Purgatory He was nine Months in Prison in great misery bewailing his former life though no man could charge him with any outward Crime and enduring more severe torments by the Officers afterwards he being of a weak body comforted himself thus This Body said he must once dye but the Spirit shall live the Kingdom of God endureth for ever And swooning when he came to himself he said Oh Lord why hast thou forsaken me but his Tormentors further vexing him he said O Lord I beseech thee forgive them they know not what they do And when Sentence was given against him he comforted himself with S. Paul's words Rom. 8. saying Who shall separate us from the love of God shall the Sword hunger nakedness no nothing shall pluck me from him And being brought to the place of Execution he sang the 114. Psalm and testified he dyed for the Gospel of Christ and said O Lord haste thee to help me and tarry not and desired all to study the Gospel and not to fear them that kill the body He said he found his Flesh to resist marvellously his Spirit but he should soon cast it off And then begging the people to pray for him he said often O Lord my God into thy Hands I commend my Soul In the often repeating of which he dyed being strangled and burned Vol. 2. p. 129 130. Anne Audebert an Apothecaries Wife and Widow at Orleance in France being judged to be burnt for Religion's sake when the Rope was about her neck to strangle her she called it her Wedding Girdle wherewith she should be married to Christ And as she should be burned on a Saturday she said I was first married upon a Saturday and on a Saturday I shall be married again And martyred she was with such constancy as made the beholders to marvel Vol. 2. p. 135. Somponius Algerius a young man burnt at Rome 1555. being in Prison at Venice from whence he was sent to Rome he wrote an Epistle to the persecuted and afflicted Saints wherein he declares the many ways he was tempted to recant to which Tempters he said God forbid I should deny Christ whom I ought to confess I will not set more by my life than by my Soul nor will I exchange the life to come for this present world Vol. 2. p. 180 181 182. Mrs. Anne Askew being 1545. apprehended and often examined as an Heretick subscribed two of her Confessions thus By Anne Askew that neither wisheth death nor feareth his might and as merry as one that is bound towards Heaven God have the praise thereof with thanks She always concluded her Letters with Pray Pray Pray She was racked till almost dead to discover her Confederates but she would not then was she by flattery tempted but was not so won to deny her Faith but said she would rather burn than deny it In Newgate before she suffered she made a Confession of her Faith clearing her self from Errours and proving her self a Christian and then prayed for support against the malice of her Enemies that they might not overcome her and that God would pardon their sins and open their Eyes and Hearts to do what God pleased and to set forth his Truth without Errour She was of a Family that she might have lived in great wealth and prosperity if she had loved the world more than Christ but she being constant was at last being unable to go by reason of her racking brought in a Chair to Smithfield and there chained to a Stake when Wrisley then Lord Chancellor sent her pardon and bad her recant but she refused to look once on them and said she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master and so was burned in Iune 1546. with whom suffered also Iohn Lacels Iohn Adams and Nicholas Belenian which three men though courageous before yet by her Exhortation and Example were emboldened and received greater comfort Vol. 2. p. 580. Iohn Ardeley an Essex man being burnt Iune 10. 1555. was examined and perswaded by Bishop Bonner to recant to whom he said Bear as good a face my Lord as you can you and all of your Religion are of a false Faith and not of the Catholick Church God foreshield I should recant for then should I lose my Soul and if every hair on my head was a man I would suffer death in the Faith and Opinion that I now am in And so he did Vol. 3. p. 253. Will. Allen a Norfolk man burnt at Walsingham 1555. in September because he would not go in Procession and kneel to the Cross he was in such favour with the Justices of Peace for his tryed conversation amongst them that he was permitted to go to his Sufferings untyed and there being fastned with a Chain stood quietly without shrinking till he dyed Vol. 3. p. 419. Rose Allen of much Bentley in Essex being fetching drink for her sick Mother in a morning with a light Candle who was also with her self and Father apprehended by Edmond Tyrrel Esq to be all three carried to Colchester Goal for the Gospel who perswaded this Rose Allen to counsel her Parents well who said They had a better Counsellor than she to wit the Holy Ghost who I trust will not suffer them to erre And being for this accused of Heresie by him she said With that which you call Heresie I worship my Lord God To whom he then said I perceive you will also burn for company's sake And she answered Not for company's sake but for Christ's sake and if he call me to it I hope in his mercy he will