the Revelation in these words And I saw an Angel descending from Heaven having a key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand and he took the Dragon the old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years and put him into the bottomlesse dungeon and shut him up and signed him with his seal that he should no more seduce the Gentiles till a thousand years were expired and after that he must be loosed again for a little space of time c. The thousand years being now expired Satan let loose he begins again to persecute the Church of God and the professors of the truth in the person of Wickliff in the year of our Lord 1371. in the dayes of Edward the third King of England This Wickliff was an English-man and a Professor of Divinity in Oxford a man of great spirit and of great learning he came to such a degree or erudition that he was thought the most excellent amongst all the Theologians at that time he perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be aduldeâ—at and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops Sects of Monks and dark errors and after long debating and deliberating with himself with many secret sighs and bewalings in his mind the generall ignorance of the whole world could no longer sâ—ffer or abide the same he at the last determined with himself to help and remedy such things as he saw to be wide and out of the way and so he began as from a deep night to draw out the truth of the Doctrine of the Son of God with the purity of the Doctrine which hee taught he also lively touched the abuses of the Popedome in so much that the Locusts that is to say the Monks and begging Friers listed themselves up against him to persecute him with all the rable of the Popish Clergie but the Lord gave him for a Protector King Edward the third the Duke of Lancaster the Kings son and Lord Henery Peircy the Marshaâ—l of England for all the time of King Edwards raign he had great liberty of his profession and that the King carried a speciall favour and good-will to him appears in this that he sent him with his Ambassadour over into the parts of Italy to treat with the Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pope with full commission This King Edward was a good man and hath this commendation that he was Orphanis quasi Pater afflictis compations miseris condolâ—ns oppressis relevaâ—s cunctis indigentibus impendens auxilia opportuna that is to the Orphans he was a Father competient to the afflicted mourning with the miserable releiving the oppressed and to all them that wanted a helper in the time of need c. Pope Gregory being informed of Wickliffs Doctrine that was pred abroad through the land He wrot to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London to cause apprehend the said John Wickliffe and to cast him into prison and that the King and Nobles of England should be admonished not to give any trust to the said John VVickliffe or to his Doctrine in any wayes As also he wrote unto King Edward or rather unto King Richard who succeeded King Edward to persecute this VVickliff but God shortned the rage and fury of this cruel Prelate against him for that in the same year or in the beginning of the next year following the forsaid Pope Gergory the eleventh turn'd up his heels and died Yet the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London did vex trouble him and held sundry meetings of the Clergy against him to condemne him and his Doctrine And here is not to be past over the great miracle of Gods Divine admonition or warning for when as the Archbishop and Suffraganes with the other Doctors and Lawiers with a great company of babling Friers and Religious persons were gathered together to consult as touching John VVickliffs books and that whole sect When as I say they were gathered together at the Gray-friers in London to begin their businesse upon St. Dunstanes day after dinner about two in the cloak the very hour and instant that they should go forward with their businesse a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell throughout all England whereupon diverse of the Suffraganes being feard by the strange and wonderfull demonstration doubting what it should mean thought it good to leave off from their determinat purpose But the Archbishop as the chief Captain of that Army more rash and bold then wise interpreting the change which had happened clean contrary to another meaning and purpose did confirm and strengthen hearts and minds which are almost danted with fear stoutly to proceed and to go forward in their attempted enterprise who then discoursing VVickliffs Articles not according to the sacred Cannons of the Holy Scripture but unto their own private affections and traditions pronounced and gave sentence that some of them were simply and plainly Hereticall other some false erroneous other irreligious some seditious and not consonant to the Church of Rome John VVickliff a long time after this returning again either from his banishment being banished by King Richard or from some other place where he was secretly keeped repaired to his Parish at Lutterworth where hee was Parson and there quyetly departing this mortall Life sleept in peace in the Lord 1384. Here is to be noted in this Man as in diverse others whom the Lord so long preserved in such rages of so many enemies from all their hands even to his old age This VVickliff had written diverse and sundry works the which in the year of our Lord 1410. were burnt at Oxford And not only in England but in Bohemia Likewise the Books of the said VVickliff were set on fire by the Archbishop of Prage who made diligent inquisiition for the same and burned them The numbers of the Volumes which he is said to have burned most excellently written and richly adorned with bosses of Gold and coverings as Aeneas Silvius writes were about the number of two hundred Great was the testimony given out by the Vniversity of Oxford touching the commendation of the great Learning and good Life of John VVickliff as also great was the testimony and commendation of Master John Hus concerning John VVickliff who affirmed that he was no Heretick and yet the Counsel of Constance condemned him for an Heretick and caused his Body and Bones to bee raised and burnt 41. years after his Death and took his Ashes and threw into the River thinking thereby utterly to extinguish and abolish both the Name and Doctrine of VVickliff for ever for though they digged up his Body and burnt his Bones and drowned his Ashes yet the Word of God and truth of his Doctrine with the fruit and successe thereof they could not burn which yet to this day for the most part of his Articles do remain After the Death of Pope Gregory
handled in hatred of Christ The spoyl and havock of the city lasted three days together while the barbarous Souldiours murthered and rispled what them listed These things thus beâ—ng done and the tumult ceased after three dayes Mahomets the Turk entreth into the city and first calling for the Heads and Ancients of the city such as he found to be left alive he commanded them to be mangled and cut in pieces It is also reported that in the feasts of the Turks honest Matrons and Virgins and such as were of the Kings stock after other contumelies were hewen and cut in pieces for their disport And this was the end of that princely and famous city of Constantinople beginning first by Constantinos and ending also with Constantinus This terrible destruction of the city of Constantinople the Queen of cities may be a warning to all Christendome Rynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester is greatly afflicted persecuted by the Pops Prelats for his faith and profession he is forced by menaces and threatnings to recant and notwithstanding his recantation he is deteined still in prison where some say that hee was privately made away to death In the Reign of King Edward the fourth Joh Goose or John Hus a goodly constant servant of Christ was unjustly condemned and burnt at the Tower-hill Thus had England also this John Hus as well as Bohemia John Goose in Englsh is as much as John Hus in the Bohemian Language This John Goose being delivered to Robert Belisdon one of the Sheriffs to see him burnt in the afternoon The Sheriffliffe a charitable man had him home to his house and there exhorted him to deny saith the Story his error But the godly man after long exhortation heard desired the Sheriff to be content for he was satisfied in his conscience notwithstanding this he desired of the Sheriff for Gods sake to give him some meat saying tha the was very sore hungred Then the Sheriff commanded him meat whereof he took and did eat as if he had been toward no manner of danger and said to such as stood about him I eat now a good and compleat Dinner for I shall passe a little sharp showre ere I go to Supper and when he had Dined he gave thanks and requested that he might shortly be led to the place where he should yeeld up his spirit unto the Lord and so he was burned In the time of this King Edward the fourth this is not to be passed by that one Burdet a Merchand dwelling in Cheapside at the Sign of the Crown which is now the Sign of the Flower deluce merrily speaking to his son that he would make him Inheritor of the Crown meaning indeed his own house for the which words King Edward causing them to be misconstrued and interpreted as though he had meant the Crown of the Realm within leffe then four houres he was apprehended judged drawn and quartered at Cheapside here is Tyrannie in misconstruing a mans words and the Laws of the Realm misconstrued for the Kings pleasure In the ninth year of the Reign of Henry the seventh was burned a very old Woman above fourscore years named Joan Boughton Widow and Mother to Lady Young which Lady was also suspect to be of that opinon that her Mother was she was a Disciple of Wickliff and held so fast and firmly eight of his opinions that all the Doctors of London could not turn her from one of them And when it was told her that she should be burnt for her obstinacy and self-belief she set nothing by their menacing words but defyed them for she said that she was so beloved of God and his holy Angels that she passed not for the fire And in the mids thereof she cried to God to take her soul into his holy hands and so she was burnt he night following the most part of her ashes were had away of such as had a love unto the Doctrine she died for In the next year following was a Priest burnt which was so strong in his opinion that all the Clerks and Doctors then there being could not remove him from his Faith whereof the King being informed he caused the said Priest to be brought before his presence who by his perswasion caused him to revolt and so he was burnt immediatly The storm of persecution which had raged long in England against many good and godly men brake forth likewise in other parts of Christendome as in Germany Italy and France In Germany and other parts there about after the burning of John Hus were many put to death for religion In Italy one Thomas Rhedone a French-man and a Camelit Frier was burnt for the profession of Christ at Rome At this time also fell out the Martyrdome and burning of Hieronymus Savanatola a man no lesse godly in heart then constant in his profession he was a Monk in Italy and singularly well learned he Preached sore against the evill life and living of the Spirituality and especially of his own Order complaining sore upon them as the Springs and Authors of all mischiefs and wickednesse c. He with his two companions was hanged and burnt for the Gospels truth This man foreshewed many things to come as the destruction of Florence and Rome and the renewing of the Church which three things have happened in these times in this our remembrance also he foreshewed that the Turks and Mores in the latter dayes should be converted unto Christ he also declared that one should passe the Alps into Italy like unto Cyrus who should subvert and destroy all Italy whereupon Johannes Franciscus Picus Earl of Mirandula called him a holy Prophet and defended him by his Writtings against the Pope as many other learned men also defended the innocency of the said Savanarola And speaking of this Joannes Picus Earl of Mirandula it shall not be amisse to shew this Story of him This Picus being but a young man was so excellently witred and so singularly learned in all Sciences and in all Tongues both Latine Greek and Hebrew Chaldie and Arabie that coming to Rome Booted and Spurred he set up nine Conclusions to Dispute in the same with any in all Christenstome whosoever would come against him Of which Conclusions diverse were touching the matter of the Sacrament And when none was found in all Rome or in Europe that openly would Dispute with him privily and in corners certain of the Popes Clergy Prelat Lawyers and Friers by the Pope appointed consulted together to enquire upon his Conclusions whereupon they did Articulat against him for suspition of Heresie And thus the unlearned Clergy of Rome privily circumvented and intangled this learned Earl in their snare of Heresie against whom they durst never openly Dispute he died being of the age of thirty two years of such wit and towardnesse as is hard to say whither ever Italy bred up a better In his sicknesse Charles the eight then French King moved with fame of his Learning came to visite him
time at the fact and men yet alive the story whereof was this There was at Antwerp on a time amongst a company of Merchants as they were at supper a certain Juglar which through his Diabolicall inchantments or Art magicall would fetch all kind of Viandes and Wine from any place they would and set it upon the table incontinent before them with many other such like things The fame of this Jugler being much talked of It chanced that as Master Tindal heard of it he desired certain of the Merchants that he might also bee present at Supper to see him play his parts To be brief the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present Then the Juglar being required to play his feats and to shew his cunning after his wonted boldnesse began to utter all that he could do but all was in vain At the last with his labour sweating and toyling when he saw that nothing would go forward but that all his enchantment were void he was compelled openly to confesse that there was some man present at Supper which disturbed and setted all his doings So that a man even in the Martyrs of these dayes cannot lack the miracles of true faith if miracles were now to be desired After King Henry his Marriage was declared to be unlawfull and being divorced from Lady Cathren he married Lady Anna â—ullen who three years after she was married was had to the Tower with the Lord Rochford her brother and the nineteen day thereafter was beheaded The words of this worthy and christian Lady at her death were these Good Christian people I am come hither to die for according to the Law by the Law I am judged to death and therefore I will speak nothing against it I am to accuse no man nor to speak any thing of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die but I pray God to save the King and send him long to raign over you for a Gentler or more mercifull Prince was there never to me he was ever a Good a Gentle and a Soveraigne Lord. And if any person will medle of my cause I require them to judge the best And thus I take my leave of the World and of you all I heartily desire you all to pray for me so she was beheaded Whatsoever the cause was or quartell objected against her life this was a great commendation she left behind her that during her life the Religion of Christ most happily flourished and had a right prosperous course for she was an enemy to Popery she was a great giver of alms beyond all other Queens and the Revenues almost of her estate in so much that the almes which she gave in three quarters of a year in distribution is summed to the number of fourteen or fifteen thousand pounds beside the great peece of money which Her grace intended to impart unto four sundry quarters of the Realm as for a stock there to be imployed to the behoove of poor Artificers and occupyers Again what a zealous Defender she was of Christs Gospel all the world doth know and her acts do and will declare to the worlds end After the suffering of Queen Anna the King marrid Lady Jane Seimer of whom came King Edward as great an enemy to Gods enemies the Pope as ever his father was and greater too Shorâ—ly after his birth Queen Jane his Mother the second day after died in Child bed and left the King again a Widower which so continued the space of two years together After this Religion bâ—gan to go backward as appears in the condemnation burning and martyrdom of John Lambert and others For as the King was ruled and gave over some time to one some time to another so one while Reliâ—ion went forâ—wâ—rd and at another time as much backward again and sometimes clean altered and changed foâ— a season according as they could prevail which were about the King so variable was the change and mutation of Religion in King Henries days for the state of R ligion decayed all the residâ—e of King Henry A Parliament is summoned at Westmi ster in the ear 15 〈◊〉 through the devise and practiâ—â— of certain of the Popes factors about him Alâ—o a Synod or convocation of all the Archbishops Bishops and other leaâ—nâ—d of the clergy of this realm to be in like manner assembled In which Parliament Syâ—od or convocation certain articles matters and qâ—estions touching religion were decreed to the numbâ—r especially of six comonly called the six Articles or the whip â—ith six strings to be had and receivâ—d among the Kings Sâ—bjects in pretence of Unity The first Article in the present Parliament accorded and agreed upon was this that in the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar by the strength and efficacy of Christs mighty word it being spoken by the Priest is present really under the form of Bread and Wine the naturall body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary and that after the consecration there remaineth no substance of Bread or Wine or any other substance but the substance of Christ God and man Secondly that the Communion in both kinds is not necessary ad salutem by the Law of God to all persons and that it is to be believed and not doubted of but that in the flesh under the form of Bread is the very Blood and with the Blood under the form of Wine is the very flesh as well in parts as they were both together Thirdly that the Priests after the order of Priesthood received may not marry by the Law Fourthly that the vows of chastity of Widowhood by man or woman made to God advisedly ought to be observed by the Law of God and that it exeemeth them from other liberties of Christian people which without that they might enjoy Fifthly that it is meet and necessary that privat Masses be continued and admitted in this English Church and Congregation as whereby good Christian people ordering themselves accordinâ—ly do receive both godly and goodly consolations and benefites and it is agreeable also to Gods Law Sixthly that Auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and contained used and frequented in the Church of God All agreed to these six Articles except Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who stood openly in the Parliament against them bringing forth such Allegations as might easily have helped the cause nisi paucos major vicisset ut saepe solet meliorem Great was the trouble and persecution at London for these six Articles and else-where through the land Doctor Barnes Garret and Hicrome were burnt for the Gospel at Smithfield At this time when Lambert was burnt there was one Colins at London sometime a Lawyer and a Gentleman being distracted of his wits coming into a Church where a Priest was saying Masse and was come to the place where they use to hold and shew the Sacrament he seeing the Priest holding the host over his head and
