The New Testament of Christ suffered no Law of Compelling but alone of Perswading and Exhorting Fox Acts and Mon. page 1338. The Prince of Orange testified Anno 1579. That it was impossible that the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Toleration in the Exercise of Religion Where hast thou ever read in thy dayes said Menno in the Writings of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrine not obey their Words I know certainly said he that where the Magistrate shall Banish with the SWORD there is not the right Knowledge spiritual Word nor Church of Christ it is Invocare Brachium Seculare It is not Christian like but Tyrannical said D. Philipson to Banish and Persecute People about FAITH and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation who resisted the Holy Ghost Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God In de Krijdges wrede Fol. 63. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience this is an Antichrist Inde Benuse disp Fol. 71. It was Lather's Opinion That those that stirred up the Princes to persecure about Religion they raised the Uproar Thesaur pag. 679. SECT VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward Force nor Imposition ought to he used in Matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE ought to be allowed in the dayes of the Gospel in the free Exercise of it to God-ward without Compulsion in all things relating to His Worship for these REASONS following 1. Because the General and Universal Royal-Law of Christ commands it Matthew 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and Prophets That which every man would have and receive from another he ought by Christ RULE to give and allow it to another But every man is willing to have the LIBERTY of his OWN CONSCIENCE therefore ought to ALLOW it to another 2. Because no man can perswade the Conscience of another either what God is or how he should be worshipped but by the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man in the Ways of Truth 3. Because all Obedience or Service that is obtained by force is for fear of Wrath and not from Love nor for Conscience sake and therefore will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4. Because that by forcing no man can make a Hypocrite to be a true Believer but on the contrary many may be made Hypocrites 5. Because that in all forced Impositions upon mens Consciences there is something of the wrath of man exercised which works not the Righteousness of God but rather begets enmity in the heart one towards another 6. Because that by forcing any thing upon mens Consciences as to matters of Faith and Worship many are hardened in their hearts against the things imposed when as otherwise through Love and gentle Instructions their hearts might be perswaded to willing obedience 7. Because that Persecution for Conscience contradicteth Christs Charge Matthew 13. who bids that the Tares or false Worshippers be suffered to grow together in the Field or World till the Harvest or End of the World 8. Because Force is contrary to the end for which it is pretended to be used viz. The preservation and safety of the Wheat which End is not answered by Persecution because the Wheat is in danger to be plucked up thereby as Christ saith 9. Because to Force is inconsistant with the belief of the Jews Conversion and other false Worshippers which is prayed for by the publick Teachers and cannot be attained if Persecution for Conscience be prosecuted 10. Because they that impose upon mens Consciences exercise Dominion over mens Faith which the Apostles denied saying They had not Dominion over any mans Faith 11. Because Imposition upon mens Consciences necessitates them
about the Moneth called July in the Year aforesaid came to Rome and having found the English Colledge Knockt at the Door to whom divers of the Students there came forth to welcome him hearing he was an English man amongst other talk had with him they wisht him to go to the Hospital and there to receive his Meat and Lodging according as the order was appointed whereunto he answered I came not my Country-men to any such intent as you judge but I came lovingly to rebuke the great disorder of your lives which I grieve to hear and pity to behold I come likewise to let your proud Anti-christ understand that he doth Offend the heavenly Majesty Rob God of his Honour and Poison the whole World with his Abominable Blasphemies making them do Homage to Stocks and Stones and that filthy Sacrament which is nothing else but a foolish Idol when they heard these words one Hugh Griffen a Welch-man and Student of the Colledge caused him to be put in the Inquisition what he answered there to their Examinations is not recorded but after some dayes he was set at Liberty again And one day going in the Street he met a Priest carrying the Sacrament which so offended his Conscience to see the People crouch and bow dâ—wn to it that he catched at it to have thrown it down but missing of his purpose and it being judged by the People that he did catch at the holiness that they say cometh from the Sacrament upon meer devotion he was let pass and nothing said to him a few dayes after he came to the place called Saint Peters Church where divers being hearing Mass and the Priest at the Elevation without shewing any reverence he stept amongst the People to the Altar and threw down the Chalice with the Wine striving likewise to pull the Cake out of the Priests hands for which divers rose up and beat him with their fists and one drew his Rapyer and would have slain him and away he was carried to Prison where he