enable me to bear it So Tyrrel took her Candle and held it to her hand burning it crossways the back of it till the sinews crackt asunder and asked her often during that tyranny What you Whore will you not cry To whom she said she had no cause to weep if he considered it well he had more cause to weep for she had none she thanked God but rather had cause to rejoice and she said that though at first burning it was some grief to her yet the longer it burnt the lesser she felt or well near no pain at all Vol. 3. p. 830. Iohn Alcock a young man in Suffolk apprehended at Hadley because he would not move his Cap as the Priest came into Church with a Procession and being bid to take heed of the Priest he said I fear not for he shall do no more than God will give him leave and happy shall I be if God will call me to dye for his Truths sake And being sent up to London he dyed in Prison at Newgate and was buried in a Dunghil 1558. Vol. 3. p. 883. Richard Atkins burnt at Rome 1581. he was born in Hartfordshire in England and travelling to Rome he came to the English Colledge knocking at whose Gates several English Scholars came out and bid him go to the Hospital and there he should receive his meat and drink But he declared he came not to
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
that I will not God forbid I should lose Life Eternal for this carnal and short Life I will never turn from my Heavenly Husband to my Earthly from the fellowship of Angels to my mortal Children And if my Husband and Children be faithful I am theirs God is my Father God is my Mother God is my Brother God is my Sister my Kinsman my Friend most faithful And at the Stake she continued crying Lord be merciful to me a sinner Vol. 3. p. 890 891. Peter Chevet burnt at Maubert near Paris March 11. 1559. being threatned to suffer he said Truly I do not think to escape your hands and though ye scorch and roast me alive yet will I never renounce my Christ. Being asked by the Official If he would not be absolved he said It is a question Oh poor Man whether thou canst save thy self and wilt thou take upon thee to save others Who being thereat angry threatned him with longer imprisonment to whom the Martyr said Alas alas though I should rot in Prison yet shall you find me still the same Man And at the Stake having his Cloaths pull'd off he said How happy how happy Oh how happy am I with eyes lift up to Heaven and so he died Additions to Vol. 3. concerning Massacre in France pag. 9. R R ROmanus a great encourager of the Christians in Antioch when they were persecuted in the 10 th Persecution was himself by Galerius then Emperour called out apprehended and sentenced to all the torments the Christians should have undergone who said O Emperour I joyfully accept of thy Sentence I refuse not to be sacrificed for my Brethren and that by as cruel a means as thou may'st invent then he was scourged and under the lashes he sang Psalms and laughed to scorn the Heathens Gods affirming the Christian's God to be the only true God before whose judicial Seat all Nations should appear then was his side launched till the Bones appeared yet he still Preached Christ and exhorted them to adore the living God then were his Teeth knockt out his Eye-lids torn his Face cut and he said I thank thee that thou hast opened to me many Mouths whereby I may Preach my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ look how many Mouths I have so many Mouths I have lauding and praising God After that he was brought to new wounds and stripes and distongued who still spake and said He that speaketh Christ shall never want a Tongue At length he was had to Prison and there strangled When some pleaded he was of Noble Parentage and it was not lawful to put such a one to an un-noble death he said He required them not to spare him for Nobility-sake for said he not the blood of my Progenitors but Chrstian Profession maketh me Noble Vol. 1. p. 116 117. Iohn Rogers a Cambridge Scholar and Chaplain to the Merchants of Brabant beyond Sea where he was acquainted with Mr. Tindal and helped him and Mr. Coverdale in the Translation of the Bible he threw off the Yoak of Popery and becoming a Protestant he married and went to live at Wittenberg in Saxony Vol. 3. p. 119. and there learning the Dutch Tongue he had a Congregation committed to his charge where he staid till King Edward the 6 th's time and then being orderly called came into England and Preached there and was by Bishop Ridley made Prebend of Paul's but in Queen Mary's days he suffered much and was burned Feb. 4. 