vppon mee haue mercie vpon me for thy deere Sonne our Saviour Christs sake in whom I confesse onely to bee all salvation and justification and that there is none other meane nor way nor holinesse in which or by which any man can be saved in this world This is my faith which I beseech men heere to beare witnes off Then sayd hee the Lords Prayer and so made an end Fier beeing set vnto him and burning therein he cried thrise with a loud voice O Sonne of GOD haue mercy vpon mee O Sonne of GOD receiue my soule and so his speach beeing taken from him hee spake no more lifting vp notwithstanding his stumpe with his other arme as long as he could ¶ Here followeth two worthy and godly Letters full of heavenly consolation written by that holie man of God M. Iohn Bradford Martyr fit for all such to read and obserue as feele in them a wounded spirit ¶ The first Letter written to Mistres H. a godly Gentlewoman comforting her in that common and godly sorrow which the feeling and sence of sinne worketh in Gods children I Humblie and heartilie praye the everlasting good God and Father of mercie to blesse and keepe your hart and mind in the knowledge and the loue of his truth and of his Christ through th'jnspiration working of the holy spirit Amen Although I haue no doubt but that you prosper and goe forwards daily in the way of Godlinesse more and more drawing towards perfection and haue no need of any thing that I can write yet because my desire is that you might be more fervent and persevere vnto the end I could not but write something vnto you beseeching you both often and diligentlie to call vnto your mind as a meane to stirre you hervnto yea as a thing which god most straightly requireth you to belieue that you are the beloued of God and that hee is your deare Father in through for Christ his deaths sake This loue and tender kindnesse of God towards vs in Christ is aboundantlie herein declared in that he hath to the godly worke of Creation of this world made vs after his jmage redeemed vs being lost called vs into his church sealed vs with his marke and signe Manuel of Baptisme kept and conserved vs all the daies of our life fedde nowrished defended and most mercifullie chastised vs and now hath kindled in our hearts the sparkles of his feare faith loue and knowledge of his Christ truth and therefore we lament because wee can lament no more our vnthankefulnesse our frailenes our diffidence and wavering in things whereof we should be most certain All these things we should vse as meanes to confirme our faith of this that God is our God and Father and to assure vs that he loueth vs as our Father in Christ to this end I say should we vse the things before touched especiallie in that of all things God requireth this faith and perswasion of his Father by goodnesse as his chiefest seruice For before he aske any thing of vs he saith I am the Lord thy God giuing himselfe and all he hath to vs to be our own And this he doth in respect of himselfe of his owne mercie truth and not in respect of vs for then were grace no more grace In consideration wherof when he saith Thou shalt haue none other Gods but mee thou shalt loue mee with all thy heart c. Though of dutie wee are bound to accomplish all that he requireth and are culpable and guiltie if wee doe not the same yet he requireth not these things further of vs then to make vs more in loue and more certaine of this his covenant that hee is the Lord our GOD. In certaintie whereof as he hath giuen this world to serue our need and commoditie so hath he giuen vs his son Christ Iesus and in Christ himselfe to be a pledge and gage wherof the Holie Ghost doth now and then giue vs some tast and sweet feeling and smell to our eternall ioye Therefore as I said because God is your Father in Christ and requireth of you straightly to belieue it giue your selfe to obedience although you doe it not with such feeling as you desire First must faith goe before and then feeling will follow If our jmperfection frailty many evils should bee occasions whereby Satan would haue vs doubt as much as in vs lyeth let vs abhorre that suggestion as of all others most pernicious for so indeed it is For whē we stand in doubt whether God bee our Father or no we cannot bee thankfull to God we cannot heartily pray or thinke any thing we do acceptable to God we cannot loue our neighbours and giue ouer our selues to care for them and doe for them as we should do and therfore Satā is most busie hereabouts knowing full wel that if we doubt of gods eternall sweet mercies in Christ wee cannot please God or doe any thing as we should to man Continually casteth he into our memories our jmperfection frailty folly and offences that we shold doubt of gods mercie and fauour towards vs. Therefore my good Sister we must not bee sluggish herein but as Satan laboreth to loosen our faith so must we labour to fasten it by thinking on the promises and covenant of god in Christs bloud namelie that God is our God with all that ever he hath which Covenant dependeth and hangeth vpon Gods owne goodnes mercie and truth onely and not on our obedience and worthines in any poynt for then should we never bee certaine Indeed God requireth of vs obedience and worthines but not that thereby wee might be made his childrē and he our Father but because he is our Father and wee his children through his own goodnes in christ therfore requireth he faith and obedience Now if we want this obedience worthinesse which hee requireth should wee therefore doubt whether he bee our Father Nay that were to make our obedience worthines the cause and so to put Christ out of place for whose sake God is our Father But rather because hee is our Father and wee feele our selues to want such things as he requireth wee should be stirred vppe to an holy blushing and shamfastnesse because wee are not as wee should bee and therevpon should wee take occasion to go to our father in prayer on this manner Deare Father thou of thine owne Mercie in Christ Iesus hast chosen me to bee thy child and therefore thou would'st I should be brought into thy Church and faithfull company of thy children wherein thou hast kept me hitherto thy name bee praised therefore Now I see my selfe to want faith hope loue c. which thy children haue and thou requirest of me wherethrough the deuill would haue me doubt yea vtterly to despaire off thy Fatherly goodnesse favour and mercie Therefore I come to thee as to my merciful father through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and pray thee to helpe me
