he was a person distracted and knew not what he said and yet burned for an Heretick who in the midst of the flames lifting up his Head to Heaven soberly and discreetly called upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and so departed Vol. 2. p. 437. Roger Clarke a Suffolk Man taken at Ipswich and judged 1546. with one Kerby by my Lord Wentworth who after Sentence given talked with another Justice on the Bench a good while to whom Clarke said My Lord speak out and if you have done any thing contrary to your Conscience ask of God mercy and we from our hearts do forgive you speak not in secret for ye shall come before a Iudge and then make answer openly even before him that shall judge all Men. He was burn'd at Berry and at Stake kneeled down and said My Soul doth magnifie the Lord c. Vol. 2. p. 569. Dirick Carver a Beer-Brewer in Bright-Hamsted in Sussex an ancient and pious Man though not understanding a Letter of the Book was apprehended for having with some others been at Prayer in his House and after his apprehension he so improved his time in Learning though ancient that before he suffered through Gods blessing he could read any English printed Book At the Stake in Lewis Iuly 22. 1555. he went into the Barrel having stript himself and there spake to the People Dear Brethren and Sisters witness to you all that I am to seal with my Blood Christs Gospel because I know it is true and because I will not deny Gods Gospel and be obedient to Mens Laws I here am condemned to dye Dear Brethren and Sisters as many as believe on the Father Son and Holy Ghost unto everlasting Life see ye do the works pertaining to the same I ask ye all whom I have offended forgiveness for the Lords sake as I heartily forgive all you who have offended me in thought word and deed Lord have mercy upon me for unto thee do I commend my Soul and my Spirit doth rejoice in thee And so the Fire being kindled he said Oh Lord have mercy upon me and sprang up in the Fire calling on the Name of Jesus and so ended Vol. 3. p. 386. Richard Colliar of Ashford in Kent being examined and condemned for the Gospels sake as soon as he was condemned he sang a Psalm and was afterwards burnt with five more Kentish Men at three Stakes in one Fire in August 1555. Vol. 3. p. 394. Tho. Cranmer a Gentleman of a Family ancient as the Conquest born at Arselacton in Nottinghamshire brought up at School and at Cambridge was Fellow of Iesus Colledge and afterwards one of the Heads of the University used to examine all Graduates in Divinity who would not admit any to be Batchellors or Doctors in Divinity but those who were well read in the Scriptures whereby he refused many Fryars some of whom by being thereby brought to consult the Word of God were converted and afterwards returned him thanks This Cranmer was afterwards by King Hen. 8. made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for his Service to him in endeavouring to satisfie his Conscience about the divorce of his Queen Catherine his first Wife the Widow of his late deceased Brother He was of a mild Nature soon reconciled to his Enemies and so ready to do them good that it grew Proverbial Do my Lord of Canterbury a displeasure and then you may be sure to have him your Friend whilst he lives Vol. 3. p. 637. He was by many endeavours tempted to recant and after much resistance did at last recant chiefly out of a design to compleat an Answer against a Papish Book which he had begun but though he subscribed the Papists were ordered to burn him March 21. at Oxford by the Queen who had ordered Doctor Cole to have a Funeral Sermon in readiness against that day and accordingly at the day appointed the Doctor did preach and Cranmer was had to the Church not knowing the design but as he was perswaded to publish his Recantation publickly and after Sermon when it was expected he should declare his Recantation he with many tears and earnest desires did entreat the People to pray for him to God for pardon of his sins amongst which none troubled him more than his subscribing to Popery with his hand which he hated in his heart But saith he for as much as my hand hath offended it shall be first punished for may I come to the Fire it shall first be burnt and so he began to cry against the Papists and Popery whereby the Papists expectation were frustrated and they grew mad at him stopping his Mouth and pulling him down and led him forthwith to the Town-ditch to be burnt where in the Fire he put forth his right hand into the flames as soon as they came near him and held it there till it was burnt his body being unburnt often saying Oh unworthy right hand and saying often Lord Iesus receive my spirit he stood immovable in the flames and dyed March 21. 