and jeers threatnings and flowtings all which this good man patiently endured Saying Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness sake Mat. 5th For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven And blessed are you when men revile and persecute you c. When the Bishop and his creatures seeing they could not prevail upon this most constant Martyr with all their Cruelties they at last privately strangled him in prison and then wickedly bruted abroad that he had hanged himself in prison So that we see it is no new thing for this viperous brood first to kill and murder a man and then to defame him and make himself the Murtherer But this lye was easily detected for none could stand upright in the place and he had so many Irons and Manacles on his hands and feet that he could not stir to ease himself and they had bruised and maimed his body after a most shameful manner and that it might not be seen and their cruelties and Murther detected they caused him to be privately buried in a Wood in the high way betwixt Wooburn and Maâ—low But it was brought to light by means of a woman that looked after him in the prison In the year 1507 one Thomas Norris was burnt in Norwich on the last of March Also in the same Kings Reign Lawrence Ghest having been two years kept prisoner in Salisbury was at last brought to the stake to be burnt and thinking to move him to recant they brought before him his Wife and 7 Children Yet Religion and constancy overcame natuâ—e and not hearkening to them desired they might be removâ—d for that they were but blocks in his way and that they would be but an hindrance of his good course which he was 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 Divers persecuted at Coventry In the Reign also of King Henry the 7th at Cheping Sadbury a Godly and Religious woman was Condemned to be burnt for an Heretick by one Doctor Whittington the Bishops Chancellour who himself went to the fire to see the Sacrifice of this good Woman Condemned by him who suffered with great constancy but it is very remarkable that at the returning of the people into the Town after the burning of this faithful Martyr and among the rest this Doctor Wittington that a Bull breaking loose out of a Butchers Staul meeting them and having received a blow with an ax which had made him furious and raging mad he ran among the throng of the people who giving way and shunning him he hurt none till he came where this Doctor was who also sought to run from him But the Bull as if directed from above and by the vengeance of God he ran with all his force upon the Chancellour and goring him in the belly till his Guts came forth he immediarely dyed a miserable spectacle of Gods wrath against such Violent persecutors of his people William Sweeting and John Brewster Martyrs These were the chief Martyrs that suffered hitherto for the sake of the Gospel to the end of the Reign of King Hen. 7th though we read of divers others especially in the Diccess of Coventry and Leitckfield who suffered imprisonment and great troubles by the Papistical Bishops for Speaking against the real presence Images Purgatory Pilgrimages the Popes Supremacy cating Flesh in Lent Merits and such like Popish Tenents with which we will end this first Part being indeed but a small gleaning of a more plentiful Harvest of Martyrs under the Reign of K. Hen. 8. who though he took away the Popes Supremacy and for lucres sake overthrew the Abbies and wicked Nests of Monkeries in this Land yet burned the Lollards as they called them and such as professed the more pure light of the Gospel as you will perceive in this following second part which I shall as briefly as I may touch upon The Second part In which are noted such Martyrs as suffered under the Reign of King Henry the 8th before the Reformation Persecution by Fitz-James Bishop of London VVE are now come to the Reign of King Henry the 8th in whose time many Godly men who professed the Gospel and the Doctrine of Wickliff who began the first reformation in this Kingdom long before Luther suffered persecution for their consciences sake under the tittle of Lollards as they then nicknamed them In the years between 1509 and 1517. in the Diocess of London several were made to abjure before Richard Fitz-James the then Bishop who was in his time a most cruel persecutor of Christ's Church Among the rest on Joan Baker Thomas Walker William Potter John Forge Thomas Godard and more to the number of 41 who were brought into trouble because some of them did not shew sufficient reverence to the Crucifix others for speaking against Pilgrimages and saying some that were burnt for their Religion by the Popish power were true Martyrs And others again for Speaking against the Corporal presence in the Sacrament against holy daies and Fasting against invocation of dead Images and against the pride and immoderate riches of the clergy and some again only for keeping company with such as were suspected of Heresie and for reading of English Books with such like for which many of them were used like slaves by the Instruments of Fitz-James who dying Cutbert Tunstal succeeded him who following his predecessors steps violently persecuted all such as professed the Gospel and caused many thorow fear of his cruelties to abjure bear Faggots oâ— their shoulders in publick procession before the Cross and to wear after a disgraceful manner a Faggot painted upon their sleeves or some other part of their outward garments during their lives or so long as it pleased the Ordinary to terrifie others But among these two poor men who had abjured and had worn the infamous badg injoyned them the one named William Sweeting the other John Brewster being poor-labouring men were fain to fly out of the Diocess of London by reason of the persecution their Consciences accusing them for what they had done the former getting to Colchester became the holy water Clerk to the Parson of the Parish of Mary Magdalen for which cause he had his infamous Badg taken away the other John Brewster being hired for a labourer in the service of the Earl of Oxford by his controler had his Badg taken off but such was the intolerable pride and cruelty of the Popish Clergy at that time that notice being given that these poor men had relapsed to their former errors after they had abjured they were both layd hold on and brought up to London were excommunicated and on the 8th of October in the year 1511 were both burnt in Smithfield though 't is said that thorow fear of death they would have submitted The Martyrdom and cruel handling of John Brown About the 4th year of the Reign of King Henry one John Brown
which happened not long after The next day which was Saturday Kerby was brought forth to the marker place about ten of the Clock where was a Stake ready wood broom and straw for his burning Having put off his clothes to his shirt with his night cap on his head he was fastened to the Stake with Irons The Lord Wentworth and others sitting in Gallery to see the execution a very great Concourse of people being present One Doctor Righam made an oration or sermon after which he examined Kerby concerning his belief of the Sacrament to which he answered as before and that he would dye in that Opinion After which the Sheriff asking him if he had any more to say he took off his night Cap and Casting it away he lifted up his hands and said the â—e Deum the Belief and other prayers in the English tongue And it was observed that the Lord Wentworth and divers others could not refrain from weeping at the humble Carriage of this holy Martyr After he had done he bid the Sheriff do his office and fire being set to him he called upon God Knocking his Breast as long as he had any remembrance left The people being much affected at the Carriage and Constancy of this illiterate man praysed God with great admiration On the Gang Monday about ten of the Clock Anno 1546 Roger Clark was brought out of prison going on foot to be burnt in Bury By the way the procession met him but he would take no other notice but kept on his way only reproving the people for their Idolatry and Superstition at which the officers were much offended When he came to the place of execution all things being ready he kneeled down at the Stake and said aloud the Magnificat in English making a kind of parraphrase thereof After he had done he was fastned to the Stake and fire was set to him but the wood being green he was almost suffocated with smoke and part of him being only scorched he suffered unmerciful torments and his feet being put into a pitch'd barrell he was so pained that he got them out with Violence At length one beating off the Iron ring that fastened his neck to the Stake let him fill down into the fire and so he was at last Consumed to Ashes About the same time one Rogers was burnt in Northfolk by means of that Bishop and the Duke upon the 6 Articles But I shall now conclude this second part with the Martyrdom of Ann Askew a Vertuous and Constant woman in the Cause of Christ with whom also was burnt in Smithfield John Lacells a Gentleman of the Court and houshold to the King Nicholas Belenian a Priest and John Adams a Tayler The Martyrdom and Cruel usage of Mrs. Ann Askew and 3 Gentlemen in Smithfield Mrs. Ann Askew had been in great troâ—ble for a year before 1546 having been in several prisons had before the Lord Mayor the Bishop and Councell for her religion chiefly for not owning the real presence in the Sacrament being also most falsly accused of several other Articles by the malice and Instigation of the Popish Priests her inveterate Enemies but by her prudent Answers to all their intrapping questions and by the solicitation of her Friends she came cut upon bail but the year 1546. by means of her aforesaid Enemies and especially by the power and malice of Bishop Bonner then Bishop of London and the Chancellor Writhsley she was brought again into trouble and put into prison being several times examined they hoping by her means to detect several Ladys and great persons of her acquaintance for Hereticks but all they could doe could not make her Confess any to do them injury which so enraged them that they took her from Newgate where she had been imprisoned and sent her to the Tower where they resolved to torment this Innocent Gentlewomen but most Constant servant of Jesus Christ Therefore to make her Confess they caused her to be put upon the Rack where they kept her till she swouned and when the Lieutenant of the Tower pittying her weak Condition refused to rack her any Longer The Chancellor himself and oâ—e Mr. Rich who was with him threatned the Lieutenant of the Tower to Complain of him to the King for favouring Hereticks this was Sr. Anthony Knevet but when they saw they could not prevail with him to torment the languishing Gentlewoman any farther the Chancellor and Rich throwing off their gowns would needs play the Tormentors themselves and asking her first if she were with child she told them they should not spare her for that but do their wills upon her upon which they lay'd her again upon the Rack where they most Cruelly and barbarously tormented her till all her bones and joynts were pulled out of their places she enduring it with most admirable patience all the time praying to God and when they had tyred themselves to no purpose not being able with all their torments to make her Confess any thing or accuse any body they left her to be carried away in a chair to her lodging not being able to stir hand or foot She was therefore at last Condemned to be burnt upon that Article for denying the real prefence after the words of Consecration which she denyed saying that then their Creed was false which says he sitteth at the Right hand of God the Father Almighty c. This Gentlewoman was born of a good stock and might have liv'd well and plentifully and in great prosperity would she have gone against her Conscience and have denied Christ But she gloried in her sufferings which God enâ—bled her to endure and at last sealed neâ— testimony with her blood after she had been several ways tormented and leaving behind her an example of Christian fortitude for all men to follow and by her example and exhortations the three aforesâ—â—d men Mr. Lacesâ—s Belenian and Adams were encouraged and received from her great comfort at their Death being burnt with nor in Smithfield Mrs Askew being not able to goe by reason of her racking she was brought to the Stake in a chair where she was fastned by the middle with a chain and so were the rest of the Martyrs and all things being prepared there being a great Concourse of people and the Chancellor the Duke of Northfolk the Earl of Bedford the Lord Mayer and others of quality being present sitting on a Scaffold Dr. Snaxton made a Sermon after which the fire being ready to be put to them the Chancellor sent to Mrs. Askew the Ks. pardon if she woulâ— recant her opinion which she utterly refused Then the same was offer'd to the rest but they also followed her example being strengthened by her exhortations upon which the Lord Mayor cryed fiat Jâ—stitia and so caused fire to be put to them which these Martyrs constantly and without shrinking or shewing any change endured till their bodies were consumed This execution was about the month of June 1546. Thâ—