certaine all the haires of your head are numbred Be certain your good Father hath appointed your bounds over which the devill dare not looke Commit your selfe to him hee is hath been and will bee your keeper Let Christ be your marke and scope to prick at Let him be your patterne to worke by Let him be your ensample to follow giue him as your heart so your hand as your mind so your tongue as your Faith so your feet And let his word be your Candle to goe before you in al matters of Religion Blessed is he that Walketh not to these Popish praiers nor standeth at them nor sitteth at them glorifie God both in soule and body ¶ Fifteene short sentences left by Robert Smith Martyr to ANNE SMITH his wife 1 SEEke first to loue God deere wife with your whole heart and then it shall be easie for you to loue your neighbour 2 Be friendly to all creatures but especially to your owne Soule 3 Be alwaies an enemie to the Deuill the world but chiefely to your owne flesh 4 In hearing of good things ioyne the eares of your head and heart together 5 Seeke vnitie and quietnesse with all men but specially with your conscience for it will not easily be pacified 6 Loue all men but specially your enemies 7 Hate the sinnes that are past but especially those to come 8 Be as ready to further your enemie as hee is to hinder you that yee may bee the child of God 9 Defile not that which Christ hath cleansed least his blood bee layd to your charge 10 Remember that god hath hedged in your tongue with the teeth and lippes that it might speake vnder correction 11 Be ready at all times to looke to your brothers eye but especially to your owne eye For he that warneth an other of that hee himselfe is faultie giueth his neighbour the cleere Wine and himselfe the dregges 12 Beware of riches and worldly honor for without vnderstanding prayer and fasting it is a snare like to consuming fier of which if a man take a little it will warme him but if too much it will consume him 13 Shew mercie to the Saints for Christs sake Christ shall reward you for the Saints sake 14 Among all other prisoners visit your owne Soule for it is inclosed in a perillous prison 15 If you loue GOD hate euill c. Your Husband RO SMITH If yee will meet with me againe Forsake not Christ for any paine CERTAINE deuout Prayers which some of the godly Martyrs made at the hower of their death ¶ The Prayer which M r. HOOPER Bishop of Glocester made at his death LORD sayd he I am Hell but thou art Heaven I am swill and a sincke of sinne but thou art a gracious GOD and a merciful Saviour and Redeemer Haue mercie therefore vppon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thine jnestimable goodnes thou art assended into Heaven receiue me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with the Father For well thou knowest Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer and why the wicked doe persecute this thy poore seruant not for my sinnes and transgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow of their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth wherwith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to jnstruct mee the which with as much diligence as a poore wretch might being called thereto I haue set forth to thy glory And well thou seest my Lord God what terrible paynes and cruel torments be here prepared for thy poore Creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare or patiently to passe But all things that are jmpossible with man with thee are possible Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I breake not the bounds of patience or else asswage the terrour of the paines as shall seeme most to thy glory Heere the party who heard thus much of his prayer beeing espied of the Maior was commaunded away and could be suffred to heare no more ¶ The Prayer of Doctor CRANMER Archbishop of Canterburie when it was thought he would haue made his Recantation O Father of Heauen O Sonne of GOD redeemer of the world O holy Ghost three persons and one GOD haue mercy vppon me most wretched Caytiffe and miserable sinner I haue offended both against Heauen and Earth more then my tongue can expresse Whether then may I goe or whether should I flee To heauen I am ashamed to lift vppe mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore o Lord do I runne to thee do I humble my selfe saying O Lord my GOD my sinnes be great but yet haue Mercie vppon mee for thy great Mercie The great mistery that God became man was not wroght for small or few offences Thou didst not giue thy Sonne O Heauenly Father vnto death for little sinnes onely but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as I doe heere at this present Wherfore haue mercie vppon mee ô GOD whose property it is always to haue mercie haue mercie vpon mee ô Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing for mine owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christs sake And now therefore O our Father c. His repentance for subscription vttered a little before his death And now I come to the great thing that so much troubleth my conscience more then any thing that ever I did or sayd in my whole life and that is the setting abroad of a writing contrarie to the truth which now I heere renownce refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in mine heart and written for feare of death and to saue life if it might be and that is all such bils and papers which I haue written or signed with mine hand since my degradatiō wherein I haue written many things vntrue And for as much as my hand offeded in writing cōtrary to my heart mine hand shal be punished therefore for may I come to the fire it shall first be burned which accordingly he did For being at the stake whē the fire began to flame hee put his right hand vnto it which hee held so stedfast and jmmoueable saving that once with the same hand hee wiped his face that all men might see his hand burned before it touched his body ¶ The Prayer of Steven Knight made vppon his knees at his death O Lord Iesus Christ for whose loue I willingly leaue this life and desire rather the bitter death of the Crosse with the losse of all earthly things then to abide the blaspheaming of thy most holy name or to obay men in breaking thy holy Commandemēt Thou seest oh
pleased then most Gratious Lady for the matter belongeth vnto you to receiue vnder your favorable protectiō this Mirrour or memorial of the Martyrs who living had the protection of Angels and when the Lord shall haue perfourmed to your Grace all the good that hee hath promised and of all loyall hearts is earnestly expected it shall then bee no offence vnto your Princely mind that you haue so doone That great GOD who by his Omni-presence filleth Heaven and Earth with his Glorie fill and replenish your Graces heart with all the gifts and graces of his blessed Spirit which may beautifie and adorne your person in the sight of God and Man in this life and heereafter Crowne you with jmmortall Glorie for ever and ever in his Kingdome of Glory Amen Your Graces most humbly devoted In all humble and dutifull affection CLEM COTTON THE MIRROR OF the Martyrs ¶ In a short view liuely expressing and shewing the force of their Faith the feruencie of their Love the wisedome of their Sayings the patience of their Suffrings their Constancy Comforts and sweet meditations in the middest of all their Conflicts ¶ With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell Bishop Hooper THE Godly Bishop HOOPER being brought vnto the place where he should suffer seeing a Pardon lying vpon a stoole to be tendered vnto him if he would recant cryed to them that stood by If you loue my soule away with it If you loue my soule away with it A blind Boye being suffered to come vnto him after much entreaty to conferre with him M r. HOOPER hearing his talke the water stood in his eyes Ah poore Boy sayd he GOD hath taken from thee the sight of thy bodilie eyes for what cause he best knoweth