these things are too far above thy reach Said they the shrub is lower then the Beach I am said she indeed and yet my breath I 'll give in witness of my Saviours death O do not put me off with longer stay For Ah! I am impatient of delay My love hath wings it hovers up and down Nor can it rest till glory is her own My heart is fixed I will never go From what I said nor do as others do Then said the Bishop There 's no hopes to win her The devil leadeth her the devil is in her Not so my Lord quoth she Christ is my guide His Spirit upholds me that I cannot slide She when she heard deaths sentence past upon her Advanc'd her voice and said Unmated honour The Proverb 's true Long look'd for comes at last My Lord my God I thank thee that thou hast Granted to me this day my hearts desire In listing me with thy celestial Quire Woman said one be thou a happy wife By thy recanting O the sweets of life No said she by no means my life is hid With Christ in God now the good Lord forbid That for this life at best but transitory I should lose heaven and eternal glory I have two husbands but will onely cleave Unto my heavenly and my earthly leave The fellowship of Saints in heaven I trow Exceeds the having children here below And if my husband and my children prove Faithful then am I theirs they have my love God my good father is God is my mother God is my sister and God is my brother God is my kinsman God 's my faithful friend Who will stick close unto me till the end To execution then led along She was attended with a num'rous throng Bound to the stake she by the Popish Priests Was set upon again unwelcom guests To whom she thus for God's sake now give o're Your bibble babble trouble me no more With empty sounds fain would I Oh! divorce My self from your impertinent discourse O God be merciful to sinful me For Ah! I onely do depend on thee She stood with admirable patience Amidst the flames and so her soul flew hence Sh 'had such a cheerful look that one would say It was her wedding not her burning day She had been alwayes sober in her diet Neat in apparel peaceable and quiet Alwayes a doing never fitting still During her health and limbs by her good will Chain'd to her house she ever would refuse To gad abroad as most ill-houswives use To all that came to her her gracious heart Would streams of consolation impart Gods word was her delight she gave good heed Ther husband in the Lord a wife indeed According to her power she at her door And at their sev'ral homes reliev'd the poor And in the time of her calamity Would take no proff'red coyne for said she I Am going now to Heaven a City where No mony any Mastery doth bear And whilst I here remain the Lord will feed My craving stomack and supply my need It is his promise and full sure I be That he which feeds the Ravens will feed mâ— One Richard Sharp a Weaver by his trade In Bristel City apprehended made A large confession of his faith before One Dr. Dalby the there-Chancellour Who by perswasive Arguments so wrought Upon his weakness that he soon was brought To make a promise That he would appear And publickely recan and when and where But after this Apostacy Sharp felt His conscience gall'd hell's horrour so indwelt His soul that he his calling could not minde His colour went away his body pin'd Next Sabbath day going to Church he made To the Quire-door and with a loud voice said That Altar neighbours pray bear me record Is the Great Idol I deny'd my Lord But from the bottom of my heart am sorry For what I don in hazarding my Glory He caught condemn'd and burn'd with Thomas Hale Climb'd up to heaven from this tearful vale One Thomas Benson of the same town went To pris'n for saying That the Sacrament Was as they us'd it nothing else but bread And not the body of the Lord indeed As for the Sacraments which you call seven Five were ordain'd by men but two by heaven Give me the two which I acknowledge true And all the other five I 'll leave to you Soon after this he did receive death's sentence And executed to his God he sent hence His blessed soul which left its bodie 's jail For Paradise death having put in bail Now to conclude The last that did maintain The Gospel with their hearts-blood in the Raign Of Mary Queen that hell-begotten fury Were these five Citizens of Canterbury John Hurst John Cornford Captains in the fight Christopher Brown Alice Swoth and Kath'rine knight The things imputed to their charge were that Christs real presence they denyed flat Affirming onely those that do believe Not wicked men Christs body do receive The Pope they said was Antichrist the Mass Abominable that a sin it was To pray to Saints that cringing to a cross Was meer Idol'try and an errour gross c. Sentence of condemnation being heard Forthwith John Cornford was in spirit stirr'd And with an ardent zeal for God express'd In the name of himself and all the rest This doom I'th'name of Christ our Saviour The Son of God the High'st and by the power Of his most Holy-Ghost as also by The Holy and Divine authority Of the Apostolick and Cath'lick Church Never yet totally left in the lurch We here turn over to the Prince of hell As slaves eternally to howle and yell In sulph'ry flames the bodies of all those Blasphemers Hereticks who do oppose The living God and bolster up their errours Against the Truth hence to the King of Terrours So that by this thy righteous judgement shown Against thy foes great God thou mayst make known Thy true religion to thy greater glory And our souls comfort when we read the story Of thy great power and to th'edification Of all our well-nigh ruinated Nation Good Lord so be it be it so Amen And this his excommunication then Took great effect against truth's enemies Queen Mary within six dayes after dies And Tyrannie with her there is no hope Of any longer footing for the Pope In England now great joy betides to all The faith-ey'd Saints who wish'd proud Babels fall Yet the Archdeacon and 's associates quick Knowing the Queen was dangerously sick Condemn'd those pious persons to the flame And hurri'd them away When there they came In Christ his name they offer'd up their prayers As holocausis to the Almighties ears To God they pray'd to God for ever blest Preferring this request amongst the rest That if it were his will their blood might be The last that should be shed so Lord pray we No sooner had they pray'd but heaven return'd A gracious answer they the last that burn'd Great God said they we cheerfully resign Our souls into those blessed hands
Pope Al'xander the third his wrath did smoke When they shook off his Antichristian yoke He them condemn'd as Het'ticks yet they spred And many potent Towns inhabited Nay many Lords and Earls did with them side Against the Pope and constantly deny'd The Romish faith and resolutely spake Their willingness to suffer for Christs sake Beziers was stormed by the Pilgrim train And in it sixty thousand persons slain The Legat saies Souldiers kill old and young For why God knoweth those to him belong The Catholicks besieg'd and batter'd down On the inhab'tants heads Carcasson Town When Baron Castle was surpriz'd th' enclos'd Of th' Albigenses were disey'd disnos'd Then sent to Cab'ret with an one-ey'd guide Yet still like gold that 's in a furnace tri'd The Saints appear'd their sparkling zeal like fire Blown by afflictions bellows blaz'd the higher Now Luther rose the Antichristian terror And those that were seduc'd reduc'd from error SECT XXI The Persecution of the Church of God in Bohemia which began Anno Christi 894. BOrivojus Duke of Bohemia Entring the confines of Moravia By a strange providence was Christianiz'd And with him thirty Pal'tines were baptiz'd At his return he raised from the ground Churches and Schools and all the Country round Flock'd thither many of the Noble race As well as Commons did the Truth embrace Malicious Satan env'ing the progress The Gospel made gainst those that it profess Rais'd persecution up Borivojus Is sent into exile Sanguineous Drahomira ' the Christian temples locks Forbidding Ministers to tend their flocks And in the silent night three hundred lives Pay'd tribute to the bloody cut-throats knives But Gods just Judgement Drahomira