was Examined wherefore he had committed so hainous an offence he answered that he came purposely for that intent to rebuke the Popes Wickedness and their Idolary upon this he was condemned to be burnt which Sentence he said he was right willing to suffer and the rather because the sum of his offence pertained to the Glory of God during the time he remained in Prison sundry English-men came to him wishing him to be sorry for what he had done and to recant of his Damnable Opinion but all the means they used were in vain he confuted their dealings by divers places of Scripture and willed them to be sorry for their Wickedness while God did permit them time else they were in danger of Everlasting Damnation these words made the Englishmen depart for they could not abide to hear them Within a while after he was set upon an Ass without any Sadle being from the midle upward naked having some English-Priests with him to talk with him but he regarded them not but spake to the people in as good Language as he could and told them they were in a wrong way and therefore wished them to have regard to the saving of their Souls All the way as he went there were four that did nothing else but thrust at his body with burning torches whereat he never moved nor shrunk one jot but with a cheerful Countenance laboured to perswade the People to good at which the People not a little wondered thus he continued almost the space of half a mile until he came to the Place of Execution which was before the Mass-house called Saint Peters where they had made a device not to make a Fire about him but to burn his legs first which they did at which he was no whit dismayed but suffered all cheerfully at which the People much admired Then they offered him a Cross to embrace in token that he died a Christian but he put it away with his hand calling them evil men to trouble him with such poltery stuff when he was preparing himself to God whom he beheld in majesty and mercy ready to receive him into the Eternal rest they seeing him in this mind departed saying Come let us go and leave him to the Devil whom he serves Thus ended this faithful Souldier and Martyr of Christ his life a Witness against the Pope and his Followers wickedness Persecuted by the Papists in Forreign Parts c. A brief Relation concerning the Horrible Massacree in France Ann. 1571. When the Admiral was wounded in both his Arms he Immediately thereupon said to Maure O my Brother I do now perceive that I am beloved of my God seeing that for his Name sake I do Suffer these Wounds at this time were many great persons cruelly murthered two thousand were murthered in one day At Meldis Two hundred were cast into Prison and being brought out as sheep to the slaughter were cruelly murthered At Orleans a Thousand Men Women and Children were Murthered The Citizens of Augustobona when they heard of the Massacree at Paris shut the Gates of their Town that no Protestant might escape and cast all that they suspected into Prison which afterward were brought forth and Murthered At Avericome in like manner the suspected for religion were cast into Prison At Roan five hundred were put to death Thuanus who writeth the History of these things writeth thus this Example saith he passed into other Cities and from Cities to Towns and Villages so that it is by many Published that in all the Kingdom above thirty thousand were in these tumults divers wayes destroyed by the Papists There was wonderful joy in Rome for this Massacree and the Pope with his Cardinals went a Procession to give thanks unto God for this great benefit bestowed upon the See of Rome and the Christian World a Jubily also was published and in the Evening the great Ordinance was shot off at the Castle Thus did this unholy Father delight to hear of the destruction of so many Innocent People well might Christ say You are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do he hath been a Murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him An Account of four Martyrs burnt at Lile in Flanders Q. Mary An. 1559. in the year 1556. whose names were Robert Ogvier and Jane his wife Baudicon and Martin his two Sons Few places can be named where the Truth was more freely and with greater zeal received then in this City of Lile where Antichrists Tyranny was great For three years together it was secretly preached amongst them sometimes in Houses in Woods in Feilds and in Caves of the Earth not without hazarding of their Lives if they had been discovered yet could not these apparent dangers under such Tyranny cool or abate the burning Zeal which almost consumed the hearts of his People hungering and thursting after the spiritual food of
their Souls What was amongst them preached was accordingly practiced works of Mercy and Charity were there exercised not only towards those of the Houshold of Faith but even towards them which were without so as many by means hereof were drawn and brought on to the knowledge of Christ They ordained certain Persons who were men fearing God and approved of who went weekly from house to house to collect the Alms of such as they knew to be faithful admonishing every one how to carry themselves in their Vocations and of their duty in contributing towards the relief of the poor Saints And thus each one according to his place endeavouring to express and manifest his Faith by the Fruits thereof namely good works in a short time the Lord raised up a flourishing Meeting in this place so that they consisted of a competent number of Men Women and Children not only of the City but of the Villages nigh In the mean while Satan and