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
which were in Bethlem nurs'd Upon my blessing I saac record Proff'ring his neck unto his father's sword Then did the barbarous tormentor pull The hair the skin and all from the childs scull The mother cryes This pain will soon be gon Suffer my child my sweet-sac'd child anon Thou 'lt pass to him who will adorn thy head With an eternal crown a crown indeed Thus doth the mother chear the child the child Takes heart to grass and in his pains he smil'd The Tyrant seeing how the Child stood fast Himself subdu'd commands him to be cast Into a stinking Dungeon whilst that pain Unto Romanus was renew'd again Romanus is drag'd forth to have a fresh Supply of stripes on his bemangled flesh Discovering the bare bones a second smart Augmenteth each already-wounded part Nor was this yet enough cut prick'd and pounc'd He suddenly must be then was denounc'd A final sentence ' gainst him and the child Both must be burn'd their torments were too milde The tort'rers did too favourably deal Romanus boldly said I do appeal From this ungodly sentence of thine own To Christ his righteous Tribunal Throne Who is an upright Judge not that I fear Thy merc'less handling no I more can bear Then thou canst lay upon me but that I May shew thy judgments to be cruelty The childe 's demanded of his mother she Embracing it deliver'd it to be Bereav'd of life and when the fatal stroke Was given Farewel sweet child Farewel she spoke All praise O Lord with heart and word Vnto thy name we render The Saints that dye are in thine eye Most precious dear and tender The childs head 's off the mother tender-hearted Enwrap'd it in her lap and so departed Romanus then into the fire is flung A storm extinguish'd it and now his tongue Must take a farewel of his head his neck Becomes the subject of a halters check One Gordius having liv'd a certain time In deserts counted it at last a crime Not to endure he therefore when a game Was celebrated unto Mars forth came And up in a conspicuous place b'ing got He said I 'm found of those that sought me not Then apprehended he his faith confesses And in the midst of torment this expresses God 's my adjutor Ah! why should I than Fear in the least the Tyranny of man Nothing shall me dismay that can fall out Thou Lord art with me fencing me about With Bullwarks of thy love thy favour still Surrounds me Ah! how can I then fear ill These torments are but light which I endure Let heavier come Tormentors pray procure Substantialler then these these are too small Gibbits and racks as good have none at all VVhen foul means could not shake his faith in Christ He was by specious promises entic'd But Gordius said I do expect in heaven Greater preferments then on earth are given Now for this good man going to be burn'd How many tender-hearted persons mourn'd To whom he thus Let not your brimfill'd-eyes Weep showres for me but for God's enemies VVho make a fire for us But in conclusion Purchase a greater to their own confusion O weep for them or none good people curb Those gliding streams and do not thus disturb My calmed minde for truely I could bear A thousand deaths for Christ and never fear Some pity'd him while others standing by Perswade him to deny Christ verbally And to himself reserve his conscience My tongue said he will under no pretence Deny its donor unto righteousness Our hearts believe but 't is our tongues confess Unto salvation O let me excite You all to suffer for a cause so right Good folks fulfill a dying mans desire So said he ceas'd and leap'd into the fire One Menas an Egyptian born and bred Leaving his temporal subsistence led A solitary life in desert places Where he might wholly exercise his graces In fasting prayer meditation fit And dil ' gent reading of the sacred Writ At last return'd to Cot is when the croud Were at their pastimes he proclaim'd aloud Himself to be a Christian then surpriz'd His faith in God more boldly he agniz'd Torments ensu'd no torments could revoke His minde but thus he confidently spoke In my minde nothing comparable is To the enjoyment of eternal bliss Nay all the world if put into one scale Is lighter then one soul VVho can prevail To disunite us from the love of Christ Can tribulation anguish he 's the high'st To him will I look up he bids me fear not Those that can kill me bodily but are not Able to hurt the soul but fear him who Hath pow'r to slay the soul and body too And fling them into hell Having receiv'd The final sentence up to heaven he heav'd His eyes hands heart and said O Lord my maker Thanks be to thee in that I am partaker Of Christ his precious blood thou hast not let My foes devour me but hast beset My heav'n-fix'd soul with such true constancy That in the faith I liv'd for that I die The lift up axe upon his neck falls down And so he lost his head but found a Crown In Portugal a Noble Virgin nam'd Eulalia of twelve years old enflam'd With holy zeal most earnestly desir'd To suffer death and heartily requir'd The blest assistance of Gods willing arm And faith all her corruptions to charm Her godly Parents fearing she should come T'antimely death did keep