follow'd The opening earth her and her Cart up swallow'd The Popish party having got the day Did all the obvious Bohemians slay At Cuttenburge four Thousand souls were thrown Into the Metal-Mines O hearts of stone The Priests cry out Blow out good people blow These sparks before into a flame they grow Water is us'd the more they did endeavour To drown the Saints they flamed more then ever Many are scourg'd some sent into exile Two German Merchants brought unto the pile Exceedingly encourag'd one another One sayes Since Christ hath suffered dear brother For wretched us let 's do the same likewise For him and such a high-bred savour prize That we are counted worthy so to die For his sweet sake the other did reply The joy that in my Marriage-day I found Was small to this O this doth more abound Both cry'd aloud the Faggots set on fire Blest Christ thou in thy torments didst desire Thine en'mies peace the like we also crave Forgive the King let not the Clergy have Thy scalding vengeance O forbear to plague The poor misled inhabitants of Prague O be thou pleas'd to let them Scot-free go For Ah! poor souls they know not what they do Their hands are full of blood they pray'd and wept And wept and pray'd till in the Lord they slept On Noble-men intolerable Fines Were laid two hundred eminent Divines Are exil'd some are burned others brain'd Some shot to death with blood the earth 's destain'd The Martyrs one by one that were in hold Are called forth who resolutely bold Hast to their sufferings with as great content As if they had unto a banquet went When one was called for he thus exprest Himself in taking leave of all the rest Farewel dear friends Farewel the Lord support Your spirits that you may maintain the fort Against the common foe and make you stout And resolute to keep all batt'ry out That what you lately with your mouths profest You may by your so glorious death attest Behold I lead the way that I may see My Saviours glory you will follow me To the fruition of my fathers sight O how my soul is ravish'd with delight This very hour all sorrow bids adieu To my glad heart O now my joyes renew Transcendent joyes heaven and eternity Is mine is mine Then did the rest reply God go along with you O heaven we pray Assist thy servant in his thorn-pav'd way O may the willing Angells come to meet Thy obvious body and direct thy feet Into thine and our Fathers Mansion Go go dear brother go and we anon Shall follow after and be all receiv'd To bliss through Christ in whom we have believ'd Farewel farewel let equal joyes betide To us that follow and to you our guide First the Lord Schlick a man as wise as grave Condemned to be quarter'd did behave Himself most gallantly and said My doom Me pleaseth well what care I for a Tombe A Sepulchre is but an easie loss Fear death not I welcom my crown my cross Let let these limbs be scatter'd here and there I have Gods favour and I do not fear The worst that foes can do see how the Sun Displaies his shining beams Jesuites be gon And build not Castles in the empty air For I dare die for Christ I that I dare Be pleas'd blest Jesus thorough deaths dark night To Manu-duct me to eternal light Eternal light O what a happy sound That word reports my soul at a rebound Catch heaven catch heaven no sooner had he spoke But he submitted to the fatal stroke His right hand and his head lop'd off his shoulders Are hung on high to terrify beholders The Lord Wenceslaus seventy years old B'ing next was asked why he was so bold In Fred'ricks cause he said My conscience run Along with me and what is done is done My God lo here I am dispose of me Thine aged servant as best pleaseth thee O send that grim-look'd messenger that staies For none to end these miserable dayes May I not see the ruines that do wait Upon our sinking our declining State Behold this Book my Paradise was never So cordial as now Judges persever In sucking Christian blood but know Gods ire Shall smoak you for 't Up starts a cowled Fryer And said Your Judgement errs With this reply He answer'd him I on the truth rely And not on bare opinion Christ's the Way The Truth the Life in him I cannot stray Then stroaking his prolixed beard he said My gray hairs honour serves you having pray'd And giv'n his soul to Christ his Saviour His cut-off head was fixed on the Tower Lord Harant next was call'd who bravely said I 've travell'd far and many journeys made Through barb'rous countries and escaped dangers By sea and land yet was my life by strangers Surrepted not b'ing safe returned home My friends and Country-men my foes become For whom I and my Grandsires have let fall And wasted our estates our lives and all Forgive them father I O Lord have grounded My faith in thee let me not be confounded Then on the Scaffold thus O Lord I give My spir't into thine hands in hope to live By Christ his death according to thy word And so he yielded to the murth'rous sword Sir Caspar Kaplitz eighty six years old Said to the Minister
miss'd their mark One Thomas Whittle Minister accus'd By Bonner was most wickedly misus'd Who fell upon him beat him with his fists And him enclos'd within a close rooms lifts There said he though I did on the bare ground lie Two nights I prais'd be God slep'd very soundly He Joan Warne Is'bel Foster Thomas Brown John Went Iobn Tudson Bartlet Green lay down Their lives together did at Smithfield stake Of heaven-prepared joys for to partake The last of which going to bear the yoke Cheerfully this repeated Dystich spoke Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutie Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ who art my God In thee for mine abode With thee I onely hope Vnder thy Conduct I Seek the truth and deny The falsi-loquious Pope He was a man exceeding charitable Unto the poor so far as he was able Nor did he love his modesty was such Pop'lar applause though he deserved much His beatings he conceal'd till neer his end When he declar'd it to a bosome-friend Anne Albright Agnes Snoth Joan Catmer Sole At Canterbury were burnt to a coal Good Doctor Cranmer then of Canterbury Archbishop also past the fi'ry fury At Salsbury on William Coberly John Spicer and John Mandrel so did die Richard and Thomas Spurge Tims Cavel Drake Ambrose all Essex-men fell at the stake Master Tims many Godly letters sent T' his friends not long before his life was spent In one he us'd these passages I praise The Lord for helping you to minde his wayes Consider I beseech you what of late Fell from my lips so shall we meet in state I 'm going to the Bishops coal-house now And hope to go to heaven e're long do you Hie after me I have a great while tarri'd For you but seeing y' are not yet prepared I 'll stay no longer you shall finde me blest And singing Holy Holy Lord of Rest At my race end now therefore my dear hearts Make hast and loyter not lest light departs And yee who with the foolish Virgins stay Be with the foolish Virgins turn'd away And now in witness that I have not taught Contrary to the truth revealed ought My blood-writ name I send you for a Test That I will seal my Doctrine with the rest So fare you well and God defend you then From Antichrist and his false Priests Amen Use constancy in pray'r with faith require And gain the fulness of your choice desire John Hullier formerly an Eaton Sholar At Ely by his patience conqu'red dolour Hugh Lavrock John Ap-Rice this blind that lame Told Bishop Bonner that he laws did frame To take mens lives away making the Queen His hangman Bonner burn'd them out of spleen At Stratford-Bow In Litchfield Colchester Gloster and Leister many burned were One Mr. Julines Palmer and some more At Newb'ry dy'd One Sharp at Bristol bore The flames with joy In Darby town Joan Waste Born blind did in the fire breath out her last Sir John Cheek for the truths sake underwent In London-Tow'r a sore imprisonment A new Commission from the King and Queen Like Dracoes laws came forth that they which lean T' his Holiness the Pope should raise the fire Of Persecution yet a little higher By means where of throughout the Kingdoms quarters Prisons were stuff'd with Saints fires grac'd with Martyrs First to begin with Colchester where they Apprended three