Almighty and from thence he shal come to judge the quick and the dead Lo this is the heresie that I hold and for it must suffer the death But as touching the holy and blessed Supper of the Lord I believe it to be a most necessary remembrance of his glorious suffering and death Moreover I believe as much therein as my eternall and only Redeemer Jesus Christ would I should believe She is brought into Smithfield to her execution in a Chair because she could not go on her feet by means of her great torments there she patiently endured death with sundry moe that at that time was burnt with her Then Urisley Lord Chancellor sent to Anna Askew Letters offering to her the Kings pardon if she would recant who refusing once to look upon them made this answer again that she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master Then were the Letters offered unto the other who in like manner following the constancy of the woman denyed not only to receive them but also to look upon them whereupon the Lord Major commanding fire to be put to them cryed with a loud voice fiat Justitia Queen Catherine Parre late Queen and wife to King Henry the eight was in great danger for the Gospel the Chancellor Bishop of Winchester and others of their conspiracy but she was graciously preserved by her kind and loving Husband the King King Henry died in the thirty eight year of his Reign King Henry of his own nature and disposition was so inclinable and forward in all things vertuous and commendable that the like interprise of redresse of Religion hath not lightly been seen in any other Christned Prince as in abolishing the stout and almost invincible authority of the Pope in suppressing Monâ—steries in repressing custome of Idolatry and Pilgrimages c. which interprises as never King of England did accomplish though some began to attempt them before him so yet to this day we see but few in other Realmes dar follow the same So long as Queen Bullâ—n Thomas Cromwell Bishop of Cranmer and such like good counsellours were about him he did much good So again when sinister and evil counsell under subtill and crafty pretences had gotten once the foot in thrusting truth and verity out of the Princes ears how much Religion and all good things went prosperously forward before so much on the contrary side all revolted backward again Prince Edward succeeded his father being of the age of nine years and Reigned six years and eight months and eight dayes and deceased Anno 1553. He was a vertuous and religious Prince of admirable gifts and graces far beyond his years Religion flourished in his time for by the advise of his Governours especially by his Uncle Lord John Simer Duke of Somerset Protector of the Realm that monstrous Hydra with six heads the six Articles I mean who devoured up so many men before was abolished and taken away the holy Scriptures were restored to the Mother Tongue Mastes extinguished and abolished these that were before in banishment for the danger of the truth were again received to their Countrey for the most part of the Bishops of Churches and Diocesses were changed Such as had been dumb Prelats before were compelled to give place to others then that would preach take pains Besides other also out of foraign Countreys men of learning and notable knowledge were sent for and received among whom was Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius which were set into the Universities Of the old Bishops some were committed to one Ward some to another but these meek and gentle times of King Edward under the Government of this noble Protector hath this one commendation proper unto them for that amongst the whole number of the popish sort of whom some privily did steal out of the Realm many were crafty dissemblers some were open and manifest adversaries yet of all that multitude there was not one man that lost his life for during all the time of King Edwards Reign which was about six years neither in Smithfield nor any other quarter of this Realm any was heard to suffer for any matter of Religion either Papist or Protestant either for one opinion or other except only two one an English-woman called Joan of Kent and the other a Dutch-man named George who died for certain Articles not much necessary here to be rehearsed Besides these two there was none else in all King Edwards Reign that died in any manner or cause of Religion but that one Thomas Dobbie who in the beginning of this Kings Reign was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Masse and in the same Prison died whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained of the Lord Protector and should have been brought him if he had continued The horrible and bloody Time of Queen MARY QUeen Mary succeeded her brother King Edward to the Crown ingyring her self by force and violence notwithstanding that Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen before her by King Edwards testament and the consent of the Nobility She altered Religion that was in King Henries time and King Edwards she made an Inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or read openly in the Churches the word of God the Masse is set up and a proclamation that no man should interrupt any of these that would say masse the Popes Authority is restored In a word she banished the Gospel and true Religion and brought in the Antichrist of Rome with his Idolatry supperstition turned the English service into Latine again c. About this time a priest of Canterbury said masse the one day and the next day after he came into the Pulpit and desired all the people to forgive him for he said he had betrayed Christ but not as Judas did and there made a long Sermon against the Masse Marriage is concluded between Queen Mary and the King of Spain Strange sights were seen before the comming in of King Philip and subversion of Religion for in the month of February 1553. there was seen within the City of London about the 9. of the clock in the forenoon two Suns Shining at once the one a good pretty way distant from the other At the same time was also seen a rain bow turned contrary and a great deal higher then hath been accustomed it stood with the head downward and the feet as it were upward In the second year of Queen Mary there was a Cat hanged upon a Gallows at the crosse in Cheap apparelled like a priest ready to say masse with a shaven crown her two fore feet tyed over her head with a round paper like a wafer cake put between them whereon arose a great ill-will against the city of London for the Queen and the Bishops were very angry withall and therefore the same afternoon there was a proclamation that whosoever could bring forth the party that did hang up the Cat should have twenty Nobles but none could or would earn it Philip
far returned with him to Glasgow where they went first to the Church and gave thanks to God for the victory they had obtained almost without any effusion of blood This conflict happened upon the 13. of May the eleventh day after her escape from Lochlevin The Queen fleeth to England and writeth to Queen Elizabeth The Bishop of Orkney was reponed to his place and for removing the scandall he was injoyned in his first Sermon to make publick acknowledgement of his fault and crave forgivenesse of God the Church and State whom he had offended The Duke of Chattellerault returned and being made Deputy by the Queen caused publish his Letters prohibiting the subjects to acknowledge any other Soveraign then the Queen hereupon the Regent gave forth Proclamations charging the Lieges in the Kings name to meet him in Armes at Glasgow the 10. of March The Regent and the Duke were agreed by the means of the Superintendents James Hamiltoun of Bothwell-Haugh taketh in hand the Regents murther he is killed by him at Linlithgow as he was riding by the shot of a Bullet the Murtherer escapeth and the death of the Regent was greatly lamented The Earle of Lennox is chosen Regent Governour of the Realm untill the Kings Majority or till he were able by himself to administrate the publick affairs The Regent was shot by Captain Calder at Stirling and with the same bullet Wormestoun who did what he could to save the Regent was stricken dead After him the Earle of Marre was elected Regent After the Earle of Marre was the Earle of Morton elected Regent as the man in that time of greatest courage and counsell The Earle of Morton is challenged for the murther of the Kings father by Captain James Steward and is committed and thereafter brought to his tryall sentence is pronounced and he execute for concealing the Kings murther The Queen is excute and beheaded after 19. years captivity in England The Spanish Navy was in the year of God 1583. In the year of God 1597. there was a great businesse for the tryall of Witches Amongst others one Margaret Aikin being apprehended upon suspitiâ—n and threatned with torture did confesse her self guilty being examined touching her associats in that trade she namâ—d a few and peâ—ceiving her delations find credit made offer to detect all of that sort and to purge the countrey of them so she might have her life granted for the reason of her knowledge she said that they had a secret mark all of that sort in their eyes whereby she could surely tell how soon she looked upon any whether they were Witches or not and in this she was so readily believed that for the space of three or four moneths she was carried from Town to Town to make discoveries in that kind Many were brought in question by her delations especially at Glasgow where diverse innocent women through the credulity of the Minister Mr. John Cowper were condemned and put to death In end she was found to be a meer deceiver for the same persons that the one day she had declared guilty the next day being presented in another habit she cleansed and sent back to Fife where first she was apprehended At her tryall she affirmed all to be false that she had confessed either of her self or others persisted in this to her death which made many for think their to great forwardnesse that way and moved the King to recall the commissions given out against such persons discharging all proceedings against them except in case of voluntary confession till a solid order should be taken by the Estates touching the forme that should be keeped in their tryall In the year of God 16â—0 was Gowries conspiracy against the King discovered both he and his brother Mr. Alexander Ruthven were killed at St. Johnstoun and the King delivered The Ministers of Edinburgh being râ—qâ—ired by the Counsel to give thanks for his Majesties deliverance refused to obey excusing themselves that nothing ought to be deliv red in Pulpit but that whereof the truth was known and that all which is uttered in that place should be spokâ—n in faith When by no perswasion they could be moved to perform that duty it was resolved that the Counsel should go together to the Market Crosse and that the Bishop of Rosse should after a naration of the Kings daughter and deliverance conceive a publick thanksgiving which was done the multitude applauding and expressing a great joy Mr. Patrick Galloway the Mononday thereafter in presence of the King Preached at the Market Crosse who choosed the 124. Psalm for his Theam did take occasion to discourse of all the particulars of the conspiracy and gave the people great satisfaction for many doubted that there had been any such conspiracy the condition of Princes being as the Emperor Domitian said herein miserably that even when conspiracies made against their persons are discovered yet they are not credited unlesse they be slain The King to testifie his thankfulnesse for his deliverence mortified a thousand pound to the poor yearly to be taken of the readiest fruits of the Abbacie of Scoon After this order was taken for a publick and solemn thanksgiving to be made in all the Churches of the Kingdome The Ministers of Edinburgh who gave the refuse were commanded to remove themselves out of the town within 48. hours and inhibited to Preach within his Majesties dominions under the pain of death Three of the number to wit Mr. Walter â—elcanquel Mr. William Watson and Mr. John Hall acknowledging their fault were pardoned Mr. James Balfour likewise remitted But Mr. Robert Truce taking a course by himself and saying he would reverence his Majesties report of that accident but could not say he was perswaded of the truth of it was banished the King dominions and went into France The 15. of November a Parliament was held at Edinburgh wherein sentence of the forfeiture was pronounced against Gowry and Mr. Alexander his brother their posterity disinherited and in detestation of the paracid attempted the whole surname of Ruthven abolished but this last was afterwards dispensed with and such of that name as were knowen to be innocent tollerated by the Kings clemency to enjoy their surnames and titles as in former times The bodies of the two brethren being brought to the Parliament house were after sentence given hanged upon a Gibbet in the publick street and then dismembred their hands cut off and affixed upon the top of the prison house and the 5. of August ordained to be keeped yearly in remembrance of his Majesties delivery Prince Charles was born at Dumfermling The Queen of England continuing constant in her affection when she was asked a little before her death by the Lord Keeper and Secretary who were directed by the Counsel to understand her will touching her Successor answered none but my Cousen the King of Scots After which words she spake not much A Queen incomparable for wisedom and fidelity of Government She
A BREVIARY OF THE LATER PERSECUTIONS Of the Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS under the Romish and Antichristian Prelats through Christendome from the time of John VVickliff in the year of God 1371. to the Raign of Queen Elizabeth of England and the reformation of Religion in Scotland And of the cruell Persecutions of the Christians under the Turkish Emperors with some memorable occurrences that fell out in these times through diverse Realmes Countreys Collected out of the Ecclesisticall History and Book of Martyrs By Mr. Robert Young Luke 9 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself take up his crosse daily follow me Vers 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake the same shal save it Verse 25. For what advantageth it a man if he gain the whole World and destroy himself or lose himself Verse 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shalt the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels GLASGOW Printed by ROBERT SANDERS Printer to the City and are to be Sold at his Shop 1674. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Rome is not now as it was in the Primitive times it was then the seat of the true service and worship of God where the Word or God was truly and purely preached professed and maintained but now Rome is full of errors superstition and idolatry of all iniquitie and wickednesse full of vile abominations Petrark Mantuan and many others call Rome the Shop of all wickedness Babylon Sodom the School of errors the Church of heresies an harlot with a shameless face Mantuan thus noteth the vice there used Pudor in villas si non patiantur easdem Et villae vomicas Roma est jam tota lupanar that is go shame to the Villages if they be yet as free from the same filth or now all Rome is nought save boâ—therlie And Pasquil confirmeth the same when one having bâ—en at Rome at his departure taketh his leave thus Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse revertar Cum leno aut mertrix scurra cynedus ero That is Rome farewell I have seen and now I am glutâ—ed wi h the fight I will return when I am baud gester catamit All things are now saleable at Rome saith Mantuan Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coranae Ignis Thura Preces Coelum est venale deusque Temples Priests Altars rites I tell not tale Crowns Sacrifices Heaven and God are set to sale and the souls of men Tecelius the Popes pardon-monger perswaded the people in Germany that whosoever would give ten shillings should at his pleasure deliver one soul out of the pains of Purgatory and assoon as the money rang in the Basen that soul was set at liberty but if it were one jot lesse then ten shillings it would profite them nothing This gainfull gulâ—eâ—â—e Luther cryed down with all his might and so marred the Market and therefore it is said by onâ— very well Vivere qui sanctè cupitis discedite Roma Omnia cum liceant non licet essepium that is ye that desire to live holy depart from Rome for when all things are lawfull it is not lawfull to be holy And as Rome is not now as it was of old so neither are the Bishops of Rome such men as were in the primitive times they were then Preachers of the Gospel of Christ Jesus maintainers and defenders of it and gave their lives to Martyrdome for the cause of Christ and his Gospel so that there were 25. of them that died Martyrs in order one after another But now the Bishops of Rome â—re become Tyrants and cruel persecuters of the Saints of God and Professors of the Gospel of Christ Jesus with fire and sword as we may see in the Martyrdome of John Hus and Jerome of Prage and thousands â—â—oe And as this insuing Treatise doth declare they are men of wicked and vicious lives given to unlawfull Arts and Sciences as to Necromancy There were eighteen Popes Necromancers one succeeding another they are lifted up in intollerable pride and claim and take to themselves high and arrogant titles as universall Bishops Princes of Priests supream head of the Universall Church and Vicars of Christ here one earth which must not be judged of any having all knowledge of Scriptures and all Laws contained within the Chest of their breasts chief Magistrates of the world they exalt themselves above Kings Princes and Emperours causing some of them to ly under their feet some to hold their stirrop some to lead their horse by the bridle some to kisse their feet placing and displacing Emperors Kings Dukes and Earles whom and when they pleased Was it not a presumptuous thing in Gregorius the seventh to cause the Emperor Henry the fourth to stand at his gate three dayes and three nights bare-foot and bare-legged with his wife and childe in the deep of Winter both frost and snow entreating for his absolution and after did Excommunicate him again so that he was twise Excommunicate in his dayes And did not I Paschalis after Gregorie set up the son of the said Henricus against his father in war to possesse the Empire and to put down his father and so he did And did not I Gregorius set up Robert Wysard and make him King of Sicilia and Duke of Capua Did not I Pope Alexander bring under Henry the second King of England for the death of Thomas Becket and cause him to go bare foot to his Tomb at Caunterbury with bleeding feet Did not I Innocentius the third cause King John to kneel down at the feet of Pandolphus my Legat and offer up his Crown to his hands and to kisse the feet of Stephen Langtoun Bishop of Canterburie and besides merced him in a thousand Meâ—ks be year Did not I Alexander bring the valiant Emperor Frederick the first to Venice by reason of his son Otho there taken prisoner and there in St. Marks Church made him fall down flat upon the ground while I set my feet upon his neck saying that verse of the Psalm Super aspidem Basiliscum ambulubis c. Did not I Adrianus Pope an Englishman born controle and correct the forsaid Frederick the Emperor for holding the left stirrop of my horse when he should have holden the right and afterward did I not Excommunicate him and curse him for that he was so sâ—wcy to set up his own name in writing before mine Did not I Pope Celestine Crown Henry the fifth Emperour with my foot and with my foot spurned the Crown from his head again in St. Peters Church to make him know that the Popes of Rome have power both to Crown Emperors and to dispose them again And briefly sayes the Pope who is able to comprehend the greatnesse of my power