her close at home But she not brooking long delay by night Stole out of doors by that time it was light She came into the City and appearing Before the Judge spake boldly in his hearing What no Shame in you will you still be bent To shoot your arrowes at the innocent Never have done because no power controuls To break their bodies and afflict their souls Are you desirous what I am to know I am a Christian and an open foe Unto your diabolick sacrifices As for your Idols them my soul despises I do aknowledge with my voice and hert Th'all-powerfull God Hangman in ev'ry part Come cut and mangle me dishead me burn me What ever thou canst do shall never turn me Alas alas my flesh is too too weak And may be conquer'd thou maist eas'ly break This brittle Casket but my inward minde A jewel is which thou shalt never finde Then thus the angry Judge Here Hangman take her Drag her out by the hair to torments make her Be sensible of what our Gods can do And we But yet before thou undergo A miserable end O sturdy girle I 'de fain have thee recant life is a pearl Too precious to lose call but to minde Thy Noble Birth and be not so unkinde To thine own self as to neglect thy fortune Methinks the glist'ring Bride-bed should importune Thee to preserve thy life bar not thine ears But be entreated by thy Parents tears Not to contemn th' Aurora of thy time The flower of thy youth is in its prime And wilt thou slight it now well if thou
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
defence your tower So slep'd he in the Lord and was the last In Scotland that the fi'ry tryal past SECT XXXII The Persecution of the Church in Ireland Anno Christi 1642. THe factious Archbishops Abbots Pryors False Jesuites Romish Priests and knavish Friars Stirr'd up rebellion by their instigation Against the English in the Irish Nation And when they thought their malice had invented Such thriving plots as could not be prevented They in their publick prayers recommended The good success of their designes which tended To the advancement of the Cath'lick cause And told the people 't was no time to pause Their nation over-run with hereticks Call'd Protestants sworn foes to Catholicks Who were not to be suffered alive Amongst them and for any to deprive Them of their breaths the crime was not more great Then to destroy a dog to give them meat Or yield to them relief at any time 'T was mortal O unpardonable crime Romes Doctrine they pretended to suppress And root out those that did the same profess They Laws would make they thought should under All Pop'ry after Englands good example trample Observe we how their words and deeds did vary Said one thing but did act the quite contrary And now they fall to murthr'ous blows and glory 'T will save them from the pains of Purgatory None that spake English the least mercy found The English language was a loathed sound All are resolv'd to scowre the Irish borders From these supposed Authors of disorders Poor Protestants some were to exile packt Some kill'd 't was thought a meritorious act To slay those Devils in the shapes of men For so they called them not one of ten Escap'd their clutches what a deal of good Said they it does us thus to bath in blood When these injurious wretches are destroy'd In Ireland and their habitation voyd We 'll then for England have at England then We will not leave alive one English man Put case we should be of our lives bereaven Immediately our souls would fly to heaven Why should such scoundrels breath to work let 's fall And take away their lives estates and all Strip strip man woman child base rougues and whores Leave not a rag on turn them out of doors So now they shelter them but woods and caves Sha'n't be their dwellings but shall be their graves Whom wee 'l But many by the high-wayes side For want of sustenance fell down and dy'd And many thousands that for succour fled To towns by that time they came there were dead To tell their horrid Massacres would make The ear to tingle and the heart to ake In Armagâ— and Tyrone this barb'rous rage Spar'd neither rich nor poor nor sex nor age And elsewhere many thousands did expire By sword by water famine or by fire Some had their guts rip'd out some drag'd thro bogs Young children thrown to be devour'd by dogs If any chanc'd to beg but leave to pray And kneeled down they lost their heads straightway Some in dark dungeons lie others half slain Earnestly beg'd to be rid out of pain They cover'd some alive with dirt and stones And laugh'd to hear their lamentable grones Some were from bridges into rivers flung Others on tenter-hooks by the chin hung They hang'd up some by th' arms with their swords trying How long an English-man would be a dying Young infants rip'd out of their mothers womb Were given to the hogs for to entomb Children were forc'd to kill fathers and mothers Parents their children and brothers brothers Wives their own husbands husbands their own wives And they themselves in fine must lose their lives No mercy's shown man woman no nor child The dead's dig'd up th'alive in cauldrons boil'd Some had their hands cut off and eyes pluck'd out Many were left alive their guts