1556. Vol. 3. p. 670 671. Iohn Carter a Weaver of Coventry dyed in the Kings-Bench a Prisoner for the Gospel who expected and desired to have been burnt In a Letter to Mr. Philpot he writes thus My Friends report me to be more worthy to be burnt than any that was burnt yet God's blessing on their hearts for their good report God make me worthy of that dignity and hasten the time that I might set forth his glory He wrote divers Letters of encouragement to the persecuted Brethren and in one Letter to his Wife he begs and chargeth her to rejoice with him in this his state of sufferings for Christ's sake Vol. 3. p. 716. c. Peter Chevet See Peter Mrs. Gertrude Crockhay Wife to Mr. Robert Crockhay at St. Katherines by the Tower in London being for the Gospel persecuted fled 1556. to Gelderland beyond Sea to look after some Estate that should fall to her Children by a former Husband but there also she was betrayed and came to trouble at Antwerp where at the request of her Friends she was set at liberty and she came for England where she was infested again by the Papists and being very sick They told her Daughter that unless her Mother would receive the Sacrament she should not be buried with Christian burial who hearing the same said Oh how happy am I that I shall not rise with them but against them The Earth is the Lords and all the fullness thereof and therefore I commit the matter to him Soon after she dyed and was buried in her Husbands Garden Vol. 3. p. 1013 1014. Christians to the number of 30000 slain in the Massacre at Paris in France 1572. which was effected by the French King 's inviting the chief Captains of them and all other that would to the Wedding between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings Sister at which being kindly received some of them after the compleating of that Marriage were slain and all
made him worthy to suffer for his truth In the morning coming to Smithfield where he was burnt he kneeled down at the entrance into it and said I will pay my Vows in thee O Smithfield and then coming to the Stake he kist it saying Shall I disdain to suffer at the Stake seeing my Redeemer did not refuse to suffer on his Cross for me and then he said the 106 107 108. Psalms and was burnt December 18. 1555. His Letters were many and pious comforting the penitent Sinners From 1. Examples of Penitents 2. God can Pardon more than we can sin and will pardon him who with hope of mercy is sorry for his sin 3. God permits his People to see the evil of their sins and to sorrow for it to let them experience his superabounding Grace He brings to Hell that with greater joy he might lift up to Heaven 4. Satan's conflict in you tempting and your strife against sin is an evidence you are the Child of God whom he may unawares cause to fall by sin but he shall never overcome for God doth it but to try your Faith and he beholds your resistance is pleased with it and will never forsake you The Just falls 7 times a day but yet he riseth again 5. Rejoyce therein in that your temptation and sorrow shall add to your glory Pag. 598. In divers Letters he much exhorts to Martyrdom and in one to the Lady Vane he thus writes The World wonders we can be merry in such extreme misery but our God is omnipotent who turns misery into felicity Believe me dear Sister there is no such joy in the World as the People of God have under the Cross I speak by experience therefore believe me and fear nothing that the World can do for when they imprison our Bodies they set at liberty our Souls when they kill us they bring us to Everlasting Life and what greater glory can there be than to be at conformity with Christ which afflictions do work in us Pag. 603. In another he writes to her he saith I that am under the Cross have felt more true joy and consolation in it than ever I did by any benefit that God hath given me in all my life before for the more the World hates the nigher God is unto us and there is no joy but in God Pag. 604. In another to that Lady he writes thus We have cause to be glad of the times of Persecution as to our selves for if we be imprisoned we are blessed if we lose all we have we are blessed a hundred times if we die we are blessed eternally so that in suffering persecution all is full of Blessings Vol. 3. pag. 605. Agnes Potten an Ipswich Woman burnt with Ioan Trunchfield in Q. Mary's dayes They being undressed for the fire with comfortable words of Scripture exhorted People to constancy against Popery and so continuing in the torment of the fire they held up their hands and called on God constantly so long as Life endured Vol. 3. p. 678. Iulius Palmer born at Coventry and Student and Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford who in King Edward the Sixth's dayes was a great Papist for which he was expelled the Colledge till Queen Mary's time when he was received again to his Fellowship and about 24 years of age by Scriptures and Peter Martyr's Books and Calvin's Institutions God so wrought that he became a