and of my seat All the earth is my Diocesse and I the ordinary of all menâ— having the authority of the King of all Kings upon subjects I am all in all and above all so that God himself and I the Vicar of God hath but one Consistory and I am able to do almost all that God can do clavenon errante It is in my power to alter and abrogate Lawes to dispence with all things yea with the precepts of Christ and in a word I declare and pronounce to stand upon necessity of salvation for every humanâ— creature to be subject to me And as their pride so their avarice is insatiable in exacting and gathering of money of all under their jurisdiction putting it into their treasury for Petrarch recordeth that in the Treasury of Pope John the 22. were found after his death 250 Tuns of gold And of Boniface the 8. It is storied that when he was taken by Phâ—lip the fair King of France and his Palace rifled there was more Treasure found then all the Kings of the earth were able to shew again What hudge summes of money did Thecelius and his companions take together out of Germany for indulgences and pardons The Pope had yearly out of England above nine Tuns of Gold Otto one of the Popes Muscipulatores mice catchers as the story calls departing out of England left not so much money in the whole Kingdome as he either carried with him or sent to Rome before him It was trulie an trimly said by Pope Innocent the fourth Vere enim hortus deliciarum Papis fuit tum Anglia puteus in exhaustus England was then a gallant garden to the Pope and a Wel-spring of wealth that could not be drawn drie Cardinal Volsey emptied the land of Twelve score thousand pound to relive and ransome Pope Clement the seventh imprisoned by the Duke of Burbon The Apostle Paul in the 2. to the Thes foretells of the nature and manners of those wicked men and their destruction and by speaking of one he pointeth out the body of that tyrannous and persecuting Church hee calls him that man of sin that breathing Devill so portentuously so peerlesly vitious Vtejus nomen non hominis sed vitii esse videatur as Lipsius saith of one Tubulus a Roman Praetor that sin it self can hardly be more sinfull next he cals him the son of perdition destined to destruction even to be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimston Rev. 19.29 Well might Pope Marcellus the second strike his hand upon the Table and say Non video quomodo qui locum hunc altissimum tenent salvari possunt I see not how any Pope can be saved when I was first in order said Pope Pius Quintus I had some good hope of Salvation when I wae made a Cardinal I doubted but now that I am Pope I almost despaire Again the Apostle calls him an adversary and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped all men know who hee is that saith he can shut up heaven and open it at his pleasure and take upon him to be Lord Master above all Kings and Princes before whom Kings and Princes fall down and worship honouring that Antichrist as a God And he sitteth as God in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God In the year 1540. Pope Paul the third suffered himself to be thus blasphemously flattered Paulo tertio optimo maximo in terris Deo In the year 1610. Books were printed at Bononi and at Naples with this Inscription Paulo 5. Vice Deo christianae reipublicae Monarchae invictissimo pontificiae omnipotentiae conseruatori acerrimo To Paul the 5. Vice-god most invincible Monarch of Christendom most stout defender of the Papal Omnipotency The Pope can do all that Christ can do of wrong he can make right of vice vertue of nothing something saith Bellarmine he is lifted above the Angels so that he can excommunicate them he can dispence against not only the law of nature but against all the Evangelists Prophets Apostles saith Pope John c. In Extract One of his parasits clawed him thus Oraclis vocis mundi moderaris habenas Et merito in terris diceris esse Deus He is cried up for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and that hath both the swords throughout the World and an illimited Empire over all resonable creatures duliae adorandus c. Ye see then what kind of men thir Popes are who call themselves universal Bishops and that the charge and government of Christs universal Church is committed to them that they are the Vicars of Christ and the successors of Peter yet they are the greatest enemies that Christ and his Church have they are subverters and overthrowers of his Kingdome what cruell and bloody practises they have used throughout Christendom to subvert the Gospel and the professors thereof what innocent blood they have shed the Book of Martyrs doth abundantly testifie and this small ensuing Treatise doth compendiously declare but God will bring down their intollerable pride and Tyrranny and lay them low and consume them with the breath of his mouth as saith the Apostle And as for Rome the Seat of Antichrist which is called Babylon shall come to fearfull ruine and destruction as St. John in the 18. Rev. foretells it is fallen It is fallen Babylon that great City and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of all soul Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull bird for all Nations have drunken of the wrath of her Fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her that is spirituall whoredom which is Idolatry the Merchants of the Earth which were inriched with the pomp and luxuriousnesse of it shall weep and wail c. But all the Elect shall rejoice for the just vengeance that God hath taken on her Also the Emperor Frederick is reported to have foretold the ruine of Rome in this distick Roma diu titubans variis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput But not to trouble Thee Gentle Reader with longer preface I rest Thine in the Lord to serve thee Mr. ROBERT YOUNG A BREVIARY OF THE LATER PERSECUTIONS Of the Professors of the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS under the Romish and Antichristian Prelats THe Persecution of the Christians in the Primitive Church under the Heathen Emperors and Tyrants of Rome continued the space of three hundred years after the passion of Christ to the seventh year of Constantine the great who stayed the Persecutions and setled peace in the Church so that there was no set or universall persecution in the Church for the space of a thousand years thereafter for all that time Satan was tyed and bound up and his rage restrained against the Professors of the Gospel thereafter was Satan let loose again for a time to vex and trouble the Church as we have it in the 20. of
the eleventh there ensued such a great Schisme in Rome between two Popes Urban and Clement and other succeeding after them one striving against another that the Schisme thereof indured the space of 39. years or there about untill the time of the Counsell of Constance As touching this pestilent and miserable Schisme It would require here another Iliad to comprehend in order all the circumstances and tragicall parts thereof what trouble in the whole Church what parts taking in every country what apprehending and imprisoning of Priests and Prelats taken by land and sea what shedding of Blood did follow thereoff how Otho Duke of Brunswick and Prince of Tarentum was taken and murthered how Joan his wife Queen of Jerusalem and Sicilia who before had sent to Pope Urban beside other gifts at his Coronation 40. m. Duckets in pure Gold was after by the said Urban committed to prison and in the same prison strangled What Cardinals were racked and miserably without all mercy tormented on Gibbets to death what slaughter of men what Battels were fought between the Popes whereof 5000. on the one side were slain beside the number of them who are taken Prisoners of the beheading of five Cardinals together after long torments And how the Bishop of Aquilonensis being suspected of Pope Urban for not ryding faster with the Pope his horse not being so good was there slain by the Popes commandement sending his Souldiers unto him to slay him and cut him in pieces with many moe acts of horrible cruelty happening in the time of this abominable Schisme About the same time aâ—so or about three years after there fell a cruell dissention in England between the common people and the Nobility the which did not a little disturb and trouble the Common-wealth In this tumult Simon of Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury was taken by the Rusticall and rude people and was beheaded In the year of God 1397. there was a battel foughteen betwixt Tamerlane the Tartarian Prince and Bajazet the fourth King of the Turks not far from the Mount Stella where Bajazer there lost his son Mustapha with two hundred thousand of his men and Tamerlane not many fewer Bajazet himself was taken and being brought to Tamerlane and after sundry things asked of him he inqired of him what he would have done with him if it had been his fortune to have fallen into his hands as thou art now in mine I would said Bajazer have inclosed thee in a Cage of Iron and so in triumph have carried thee up and down my Kingdom Even so said Tamerlane shalt thou be served And so he made him to be schaked in fetters and chains of gold and to be shut up in an Iron Cage made like a Grat in such sort as that he might on every side be seen and so carried him up and down as he passed through Asia to be of his own people scorned and derided And to his own further disgrace upon Festival dayes used him for a footstool to tread upon when he mounted to horse and at other times scornfully feed him like a Dog with crumes fallen from his Table A rare example of the uncertainty of worldly honour that he unto whose ambitious mind Asia and Europe two great parts of the world were too little should be now carried up and down cooped up in a little Iron Cage like some perillous wild beast all which Tamerlane did not so much for the hatred to the man as to manifest the just judgement of God against the arrogant folly of the proud It is reported that Tamerlane being requested by one of his Noblemen that might be bold to speak unto him to remit some part of his severity against the person of so great a Prince answered that he did not use that rigour against him as a King but rathet did punish him as proud ambitious Tyrant polluted with the blood of his own brother About this time Berthold Schwartz and Alchimist invented the Guns and Artilery After the death of John Wickliff many were persecuted and suffered most cruel death in England and many moe did forsake the Realm and weâ—e persecuted for the embracing professing and maintaining of VVckliffs doctrine And first of all we begin at one VVilliam Sawtre a good man and a faithfull Priest of the Churrh of St. Margaret in the Town of Lin and zealous of the true Religion he is brought before Thomas Arnndell Archbishop of Canterbury and his Clergie and is before them convict and condemned for Heresie he is first desposed and degraded from his Office and thereafter delivered to the secular power to be burned This it may appear how tKings and Princes have been blinded and abused by â—he false Prelates of the Church in so much that they have been their slaves and butchers to slay Christs poor innocent members See therefore what danger it is for princes not to have knowledge and understanding themselves but to be led by other mens eyes and especially trusting to such guides who through hypocrisie both deceive them and through cruelty devour the people As this King Henry the fourth was the first of English Kings that began the unmercifull burning of Christs Saints for standing against the Pope so was this VVilliam Sawtre the true and faithfull Martyr the first of all them after VVickliffs death which I find to be burned in the raign of the forsaid King which was in the year of our Lord 1400. After the Martyrdome of this godly man the rest of the same company began to keep themselves more clearly for fear of the King who was altogether bent to hold up the Popes Prelacie Such was the raign of this Prince that to the godly he was ever terrible in his actions immeasurable of few men heartily beloved but Princes never lack flatters about them neither was the time of his raigne very quiet but full of trouble of blood and misery After the death of VVilliam Sawtre was apprehended one John Badby a Taylor a Lay-man he was accused of heresie and other Articles repugnant to the determination of the Church of Rome before Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury and other his assiants both Lords Spirituall and Temporall and was condemned for an Heritick and delivered over to the Secular power to be burnt the Kings warrand is given for his burning he is brought into Smithfield and there being put in an empty Barrell was bound with Iron Chains fastened to an Stake having dry Wood put about him And as he was thus standing in the Pipe or Tun it happened that the Prince the Kings eldest son was there present who shewing some part of the good Samaritan began to endeavour and essay how to save his life he admonished counselled him that having respect unto himself he would speedily withdrawn himself out of these dangerous Labyrinths of opinions adding oftentimes threatnings the which might have daunted any mans stomack but hee hearkened not thereunto and then was the Tun put over him and fire put
Good Christian people for Gods love be well war of these men for they else will beguile you and lead you blindfold into Hell with themselves for Christ saith plainly unto you If one blind man lead another they are like both to fall into the ditch After this he fell there down upon his knees and thus before them all prayed for his Enemies holding up both his hands and his eyes toward Heaven and saying Lord God Eternall I beseech thee of thy great mercy sake to forgive my persewers if it be thy blessed will And then he was delivered to Sir Robert Morley and so led forth again unto the Tower of London there to be imprisoned but he escaped afterward out of the Tower how and by what means it is uncertain and was in VVales about the space of four years at which time a great summe of Money was proclaimed by the King to him that could take the said Sir John Oldcastle either quick or dead about the end of which four years being expired the Lord Powes whether for love or greedinesse of the money or whether for the hatred of the true and sincere Doctrine of Christ seeking all manner of wayes how to play the part of Judas at length obtained his bloody purpose and brought the Lord Cobham bound up to London and was brought before the Parliament and being out-lawed in the Kings binch and excommunicated before the Archbishop of Canterbury for Heresie where he was adjudged that he should be taken as a Traitour to the King to the Realm What was the point of Treason is not expressed that he should be carried to the Tower of London unto the new Gallows in St. Giles without Temple-bar and there to be hanged and burned hanging Treason was falsly surmized against him his execution arose principally of his Religion which first brought him in hatred of the Bishops the Bishops brought him in hatred of the King the hatred of the King brought him to his death martyrdome The Clergy then tanqâ—am Leones rugientes ceased not to roar after Christian blood and whatsoever else was in fault still the Clergy cryed Crucifie Christ and deliver us Barrabas for then all horrible facts and mischiefs if any were done were imputed to the poor Lollards whom they so misnamed that is withered Darnell Lollard by the Popes interpretation is a word derived of Lollium that is Darnell Yet after the burning of the Lord Cobham the Bishops and priests were in great discredit both with the Nobility and Commons partly for that they had so cruelly handled the good Lord Cobham and partly again because his opinion as they thought all at that time was perfect concerning the Sacrament The prelats feared this to grow to further inconvenience toward them both wayes wherefore they drew their heads together and at the last consented to use another practice somewhat contrare to that they had done before they caused by and by to be blown abroad by their hyred servants friends and babling Sir John's that the said Lord Cobham was become a good man and had lowly submitted himself in all things unto the holy Church utterly changing his opinion concerning the Sacrament and thereupon they counterfeited an abjuration in his name that the people should take no hold of his opinion by any thing they heard of him before and so to stand the more in aw of them considering him so great a man and by them subdued At this time Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury died and this may seem strange that the same Thomas Arundell who a little before sat in Judgement against the Lord Cobham and pronounced sentence of death upon him did himself feel the stroak of death and the sentence of God executed upon him before the other who would have thought but that the Lord Cobham being so cast and condemned definitely by the Archbishops sentence should have died long before the Bishop but such be the works of Gods Almighty hand whoso turned the Wheel that this condemned Lord survived his condemner three or four years Now to leave England for a while and to take a view of the Church of Bohemia and the persecution there for the profession of the Gospel of Christ in the year of our Lord 1400. there was great divisions in Religion in the Country of Bohemia The Emperor Charles the fourth instituted the University of Prage and provided it of learned men and as a Prince given to Letters adorned often with his presence the Disputations made in Schools but because theâ— Teutonians or Almains in that University seemed to carry away the praise and honour there in Disputations above the Bohemians they were greatly ashamed that strangers should surmount them It came to passe that one of the Bohemians having recovered the Books of VVickliff communicated them to his companions and they drew out of them great Arguments which the Teutonians could not resist whereupon many dissentions fell amongst them even to Batteries and Murthers The Teutonians seeing this forsook the place in so much that more then 2000 Schollars on one day went out of Prage and came to Lipse where they began an University after leave obtained John Hus then had the greatest renown a man that came out of a Village called Hus which signisieth an Hen whereof he took his name he was of a great and quick spirit and well spoken beginning to recommend the Doctrine of VVickliff in his Sermons to the people the occasion how the Doctrine of wickliff came to Bohemia was this there chanced at this time a certain Student of the Countrey of Bohemia to be at Oxford one of a wealthy house and also of a noble stock who returning home from the University of Oxford to the University of Prage carried with him certain Books of wickliffs who being communicated to John Hus a man of great knowledge and of a prognant wit took such pleasure in reading of them that not only he began to defend this Author openly in the Schooles but also in his Sermon commending him as a good man an holy and heavenly man wishing himself when hee should die to bee there placed whereas the Soul of wickliff should bee The Bohemians being instructed with his Doctrine began first to set against the Pope esteeming him no more Honourable nor great nor other Bishops or Priests and thereupon reformed the Doctrine by the conclusions and Articles following First that the dignity makes not the Priest or Bishop honourable but Sanctity of life and good Doctrine 2. That souls separat from the bodies go right unto eternall pains o straight obtain happy life 3. That there is no witnesse in all the Scripture whereby can be proved that there is purgatory after this life 4. To make oblation and Sacrifices for the dead is an invention of the covetousnesse of Priests 5. Images of God or Saints benedictions of waters and such like things are forged of men against the Word of God 6. That the orders of begging Friers