fire was kindled and begun to take hold of their Bodys they lifted up their hands towards Heaven and quietly and chearfully as if they felt no pain cry'd Lord Jesus Strengthen us Lord Jesus assist us Lord Jesus receive our Souls And thus they all ended their Lives without any strugling only Julius when that all people thought him dead being almost burnt to pieces he was on a sudden seen as if awaked out of a sleep to move his tongue and Jaws and heard to pronounce softly the name of Jesus and so being burnt to Ashes yeilded to God his soul Three burnt in Garnsey with a child which came out of the Mothers belly I did not intend to mention any out of England that were Martyr'd but these in Garnsey being our Kings subjects and the Example profoundly Barbarous I could not refrain mentioning it On the 18th of July this year Katherin Cawches Guillemine Gilbert her daughter and Perotine Massey another daughter were burnt together in one fire for the Gospel the Mother in the midst between her two daughters and the youngest Perotine being big with Child the fire seising on the belly of the Martyr it burst on a sudden and the Child sprung out alive thorow the flames being a fine boy and was taken and lay'd on the grass but the wicked bayliff caused it to be flung into the fire again and to be burnt with the Mother for an Heretick So that this Infant was baptised in its own blood was born and dy'd a Martyr About the same time 3 more were burnt at Greenstead in Sussex 2 men and 1 woman their names were Thomas Dungate John Foreman and Mother Tree Not long before a poor Simple man named Thomas Moor was burnt at Leicester for saying he believed his Maker to be in Heaven and not on the Altar On the 22d of August following Joan Waste a blind woman suffered in Darby And on the 8th of September following Edward Sharp an aged and devout person was Martyrd at Bristow And on 25th another who was a Carpenter suffered in the same place On the 24th of the said September 4 more received Martyrdom at Mayfield in Sussex two of their names were John Hart Thomas Ravensdale the one was a Shoemaker the other a Currier Also one John Horn and a woman about the same time were burnt at Wâ—tten Vnder-Hedge in Glocestershire On the 11th of October a Shoo-maker suffered at Northampton With several others who dyed in prisons in several places that are not mentioned Five were starv'd to Death in November in Canterbury Castle who were condemned to be burnt Their names were John Clark Dunsten Chittenden William Forster Alice Pothins and John Arches Dear Protestant Reader I doubt thou art almost tyred with the Continuance of these tragical Histories I shall therefore hast to a conclusion God not permitting any long Reign to this bloody persecuting Queen We are now come the year 1557 in the beginning of which Cardinal Pool visits the University of Cambridg where he causes on the 9th of Jan. the bones of the famous Bucer and Paulus Phagius professors of the Gospel to be taken up and with a solemn procession to be publickly burnt with all their Books Thus devillishly mallicious are these Papists that they will not let men lye in quiet in their Graves At Oxford this Cardinal in his visitation did the like by Peter Martyrs wife whose bones he caused to be taken up and despitefully buried in a dunghill About the 15th of this Month of January 6 men were burned at Canterbury in one fire their names were Kemp Waterer Powling Lowick Hudson and Hai. Two more Stephens and Philpot at Wye and on the 16th one Final and Bradbridg were burnt together at Ashford in the same county In February following as if the Magistrates and Bishops were slack in â—estroying Gods people whom they called Hereticks a new bloody Commission is sent abroad and new Inquisitors are made to torment and burn the professors of the Gospel And not long after out of Essex that fruitful place of holy Martyrs were sent to London from Colchester no less than 22 persons at one time men and women all bound with ropes one to another and so guarded up to London after a strange manner On the 12th of April 5 were burned in Smithfield whose names were Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thirtel Margaret Hide and Agnes Stanly In May following 3 others viz Morant Gratwait and King were burnt in Southwark On June the 18th 5 women and 2 men were burnt at Maidstone in Kent their names were Joan Bradbridg Joan Mannings Elizabeth a blind maid Walter Appleby and Petronel his wife Edmund Allin and Katherine his wife On the 30th of the same month were burnt at Canterbury 3 men and 4 women I shall but name them John Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardo Barbara Final a Widdow the wife or Widdow of Bradbride formerly mentioned and Mariyt'd the wife of one Wilson and the wife of Benden All these suffered for the Gospel The horrible usage of these poor Creatures in the Bishops Prison is unspeakable where they lay upon straw and had but 3 farthings a day apiece allowed them a halfpeny for Bread and a farthing for bear on which God enabled them to Live On the 22th of June no less than ten Martyrs suffered together in one fire at Lewis in Sussex their names were Richard Woodman George Stevens W. Mainnard Alexander Hosman his servant Thomasin Wood his maid Margâ—ry Morris James Morris her Son Deâ—is Burgis The wife of Ashden and of Groves On the 13th of July Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich on the 2d of August suffered no less than ten Martyrs at Colchester Six in the Morning 4 in the afternoon Their names were Bongeor Purcas Benold Agnis Silverside Helen Eâ—rine Eliz. Folks In the afternoon were burnt W. Munt and Alice his wife Râ—se Allin their daughter and John Johnson When Munt and his wife were taken the woman being sick in bed desired her daughter to fetch her some drink and as she was passing thorow the room one Tyrril of the race of that Tyrril who Murthered King Edward the 5th met her and bid her to give her Father and Mother good Counsel to whom the maid repyled Sir they have a better instructor than I am For the holy Ghost doth reach them who will not suffer them to err Thou naughty huswise said Tyrril art thou of that mind 't is time to look to such Hereticks That which you call heresie replyed Rose is the true Worship of the living God Then Gossip said this persecutor I perceive you will burn for company with the rest not for companies sake but for Christ's sake who I hope in his Mercy will enable me to bear it if I am compelled thereto returned the Maid to him again with that this cruel Tyrril took the candle which she had in her hand burning and held the back of her hand over it
faithfully and truly set down and I hope God will give a blessing to these my true endeavours and this very useful Book at this time that all Protestants of whatsoever denomination may joyn together in the bond of unity to oppose this Bloody Cruel and Common Enemy of all that profess the Truth of the Gospel and to endeavour that the Hierarchy of Rome may never get Power and Dominion in this Land Which I pray God avert and protect us from And to which Prayer let all good People say Amen The Introduction THe Corruptions and great abominations together with the Heretical Idolatrous Impious and Blasphemous Doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome as also its bloody Persecutions abroad have been shewn in several volumes and by several Authors but since what hath been transacted by that Church in our own Kingdom more nearly concerns us I have here given you a true view of the Persecutions of the Papists from the beginning against all such as dissented from them and would not bow down to their Images or Worship God after their way by which you may see what Spirit they are of quite contrary to that of Christ and his Apostles and to what slavery we should be brought if God should permit once more the Papal Authority to get footing in these reformed Kingdoms which for so many years at the expence of blood and the lives of many holy Men and Martyrs have shaken off that Tyrannical Yoak of the See of Rome It is my design not to transcur the Bounds of our own Country for where ever the Papists have set up themselves they have continuâ—lly exercised the like bloody power of the Sword contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the practice of his Successors for some Centuries when the purity of the Gospel was professed in times near the first lighting up of the bright Candle of Christianity But I shall shew and expose to the World in this little Tract the bloody Cruelties and Persecutions of that Idolatrous Church exercised in this Kingdom only against such as dissented from them or that opposed the evil of their Doctrine and practises After that Errors were crept into the Church and that the Romish Church had sought and obtained by many impious practises the supremacy over other Churches she endeavoured to maintain this her usurpt Authority by Tyranny and bloody Persecution as she doth to this Day where ever her rule is permitted That is a most ridiculous Question of some of the Papists to many ignorant Protestants Where was your Religion before Luther All your Forefathers in England were Papists why should you then change your old Religion for many hundred years establish'd in England for one of a new date and but of the other days standing This has taken with some but they are such as are very ignorant or else they may reply to such Querors that though the Name of Protestants be new and came from Germany in Luthers time from protesting against the Romish decrees that were to have been imposed upon them yet the Doctrine and Discipline of the Protestant Churches are as ancient as Christianity itself and nearest to that of Christ and his holy Apostles and Successors in the primitive times before Rome came to challenge a supremacy over other Churches or to pretend to be the Spiritual Head of the World In all Ages and thorow the most Corrupt of times the purity of the Gospel has been preserved like a shining light has manifested itself in its dissent from the evil sinful practises from the false and heretical Doctrines of the Church of Rome and has been still persecuted by it long before the times of Luther as is manifested by the Albingenses and the Waldenses in France as also in Germany and Italy itself where many professing the purity of the Gospel and testifying against the errors and corruptions of the Romish Church fell under the bloody Sword of its Persecution But designing as I have said to speak only of our own Country we shall begin with the earliest Persecutions of the Romanists in this Land who always hated Dissenters from them or such as would not own their unjust Supremacy over their Brethren Christianity began very early in England and a Christian Church was planted here almost as soon as at Rome and continued without any acknowledgment of her Authority all the time of the British Reign for the Brittish Churches never owned any forreign Church supream or above them or suffered any to exercise Dominion or Authority over them but submitted themselves to their Kings and their Metropolitan as their head Austine the Monk was the first who endeavoured to bring into this Land the Authority of Rome and because the Brittish Bishops would not own it he stirred up the Heathen Saxon Kings then Conquerors of this Land to persecute them and others Converted to Christianity and of the Papistical Principles of setting up the Church of Rome above others to kill and destroy the Brittish Christians as dissenters from them But yet till about the year 980 the purity of the Christian Doctrine preserved itself against Popish errors about which time Popery that is the Supremacy of that Church or the owning it to the head over others getting ground in England as well as in other places and with it all the filthinesses and abominations which dissenting Protestants disown and speak against all that any ways opposed this supremacy and erroneous Doctrines were persecuted and troubled by them tho they were not as yet come to fire and faggot wanting not will but power to do it I shall but mention only that good Bishop of Lincoln Robert Grosthead who wrote against the wickedness of the Popish Clergy in the time of King Henry the 3d. which vext them so much that Pope Innocent would have had the Bishops bones after his death to have been dug up and flung out of the Church where he was buried and intending to have wrote to the King of England for that purpose he was strucken by the said Bishop appearing to him in his sleep with his Crosiers staff reproving him of his wicked intention which prohibited him from proceeding therein After which time the Papal wickednesses increasing in this Nation Sathan was let loose and greater Persecutions began to arise against those who made a profession of the Gospel and opposed the Romish Superstition or dissented from it I shall therefore here end this introduction and begin the History of Popish persecutions here in England about the Reign of King Edward the 3d about which time they began more eminently to appear and so God willing I shall briefly prosecute them to our own times thorow that flood of Martyrs blood shed in Queen Maries days A TRUE VIEW OF ALL THE Popish Persecutions AND CRUELTIES IN ENGLAND The First Part. LOng before the namâ— of Protestants gave a distinction of such as dissented from the Corruptions of the Church of Rome and made them subject to