zealous Protestant nor would be revoked from it declaring the Pope to be Antichrist whereupon for his safety he left the Colledge and went to Reding to teach a School where in a short time by false pretended Friends he was betray'd and forced to fly And he thinking to receive some Legacy due to him by his Father's Will went to his Mother in this his need and begging her Blessing on his knees she saluted him thus You shall have Christ 's curse and my curse where ever you go To which words of his Mother he said being amazed at the salutation Your curse O Mother you may give me which God knows I have not deserved but God's curse you cannot give me for he hath already blessed me Then she said You went out of God's Blessing into the warm Sun when you went from your Religion for I am sure you believe not as I and your Father and our Fore-fathers believed but art an Heretique and know your Father bequeathed nothing for Heretiques As for money and goods I have none for you faggots I have to burn you more you get not at my hands To whom he answer'd I am no Heretick but do embrace a Religion as old as Christ and his Apostles and though you curse me yet I pray God bless you And so softly spoke to her that she threw after him an old Angel to keep him honest So he went away from his Mother going privately to Reding again to gather up some Money due to him where he was basely betray'd and brought to Examination and was condemned and about one hour before his Execution he comforts himself and two others who suffer'd with him with Christ's Words Mat. 5.10 11 12. and by these sayings Be of good chear in the Lord faint not we shall not end our Lives in the fire but make a change for a better Life yea for coals we shall receive Pearls And in the fire they three lifted up their hands and quietly and chearfully as if feeling no pain they cry'd Lord Jesus strengthen us Lord Jesus assist us Lord Jesus receive our Souls And so called on Iesus till they dyed being burnt at Newbury Iuly 16. 1556. Vol. 3. pag. 733 to 741. One Prest's Wife of Exeter being a Protestant but seeming to be a simple ignorant Woman left her Husband and Children because they were Papists and went up and down to work for her living and being taken and examined she said In the cause of Christ and his truth she must either forsake Christ or her Husband I am content to stick only to Christ my heavenly Spouse and renounce the other whom I left not for Whoredom Theft or the like but because they by their Superstition and Idolatry persecuted me rebuked and troubled me when I would have had them leave their Idolatry The Doctors further talking with her she said You do but trouble my Conscience you will have me follow your doings but I will first lose my life I pray depart She openly reproved and argued against their Idolatry and that they went about to damn Souls by their Doctrine and perswading them to Idolatry She seemed to be a very simple Woman yet could she rehearse many places in Scripture And when she being condemned was desired to ask Pardon because she was an unlearned Woman not able to answer in such high matters she said I am not indeed able to answer in such high matters yet with my death am I content to be a witness of Christ 's Death And being again proffer'd a pardon if she would recant she said Nay
returned to Ephesus he was desired to resort to the adjacent places to appoint Bishops where he committed a comely ingenuous young Man to the Bishop of the place to be by him kept with great diligence in witness hereof Christ and his Church Which young Man the Bishop received and with diligence brought up baptized and at length committed to him a Cure in the Lords behalf The young Man now having his liberty through the corruptness of his Companions became dissolute a Thief and a Murderer yea the Captain of them and S. Iohn being sent for again into those Parts demanded of the Bishop the charge committed to him who said he was dead to God and become an evil Man a Thief frequenting this Mountain Whereat S. Iohn rent his Cloaths and said I have left a good Keeper of my Brother's Soul And got him a Horse and presently fell into the company of the Thieves and was designedly taken desiring to be brought to their Captain who was well armed yet beginning to know S. Iohn fled but when recalled by S. Iohn he threw down his Arms and became truly penitent and was received into Church again After this S. Iohn going to bathe himself and seeing Cerinthus the Heretick in the Bath would not go in lest the Bath should fall on them Vol. 1. p. 47 48. Ignatius was given to be devoured of Wild Beasts the 111. year of Christ when he was going to the Lions he said Oh would to God I were come to the Beasts prepared for me which I wish with gaping Mouths were ready to come upon me whom I will provoke that they may without delay devour me I esteem nothing visible