his Adherance ceased not to storm and rage hereat not being able long to endure these their holy Meetings Upon the sixth of the Moneth called March about ten at night the Provest of the City with his Sergeants armed themselves to make search if they could find any met together in houses but as then there was no Assembly therefore they went to the house of Robert Ogvier and there violently entered seeking here and there for their prey they found certain Books which they carried away but he whom they principally aimed at was not then in the House viz. Baudicon the Son of the said Robert who according to his usual manner was gone abroad to visit some Brethren but returning home knocking at the Door his brother Martin watching his coming bid him be gone wishing him not to come in he thinking his Brother took him for some other said it is I open the Door with that the Sergeants drew nigh and opened it and he came in Then said the Provest I arrest you all in the Emperors name and commanded each of them to be bound to wit the Husband and his Wife with their two Sons leaving their two Daughters to look to the House now as they conveyed them along through the Streets Baudicon with a voice somewhat extended which might easily be heard at that time of the night said Assist us O Lord by thy Grace not only to be Prisoners for thy Name sake but to confess thy holy Truth in all purity before men so far as to seal the same with our Bloods for the edification of thy poor Church Thus were they brought into several Prisons where they were severally handled yet ceased they not to bless and praise the Lord with one consent within a few dayes after they were brought before the Magistrates of the City and Examined who first spoke to the Father in these words It is told us that you never come to Mass and also diswade others from coming thereto and that you maintain Conventicles in your House whereby you have Transgressed the Laws of the Emperial Majesty Robert answered to this effect We read not in all the Scriptures that either Christ or any of his Apostles ever said Mass for they knew not what it meant As for the second Accusation I cannot nor will deny but there have met together in my House Honest People fearing God I assure you not with intention to wrong or harm any but rather for the advancement of Gods Glory and the good of many I knew indeed that the Emperour had forbiden it but what then I know also that Christ had commanded it who said Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Thus you see I could not well obey the Emperour but I must disobey Christ in this case then I chose rather to obey my God then man When they were brought to the Fire the last words they were heard to pronounce were Jesus Christ thou Son of God into thy hands we commend our Spirits and so they ended their Testimony Within eight dayes after Jane the Mother and Martin her Son were both Executed in the same City The manner of the Merciless Inquisitors Tormenting such as are brought into the Popish Inquisition in Spain When they purpose to torture any one the Gaoler is commanded to bring forth his Prisoner into the accustomed place where it is to be given which place is under the Earth and very obscure then going thorow many turnings and thorow sundry Doors so as the horrible cries of those who are there tortured can in no wise be heard there is a Seat prepared for the Inquisitors on high with a Rigister also to behold their Tragical Act the Torches being lighted those who are to Act their parts in this woful Tragedy are brought in the Tormentor who attends their coming is covered all over with a black Garment close to his Body and on his Head a black Hood which hides his Face from being seen having only two or three holes made therein for himself to see and to breath at and all this is to terrifie the more the poor patient who beholdeth as it were a grim Devil ready to Torment him these Fathers being set upon their Seat begin again to charge the Prisoner voluntary to confess the Truth which if he refuse to do and if it then happen that Arm or any other Member of his Body be broken or that they die on the Torture for that is all the favour he hath shewed him they made it his own fault and none of theirs after they have used all the terrible threats that can be they cause him or her to be stripped stark naked whether Man Woman or Maid though they be never so modest and bashful many having fallen into their bloody fingers thus to to have their nakedness discovered in the sight of others was more greivous then all their Torments besides which they endured laying aside then all Humanity in unclothing them they put upon them linnen Bretches as if their secret parts were better and more honestly covered with Bretches then with Shirt or Smock or as if the Torments they meant to put them to would not pierce deep enough as well in the one as in the other with such shameless Spectacles the chast Inquisitors fed their Ages and with such cruel Lust satisfied their infamous and detestable virginity The Man or Woman standing naked then only covered with little Bretches they beckon to the Tormenter who is well aquainted with their secret sign and watch word and can readily discern what Torments the holy Fathers would have them put to to teach them the Faith of the Roman Church Then standing thus naked they exhort them once again to tell the truth If the Patient be to endure the Cord they tye his hands behind his back pulling him up eight or ten times according to the number of twitches limited by the Inquisitors to the Tormentor that so nothing may be done there