the Persecutions of Papal Authority there were several who by the purer Light of the Gospel had discovered the great errours and many Abominations of that Church increasing in England that durst withstand the wickedness of the Priests Monks and Fryers and by writing and preaching oppose their wicked Actions and horrible doings and shew them to the World for which they were sure to run the risque of cruel and barbarous usage from their Hands suffer for a good Conscience adhering to the Doctrine of the Apostles and their Successors in the Primitive Times before the many Corruptions that now overwhelm the Romish Church were crept in amonâ— them These may be called dissenters from theâ—â— erronious Doctrines vicious Lives and evil pracâ—â—ces Among these in the time of King Edward thâ— third may be accounted the Author of the Ploâ—â—mans Complaint though he was not known whiâ—â— little Treatise put the Monks and Fryers inâ—o a Rage it so plainly laying open all their wickednesâ—â— and evil practices The Persecutions of Armachanâ—â— and the abominable errours and abuses of their Dâ—ctrines This did but whet the Rage of these eâ—â—l men and though they could not shew it to the Author of that wholsom Treatise they expresseâ— iâ— against his writing what they could and â—ad he been known his Life had been in danger The next that publickly owned the Pure light of the Gospel in those dark daies of blind Superstitâ—on and error was Richard Fitzrafe known by the name of Armichanus being by King Edward the 3d made Archdeacon of Litchfeild and then Commisâ—â—â— to the University of Oxford where he was bred â—â—der Bakenthorp and lastly Arch-Bishop of Armâ—â—â— in Ireland He preached in London openly agaâ—nst the Fryers for which he was cited to appear before Pope Innocent the 6th which he did and there to the death most valiantly opposed the Corruptions Crept into the Church both by preaching and writing being several ways persecuted by them He dyed in Avignion after 7 years banishment from his Native Country About this time in King Edw. the 3d's Reign and about the year 1367. That plotting and state coâ—founding Order of the Jesuites began to be knowâ— in the world in the 5th year of Pope Vrban the 5â—â— and the Papal Clergy in England being grown â—o odious to the laity through their vicious Lives aâ—â— evil Manners the Lords in Parliament desired the King that the great Offices of the Crown which were usually executed by the Clergy might be tâ—ken from them which accordingly were removed and put into the Hands of the Temporal Lords This K. also by Parliament holden in the 27th and 38th years of his Reign by statutes made the Popes Supremacy in England was much abated his Jurisdiction in this Realm much lessened and his Papal power restrained causing all Controversies in Law either Spiritual or Temporal to be determined in the Kings Courts and that if any one should appeal or Consent to an appellation made to the Court of Rome should incur the writ of Premunire being put out of the K's Protection Loss of Lands goods imprisonment during the Kings pleasure This begot or rather increased the Hatred of the Romanists against the Kings of England studying their ruin and overthrow for the setting up their arbitrary Papal Jurisdiction in this Land And about this time a certain Hermit disputed in St. Pauls against the Doctrine of the Sacrament for which they imprisoned him and kept him in hold till he dyed It is also to be observ'd that in the 5th year of the said King Ed. the 3d at a Parliament holden at Westminster the 24th April 1376. a Bill was preferred against the Usurpations of the Pope in England attributing thereunto all the Plagues Murrains Famines and Poverty that had invaded the Land and required a redress of many Grievances and incroachments of his usurpations rehearsing many particulars so that the Tyranny and usurpation of Rome was grown in those days intolerable and would now be much more so since they after this shewed an implacablâ— Rage against their opposers and all such who professed the purer Light of the Gospel or found fault with their erronious Doctrines and wicked Lives But the most eminent Light by God raised up in those daies and appearing bright and shining above the rest detecting the foul errors of the Romish Church was the famous John Wickliff from whom his followers dissenting from the Church of Rome were called Wickliffians whose story I shall give you in Brief In the reign of King Edir the 3d and much about the year of our Lord 1371. this Wickliff flowrished He was a Publick Reader of Divinity in the University of Oxford and reputed among them all for a great Clerk and man of learning and parts a deep Schoolman and well studied in the points of Divinity and also of Philosâ—phy of all kinds And with his strong Arguments and sound reasoning he confounded his opposers and made his very enemies acknowledge his abilities He was a man in great esteem of that valiant and prudent Princeâ—â—ing Edward being by him sent with Commission joyned with other Lords and Ambassadors into Iâ—aly to treat with he Popes Legats concerning affairs betwixt the King and the Pâ—pe The Chief business was that the Bishop of Rome should no more intermeddle in the Distribution of Benefices within his Kingdom but that all Bâ—shâ—ps that were under his Dominion should enjoy their former and ancient Liberty and be confirmed of their Metropolitans as had been in the Ancient times This set the Pope and Pâ—pish Clergy a raging and Wickliff being in this Matter nâ— small obstacle to them Confounding them with hâ—s learned Arguments so that they term'd him Heâ—â—ick as they still do all that stick fast to the rules of the holy Scriptures to the purer Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they set themselves against him and endeavoured their utmost to ruine him Those days wherein he lived were daies of thick Eâ—â—pâ—â—â— Darkness and gross Ignorance and the people only retained the name of Christians having nothing of the nature of Christ in them or following his Example in any thing They were Idâ—latrous and taught by their Pâ—iests to worship nothing but what they saw Images and Cracifixes and indeed there was scarce any thing they saw that they did not worship as Reliques of Saints Consecrated Beads Aâ—â—us Dei's and such trumpery The Doctrine and Office of Christ was utterly unknown to the people noâ— the use of the Law and benefit of the Scriptures the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost Free Grace Justification by Faith Remission of Sins and the like were never treated of Learâ—ing and Divinity was utterly unknown to the Priests and preaching fryers and those among them who seemed learned were meer Sophisters studying Aquinas and Scotus instead of St. Peter and Paul and led the blind and ignorant people into superstition Ceremonies and human Traditions which they taught iâ—stead of the Scripture in which
the whose scope of Christian perfection depends And thâ—s being wholly degenerated from the true Catâ—olick institution they fell into all manner of exâ—reâ—m tyranny and persecution changing the poverty and simplicity of Christ into Cruelty and wickedness of Life and manners Thus in these times of horrible Darkness and Ignorance and when there seemed â—o be no manner of spark of Christs pure doctrine left Wickliff by the providence of God sprung up and as a bright and shining light let the world see the errors and impieties of the Church of Rome After he had for a long time professed Divinity at Oxford and perceiving the true Doctrine of the Gospel to be defiled and adulâ—erated with many filthy â—â—rentions and after long debating with himself concerning the danger he should run into by going about to detect these errors so fast embraced by the Râ—mâ—sh Church and in medling with them who had power to crush him yet his mind being inspired of God he could not rest till he had set his study and bent to endeavour a Regulation by his preaching and teaching of these gross errours that were every where taught and maintained But fi st he began warily attempting his Adversaries with Logical and Metaphysicial Qâ—estions of the Formâ— of things and of the intelligible sâ—bâ—tance of the Creatures and such like which begaâ— attention to other matters which he soon began with great Art and learning to dispute of This stir'd up one Kâ—â—inghum a Carmelite to dispute against him by which meâ—n Wickliff fell upon the matter of the Sacrament their errors therein and other abuses in the Church But this bit so sore that it was not to be enâ—ured and a whoâ—e glut of Monks and Fryers fell into a Rage and madness against him fighting for their Gods their Altars their paunches and Bellies Then the Arch-Bishop Simon Sudberry deprived him of his Benefice which he had in Oxford However being befriended by many noblemen and in favour of the King he bare up against the Monks and Fryers his implacabâ—e Enemies and the Arch-Bishop himself till about the year 1377. He had for his special maintainors the great John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Kings Son and the noble Lord Henry Peircy both which were his great Friends embracing the Truth of His Doctrine and perceiving the impurity of that professed by the Roman Clergy together with their most abominable and vicious Life But for the appearing of this noble Duke for the Truth and siding with Wickliff the Romish Clergy perfectly hated him and the Bishop of Winchester most horridly asperses him of Bastardy making the Queen upon her Death bed to Confess it to him that he was not the Kings Son nor hers for lying in at Gaunt the child she had was Smother'd and fearing the Kings displeasure she caused this John of Gaunt being a poor womans Son then newly brought to bed supposititiously to be brought up instead of the dead Prince Thus for his owning Wickliff he had this wicked abuse put upon him by that proud Prelate But the Duke not induring the affront caused him to be condemned by Parliament and his temporalities confiscated and the said Bishop was prohibited to come within 20 miles of the Court But not long after by the means of Alice Pierce the Kings Minion being well brib'd and by the intercession of the whole Company of the Bishops he was again restored But now Wickliff as I said about the year 1377. was forbid to preach any more and cited to appear before the Bishops which was on the 19th of February The Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy both accompanied him and caused out of every order of the Fryers a Batchelour of Divinity to be chosen which were 4 to joyn with Wickliff and to Assist him But so great was the disorder and variance between the Bishop of London Courtney and the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy in the behalf of Wickliff that nothing was done and the Assembly was broke up being held in St. Pauls Church the Duke and the Bishop threatning one another Thus he escaped at this time and Continued unmolested all the time of King Edward the 3d but afterwards in the Reign of King Richard the Second though he was a favourer of Wickliffs Doctrines yet the Duke and Lord Peircy not intermedling in the Affairs of state as before but living privatly the Bishops took their time to trouble him again and exhibited several Articles against him to Pope Gregory the 11th who presently sends his bull to Oxford for the Apprehending of Wickliff and for the silencing him and rooting out his Doctrines and writes also to the King against him The Bishops now hoping to ruine this holy man cite him a Second time who appeared but there came a Command to them from the King not to give any definitive sentence against him so that he by that means escaped them a 2d time Not long after the Rebellion of Jack-straw breaking forth and the Kingdom in a Combustion the Bishops perceiving the Doctrine of Wickliff dayly to increase and that he had many followers they procured the Vicechancellour of Oxford William Barton in the year 1380 to put forth an Edict against Wickliff and his followers which again brought him into trouble not having his former supports to help him and his Articles which he had maintained so stoutly against the force of his Adversaries were condemned as Heretical in 1382. About the same time one Hereford with Rippington and Ashton all Batchelours of Divinity were cited before the Bishops persecuted for holding the tenents of Wickliff and Hereford and Rippington were excommunicated Also one Thomas Hillman a Batchellor of Divinity was at the same time troubled by them for the same cause Hitherto there was no Law to burn any man for Religion and had they been contented with the power of excommunication it had been well and had not stirred up the Civil Magistrate to be their bloody and Cruel executioners so that we may account these first Persecutions but light But now their malice rage being increased the K. being but young and overawed by the Pope and the proud and imperious clergy of the Land who bore great sway they circumvented the King got surreptitiously a statute made without notice of the Commons called an Act of the Parliament holden at Westminster An. 5. Rich. 3. l. in which power was given to Sheriffs and other Civil Magistrates to imprison any for Religion upon the Certificates of the Bishop which caused great Persecutions but this Act was shortly after repealed at the intreaty of the Commons However the Bâ—shops supressed the knâ—wlâ—dge of this Repealing and unjustly under colour of the former Act wrought horrible troubles against all such as opposed them or were fâ—vouâ—ers of Wickâ—iff and they also so wrought upon the King that he sent forth his Letters against Wicâ—â—â—f and for the suppression of his Doctrine both to the Arch-Bishop of
Canterbury and to the Vicâ—châ—ncellor of Oxford Robert Riggs who was himself a fâ—vourer of Wickliff and for which he was afterwards displaced As to Wickliff himself he was fâ—in to sly and hide himself from the persecution of the Popish Prelats but God preserved him from their Malice and at last repairing to his parish of Luttâ—rworth where he was Parson he quietly and in Peace departed this Life about the beginning of the year 1384. But though they could not fully reak their malice on him whilst he lived yet when dead they shewed all the spite imaginable against his Books and Bones for at Oxford they caused all his Books they could light on to be publickly burnt They say he had wrote 200 volumes being a most painful sedulous writer as well as preacher of whom and of whose holy and godly life and Conversation the whole University of Oxford gave a publick Testimony under their hands and Seal in the Year 1406. Whose Doctrines also were publickly defended by John Hus of Bohemia who was martyred for the same But for all this the Popish Clergies inveterate malice against Wickliff appeared 41 years after he was buried for by a Decree of the Synod of Constance they caused this holy mans Bones to be dug out of his Grave and burnt and the Ashes to be flung into the River The Doctrine of Wickliff notwithstanding daily increased to the no small grief of the Popish Clergy and his Followers or those professing his Doctrines which were contrary to those of the corrupt Romish Church and many of them or most of them such as the Protestants now hold began then to be called Lollards for they had then Nick-names as well as now for such as profest the purer Light of the Gospel After Wickliff was gone they set themselves to suppress these Lollards as they called them the Pope interpreting the Word from Lollum Cocle or Darnel and one William Swinderly a Priest in 1389. was brought into great trouble by these men for holding and preaching some of Wickliff's Doctrines and was condemned by the Bishop of Hereford for an Heretick but Swinderly appealed to the King and to the Parliament and during King Richard's Reign he was protected from their Violence but it is thought he suffered Martyrdom afterwards in the days of King Hen. 4. when the Popish