this Disputation continued fifty dayes where many things were alledged on either part In end after long dispute and reasoning between the Bohemians and the Counsel there was a concord and unity concluded between them The Counsel permitted the Bohemians to Communicate under both kindes as a thing lawfull by the authority of Christ and profitable and healthfull to all such as duely received it As for the other three Articles the Bohemians promised to receive the Declaration of the Church touching them and confirmed it setting to their hands what the determination was of these three Articles I find it not Thus the Bohemians did constantly defend and maintain their Religion that Bishop of Rome could never yet divert them from it especially from the Communion of both kinds In the year of God 1438. The noble Art of Printing with Letters made in Brasse was found out a very Divine Invention worthy of memory and admiration yet were it more admirable if it ware not so much prophaned The Invention was Germanick and very strange at the beginning and of great profit John Gutemberge Knight was the first Author of this goodly Invention The thing was first essayed at Magance sixteen years before it was divulged in Italy One saith that John Faustus called Gutman Invented it with Peter Scheffer Now to leave the estate of the Church of Bohemia for a while we return to speak of the Persecutions in England and elsewhere for if we will read and mark and take a view of the stirres that have been from time to time for Religion we shall finde that in England is more burning and slaying for Religion and more blood shed amongst them then in any other Countrey or Nation in Christendome besides and because we cannot name all that hath been troubled and persecuted amongst them for Religion we shall name some of the most memorable And first of all in the first year of King Henry the sixth his Raign was burned the constant witnesse-bearer and testis of Christs Doctrine William Taylor a Priest under Henry Chichelie Archbishop of Canterbury for maintaining erroneous and hereticall Doctrine as they alledged as that prayer ought to be directed to God alone and to pray to any creature is to commit idolatry After long imprisonment with great constancy did consumat his Martyrdome Next William White Priest he was a follower of Iohn Wickliff and a Priest not after the common sort of Priests but rather reputed amongst the number of them whom the Wise-man speaks he was as the Morning Star in the midst of a Cloud c. This man was well learned upright and a well spoken Pâ—iest he was apprehended and taken by the Bishop of Norwich and of him condemned and burnt in Norwich this man was of so divine and holy life that all the people had him in great reverence and desired him to pray for them insomuch that one Margret Wright confessed that if any Saints were to be prayed unto she would rather pray to him then any other when he was come unto the Stake thinking to open his mouth to speak unto the people to exhort and confirm them in the verity one of the Bishops Servants took him on the mouth thereby to force him to keep silence And thus this good man receiving the Crown of Martyrdome ended this mortall life to the great dolour and grief to all the good men of Norfolk About this time also was burned Father Abraham of Colchester and John Waddon Priest for suspected Heresie Many both men and women in those dayes in the time of King Henry the sixt being suspect of Heresie or Lollaroy were apprehended and accused and cast into prison and greatly vexed and after their abjuration brought into open shame in Churches and Markets the form of the Popish pennance was this three fuistgations or displings in procession about the Cathedrall church three severall Sundays and three displings about the market place three principall market dayes his head and neck and feet being bare and his Body covered only with a short shirt or vesture having in his hands a taper of Wax of a pound weight which the next Sunday after his pennance hee should offer to the Trinity and that for the space of three years after every Ash wednesday and Munday and thursday he should appear in the Cathedrall Church before the Bishop or his Vicegerents to do open pennance among the penetentiaries for his offences In the year of God 1430. shortly after the solemn coronation of King Henry the sixt a certain man named Richard Hoveden a woll-winder and a citizen of London was burnt for suspition of Heresie This man when hee could by no perswasions be withdrawn or plucked back from the opinions of Wickliff he was by the rules of the Church condemned for Heresie and burned hard by the town of London Thomas Bagely a Priest being a valiant Disciple and adherent of Wickliff was condemned by the Bishop of Heresies at London and was degraded burnt in Smithfield In the dayes of King James the first Anno 1431. was deprehended in the University of St. Andrews one named Paul Craw a Bohemian and delivered over to the Secular power to be burnt for holding contrary opinions unto the church of Rome touching the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the worshipping of Saints Auricular confession with others of Wickliffs opinion they put a ball of Brasse in his mouth to the end he should not give confession of his Faith to the people neither yet that they should understand the defence which they had against their unjust acculation and condemnation Richard Wich Priest a man suspect of Heresie was degraded and burned at the Tower-hill It is testified of him that before his death he spoke as prophesying that the posterior of the Tower should sink which also afterward came to passe wherefore of many of the people hee was counted for an holy man in so much as it is affirmed they came to the place where he was burnt and there made their oblations and prayers and a red great heap of stones and set up a crosse there by night so that by this means a great clamour ran upon the Church men and especially upon such as put him to death Then to cease therein more the King gave commandement to punish such as went thither on pilgrimage Here is to be remembred the lamentable losing of Constantinople in the year of God 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus being Emperor of Constantinople was taken by the Turk Mahometes after the siege of fifty four dayes which siege began in the beginning of April The Emperor was slain and the Turks sacking and ranging about streets houses and corners did put to the sword most unmercifully whomsoever they found both aged and young Matrons Virgins Children and Infants sparing none The Noble Matrons and Virgins were horriblie ravished the Goods of the City the Treasures in houses the Ornaments in the Churches were all sacked and spoyled the Pictures of Christ opprobriously
The furniture of his Books cost him 70â—0 Florents a little before his death his mind was to give all away and to take a Towl and Preach but the Lord would not permit him With two Popes that is with Pope Innocent and Alexander the sixt he had much vexation Under the Raign of Fredericus the third Emperor of Germany was one Iohn a Pastor or a Neat herd which was a keeper of Cattel him the Bishop of Herbipolis condemned and burnt for an Heretick because he taught and held that the life of the Clergy was ignominious and abominable before God But to proceed in the Persecutions of the Godly in England in King Henry the seventh his Raign In the Diocesse of Lincoln in Buckinghame-shire William Smith being Bishop of the same Diocesse one William Tylesworth was burned in Amershame his only Daughter being a married Woman a Godly and a Faithfull Woman was compelled with her own hands to set fire to her dear father and at the same time her husband did penance at her fathers burning and bare a Fagot as did also many moe At the burning of this William Tylsworth were sixty and above that were put to bear Fagots for their Penance of whom diverse were injoyned to bear and wear Fagots at Lincoln for the space of seven years some at one time some at another c. In which number was also Robert Barlet a rich man who for his Possessions sake was put out of his Farm and Goods and was condemned to be kept in the Monasterie of Ashange were he did wear on his right Sleeve a square piece of Cloath the space of seven years together About the same time also of the burning of Wilâ—iam Tylesworth was one Father Roberts burned at Buckinghame he was a Miller and dwelt at Missenden and at his burning there were about twenty persons that were compelled to bear Faggots and to do such pennance as the wicked Pharisees did compell them After that by the space of two or three years was burned at Amersham Thomas Bernard a husband man and James Mordan a labourer and they two was burned both at one fire Also there were thirty burned on the right Cheek at the same time and bare Faggots the cause was that they would table against Superstition and Idolatrie and were desireous to hear and read the holy Scriptures The manner of their burning on the cheek was this their necks was tyed fast to a Poast or Stay with Towels and their hands holden that they might not stir and so the Iron being hot was put to their cheeks and thus bare they the Prints and Marks of the Lord Jesus about them At this time also in the dayes of King Henry the seventh was one Laurence Ghest which was burned in Salisbury for the matter of the Sacrament he was of a comely and tall Personage he was kept in Prison the space of two years This Laurence had a Wife and seven Children wherefore they thinking to expugne and perswade his mind by stirring his fatherly affection toward his Children when the time came which they appointed for his burning as he was at the Stake they brought before him his Wife and his foresaid seven Children at the sight whereof although Nature is commonly bent to work in other yet in him Religion overcoming Nature made his constancy to remain unmoveable in such sort as when his Wife began to exhort and desire him to favour himself he again desired her to be content and not to be a block in his way for he was in a good course running towards the mark of his Salvation and so fire being put to him he finished his life renouncing not only Wife and Children but also himself to follow Christ As he was in burning one of the Bishops men threw a fire-brand at his face whereat the brother of Laurence standing by ran at him with his Dagger and would have slain him had he not been otherwise stayed It is recorded likewise in the raign of this King Henry the seventh when the people was returning from the burning of a faithfull woman at Cheaping Sadbery for alledged Heresie by Doctor Whitington the Bishops Chancelour who was present at the execution as hee returned with the rest there happened that a Bull escaping from the Butcher into the street he passed through the throng of the people every one drawing aside and shifting for himself and touching neither man nor childe till hee came where the Chancelour was against whom the Bull as pricked with a sudden vehemency ran upon him with his horns and taking him upon the paunch gorred him throw and throw and so killed him immediatly carrying his guts and trailing them with his horns all the streets over to the great admiration and wonder of all them that saw it Here we see a plain miracle of Gods mighty power and judgement both in the punishing of this wretched Chancellour and also in admonishing all other like persecutors by his example to fear the Lord and to abstain from the like cruelty Besides these before mentioned many moe in this King Henry the seventh his raign were persecuted for their Religion specially in the diocesse of Coventree and Lich-field among whom we shall name these few First John Blomston was openly and publickly infamed accused reported and apeached that he was a very Heretick because he had preached taught holden and affirmed that the power attributed to St. Peter in the Church oâ— God by one Saviour Jesus Christ immediatly did not flitte or passe from him to remain with his Successors Item that there was as much vertue in an Herb as in the Image of the Virgine Mary Item that prayer and Alms avail not the dead for incontinent after death he goeth either to Heaven or hell whereupon hee concludeth there is no Purgatory c. Richard Heghame in the same City of Coventree was accused to be a very Heretick because that hee did hold that a Christian man being at the point of death should renounce all his own works good and ill and submit him to the mercy of God Item It was fondnesse to worship the images of our Lady of Tower in the forsaid City or of other Saints for they are but stocks and stones Item that if the image of our Lady of Tower were put into the fire it would make a good fire Item that it were better to deal money unto the poor folks than to offer to the Image of Christ and other Saints which are but dead stocks and stones John Smith was accused to be a very Heretick because he did hold every man is bound to know the Lords Prayer and the Creed in English if he might for these false Priests Thomas Butler was likewise accused to bee a very Heretick because he did hold that there were but two wayes that is to say to heaven and to hell Item that there was no Purgatory for every man immediatly after death passeth either to heaven or hell Item that prayers
spread in further Realms and Countries the one part called of Luther Lutherians the other having the name of Sacramentaries Notwithstanding in this one unity of opinion both the Lutherians and Sacramentaries do accord and agree that the Bread and Wine there present is not transubstantiat unto the Body and Blood of Christ as said but is a true Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ Many conflicts he had with the Pope his Cardinals and Clergy and notwithstanding their furie and rage and plots against him and the great power of his adversaries the Emperor and the King of Spain and other Potentats yet they could not prevail against him God keeping and defending him that they could not bereave him of his life but died peaceably in his own country where he was born teaching and preaching Christ the space of 29 years Many dangers he escaped especially these two which are not to be passed by wherein appears the great providence of God toward him First when a certain Jew by his enemies was appointed to come to destroy him by poyson yet was it so the will of God that Luther had warning thereof before and the face of the Jew sent to him by picture whereby he knew him and avoided the perill Another time as he was sitting in a certain place upon his stool a great stone there was in the Voult over his head where he did sit which being stayed miraculously so long as he was sitting assoon as hee was up immediatly fell upon the place where hee sate able to have crushed him all in pieces if it had light upon him And what should I speak of his prayers which were so ardent unto Christ that as Melancton writes they which stood under his window where he stood praying might see his tears falling and dropping down Again with such power he prayed that he as himself confesseth had obtained of the Lord that so long as he lived the Pope should not prevail in his country After his death said he let them pray who could Again it is reported of him that a young man about Wittemberge who being kept bare and needy by his Father was tempted by way of Sorcery to bargain with the Devill or a familiar as they call him to yeeld himself body and soul into the Devils power upon condition to have his wish satisfied with money so that upon the same an Obligation was made by the young man written with his own blood and given to the Devill Upon the sudain wealth and alteration of this young man the matter first being noted began afterward more and more to be suspsuspected and at length after long and great admiration was brought unto Martin Luther to be examined the young man whether for shame or fear long denyed to confesse and would bee known of nothing yet God so wrought being stronger then the Devil that he uttered unto Luther the whole substance of the case as well touching the money as the Obligation Luther understanding the matter and pittying the lamentable estate of the man willed the whole congregation to pray and he himself ceased not with his prayer to labour so that the Devill was compelled at the last to throw in his Obligation at the window and bade him take it again unto him And as he was mighty in his prayers so in his â—â—â—mons God gave him such a grace that when like preached they which heard him thought every one his own temptations severally to bee noted and touched Whereof when signification was given unto him by his friends and he demanded how that could bee my own manifold temptation said he and experiences are the causes thereof For Luther from his tender years was much broken and exercised with severall conflicts for he confessed that he was afflicted and vexed with all kind of temptations saving only one which was with covetousnesse With this vice he was never said he in all his life to be troubled nor once tempted Pope Leo the tenth of that name bare an irreconciliable heatred unto the Gospel of the Kingdom of God which he persecuted in the person of Luther and many others for as one day the Cardinal Bembo uttered before him a certain thing drawn from the Gospel he answered him mocking It hath ever sufficiently been known what profit that sable of Jesus hath brought us and our company O execrable blasphemy Luther died in the year of our Lord 1546. being 63. years of age The Prayer of Luther at his death was this My Heavenly Father eternall and merciful God thou bath manif sted unto me thy dâ—ar Son our Lord â—esus Christ I have taught him I have known him I love him as my life my health and my redemption whom the wicked have persecuted maligned and with injury afflicted draw my soul to thee After this he said as ensueth thrise I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth God so loved the World that he gave his only Son that all these that believe in him should have life everlasting Joh. 3. The Martyres of GERMANY MAny after the death of Luther were troubled for their Religion some tost from place to place same exiled out of the Land for fear some cauâ—ed to abjure some driven to Caves in Woods some racked with torment and some pursued to death with fagot and fire And because we cannot name all that were persecuted and put to death for their Religion we shall name some few of the choisest And first there were two young men burnt at Bruxlies the one named Henry Voes being of the age of twenty four years and the other Iohn Esh which before had been of the order of the Augustine Friers for that they would not retreat and deny their Doctrine of the Gospel which the Papists call Lutheranisme As they were led to the place of Execution they went joyfully and merrily making continually protestations that they died for the glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel believing and following the holy Church of the Son of God saying also that it was the day which they had long desired After they were come to the place where they should be burned and were dispoyled of their garments they tarried a great space in their shirts and joyfully embraced the Stake that they should be bound to patiently and joyfully enduring whatsoever was done unto them praising God with Te Deum laudamus and singing Psalms and rehearsing the Creed in testimony of their death One of them seeing that fire was kindled at his feet said me thinks ye do straw Rose under my feet finally the smoak and the flame mounting up to their face choaked them The next year after the burning of these two young men before rehearsed was Henry Sutphen put to death by the conspiracy of the Monks and Friers without all order of judgement or just condemnation about the City of Diethmar in the borders of Germany in the year 1524. they resolved to take him by
Prince of Navar. To this pretended Marriage it was divised that all the chiesest Protestants or France should be invited and meet in Paris being met and conveened that same night of the Marriage Souldiours were appointed in diverse places of the City to be ready at a watch-word to break in into the Protestants houses at which watch-word given they brust out to the slaughter of the Protestants first beginning with the Admirall who was slain in his bed and thrown out at a window into the street where his head being first striken off and embalmed with Spices to be sent to the Pope At this time there was slain in three dayes above ten thousand Men and Women old and young of all sorts and conditions yea and slew all the Protestants they knew or could find within the city Gates inclosed So great was the rage of the Heathenish persecution that not only the Protestants but also certain whom they thought indifferent Papists they put to the sword in steed of Protestants In the number of them that were slâ—â—n of the more learned sort was Petrus Ramus Lumbinus and others And not only within the Walls of Paris was this uproar contained but extended further into other Cities and quarters of the Realm especially Lyons Orleance Tholous and Roan In which Cities it is almost incredible nor scarlely ever heard of in any Nation what cruelty was shewed what numbers of good Mâ—n were destroyed in so much that within the space of one month thretty thousand at least of Religious Protestants are numbred to be slain Furthermore here is to bee noted that when the Pope first heard of this bloody stir he with his Caâ—dinals made such joy at Rome with their procession with their Gun-shot and singing Te Deum that in honour of that lawful festival Act a Iubile was commanded by the Pope with great indulgence and much Solemnity whereby thou hast here to discern and judge with what spirit and charity these Catholicks are moved to maintain their Religion withall which otherwise would fall to the ground without all hope of recovery Likewise in France no lesse rejoycing there was the King commanding publick processions through the whole City to be made with Bone-fires Ringing and singing where the King himself with the Queen his Mother and his whole Court resorting together to the Caurch gave thanks and laud to God for that so worthy victory archieved upon St. Bartholomews Day against the Protestants whom they thought to be utterly overthrown and vanqâ—ished in all the Realm for ever And in very deed to mans thinking might appear no lesse after such a destruction of the Protestants having lost so many worthy and noble Captains-as then were cut off whereupon many for fear revoking their Religion returned to the Pope diverse fled out of the Realm such as would not turn kept themselves secret durst not be known or seen so that it was past all hope of man that the Gospel should ever have any more place in France but such is the admirable working of the Lord where mans help and hope most faileth there he sheweth his strength and helpeth as here is to be seen and noted by stirring up Rochel to stand to the defence or their Religion against the Kings power