and twenty in one day And burnt the major part Margaret Hyde With Agnes Standly stak'd at Smithfield dy'd They Stephen Gratwick William Moraunt King Iato St. Georges field in Southwark bring And burn together In the Diocess Of Canterbury many did profess The truth and suffered In Lewis town Ten faithful servants in one fire laid down Their lives for Christ one of them Richard Woodman Betraid was b'his father and brother good man Eliz'beth Cooper Simon Millar too At Norwich fir'd Eliz'beth cry'd Ho ho And shrunk a little Simon Millar said Reaching his hand out to her What affraid Raise up your spirits in the Lord be strong And cheerful for these pains are of no long Continuance Good sister by and by We 'll take our supper with alacrity This so becalm'd her heart she through-stitch run The work she had so happily begun And so committing their blest souls to God They clim'd to heaven death being under trod Mrs. Joyce Lewis a gentlewoman born Accuted and condemn'd contemn'd with scorn Death's rigid brow my Christ is fair when him I see said she death looks not half so grim Urg'd to confess before her end begins She said to God she had confess'd her sins And he had pardon'd them the Priest befool'd Told her e're long her courage would be cool'd At stake the Mass she pray'd against cry'd then The crowd and Sheriffe himself aloud Amen Taking a cup of drink Here here 's to all That love the truth and wish proud Babel's fall Her friends do pledge her and some others too For which fact penance many undergo Bound at the stake her smiling ruddy face Made all spectators pitying her case Go with wet eyes much grieving for her woes Inflicted on her by tyran'cal foes She striv'd nor strugled when the fire rag'd most But with her lift-up hands gave up the ghost Ralph Allerton and Richard Roth With James Astoo and his wife dyed in the flames At Islington as did at Colchester Margaret Thurstone and Agnes Bongier John Noyes a godly Shoo-maker who liv'd At Laxfield in Suffolk sentence receiv'd There to burn'd the people in the town Put out their fiers and no house but one And that discov'red by the Chimnies smoak Had some the Sheriffe and 's Officers in broke So got a coal John Noys fell down and pray'd And being bound unto the stake he said Fear not the bodies killer but him who Can kill thee damne thee soul and body too Seeing his sister weep he thus begins Weep not for me but weep you for your sins He took a faggot up gave it a kiss And said Did I e're think to come to this Blessed be God that ever I was born Then spake he to the people Of bread-corn They tell you they can make God but beleive Them not at all nor their false truths receive Pray bear me witness I expect salvation Not by mine own good works but Christ his passion The fire was kindled and his last-spoke word Was Christ have mercy O have mercy Lord. Within the Diocess of Chichester Many accus'd condemn'd and burned were Hillingdal Sparrow and one Gibson dy'd In Smithfield flames John Rough Minister try'd With Marg'ret Mearing neer about this time Were also burned for the self-same crime One Cuthbert Sympson Deacon in one day Though rack'd no less then thrice would not betray The Congregation lying in the stocks At midnight one whom he well heard unlocks The coal-house doors and though no candles light Nor fire's he saw yet his amazed sight Splendour beheld he that came
't is most welcome for I 'm sure to be Rewarded by my God the cross I bear On earth in heav'n a glorious Crown to wear I thank my God that I am more content To suffer Tyrant then thou to torment And yet is not this misery of mine In suff'ring so exorbitant as thine Is by inflicting keeping of the Laws Thus aggravates my pains and thou the cause Shalt by the justice of the Holy One Be banished from thy usurped throne And be reserved for those horrid chains Of utter darkness and eternal pains He said no more his soul forsook his brest To take possession of aye-lasting rest Machir the third son 's brought who was not quell'd But angrily their counsel thus repeli'd One Father us begat one Mother bore us One Master taught us who is gone before us Protract no time for I am not so weak To yield I come to suffer not to speak What care I though I drink the brim-fild boul Of thy displeasure t will not hurt my soul A Globe was brought his woes must b'aggravated And bound thereon his bones were dislocated They flaid his face and while a crimson river Flow'd from him thus he did himself deliver O Tyrant we what we endure endure For the pure love of God thou shalt be sure To rove in Sulph'ry flames and be tormented Eternally unpity'd unlamented His tongue b'ing taken out this good young man Departed in a red-hot Frying-pan Judas is next whom neither menacing Nor flattries could induce t' obey the King Your fire said he shall me attract more near Gods holy Law and to my brethren dear I tell thee Tyrant thou shalt be acurs'd And true believers blest thou that art nurs'd By cruelty it self I bid thee try me And see if God will not also stand by me Hereat the Tyrant in a hot displeasure Hastily left his chair t' afflict by leasure He charg'd his tongue to be cut out in brief T'whom Judas thus Our God is not so deaf As you imagine his attentive ear Hears the dumb language of his servants pray'r He hears the heart not voice our thoughts he sees A distance off distongue me if you please Divide me limb from limb do Tyrant do But know thou shalt not long scape Scot-free so He 's tongueless and with ropes ends beaten sore Which he with much admired patience bore At last upon the Rack his life was spent And to his brethren gone before he went Then Achas the fifth brother unaffraid To hug grim death disclos'd his lips and said Tyrant behold I come for to prevent Thy sending for and know that I am bent To die couragiously my mind is steady Thou art to hellish flames condem'd already By my dear bretherens effused gore And I the fifth shall make thy grief the more What is 't that we have done what other cause Canst thou alleage but this We keep Gods Laws And therefore in the midst of torturing We joy O'tis an honourable thing wrongs Though each part suffer heaven will right our And fill your mouths with howlings ours with songs Then was he in a brazen morter pounded Nay th'less he said Those favours are unbounded With which thou crown'st us though against thy wil We please our God rage thou and rage thy fill If thou shouldst pity me I should be sorry Death's but the prologue to immortal glory So said he made a stop and stopping dy'd Now the sixth brother Areth must be try'd Honour and dolour's put unto his choice But grieving at it with a constant voice He shot forth this reply I weigh not either As we like brethren liv'd wee 'll die together In Gods fear and the time which in exhorting Thou hast a mind to spend spend in extorquing His down-ward head unto a pillar ty'd Antiochus rosts him by a soft fires side And that the heat might enter to the quick And multiply his paines sharp Auls must prick His tender flesh about his face and head Much blood like froth appear'd yet thus he said O Noble fight O honourable warre Glad grief O pious and O impious jarre My bretheren are gone and I ally'd To them in blood would not that death divide Our love united souls invent invent More horrid pains indeavour to torment This flesh with greater torments study study New wayes t' afflict me more severe more bloody I thank my God these are o'recome already Let thousands worser come I will be steady We young men have bin conqu'rours of thy power Thy fire is cold nor can thy rage devour Our faith-fenc'd souls we have a greater joying In suffering then thou hast in destroying As God is just so will he right our wrongs These words scarce out a pair of heated tongs Eradicate his tongue then being cast Into the Frying-pan he breath'd his last And now the youngest brother's onely left Jacob who coming forth compassion cleft The Tyrants heart who took aside the child By th'â—and and spake and as he spake he smil'd Thy bretheren may teach thee to expect The worst of ills if thou my will neglect Thou shalt if thou wilt of thy self be free A Ruler Gen'ral and my Counc'ller be This not