the whose scope of Christian perfection depends And thâ—s being wholly degenerated from the true Catâ—olick institution they fell into all manner of exâ—reâ—m tyranny and persecution changing the poverty and simplicity of Christ into Cruelty and wickedness of Life and manners Thus in these times of horrible Darkness and Ignorance and when there seemed â—o be no manner of spark of Christs pure doctrine left Wickliff by the providence of God sprung up and as a bright and shining light let the world see the errors and impieties of the Church of Rome After he had for a long time professed Divinity at Oxford and perceiving the true Doctrine of the Gospel to be defiled and adulâ—erated with many filthy â—â—rentions and after long debating with himself concerning the danger he should run into by going about to detect these errors so fast embraced by the Râ—mâ—sh Church and in medling with them who had power to crush him yet his mind being inspired of God he could not rest till he had set his study and bent to endeavour a Regulation by his preaching and teaching of these gross errours that were every where taught and maintained But fi st he began warily attempting his Adversaries with Logical and Metaphysicial Qâ—estions of the Formâ— of things and of the intelligible sâ—bâ—tance of the Creatures and such like which begaâ— attention to other matters which he soon began with great Art and learning to dispute of This stir'd up one Kâ—â—inghum a Carmelite to dispute against him by which meâ—n Wickliff fell upon the matter of the Sacrament their errors therein and other abuses in the Church But this bit so sore that it was not to be enâ—ured and a whoâ—e glut of Monks and Fryers fell into a Rage and madness against him fighting for their Gods their Altars their paunches and Bellies Then the Arch-Bishop Simon Sudberry deprived him of his Benefice which he had in Oxford However being befriended by many noblemen and in favour of the King he bare up against the Monks and Fryers his implacabâ—e Enemies and the Arch-Bishop himself till about the year 1377. He had for his special maintainors the great John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Kings Son and the noble Lord Henry Peircy both which were his great Friends embracing the Truth of His Doctrine and perceiving the impurity of that professed by the Roman Clergy together with their most abominable and vicious Life But for the appearing of this noble Duke for the Truth and siding with Wickliff the Romish Clergy perfectly hated him and the Bishop of Winchester most horridly asperses him of Bastardy making the Queen upon her Death bed to Confess it to him that he was not the Kings Son nor hers for lying in at Gaunt the child she had was Smother'd and fearing the Kings displeasure she caused this John of Gaunt being a poor womans Son then newly brought to bed supposititiously to be brought up instead of the dead Prince Thus for his owning Wickliff he had this wicked abuse put upon him by that proud Prelate But the Duke not induring the affront caused him to be condemned by Parliament and his temporalities confiscated and the said Bishop was prohibited to come within 20 miles of the Court But not long after by the means of Alice Pierce the Kings Minion being well brib'd and by the intercession of the whole Company of the Bishops he was again restored But now Wickliff as I said about the year 1377. was forbid to preach any more and cited to appear before the Bishops which was on the 19th of February The Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy both accompanied him and caused out of every order of the Fryers a Batchelour of Divinity to be chosen which were 4 to joyn with Wickliff and to Assist him But so great was the disorder and variance between the Bishop of London Courtney and the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Peircy in the behalf of Wickliff that nothing was done and the Assembly was broke up being held in St. Pauls Church the Duke and the Bishop threatning one another Thus he escaped at this time and Continued unmolested all the time of King Edward the 3d but afterwards in the Reign of King Richard the Second though he was a favourer of Wickliffs Doctrines yet the Duke and Lord Peircy not intermedling in the Affairs of state as before but living privatly the Bishops took their time to trouble him again and exhibited several Articles against him to Pope Gregory the 11th who presently sends his bull to Oxford for the Apprehending of Wickliff and for the silencing him and rooting out his Doctrines and writes also to the King against him The Bishops now hoping to ruine this holy man cite him a Second time who appeared but there came a Command to them from the King not to give any definitive sentence against him so that he by that means escaped them a 2d time Not long after the Rebellion of Jack-straw breaking forth and the Kingdom in a Combustion the Bishops perceiving the Doctrine of Wickliff dayly to increase and that he had many followers they procured the Vicechancellour of Oxford William Barton in the year 1380 to put forth an Edict against Wickliff