1555. He was the first that suffered in Queen Mary's days he Prophesied of Rome's downfall and that e're long in England true Gospel Ordinances should be again restored and the poor people of England should be brought to as good or a better state His Wife and ten Children that could go and one at her Breast met him going to burn but he was not moved but continued constant and suffered Vol. 3. p. 130 131. Bishop Ridley born in Northumberlandshire had his education in Newcastle was Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge Vol. 1. p. 432. then Chaplain to King Henry the 8 th who made him Bishop of Rochester and in King Edward the 6 th's days he was made Bishop of London He Preached every Sunday and Holyday in some place or other if not hindred by great affairs he was kind and affable one that presently forgave injuries and was wont to tell his Relations that if they acted evil he should esteem them as strangers to him and they who did honestly should be to him as Brothers and Sisters As soon as he was ready each morning he alwayes prayed for half an hour and then spent most part of the day and night in study he not going to Bed usually till eleven of the Clock and then praying He did read every day a Lecture in his Family gave every one of his Family a new Testament and hired them to learn several Chapters especially the 13. of the Acts. He being advised by one that was his Chaplain formerly to consult others and to turn Papist he said I would have you know that I esteem nothing available for me which also will not further the glory of God Vol. 3. p. 447. He being condemned at Oxford was kept close Prisoner in Mr. Irish the Major's House where he being at Supper the night before he was to suffer he was very merry and invited the Guests at the Table to his Wedding next day for to morrow saith he I shall be married which the Major's Wife hearing wept to whom he said You love me not now I see for I perceive you will not be at my Wedding nor are contented with my marriage but quiet your self though my Breakfast be sharp and painful yet I am sure my Supper shall be more pleasant and sweet Vol. 3. p. 502. And at the Stake he suffering with Mr. Latimer he chearfully ran to him embraced him kissed him and said Be of good chear Brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flames or else strengthen us to abide it and then he went to the Stake and kissed it and prayed effectually Being stript into his Shirt he held up his hands and said O heavenly Father I give thee most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a Professor of thee even to death And fire being kindled he often said Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit Lord Lord receive my spirit but through the badness of the fire he burned on one side and below on the legs a great while and yet his upper parts were not burned so that he leaped under the Faggots and calling to the Lord for mercy did call on the Persons by to let the fire come to him for he could not burn he said and shewed them one side clean Shirt and all untouched whole and the other burnt p. 504 505. he writing to his Friends and taking leave of them desires them not to be astonished at the manner of his sufferings and said I assure you I esteem it
first in her days a great Papist till the burning of one Laurence Saunders by the Papists for the Mass which put her upon an enquiry into it and she consulting some persons about it declined it nor would frequent Mass for which she was punished and at last condemned And when in the morning before she suffered the Sheriff told her of it after one years imprisonment giving her but one hours time to prepare for it she said Your message is welcome to me and I thank God that he will make me worthy to adventure my life in his quarrel Going to the Stake she prayed against Popist Idolatry and drank to all them that truly believed the Gospel In the fire she neither struggled nor stirred but only held up her hands to Heaven and so dyed soon Vol. 3. p. 839. Mrs. Elizabeth Lawson an ancient Gentlewoman of 60 years of age of Bedfield in Suffolk was sent to Berry Goal 1556. because she would not go to Mass and at last she was condemned to be burnt She continued in Prison two years and three quarters in which time her Son and many more were burnt and she hearing of it said often Good Lord what is the cause that I may not yet come to thee with thy Children Well good Lord thy blessed will be done and not mine But by the death of Queen Mary she was delivered Vol. 3. p. 916. M M MArtyrs to the Number of 300 at Carthage under the 8 th Persecution being offered near Lime-kills either to offer Incense to Iupiter or to go into the Furnace of Lime did all together rush into the Kill and were there with the dusty smoak of the Lime smothered Vol. 1. p. 94. A Mother exhorted her Child of seven years of age suffering under the 7 th Persecution to suffer joyfully and while it was tormenting and slaying she sang to God thus All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know most dear to be Vol. 1. p. 116. Mary See Ursula Michael Michfote a Taylor in France burned 1547. being apprehended for the Gospel's sake and put to his choice whether he would turn and be beheaded or not turn and be burnt he said God who had given him grace not to deny the truth would also give him patience to abide the fire and so he was burned Vol. 2. p. 134. Lodovicus Marsac being with two others at Lyons in France apprehended and condemned 1553. they all sang Psalms and the other two having a Rope put about their Necks and he having not one did desire that he might have one of those precious Chains about his Neck in honour of his Lord which request was granted and they all three were cast into the fire Vol. 2. p. 141. 