or invisible so I may get or obtain Christ let the Fire Gallows devouring of Beasts breaking of Bones pulling asunder of Members bruising or pressing my whole Body and the torments of the Devil or Hell it self come upon me so that I may win Christ And when he heard the Lions roaring he said I am the Wheat or Grain of Christ I shall be ground with the Teeth of Wild Beasts that I may be found pure Bread Vol. 1. p. 52. Iustin Martyr was a profound Philosopher and became a Christian by seeing the constancy of their sufferings whence he gathered they could not endure carnality or vice who could thus easily lay down their lives and being a Christian he wrote divers Apologies in their behalf and prevailed not a little for their good and was at last Martyred soon after Polycarpus in the 4 th Persecution he dyed chearfully and with honour Vol. 1. p. 58.63 64. Iulitta being spoiled of her goods by the Emperours Officer under the 10 th Persecution and complaining to the Emperour that so she might have her goods again the Officer pleaded her to be a Christian and therefore not to have her goods which being proved and owned she was sentenced to lose goods and life whereupon she said Farewel life welcome death farewel riches welcome poverty all that I have were it a thousand times more than it is would I lose rather than speak Blasphemy against God my Creator I yield thee thanks most hearty O God for this great gift of Grace that I can despise this transitory World preferring Christianity above all treasures And whenever she was examined she said She was a Servant of Christ and did detest their Idolatry And as she past to the Fire she exhorted the Women thus O Sisters stick not to travel after true Piety cease to accuse feminine frailty are not we Created of the same Mould with Men and made after Gods Image as well as they God used not Flesh only in Creating Woman to declare her weakness but Bone also in token that she must be strong in the living God all false Gods for saking constant in faith and patient in adversity wax weary of your lives my Sisters led in darkness and love my Christ my God my Redeemer Perswade your selves there is a future state wherein the worshippers of Idols shall be perpetually tormented and the Servants of the high God Crowned eternally With which words she embraced the Fire Vol. 1. p. 122 123. Ierome of Prage a Bohemian burnt 1415. being condemned and to be Crowned with a Paper Mitre painted with red Devils he willingly received it saying He would wear that for Christs sake who wore a Crown of Thorns for him And going to execution he sung Psalms and prayed and after the Fire was kindled he said O Lord God Father Almighty have mercy upon me and be merciful unto mine offences for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved thy truth And so the Fire consumed him whose Ashes as also the Ashes of Iohn Husse were gathered up and cast into the River Rheine Vol. 1. p. 837 838. Ioris of Aschen in Flanders hanged on a Gibbit for the Gospel 1567. being condemned wrote to his Parents he said Comfortable News namely that in all my life I never saw one day so pleasing to me as this is in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions to suffer for his holy Name for which I give him most humble thanks I do take my last farewel of you till we meet in Heaven be not grieved I pray you but be patient for the affliction which is befallen me is most acceptable to me for which I bless and praise God Additions to Vol. 3. concerning Massacre in Flanders p. 96 97. K K LEonard Keyser of Bavaria was for maintaining Justification by Faith degraded and to be burned who as he went to execution spake and said O Lord Jesus remain with me sustain me and help me and give me force and power And when the wood was fit to be set on fire he cry'd with a loud voice O Jesus I am thine have mercy upon me and save me and so was burned August 16. 1526. Vol. 2. pag. 114 115. Kerby a Suffolk Man being apprehended at Ipswich 1546. was to be condemned and one Mr. Wingfield much perswading him to accept of mercy and not burn he said Ah M. Wingfield be at my burning and you will say There stands a Christian Souldier in the fire for I know that fire water sword and all things are in the hand of God who will suffer no more to be laid upon me than he will give me strength to bear Being condemned he said Praised be Almighty God and at the fire he shew'd himself a Christian and died calling upon God and holding up his Hands Vol. 2. pag. 569. L L LUcius hearing Ptolomeus unjustly condemned by Urbicius in the 4 th Persecution reproved the Judge who said to Lucius Methinks thou art a Christian which being granted by Lucius the Judge forthwith condemned him to be had away to the place of execution whereupon Lucius said I thank you with all my heart that you release me from most wicked Governours and send me to my most good and loving Father who is the King of gods Vol. 1. p. 59.