and his followers which again brought him into trouble not having his former supports to help him and his Articles which he had maintained so stoutly against the force of his Adversaries were condemned as Heretical in 1382. About the same time one Hereford with Rippington and Ashton all Batchelours of Divinity were cited before the Bishops persecuted for holding the tenents of Wickliff and Hereford and Rippington were excommunicated Also one Thomas Hillman a Batchellor of Divinity was at the same time troubled by them for the same cause Hitherto there was no Law to burn any man for Religion and had they been contented with the power of excommunication it had been well and had not stirred up the Civil Magistrate to be their bloody and Cruel executioners so that we may account these first Persecutions but light But now their malice rage being increased the K. being but young and overawed by the Pope and the proud and imperious clergy of the Land who bore great sway they circumvented the King got surreptitiously a statute made without notice of the Commons called an Act of the Parliament holden at Westminster An. 5. Rich. 3. l. in which power was given to Sheriffs and other Civil Magistrates to imprison any for Religion upon the Certificates of the Bishop which caused great Persecutions but this Act was shortly after repealed at the intreaty of the Commons However the Bâ—shops supressed the knâ—wlâ—dge of this Repealing and unjustly under colour of the former Act wrought horrible troubles against all such as opposed them or were fâ—vouâ—ers of Wickâ—iff and they also so wrought upon the King that he sent forth his Letters against Wicâ—â—â—f and for the suppression of his Doctrine both to the Arch-Bishop of
ENGLAND'S Remembrancer Setting forth The beginning of Papal Tyrannies bloody Persecutions Plots and inhuman Butcheries exercised on the Professors of the Gospel in England dissenting from the Church of Rome WITH An account of all or most of the Martyrs that were put to death by the cruel Papists in this Kingdom until the Reformation in the Reign of King Edw. 6. and Queen Elizabeth ALSO The first rise of the Writ de Heretico comburendo For Burning of Hereticks Well worth all Protestants perusal that they may unite as one Man against the Hierarchy of the bloodthirsty See of ROME Religio timor Dei solus est qui custodit hominum inter se societatem Lactant. LONDON Printed for E. Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhill 1682. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Protestant Reader FOR such I suppose thee to be who will take the pains to read over these Collections or take a view of this little Tract called Englands Remembrancer wherein we have set forth without any partiality the bloody Persecutions of that Antichristian Church of Rome so we may well call her since Persecution is a certain Mark of the Beast and whatever particular Church takes up that Weapon so far deviates from the true Catholick Church of Christ as it makes use of it being absolutely contradictory to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles The Protestants of the Church of England laid the Foundation of their Reformation with the blood of many Martyrs suffering Death and torments for their Opinions They were all Dissenters from the Church of Rome and they have sufficiently blamed as they justly ought their horrid Persecution for Conscience sake seeking by compulsion to put their heavy yoaks on the necks of others and yet they had Law on their side and their Religion was then established by the Laws of the Land however I think there is no Protestant but doth justly call the putting to death tormenting imprisoning and ruining so many Men and Women for their Opinions Persecution and tho the Church of England hath not law to put any to Death yet no question there may be many so blindly Zealous as would do as much as the Papists have done before them and therefore let them not be angry if that Spirit which some have of late shewed against Dissenters be called Persecution tho they have Laws of their side But this is nothing our dread and fear proceed from a farther prospect of the great hopes the Papists have of once more Establishing their Idolatrous Religion and truly though we believe that God in his mercy may deliver this poor Nation from so great a Scourge yet we cannot say that the Hopes of the Papists are in vain since we our selves do not slackly endeavour to bring ruine on our selves and to be helpful in promoting their designs being ready to set Protestants together by the Ears reviling persecuting and troubling one another insomuch that many have shewn that they had rather join with the Papists than admit of any other Protestant Dissenter to live unmolested and to enjoy their peace opinions and Conscience This Spirit of late blown up by secret boutsers raging as it does makes the subtle Popish Clergy laugh in their Sleeves and begin to believe they need not the help of any damnable and murthering Plot since they perceive we are framing Plots and Designs against our selves and if they let us alone shall readily by our