but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more pretious for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith GOD giue thee grace that thou loose not that sight for thē should'st thou be blind both in body and Soule The day before his Martyrdome he spent the most of the day in prayer vnlesse any were licenced to speake with him amongst the which S r. Anthony Kingston was one who being brought into his Chāber found him at prayer and at the first view of him burst foorth into teares M r. HOOPER at the first blush knew him not Then sayd S r ANTHONY why my Lord know you not me an old friend of yours Anthony Kingston Yes M r. Kingston I know you well sayd M r. HOOPER and I am glad to see you in good health doe praise GOD for it KINGSTON But I am sorie to see you in this case for as I vnderstand you are come hither to die But alas consider that life is sweet and death is bitter Therefore seeing life may be had desire to liue for life hereafter may do good HOOPER Indeed it is very true M. Kingston I am come hither to die and to end this life heere because I will not gainesay the former truth I haue heeretofore taught in this Diocesse amongst you and I thanke you for your friendly counsaile though not so friendly as I could haue wished it Life indeed is sweet and death is bitter but alas cōsider that the death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet Therefore for the desire loue I haue to the one the feare and terror I haue of th' other I do not so much regard this death nor esteeme this life but haue setled my selfe through the strength of Gods Spirit patiently to passe through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me rather then to deny Gods word and truth The night before he suffred his desire was to go to bed that night betimes saiing that he had many things to thinke on and so did at 5 of the clock and slept one sleepe soundly and bestowed the rest of the night after in prayer Being got vp in the morning hee desired that none should come vnto him that hee might bee solitary till the hower of his death Bishop Ridley WOrthie Bishoppe RIDLEY going to his burning at Oxford looking backe espyed M r. LATIMER coming after to whome he sayd Oh be ye there yea sayd Father LATIMER haue after as fast as I can Bejng come to the stake he ranne to M r. LATIMER jmbraced him and kissed him and as they that stood neere reported comforted him saying Bee of good comfort Brother for GOD will either asswage the furie of the fire or else strengthen vs to abide it Being at the stake he held vp both his hands to Heaven and sayd Oh heauenly Father I giue thee most heartie thankes that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee euen vnto death A Fagot being brought which was kindled with fire and laid downe at M. RIDLEYS feet Father LATIMER spake on this manner to him Be of good comfort M. RIDLEY and playe the man wee shall by Gods grace light such a Candle this day in ENGLAND as I trust shall neuer be put out By reason the fire was ill made M. RIDLEY continued long in his torments in so much as he often cryed I cannot burne I cannot burne for Christs sake let the fire come to mee Lord haue mercie vpon mee let the fire come to me I cannot burne M. Iohn Philpot. THE valiant servant of Christ M. Iohn Philpot having the newes of his death brought him by one of the Sheriffes men that hee must the next day bee burned at a stake sayd I am ready God grant me strength and a ioyfull resurrection And so went to his chamber and powred out his spirit vnto the Lord giving him most heartie thankes that had made him worthy to suffer for his truth As hee was entring into Smithfield the passage was somewhat foule and twoo Officers tooke him vp to beare him to the stake Thē he sayd merilie What will ye make me a Pope I am content to go to my iourneys end on foote But first comming into Smithfield hee kneeled downe there saying these words I will paye my vowes in thee O Smithfield Iohn Bradford HOly BRADFORD having newes brought him in great haste by the Keepers wife of the Counter that hee should be burned the next day and that his Chayne was a buying with that put off his Cap and lifting vp his eyes to Heaven said I thanke God for it I haue long looked for this time and therefore it commeth not to me now sodainlie but as a thing expected euery houre the Lord make me worthy thereof After which he went alone and prayed secretly a long time A little before they carried him from the Counter to Newgate he made a notable prayer of his farewell with such plentie of teares and aboundance of the spirit of praier that it ravished the minds of the hearers Also when he shifted himselfe with a cleane shirt that was made for his burning hee made such a prayer of the wedding Garment that some there
no motion nor sence of any comfort from him To whome the sayd Austen answering desired him patiētly to waite the Lords leisure howsoeuer his present feeling was and to play the man nothing doubting but the Lord in due season would satisfie his desire with plentie of Consolation whereof hee sayd hee was right certaine and sure and therefore desired him whensoeuer any feeling of GODS heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart that hee would giue him some signe thereof The next day when the time of his Martyrdome was come and as hee was going to the stake come to the sight of it albeit all the night before prayjng for comfort and courage hee felt no answere of his praier sodainely he was so mightily replenished with the comfort of Gods holy Spirit and heavenly joies that hee cried out clapping his hands to Austen sayjng these words hee is come Austen hee is come hee is come and that with such joy and alacritie as one seeming rather to bee risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life then as one passing out of this world by any paines of death M. Iohn Lambart IOHN LAMBART having his nether parts consumed with fire lifting vp such hands as hee had and his fingers ends flaming with fire cryed to the people None but Christ None but Christ. Adam Damplip THIS good man beejng advertised by his keeper that his execution drew neere was never seen to quaile but was as merrie and eate his supper that night as chearefully as ever hee did in all his life at which his keeper and the rest of the prisoners wondring asked him how hee could take such newes so chearefully Ah my Maisters sayth he doe yee thinke I haue beene thus long Gods prisoner in the Marshalsey and haue not yet-learned to die Yes yes I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein Kerby Martyr ONE KERBY beeing councelled by M. WINKFIELD to pittie himselfe and to take no more vppon him then hee should bee able to performe the fire saith hee is hot the terrour is great the paine wil be extreame and life is sweet To whom KERBY answered M. WINKFIELD be at my burning and you shall say there standeth a Christian Souldier in the fire For I know that Fire and Water Sword and all other things are in the hāds of God who will suffer no more to bee layd vppon vs then hee will giue strength to beare Thomas Bilney MR. THOMAS BILNEY beeing put in mind that though the fire which he should suffer the next day should be of great heat vnto his body yet the