Clergy had got more power About the same time also they persecuted Walter Brute a Lay-Man but bred up in the Vniversity at Oxford and a graduate there accusing him of Heresie and for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was not the very Body of Christ but a sign and memorial of him and that he had avouched the Pope to be Antichrist and that the Sentence given against Swinderly was unjust For these things he is brought before the Bishop of Hereford where he learnedly maintained his Assertions against them but being put to horrible Trouble and Vexation was forced at last to make a Submission which was that he submitted to the Censure of the Gospel the Church and General Councils and to St. Augustine Jerom Ambrose and Gregory and to his Bishop as his Subject And so he escaped at that time but whether he suffered afterwards is uncertain About this time Pope Boniface the 9th made a Bull against the Lollards and sent it to King Richard 2d who by the Instigation of Courtney then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford the Popes Legat issued out his Letters against the Lollards as Hereticks so that by this means many were forced to do Pennance and to abjure many were imprisoned and evilly intreated but during his Reign none were burnt The manner of doing Pennance The Town of Leicester was interdicted and many of them forced to do Pennance which was after this manner They went about the Cross bare-footed and bare-headed and nothing on their Bodies both Men and Women but their Shifts in one Hand a Crucifix in the other a large Wax Taper lighted and from thence marched to the Cathedral where they stood after they had made a procession about the Church all the time of Mass this also to be done three times during the Market After this manner they sought to punish such as made profession of the Gospel And about the same time the Londoners favouring one Peter Pateshull an Austin-Friar who having embraced the Doctrines of Wickliff preached against the corruptions of his Order many of them were converted by him and the Doctrines of Wickliff spread very much in the City For which they were malic'd by the Bishops and complained oâ— to the King who was so incensed against the Mayor and Sheriffs that he removed them from their Office and made Sir Edward Darlington Warden of the City and then removed his Court and the Terms to York thinking thereby to dispight the Londoners But this so alienated their Hearts that by losing their Love he also not long after lost his Crown and Life to Henry Duke of Lancaster called Henry the 4th The first Act for burning of Hereticks William Sawtry the first that was burnt Henry the 4th being but an Usurper and Tyrant was fain to comply with the Prelatical Clergy who had a great stroke in deposing their lawful Prince that he might the better assure himself of the Crown which he had unjustly taken Till now the Sufferings and Persecutions of the Lollards or such as made a profession of the purer Light of the Gospel was but slight in comparison of what they now began to suffer for there was as yet no Law for to put an Heretick to Death though they had made use of the afore-mentioned Statute in the 5th Year of King R 2d to molest trouble and imprison good and pious men but now in the 2d Year of this King Henry the 4th they obtained a Law or Statute for the burning alive such as were convict of Heresie made especially against the Lollards and the first that so suffered upon this Statute was William Sawtry the Parish Priest of St. Scithes in London who had preached against worshipping the Cross and the Images of Saints against Pilgrimages and Transubstantiation and other Popish Heresies for which he was cited before the Bishops and convicted of as they called it Heresie and then publickly degraded of all his Sacerdotal Ornaments aâ—d made a Lay-man and then delivered over to the secular Power to be put to death according to the new made Law which they had with great joy obtained for the extirpating the Lollards Thus the King who had deposed his lawful Prince and usurpt the Crown was the first that put men to death for Religion in England by the unmerciful burning of their Bodies at the Instigation of the cruel Popish Prelates And this William Sawtry was the first that so suffered for the Gospel by the Papists in England who was burnt Anno 1400. The burning of John Badby Taylor After this unusual Exeâ—ution of Sawtry a great fear and dread fell upon all the People but yet
God would not leave his People without Testimony for notwithstanding this cruel Act many maintained the Trâ—ch and among the rest one John Badby an Artificer and Lay-man who w â—â—he next thâ—t suffered in the Year 1409. He was convicted before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbuâ—y with other Bishops his Assistants of certain Articles in which he is said to affirm that the consecrated Wafer was not the real Body of Christ which he averred to be true to the face of all the Bishops and gave his Reasons for the same upon which they pronounced Sentence against him as an Heretick he remaining constant to the Death and could not be wrought upon by any persuasions to give his Conscience the Lye upon which he was delivered over to the secular Power who had got the Kings Writ ad combâ—rendum Haereticum by force of which he was brought to Smithfield and there put into an empty Barrel and bound with Chains to a stake with Fagots a bout him and being in this posture they brought the Sacrament to him in great Pomp asking him how he believed it and whether he would yet recant and save his Life but he told them he believed it to be hallowed Bread and not Gods Body upon which they set Fire to the Fagots upon the seeling of which he cried Mercy and the Prince being present caused the sire to be withdrawn endeavouring to save him and promising him a Pension but he refused all remaining constant inflamed with the Love of God and calling on the name of Jesus the Fire was renewed and he was burnt to Ashes The Statute Ex Officio The Cruelties of the Popish Bishops with their power more and more encreasing by their influence on the said King in the same Parliament they procured the Statute Ex Officio in which it was enacted that no man within the Realm should preach privily or openly without Licence obtained of the Ordinary nor that any should presume to teach preach or write any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith or determination of the holy Church as they then called that of Rome nor keep or frequent any Conventicles or any manner of Schools touching the Sect of the Wickliffians And that any person having any heretical Books Writings or Schrols containing the Wicked Doctrines of Wickliff should within 40 days after Proclamation of this Statute bring them to the Ordinary of the place And if any shall do contrary to any of these Commands the Ordinary by vertue of this Statute within the precincts of his Diccess may imprison them at his pleasure in his own prisons or any others vehemently suspected to be infected with or a favourer of such Doctrines and heretical Opinions until he or they shall by order of Law purge themselves of such Opinions or else openly recant the same And that also the said Ordinary have power to fine such person or persons for the King and to return such Fines into the Exchequer and further such person or persons convict by the Ordinary and his Commissaries he may keep him or them in their own prisons at his Discretion and further if the said persons so convicted remain obstinate and will not abjure or recant their Opinions that then they shall be delivered over to the secular power and the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers of the County City or Burrough being present after Sentence pronounced against them shall take the persons so offending and sentenced and cause them to be openly burnt in the sight of the people The Arch-Bishops Constitutions This cruel Statute being obtained the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel put forth certain Constitutions to be observed That no man should undertake to preach without a Licence from the Ordinary and they to be limited what to say That none should suffer any to preach in their Churches unless they produce such Authority That whosoever should preach contrary to order should be severely punished by his Ordinary That no School-Masters shall teach Children any thing of Religion nor suffer their Scholars to expound the Scriptures nor permit them to dispute concerning the Catholick Faith the Sacraments c That none of Wickliffs Books be kept in any School house or place nor Sold by any Bookseller That no man dare to undertake to translate the Scriptures or any part of them into English That no publick disputes be made concerning the Sacrament or any other points of the Catholick Faith None to speak against Images processions Tapers Crucifixes c. under penalty of being proceeded against as Hereticks With several others of the like kind which I here omit But by this the Reader may judge what Tyranny oppression and cruelty goes along with the Popish Religion and what we must expect to have here again if ever it comes to be set up in this Realm which God forbid Notwithstanding all this severity many thorowout the Land professed the Gospel some Publickly and others privately some stoutly induring Persecution and others through fear forced against their Consciences to Recant Among the rest one William Thorp was very much persecuted by the Arch-Bishop Arundel who in a very learned manner defended himself wrote a certain book called his Testament in which he fully laid open the corruptions and vices of the Popish clergy What became of this man is uncertain but 't is most likely that he died in their Prisons for they kept many in perpetual durance and obscure that none could tell what became of them So one John Ashton another professor was kept in Prison till he dyed in the year 1382. Poor men doing Pennance John Purvey also had great trouble about the same time by the said Arch-Bishop who at last was forced to Recant to get out of their cruel clutches This proud and imperious Prelat Arundel caused several poor men for neglect of bringing straw to his Stables as they were ordered to undergo penance bare footed and bare headed with each a great burthen of straw at his back going before the procession on which some one wrote these verses These Baggs full of straw we bear on our backs Because my Lords Horse his Litter did Lack If ye be not good to my Lord Graces horse Ye are like to go barefoot before the Cross After the Death of King Henry the 4 in the year of the Reign of his Son King H. 5th the Prelats procured another statute de Comburendo Heretico in which it was ordained that all such who would not abjure these opinions of the Lollards contrary to the received Catholick Faith should after conviction forfeit all their goods and chattels and their bodies openly burnt alive And upon this and the former statute Sr. Roger Acton Knight John Brown John Beverly and others to the number of 36 persons were burnt in St. Gyles's fields in January 1413. The cruel Persecution of the Lord Cobham The next noted man who was persecuted by these Tyrannical bloodsuckers was Sr. John Oldcastle Ld. Cobham who was a favourer
Principal maintainer of good men called by the Popish Priests Lollards who could not bring their consciences to submit to their wicked impieties and gross Idolatries Arundel had caused certain Inquisitors who brought in Articles against the Lord Cobham for being a mighty maintainer of suspected preachers in the Diocess of London Rochester and other places and that he assisted relieved them and that he himself had not a true belief of the Sacrament penance pilgrimages worshiping of Images and of Ecclesiastical power and Jurisdiction Which process was awarded against him as a most pernicious heretick The Lord Cobham being a great man and in favour also with the King these blood thirsty Prelats first make their complaints against him to the King who having heard them spake himself in the behalf of the Lord Cobham desiring them to deal gently with him and to seek to reduce him to the Unity of the Church by fair means promising them his assistance therein And accordingly he sent for that worthy Lord and privately admonished him to submit himself to the Church To whom the Lord Cobham answered that next to God he owed his Obedience to the King as his soveraign and that he should ever obey him as his faithful leige man and all his Laws and ready to fulfil his will in all things but as to this touching the Pope and his Spirituality he did not owe any suit or service for that the Scriptures had taught him that he was the great Antichrist the son of Perdition and open enemie of God which the King hearing and takeing ill from him forsook him and left him a prey to his bloody Adversaries who much desired his Death He was thereupon cited before the Arch-Bishops and not appearing was Excommunicated and then cited again This good Lord finding himself involved in troubles wrote a rehearsal of his Belief and sent it to the King But the King would not receive it but ordered him to be taken into Custody and delivered to his Adversaries his Judges The good Lord beholding himself forsaken offered to bring 100 Knights and Esquires to come in for his purgation to clear him of Heresie and also offered himself to fight for his Life according to the Law of Arms with any man living in the quarrel of his Faith the King and the Lords of his Council only excepted Notwithstanding all this the King suffered him to be summoned in his own privy Chamber upon which he appealed from the Arch-Bishop to the Pope wherewith the King was more highly displeased than before and he was thereupon arrested and carried to the Tower After that he was brought before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The Bishops of London Winchester and others where he strenuously and with great judgment argued his case but at last they pronounced a definitive sentence against him for an Heretick Which done the good Lord fell on his knees and prayed for his enemies and so was carried back to the Tower After that sentence of Death was given against him but by what