they spilled daily in fighting against Christ and his Gospel He suffered at Paris Vol. 1. p. 133. Noblemen 100 and others of Alsatia were burned and martyred the 1212. year of Christ under Pope Henricus 3. for holding every day was free for eating Flesh so it be done soberly and that they did wickedly who restrained Priests from their lawful Wives Vol. 1. pag. 336. Iohn Noyes a Shoe-maker of Laxfield in Suffolk burned 1557. in September when he came to the place of Execution he kneeled down and sang the 50 th Psalm and being bound at the Stake he said Fear not them that kill the Body but fear him that can kill both Body and Soul and cast it into everlasting fire And seeing his Sister weeping he desired her not to weep for him but for her sins Having a Faggot thrown at him he kissed it and said Blessed be the time that ever I was born to come to this And in the fire he said Lord have mercy upon me Christ have mercy upon me Son of David have mercy upon me He wrote a Letter to his Wife containing nothing but consolation from Texts of Scripture and bidding her farewell he desired his Wife and Children to leave worldly care and see that they were diligent to pray Vol. 3. p. 850 851 852. Nichaise of Tombe born in Tournay martyred for the Gospel being condemned he said Praised be God At the Stake he said Lord they have hated me without a cause and prayed thus Eternal Father have pity and compassion on me according as thou hast promised to all that ask the same of thee in thy Sons Name And so he continued praying until his last gasp Additions to Vol. 3. of the Massacre in France and Flanders p. 33. O O ORigen at 17 Years old wrote to his Father Leonides to encourage him to suffer martyrdom under the fifth Persecution began the 205. Year of Christ. He wrote about 7000 Volumes as much as 7 Notaries and as many Women could pen. Vol. 2. p. 70. Cicely Ormes Wife of Edward Ormes a Worsted-Weaver in Norwich was burnt September 23. 1557. at Norwich She was an ignorant simple Woman yet zealous in the Lord's cause and being threatned by the Chancellor of Norwich she said He should not be so desirous of her sinful flesh as she would by God's grace be content to give it in so good a quarrel Being condemned at the Stake she pray'd and repeated her Faith and then said to the People I would not have you think that I believe to be saved in that I offer my self here unto death for Christ 's cause but I believe to be saved by the death of Christ 's passion and this my death is and shall be a witness of my Faith unto you all Good People as many as believe of you I pray you pray for me And then she coming to the Stake she kissed it and said Welcome sweet Cross of Christ and so was bound to it and in the fire she said My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour and so she yielded up her Life Vol. 3. p. 833. Robert Oguier of the City Lile in Flanders his Wife and two Sons Bardicon and Martin were apprehended 1556. and first the Father and Bardicon suffer'd who upon examination confessed their Faith and Bardicon being apprehended as he went said O Lord assist us with thy Grace not onely to be prisoners for thy sake but so as to seal with our bloods thy Truth And told the Emperor's Commissioners the tenour of their prayers in their Meetings for God's glory and the Empires and Emperors felicity And then he and his Father submitted themselves to the Judges while Martin his Brother chose to accompany his Mother who was still detained in Prison And these two were by their Judges condemned to be burnt which sentence being past they returned to Prison rejoycing that the Lord had honoured them to enroll them amongst the number of Martyrs The day of Execution being told them they blessed God who delivering their Bodies out of Prison would receive their Souls into his Kingdom The Father being advised to pity his Soul said You see what pity I have of it when for the Name of Christ I willingly abandon my Body to the fire hoping to day to be with him in Paradise At the Stake he and his Son sang the 16. Psalm and being chained the Son said to his Father Be of good comfort the worst will be past by and by And often repeated these words O God Father Everlasting accept the Sacrifice of our Bodys for thy wel-beloved Son Jesus Christ 's sake And lifting his Eyes to Heaven he spoke to his Father saying O Father behold I see the Heavens open and millions of Angels ready to receive us rejoycing to see us thus witnessing our truth in the view of the World Father let us be glad and rejoyce for the joyes of Heaven are set before us Fire being kindled he oft repeated to his Father thus Yet a little while and we shall enter into the Heavenly Mansions And their last words were Jesus Christ thou Son of God into thy Hands we commend our Spirits And within 8 