prevail'd he thus the mother dons O worthy woman where are now thy sons Yet thou hast one turn him lest thou be rest Of him likewise and so be childless left The mother bowing to the king bespake Her child in Hebrew Pity for Christ's sake And chear thy woful mother O despise These pains and be a willing sacrifice As were thy bretheren that in the day Of grace in heaven receive you all I may Unbound he forthwith to the torments ran And with a serene countenance began Blood-wasting wretch what dost thou but adde fuel thee To make hell botter by persisting cruel Worm that thou art who crown'd thee who gave Those Purple robes thou wearest was 't not he Whom thou in us dost persecute but die Thou must at last for all thou perk'st so high I crave no favour at thy hands but will Follow my breathren and be constant still Torments ensue through mouth and nose he bled His mothers kinde hand held his fainting head His arms cut off Lord take my soul he cry'd Distongu'd he ran into the fire and dy'd Now Salomona all her children dead Enflam'd with zeal came to be Martyred Herein excell'd them all in that sh'endur'd Sev'n painful deaths before her own 's procur'd She tearless could abide to see them spurn'd And rack'd and torn and beat and flaid and burn'd And knowing well death cutteth off our dayes By Fluxes Agues and a thousand wayes That pains were momentary she exhorted Them thus in Hebrew ere they were extorted Most choyce fruits of my womb let 's hasten hence And fear not heaven will be our recompence Shall 's bear what Eleazar undergon You know good Abram sacrific'd his son Remember Daniel in the Lyons den And cast your eyes on the three childeren The restless Tyrant caus'd her to be
Severus reigned in his stead By envious rumors and through false suggestion The Christians lives were dayly brought in question The King commands his willing Subjects strive To bring 't about that none be left a live In Sun-burnt Affrick Cappadocia In Carthage and in Alexandria So that the aumber slain was numberless Origen's father with whom Origen His son had dy'd had not his mother bin An hinderance in that she did convey The night before his shirt and cloaths away Hereat he not for fear of Martyrdome But shaming to be seen remain'd at home Tertullian Irenaus Andoclus Urbanus Satyrus Secundulus Perpetua Felicit as and Rhais Did by untimely deaths conclude their dayes Caspodius a Divine drag'd up and down The streets at last was into Tyber thrown Cecilia Idolatry contemn'd And therefore by the Judge must be condemn'd The Sergeants minding how she did behave her How fair she was sollicite her to favour Her self and not to cast her self away She was but young and many a merry day Might live to see but she discreetly sent Such gracious words as caus'd them to relent And unto that religion yield their hearts ' Gainst which they threw their persecuting darts Which when perceiv'd leav gain'd she runs her home and for Vrbanus sends Vrbanus come He grounds them in the faith so highly priz'd Four hundred do believe and are baptiz'd This holy Martyr afterwards was shut Twice twelve hours in a Bath at last they cut Her head off from her shoulders thus she ended Her dayes and up into the clouds ascended Agapetus of fifteen years of age VVas scourg'd then hang'd up by the feet in rage He scalded was unto the wild beasts rost But they not hurting him his head he lost Pamachius a Roman Senator VVith's wife his children and neer fourty more All in one day beheaded were their pates Fixed on high over the City gates As Bug-bears to affright and scare the rest From Christianity which it profest Potamiena boyling Pitch being pour'd Upon her naked flesh the flames devour'd And Zepherinus after him Vrbanus Both Roman Bishops good Valerianus Tybartius too two Noble men of Rome For their Religion suffer'd Martyrdome Gainst Narciss three false witnesses suborn'd Th' one lost his eyes the fire a second burn'd The third lay languishing thus we may see Th'accusers suffer the accus'd go free Antiochus fell down and having cry'd His bowels burn'd within him sadly dy'd SECT X. The sixth Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 237. MAximinus Severus dead and gon Stirr'd up the twice-third Persecution Disliv'd the Teachers Leaders and the best By this means thinking to seduce the rest Thousands were Martyred whose names are lost With Or'gen's book in which they were engrost About this time Natalius a Priest Who much had suffer'd for the cause of Christ Seduced was by Asclepiodot And Theodore who promis'd to allot A hundered and fifty silver Crowns To him each month if he would but renownce The Christian God and give to theirs respect He did and was a bishop of their sect But God whose mercy would not have him lost Who had so much endur'd so oft been cross'd Admonished him by a vision plain T'ad joyn himself to the true Church again Which the good man b'ing for the present blinded With gain and honour as he ought not minded He the night after b'ing by Angels scourg'd Did put on sackcloth in the morn and purg'd His soul with tears with doleful lamentation He runs in hast to th'Christian congregation Of all loves and for Jesus Christ his sake Humbly entreating them once more to take Him into their society and quire Accordingly they granted his desire Horse-torn Hippol'tus dy'd the Martyred By sixties in a pit were buried SECT XI The seventh Primitive Persecution which began Anno Christi 250. DEcius that cruel Emperour begun The seventh bloody persecution Of which Niceph'rus thus Can any tell The sands they may the Martyr'd saints as well Fabian that kept a Bishoprick at Rome And the Kings treasures suffred Martyrdom Babilas dy'd in prison and a train Of forty Virgins were in Antioch slain The Alexandrian Christians are bereft Of all their goods yea they have nothing left Yet they rejoyce and are therewith content Knowing their substance is more permanent When Apollinea's teeth had dash'd out bin A fire was made they threat to throw her in She paus'd a while refusing to be turn'd And gave a leap into the fire and burn'd Julian Epimachus and Alexander The flame consum'd many poor souls did wander In the deserted deserts others lives Lay open to the raging cut-throat's knives A certain Minister with pains opprest And fearing death desir'd to be releas'd A young man then too glorious to behold For mortal eyes appearing did unfold His angry lips What would you have me do You dare not bear and out you will not go Because chast Theodora a did refuse To sacrifice they sent her to the stews Where lust-enflam'd young men for entrance press'd But Didymus slip'd in before the rest Having the habit of a souldier on He chang'd for hers and she in his is gon Didymus stayes behind b'ing found a man Confessing th' whole state of the matter so He was condemn'd and must to torment go Which Theodora a having understood To save the shedding of innocuous blood Comes to the Judge and said I bear the guilt And lo I 'm here condemn me if thon wilt As for that man I pray let him go free Let not your fury light on him but me She was not heard both for their lives were try'd Condemned both Beheaded both both dy'd No torments that the Praetor could devise Could force Nicetas t'offer sacrifice He therefore him into a garden brought With all variety of pleasures fraught There laid him down upon a bed of Down A silken net softly upon him strown Among the Lillies and the fragrant Roses Neer murm'ring streams inviting sweet reposes To the sweet whistling of the leaves mov'd by A gentle gale he left him presently In comes a Strumpet garishly attir'd And in a wanton dialect desir'd The non-denial of her earnest sute To use her body lowly prostitute Nicetas fearing he should be by folly Conqu'red and led to do what was unholy Bites off his tongue and with a certain grace He spits it out into her whorish face So by this smarting wound he did prevent Sins sting and consequently punishment Nichomacus most sensible of pain I am no Christian cry'd so was not slain He had no sooner put his hand to evil But was possessed with an unclean devil And thrown with violence upon the ground Bit off his tongue and died of the wound Many A postates were possess'd and some Suddenly struck were ever after dumb Though some thus fell away others stood fast Remaining glorious Martyrs to the last But Decius not long securely slept For conquer'd by the Goths with 's horse he leapt Into a whirlpool and therein was drown'd Nor was