88 Martyrs murthered at Calabria in Italy 1560. whom the Executioner bringing out one by one with a Muster on a Stage before the People took a Knife and slew by cutting the Throat of one and leaving him half dead bleeding went for another and so served every one till the 88 were murthered which sight amazed the people and shamed even some of the Romanists Vol. 2. p. 184.188 Walter Mille a Scotch Man 1558. was condemned to be burnt whom the Popish Party could neither affright with threats nor allure with proposals but he said to them I am accused of my life I know I must dye once and therefore ye shall know I will not recant the truth I am Corn not Chaff I will not be blown away with the Wind nor burst with the Flail but will abide both and at the Stake the Bishops being constrained by the People to give him liberty to speak he made his humble supplication to God on his Knees and then said to the people Dear friends I suffer this day not for any Crime laid to my charge albeit I be a miserable Sinner before God but only for the defence of the faith of Christ Iesus for which I praise God that he hath this day called me of his mercy amongst the rest of his Servants the Martyrs to seal up his truth with my life which as I received on him so I willingly offer it to his glory and so he dyed and was the last Martyr that dyed in Scotland for Religion Vol. 2. p. 626. George Marsh of Deane in Lancashire married and was a Farmer but after his Wife's death he went to Cambridge to study and was a Minister of Gods Word and zealous against Popery for which he was imprisoned His Mother and divers other Friends advised him to fly To whose Counsel saith he My Flesh would gladly have consented but my Spirit did not fully agree Whereupon he prayed earnestly to God for direction and unexpectedly in the Morning he had a Letter from a Friend whose Bearer said to him before he looked on the Letter That his Friends advice was not to flee but to abide boldly and confess the Name of Christ which he did He was many wayes and much sollicited to turn upon the account of his Children whom he said he would gladly keep could it be with a pure Conscience and he would have accepted of Queen Mary's mercy should he not thereby by denying Christ win everlasting misery He was burned April 24. 1555. with a Firkin of Pitch over his head which melting and dropping on him added much to his torments yet after much misery when they thought him to be dead he spread his hands saying Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and so he dyed Vol. 3. p. 228. Menas an Egyptian under the 10 th Persecution lived a retired life a great while at length returning to the City Cotis in the open Theatre at a time of Pastimes he loudly proclaimed himself a Christian and being brought to Pyrrhus the President and demanded of his Faith he said It is convenient I should confess God citing Rom. 10.10 And being most painfully pinched and tormented he said in the midst of his torments There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the price of one Soul and said I have learned of my Lord and King not to fear them who kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul And being sentenced to be beheaded he said I give thee thanks my Lord God which hast so accepted me to be found a partaker of thy precious death and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure Faith to my life's end Vol. 1. p. 117 118. N N SAintinus Nivet being a Cripple burnt at Paris 1546. when apprehended and asked if he would stand to what he said he asked his Judges if they dare be so bold to deny what was so plain in express words of Scripture and did so little regard his own life that he desired his Judges for Gods sake that they would rather take care of their own Souls and lives and consider how much innocent blood
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
1. 1556. who told the great Doctors that opposed her that if they would take it upon their Consciences to answer for her at the day of Judgment that their Doctrines were true she would embrace it but they would not and burnt her because she would not recant who in the flames while life lasted did continue praying the Prayers she had learned by heart and calling on Christ for mercy Vol. 3. p. 756 757 758. Richard Woodman of Warbleton in Sussex imprisoned for reproving their Priest who preached in Queen Mary's days contrary to his Doctrine in King Edward the VI. time which he then averred to be true and charged his people to believe no other Woodman was imprisoned one year and a half and then dismissed and afterwards sent for again whom the Commissioners found in his Fields at Plough and its news made him tremble and fear but he said he would not go with them they not having their Commission about them And he much reproved himself for his carnal fear thus They can lay no evil thing to my charge and if they kill me for well-doing I may think my self happy And assoon as I was perswaded in my mind to dye I was as merry and as joyful as ever I was But having now escaped them he fled home and for six or seven weeks in a wood near his House he lived under a Tree where he had his Bible Pen and Ink and his provision brought dayly by his Wife to him and then