means is not known he escaped from Sr. â—ob Morley Lieutenant of the Tower and got into Wales where he continued 4 years Not long after the Arch-Bishop had pronounced his sentence upon this Lord he dyed with his tongue swelled in his mouth that he was not able to speak 〈◊〉 and it was looked upon as a judgment of God upon him being a great persecuter of good men The King vext at the escape of the Lord Cobham offered a sum of Money to any that could take him dead or alive and at last after 4 years concealment the Lord Powis whether for gain or his hatred against such professors of the Gospel is uncertain he caught the Lord Cobham and brought him bound to London in the year 1417. the Parliament then sitting the said Lord Cobham being outlawed and excommunicated by the Bishop was brought before his Peers in Parliament and at the Instigation of the Prelats he had sentence passed upon him to be drawn thorow London to the Gallows in St. Giles's and there to be hanged and burnt hanging Tho Treason was pretended against him yet it was for the matter of Religion that he was put to death as Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments sufficiently proves which brought him into the hatred of the Bishops and they brought him into the hatred of the King which occasioned his Death and Martyrdom Much about the time or a little before the Execution of this worthy Lord one John Claydon of London Coriar suffered for the sake of the Gospel being arrested by the Archbishops order upon suspition of heresie which he denyed not but owned his Doctrines for which he was imprisoned by Braybrook Bishop of London and at last sentenced for an Heretick and delivered to the secular power and not long after he was had to Smithfield and there burnt for his Religion 1415. Some say one Richard Turming a Baker was burnt with him Henry Chichley succeeded to Arundel and he following his steps made more new severe Constitutions against the Lollards thinking thereby to suppress them fearing the downfall of their Papal Authority which they sought to maintain with cruelty and Tyranny whereupon a strict Inquisition was made in all parts against those professors of the Gospel and many forced to abjure to save their Lives Among the rest Ralph Munyen being more obstinate was condemned to perpetual imprisonment And in Kent whole families were forced to fly and leave their Habitations the Persecution was so great 16 of them named in the Register of Canterbury The burning of William Taylor Priest King Henry the 5th dying his Son Henry the 6. succeeded of but a year old and in the first year of his reign Wm. Taylor a Priest was burnt for his Religion in Smithfield Anno 1422. being first degraded by the Popish Prelates And on the first of March he suffered with much Christian Constancy In the year 1424. John Florence a Turner in the Diocess of Norwich was disciplin'd Publickly in the Cathedral of Norwich by sentence of the Bishop 3 Sundays one after another and likewise 3 Sundays afterwards in his own parish Church of Shelton for holding several of Wickliff's opinions About the same time several other persons of the same Diocess were persecuted for Lollards and many forced to purge themselves and to swear against their Consciences or run the danger of suffering Death for being Hereticks Many were imprisoned and cruelly handled and some of them burned as Father Abraham of Colchester William White and John Whaddon Priests And about fourscore men and Women in Suffolk and Northfolk forced to abjure contrary to their minds and consciences Others of them were injoyned pennance and publickly disciplined and among the rest one John Beverly was Whipt from the Bishops palace in Norwich and round the Market place cruelly tearing and tormenting his body by order of that persecuâ—ing Prelate Also John Skilly of Flixon miller for receiving into his house White and
Whaddon who were Martyr'd and for holding several of Wickliffs opinions was Condemned to be imprisoned for 7 years and to eat nothing but bread and water every Fryday during that time and also in the beginning of every Lent and Maunday Thursday to do open pennance Several others were forced to abâ—ure and to do open pennance None can imagine â—he grievous sufferings that the people of God indured in those days and it would be too tedious to â—numerate some of them being accused for having a â—ible in their house And in the year 1430. one â—ohn Hovedon a wool winder and Citizen of London â—as burnt near the Tower as Fabian writes About the same time Nicholas Canon in Northfolk was forced to abjure and had 3 publick disciplines about the Cloysters of the Cathedral of Norwich and imprisoned besides In the year 1431. Thomas Bagley Priest an adherent to Wickliffs Doctrine was burnt in Smithfield about the midst of Lent after he had been degraded And also Paul Craw was burnt the same year Anno 1439. one Richard Wich was burnt who being a priest was first degraded and then burnt on Tower-Hill for an Heretick He was esteemed a very holy man in so much that after his Death the people went to the place where he was burnt and there prayed and reared an heap of stones and set up a cross in his Memory which troubled the clergy and made them get a prohibition from the King to hinder and punish such as should resort thither as to Pilgrimage And not long after by reason of the malice of the Cardinal of Winchester and other Prelates the good Duke of Gloucester was arrested in few days after found dead in his Bed About the year 1456. when Thomas Burrscheer was Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester a good man was brought into trouble and persecuted by his fellow Prelates for holding several opinions contrary to their Romish Doctrines and for his faith and profession of the Gospel After he had been cited before the Arch-Bishop and other prelates and much pains and endeavours used to bring him from his opinions they at last drew up a form of Recantation which they forced him to declare to the people by many menaces and hard usage for all which he was detained in prison and what became of him was not known The Burning of John Goose and others We have briefly gone thorow the reigns of those Princes since the Clergy obtained the Writ de Comburendo for the burning of Hereticks and none has scaped that cruel punishment more or less in any of their reigns since King Rich. 2d and for ought we can see is rather likely to increase than decrease for in the Reign of King Ed. 4th of the Line of York who succeeded King Hen. 6th whom he caused to be murdered we find Anno 1473 one Jehn Goose a godly servant of Jesus Christ was condemned to the fire and burnt on Tower Hill in the month of August Being delivered over to the secular power into the hands of Sheriff Belisdon he endeavoured all he could to cause him to renounce his opinions to save his Life but this constant Martyr would not hearken to the Temptation but desiring the Sheriff to let him have some victuals to refresh him the Sheriff commanded the same and he eating a very hearty Dinnet as if he were unconcerned and giving God thanks for his meal and refreshment he said that he should pass a sharp showr e're he should go to supper after which being led to the place of Execution he dyed with great Constancy and praysing the Lord yeilded up his Spirit to God Ex polychron The Burning of several others In the reigns of King Ed. 5th and his Bloody Uncle and Usurper King Rich. 3d we do not find any Martyr'd their Reigns being but short and full of Trouble but in the Reign of King Hen. 7th about the year 1494 there was a very ancient Lady about 80 years of Age named Joan Boughten burnt in Smithfield for holding the opinions of Wickliff She dyed on the 28 of April being very constant and returned to the menaces of Bishops that she knew her self beloved of God and his holy Angels and that she feared not the Fire and in the midst thereof she cryed to God to receive her Soul She was much beloved and her Ashes were carried away by such as secretly professed the Gospel and kept as a Relick In the year 1497 several were forced to do pennance bare footed and bare headed with faggots on their shoulders before St. Paul's Cross during the procession and Sermon there And in the following year 1498 in the beginning of May a priest was burnt And the same year in Northfolk was burnt a very Godly man named Brabram and another in July that year burnt in Smithfield In the year 1499. above 60 persons in Buckinghamshire in the Diocess of Lincoln William Smith being then Bishop were forced to pennance with faggots on their shoulders for the Gospels sake And at Amersham in the same County was burnt one Wiliam Tylsworth a godly Martyr in a Close called Stanly Anno 1506. He was about 60 years of Age who being bound to the Stake and the Faggots about him ready to suffer the barbarous Papists caused his only daughter being a Marryed woman to set fire to her own Father her Husband John Clark doing pennance at the same time with a Faggot before the fire with many others And the next day after one Father Roberts was Martyr'd at Buckingham At whose burning there were 9 Persons forced to bear Faggots for pennance And two or three years after at the same Town of Amersham were burnt Thomas Bernard an Husbandman and James Morden a labouring man both in one fire And at the same time there were thirty more who bare Faggots and were burned in the right cheek The manner thus Their necks were tyed fast with Towels to a Post and their hands bound that they could not stir and so the Iron being hot was clapt to their cheeks being stigmatized for the Gospels sake And this we must look for again whenever Popery comes to have Dominion in this Kingdom At the same time one Father Rogers was kept in the Bishops Prison for 14 weeks night and day and so cruelly handled with cold hunger and Irons that when he was let forth of prison he could never go upright as long as he liv'd The Cruel handling and Murder of Thomas Chase In the same year 1506 at Amersham also one Thomas Chase of that town was cruelly handled in the Bishops prison being a man of a very Godly and Sober behaviour speaking against the idolatry and superstition of the Papists for which he was condemned to the Bishops prison at Wooborn called little ease where he lay bound and manacled with Gyves Fetters Chains and Irons pinched with hunger and thirst having nothing given him but by Chaplains who mingled with their Alms bitter tants scoffs
same delivered over to the secular power to be burned which decree was performed in Smithfield on the 20th day of the same month being 16 days after they had Murthered him to the great grief and disdain of the people Norwithstanding after all this tragical and cruel handling of the dead Body and their fair and colourable shew of Justice yet the Inquest staid not their diligence in searching out the truth and the cause and means of Mr. Hunâ—'s death insomuch that they were called before the Lords Chief-Justices and also before the King himself and his Privy Council about this matter and the determination at last was left to them and after great search and deliberation they found by good proof and sufficient Evidence that Doctor Horsey the Bishop of London's Chancellor Charles Joseph the Sumner and John Spalding the Bell-Ringer had privily and maâ—iciously committed this Murther and therefore indicted them all three as willful Murtherers Notwithstanding by the power of the Bishop of London with Cardinal Woolsey then in great favour the next Sessions the King's Attorney General pronounced the Indictment against Dr. Horsey to be false and untrue and that he was no way guilty of the Murther Being thus freed he went away to Exeter and for shame durst never after appear in London The aforesaid Inquest found by most evident signs that the said Mr. Hun could not have hang'd himself and that his Wrists had-been hard bound with Cords and they found that bis Neck had been broken below the silken Girdle they had â—anged him in and that there were two streams of Blood on his Jacote a great clodder in the lappet of his Coat â—hich could not happen to him after â—e was hanged Besides there was no place for â—im to get up to do the deed But besides these â—roofs Charies Joseph freely confessed of himself â—hat 〈◊〉 those Heresies laid to Mr. Hunn's charge were wrote and invented by the Chancellor and also that he and John the Bell-Ringer together with Dr. Horsey himself who assisted them murthered the said Mr. Hun who was lying on bis Bed and at the bidding of the aforesaid Chancellour who said lay hold on the Thief they fell upon him and broke his Neck and that he the said Charles Joseph put the Girdle about Mr. Hunn's Neck and that John the Bell Ringer helping him to lift the dead Body the Chancellour put the Girdle about the Staple and so left him hanging Thus you may see Godfreying is no new thing among them Murther is their Trade and this was the cruel end of this man only for opposing the Power of the Lordly Priests and which good People you must look for again if ever the Popish Tyranny get footing in this Kingdom Lay it to heart The Martyrdom of John Stillman It would be endless to relate all the troubles the people of God then suffered in the Reign of this King or to enumerate the persons who were forced against their Consciences to abjure in the year 1517. in and about London about 35 persons were compelled to abjure among whom was one George Laud the Prior of St. Sithe Some of them afterwards being troubled in Conscience recanted and suffered death among the rest one John Stillman who about the 24 day of September 1518. was apprehended and brought before Richard Fitz-James then Bishop of London at Fulham and charged for speaking against the worshipping of Images and for that he had commended Wickliff and said he waâ— a Saint in Heaven and that his Book called Wickliff's Wicket was a good and holy Book From thence he was had to the Lollardâ— Tower and or the 22 day of Octob. brought before the Consistory aâ— Paul's and there examined by Thomas Hed the Bishops Vicar General upon several Articles objected against him and he the said John Stillman owning the truth and persevering in the same he was condemned of Heresie and delivered over to