dayes the Mother Iane Oguier and Martin her Son were brought forth but in Prison Iane by the Papists was perswaded to recant and to endeavour her Son's return to Popery who hearing of it said to her Oh Mother what have you done have you denyed him that redeemed you What evil hath he done you that you should requite him with so great an injury Ah good God! that I should live to see this day which pierceth my heart And his Mother hearing his words and seeing his tears began to renew her strength in the Lord and with tears cry'd Father of mercies be merciful to me miserable sinner and cover my transgressions under the Righteousness of thy Blessed Son Lord enable me to stand to my first Confession and to abide stedfast in it to my last breath And when the Papists came to her again she said Avoid Satan get thee behind me for hence forth thou hast neither part nor portion in me I will by the help of my God stand to my Confession and if I may not sign it with Ink I will seal it with my Blood And so she and her Son were condemned to be burnt and their ashes to be cast into air who rejoyced at the Sentence and accounted it a day of Triumph over their Enemies and Martin being profer'd an hundred pound if he would recant said He would not lose an Eternal Kingdom for it Addition to Vol. 3. of Massacres of France pag. 1. to 5. P P PHilip the Apostle after he had much laboured amongst the Barbarous Nations in preaching the Word of Salvation to them at length he suffer'd in Hierapolis a City of Phrygia being there crucified and stoned to death where also he was buried and his Daughters with him Vol. 1. pag. 42 43. Peter the
the greatest honour that ever I was called to in my life and I thank my Lord heartily for it that he hath called me to the high favour to suffer death willingly for his sake which is an inestimable gift of God therefore O ye that love me rejoice and rejoice again with me and render with me thanks to God that hath called me to this dignity Vol. 3. p. 505. Could Queen Mary have been entreated for Bishop Ridley or could his life have been purchased the Lord Dacres in the North his Kinsman would have given her 1000 Marks or 1000 Pounds rather than he should have been burned Vol. 3. p. 996. Iohn Rabec burned at Aniers in France April 24. 1556. had his Tongue cut out because he would not pronounce Iesus Maria joining them both in one Prayer and being urged thereto with great threats he said If his Tongue should but offer to do so he would himself bite it asunder Additions to Vol. 3. concerning French Massacre p. 5. Anthony Ricetto a Martyr at Venice 1566. being by his Son of twelve years of age perswaded to recant that he might not be Fatherless said to his Child A good Christian is bound to forego Goods Children yea Life it self for the maintenance of God's honour and glory and so he was drowned having an Iron Hoop about him and to a Chain fastned to that Hoop a great Weight fastned and so carryed in a Wherry into the Sea where being laid on a Board and that Board laid cross on two Wherries the Wherries removing he fell into the Sea which was the manner of the Venetians punishing their Martyrs Additions to Vol. 3. p. 44. S S SAnctus being under the fourth Persecution grievously tormented and by the Tormentors asked What he was answered nothing but said he was a Christian And notwithstanding his being scorched by hot plates in the tenderest parts of the Body so that his Body lost the shape of a Man yet he never shrank and declared That nothing was terrible or ought to be feared where the love of God is and nothing grievous wherein the glory of Christ is manifested And when he was again punished though his Body was so misfigured before his second punishment yet now was it reduced to its first shape of a Man and suppled in all its contracted parts Soon after he was again tormented and set in an hot Iron-chair nor yet would he confess any thing but that he was a Christian And after this being made a sad spectacle to the People he was beheaded Vol. 1. p. 60.61 62. Souldiers being put to their choice by the Marshal of the Camp by Diocletian's order under the tenth Persecution whether they would sacrifice to Idols at the Emperours command or lay aside their Offices and Weapons They unanimously answered They were ready not only to lay down their Weapons but their Lives also if by the Emperour's tyranny required rather than they would obey the wicked Decrees of him Vol. 1. p. 101. Simeon Archbishop of Seleucia being by Sapores King of Persia under the tenth Persecution called and examined confessed himself to be a Christan And being demanded Why he kneeled not before the King as he used to do he said That before he observed what the custom of the Realm did require of him but now it is not lawful for I come to stand in defence of our Religion and Doctrine He was beheaded Vol. 1. pag. 125 126. See