by whose example certain Cities hearing thereof took no little courage to do the like as Mountaban and others who being confederat together exhorted one another to be circumspect and take good heed of the false dissembling practises not to be trusted of the mercilesse Papists intending nothing but blood and destruction Rochel standing to the defence of their lives and consciences and to adventure the worst whereupon began great siege and battery to be laid against Rochell both by sea and land which was Anno 1572. The whole power of France is set against Rochel Thus the whole power of France being gathered against one power town had not the mighty hand of the Lord stood on their side it had been impossible for them to escape Daring the time of this siege which lasted about seven months what skirmishes and conflicts were on both sides it would require a long tractation In all which assaults ever the Popes Catholicks had the worst Concerning the first assault thus I find written that within the space of 26. dayes were charged against the walls and houses of Rochel to the number or thretty thousand shot of iron Bullets and globes where by a great breach was made for the adversary to invade the city but such was the courage of them within not men only but also of Women Matrons and maids with spites fire and such other weapons that came to hand that the adversary was driven back with no smal slaughter of their Souldiours Likewise in the second assault 2000. great field pieces were laid against the Town whereupon the adversary attempted the next day to invade the Town but through the industry of the Souldiers and citizens and also of women and maids the invaders were forced at length to flee away faster then they came No better successe had all the assaults that followed Mâ—ny were the tokens of Gods gracious dealings with them during the time of the siege and amongst the rest this was very memorable at Rochel whereas the poorer sort began to lack corn and victual there was sent to them every day in the River by the hand of the Lord no doubt a great multitude of fish called Surdones which the poor people did use in stead of bread Which fish the same day as the siege brake up departed and came no more testified by them which were present there in Rochel all the time The King in end being weary of those chargeable wars there was a peace agreed and concluded between the King and the Protestants of Rochel in which were included other Cities of the Protestants granting to them benefite of peace and liberty of Religion The next year following died Charels the 9. the French King and the Cardinal of Lorain brother to Guise The King died of the age of 25. years and the manner of his death is to be noted The constant report To goeth that his blood guishing out by diverse parts of his body he tossing in his bed and casting out many horrible blaâ—phemies laid upon pillows with his heals upward and head downward voyded so much blood at his mouth that in few hours he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and restified may be an spectale and example to all persecuting Kings and Princes polluted with the blood of Christian Martyrs The cruel Persecution and Bloody Boutchery of the MERINDOLIANS FOllows the Tragicall Persecution and horrible murther of the faithfull flock of Christ inhabiting in Merindol in the Countrey of Province in France this people of a long continuance and custome had refused the Bishop of Rome his Authority and observed ever a more perfect kind of Doctrine then others delivered them from the Father to the Son ever since the year of
the left arm was on fire and burned he rubbed it with his right hand and it fell from his body and he continued in prayer to the end without moving At the burning of James Baynham a Lawier appeared a miracle and wondrous work of God that as he was at the stake in the midst of the flamming fire which fire had half consumed his arms and legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold ye look for miracles and hear now may yee see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain then I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses These words spake he in the midst of the flamming fire when his legs and arms as I said were half consumed William Tracie a worshipful Esquire in Glocester and then dwelling at Todingtown made in his will that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying neither passed he upon masse and he further said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saved and not by any Saint This Gentleman died and his Son as Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury to prove which he shewed to the Convocation and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground and burnt as an Heretick This Commission was sent to Doctor Parker Chancellor of the Diocesse of Worcestâ—r to execute their wicked of sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing his Subject to be taken out of the ground two years after his death and burnt without his knowledge or order of the Law sent for the Chancellor and laid high offence to his charge who excused himselâ— by the Archbishop of Canterbury which was late dead but in conclusion it cost him three hundred pound to have his pardon And as many were burnt at this time for the profession of the truth so multitudes both of men and women were compelled to abjure and recant and to do pennance and to bear faggots So great was the trouble of these times for either they were driven out of the Realm or were cast out from their goods and houses or brought to open shame by abjuration Such decrees and injunctions then were set â—orth by the Bishops such Laws and Proclamations were provided such watch and narrow search was used such wayes were taken by force of oath to make one detect another so subtilly that unneth any good man could or did escape their hands that either his name was known or else his person was taken yet neverthelesse so mightily the power of Gods Gospel did work in the hearts of good men that the number of them did no lessâ—lâ—ssen for all the violence or policy of the adversaâ—ies but rather increased King Henry is divorced from Lady Cathrene Dowager and married with Lady Annâ—â—ullen which was the fiâ—st occasion and beginning of a publick Refoâ—mation The King had married Prince Arthur hiâ— Bâ—others wife the Pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Julius the second by whose dispensation this Marriage which neither sense of nature would admit nor Gods Law would bear was concluded approved and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any doubt or scruple near the space of twenty years thereafter there arose doubts and scruples about the lawfulnesse of his Marriage that first hindered the Emperour to marry Lady Mary the Kings Daughter and upon the same doubt the King of France refused to marry the said Lady Mary the Kings daughter The King being herewith perplexed anent the lawfulnessâ— of his Marriage consulted the Universities of all Christendome by whom it was discussed to be unlawfull whereupon ensued a divorce between the King and the Queen In the Parliment in the year 1533. the commons gave in a supplication complaining of the strait dealing of the Clergy in their proceeding exofficlo this wicked act was broken by the King for the King having more clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy and in special of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome provided certain Acts against the same In the same parliament it was enacted and decreed that no man should appeal to the court of Rome even the Parliament decreeth the popes Annats to cease c. All exactions and sums of money used to be payed to the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peter Pence should utterly surcease As touching these Peter Pence they were first brought in imposed by King Iva about the year of our Lord 70. Which Iva king of the West Saxons caused thâ—ough all his dominion in every house having a Chimney a penny to be collected and payed to the Bishop of Rome in the name of Peter and thereof were they called Peter Pence And the said Peter Pence ever since or for the most part have used of along custom to be gathered and summoned by the Popes Collectors here in England from the time of Iva to this present Parliament The oath of the Clergy-men which they were wont to make to the Bishop of Rome now pope quondam was abolished and made void by stature and a new oath ministred and confirmed for the same wherein they acknowledged the King to be supream head under Christ in this Church of England these oaths were the occasion that the pope lost all his interest and jurisdiction in England within short while after In this Parliament amongst other diverse statutes most graiously and by the blessed will of God it was enacted that the Pope and all his Colledge of Cardinals with his Pardons Indulgences which so long had clogged this Râ—al n of England to the miserable slaughter or so manny good men and which never could be removed â—way before was never abolished eradicat and exploded out of this land and sent home â—gâ—in to their own country of Rome from whence they came God be everlastingly praised therefore Amen An act was made concerning the Kings highnesse to be the suppream head of the Church of England and to have authority to reform and redresse all errors heresies and abuses in the same When all other the Kings subjects and the learned of the Realm had taken and accepted the oath of the Kings supreamacy only Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor refused to be sworn who therefore falling into the danger of the Law were committed unto the Tower executed for the same This Fisher with Sir Thomas Moor were great persecutors of the saints of God Tindal betrayed be Henry Philips was delivered into his enemies hands and burnt in Flanders by Filfoord castle The worthy vertues and doings of this blessed Martyr who for his painfull travels and singular zeal to his country may be called in these our days an Apostle of England it were long to recite Among many other this because it seemeth to me worthy of remembrance I thought it not in silence to overpasse which hath unto me credibly been testified by certain grave Merchants and some of them also such as were present the same
shewing it to the people he in like manner counterfeiting the priest took up a little dog by the legs and held him over his head shewing him unto the people for this he was by and by apprehended and condemned to the fire and burned and the dog with him About the same time John Longland Bishop of Lincoln burned two upon one day the one named Thomas Bernard and the other James Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in English and the other for keeping the Epistle of St. James translated into English Richard Mekins a boy not past the age of fifteen years was condemned to be burnt by Boner for speaking against the Sacrament of the Altar In Oxford also the same time or not much there-about recanted one Master Barker master of Art of that University a man excellently learned who being called up to Lambeth before the Archbiâ—hop Thomas Granmer was in his examination so stout in the cause of the Sacrament and so learnedly defended himself therein neither Cranmer himself nor all they could well answer to his allegations brought out of Auâ—eu wherein he was so promp ripe of himself that the Archbiâ—hop with the residue of his company were brought in a great admiration of him notwithstanding by compulsion of the time and danger of the six articles at last he relented and returning again to Oxford was there caused to recant After which the good man prospered not but wore away The year 1541. The King was divorced from the Lady Anna of Cleve which was his fourth wife and married to the fifth which was to Lady Cathren Howard Nice to the Duke of Norfolk and Daughter to my Lord Edmund Howard the Dukes brother but this Marriage likewise continued not long At this time were six Popish Monks executed for denying the Kings Supremacy Now as touching the late Marriage between the King and the Lady Howard this Matrimony endured not long for in the year next following 1542. the said Lady Cathren was accused of the King of incontinâ— nâ— living not only before her marriage with Frances Durham but also of spouse breach since her marriage with Thomas Culpeper for the which both the men aforesaid by act of Parliament were attained and executed for high Treason and also the said Lady Cathren late Queen with the Lady Jane Rochford Widow late Wise to Georg Bullen Lord Rochfords Brother to Queen Anna Eullen were beheaded for their deserts within the Tower The King missing Cromwell his old Counsellour Earle of Essex and smelling somewhat the wayes of Winchester began a little to set his foot again in the cause of religion And therefore in the same year after the execution of this Queen the King understanding some abuses yet to remain unreformed namely about pilgrimages and Idolatâ—y and other things moe besides to be corrected within his dominions directed his letters unto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the speedy redress and reformation of the samâ— A proclamation concerning white meats as milk egges butter cheese and such like during the time of lent without any scruple or grudg of conscience any law constitution use or custom to the contrary notwithstanding All this time great was the persecution in Caleice for Religion Amongst the rest one Adam Damlip was falsly accused for Treason and innocently put to death At his death Sir Ralph Elleker Knight then knight marshall there would not suffer the innocent and godly man to declare either his faith or the cause he died for but said to the executioner dispatch the knave have done Sir Ralph Elleker saying that he would not away before he saw the traitors heart out But shoâ—tly after Sir Ralph Elleker in a skirmish or road between the French-men and us at Eullen was amongst others slain whose only death sufficed not his enemies but after they had stripped him stark naked they cut off his privy members and cut the heart out of his bodie and so left him a terrible example to all bloody and mercilesse men for no cause was known why they shewed such indignation against the said Sir Ralph Elleker more then against the rest but that it is â—ritten faciens justitias Dominus judicia omnibus injuria pressis It is reported of a certain poor labouring man of Caleice who being in a certain company said that he would never believe that a priest could make the Lords body at his pleasure whereupon he was then accused and condemned by one Harvie Commissary there which Harvie in time of his judgement inveying against him with approbrious words said that he was an Heretick and should die a vile death The poor man answering for himself again said that he was no Heret ck but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou sayest said hee that I shal die a vile death thou thy self shal die a viler death and that shortly and so it came to passe for within half an year after the said Harvie was hanged drawn and quarterd for Treason in the said town of Caleice Here is a notable example of Gods judgement upon a bloody Persecutor The rigour of the six Articles were a little aswaged in a Parliament Anno 1544. Mistrisse Anna Askew was brought before the Inquisitors and examined and after that sundry times examined and put to great trouble and put to the rack because she would not confesse what Ladies or Gentlewomen were of her opinion and therein sayes she they keeped me along time and because I lay still and did not cry my Lord Chancellor and M. Rich took pains to rack me with their own hands till I was nigh dead then the Leivtenant caused me to be loosed from the Rack incontinently I sowned and then they recovered me again After that I sat two long hours reasoning with my Lord Chancellor upon the bare floor whereas he with many flattering words perswaded me to leave my opinion but my Lord God I thank his everlasting goodnesse gave me grace to persevere and will do I hope to the very end then was I brought to an house and laid in a bed with as weary and painfull bones as ever had patient Job I thank the Lord my God therefore Then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leave my opinion I should want nothing if I would not I should forth to Newgate and so be burned I sent him again word that I would rather die then to break my faith heareafter she is condemned to be burnt for her opinion touching the Sacrament for holding that after the Priest hath spoken the words of Consectation there remaineth bread still they both say and also teach it for a necessary Article of faith that after these words be once spoken there remaineth no bread but even the self same body that hang upon the Crosse on goodfryday both flesh blood and bones to this belief of theirs said I nay for then were ouâ— common Creed false which saith that he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
spiritual consolation felt in himself no apâ—nesse nor willingness but rather a heaviness and dulnesse of spirit finding much discomfort to bear the bitter crosse of martyrdome ready now to be laid upon him and here we see that Gods Saints may be destitute for a time of the Lords comfort Unto whom the said Austen answering again willed and desired him patiently to wait the Lords pleasure and how soever his present feeling was yet seeing his cause was just and true he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same and to play the man nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time could visite him and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation whereof he faid he was right certain and sure and therefore desired him whenâ—oever any such feeling of Gods heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart that then he would shew some signification thereof whereby he might witnesse with him the same and so departed from him The next day when the time came of his martyrdome as he was going to the place and was now come to the sight of the Stake although all the night before praying for strength and courage hee could feel none suddenly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heavenly joyes that he cried out clapping his hands to Austen and saying in these words Austen he is come he is come and that with such joy and alacrity as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life then as one passing out of the world by any pains of death And so he was put to the fire and burnt for the testimony of the truth Denton being afrayed of burning said to Wolsey that he cannot burn but he that could not burn in the cause of Christ was afterward burned against his will when Christ had given peace to his Church for his house was set on fire and while he went in to save his goods he lost his life with two other that were in the same house Not much unlike to this was also the example of Mr. West Chaplain to B. Ridley who refusing to die in Christs cause with his masters said masse against his conscience and soon afterward died The Death and Martyrdome of Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer MAster Ridley Bishop of London and Latimer Bishop sometimes of Worcester men of memorable leaning and incomparable ornaments and gifts of grace joyned with no lesse commendable sincerity of life as all the Realm can witnesse sufficiently were burnt at Oxford for the testimony of the truth This B. Ridley was descended of a stock right worshipfull he was born in Northumberland-shire After he past his course at Cambrige made Doctor of Divinity he went to Paris and after his return was made Chaplain to King Henry the eight and promoted afterward by him to the Bishoprick of Worcester and so from thence translated to the Seâ— and Bishoprick of London in King Edwards days now in Queen Maries time they were laid hands upon and committed to prison and accused as Hereticks Great was the conference and godly talk that was between them while they were in prison Mr. Ridley wrote many letters from the prison as a letter from him and his prison-fellows unto Mr. Braidford and his prison-fellows in the Kings bench at Southwark and to many others And besides these letters of his diverse other tracttations were written by him partly out of prison and partly in prison As for Mr. Latimer that famous Preacher and worthy Martyr of Christ and his Gospel he was a long time a zealous and superstitious Papist and in this blind zeal he was a very enemy to the professors of Christs Gospel as both his Oration made when he proceeded Batchelor of Divinity against Philip Melancton and also his other works did plainly declare but he through the goodness of God was converted by Mr. Bilney unto the truth so that whereas before he was an enemy and almost a persecuter of Christ he was now a zealous seeker after him howbeit as Satan never sleepeth when he seeth his kingdom begin to decay so likewise now seing that this worthy member of Christ would be a shrowd shaker thereof he raised up his impious Impes to molest and trouble him He wrote also many letters from the prison Touching the memorable acts and doings of this worthy man amongst many other this is not to be neglected what a bold enterprise he attempted in sending to King Henry a present the manner whereof was this There was then and yet remaineth still an old custome received from the old Romans that upon new years day being the first day of January every Bishop with some handsome new years gift should gratifie the King and so they did some with gold some with silver some with a purse full of money some with one thing and some with another but Mr. Latimer being Bishop of Worcester then amongst the rest presented a new Testament for his new years gift with a napkin having this poesie about it Fornicatores adulteros judicabit Dominus Now in Queen Mariâ—s time after their long imprisonment they are brought forth to their finall examination and execution are degraded and condemned as Hereticks and delivered to the Secular power to be put to death When they came to the fire they brought a Eagot kindled with fire and laid the same down at Doctor Ridleys feet to whom Mr. Latimer spake in this manner be of good comfort Mr. Ridley and play the man we shall this day light such a Candle by Gods grace in England as I trust shall never be put out And here we see the Church to be lightened by the Martyrdome of Saints And so the fire being given to them when Doctor Ridley saw the fire flaming up toward him he cried with a wondeâ—ful loud voice In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum Domine sujcipe spiritum meum and after repeated this latter part often in English Lord Lord receive my spiâ—it Mr. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side Oh Father of Heaven receive my soul who receiving the flame as it were embracing of it After as he had stroaled his face with his hands as it were bathed them a little in the fire he soon died as it appeared with very little pain or none Bâ—t Mr. Ridley by reason of the evill making of the fire unto him he was long in burning he câ—ied to let the fire come to him for his nether paâ—ts were burnt before the fire touched his upper parts yet for all this to ment he forgot not to call upon God still it moved hundreds to tears in beholding this horrible sight for I think there was none that had not clean exiled all humanity and mercy which would not have lamented to behold the fury of the fire so to rage upon their bodies Thus thir two godly and learned men ended their lives for the cause of Christ and testimony of his truth The death and end of