Behold behold Me a decrepit wretch whose frequent pray'rs Have beg'd deliverance from this vale of tears But all in vaine for to be gaz'd upon By the worlds eyes I 'm kept God's will be done Not mine my death to mortal eyes may seem Disgraceful but 't is rich in Gods esteem Oh Lord my God my trembling feet support For fear my sudden fall occasion sport To my observing foes The Minister Perceiving that the excutioner Could not perform his office as he meant His crookedness b'ing an impediment Bespake him thus My Noble Lord as you Commended have your soul to Christ so now Advance your hoary head to God he try'd What he could do his head struck off he dy'd Then the Lord Oito a judicious man Having receiv'd the sentence thus began And do you then O Caesar still think good For to stabilitate your throne with blood Can God be pleas'd with this say Tyrant say How will you answer 't at that dreadful day Kill this my body do let my blood fill Your veins disperse my members where you will Yet this is my belief My loving father Will be so pleas'd as them together gather And cloath them with their skin these very eyes Shall see my Lord where e're my body lies These ears shall hear him and this very tongue Ring peals of joy his praises shall be sung By this same heart of mine I must confess I was perplex'd at first but now I bless My God I finde a change I was not troubled So much but now my joyes are more redoubled I fear not death now death hath lost her sting To die with joy O 't is a pious thing Am nor I sure Christ and his Angels will Guide me to heaven where I shall drink my fill Of those Celestial cups those cups of pleasure And measure drinking though not drink by measure Shall then this death have power to divide My soul from him the heavens open wide See where my finger points The standers by Beheld eye-dazeling cortuscancy After a silent prayer made he spake Lord save thy servant Oh some pity take I am thy creature O let me inherit Christ-purchas'd glory Lord receive my spirit Next Dionysius Zervius that storm'd Against the saints but when he was inform'd Of Gospel-truths how Christ procured rest For those believ'd he forthwith smote his brest And fetch'd a sigh while tears ran down did cry This is my faith and in this faith I 'll die Through Christ alone I can acceptance finde Yet God will not despise my contrite minde Upon these knees these bended knees I call For mercy mercy Lord although I fall Help me to rise in thee My foes controul May hurt my body but not hurt my soul An aged man b'ing brought both these commended Their souls unto the Lord so their lives ended Next was the Lord of Rugenice arraign'd Who said I have a greater priv'ledge gain'd Then if the King had spar'd me and augmented My restor'd substance and am more contented God is our witness that we onely sought Religions Liberty for that we fought Who though w' are worsted and must end our days The Lord is righteous in all his ways His Truth we must defend as he sees good Not by our naked Swords but by our Blood What is the cause my God O tell me why So soon as others do I may not die For ah thou knowst thou knowst that I resign My self unto thee and am wholly thine Put not thy servant off with long delay But take me hence sweet Jesu come away The Sheriff came for him he rejoycing said Blessed be God then towards him he made Upon the Scaffold he himself did chear With that of Christ Father I will that where I am thy servants may there also be That they may my heaven-given glory see I haste to lose this life so transitory That I may be with Christ and see his glory Climbe up my soul climbe up to be embrac'd In Christ his arms and so he breath'd his last Valentine Cockan spake to this effect Upon the Scaffold Gracious Lord direct My feeble steps O let deaths valley be A Pasport to the clearer view of thee For why thy word hath bin my hidden treasure O what satiety of joy and pleasure Take residence with thee there 's nothing can Afford my soul more satisfaction than Thy self's fruition Lord my spirit flies Into thy Courts so having said he dies Next Toby Steffick's brought a man whose heart Walk'd upright with his God though like a cart Press'd with afflictions sheaves to heaven he heav'd His wasted eyes and said I have receiv'd From the beginning of my life till now Good things of God and shall not I then bow My will to his but his chastisements shun I will not no God's holy will be done Can I poor dust and ashes have the face To plead with God I chearfully embrace Thy pleasure Lord I come to bear the cross O be thou pleas'd to purge away my dross Calcine my soul obliterate my sins And make me pure against that day begins He pray'd and having drunke the lethal cup His spirit into heaven ascended up Doctor Jessenius after him was Martyr'd His tongue cut out head off his body quarter'd Citing the saying of Ignatius Chears his co-sufferers We are Gods corn Sown in the Churches field and must be torn By beasts to fit us for our Masters use But here 's our comfort one a bloody sluce The Church is founded and hath been augmented By blood nor shall the opened vein be stented The blow must now be fetch'd his soul he gave To heav'n his body to the gaping grave Then being call'd to execution I come said he a pious resolution Takes up my heart I 'm not asham'd nor sory To suffer these nay worse things for his glory I have I have by my heav'n-borrow'd force Fought faith's good fight and finished my course Then praying Father in thy hands I leave My spir't he did a Martyrs crown receive John Shunlt is while he on the Scaffold stood Said thus Leave off this melancholy mood Dejected soul O be not so cast down Hope thou in God though for a time he frown Yet will he smile again and thou shalt yet Praise him though Nature do receive her debt The righteous are among the dead enrold By fools whenas they rest Behold behold I come sweet Jesus O some pity take Unon thy creature for thy promise sake Cast me not off my misery condole My sins O pardon and receive my soul Make no long tarriance come Lord Jesus come And so he underwent his Martyrdome Next Maximilian Hoslialeck Whom Learning Worth and Piety did deck After the sentence past one asked him The reason why he look'd so dull so grim And sadder then the rest To rell the truth The sins said he I acted in my youth Come now afresh into my minde for though I know that no remainder can o'rethrow Them which with Jesus Christ have made a close
would produce her hid-up gold He 'd rost her quick and after throw her down From the sublimest tower in the town VVell said she though I fall yet shall I stand Supported by the Lord Almightie's hand He made her drink his piss then in her face Flung the remainder and withall the glass He claps her up more torments to abide Her friends redeem'd her but she shortly did The Prot'stants of Valougne their dear lives lost And souldiers in their houses rul'd the rost In Mascon Bonnet Bor a rare Divine Scoff'd beaten drown'd Lamp-like in heav'n doth shine Monsieur Valongues a Minister they kill'd And spurn'd his naked corps the Mass-Priests fill'd His mouth and wounds with Bible-leaves and said Preach thou Gods truth now invocate his aid Monluc at Reim brain'd sucking infants then The mothers hang'd above five hundred men They sprinkled salt upon the bleeding wounds Of one poor mangled man Monluc confounds The Protestants in fight the prisoners He hangs especially the Ministers Captain Lamoths he stabs that will not do He thrusts him with a rapier through and thro And his blasphemous mouth these words lets fly Villain thou in despite of God shalt die He prov'd a lyar though the man endur'd Such mortal wounds yet was he strangely cur'd In Limoux Grenoble Beann Cisteron Normay and Aurange many undergon Hard usage Ah! what hearts what tongues what Quills Can think can speak can write those worst of ills Females were ravish'd others drown'd some kill'd