animosities make way for the setting up their Church in this Kingdom which they with all their hellish Artifices could never do Divide impera divide reign is a known Maxim and we are doing that our selves as fast as we can for them At this time therefore I thought there could be nothing more necessary to all sorts of Protestants of what denomination soever than the beholding as in a little mirror the horrid and bloody Persecutions of those of the Romish Church in England when they had power in this Nation and by this Pocket Remembrancer you may be able to perceive to what horrid Tyranny all Professors of the true Gospel of Christ must submit themselves giving their Bodies to be burnt imprisoned tormented and abused or else against their Consciences become Idolaters and damn their Souls Alas there are no Arguments to be used against these men when armed with the Sword of Power what they have done they still do where they reign and will most certainly do the same again if not in a greater and more bloody manner as soon as they should have established their Dominion by the help of a Popish King You therefore who are negligent and careless and act as if you were asleep or are indifferent what Religion is uppermost and you also who are so hot and zealous for persecuting all those who dissent from you and you likewise for such there be who are ready to shake hands with the Papists pleading for them and account them harmless and loyal or at least better than Protestant Dissenters all of you I say read this little Book of their Tyrannies and as sure as Truth you shall feel the Scourge and Scorpionian sting of these men and must draw in their iron Yoak unless you will act against your Consciences the very same Tragedies that were acted before under Popish and bigotted Kings upon others shall be then acted over again upon you your Wives and Children upon your Goods Lives Friends Kindred and Estates Fires will again be inkindled in all quarters of this Land the Tyranny and Cruelty of the Inquisition shall sit upon you the Priest shall Lord it over you and of Freemen you shall become slaves ignorance and superstition shall put down knowledge and Religion by Authority On the other side you who are true professors of the Gospel of Christ may make use of this Remembrancer in which you will behold the great patience meekness of such whom God honoured with Martyrdom and suffering in his Cause that if ever the like persecution be permitted by the Judgment of Heaven in this Nation for our manifold sins and debaucheries which flow thorow the Land and for the Spirit of Rage and Persecution of one another that hath lately gone forth in some measure I say you may be prepared by these examples of holy dying men how to behave your selves and to believe that God will give to such as rely upon him extraordinary Comforts and supports in their Afflictions It may also serve to stir up those lukewarm Protestants who run with the stream or have not heard of or else soon forget the Persecutions and Tyrannies of the Romish Church to have an aversion and horrour to such men and such a Religion as will cut their throats if ever established by Law among us You have here an Epitomy of all Mr. Fox's 3 great Volumes which few can purchase and fewer have time to read therefore I have collected for the Protestant Reader briefly the most material stories of the whole which are
without Abjuration and all their goods forfeited to the King and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law to deny them without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary The second being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds that it ought not to be given to the Laity The 3d that Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of chastity ought to be observ'd 5. That private Mosses are agreeable to God's Law 6. That auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be received c. and upon these Articles was granted by the same Parliament a bloody and Cruel Inquisition directed to certain persons in every shire and County to enquire into all such Heresies Felonies Contempts c. committed or done by any that they might suffer according to the Law These Articles were opposed openly in Parliament by Cranmeâ— Archbishop of Canterbury who afterwards suffâ—red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary as shall be declared And among these we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who lost his Life in the cause of God by the craft and policy of his Popish Adversaâ—ies but since it had some other shew than that of Religion only we shall let it pass and proceed to others Dr. Barnes Martyr After the Death of the Lord Cromwell Gardner raged against all that opposed the Papal power at his pleasure having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds and now 3 noted Divines suffered together in Smithfield which I shall briefly mention The first was Doctor Robert Barnes who having been bred abroad at Lovain and also at the University of Cambridg was made Prior and Master of the House of the Augustines where much to his praise he