the Sheriffs of London on the 25th of the same Month and publickly burnt in Smithfield Thomas Man and Robert Cosin Martyrs The next in order was Thomas Man who the 29. of March 1518. was likewise burned in Smithfield He had for divers years been persecuted and imprisoned forced to abjure and to do Pennance after which they kept him in a Monastery as their servant from whence he escaped his Conscience troubling him for denying the Truth but being retaken he was proceeded against as a relapsed Heretick by the aforesaid Thomas Hed Vicar General who produced false Witnesses against him who swore several Articles that they said were Heresie and though he charged the Witnesses of Adultery and Theft he could not be heard and those they had assigned him for Advocates being Papists betrayed his Cause and wrested his Words to his destruction upon which he was condemned as a relapsed Heretick with these gloseing words Rogamus attentè in Visceribus Jesu Christi ut c. In English thus We desire in the Bowells of the Lord Jesus Christ that the punishment and execution of due severity of thee and against thee in this part may be so Moderated that there be no rigorous Rigour nor yet nodissolute mansuetude but to the health and wealth of thy soul c. This Sentence Thomas Man said was like that of Cajaphas against Christ when he said to Pilate It is not lawfull for us to put any man to death But if thou letst him go thou art not Caesars Friend So they said it was not lawfull for them to take away Thomas Mans life but they delivered him up to the Sheriffs of London who caused him to be burnt without any warrant for the same About the same time one Robert Cosin who had been instructed by Thomas Man in his flight was martyred at Buckingham The chief articles against him were that he had perswaded one Joan Norman after she had bowed a piece of silver to be offered to a Saint for the health of her child not to carry it and told her she needed only to pray to Heaven And that she needed not to confess her self to the Priest but to God and that she might drink as well before she went to Mâ—ss on the Sunday as on any other day For these Perillous Doctrines this poor man was sacrificed to the Lusts of the Popish Priests Much about the same time Christopher Shoemaker was burnt at Newberry for professing the Gospel and Speaking against worshipping of Saints and going on Pilgrimages And in the years 1520 and 1521 many received the Light of the Gospel in and about Newberry Buckingham Henly Amerâ—â—m in the Diocess of London in Essex at Colchâ—ster 〈◊〉 Suffolk and Northfolk and many other places so that it spread very much before Luther appeared Cruel percâ—cution by the Bishop of Lincoln Children Compelled to set fire to their parent About the same year a most Cruel persecution was made against these Gospellers or such as professed according to the Gospel by John Longland Bishop of Lincoln who brought
their pardons priviledges grants and immunities which all the Holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them And we give over utterly to the power of the Fiend them he or she and let us quench their souls if they be dead this night in the pains of hell fire as this Candle is now quenched and put out then he put out one of the Candles and let us pray to God if they be alive that their Eyes maâ— be put out as this light Candle is with that he puâ— out another Candle let us pray to God and to ouâ— Lady to St. Peter and Paul and all holy Saints that all the senses of their Bodys may fail them and thaâ— they may have no feeling as now the light of thiâ— Candle is gone out and so he put out the 3d Candle except they he or she come openly now and confess their Blasphemy and make satisfaction to God our Lady St. Peter and the worshipful company of this Cathed Chu as this Holy Cross staff that now falleth down so may they except they repent and shew themselves Then the Cross staff falling down the people gave a great shout and so the Ceremony ended Thomas Bennet was there in presence and could not choose but laugh at their foppery upoâ— which he was laid hold on but not suspected for the Heretick they had cursed contrary to the Doctrine of Christ they let him go again But nâ—â— long after his Boy setting up more Bills on the Churcâ— door he was taken in the Action and then Mâ— Bennet was seized and cast into prison he freely acknowledging the Action and that he would maintain the doing of it upon this they put him into the Stocks with heavy Irons and Bolts many disputeâ— the Priests and Fryers had with him whom he answered with much sobriety and maintained his Assertions with so much learning that they knew not what to say to him But to handle him more Cruelly as also his wife who was a partaker with her husband in his sufferings About a weeks time they endeavoured all they could to cause him to recant but in vains upon which they pronounced him an obstinate Heretick and so Condemned him to be burnt And the writ de Comburendo c. being procured and sent from London they delivered him over to Sir Tho. Denis Sheriff of Devonshire to be burnt and being brought to his Execution in a place called Liverydole without Exeter where he behaved himself with so much moderation and Christian patience making to the people such pithy and godly exhortations at his Death that many of his very enemies could not but say and Confess that he was a good man and a servant of God Yet one of them when he was at the Stake endeavouring to perswade him to pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints he denyed and told them he had but one Advocate Jesus Christ who dyed for us and now sitteth at the right hand of the Father and to him they ought only to pray which this zealous man hearing his name being Barnhouse he was so inraged that taking a furze bush on the end of a pike he set it on fire and thrust it into the Holy Martyrs face At which the Holy man holding up his hands said Sir trouble me not now and presently prayed Pater ignosce illis c. Father forgive them c. upon which fire was put to the Furzes and Wood when Mr. Bennet lifting up his hands and eyes towards heaven He cryed out O Lord receive my Spirit and so Continuing in his prayers never stir'd or mov'd but most patiently abode the Cruelty of the Fire till his Life was ended Great persecution in London About the same time a very great persecution was maintained by Bishâ—p Stokâ—sly in his Diocess of London causeing about 138 several persons to abjure and the Body of one Mr. Tracy to be taken up and burnt for an Heretick because he had spoken against the mass and praying to Saints in his Testament About the same time ten Anabaptists were also put to Death for their Religion But now after that King Henry had marryed Ann of Bullein there was a Cessation of their bloody persecution for a time and the Church had some rest from these Tyrants she favouring those of the Religion this being the Mother of our glorious Queen Elizabeth who was not long after born and now the Popes Supremacy was utterly abolished out of England And many of the High and ranting Popelings now turned their coats and preached publickly against the Supremacy of the Pope for which they before had burnt divers for maintaining it But Sir Tho. More and Bishop Fisher two great persecutors were beheaded Mr. Tyndal Martyred in Flanders In the year 1536 Willam Tyndal who may be called the Apostle of this Nation was Martyr'd in Flanders He was born on the borders of Wales and brought up in the University of Oxford where he was first Converted to the Gospel and after that he removed to Cambridg where he also studied and ripened in the study of Gods Word From thence he went into Glocester Shire and lived with one Welch a Knight of that County as a Tutor to his children where he translated the Enchiridion of Erasmus into English but being there persecuted by the Priests of that Country he was fain to fly to London and thence went into Germany where he Translated the Bible into English being assisted in it by Mr. Coverdale This translation enraged the Popish Priests so that they procured an order to have it burnt desiring to keep the people in Ignorance Afterwards Mr. Tyndal being at Antwerp where he lay was betrayed by one Phillips his own Country man to whom he had been very kind and familiar and took him to be his friend but he was deceived in him carried prisoner to Filford Castle by the Emperors officers where he continued till he was Martyr'd at the procuration of his most Cruel enemies the Priests for no other crime than translating the Bible He was first strangled at a Stake and then burnt to Ashes by the Emperors decree Mr. Tyndal crying at his death O Lord open the King of Englands Eyes The very same year Queen Ann was beheaded Mr. Lambert Martyr The next we shall take notice of is John Lambert Alias Nicholson born and brought up in Northfolk but studied at Cambridg where he was Converted by Mr. Bilney and profited very much both in the Latine and Greek tongues But perceiving the violence of the times to avoyde persecution went over into Germany to Mr. Tyndal where he remained sometime Preacher and Chaplain to an English House in Antwerp till he was disturbed by Sir Tho. Moor and taken and brought thence to London where there was 45 Articles laid to his charge all which he answered in writing He was kept in prison till the death of Archbishop Warham when he was released and kept a privat School in London but not long after he
without Abjuration and all their goods forfeited to the King and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law to deny them without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary The second being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds that it ought not to be given to the Laity The 3d that Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of chastity ought to be observ'd 5. That private Mosses are agreeable to God's Law 6. That auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be received c. and upon these Articles was granted by the same Parliament a bloody and Cruel Inquisition directed to certain persons in every shire and County to enquire into all such Heresies Felonies Contempts c. committed or done by any that they might suffer according to the Law These Articles were opposed openly in Parliament by Cranmeâ— Archbishop of Canterbury who afterwards suffâ—red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary as shall be declared And among these we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who lost his Life in the cause of God by the craft and policy of his Popish Adversaâ—ies but since it had some other shew than that of Religion only we shall let it pass and proceed to others Dr. Barnes Martyr After the Death of the Lord Cromwell Gardner raged against all that opposed the Papal power at his pleasure having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds and now 3 noted Divines suffered together in Smithfield which I shall briefly mention The first was Doctor Robert Barnes who having been bred abroad at Lovain and also at the University of Cambridg was made Prior and Master of the House of the Augustines where much to his praise he advanced the knowledg of good Letters and caused the Epistles of St. Paul to be read causing disputations of the same publickly which seemed strange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars His first Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge the Sunday before Christmass day for which he was accused of Heresie by two Fellows of Kings Hall and Articles drawn up against him and not long after he was publickly arrested by a Serjeant at Arms from London and the University was searched for Luthers Books Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London and brought before Cardinal Woolsie who was then in power After a long discourse with him the Cardinal being highly offended with him for his preaching against his Pomp Power and Dignity seeing he could not cause him to recant but stood in the justification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conscience the Scriptures he sent him to the Fleet from whence he was had again before the Cardinal and by the importunity of Gardner Fox and others he was perswaded at last to abjure and with some of the men of the Stillyard accused also for Lollardy he publickely bore a faggot After which he was remanded to the Fleet and thence was removed to Austins Fryer's in London where being Complained against to the Cardinal by those who sought his Life he was removed again to Austin Fryer's in Northampton with intent to have him burnt But he escaped thence leaving a Letter as if thorow despair h ehad gone to drown himself that they might not pursue him so that whilst they were searching the River for his Body he made his escape to London and thence beyond the seas where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum with a supplication to King Henry There he grew Familiar with Luther Melancthon Pomeran the Duke of Saxony and others and was not long after sent over by the King of Denmark as his Ambassador into England where Sir Tho. Moor sought his Life but Cromwell stood his friend After that in the time of Queen Ann he returned into England and was sent by the King as his Embassador to the Duke of Cleve But Gardner getting into the favour of the King never left till he had undermined Dr. Barneâ— who was at last sent to the Tower together with Thomas Garrat and Mr. Hierom from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom Thomas Garrat and William Hierom Martyrs Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London and having received the knowledge of the truth endeavoured all he could to promote it and haveing a parcel of Tyndols translation of the new Testament and other books treating of the Scriptures he went privately to Oxf rd to sell them there to those he knew well affâ—cted to the Gospel But his Adversarâ—es having their spies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 â—nd immâ—dâ—aâ—â— some were sent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford that they might be both burnt together and after great search he was taken but made his escape intending to fly into the west but was pursued and taken again and imprisoned and after much trouble was forced agâ—inst his Conscience to abjure After which he fled again from place to place for fear of his persecutors but was tâ—kâ—◠〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adversaries and sâ—nt to the Tower from whence he was câ—râ—â—ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome The Death of Barnes Gaâ—ret and Hierom. The 3d Companion in this glorious suffering was Mr William Hierâ—â— who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word for the comfort and edification of the People and had preached divers sermons with intent to implant in the Consciences of men the sincere Truth of Christian Religion and to weed out of mens minds traditions dreams and Popish fansies in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papists who were utter enemies of the Gospel of Christ and for this they sought this good man's Life The occasion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Cross the fourth Sunday in Lent in which speaking of Sarah and Hagar he said those who were born of the free Woman were freely Justified and the one would think nothing of false doctrine or Heresie could be gathered from these words yet he was charged therewith and convented before the King at Westminster for that he had erroneously taught the people that all that were born of Sarah were freely justified absolutely without Condition either of Baptism or Penance c. Several other things were objected against him and he was at last sent to the Tower in order to his Execution we have spoken of these 3 Martyrs severally we shall now joyn them together as fellow sufferers and Martyrs About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell a process was issued out against these three men by means of See Gardner to which they were never brought to Answer but on the 30th of July being Condemned without their knowing the cause and without any hearing were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt Then Dr. Barnes made his protestation against several false