the Country being sought for him he went into Flanders and soon returned again and was betray'd into his Enemies hands by his Father and Brother Being taken he was bound which much rejoyced him he said That he should be bound for Christ's sake and he took leave of his Wife and Children thinking never to see them again because it was said He should not live six dayes yet he said He knew it was not as they would but as God pleased I know said he what God can do but what he will do I know not but I am sure he will work all things for the best for them that love and fear him And so they went away with him Vol. 3. p. 800 801 802 803. X X XYstus Bishop of Rome was martyred under the eighth Persecution with his six Deacons And one Deacon of them named Lawrence following him desired to dye with him to whom Xystus said I am a weak old Man and therefore run the Race of a lighter and easier death but you are young and lusty and after three days you shall follow me And so he did Vol. 1. p. 92. See Lawrence pag. 104 of this Book Y Y FOrty Young Men Souldiers under the tenth Persecution being charged by the Emperour's Officers to disown Christ. They freely and boldly all with one accord confessed themselves to be Christians and told him their names and being endeavour'd with to win them by fair words as well as by threats of torments they said They desired not Life Liberty honours or dignities or Mony but the Celestial Kingdom of Christ For the love of whom and Faith in God they were ready to endure the Cross Wheel Fire and were sentenced to be all that night in a Pond of water in cold weather and next day to be burnt who when they were putting off their cloaths said We give thanks O Lord that with these our cloaths we may also by thy Grace put off the sinful Man for by means of the Serpent we once put him on and by the means of Jesus Christ we put him off Vol. 1. p. 118. Elizabeth Young apprehended for selling some good Books and was examined many times and punished severely and should have been burnt had not Queen Mary lain irrecoverably sick She being committed to prison and charge being by Dr. Martin that she should have one day Bread and another day Water onely for her provision she said chearfully If ye take away my meat I trust God will take away my hunger Vol. 3. pag. 911. AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF GOD'S IVGMENTS Remarkably shown On many Noted and Cruel PERSECVTORS 2 Thes. 1.6 It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you LONDON Printed for Richard Butler next door to the Lamb and three Bowls in Barbican 1677. An Alphabetical List of Gods Iudgements A A ANtiochus a Persecutor of Agapetus a Martyr suddenly fell down from his Judicial Seat and cry'd that all his inward Bowels burned and so he gave up his breath Vol. 1. p. 76. Alexander the Keeper of Newgate-Prison a cruel enemy to God's People who often hastened their death dyed himself so miserably swell'd and so stinking that none could endure the stench of him And his Son within 3 years spent all his Estate and it being wondred how he could have wasted it so soon he said Evil gotten evil spent And in Newgate-Market he fell down suddenly and dyed miserably And his Son-in-law Iohn Peterson after dyed rotting above ground Vol. 3. p. 257. Arundel Archbishop giving Sentence against the Lord Cobham dyed before him and his tongue was so smitten that he could neither swallow nor speak Vol. 3. p. 960. B B BErry Commissary to the Bishop of Norwich a great Persecutor as he came from Church on a Sunday after Even-song fell down on the ground and never breathed more Vol. 3. p. 870. Blanchenden who would have had a poor Man's Legs cut off who fled from him and others following him to apprehend him for the Gospel's sake was soon after slain by his own Servants Vol. 3. p. 931 932. Burton the Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire a pretended Gospeller in King Edward VI. time but in Queen Mary's dayes a zealous Papist A prophane swearer and one that threatned the Curate there to sheath his Sword in him if he would not say Mass But soon after he riding with a Neighour on the Fenne-bank a Crow flew over him and shit on his nose so that the excrements ran from the top of his nose to his beard which poyson'd scent so annoy'd his stomach that he never ceased vomiting till he came at home and there for extreme sickness went to bed not being able for the stench in his stomach and his painful vomiting to eat any meat and cry'd out of the stink cursing the Crow and soon after dyed desperately Vol. 3. p. 956. Robert Baldwin a Persecutor at the taking of one Seaman was struck with lightning and so pined away Vol. 3. pag. 957. Beaton Archbishop in Scotland a great Persecutor of George Wisehart was soon after slain in his bed and lay seven months unburied and at last was buried like a carrion on a dunghil Vol. 2. pag. 621. Bishop Bonner Bishop of London and the greatest Persecutor in Queen Mary's dayes being imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth died in his bed unrepentant and was deny'd Christian burial being at midnight tumbled into a hole amongst Thieves and murderers Vol. 3. p. 974. C C CAiaphas who wickedly