comfort of GODS spirit should coole it to his euerlasting comfort and refreshing At those words putting his finger towards the flame of the candle thē burning before them as also hee diuers times did and feeling the heat thereof O sayd hee I feele by experience and haue knowne it long by Philosophy that fire by gods ordinance is naturally hot but yet I am perswaded by Gods holy word and by th' experience of some spoken of in the same that in the flame they felt no heat and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantly beleeue that howsoeuer the stubble of this my body shal be wasted by it yet my Soule and Spirit shall be purged thereby A paine for the time after which notwithstanding followeth vnspeakeable Ioy. And then entreated notably vpon the first and second verses of the 43 Chap. of Isaias which sentēces for the joy cōfort some of his friends tooke in them caused them to be faire written out the comfort whereof they left not to their dyjng day The sayd BILNEY beeing visited by certain of his friēds the night before he suffred they found him eating an Alebrew with such a cherefull heart and quiet minde as made them wonder thereat sayjng they were not a little glad to see him at that time so cheerefully to refresh himselfe To whome hee made this answere Oh sayd he I follow the example of the Husbandmen in the Countrie who hauing a ruinous house to dwell in doe yet bestow cost as long as they remaine in it to vphold the same And so do I now with this ruinous house of my body refreshing the same as you see with these good creatures of God Iames Baynam THis BAYNAM as hee stood at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire which fire had halfe consumed his armes and his legges hee was heard to speake these words O yee Papists Behold yee looke for Miracles and heere yee may see a Miracle for in this fire I feele no more paine then if I were in a bed of down but it is to me as sweet as a bed of Roses Henry Voes THe like speach I finde of a young man burnt at Bruxels who when the fire was kindled at his feet sayd me thinks you strew Roses vnder my feete Hugh Laverocke THis Laverocke a lame Creple IOHN APPRICE a blind man being chained both of them to the stake LAVERCOCK casting away his Crutch and comforting his fellow Martyr fayd Be of good comfort my brother for my L. of London is our good Phisition Hee will shortly cure vs both thee of thy blindnes and me of my lamenesse William Hunter WILLIAM HVNTER apprētice of the age of 19 yeares standing at the stake sayd Son of God shine vppon me and jmediately the Son in the Element shone out of a darke cloud for it was a glomie day so full in his face that hee was constrained to turne his face an other way The sayd WILLIAM HVNTER beeing brought downe from London to be burnt remained by the way two dayes at Burntwood whether his Father and Mother came to comfort him who heartely desired of GOD that hee might cōtinue in the good way hee had begun vnto the end and his mother sayd vnto him that shee was glad shee was euer so happy as to beare such a Sonne who could find in his heart to loose his life for Christs sake Then said WILLIAM to his mother For my little paine which I shall suffer which is also but for a moment Christ hath promised me Mother saith he a Crowne of life And may not you bee glad of that Mother With that his Mother kneeled downe on her knees sayjng I pray GOD strengthen thee my Sonne vnto the end And I thinke thee as well bestowed as any Child that euer I bare At which words M. HIGBED one that was then to suffer for the same cause tooke her in his armes sayjng I rejoyce much to see you in this mind and you haue good cause so to doe Robert Samuel MR. ROBERT SAMVEL Minister was kept in streight prison by the Bishops Chancellor of NORVVICH Wherein hee was chained boult vpright to a great post in such sort that standing only on tip-toe hee was faine to stay vp the whole poyse of his body thereby And to make amends they added a far greater torment keeping him without meat and drinke whereby
him hee sayd good Lord deliver me from you and gojng from them vp to his chamber hee sayd good Lord deliuer me from you good Lord deliuer mee from you Iohn Leafe THis IOHN LEAFE a prentise to one HVMPHREY GAVVDY tallow Chandler who was burned with M. IOHN BRADFORD had 2 bils sent him into the Counter in breadstreet after his judgement th' one containing a recantation th' other his confession to know to which of them hee would subscribe Hearing first the bill of his recantation read vnto him because hee could nether write nor read himselfe that hee refused and when hee heard th' other read vnto him which hee liked well off in stead of a pen he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinkled the blood vppon the sayd bill willing the reader thereof to shew the Bishop that hee had sealed the same with his blood already Richard Woodman THe conflicts whieh Richard Woodman had with the feare of death recorded in his owne words as followeth Then 3 daies after my Lord Chamberlain sent 3 of his men to take mee whose names were Deane Ieffrey and Frauncis I being at plough with my folkes right in the way as they were comming to my house least mistrusting them of all other came vnto them and asked them how they did And they said they arrested me in the King and Queenes name and that I must goe with them to my Lord Chamberlaine their Maister Which words made my flesh to tremble and quake in regard the thing was sodaine But I answered them that I would goe with them Yet I desired them to go with me to my house that I might break my fast and put on some other geare And they sayd I should Then I remembred my selfe saying in my heart why am I thus afrayd They can lay none euill to my charge If they kill me for well dooing I may thinke my selfe happy I remembred how I was contented gladly to dye before in that quarrell and so haue continued euer since and should I now feare to die God forbid I should for then were all my labour in vaine So by and by I was perswaded I praise god cōsidering it was but the frailtie of my flesh which was loth to forgoe my wife children goods for I saw nothing but present death before mine eies And as soone as I was perswaded in mine heart to die I regarded nothing in this world but was as merrie glad and ioyfull I praise God as euer I was This battaile lasted but a quarter of an houre but it was sharper for the time then death I dare say M. Glouer ROBERT GLOVER had a contrarie effect in his troubles as his owne words testifye After I came into prison sayth hee and had reposed my selfe a while I wept for joy and gladnes my bellyfull musing much of the great mercies of GOD and as it were saying thus vnto my selfe O Lord who am I on whome thou should'st bestow thus thy great mercie to bee numbred among thy Saints which suffer for thy Gospell sake And so beholding on the one side my jmperfection vnablenes sinnefull miserie and vnworthines and on th' other side the greatnes of Gods mercie to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladnes concluding thus with my selfe in mine heart O Lord thou shewest power in weakenes wisedome in foolishnes Mercie in sinfulnesse who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt As I haue