Usthazares in the latter part of this Book Henry Sutphen Monk an associate of Luthers 1524. converted Breme and being sent for after two years time to Deithmar to preach amongst those great Idolaters he at last went designing only to lay the foundation of a Reformation and so to return to Breme to satisfie the importunity of his Friends He being at Breme the Monks and Friars conspire against him and consult his destruction accordingly they sent Minatory Letters to the Inhabitants at Deithmar and also to their Parish Priest who had received him But Sutphen's ananswer was That being called by them to preach the Gospel he would do it and if it pleased God he should lose his Life at Deithmar there was as near a way to Heaven as in any other place for he doubted not at all that once he must suffer for the Gospels sake Upon this courage he preached divers times and Popish Priests were sent to supplant him and to trap him in his Sermons many of whom were converted by them and did declare them to be agreeable to the word of God After this many ways were used to destroy him and at last the Franciscan Friars conspired with some Presidents of the Country to kill him before the Inhabitants of the Town of Deithmar should know of it or before his cause were try'd not permitting him to speak to them for himself lest as they said he should perswade them to be Hereticks Whereupon the Presidents assembled 500 Husbandmen to whom when met together they imparted the business who detesting it would not do it but would have returned home but were forced to obedience by the threats of their Governour who to fit them for the work gave them three Barrels of Hamborough Beer and then about midnight they came to Deithmar to the Priest's and first wofully abused him and then trained Sutphen out of bed naked and tying his hands behind him forced him on so fast that his feet were much wounded by the Ice whereof he complaining and desiring a Horse they said he should go on foot whether he would or no And in the morning after much misery by him suffered without any examination they condemned him to be burnt and accordingly they bound him hands neck and feet and brought him to the fire which was not oftner kindled than it went out nor could they make the wood burn As he passed by to the fire a Woman seeing the sad usage of him wept bitterly to whom he did reply Weep not I pray for me And at the fire being condemned he said I have done no such thing as they accuse me of And holding up his hands he said O Lord forgive them for they offend ignorantly not knowing what they do In the mean time a certain Woman offer'd to suffer 1000 stripes and to give them much Money so they would but keep him in Prison till he had pleaded his cause but they were the more enraged and threw down and trod upon the Woman And seeing the fire would not burn Sutphen they smote him with their hands and prick'd and struck him with divers weapons and then bound him to a Ladder by the neck to strangle him so strait and hard that the blood gushed out of his nose and mouth the doer of it treading upon his breast the while not permitting him to prate or pray and being tyed to a Ladder one Iohn Holmes ran to him and struck him with a Mace till he was dead Vol. 1. pag. 102 103 104 105 106. Mr. Peter Spengler of Schalt in
Dr. with holes only to see and breathe through that none might know him nor he speak to any The Dr. was very pleasant all the way as if he was going to a Banquet And when he came to Chelmsford the Sheriff of Suffolk met him and as they were at Supper the Sheriff of Essex perswaded him to turn to Popery pleading his strength of body might live long and he would be in great esteem because all loved him for his sweetness and Learning and a pardon might still be had and so drank to him and so did all the Yeomen of the Guard his Attendants And when the Cup came to the Dr. he considered a while before he spake and at last thanked them for their Counsel and said To be plain with you I perceive I have been deceived my self and am like to deceive a great many of Hadley of their expectation At which words they rejoyced saying Gods blessing on your heart hold you there still why should you cast away your life But he said My meaning is this I am deceived and as I think I shall deceive a great many I am ye see a Man of a great carcass which I thought should have been buried in Hadly Church-yard but herein I see I am deceived and there are a great many worms in Hadly Church-yard which would have had a jolly feeding upon this carrion but now I know they will be deceived for this carcass must be burned to ashes Which sayings astonished the Sheriff that he should but jest at death now at hand Within 2 miles of Hadly he desired to alight to make water and fetched a frisk or two as Men do in dancing saying he was very well never better For now I know I am