the either his divorce with the Lady Kathren Dâ—wager of Spain came into qâ—estion which being many wayes by the space of two or three years amongst the Canonists Civilians and other learned men diversly disputed and debated at what time Cardinal Campeius and Cardinal Volsey being in commission from the Pope to hear and determine that great cause in controversity between the King and the Queen his pretended wife dalied and delayed all the Summer time hearing the said cause in controversie debated and the little minding to pâ—oceed to sentence giving took occasion to finish their commission and not further to determine therein So on a night two Doctors of the kings side and Doctor Cranmer being lodged in one house and as they were at supper they conferred with Doctor Cranmer concerning the Kings cause and asking his judgement he answered that in his opinion they made more adoe in prosecuting she law ecclesiasticall then needed It were better I suppose quoth Doctor Cranmer that the question whether a man may many his brothers wife or no were decided and discurssâ—d by the Divines and by the authority of the word of God whereby the conscience of the Prince may be better satisfied and qâ—ieted then thus from year to year by frustretory delayes to prolong the einâ— leaving the very trâ—th of the matter unâ—oulted o it by the wâ—rd of God and this may be done as well in England in the Universities here as at Rome or else where in any foâ—raign nation When Doctor Cranmer had thus endâ—d his Tale the other two well liked of his devise The King hearing of this advise of â—ranmers caused in all haste to send for him I perceive said the King I peâ—ceive that that man hath the Sow by the right ear And if I had known of this devise two years ago it had been in my way a great peece of money and had also red me out of much disquietnesse he comes to the King and after conference between the King and him he layes a charge upon him to search the Scripture in the cause of his divorce and to write his mind therein so he went about the businesse and incontinent wrote his mind concerning the Kings question adding to the same besides the authority of the Scriptures of General Counsels and of ancient writers also his opinion which was this that the Bishop of Rome had no such authority as whereby he might dispense with the word of God and the Scriptue When Doctor Cranmer had made this book and committed it to the King the King said to him will ye abide by this that yee have here written before the B. of Rome that will I do by Gods grace quoth Doctor Cranmer if your Majesty do send me thither Marie quoth the King I will send you even to him in a sure Ambassage And this by means of Doctor Cranmers handling of this matter with the King not only certain learned men were sent abroad to the most part of the Universities in Christendom to dispute the question but also the same being by commission disputed by the Divines in both the Universities in Cambrige and Oxford It was there concluded that no such Matrimony was by the word of God lawfull Whereupon a solemn Ambassage was then prepared and sent to the Bishop of Rome wherein went the Earle of Wiltshire Doctor Cranmer and other Doctors And when the time came that they should come before the Bishop of Rome to declare the cause of their Ambassage the Bishop sitting on high in his cloath of state and in his rich apparâ—el with his Sandals one his feet offering as it were his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadours the Earie of Wiltshire disdaining thereat stood still and made no countenance thereunto so that all the rest keeped them from that idolatry howbeit one thing is not here to be omitted as a Prognosticat of our separation from the seat of Rome which then chanced by a Spaniel of the Earle of Wiltshire for he having there a great Spaniel which came out of England with him stood directly between the Earle and the Bishop of Rome when the said Bishop had advanced forth his foot to be kissed now whether the Spaniel perceived the Bishop foot of another matter than it ought to be and so taking it to be some kind of repast or whether it was the will of God to shew some token by the Dog unto the Bishop of his inoâ—dinate pride that his foot were moâ—e meet to be bitten of dogs then kissed of Christian men the Spaniel I say when the Bishop extended his foot to be kissed no man regarding the fame straight waies as though he had been of purpose appointed thereunto went directly to the Popes foot and not only kissed the same unmannerly but as some plainly reported and affirmed took fast with his mouth the great toe of the Pope so that in hast he pulled in his glorious feet from the Spaniel whereat one man smileing in their sleeves what they thought God knoweth But in fine the Pontificall B. after that sought no more at that present for kissing his feet but without any ceremony gave ear to the Ambassadors what they had to say Who entring there before the Bishop offered on the Kings behalf to be defended that no man Jure Divino could or ought to Marrie his Brothers wife and that the Bishop of Rome by no means ought to dispense to the contrary Diverse promises were made and sundry dayes appointed wherein the question should have been disputed and when one part was ready to answer no man there appeared to dispute in that behalf So in the end the B. making to our Ambassadors good countenance and gratifying Doctor Cranmer with the office of the penitentiariship dismissed them undisputed withal the Ambassadors retuâ—ned but Cranmer went forward in his Ambassage to the Emperor and there to answer such learned men of the Emperors Counsell as would or could say any thing to the contrary part c. At this time B. Warhame then Archbishop of Canterbury departed this transitoâ—y life whereby that dignity then being in the gift and diâ—position of the King was given unto Cranmer as worthy for his travel of such a promotion He proved a notable B. being indued with all these qualities that the Apostle requires in a Bishop He had many enemies in King Henries time but the King held him up In Queen Maries time he is put to great trouble for his Religion he is imprisoned and keeped long in prison and brought out to his examination and tryall sundrie times he is degraded from his office and condemned The Doctors and Divines of Oxford busied themselves all that ever they could about Mr. Cranmer to have him recant assaying by all crafty practices and allurements they might devise to bring their purpose to passe he at last overcome with their perswasions whether through their importunity or by his own imbecillity or of what mind I cannot tell the recantation
cometh in with the keyes about nine of the clock at night after his usuall manner to view his prison and see whether all were present when he â—spied the said Cuthbert to ly there departed again locking the doors after him within two hours after about eleven of the clock toward midnight the said Cuthbert whether being in a slumber or being awake I cannot say heard one coming in first opening the outward door then the second afterward the third door and so looking in to the said Cuthbert having no Candle or Torch that he could see but giving a brighnesse ligh most comportable and joyful to his heart saying Ha unto him and departed again who it was he could not tell neither I dare define this that he saw himself he declared four or five times to the said Mr. Austen and to others at the sight whereof he received such joyfull comfort that he also expressed no little solace in telling and declaring the same Roger Holland in his examination by Bishop Boner propnefied thus this I dare be bold in God to speak which by his Spirit I am moved to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time ye shall not molest his Church And this shall ye in short time well perceive for after this day in this place shall there not be any by him put to the tryal of fire and fagot And after this day there was never one that suffered in Smithfield for the restimony of the Gospel So Roger Holland was the last that suffered in Smithfield This Loner was a bloody persecutor for in the space of three years he put three hundred to death The last that suffered in Queen Maries time were five at Carterbury burned about six dayes before the death of Queen Mary Thir godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made before their martyrdome desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and soit was Many were delivered by Gods providence from the fiâ—e in Queen Maries time amongst others the Dâ—chesse of Suffolk with her husband were preserved and fled out of the Countrey Great were the bâ—oubles of Lady Elizabeth in Queen Maries im her sister being assly suspect of Sir Thomas Wyats rising was sent for by the Queen with great routs and bands being armed men as the greatest traitor in the world And as at that time she was sick and not able to travel and yet notwithstanding they brought her to London and not seeing the Queen she was clapped into prison into the Tower And again tossed from thence from house to house from prison to prison at length also prisoner in her own house and guarded with a sort of cut-throats and was continually in fear and danger of her life Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Chancelloâ— was a great foe unto her and sundry conspired against her to take her life but God graciously delivered her out of their hands especially out of the hands of the Bishop of Winchester being in prison at Woodstock in the hands of her enemies hearing upon a time a certain milk-maid singing pleasantly wishing her self to be a milk-maid as she was saying that her case was better and life more merry then was hers in that state as she was At this time died the Bishop of Winchester and so by Gods providence Lady Elizabeth was delivered from the snares and plots that by him was laid for her life three years after the death of Winchester died Queen Mary Queen Mary being long sick died on the 17. day of November Anno 1558. and the same day she died was Elizabeth proclaimed Queen As touching the manner of her death some sayes she died of a Tympany some by her much sighing before her death supposed that she died of thought and sorrow Whereupon the Counsell seeing her sighing and desirous to know the cause to the end they might minister the more ready consolation unto her feared as they said that she took that thought for the Kings Majesty her husband which was gone from her To whom she answering again Indeed said she that may be one cause but that is not the greatest wound that pierceth my oppressed mind but what that was she would not express to them but afterward opened the matter now plainly to Mr. Rise c. When I am dead and opened ye shall find Caleice lying in my heart she took though for the losse of Calice There was more English blood shed in Queen Maries time for the space of four years then ever was in any Kings raign before her and so her raign was unprosperous to her and to all her Realm in all respects for she had never good successe in any thing she went about She raigned only five years and five moneths The severe punishment of God upon the persecuters of his People and enemies to his Word with such also as have been blasphemers contemners and mockers of his Religion LEaving now Queen Mary being dead and gone I come to them which under her were the chief Ministers and doers in this persecution the Bishops I mean and Priests of the Clergy to whom Queen Mary gave all the execution of her power as did Queen Alexandra to the Pharisees after the time of the Machabees of whom Josephus thus writeth Ipsa solum nomen Regium serebat caeterum omnent Regni potestatem Pharisaei possidebant that is she only retained to her self the name and title of the Kingdome but all her power she gave to the Pharisees to possesse c. Touching which Prelats and Priests here is to be noted in like sort the wonderfull and miraculous providence of Almighty God which as he abridged the raign of their Queen so he suffers them not â—o escape unvisited First beginning with Stephen Gardiner the Arch-persecuter of Christs Church whom he took away about the midst of the Queens Raign or wâ—ose poysoned life and stinking end for so much as suâ—ficient hath been touched before I shall not need here to make any new rehearsall thereof After him dropped others away also some before the death of Queen Mary and some after as Morgan Bishop of St. Davids who sitting upon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr Bishop Farrar and unjustly usurping his room not long after was stricken by Gods hand after such a strange sort that his meat would not go down but rise and pick up again sometimes at his mouth sometimes blown out of his nose most horrible to behold and so continued till his death Where note moreover when Mr. Leyson being then Sheriff at Bishop Farrars burning had fercht away the Cattel of the said Bishop from his servants house into his own enstody the cattel coming into the Sheriffs ground diverse of them would never eat meat but say bellowing and roaring and so died Also Jâ—stice Morgan who sare upon the death of the Lady Jane and not long after the same fell mad and was beseft of his wits and so died having ever in his
moâ—th Lady Jane Lady Jane Before the death of Queen Mary died Doctor Dunning that bloody and wretched Chancellor of Norwichâ— he died suddenly The like sadden death tell also upon â—errie Commissar of Norfolk four dayes after Queen Maries dayes he suddenly fell down to the ground with a heavy groan and never stâ—red after The Bishop or Suffragan of Dover brake his neck falling down a pair of stairs in the Cardinals chamber at Greenwich as he had received the Cardinals blissing One John Cowper an Carpenter an honest and godly man that favoured Religion and these that were religious had a couple of fair Bullocks one William Fenning came to him to see if he would sell them who told that he would not sell them but keep them for his own house then Fenning threatned him and falsly accused him of high Treason The words he charged him with were these how he should pray that if God would not take away Queen Mary that then he would wish the devil to take her away upon this he was taken and Fenning brought in two false witnesses against him whereupon he was condemned to be hanged quartered and drawn leaving his wife and nine children behind him and all their goods taken from them In the Harvest after one Greenwood that was one of his witnesses as he was stacking corn having his health and fearing no perill suddenly his bowels fell out of his body immediatly most miserably he died such was the terrible judgment of God to shew his displeasure against this bloody act and to warn the rest by this his judgements to repentance Doctor Goffery Chancellor of Salisbury died in the midst of his buildings Moreover as touching this foresaid Chancellor here is to be noted he had appointed to call before him ninety persons to examine them by Inquisition had not the goodnesse of the Lord and his providence thus prevented him by death providing for his poor servants in time So the heavy hand of God fell upon Bishop Thorntown Suffragan of Dover abloody persecuter or the Saints of God upon a Sunday looking to his men playing at the bowls fell suddenly in a Palsie and so was had to bed and being willed to remember God yea so I do said he and my Lord Chancellor too c. And now to come from Priests to Lâ—y-men we have to find in them also lesse terrible demonstrations of Gods heavy Judgement upon such as have been vexers and persecuters of his people And first of Mr. Woodroff Sheriff used much to rejoice at the death of the poor servants of Christ and so hard he was in his office that when Mr. Rojers was in the Cart going toward Smithfield and in the way his children were brought unto him the people making a Lane for them to come the Sheriff threatned to break the Carters head for staying the Cart but what happened he was not come out of his office the space of a week but he was stricken by the sudden hand of God the one half of his body in such sort that he lay benummed and bedred not able to move himself but as he was lifted of others and so continued in that infirmity the space of seven or eight years till his dying day Barton Bayliff of Crowland being instant to have the Mass set up and threatning the Curat for not saying Mass Not long after this the Bayliff rode from home upon certain businesses accompanied with one of his neighbours and as they came riding together homeward again a Crow sitting on a Willow Tree took her flight over his head singing after her wonted note Knave knave and withall let fall upon his face so that her excrements ran from the top of his nose down to his beard The poysoned scent and savour whereof so noyed his stomack that he never ceased vomiting untill he came home where with his heart was so sore and his body so distempered that for extream sicknesse he got him to bed and so lying he was not able for the stinch in his stomack and painfull vomitting to receive any relief of meat or drink but cried out still sorrowfully complaining of stink and with no small oaths cursing the Crow that poisoned him To make short he continued but a few dayes but with extream pain of vomiting and crying he desperatly died without any token of repentance of his former life As James Abbes Martyr was led by the Sheriff toward his execution diverse poor people stood in the way and asked their almes he then having no money to give them and desirous yet to distribute something amongst them did pull off all his apparell saving his shirt and gave the same amongst them to some one thing to sonme another In the giving whereof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord and as faithfull followers of Christ to stand stedfast unto the truth of the Gospel which he through Gods help would then in their sight seal and confirm with his blood while he thus occupyed a servant of the Sheriffs going by and hearing him cried out aloud unto them and blasphemously said Believe him not good people he is an Heretick and a mad man out of his wit believe him not for it is heresie that he saith But immediatly after the fire was put to him such was the fearfull stroak of Gods justice upon this blasphemous railer that he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frenesie who in his furious rage and madnesse casting off his shoes with all the rest of his cloaths cryed out unto the people and said Thus did James Abbes the true servant of God who is saved but I am damned and thus ran he round about the Town of Burie still crying out that James Abbes was a good man and saved but he was damned c. Clark an open enemy to Gospel and all goodly preachers in K. Edwards dayes hanged himself in the Tower of London The great and notable papist called Torling Smith of late fell down suddenly in the street and so died Dalie the Promoter was eaten into his body with lice and so died Cox and earnest Protestant in King Edwards days and in Queen Maries time a Pastist and a Promoter going well and in health to bed was dead before the morning Alexander the Keeper of Newgate a cruel enemy to those that lay there foâ— Religion died very miserably being so swollen that he was more like a monster then a man and so rotten within that no man could abide the smel of him This cruel wretch to hasten the poor Lambs to the slaughter would go to Boner Storie and otheâ—s crying out rid my prison I am to much pestered with theâ—e Hereticks John Peter son in Law to this Alexandr an horrible blasphemer of God no lesse cruel to the said prisoners rotted away and so most miserably died who commonly when he would affirm anything were it true or false used to say if it be not true I pray God