euer zealously loued the profession of thy word so haue I euer thought my selfe vnworthie to bee partaker of th' afflictions of the same The same ROBERT GLOVER at an other time was much discouraged by Satan not to persevere in his suffring suggesting to him his vnworthines to suffer for Christ and his Gospell but these his suggestions were thus repelled by him What were all those whome GOD in former time chose to be his witnesses were they not men subiect to sinne and imperfection as other men bee All wee sayth Iohn haue receiued of his fulnes They were no bringers of any goodnes to GOD they were altogether receiuers They chose not GOD first but hee chose them They loued not GOD first but hee loued them yea when they were enemies to him and full of sinne Hee is and wil be the same God still As rich in mercie as mighty as ready as willing to forgiue sinnes now without respect of persons as hee was then and so wil be to the worlds end to all that call vppon him It is no arrogancie nor presumption in any man to burthen God with his promise chalenging his ayd and assistance in all perils and daungers Calling vpon him in the name of Christ for whose sake whosoeuer commeth to the Father is sure to receiue more then hee can wish or desire I also answered the enemie on this manner I am a sinner and therefore vnworthy to be a Martyr What then must I deny GODS word because I am a sinner and not worthy to professe it What bring I to passe in so dooing but adding sinne to sinne What is a greater sinne then to deny the truth af Christs Gospell I might also by the like reason forbeare to doe any of GODS commaundements when I am prouoked to pray th' enemie may say vnto mee thou art not worthy to pray and therefore I shall not pray I shall not forbeare to steale c. because I am not worthy to do any of GODS commaundements These be delusiōs of the Deuill which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer and with the word of GOD applied according to the measure of euery mans gift George Wise-heart THis WISE-HEART a Scottishman rightly so called in regard of that true wisedome of the spirit wherewith his heart was filled beejng come to the place of execution the hangman came vnto him vppon his knees craving forgiuenesse of him To whome he answered come hether to me when hee was come nie him hee kissed his cheeke and sayd loe here is a signe that I forgiue thee my heart doe thine office And by and by hee was put vpon the Gibbet and martyred Walter Mill. WALTER MILL a Scottish Minister beejng disturbed in his praier in the time of his examination having ended the same sayd wee ought more to obay GOD then Men. I serue one more mightie even th'omnipotent Lord. And where ye call me S r. Walter they vsually call mee WALTER and not S r. WALTER I haue beene one of the Popes Knights too long Beejng threatned with the sentence of death I know I must die once saith he and therefore as Christ said to Iudas Quod facis fac citius Ye shall know that I will not recant the truth for I am Corne I am no Chaffe I will not be blowne away with the wind nor burst with the flaile I will abide both Patrick Hamleton MR. Patrick Hamleton beejng in the fire was heard by certaine faithfull men of credit then
ceremonies of the Church answered Neuer sayd hee since I was borne No sayd the Bishop how old art thou He sayd I thinke forty Why how vsed you your selfe 20 yeares agone sayd the Bishop as ye doe now sayd hee And even now quoth the Bishop he sayd he vsed not the ceremonies since hee was borne No more I haue my Lord sayd hee since I was borne againe Iohn 3. Elizabeth Folkes ELIZABETH bejng examined if she beleeued not that Christs body was in the Sacrament Substantially and really yes sayth she I beleeue it is a reall lye and a substantiall lye indeed Iulius Palmer PALMER shewing his vnmoueable constancy in standing to the truth and beejng now ready to yeeld vppe his life for the same truth S r. RICHARD ABRIDGES said vnto him well PALMER sayth the Knight I perceiue that one of vs two must bee damned for wee be of 2 sundrie faiths and sure I am there is but one Faith that leadeth to life and salvation Pal. O sir I hope that both of vs shal be saved Brid How may that be PALMER Pal. Very well sir. For as it hath pleased our Mercifull Saviour according to the Gospels parable to call me at the third houre of the day even in my flowers at the age of 24 yeares even so I trust hee hath called and will call you at the 11 houre in this your old age and giue you everlasting life for your portion Brid Sai'st thou so well Palmer well I would I might haue thee but one moneth in mine house I doubt not but I would cōvert thee or thou shouldst convert me Bradbegs Wife THis good woman had 2 children named Patience and Charitie At the time of her condemnation shee told the Bishop that if he would needes burne her yet shee trusted hee would take and keepe Patience and Charitie meaning her two children Nay by the Faith of my body sayth the Bishop will I not I will meddle with neyther of them both M. Frith IOhn Frith after much trouble bejng at length sent for to CROYDON from the tower to appeare before th'archbishoppe of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer sitting therewith other Bishops to receiue his last doome was earnestly laboured withall by one of his Gentlemen and his Porter who were the messengers that set him to free himselfe out of the Bishops hands For they greatly lamented FRITHS case beejng sure if hee came to CROYDON he would bee cast away such was his cōstancie in regard whereof vppon Bristow Causie the Gentleman plotted a way for FRITH to escape and drew the porter to his part In the end they acquaint Frith with their purpose who with a smiling countenance made them this answere And is this the effect of your secret consultation so long continued betweene you Surely you haue lost a great deale more time then this ere now and so are yee like to doe at this time for if you both should leaue me heere alone and should goe tell the Bishops that you had lost FRITH and that he had escaped away from you I would surely follow you as fast as I could and would bring them newes of Friths finding Do ye thinke sayd he I am afrayd to declare mine opinion to the Bishops of England in a manifest truth Agnes Bongeor THis deere Servant of Christ bejng condemned to be burned had prepared her selfe to goe with her fellowe Martyrs to the stake the same morning they went but it was her happe of all the rest to bee kept backe in regard her name was wrong written to wit Agnes Boyer for Agnes Bongeor What piteous moane this good woman made how bitterly shee wept what strāge thoughts came into her mind how naked and desolate shee esteemed her selfe into what plunge of dispaire care her poore Soule was cast it was lamentable to behold because she went not with her fellows to giue her life in the defence of her Christ and his Gospell for of all things in the world shee least expected this restraint For that very Morning in which shee was kept backe from burning shee had put on a smocke which she had prepared onely for that purpose and also having a little jnfant sucking on her shee likewise sent it away to another nurse So little looked she for life Bejng in this