Their houses with unruly souldiers fill'd Hundreds of women nay and children too Like harmless sheep unto the slaughter go Those to blaspheme that would not be constrain'd Were with the butt-end of a musket brain'd Or hewn as small as herbs unto the pot Others rhrown out at windowes others shot A fair young woman after much disgrace Was ravished before her husbands sace Then forc'd to hold a rapier wherewith One made her her own husband kill A Smith Because he would not give the devil his soul B'ing on his anvil laid they beat his poul In pieces with great hammers some were crush'd To death with weights others were har quebush'd They dash'd brest-sucking babes against the walls And slew the crazy in the hospitals No sex nor age nor quality they let Go free all all was fish that came to net The Massacre at PARIS Anno 1571. WHen the third Civil War in France was ended A Massacre at Paris was intended And put in execution first of all They set upon and slew the Admiral The watch-word was the tolling of a bell Which rang by break aday the cut-throats fell On the attendants of the King of Navar And Prince of Conde not the least of favour Was shew'd to any they knock'd down and brain'd Ten thousand persons Sein'c swift streams were With the effused blood the streets were pav'd stain'd With mangled bodies not a man was sav'd These blood-hounds met with Pistols Poiniards Knives Curtlaces Pikes did make away with lives The Muskets bouncings Oh the horrid tones Of howling murth'rers mix'd with dying grones The Lords and Gentlemen were murthered Some on their houses roofs and some in bed In France this persecution so encreas'd Were thirty thousand Massacred at leaft But let 's to some particulars descend One Monsieur de la Place was brought t' his end And Peter Ramus with his life did part The Kings Professor in that subtile Art Thrown from the chamber window trail'd about The streets and whip'd his bowels falling out A villain snatched up a little child Who toy'd and played with his beard and smil'd But he hard hearted wretch not mov'd at all Drew out his sword and stabbed it withall And cast it all gore-blood into the river This gnaws an infant's heart and he the liver Such protestants as did through fear revolt Must in the fore-front give the first assault Or else be kill'd themselves Some had their grease Try'd out and sold They us'd such blasphemies Where 's now your God are Psalmes and Prayers come To this sure he is either deaf or dumb Let him come save you if he can they cry'd Kill kill them all and let 's the spoil divide What fearfull shrikes and outeries were there then Caus'd by these Devils in the shapes of men What breaking up of doors what noise of guns At Orleance was there heard confusion runs In ev'ry street what trampling of War-Horses Rumbling of Carts that bore away dead coarses The Papists in this massacre confess'd That they slew eighteen thousand at the least Some of them boasted in the streets aloud Th'nad dy'd their doublets in the Hug'nots blood At Tholouse they the call'd-out pris'ners slay Not suffring them to speake much less to pray VVhen the Parisian massacre was known At Bourdeaux the like cruelty was shown How sad was it to see poor Protestants VVander now here now there and none their wants Supply Alas unparalelled woes Rejected by their friends destroy'd by foes SECT XXIX The siege of Sancerte Anno Christi 1573. THe Chastrian Lord besieging Sancerre town His thundring cannons play'd and batter'd down Her stony walls the shiver'd timber flew Continually about yet none it slew Some had their hats breeches and coats through shot Themselves not hurt nor prejudic'd one jot The siege endured long at last through want Horse-flesh was turn'd to food which growing scant The Twons-men fed on dogs cats rats mice moles Hides parchments halters Lantera-horns roots coals Their bread was made of straw-meal they did boyl Them pottage of old Oyntments grease and Oyl And when these fail'd they pounded nutshels slates Eat mens dung fry'd ho these were precious cates A lab'rer and his wife were put to th'slaughter For feeding on their famin-starved daughter Some little corn by stoldred brought to town Each pound was valued at half a crown The sword did but eighty four persons slay The famine half a thousand swept away Many chose rather to resign their breath At the swords point then famish'd be to death The parents look'd upon with grief of heart Their children but could no relief impart A boy of five years old neer spent with hunger Did run about the streets but when no longer His feeble feet could bear him down he fell Before his parents sight 't is sad to tell The horrour of their souls and how their eyes Ran down when they did feel his with'red thighs Then said the child Father and mother dear What mean you so to weep for Gods sake spare Those needless drops and do'nt my cause bemone I ask no bread as knowing you have none But since it is Gods will that I should rest By such a death as this his name be blest Have not I mother in my Bible read Of Laz'rus wants and that was all he said At last God flirr'd up the Polonians To free the poor distress'd Sancerrians They with their arms and goods might go away And such as would might without trouble stay The siege of Rochel Anno 1573. ROchel
And after condemnation he was brought To execution his cap gown and coat He gave t' his servant and exhorted him To venture all for Christ yea life and lim Bound to the stake he cry'd For Christ his merit O Lord be pleased to receive my spirit How long shall clouds of darkness overwhelm Great God! how long shall foes oppress this realm A Fryar then Vnto our Lady pray Salve Regina say c. Away away Satanick Imps God hears me in the flame His soul went up to heav'n to praise Gods Name Straton converted said O Lord I have Bin wicked and deserv'd thy wrath yet save O let not me for fear of corp'ral pain Or death deny thee or thy truth again They his and Mr. Norman's person bring And burn them in the presence of the King Such words the Bishop of Dunkelden us'd To one Dean Porret whom the Fry'rs accus'd My joy Dean Thomas I do love thee well And therefore take the liberty to tell Thee of thy faults I am inform'd you do Preach the Epistle nay the Gospel too Each Sunday to your people and refuse To take from them as a reward your dues Which prejudicial to the Church-men is My joy Dean Thomas I advise you this Take tythes or else it is too much to preach But once a week for if thou gratis teach May not the people think that we likewise Should do the same Tom be not so precise It is enough for you when you have sound A good Epistle and Gospel to expound The liberty of holy Church express'd Therein and 't is no matter for the rest Thomas reply'd My Lord if I abstain From tythes will my parishioners complain I know they will not and whereas you say It is too much to preach each Sabbath-day I think it is too little for my part And from the very bottom of my heart Wish that your Lordship would be pleas'd to take Such pains as that Nay nay Dean Thomas spake The Bishop then no orders do us reach Whereas said Thomas you do bid me preach When a good Chapter I do light upon I 've read them over all and finde not one That 's bad amongst them shew me where they lie And at your shewing I will pass them by I bless God said the Bishop I ne're knew What was the Testament nor old nor new And I will not know any thing at all Saving my Portvise and Pontifical Go go your wayes and cease so much to prate Lest you repent you when it is too late I trust said Thomas that my cause is clear In Gods eyes therefore what need I to fear And so he went his way But when time 's glass Had run a little more he burned was Though bloody clouds were rais'd Religion's raies Shone forth in Scotland in those worst of daies Partly by reading comfort flowing thence And partly by fraternal conference Which so enrag'd the Papists that they came And burnt four noted persons in one flame One Jerom Russet that profest the truth And Alexander Kennedy a youth Were brought to Judgement Kennedy's heart panted For fear at first and would have fain recanted But when no hopes was left God's Spirit reviv'd His