to spare these men then to put them to death whereat the idiot Doctors offended said what will ye do my Lord Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinall and the other Bishops and we have done If ye so do ye shew your self enemy to the Church and us and so we will repute you be ye assured At which words the faithlesse man afraid adjudged the innocents to die according to the desire of the wicked and so they were burnt constantly triumphing over death and Satan in the midst of the fire The King at this time was ruled wholly by the Cardinal and made a solomn vow that none should be spared that was suspect of heresie yea although it were his own son which put many into fear The fearfull vision which the King had by night much terrified him that he withdrew his mind wholly from the extremities on which the Clergy had set him The King died in the year of the Lord 1542. being overwhelmed with grief and passion for the losse of his Army received at Solway by the Englishes he departed this life at Falkland in the 32. year of his age some few dayes before he died he had advertisement that his Queen was deliveaed of a daughter at Linlithow at which time it is said he brust forth in passion saying it came with a Laste meaning the Crown and will go with a Lasse fie upon it after which he was not heard to utter many words The Earle of Arran Lord Hammilton was chosen Regent and Governour of the Realm At this time there was a certain act of Parliament made giving priviledge to all men of the Realm of Scotland to read the Scripture in their Mother tongue and language secluding neverthelesse all reasoning conference convocation of people to hear the Scriptures read or expouned Which liberty of private reading being granted by publick proclamation lacked not his own fruite so that in sundry parts of Scotland thereby were opened the eyes of the elect of God to see the truth and to abhor the Papistical abominations Now there was certain in St. Johnstoun that were apprehended and accused for transgressing the act of Parliament before expressed and then conference and assemblies in hearing and expounding the Scripture against the Tenor of the said act All these were condemned and judged to death as Robert Lamb William Anderson James Hunter and his wife Helen Stirk and others and that by an assise by violating as was alledged the act of Parliament in reasoning and conferring upon the Scripture for eating flesh upon the dayes forbidden for dishonouring of images c. There was great intercession made by the Town in the mean season for the life of these persons aforenamed to the Governour who of himself was willing to have done that they might have been delivered But the Governour was so subject to the appetite of the cruel Priests that he could not do that which he would yea they menaced to assist his enemies and to depose him except he assisted their cruelty the men were hanged and the women drowned Robert Lamb prophesied of the ruine and plague that came upon David Beton the Cardinal thereafter The Martyrdome of Mr George Wisher This Mr. George was a brother of the house of Pittarrow in Merns a great knowledge c. He made his chief resort in the Towns of Dundie and Montrose where hee taught publickly with great profite and applause He is discharged from preaching at Dundie he goeth to the West where the Archbishop of Glasgow seeketh to apprehend him In end he is apprehended and put to his tâ—yall and condemned to be burnt as an heretick As he came forth of the Castle gate there met him certain beggars asking his almes for Gods sake To whom he answered I want my hands wherewith I should give you almes but the mercifull Lord of his benignity and aboundance of grace that feedeth all men vouchafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies and souls then afterward met with him two false fiends I should say Friers saying Mr. George pray to our Lady that she may be Mediatrix for on to her Son to whom he answered meekly cease tempt me not my brethren After this he was led to the fire with a rope about his neck and a chain of iron about his midle After his prayer made to God and his exhortation to the people the hangman that was his tormentor â—ate down upon his knees and said sir I pray you forgive me for I am not gullty of your death to whom he answered come hither to me when that he was come to him he kissed his cheek and said Lo here is a token that I forgive thee my heart do thy office and by and by he was put upon the Gibbet and hanged and there burnt to powder At his execution he prophecies of the Cardinals death he who from you higher place beholdeth us with such pride shal within few dayes lye in the same as ignominiously as now he is seen proudly to rest himself The Cardinals death is conspired by Normond Lesly brother to the Earle of Rothesse John Lesly his Unckle William Kirkaldy of Grange Peter Carmichel of Fyfe and James Melvill one of the house of Carnbie they met at St. Andrews and entered into the Cardinals chamber and killed him in his chamber The people of the town crying for a sight of the Cardinals corpes was brought to the very same place where he sat be holding Mr. George Wishart his execution many then did call to mind the Martyr his last words were thereby confirmed in the opinion they had of his piety and holinesse After this David Betoun succeeded John Hammilton Archbishop of St. Andrews who to the intent that he would in no wayes appear inferiour to his predecessor in augmenting the number of the holy martyrs of God in the next year following called a certain poor man to judgement whose name was Adam Wallace he was accused for teaching saying and teaching of abominable heresies which are particularly laâ—d to his charge as first thou hast said and taught that the bread and wine on the Altar after words of consecration are not the body and blood of Christ He turned to the L. Governor who was there present with a number of Noblemen and of the Câ—ergy saying I said never nor taught nothing but that I found in this book and writ having there a Bible at his belt in French Dutch and English which is the word of God and if ye will be content that the Lord God and his word be judge to me and this his holy writ here it is and where I have said wrong I shall take what punishment ye shal put to me for I never said nothing concerning this that I am accused of but that which I find in this write c. They gave forth sentence and condemned him by the Laws and so left him to the hands of the secular power in the hands of S. J. Campbâ—l Justice Deputy who
lay heavy upon him nor could he ever after this again recover his former favour with the Queen Anno. 1566. the 19. of June betwixt nine and ten of the Clock in the evening the Q. was brought to bed of a son to the exceeding joy of the Subjects for which the Nobles and whole people assembled the next day in the Church of St. Geils gave solemn thanks to God The Queen waxing strong went by water to Allaway a house belonging to the Earl of Mar and keeped private a fâ—w dayes In that place brake out first her displeasure against the King her husband for he followed her thither was not suffered to stay but commanded to be gone And when at anytime after he came to Court his company was so loathsome unto her as all men perceived she had no pleasure nor content in it such a deep indignation had possessed her mind because of the disgrace offered to her in the slaughter of her man Davie the envy whereof was all laid upon the King as she would never digest it Preparation is made for the Princes Baptism he is baptized in Stirling the 15. day of December 1566. Ambassadors were sent from France to be Gossips and witnesses to the Baptisme The Earle of Bedford is sent from the Queen of England who brought with him a Font of Gold weying two stone weight with a Basen and Ewer for the Baptism 's the King was neither admitted to come to the Baptism nor suffered to come to the feast the Ambassadors had a watch word given them not to see nor salute him the King all this time keeped his Chamber his Father hearing how he was used writ to him to repair unto him who soon after went without goodnight toward Glasgow to his Father he was hardly a mile out of Stirling when the poyson which they had given him wrought so upon him that he had very great pain and dolour in every part of his body At length being arrived at Glasgow the blisters brake out of a blewish colour so the â—â—â—ysicians presently knew the disease to come by Poyson he was brought â—o low that nothing but death was expected yet the strength of his youth at last did surmount the poyson The Queen hearing that the King was recovered she went to Glasgow to visite him and thereafter goes with her to Edinburgh where he is murthered by Bothwell and the house where he lay burned with powder about twelve of the clock in the night his body was cast forth in a yaird without the Town wall adjoyning close by there was a servant likewise murthered beside him who had been also in the Chamber with him he had been King but 18. Months he was of a comly stature and none was like unto him within this Island he died under the age of 21. years The Earl of Lennox in the mean time wrote to the Queen to cause punish Bothwell with his other complices for murthering the King A day is appointed for his triall by an assyle he is acquite of the murther by the Jury yet the suspicions of the people were nothing diminished Bothwell is devorced from his wife the banes of Bothwell with the Queen asked Mr. John Craig protesteth against it notwithstanding of his opposition the marriage went on and was celebrated the 15. of May by Adam B. of Orkney in the Abbey of Halyrudhouse after the manner or the reformed Church yet was no sooner finished then the ill fruits thereof began to break out The Qâ—een by Bothwels perswasion taking purpose to visite the Borders and having chaâ—g d the Subjects to accompany her thither with a provision for 15. dayes it was publickly rumoured that these forces were gathering for some other businesse and that the intention was to have the Prince her Sone in her own custody and taken out of the Earie of Mar his hands The Noble men that had combined themselves at Stirling took Arms Bothwell flieth and the Qâ—een rendereth her self to the Lords she is sent prisoner to Lochlevin and Bothwell was declared by open proclamationâ— not only the murtherer of the King but also the committer of it with his own hand and a thousand crowns were offered to any man that would bring him in Bothwell taketh the sea and there he playes the Pirat and made spoyl of all that came in his way he is pursued by Grange with five ships well manned who comming upon him unlooked for as he lay in one of the Creeks of Orkney gave him the chase and had certainly taken him if they had not been hindered by Rocks and shallow waters Shortly after hee was taken upon the coast of Norroway and conveyed to Denmark where being detected by some Scotish Merchants he was put in a vile and loathsome prison and falling in a frensie which keeped him 14. years made an ignominious and desperat end such as his wicked and flagitious life had deserved The Q. is moved to make resignation of the Crown the King is Crowned at Stirling the Earle of Murray is elected Regent Few dayes after the commitment of the Quenn the Earle of Glencairn with his domesticks went to the Chapell of Halyrudhouse where he brake down the Altars and the Images which fact as it did content the zealous Protestants so it did highly offend the Popish affected The Bishop of Orkney was conveened before the Generall Assembly of the Church and deposed from his function and Office for marrying the Queen and Bothwell and the Countesse of Argyle ordained to make publick satisfaction for giving her presence at the Princes baptisme at the Papistical rites there used At this time John Hepburn called Bolton John Hay younger of Tallow and two chamber boyes of Bothwells Powry and Dalgleish were brought to triall for the Kings murther and found guilty by their confessions being entised to the said wicked fact by Bothwell The Queen after eleven months imprisonment escapeth out of Lochlevin The Queens resignation is decerned null being extorted by fear and proclamations made in her name commanding all the Leeges to meet is Armes at Hamilton for pursuing the Rebels that had usurped the Royal Authority Many of the Nobility took her part The Regent assembleth his Forces there gathered to him about 40â—0 The Queens power was much greater The Earle of Argyle was Lievtenant on the Queens part the battel between them was foughten at Langside the 13. of May 1568. The Queen who stood a mile off from the battell on a little height perceiving the field lost made towards the borders the rest that escaped fled the readiest way they could find every man to his own house the number of the slain was about 300. Many were taken prisoners amongst whom the most eminent was Lord Seaton Rosse the Mrs. of Cassels and Eglinton Sir James Hamilton of Evendale and Sherifts of Air and Linlithgow Of the Regents side one only was slain the Lords Hoome and Ochilerie wounded all the rest with few escaped that followed the chase too
having intelligence that he was to be apprehended was willed by his friends to flee and shift for himself but he would not saying that he had rather that he had never been born then so to doe It was the office of a good shepherd he said not to flee in time of perill but rather to abide the danger least the flock be scartered or least peradventure in so doing hee should leave some scruple in their minds thus to think that he had fed them with dreams and fables contrary to the word of God therefore beseeching them to move him no more therein he told them that he feared not to yeeld up both body and soul in the quarrel of that truth which hee had taught saying with St. Paul that hee was ready not only to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the City of Burdeaux but also to die the Somner came and was in the City three days during which time Aymondus preached three Sermons the people in defence of their Preacher flew upon the Somner to deliver him out of his hands But Aymond desired them not to stop his Martyrdom seeing that it was the will of God that he should suffer for him he would not said he resist Then the Consuls suffered the Somner and so Aymond was carried to Burdeaux there he was accused and false witnâ—sse brought in against him all their accusation was only for denying purgatory after long and miserable imprisonment he is put to death and burnt Frances Bonbard was said to be Secretary of the Cardinall of bellare who being also for the Gospel condemned after his tongue was cut off did with like constancy sustain the sharpnesse of burning The enemies of the Gospel seeing that these that were condemned to die at the place of the Execution moved many with their speech therefore they obtained a decree of the Judges that all which were to be burned unlesse they recanted at the fire should have their tongues cut off which Law diligently afterward was observed Michael Michelot a Taylour being apprehended for the Gospels sake was judged first if he would turn to be beheaded and if he would not turn then to be burned alive who being asked whether of these two he would choose answered that he trusted that he which hath given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire He was burned at Warden by Turney Seven men and women of the City of Langres for the Word and Truth of Christ Jesus were committed to the fire wherein they died with much strength and comfort but especially Joan which was Simon Marshall his Wife being reserved to the last place because she was the youngest confirmed her Husband and all the other with words of singular consolation declaring to her Husband that they should the same day be married to the Lord Jesus to live with him for ever Anne Andebert an Apothecaries Wife and Widow going to Geneva was taken and brought to Paris and by the Counsell there judged to be burned at Orleance When the Rope was put about her she called it her Wedding girdle wherewith she should be married to Christ And as she should be burned upon a Saturday upon Michaelmas-even upon a Saturday I said she I was first married and upon a Saturday I shall be married again And seeing the Dung-cart brought wherein she should be carried she rejoyced thereat shewing such constancy in her Martyrdome and made all the beholders to marvell Among many other godly Martyrs that suffered in France a story of a poor Taylour of Paris that dwelt in the Street of St. Antony is not the least and worst to be remembred his name is not expressed he was apprehended of a certain Officer in the Kings house for that upon a certain Holy-day he followed his Occupation and did work for his living before he was had to the Prison the Officers asked him why he did labour and work giving no observation of the Holy-day to whom he answered that he was a poor man living only upon his labour And as for the day he knew no other but the Sunday wherein he might not lawfully work for the necessity of his living he is clapt into Prison word hereof coming to the Kings ears the poor man was sent for to appear that the King might have the hearing of him who being come before the King the King commanded Petrus Castellanus Bishop of Mascon to question with him The Taylour being entred and nothing appalled at the Kings Majesty after his reverence done unto the Prince gave thanks to God that he had so greatly dignified him being such a wretch as to bring him where he might testifie his truth before such a mighty prince Then Castellanus entring talk began to reason with him touching the greatest and chiefest matter of Religion Whereunto the Tailyour without fear or any halting in his speach with present audacity wit and memory so answered for the sincere Doctrine and simple truth of Gods Gospell as was both convenient to the purpose and also to his Questions aptly and fitly correspondent notwithstanding the Nobles there present with cruell taunts and rebukes did what they could to dash him out of countenance yet all this terrified not him but with boldnesse of Heart and free Liberty of Speech he defended his cause or rather the cause of Christ the Lord neither flattering with their persons or fearing their threats which was to them all a singular admiration to behold the simple poor Artificer to stand so firm and bold answering before the King to these Questions propounded against him Whereat when the King seemed to muse with himself as one somewhat amazed and which might soon have been induced at that present to further knowledge the egregious Bishop and other Courtiours seeing the King in such a muse said he was an obstinate and a stubborn person obfirmed in his own opinion and therefore was not to be marvelled at but to be sent to the judges and punished and therefore least he should trouble the eares of the said King Henry he was commanded again to the hands of the Officers that his cause might be informed and so within few dayes after he was condemned by the high Steward of the Kings house to be burned alive And least any deep consideration of that excellent fortitude of the poor man might further peradventure pierce the Kings mind the Cardinalls and Bishops were ever in the Kings ear telling him that these Lutherans were nothing else but such as carried vain smoak in their mouths which being put to the fire would soon vanish Wherefore the King was appointed himself to be present at his excution which was sharp and cruel before the Church of Marie the Virgin where it pleased God to give such strength and courage to his servant in suffering his Martyrdome that the beholding thereof did more astonish the King then all the other did before Thomas Sanpaulinus a Young Man of the Age of