great perplexitie of mind a friend of hers came to her demaunding of her whether ABRAHAMS obedience was accepted before GOD for sacrificing his Sonne ISAAK or in that hee would haue offred him vnto which she made this answere I know that Abrahams will before God was allowed for the deede for he would haue done it if the Angell of the Lord had not stay'd him but I sayd shee am vnhappy the Lord thinks mee not worthy of this dignitie and therefore ABRAHAMS case and mine is not alike Friend Why you were resolved to goe with your company if GOD had beene so pleased Agnes Yes with all my heart and for that I went not with them it is my chiefest griefe Friend Deere sister I pray thee consider ABRAHAM and thy selfe well thou shalt see thou nothing differest from him at all Agnes Alas sir there is a farre greater matter in ABRAHAM then in me for Abraham was tryed with the offring of his Child but so am not I our cases therefore are not alike Friend Good sister weigh the matter jndifferently Abraham I graunt would haue offred his owne Son and haue not you done the like in your little sucking babe which you were content to part with But consider that whereas Abraham was commaunded but to offer his Sonne you are heavy and perplexed because you cannot offer your selfe which goeth somewhat more neere you then Abrahams obedience did and therfore in Gods sight and acceptation is assuredly no lesse allowed After which talke between them she began a little to stay her selfe and gaue her selfe wholy to th'exercises of prayer and reading wherin shee found no little comfort waiting for the time of her Martyrdome which at length she obtained Thomas Hudson Martyr SEaman Carman and Hudson beejng all three fastened to the stake in a pit called the Lolards pit without Bishops-gate in NORVVICH HVDSON suddainely slippeth from vnder the chame from his two fellowes to the wonder of many whereby arose much doubtfulnes in mens minds But sweet HVDSON felt not his Christ. He felt more in his heart and conscience then they could conceiue off In the meane while his 2 cōpanions at the stake cried out to him to cōfort him what they could exhorting him in the bowels of Christ to be of good comfort But alas good soule hee was compassed GOD knoweth with great dolour and griefe of mind not for his death but for lacke of feeling the comfort of the holy ghost the comforter And therefore beejng very carefull hee humbly fell on his knees praying vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at length according to his mercies of old sent comfort and then rose he with great joy as a man new
sayd do not leaue the company of thy friends and acquaintance which loue thee and will let thee lacke nothing The spirit sayd the company of Iesus Christ and his glorious presence doth farre exceed all fleshly friends The flesh sayd doe not shorten thy time now for thou maist if thou wilt liue much longer The spirit sayd this life is nothing to that which is to come which lasteth for euer and ever ¶ The Prayer of Richard Browne who standing at the stake and holding vp both his hands sayd O Lord I yeild mee to thy grace Graunt mee pardon for my trespasse Let neuer the feend my soule chase Lord I will bow and thou shalt beat Let neuer my soule come in hell heat Into thy hands I commend my spirit ¶ A Godly and deuout Prayer mentioned in the storie of M r. Philpot Martyr fit for such as suffer at the stake MErcifull God and father to whome approached our Sauiour Christ in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whome Steuen called in his extreame need and receiued strength Most benigne and holy spirit who in the midst of all crosses and death did'st comfort th'Apostle ST Paul with more consolations in Christ thē hee felt sorrows terrors haue mercie vpon me miserable vild and wretched sinner who now draweth neere vnto the gates of death deserued both in body and soule eternall by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eies ô Lord are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee for the bitter death and bloodshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy justice do require in respect of my sinnes that thou shouldst not heare me measuring mee with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiestie contēning al thy gracious calls yet let thy mercie which is aboue all thy works and wherwith th' earth is filled let thy mercy I say prevaile towards mee through and for the Mediation of onr Saviour for whose sake it hath pleased thee now to bring mee foorth as one of thy witnesses and a record bearer to thy veritie and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore To which dignitie ô Lord and deere father I acknowledge there was never any so vnfit nor vnworthy no not the theefe that hanged vppon the Crosse so I therfore most humbly beseech thee that thou woldst accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heavenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may find comfort with Steven I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all others which for thy names sake haue suffred affliction and death I may find thy sweet consolation so present with mee that I may by my death glorifie thy name propagate and ratifie thy truth comfort the hearts of the heavie confirm thy Church in thy veritie convert some to be converted so depart foorth of this miserable life where I doe nothing but heape sinne dayly vppon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed presence and mercie whereof giue and encrease in mee a liuely trust sence and feeling where through the terrors of death the torments of the fire the pangs of sinne the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may never depresse mee but may bee driven away through the working of thy most gratious spirit which now plenteously endew mee withall that I may offer as I now desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy Soule and body to be an holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice in thy sight Deere Father whose I am and alwaies haue been even from my Mothers wombe yea even before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe soule and body familie friends Countrey and all thy whole Church yea even my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting foorth of the same Oh deare Father now giue me grace to come vnto thee purge and so purifie mee by this fire in Christs death passion through thy spirit that I may bee a burnt offring of sweet smel in thy sight who liuest and raignest with the son and holy Ghost now and for ever more Amen M. Bartlet Greene. ¶ A Sweet description of the miseries of this life and of the ioyes of the life to come written by M r. Bartlet Greene. BEtter is the day of death sayth Salomon then the day of birth Man that is borne of a woman liueth but a short time and is replenished with many miseries but happy are the dead that dye in the Lord. Man of a woman is borne in trauell to liue in miserie man through Christ doth dye to liue Straight as he commeth into this world with cries hee vttereth his miserable estate straight as he departeth with songs hee praiseth God for ever Scearce yet in his cradle 3 deadly enemies assaile him after death no adversarie can annoy him