drooping soul yea inward comforts striv'd To shew themselves both in his face and tongue Then falling on his knees these words out sprung Great God! What love hast thou to all express'd And unto me vile wretch above the rest O who hath tasted of thy clemency In such a high degree O Lord as I For just now when I would deny thy power And Jesus Christ thy Son my Saviour T' have plung'd my self all over head and ears In everlasting flames unquench'd with tears Thy right hand hath not suffer'd me to dwell With the black subjects of the Prince of hell And I that was of late with fear opprest Enjoy by thee a joy-enamel'd brest I fear not death do with me as you please I praise God I am ready death 's an ease Then railed they on him and Jerom who Said also unto them Miscal us do This is your hour and power to command Yee sit as Judges we as guilty stand But know a day will come shall clear our blame And yee curs'd yee to your eternal shame Shall see your blindness Go on forward still Till you the Ephah of your sins up fill No sooner were they both condemn'd to die But Jerom comforted young Kennedy Brother said he fear not he that indwels Our souls him that is in the world excels The pain we here indure is light and short But we shall have unfading glory for 't O strive we then though many rubs annoy To enter in unto our Masters joy And with our Saviour pass the narrow road Which few shall finde the way to hell is broad We die for Christ and Christ hath death subdu'd Death cannot hurt us hence me may conclude We are the members and if Christ our head Be risen can the members long lie dead Thus death and Satan under-foot they trod And in the flame breath'd up their souls to God At Edenburgh the cruel Card'nal Beton Hang'd some upon suspicion they had eaten Goose on a Friday and above the rest A woman with her suckling at her brest He drown'd for being scrupulous and wary Of making prayers to the Virgin Mary He sent into exile some Christian brothers And at St. Johnstons he imprison'd others Mr. George Wischard a Divine whose worth Wan him much admiration in the North Having drunk deeply of afflictions cup. Cheerfully in the flames surrendred up His soul unto its donour God fulfill'd His prophesy the Cardinal was kill'd One Henry Wallace as an Heretick Condemned to be burnt was burned quick One Henry Forr'st betrayed by a fryar Was burnt and had the end of his desire Said Ol'phant to one Walter Mill who pray'd Rise up Sir Walter Prayers don he said My name is Walter if you call me right I have bin too too long a Popish Knight Ben't there sev'n Sacraments Give me but two Said he and all the rest I leave to you Wilt thou recant he answer'd I am corn Not chaff and will not be i' th' truth out-born Then go to th'stake Said he I may not kill My self but put me in and bear I will This is my resolution Having made His pray'r to God he to the people said Although it be confess'd that I have bin A friend to Satan and a slave to sin Yet 't is not that that doth my suff'rings cause I suffer for observing God's just Laws And now God out of his abundant grace Doth honour me so farr as in this place To make me seal what others not withstood His truth's profession with my dearest blood Dear friends as you 'd escape eternal doom And live still happy in the life to come Let not Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Seduce you any more for they are Lyars Trust God alone O alwayes make his power Your rock your bulwark of
blind That they may please thee give them grace to minde The things that do belong unto their peace In this their day left when they would they cease Let not the fancies vain of sinful men Destain thy truth Amen O Lord Amen She brought to Smithfield in a chair was bound To th'stake and with the flames besieged round So slep'd she in the Lord and in Gods eyes Became an acceptable sacrifice At that time Nicholas Belerrian A Shropshire Min'ster and a Gentleman John Lacels servant to the King with one John Adams Tailour burning undergon The same year Bishop Gardiner did bring Malicious accusations to the King Against Queen Kathrin Parre supposing all The boughs would wither if the stock did fall In that she gave her minde which was unfit To read and meditate on Sacred Writ And Chaplains kept seditions to rear None b'ing deny'd the priviledge to hear As also that her heart was fully bent To spurn against the present government Her life was dangerous nor could he rest That nourish'd such a Viper in his brest The Kings love turn'd to hate and now the Queen Must die the death but Prov'dence stept between The plot 's found out she wisely did behave her The King receiv'd her to his wonted favour Now also Sir George Blake condemned was For casting out some words against the Mass A pardon 's granted him after which thing He being in the presence of the King The King said to him Ah my Pig for so He us'd to call him yea said he I know Had not your Majesty been more enclin'd To save my life such was your Royal minde Then were your Bishops to reak out their teen Your Pig I 'm sure e're this had rosted been Streight after Winchester and his complices Sworn foes to Vertues and fast friends to Vices Set forth in the Kings name a Proclamation That all the English Bibles in the Nation And other Books which yielded any light Unto the truth should be abolish'd quite This done said they So now the Gospels lain So low that it shall never rise again And for the greater terrour strict inquest They made for those that verity profest Of many pricked down the names of whom They some expelled and imprison'd some So that these varlots did in no wise doubt The bringing of their wicked ends about But God who careth for his truth and those That countenanc'd the same dispers'd their foes A midst their vain projects the King was dead And with him all their hopes were buried SECT VI. The Persecution of the Duke of Somerset in the Reign of King Edward the sixth NOW when King Henery the eighth was dead His son Prince Edward reigned in his stead During whose happy reign Religion flourish'd Pop'ry decar'd the Church of God was nourish'd With the full breasts of Peace the Gospel spred And superstition was abolished Onely the Godly Duke of Somerset With Persecutions and great troubles met Some of the Nobles lab'ring most of all To raise themselves upon his suddain fall Edward and Thomas Seymer were ally'd Unto King Edward by his mothers side Edward the eldest fit to guide the Helm Was made Protector of the King and Realm Thomas the second of this British Isle Was chosen Lord high Admiral the while These brethren joyned in fraternal love Nothing fell out amiss but when they strove Spur'd on by make-bates unto one another They prov'd destructive and the younger brother Attainted was condemn'd and lost his head On Tower-hill hence insurrections bred The Lords at London privily conjur'd Against the Lord Protector and immur'd Him once nay twice yea thrice in a short season Then charged him with Felony and Treason He 's to the Tow'r hill brought where he commended His soul to God his prayers being ended He rose from off his knees and like a man Couragiously bold he thus began Dearly beloved friends Lo I am here To suffer death though God knows I am clear From thinking speaking or from acting ought Against the King in word in deed or thought But alwayes to this Realm have born a brest As faithful and as loyal as the best Yet in obedience to the Laws command I here as a condemned person stand And praise my God for his abundant grace In giving unto me both time and space Who might have justly took away my breath Had he so pleased by a sudden death Now as for the Religion which I During the time of my Authority Maintain'd to my power nor do I now Repent of what I did but both to you And me agnize it as a favour great And do you all most heartily entreat To joyfully receiv't and set it forth In your lives as a thing of unknown worth Which studiously to do if you neglect Great misery I fear you may expect These words no sooner out a sudden sound As terrible as thunder did confound The people so that some fell down through fear Some this some that way run but none knew where Anthony Brown Knight came