advanced the knowledg of good Letters and caused the Epistles of St. Paul to be read causing disputations of the same publickly which seemed strange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars His first Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge the Sunday before Christmass day for which he was accused of Heresie by two Fellows of Kings Hall and Articles drawn up against him and not long after he was publickly arrested by a Serjeant at Arms from London and the University was searched for Luthers Books Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London and brought before Cardinal Woolsie who was then in power After a long discourse with him the Cardinal being highly offended with him for his preaching against his Pomp Power and Dignity seeing he could not cause him to recant but stood in the justification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conscience the Scriptures he sent him to the Fleet from whence he was had again before the Cardinal and by the importunity of Gardner Fox and others he was perswaded at last to abjure and with some of the men of the Stillyard accused also for Lollardy he publickely bore a faggot After which he was remanded to the Fleet and thence was removed to Austins Fryer's in London where being Complained against to the Cardinal by those who sought his Life he was removed again to Austin Fryer's in Northampton with intent to have him burnt But he escaped thence leaving a Letter as if thorow despair h ehad gone to drown himself that they might not pursue him so that whilst they were searching the River for his Body he made his escape to London and thence beyond the seas where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum with a supplication to King Henry There he grew Familiar with Luther Melancthon Pomeran the Duke of Saxony and others and was not long after sent over by the King of Denmark as his Ambassador into England where Sir Tho. Moor sought his Life but Cromwell stood his friend After that in the time of Queen Ann he returned into England and was sent by the King as his Embassador to the Duke of Cleve But Gardner getting into the favour of the King never left till he had undermined Dr. Barneâ— who was at last sent to the Tower together with Thomas Garrat and Mr. Hierom from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom Thomas Garrat and William Hierom Martyrs Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London and having received the knowledge of the truth endeavoured all he could to promote it and haveing a parcel of Tyndols translation of the new Testament and other books treating of the Scriptures he went privately to Oxf rd to sell them there to those he knew well affâ—cted to the Gospel But his Adversarâ—es having their spies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 â—nd immâ—dâ—aâ—â— some were sent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford that they might be both burnt together and after great search he was taken but made his escape intending to fly into the west but was pursued and taken again and imprisoned and after much trouble was forced agâ—inst his Conscience to abjure After which he fled again from place to place for fear of his persecutors but was tâ—kâ—◠〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adversaries and sâ—nt to the Tower from whence he was câ—râ—â—ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome The Death of Barnes Gaâ—ret and Hierom. The 3d Companion in this glorious suffering was Mr William Hierâ—â— who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word for the comfort and edification of the People and had preached divers sermons with intent to implant in the Consciences of men the sincere Truth of Christian Religion and to weed out of mens minds traditions dreams and Popish fansies in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papists who were utter enemies of the Gospel of Christ and for this they sought this good man's Life The occasion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Cross the fourth Sunday in Lent in which speaking of Sarah and Hagar he said those who were born of the free Woman were freely Justified and the one would think nothing of false doctrine or Heresie could be gathered from these words yet he was charged therewith and convented before the King at Westminster for that he had erroneously taught the people that all that were born of Sarah were freely justified absolutely without Condition either of Baptism or Penance c. Several other things were objected against him and he was at last sent to the Tower in order to his Execution we have spoken of these 3 Martyrs severally we shall now joyn them together as fellow sufferers and Martyrs About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell a process was issued out against these three men by means of See Gardner to which they were never brought to Answer but on the 30th of July being Condemned without their knowing the cause and without any hearing were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt Then Dr. Barnes made his protestation against several false