whilst he is heere hee displeaseth GOD when hee is dead hee fulfilleth his will In this life hee dyeth through sinne In the life to come he liueth in righteousnesse Through many tribvlations on earth he is still purged with joy vnspeakable in heaven hee is made perfect for ever Heere hee dyeth every houre there hee liveth continually Heere is sinne there is righteousnes Here is time there is eternitie Heere is hatred there is loue Heere is paine there is pleasure Heere is miserie there is felicitie Heere is Corruption there is jmmortalitie Heere we see vanitie there we shall behold the Maiestie of God with triumphant vnspeakable joy in glory everlasting Seeke therefore the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father to whom with the holy Ghost be all glory and houour world without end Amen Lady Iane. ¶ An effectuall Prayer made by the Lady IANE in the time of her trouble O Lord thou god father of my life heare me poore and desolate woman who flyeth vnto thee onely in all troubles and miseries Thou O Lord art the onely defender and deliuerer of those that put their trust in thee therfore I beeing defiled with sinne encombred with affliction vnquieted with troubles wrapped in cares over-whelmed with miseries vexed with temptations and grieuously tormented with the long jmprisonment of this vilde masse of Claye my sinfull body do come vnto thee O mercifull Saviour crauing thy mercie and helpe with the which so little hope of deliuerance is left that I may vtterly despaire of any libertie Albeit it is expedient that seeing our life standeth vpon trying we should be visited sometime with some adversity whereby we might be tried whether wee be thy flocke or no and also know thee and our selues the better yet thou that sayd'st thou would'st not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be merciful vnto me now a miserable wretch
I beseech thee that I may neither bee too much puffed vppe with prosperity neither to much pressed downe with adversity least I beeing too full should denye thee my God or being too low brought should despaire blaspheme thee my Lord and Saviour O mercifull God consider my miserie best knowne to thee and bee thou now vnto mee a strong Tower of defence I humbly require thee Suffer me not to bee tempted aboue my power but either be thou a deliuerer to mee out of this great misery or else giue me grace patiently to beare thy heauy hand and sharpe correction It was tâ—y right hand that deliuered the poore people of Israell out of the haÌ„ds of Pharaoh which for the space of Fortie yeares did oppresse and keepe theÌ„ in bondage Let it therefore seeme good to thy fatherly goodnesse to deliuer me sorrowfull wretch for whome thy Sonne Christ shedde his pretious bloud on the Crosse out of this miserable captiuitie and bondage wherein I now am How long wilt thou bee absent for ever Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to bee gracious and hast thou shut vppe thy loving kindnesse in displeasure wilt thou bee no more entreated Is thy mercy clean gone for ever and thy promise come vtterly to an end for evermore Why doest thou make so long tarrying Shall I despaire of thy mercy O God farre be that from me I am thy workemanship created in Christ Iesus giue mee grace therfore to tarrie thy leisure and patiently to beare thy workes assuredly knowing that as thou caust so thou wilt deliuer me when it shal please thee nothing doubting or mistrusting thy goodness towards me for thou knowest better what is good for me then I doe therefore doe with mee in all things what thou wilt Onelie in the meane time arme me I beseech thee with thy armor that I may stand fast my loines being girt about with veritie having on the breast-plate of righteousnes and shodde with the shoes prepared in the Gospell of peace aboue all things taking vnto me the shield of Faith wherewith I may be able to quench al the fiery darts of the devil and taking the helmet of Hope and the sword of the Spirit which is thy most holy word praying alwaies with all manner of Prayer and Supplication that I may referre my selfe wholly to thy will abyding thy pleasure and comforting my selfe in those troubles that it shall please thee to send seeing such troubles be profitable for mee and seeing I am assuredly perswaded that it cannot but bee well all that thou dooest Heare mee ô mercifull Father for his sake whome thou would'st should bee a sacrifice for my sinnes to whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glorie Amen ¶ A Prayer of the Lord Cromwell which he at the houre of his death O Lord Iesu which art the onely health of all men living and the everlasting life of them which die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will beejng sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and wicked flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise raise it vp restore it to me at the day of the resurrection of the just I beseech thee most mercifull Lord Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and defend mee with the buckler of thy mercie against al the assaults of Satan I see and acknowledge that ther is in my selfe no hope of Salvation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good works which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and evill works alas I see a great heape but yet thorow thy mercie I trust to be in the nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ to whom thou wilt not jmpute their sins but wilt accept me for just and righteous and to bee th'inheritor of everlasting life Thou mercifull Lord wastborn for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger thirst for my sake thou didst teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and workes thou wroughtest for my sake Thou suffred'st most greeuous paines and torments for my sake finally thou gavest thy most precious body and blood to be shed vppon the Crosse for my sake Now most merciful Saviour Let all these things profit mee that thou freely hast doone for mee Let thy blood clense wash away the spots and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merits of thy passion and blood shedding bee a satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not but may be ever firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life everlasting never decay in me that loue may not bee cold in mee Finally that the weakenes of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eies of my body and hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vppon thee and my heart may still cry and say vnto thee Lord Iesu into thine hands I commed my Soule Lord receiue my spirit Amen ¶ The Prayer that Martin Luther sayd at his death MY Heavenly Father and eternall mercifull GOD thou hast manifested to mee thy deere son our Lord Iesus Christ. I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with jniurie afflicted Draw my soule to thee After this hee sayd I commend my spirit into thine hands thou hast redeemed mee ô GOD of truth God so loved the world c. Anne Askew ¶ The Prayer of Anne Askew O Lord I haue more enemies then there bee haires on my head yet Lord let them never overcome mee with vaine words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my care With all the spight they can jmagine they fall vppon me which am thy poore creature Yet sweet Lord let me not set by them which are against mee for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I heartely desire of thee that thou wilt of thy mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doe and haue done to me OpeÌ„ also their blind hearts that they may heereafter do that thing in thy sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all fantasies of sinnefull men So be it O Lord so be it By me Anne Askew William Flower ¶ The Prayer and confession which William Flower made at his death OH Eternall God most mightie and mercifull Father who hast sent down thy sonne vppon the earth to saue mee and all mankind who ascended vp into heaven againe and left his blood heere vppon the earth behind him for the redemption of our sinnes haue mercie