Reformation begun by King Ed. 6th The next year being 1547 King Henry dyed and the Church of God had a respite by the reign of the most pious King Edward the 6th who begun the Reformation and fully extirpated Popery out of his Land all whose daies the Gospel flourished and the Church of Christ was established and he with singular constancy maintained Religion but his reign being but short continuing but six years and eight Months and Queen Mary his sister a strong Papist succeeding the blessed Reformation was thrown down Popery again set up and fire and flame enkindled in all places thorow this Kingdom by the means of the Popish Clergy who most cruelly handled all those who professed the Gospel of Christ being a far greater and smarter persecution than any that went before which shall be God willing the subject of our Third and last part of the Popish Cruelties exercised upon the Bodys of Protestants dissenters from them or such as professed the true Gospel of Christ or any ways opposed their Idolatry and Superstition Queen Mary Comes to the Crown The third Part. In which you have a brief of all or most of the Martyrs who suffered for the Gospel by the bloody tyrannie Rage and persecution of the Church of Rome in this Kingdom under the Reign of Queen Mary IT is not our part to give you the History of Queen Marys coming to the Crown which was by blood nor of her falsifying all her Oathes promises and declarations before she obtained it that she would not alter the Religion begun by her Father and established by her brother being reformed according to the Gospel rules nor how soon she broke them and reestablished the Papal Tyranny in this kingdom after it had been abolished by the Kings aforesaid but as we began we shall as briefly as we can and with all truth and sincerity with plainness and without flourishes of stâ—â—e give you an account of the Martyrs and bloody â—â—rsecutions which fell upon all those who made â—â—â—fession of the Gospel or dissented from the â—â—â—â—sh superstition in the Reign of this papistâ—◠〈◊〉 influenced by the Popes chief bloody 〈…〉 Gardner and Bonner Bishops of 〈◊〉 and London Queen Mary began her reign 1553. in thâ— first year and begining of her Reign she released 〈◊〉 the Popish Bishops out of prison and all those wâ—â—â— professed the Reformation were put into prison 〈◊〉 a very great number among whom was Archbishoâ— Cranmer Mr. Bradford Ridley Rogers Coverdal Bishoâ— of Exceter Hooper Bishop of Worcester Mr. Verâ—â—â— Mr. Beacon Mr. Latimer and several other emintâ—â— preachers were all imprisoned for the Gospel thâ— Statutes of Premâ—nire repealed Altars and Massâ—â— set up all people dissenting from the Româ—sh Religiâ—â—â— without distinction persecuted for Judg Hales 〈◊〉 upright Honest man who tho of a contrary Religâ—on had opposed the disinheriting Queen Mary fâ—â— being a Popish successor to the endangering his Life was cast into the Mashalsea where with ill usage tâ— grew desperat and lost his senses and when he waâ— released thorow melancholly made himself away by drowning The Lady Jane Grey and her Hâ—band were beheaded in the second year of 〈◊〉 Reign for tho they suffer'd as civil Criminals being Protestants we only mention them and it is observed that Judg Morgâ—n who gave sentence oâ— this Lady fell suddenly after mad still crying out oâ— the Lady Jane till he dyed The Bishop of Winchâ—ster had likewise at the same time a design of takeing away the life of the Lady Elizabeth but God preserv'd her for his Glory and the comfort of his Church frustrating all the wicked designs of he Popish Enemies Cranmer Ridley and Latimer Condemned In the year 1554 the Archbishop Cranmer Dâ— R dly Bishop of London and the learned Mr. Huge Latimer were taken out of the Tower and sent to Oâ—ford to dispure the poynts of their Religion there which they did for several days with great learning and proof but however they were on the 20th of April Condemned for Hereticks and no members of the Church for maintaining Heretical opinions After sentence thus pronounced upon them by the Commissioners who sat at St. Mary's the Archbishop said From this your Judgment and sentence I â—â—peal to the just Juâ—gment of God Almighty trusting 〈◊〉 be present with him in Heaven for whose presence in â—â—e Altar I am thus Condemned Then said Dr. Ridley â—â—ltho I be not of your company yet doubt I not but my â—ame is written in another place whither this sentence â—ill send us sooner than we should by the Course of Naâ—ure have come Then Mr. Latimer said I thank God â—â—st heartily that he hath prolonged my Life to this end â—hat I may in this case glorifie God by that kind of Death Then Dr. Weston said to them If you goe to Heaven â—n this faith then I will never come thither After â—heir sentence these good men were separated one â—rom another and sent to several prisons Tho these men were thus condemned yet there were others who got the start of Martyrdom before them and therefore we shall treat of them in their order â—s they dyed and first of all we shall briefly relate the Martyrdom of Mr. John Rogers vicar of St. Pulthers and Reader of St. Pauls in London The Martyrdom of Mr. Rogers Mr. John Râ—gers a Martyr and servant of God was brought up in the Universitie of Cambridge where he profited much in humane Learning from which place he was called and chosen by the Merchants Adventurers to be their Chaplain to their Factory at Antwerp in Brabant where he lived in great content and with singular piety for many years in which time he assisted Mr. Tindale and Mr. Coverdale in the translation of the Bible into English and by the Conversation of these men he came to great knowledge of the Gospel and perceiving the abominable errours superstition and Idolatry of the Church of Rome he utterly forsook it and shook off the yoak of Popery Therefore Marrying a Wife by whom he had ten Children he removed to Wittenberg in Saxony where he increased in godly Learning and got the knowledge of the Dutch Tongue so perfectly that a Congregation was committed to his charge in which Ministry he diligently and faithfully served for many years until such time that it pleased God King Edward the 6th came to the Crown and made the Reformation in England banishing popery thence he then desiring to seâ— his native Country returned into England was by Bishop Ridley Bishop of London made one of the Prebends of St. Pauls and was by the Dean and Chapter chosen Reader of the Divinity lesion there in which capacity he continued till Queeâ— Mary came to the Crown banishing the Gospel and the true Religion brought again the Popish Idolatry into the Land After this Queen was come to London this Mr. Rogers being appointed to preach aâ— Pauls Cross he there openly maintained the Doctrine of Christ as
it was here stablished under K. Edward exhorting the People to remain constant to the same For which sermon he was immediatly called to account and tho he was at that time acquitted by the Council yet the Bishops thirsting after his blood as soon as the Queen had put forth her Proclamation to prohibit preaching he was â—gain called before the Council and his Doctriâ—â— found fault with and he confined to his House But it was not long ere he was taken thence and sent to Newgate by the procurement of Bishop Benner And on the 21 of Jan. 1555. he was examined upon certain Articles before the chancellor which was Gardner Bishop of Winchester Where he maintained that the Church of Rome was not the Catholick Church and that Christ not the Pope was the Head of the Church On the 28th and 29 day following of the same month he was again examined concerning the real presence in the Sacrament which he would nor own Then they asked him if he would come over to the Church of Rome and submit himself and receive the Queens mercy as others had done but he refused to deny his opinions or to embrace that which he knew was antichristian After they had thus baited this holy man for two daies they condemned him upon these Articles That he had said that the Catholick Church of Rome was the Church of Antichrist and that in the Sacrament of the Altar there was no Substantial Real or Natural body of Christ After his condemnation was read they caused him to be degraded and then delivered him to the Sheriffs to be punished Mr. Hooper being at the same time condemned with him they were both led by the Sheriff from St. Mary Overies in Southwark where they were condemned to Newgate Here he â—ay till the 4th of February being Monday early in the Morning the Keepers wife of Nâ—wgate came to him and finding him fast asleep could hardly wake him with Jogging to tell him he must prepare himself that day to be burnt Which Messâ—ge he received cheerfulâ—y and going to put on his cloaths I need not stâ—nd said he to fastâ—n my points He sent to Bish p Bonner that he might see and speak with his wifâ— which was denyed h m Then they searched his chamber for his writings but he had hid them in such an abscure place under the stairs that they could not find them but was after found â—y his wife and one of his children by Gods providence where was his tryal confession and answer to all his Articles as they are set down at large by Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments one of the Sheriffs named Woodroof coming to have him out of Newgate to his execution in Smithfield asked him â—f he would recant his abominable Doctrine and â—â—il opinion of the Sacrament of the Altar But Mr. Rogers answered him and say'd That which I hâ—ve preached I will seal with my Blood Then the Sâ—eriff called him Heretick That will be known says Mr. Rogers at the day of Judgment But says the Sheriff I will never pray for you Then I will pray for you said the holy Martyr Then he was led away on foot by the said sheriffs men towards Smithfield he saying the Psalm Miserere by the way all the people wonderfully rejoycing at his constancy with great praise and thanks to God for the same As he was going his Wife met him in the way with 10 Children that could go and one sucking at her Breast but this sorrowful sight of his own flesh and blood could nothing move him but he constantly and chearful proceeded to his death A little before he came to the stake a pardon was brought him if he would recant but he utterly refused it When he came to the stake he found there the Queens Controller and Sr. Richard Southwell both the Sheriffs and an infinite number of People to see him burnt He used not many words for indeed they would not permit him only he exhorted the People to remain in that faith and true Doctrine which he before had taught and they had learned and for the confirmation whereof he was not only content patiently to suffer and bear all such bitterness and cruelty as had been shewed him but also most gladly to resign up his Life and to give his flesh to the consuming fire for the Testimony of the same Thus he took his death with great meekness and wonderful patience in the defence and quarrel of Christ's Gospel When fire was put to him as it were washing and rubbing his hands in the midst of the flame he cry'd out Lord receive my Spirit till he was consumed to Ashes He was the first Protomartyr in Queen Maries daies of all that blessed company of sufferers and gave the first adventure upon the fire The Martyrdom of Mr Saunders at Coventry The next that we shall mention who much about the same time suffered by fire for the Gospel was Mr. Lawrence Saunders who was burnt at Coventry on the 8th of february 1555. This man was born of good parents his mother being a Gentlewoman of good Quality he was first educated at Eaton Colledg from thence sent to Kings Colledg in Cambridge where he continued for some time and profited very much in his Studies but his mother intending him for a Merchant took him from thence and bound him Prentise to Sr William Chester who was afterwards Sheriff of London the same year that Mr. Saunders was burnt But God so wrought on the spirit of this young man that he still continued his Studies finding an aversion in himself to the way he was in which made him pensive and melanchollick which being perceived by his Master he desired to know what might be the reason of it upon which he freely declared his mind and how he was bent on his Studies and did not at all relish that kind of Life upon which his Master wrote to his friends and freely gave him up his Indentures and set him at liberty to his no smalâ— rejoycing He was then once more sent to the University where he increased his knowledg and became a great proficient in the Greek and Laune tongues and also of the Hebrew giving himself wholâ—y to the study of the Scripture that he might be a Minister of Gods word which he ardently desired He lived a very strict and Godly life much exercised in prayer and thus continued till he was Master of Arts and a long time after In the beginning of King Edwards Reign when the Gospel was restored he beg in to preach and was so well lâ—ked of that he was appoynted to read the Divinity Lecture at the Colledg of Fothringha He married a wife about that time and after the Colledg was dissolved he was placed to be Reader in the Minster of Litchfeâ—â—d from thence he was beneficed in Leicester shire at a place called Church Laungâ—on where he resided kept a liberal House and taught Gods word diligently From thence he was