eâ—ghten years comming from Geneva to Paris rebuked there a man for swearing for the which cause he being susected for a Lutherian was followed and watched whither he went and was taken and brought before the Counsell of Paris and put in Prison where he was racked and miserably tormented to the intent he should either change his opinion or confesse others of his profession his torments and rackings were so sore through the setting on of Mallard and another Sorbonists that the sight thereof made Auberius one of the Counsel a cruell and vehement enemy against the Gospel to turn his back and wept The young man when he had made the tormenters weary with racking yet would utter none at last was had to Manbelt Place in Paris to be burned where he being in the fire was plucked up again upon the Gibbet and asked whether he would turn To whom he said that he was in the way toward God and therefore desired them to let him go Thus this glorious Martyr remaining inexpugnible glorified the Lord with constant confession of his truth Nicholas Nayle a Schoemaker comming to Paris with certain fardels of Books was there apprehended who stoutly persisting in coufessing the truth was tryed with his sundry torments to utter what followes he had besides of his profession so cruelly that his body was dissolved almost one joynt from another but so constant he was in his silence that he would expresse none As they brought him to the Stake first they put a gage or piece of wood in his mouth which they bound with Cords to the hinder part of his head so hard that his mouth on both sides gushed out with blood and disfigured his face monstruously by the way they passed an Hospitall where they willed him to worship the Picture of St. Mary standing at the Gate But turned his back as well as he could and would not for the which the blind people was so grieved that they would have fallen upon him After he was brought to the fire they so smeared his body with Fat and Brimstone that at the first taking of the fire all his skin was parched and the inward parts not touched with that the Cords burst which were about his mouth whereby his voice was heard in the midst of the flamme praising God and so the blessed Martyr departed One of the Parliament seeing the great zeal and patience of the Martyrs at their burning said that way not to be best to bring the Lutherans to the fire for that would do more hurt then good A Carpenter and another a Poynt-maker going to Execution to be burnt for the profession of the Gospel their tongues were commanded to be cut off and being cut off there appeared a marvellous work of the Lord for neverthelesse that their tongues were taken from them to the intent they should not speak yet God gave them utterance their tongues being cut out to speak at their death saying we bid sin the flesh the world and the devil farewell for ever with whom never we shall have to do hearafter Diverse other words they spake beside which the people did hear and note At last when the Tormenter came to smear them with Brimstone and Gun-powder go to said Filiolus salt on salt on the rotten and stinking flesh finally as the flamme came bursting up their faces they persisting constant in the fire gave up their lives and finished their Martyrdome There was at Montpelliers in the year of God 1554. a certain Sheer-man or Cloath-worker who had been long in durance for Religion but at length for fear and infirmity he revolted To whom it was injoyned by the Judges to make publick Recantation and to be present also at the burning of Alencon who was condemned to death At the beholding of whose death and constancy it pleased God to strike in this man such boldnesse that he desired the Judges that either he might be burnt with this Alenâ—on or else be brought again to Prison saying that he would make no other Recantation but so wheresore within three dayes after he was likewise condemned to the fire and burned in the Town aforesaid There was a rich Merchant in Paris who said in jest to the Friers of St. Frances ye wear a Rope about your bodies because St. Francies once should have been hanged and the Pope redeemed him upon this condition that all his life after he should wear a Rope Upon this the Franciscan Friers of Paris caused him to be apprehended and laid in Prison and so Judgement passed upon him that he should be hanged but he to save his life was contented to recant and so did The Friers hearing of his Recantation commended him saying if he continued so he should be saved and so calling upon the Officers caused them to make hast to the Gallows to hang him up while he was yet in a good way said they lest he fall again And so was this Merchand notwithstanding his Recantation hanged for jesting against the Friers To this Merchand may also be adjoyned the Brother of Tamer who when he had before professed the truth of the Gospel and afterward by the counsell and instruction of his Brother was removed from the same fall in desparation and such sorrow of mind that he hanged himself As one Thomas Galbergue was in the flamme at Tourney the Warden of the Friers stood crying Turn Thomas yet it is time remember him that came at the last hour To whom he cryed out of the flamme with a loud voice and I trust to be one of that sort and so calling upon the Name of the Lord gave up his spirit As two Martyrs at Burdeaux were in the flamme and almost consumed in the fire to ashes suddenly without matter or cause such a fear fell upon them at the execution that the Justices the people notwithstanding that they had the Gates locked to them and were defenced with all manner of weapons about them not knowing wherefore took them to their legs in such haste flying away that they overran one another The Pior of St. Antonies fell down so that a great number went over him The Judge Pontach on his Mule with his red robe flying as the other did was overthrown with the preasse in the street in such sort that he was fain to be carried to Pichons house a widow and there cryed within hide me save my life I am dead my friends hide my Mule that no mâ—n see her nor know her briefly such was the fear which came from them that every man shut up their houses After the fear was past every man asked what the matter was but none could tell neither could the enemies of Gods truth perceive who was he that put them so to the flight and fear without any semblance of any adversary about them Impius fugit nemo perseqnitur Of the cruell Masscre in FRANCE Anno 1572. THere was at this time a marriage to bâ—e between the Kings Sister and the
Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of the Kingdom enemy of Gods Word THe next moneth after the burning of Doctor Ridley and Mr. Latimer which was the moneth of November Stephen Gardiner Bishop and Chancellor a man hated of God and all good men ended his wretched life The same day when as Bishop Ridley and Mr. Latimer suffered at Oxford came the servant of the said Winchester posting in all possible speed from Oxford bringing intelligence to the Bishop that Ridley and Latimer were burnt he came out rejoycing and saying to the old Dâ—ke of Norfolk being then in his house Now saith he let us go to dinner Whereupon they being set down meat was immediatly brought and the Bishop began merrily to eat but what followed The bloodyly â—yrant had not eaten a few bits but the sudden stroak of God his terrible hand fell upon him in such sort as immediatly he was taken from the Table and so brought to bed where he continued for the space of fifteen dayes in such intollerable anguish and torments that all that mean while during these fifteen dayes he could not avoid by order of Urine or otherwise any thing that he received whereby his body being miserably inâ—amed within who had inflamed so many good Martyrs before was brought to wretched end And therefore no doubt as most like it is came the thrusting out of his tongue from his mouth so swolen and black with the Inflamation of his body a spectacle worthy to be noted and behold of all such bloody persecuters Moreover it is recorded concerning the said Bishop that when Doctor Daie Bishop of Chicester came to him and began to comfort him with words of Gods promise and with the free justification in the blood of Christ our Saviour repeating the Scriptures to him Winchester hearing that What my Lord quoth he will ye open that gap now then farewell altogether to me and such other in my case ye may speak it but open this window to the people then farewell altogether The Martyrdome of Mr. John Philpot Arch-deacon was burnt for the defence of the Gospels cause against the Antichristian See of Rome After long â—mprisonment oft Examination he is condemned as an Heretick and delivered to the Secular Power to be burnt When he came to the place of suffering to wit in Smithfield he kissed the Stake and said Shall I disdain to sâ—ffer at this Stake seeing my Redeemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death upon the Crosse for me and then with an obedient heart full meekly he said the 106.107 and 108. Psalms and when he had made an end of all his prayers he said to the Officers What have ye done for me and every one of them declared what they had done and he gave to every one of them money then they bound him to the Stake and set fire unto that constant Martyr who in the midst of the firey flames yeelded his soul into the hands of the Almighty God and like a Lamb gave up his breath his body being consumed into ashes The writings and examinations of Mr. Phipòt were by the providence of God preserved from the sight and hands of his enemies who by all manner and means sought not only to stop him from all writing but also to spoil and deptive him of that which he had written for the which cause he was many times stripped and searched within the prison by his Keeper but yet so happily these his Writings were couveyed and hid in places about him or else his Keepers eyes so blinded that notwithstanding all this malicious purpose of the Bishops are yet remaining and come to light There were seven Martyrs that suffered together at one fire in Smithfield at London for the testimony of Christs Gospel in the second year of persecution under Qâ—een Mary five men one wife and one maid all which seven as they were burned together in one fire so were they likewise all upon one sort and form of Aâ—ticles condemned in on day Amongst the rest of the Articles objected against them were that they misliked the Sacrifice of the Masse and the Sacrament of the Altar refusing to come to their Parish Church to hear Masse and that they did expresly say that in the Sacrament of the Altar is not the very body and blood of our Saviour Christ really substantâ—â—ly and truly and hath affirmed expresly that the Masse is idolatry and abomination and that in the Sacrament of the Altar there is none other substance but only materiall bread and materiall wine which are tokens of Christs body and blood and that the substance of Christs body and blood is no wayes in the Sacrament of the Altar c. As for the first of these seven to wit Thomas Whitlie Minister upon perswasion and counâ—â—l râ—canted and subscribed a Bill of submission to renounce all errors and heresies against the Sacrament of the Altar c. And I do protest and declare by these presents that I do both now hold obâ—erve and keep in all points the Ctaholick â—aâ—th and belief of Christs Church according as this Church of England â—eing a member of this Catholick Church doth now profess and keep and in no wayes to swerve decâ—ine or go from the said faith during my naturall life submitting my self fully and wholly to you reverend Father my said ordinary in all things concerning my reformation and amendement at all times Now when he had thus done he was troubled in his mind and conscience for forsaking the crosse of Christ and had no rest till he obtained again the submission he had subscribed which havinâ— gotten he was very glade and returned again and with great constancy and fortitude stood to the defence or Christ Doctrine to the fire against the Papists Five other Martyrs in Canâ—erbury four Women and on Man at two staiks and one fire altogether burned who when the fire was flaming about their ears do sing Pâ—alms Where at the good knight Sir John Norton being there present weeped bitterly at the sight thereof The Martyrdome of Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury THe Martyrdom of the reverent Pastor and Prelat Thomas Cranmâ—r Aâ—ch-Bishop of Canterbury who was burned at Oxford â—nder Queen Marie for the confession of Christs true Doctrine he was a gentleman born of good parentage he attained to great knowledge and learning and was reader of Divinity lecture in the Colledge of Cambridge and was in such special estimation and reputation with the whole University that being Doctor of Divinity he was commonly appointed one of the heads which are two or three of the chiefest learned men to examine such as yearly professe in comencement either Batchelors or Doctors of Divinity by whose approbation the whole University licenseth them to proceed unto their degree and again by whose dissalowance the University also rejecteth them for a time to proceed untill they be better furnished with more knowledge When the great and weighty cause of Kiâ—g Henry
departed this life the 24. of March in the 70 year of her age and 44. of her raign The same day in the forenoon the King of Scots was proclâ—imed King first at the Palace of White hall next at the Crosse in Cheapside within the City of London with an infinite applause of all sorts of people But leaving the prosecution of any moe occurences that fell out in this our Realm which late Histories at large does declare I shall close this part with one or two remarkable things specially concerning Glasgow in reckoning out the Bishops of Glasgow till the Reformation I find St. Mungo to be the first This City was made famous at first by Kentigern commonly called St. Mungo He was begotten by Engenius the third King of the Scots upon Thametis Daughter to Loth King of Picts His Mother finding her self with child out of shame and fear of her Fathers wrath stole privily away and entering into a little Vessel that she found in the nearest coast was by the wind and waves cast on land where the town of Culrosse is now situated and there was delivered of her birth and leaving the Child with a Nurse returned home His Parents bâ—ing unknown he was brought to Servanus and baptized and bred up by him yet it seems by the Hymne they did ordinarly sing in the Festivals that made his Father afterwards to be known They repo t of him that a Lady of good place in the Country having lost a King which her Husband gave her as she crossed the River of Clyde and her Husband waxing jealous as if she had bestowed the same upon one of her lovers she did mean her self unto him in râ—ating his help for the safty of her honour and that he going to the river after he had used his devotion willâ—d one who was making to fish to bring him the first that he caught which was done in the mouth of the fish he found the Ring and sending it to the Lady she was thereby fred of her Husbands suspition The credit of this I bâ—lieve upon the reportes but howsoever it be the sea and City do both of them wâ—ar in their Arms a fish with a ring in the mouth even to this day He was certainly a man of rare piety and to the poor exceeding bountifull lived to a great age beyond the ordinary course of men to wit nine score and five years as in the conclusion of the hyme is said Cum octogenos centum quâ—que quinque vir annos Complerat sanctus est Closgow sunere sunctus He laid the foundation of the high Church of Glasgow and was therein at his dâ—ath interred After his death for many ages the See was in a manner desolate unto the raign of Malcolm the third who restored the same to some integrity The first Bishop I find named after the restitution was 1. John Achaian who took great pains in building the Cathredal and having brought it to a reasonable perfection did dedicate â—he same in the year 1137. Jocelin Abbot of Melrosse was his successor in his time the City of Glasgow was erected a Burgh royall Williâ—m Babinton Chancellor of the Kingdom was after him elected Bishop In his time as Boeth writeth the fabrick of the Church of Glasgow was fully accomplished his words are absolutum est ea tempâ—state Templum Catâ—edrâ—le Glasgu nsis sedes profeâ—to magnifica cujus â—aud exignam partem Guilielmus ibid m Epise pus iberalitate sua extruxerat nec dâ—u operi perfecto supersuit He died the 25. of January 1261. William Rae the 19. Bishop a good and zâ—aloâ—s man build the stone Brid e of Glasgow and died in year 1367. In the time of Mr. Mathew Gl n linniâ—g the 21. Bishop the steeple which was all built of timber wâ—s burnt by lightning in place whereof he intended to build one of stone and made therefore great preparation but was prevented by death in the year 1408. His successor William Lawder finished the work he was Chancellor of Scotland Mr. VVilliam Tuâ—â—bull the 25. Bishop founded the Colledge of Glasgow The cruel persecutiâ—n of Châ—istians under the TURKISH Emperors NOw last of all having spoken of the persecutions of the Christians under the Roman Emperoâ—s in a tractate by it self and of the persecutions of the Roman Bishops in this place for the professing of the Gospel of Christ Jesus we shall speak a little of the miserable persecutions slaughter and captivity of the Christians under the Turks thus from time to time the Church of Christ almost hath had little or no rest in this earth what for the heathen Emperors on the one side what for the proud Pope on the other side on the third side what for the barbarous Turk for these are and have been from the beginning the three principall and capitall enemies of the Church of Christ signified in the Apocalypse by the Beast the false lamb and the false prophet from whom went out three foul spirits like Frogs to gather together all the Kings of the Earth to the battel of the day of the Lord God Almighty Apoc. 16. The cruelty and malice of these enemies against Christs people hath been such that to judge which of them most exceeded in cruelty of persecution it is hard to say but it may bee thought that the bloody and beastly tyrranny of the Turks especially above all the rest incomparable surmounteth all the afflictions and cruel slaughters that ever were seen in any age or read of in any story in so much that their is neither History so perfect nor writter so diligent who wryting of the miserable tyranny of the Turks is able to expresse or comprehend the horrible examples of the unspeakable cruelty and slaughter exercised by these twelve Turkish tyrrants upon poor Christian mens bodies within the compasse of these later three hundreth years Where of although no sufficient relation can be made nor number expressed yet to give to the Reader some generall guesss or view thereof let us first perpend and consider what Dominions and Empyres how many countries Kingdoms Provinces Cities Towns Strong holds and forts these Turks have surprised and wone from the Christians in all which victories beeing so many This is secondly to be noted that there is almost no place which the Turks ever came to and subdued where they did not either slay all the inhabitants thereof or led away the most part thereof into such captivity and slavery that they continued not long after alive or else so lived that death almost had been to them more tollerable Like as in the time of the first persecutions of the Roman Emperors the saving was that no man could step with his feet in all Rome but should tread upon a Martyr so here may be said that almost there is not a town city or village in all Asia Grecia also in a great part of Europe and Africa whose streets have not flowed wi h the blood of the Christians whom the