that he did bring The crowd suppos'd a pardon from the King With that a shout arose but the good Duke Did gravely with his beck'ning hand rebuke The clam'rous throng And silence being gain'd He said Dear friends Pardon is not obtain'd As you conceive God otherwise is bent His will be done and we must be content Let 's joyn in prayer that safety may pursue The King t' whom loyal I have bin 'T is true The people cryed out O heaven bless His Highness with all health and happiness I wish his Counc'llours grace to rule and then You all obedient hearts all said Amen I ask forgiveness if I wronged any O Lord remit my sins for they are many As for my foes I freely them forgive For Christ I die in whom I hope to live c. Farewel farewel he lay him down and spoke Christ save me thrice the hangman gave the stroke SECT VII The Persecution of the English Church under the Reign of Queen Mary EDWARD the sixth Englands Josiah dead Lady Jane Grey was crowned in his stead The Lady Mary having heard the news Sent to the Lordly Councel for to chuse Her to be Queen and if they did withstand The execution of her just command By force of arms she threatned to regain Her wronged right and her defrauded reign The Lords return'd this answer There was none Had such just right and title to the Crown As Lady Jane the ancient Laws allow It hers and place it on her Princely brow 'T was hers by Letters patent from the King And made Authentick with his Royal Ring Before his death and since she was invested As an apparent heiress all protested Adherence to her and no Queen beside The Lady Mary to rest satisfiy'd Request they did entreating her to cease By new pretences to molest the peace The quiet Realm enjoy'd promising her They would be nothing wanting to prefer Her next the Queen if possibly they could Serve her in
don 't hear that false Prophet's talk Ah! naughty Hypocrite dar'st thou produce A Scripture-proof for so profane a use I have heard your already-quoted text But look immediately what follows next Do this for my Remembrance then streight-way The Priest stood still not knowing what to say The fire was kindled Rawlins in the flame Bathed his aged hands till in the same The sinews shrunk the fat drop'd out and all That while he cried out Lord let my fall Mount me to thee Receive this soul of mine O Lord receiv't his spirit he did resign It was observ'd of him that whereas through Infirmity of age he round did go And with dejected countenance he now Went bolt upright t' his death his smoother brow As clear as day his speeches and behaviour Of courage vigour very well did favour And now the Queen restor'd the Abbey-lands She late possess'd A Pope-sent Bull commands All do the like but none therein was seen T' obey the Pope or imitate the Queen A Popish Priest at Crondale impious fool Boasted that he had bin with Card'nal Pool Who cleans'd him from his sins the Bull sent o're He prais'd fell down and never spake word more Some burn'd because they on their necks did tie This Motto Fear God fly Idolatry George Marsh one William Flower John Cardmaker John Simpson and John Warne were each partaker Of life by suff'ring death climb'd heavens story Death is the ladder to immortal glory Bonner for many things John Ardly accus'd To whom John Ardly such expressions us'd My Lord not you nor any of your breed Are of the true Catholick Church indeed Your faith is false and when you most depend Upon it it will fail you in the end You have shed much too much innocuous blood And are not weary yet Can this be good Were ev'ry hair upon my head a man So many lives I 'd part with rather than Lose the opinion I am in so said In Essex burnt a joyful end he made One Thomas Hauks a Courtier comly tall VVas greatly admired and belov'd of all For his rare qualities in Edward's dayes But in Queen Maries Reign Religion's rayes Waxing more dull he left the Court home went And practis'd Godliness t' his great content While thus he staid at home a son he got But in the Popish way baptiz'd it not By using oil cream spittle salt absurd Nowhere enjoyned in the holy Word Told Bonner so the Bishop left him than A while and Mr. Darbisher began You are too curious and on none will look Unless your little pretty God's good book Sir is not that sufficient to save Yes but not to instruct that I may have Salvation to my God I humbly sue As for instruction that I leave to you Shall your child be baptiz'd you not look o're I had such councel given me before Why we can have it done if we be bent True but you never shall with my consent I 'd Gladly do thee good save thee from hell I am thy pasture and would teach thee well I 'll stand to what I said you shall not finde My resolutions waver like the winde I am the bread of life the Scripture saith And this bread is my flesh is this thy faith 'T is so I will believe what Scriptures say Well let 's to Evensong H. There I 'll not pray I 'm best when furthest off from such resort And so he walked forth into the Court What thinke you of the Altar's Sacrament Excuse me for I nere knew what it meant But we will make you know 't when we begin Faggots shall make you do'â— H. Faggots a pin For all your faggots you no more can do Then God permits you and no further go Much more was said in prison he at last Was for his bold judicious answers cast Nor could that move him in the least to doubt What 's bred in the bone will not eas'ly out Being his sentence read to Coxshal sent In Essex he exhorted as he went His friends and at the stake as he had spoken That he would do he gave to them a token By lifting up his hands all in a flame Above his head and clapping of the same To let them understand that he was able To ' bide the pain not too intolerable Then gave the people an unusual shout And so this blessed Lamp all burnt went out One Thomas Watts in Essex who defended The truth so much oppos'd was apprehended Condemn'd and after sent to Chilm'ford where The little time he had he spent in pray'r Come to his wife and his six child'ren small He said Wife and my hopeful branches all I now must leave you all henceforth therefore Alas I cannot know you any more As unto me at first the Lord did send you So I unto the Lord do recommend you Him I command you to obey and fear As long as life shall last see you beware Of this loath'd papistry which I withstood And shall against it give my dearest blood By God's grace by and by Let not the number Of bleeding Saints discourage or incumber Your active faith and move you to relent But thereby take occasion to be bent For greater service in Jehovah's fight 'T is happy dying for a cause that 's right I do not doubt nor have you cause to fear But he which strikes will give you strength to bear He 'll be unto the widdow in distress Husband and father to the fatherless Farewel said he farewel gave each a kiss So past he through the fi'ry blaze to bliss One Bainford Osmund Osborne overturn'd Unto the Sec'lar power in Essex burn'd Mr. John Bradford and John Leafe did climbe Up fiety stairs to heaven about this time The next day after at Maidstone in Kent One Mr. Minge dy'd in imsprisonment Mr. John Bland God's faithful Minister Was for the truth a constant sufferer John Frankish Humphry Middleton two men Of admirable worth were martyr'd then John Fettie's child such cruel whippings feels That the gore blood ran down about its heels The father put in the tormenting stocks Must see his Lamb misus'd O hearts of rocks One Nicholas Sheterden being brought Him Doctor Harpsfield asked what he thought That passage This my Body is should mean Said Sheterden This cannot well be seen By carnal eyes thus much I gather thence It must be taken in a spirituall sence Else when This Cup 's my blood's so understood The substance of the Cup must needs be blood Nicholas Hall Christopher Waide Joan Beach John Harpool Marg'ry Boley who did reach At the despised truth and Popery spun'd Condemn'd at Rochester in Kent were burn'd Dirick Carver a Surrey Gentleman Call'd to the stake unto his God began His servent pray'r which having done he strip'd Himself and so into the barrel skip'd They threw his book in also but in vain For to the throng he flung it out again I charge you