to you to burn you In that said Mr. Hooper thou dost nothing offend me God forgive thee thy sins and do thy office Then the reeds being put about him he took them in his Arms and Kissed them giving order how they should be placed presently fire was ordered to be put to him but by reason the faggots were green and also very few they put this holy man to intollerable torments and the wind being also strong blew the flame from him so that he was only scorched by the fire Then they fetch'd some dry faggots and made a new fire but all the reeds being gone they burnt his neither parts and never reach'd his upper parts only scorch'd and Shriffled his Skin and burnt his hair All which time this holy Martyr was heard to pray as one without pain O Jesus the son of David have mercy upon me and receive my soul After this second fire was spent he wiped his eyes with his hands and beholding the People he said with an indifferent loud voyce For God's Love good People let me have more fire and all the while his neither paris were burning Then they made a 3d fire more extream than the other then the bladders of Gunpowder broke which did not much good by reason the wind was so Violent then he prayed with a loud voyce Lord Jesus have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my Spirit these were the last words he was heard to speak but when his lipps and mouth were black as a Coal and his tongue swelled they were perceived to move till his lips were quire burnt away Then he knocked his breast with his hands till one of his Arms fell off and then he knocked it still with the other whilst water fat and blood fryed out at his fingers ends at last they renewed the fire when bending his body over the hoop of Iron he yeilded up his Spirit On the same day that this last mentioned holy Martyr suffered at Gloucester Dr. Rowland Taylor the Constant Martyr of Jesus Christ in the behalf of his Gospel was burnt at Hadley in suffolk where he had been the Parson all the Reign of King Edward the 6th and upon the bringing in of Popery under Queen Mary he was disturbed at his own Church thrust out and Popish Mass Celebrated before his Face but he endeavouring all he could to hinder it complaint being made to Gardner Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he sent for Dr. Taylor by his Letters missive to come before him at London which he readily obey'd But his friends knowing the Cruelty of that persecutor advised him to fly and save his Life but he utterly refused it saying Tho he knew they had neither Justice or Equity on their side and that he looked for nothing at his Popish Adversaries hands but Imprisonment or Cruel dearn yet since he knew his cause to be good and Righteous and Truth upon his side he would not flinch but appear and be willing to dye in so good a cause for that he was satisfied in his Conscience that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome led them to Idolatry Superstition Errors Hypocrisy and Lies After he came to London He was examined before the cruel Chancellor who called him Knave Villain Fool and such like unchristian expressions for which the Doctor humbly reproved him and seeing he could not make him turn to his Idolatry he sent him prisoner to the Kings Bench where he lay almost two years At his going away from the Bishop he kneeled down on the floor and lifting up both his hands with a loud voyce he say'd From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors Idolatries and abominations Good Lord deliver us When in prison he so preached to the rest of the prisoners there and used such godly exhortations and discourses leading also so strict and holy a life that he wrought upon many and converted them from their Superstitious errors He was also very Charitable while he had it relieving others tho he had a Wife and 9 Children but they soon deprived him of his benefice so that he had nothing to support him but the charity of good people which with Gods providence he found sufficient Several examinations he had before the Bishops where he strenuously maintained his positions for the Clergies Marriage and against the Corporeal presence of Christ in the Sacrament but at last they overcame him with their Temporal Weapon persecuting power backt by Statute Law and by it they Condemned him with Mr. Bradford and others to death as Hereticks to be burnt alive After this sentence he was degraded by Bishop Bonner in prison and they were compelled by main force to put on their Popish Trinkets upon his back he refuseing to do it himself and after they had notch'd his Hair and pair'd orscrap'd his fingers ends and with all their foppish Ceremonies stript him of his Popish habiliments when the Bishop should have struck him on the Breast with his staff seeing the sturdiness of the Doctor who was a portly bigg man Bonner was afraid and omitted that last Ceremony lest the Dr. should have struck him again The next day after this his degradation which is like the last unction for the burial at two of the Clock in the morning the Sheriffs took him and delivered him to his Guards who were to Conduct him to Hadley to be burnt there at which he rejoyced being willing to seal the Doctrine he had there preached with his blood His Wife fearing they would have him away by night for they feared daylight and the people she watched all night with two Children in the Porch of St. Buttolphs Church near Algate which way she knew he must pass and about 3 of the Clock it being very dark she heard the noise of the guard at which she ran out to her husband where was such a moaning and pathetick greeting or rather separation that the Sheriffs wept but forced her to depart and led him to the sign of the Woolsack where he was put on horseback with a hood over his face a place made for his Eyes to look out at and a slit for his Mouth that he might breath After this manner they carried him along that he might not be known all which he patiently suffered When he was come to Suffolk many of the Gentry and Justices of the peace met him of his friends and acquaintance all endeavouring to perswade him to save his Life by Recantation offering him not only pardon for his Life but great promotions even a Bishoprick But this good and constant professor of the Gospel strengthned by Gods holy Spirit refused all those Temptations coming to Hadley he rode thorow the Town where the poor people were assembled with grievous Moans and Tears Kneeling down and with lifted up hands prayed to God to strengthen him to whom he sayd That he had preached to them Gods Word the Truth and that he was now come to seal it
which be endured great troubles and persecutions by the B shâ—â—s of London and Canterbury Tokesly and Wâ—â—ham about the year 1531. And he had then hardly escaped their Clutches but by the favour of â—â—e King by the means of Dr. Butts the Kinâ—â— Physition who rescued him from the hands of his enemies and by the assistance of Cromwel advanced him to the Bâ—shoprick of Worcester Where be continued â—â—mâ— fâ—w years â—nstructing his Diocess like a good B shop a diligent and faithful Pastor where he likewise endured several troubles c. persecuâ—ions beâ—â—g brought before the King by his Advâ—rsâ—ries who thought to have put him into the Tower but the King perceiving the Integrity of this good man his heart relented and he dismissed Mr. Laâ—tmeâ— to the grief of his enemies But being pressed hard upon the 6 Articles not being able to do any thing against his Conscience he of his own voluntary mind resigned up his Bishoprick and when among his friends putting off his Rochet he thanked God he put off so heavy a burthen However he could not be free from troubles which his Popish Adversaries followed him with though he kept silence till the Reign of the blessed King Edward All whose days be preached constantly twice every Sunday and often before the King who was delighted with him though he was very aged being above threescore He was a Prophet and foretold the persecution that followed after saying he knew he should be put to Death for preaching the Gospel and that Gardner was reserved in the Tower for that purpose as it proved For he was no sooner released by Queen Mary but he sent a Pursivant for this good Bishop who having notice of it refused to fly but had prepared himself for his Journy to London against the Pursivant came who wondring at it he said to the Messenger my Friend you are welcome to me and I go as willingly with you to London being called thither by my Prince to render an account of my Doctrine as ever I was to go to any place in my Life and doubt not as God has enabled me to preach his word to two excellent Princes so he will inable me to witness the same unto the Third After which the Pursivant departed and left him to go by himself or to have departed the land which his enemies would have been glad of fearing his stoutness and constancy should do them more hurt than his Death would do them good as no doubt it did Coming up to London and riding thorow Smithfield he said smilingly that Smithfield had long groaned for him and now he was come After he had been before the Council he was sent to the Tower where he was kept very strictly it being winter very cold frosty was kept without any fire by which means the good old man was almost starved to Death with cold which made him say to his Keeper that he should tell his Master the Lieutenant that if he did not look better to him he should shortly deceive him upon which the Lieutenant put more Guards upon him came to demand of him the reason of his words Indeed said Mr. Latimer you expect that I should be burnt but except you let me have some fire I am like to deceive your expectation and die of cold Afterwards he was with Bishop Ridley and Archbishop Cranmer had to Oxford to dispute with the Popish Doctors there as you have heard and where they were all condemned to the fire the best way they had of confuting them But it was observed that appearing before the Commissioners that when all of them upon reading the Commission at the naming of the Cardinal as Legate à Latere from his Holiness the Pope they all put off their Caps Bishop Ridley who stood uncovered before put on his Cap as not owning the Popes supremacy and being chid for so doing as a contempt to the court he told them he honour'd them as the Q. Commissioners but should never acknowledge the Popes supremacy upon which they caused his Câ—p to be taken off his head which he suffer'd And when they came to have him dâ—graded â—f er their superstitâ—oâ—s manner he would by no means yield to it so that they were fain by meer force to put on the Popish Trinkets and to perform their Aâ—â—sh ceremonies of degradation against his will be all the time vehemenâ—ly enveying against them insomuch that some would have had him gagg'd to have made him Silent After they had thus degrâ—ded him the night before he was to suffer he washed his feet and Lâ—gs aâ—d shaved his Bâ—ard and appeared to his Friends so unconcerned that they had never sâ—en him merrier in all his life inviting them to his marriage the next dâ—y and desired his Brother-in-law and his Sister to be there and when his Brother â—ster'd to Wâ—tch with him that nighâ— â—e would not suffer him telling him he intended to sleep as quietly that night as he â—ad done in any of his Life which he did and thâ—t tho in the morning he should have a sharp breakfâ—st yet he was sure of a pleasant and sweet supper On the Northside of the Town in the Dâ—ch over against â—aâ—el Coâ—ledy the place for their exâ—cution was appointed Mr. Latâ—mer all â—ighâ— was earnest with God in prayer to whom he made 3 requests which were heard and granted The â—â—t was That as God had made him a preacher of his word so that he would give him strength to seal it with his death and with his hâ—â—râ—s blood and it so came to pass that he shewed aâ—miâ—able constâ—ncy and the fire opening his breast near his heart the Blood was seen to gush out in such abundance running down his body into the fire as if all the Blood in his body had been gathered to that plâ—ce The second request was that God would restore the Gospel to England which also came to pass And the Third was that he would perserve the Life of the princess Elizabeth from the Malice of her soes that she might be the glorious Instrument of the Gospels restauration which also came to pass As they passed thorow the streets a world of people crouding to see them for fear of â—ny tumuâ—â— the L. Williams was Commissionated to see the execution performed Doctor Ridly went in a black Gown furred and faced with faines such as he was wont to wear when a Bishop and a Velvet Tipper furred about his neck a Velvet Cap upon his head and a corner Cap upon the same going in his slâ—ppers and led between the Mayor and an Alderman After him came Mr. Latimer in a poor old worn out Bristow frize frock with a Keirchief about his head and on it an old burton'd Cap with a new shroud under his Coat that hung down to his feet being ready for the fire so that many wept to see him so poorly clad who lived so well and had been a Bishop When Dr. Ridly saw