hath given you he open your eyes to see what how great benefits you receiued that you may be lesse covetous or rather jmpatient for so I feare me it should be called and more thankfull Haue you not receiued at his hands sight to see your blindnes and thereto a desirous and seeking heart to see where he lyeth in the midde day as his deare Spouse speaketh of her selfe in the Canticles Ah Ioyce my good Ioyce what a guift is this many haue some sight but none this sighing none this sobbing none this seeking which you haue I know but such as hee hath married to himselfe in his eternall sweet mercies You are not content with the Magdalen to kisse his feet but you wold with Moses see his face forgetting how he biddeth vs seeke his face Psalme 27. yea and that euer more Psa. 105. which signifieth no such sight as you desire to haue in this life who would see God now face to face whereas he cannot be seen but covered vnder some thing yea somthing which is as you would say cleane contrary to God as to see his mercie in his anger In bringing vs to Hell Faith seeth him bringing vs to Heaven in darkenesse it beholdeth brightnesse in hyding his face from vs it beholdeth his merry countenance How did Iob see God but you would say vnder Satans cloake For who cast the fire from Heaven vpon his goods who overthrew his house and stirred vppe men to take away his Cattle but Satan And yet Iob pierced thorough all these and sawe Gods working saying The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken c. In reading the Psalmes how often do you see that Dauid in the shaddowe of death saw Gods sweet loue And so my dearely beloued I see that you in your darknes dimnes by faith do see charity britnes by faith I say because faith is of things absent of things hoped for of things which I appeale to your owne conseience whether you desire not And can you desire any thing which you know not And is there of heauenly things any other true knoledge thē by faith Therfore my deare heart bee thankefull for before God I writte it you haue great cause Ah my Ioyce how happye is that state in which you are Verilie you are in the blessed state of gods deare children for they mourne and doe not you so and that not for worldly weale but for spirituall riches Fayth Hope and Charitie Do not you hunger and thirst for righteousnes And I pray you sayth not Christ happie are such How should GOD wipe away the teares from your eyes in heaven if on earth you shed no teares How could Heaven bee a place of rest if on Earth you did find it How could you desire to be at home if in your journey you found no griefe How could you so often call vpon God talke with him as I know you doe if your enemie should sleepe all the daye long How should you elsewhere bee made like vnto Christ I meane in joye if in sorrow you sobbed not with him If you will haue joye and felicity you must needs feele sorrow and misery If you will go to heaven you must saile by hell If you will imbrace Christ in his robes you must not thinke scorne of him in his ragges If you will sitte at Christs table in his Kingdome you must first abide with him in his temptations If you will drinke of his Cup of glorie forsake not his cup of jgnominie Can the head corner stone be reiected and the other more base stones in Gods building bee in this world set by you are one of his living stones in this building be content therfore to be hewen and snagged at that you may bee made more meet to be joyned to your fellowes which suffer with you Satans snatches and freats of the flesh wherethrough they are enforced to crie Oh wretches that wee are who shall deliuer vs you are of Gods corne feare not therefore the flayle the fanne milstone nor oven You are one of CHRISTS Lambs looke therefore to bee fleeced halled at and even slaine If you were a market sheepe you should goe in more fat pasture If you were for the faire you should be stalled and want no meate but because you are for GODS owne vse therfore you must pasture vppon the bare common abiding the stormes and tempests that will fall Happy twice happy are you my deare sister that God haleth you now whither you would not that you might come whither you would Suffer a little and be still Let Satan rage against you let the world crie out let your conscience accuse you let the law leade you and presse you downe yet shall they not prevaile for Christ is Emanuell that is GOD with vs. If God be with vs who canne bee against vs. The Lord is with you your Father cannot forget you your spouse loveth you If the waues and surges arise crie with Peter saue Lord I perish and hee will put out his hand and helpe you Cast out your ankor of Hope and it will not cease for al the stormie surges till it take hold on the rocke of Gods truth and mercie Thinke not that hee which hath given you so many things corporally as jnductions of spirituall heavenly mercies and that without your deserts or desire can deny you any spirituall thing desiring it For if he hath given you to desire hee will giue you to haue and enioy the thing desired The desire to haue and the going about to aske ought to certifie your conscience that they bee his earnests of the things which you asking hee will giue you yea before you aske and whilst you are about to aske hee will grant the same as Isaiah saith to his glorie and your eternal consolation He that spared not his owne Son for you will not nor cannot think any thing too good for you my heartely beloved If he had not chosen you as certainly he hath he would not thus haue called you hee would never haue justified you hee would never haue so glorified you with his gratious gifts which I know to be in you praysed be his name therefore hee would never haue so exercised your faith with temptations as he hath done and doth if I say hee had not chosen you If hee haue chosen you as doubtlesse deere hart he hath don in Christ for in you I haue seene his earnest and to me you could not deny it I know both where and when if I say hee haue chosen you then neither can you nor ever shall you perish For if you fall hee putteth vnder his hand you shall not lie still so carefull is Christ your keeper over you Never was Mother so mindfull over her child as he is over you And hath hee not alwaies been so Speake woman when did he finally forget you And will he now trow ye in your most need doe otherwise you calling vpon him and desiring to