almost at my Father's home And after that he did understand he should go through Hadly he blessed God that he should once more see his People before he died whom he prayed God to bless and keep stedfast in word and truth and at Hadly a poor Man and 5 Children meeting him begg'd an alms and pray'd to God to comfort him as he had done often him and his Children And the People of Hadly stood in the streets weeping and praying for him saying There goes our good Shepherd Oh God! what will become of us poor Lambs To whom the Dr. all along said I have preached among you God's truth and am now come to seal it with my blood And at the Almes-house he gave them all the Money he had His care was once a fortnight to visit with the Gentry the poor Inhabitants and whom he found to blame he reboked whom he found to want he supply'd At last coming to Aldam Common the place of his suffering he would have spoke but was not permitted onely he said to the People He had preached and was now to seal the truth of the Gospel with his blood for which saying he was struck And being ty'd fast to the Stake in a pitch-barrel he held up his hands saying Merciful Father of Heaven for Jesus Christ 's sake my Saviour receive my Soul into thy hands And so he stood with his hands joyned until one with a Halberd knocked his brains out and the dead Corps fell down into the fire Vol 3. p. 176 177 178. Thomas Tomkins burnt March 16. 1555. a London Waver to whom Bishop Bonner used cruelty and at his own Palace hall at Fulham to terrifie the poor Man burnt his hand with a Taper till the veins and sinews broke and the water spirted in the faces of the standers by who being moved with pity requested the Bishop to stay saying he had try'd him enough But the Bishop stay'd not till he had effected his burning in Smithfield This Tomkins never shrank at the burning his hand but said he was wrapt in Spirit so that he felt no pain Vol. 3. p. 187 188 190. Iohn Taylor otherwise called Iohn Cardmaker Prebendary of Wells and a Franciscan Fryar burnt with one Warn May 30. 1555. in Smithfield where the Sheriff talking much with Taylor and the Papists having noised abroad his recantation the People began to suspect it but at last Taylor suddenly went and pray'd then stript himself to his shirt went to the Stake and kissed it and shaking his Fellow-sufferer Iohn Warn by the hand comforted him and then heartily gave himself to be burned whereat all the People cry'd out for joy God be praised the Lord strengthen thee Cardmaker the Lord Jesus receive thy Spirit till such time as by fire he was consum'd Vol. 3. p. 246 248. George Tankerfield a zealous Papist in King Edward VI. dayes a Cook in London But in Queen Mary's dayes seeing their Popish persecution and cruelty hated their doctrine prayed to God for direction and studied the word of God and became a zealous Protestant who for the Gospel was condemned and was burnt at St. Albans August 26. 1555. In the Inn before he suffered he called for some Malmsey and a loaf to eat and drink in remembrance of Christ's death and Passion which he said he did not in contempt of the Ministry or to detract from the Ordinance but because he could not have it administred to him according to God's Word And after he had with prayer and thanksgiving received he caused a good fire to be made in his Chamber and he sitting by it pull'd off his hose and shoes and stretched out his feet towards it and when the flame had touched his foot he quickly drew back his leg shewing how the Flesh did perswade him one way and the Spirit another The Flesh said Oh! thou foot wilt thou burn and need not The Spirit Be not afraid for this is nothing in respect of fire Eternal The Flesh said Do not leave the company of thy Friends which love thee The Spirit said The company of Iesus Christ and his glorious presence doth exceed all fleshly Friends The Flesh saith Do not shorten thy time for thou mayest live if thou wilt much longer But the Spirit said This Life is nothing to the Life in Heaven which lasteth for ever And after he coming to the Stake pray'd and with a joyful faith said That although he had a sharp dinner yet he hoped to have a joyful supper And in the fire he calling on the name of the Lord was quickly out of pain V. 3. p. 397. William Tyms Minister burnt with several others April 14. 1556. wrote to his Sister thus I take my leave of you till we meet in Heaven you shall find me merrily singing Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabboth at my journey's end And at the end of his Letter he wrote his name in blood in token that he would seal the Doctrine of Christ with the rest and also he wrote in blood these words Continue in prayer ask in Faith and obtain your desire In another Letter to his Parishioners at Hockley in Essex exhorts them to constancy to his Doctrine which he now was about sealing with his blood