about Their very heels and of some's grease and fat Candles were made while others rosted at Slack fires Nay boys and women were employ'd To perpetrate such deeds and therein joy'd The Rebels in the country Portendown Did many thousands in the river drown At Lisgool Tullah Lissenskeah and Cumber All Castles a considerable number Were brought unto untimely ends Man woman And child was kill'd at Killmore and Killoman An ancient dame which towards Dublin went Was strip'd in one day seven times and sent To seek her God and to her God complain And bid him if he could cloath her again All mercy was exil'd these murth'rous Cains Brain'd some stab'd others with their swords forks skeins Thousands of Protestants in snowy weather Turn'd out stark naked perish'd all together Through cold and hunger many that were sick Were drag'd out of their beds and hang'd up quick One Gcodwife Lin they hanged in the Air And then the daughter by the mothers hair Upon a day a Cittadel they fir'd Over the Christians heads therein retir'd And thus express'd their joy Behold how high The flames mount O how sweetly do they fry A Divines mouth up to the ears they slit So don they put a Bibles leaf to it And bid him preach and teach some pretty stuff For now he had a mouth was wide enough A naked woman her bare skin to hide A wisp of straw about her middle tide They fit'd it boasting how it did enhance Their spirits to see the English jade so dance They stab'd Jane Addis and her young child stuck T' her brest and said Suck English bastard suck If any hid themselves in cellars caves They all were murther'd by these hell-sent slaves Who made their boast they pleas'd the devil well In sending him so many souls to hell Against God and his holy word likewise They belch'd out execrable blasphemies Bibles they burnt and said They burnt hell-fire Cut some and soaked others in the mire Then dash'd them on the owners faces some They stamp'd on saying Hence all mischiefs come A plague upon them all in a short time We hope to see none in our Irish clime They told th' Apostates that they thought it good To kill them while they were in a good mood Anne Nicholson said boldly she 'd not turne And rather then she would her Bible burn As they would have her she the death would die And did as it fell out for by and by She and her mate was stabb'd but he that acted The vill'ny grew immediately distracted At Glascow fisty English men and Scots They made recant and then cut all their throats In Mayo and in Tiperary too Both Counties not a few did undergo All sorts of cruel deaths these bloody ones Did slash hew hack and pellet them with stones They forc'd some in the Sea swoln big with waves To take possession of those watry graves In Sligo forty Protestants were strip'd And lock'd up in a cellar then there slip'd A butcher in appointed so to do And with an axe cleav'd all their heads in two Into the Jail belonging to this town Poor Protestants were sent and there knock'd down About Dungannon Tyrone Charlemount
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
'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
thy tongue The crow'd reply'd no living soul here bears Offence his Musick much delights our ears Four hundred folks encourag'd him to run His race and finish what he had begun To whom he thus Breth'ren I undertake This spir'tual Combate meerly for the sake Of my great Lord and Captain Jesus Christ I now am going to be sacrifie'd And when God shall of his abundant grace Call you to suffer follow me apace He 's on the gallowes and the ladder's turn'd And then his body 's into ashes burn'd Some Ci'zens in a firy Chariot sent From Antwerp to the City Heaven went One Scoblant as he to his Tryal past Said thus Would God that I might be the last That thus might suffer death O that my blood Might satisfy their thirst if God see good That so the Church of Christ forlorn distreft Might ever after live at ease and rest I now put off this Mantle transitory In hope to wear a robe of lasting glory A Popish Priest by a religious Dame Converted to the faith spake thus I came To comfort you but I my self indeed Of you to comfort me have greater need Christopher Gaud'rin said Mans life on earth Consists but of two dayes the first his birth The next his dying day and therefore I Must needs die once who would refuse to die To live for ever death and I must kiss 'T is death conducteth to eternal bliss The sentence past he did apart repair And poured out his soul to God in pray'r Then from his hands and face he wash'd the dirt And puting on his back a fine white shirt He thus his fellow-prisoners bespake Breth'ren this is my wedding-day I make To heav'n-ward being come unto the place He found three other ready to embrace The self same death these four themselves did chear With patient suff'ring and rejoye'd to bear Then came a Fryar under a pretence To win them Christopher said thus Hence hence Thou soul-seduser from our presence flee We have not any thing to do whith thee They must be gag'd May not our tongues have power Said they to praise God at our latest hour Sermons they used to frequent hard ropes Annex'd their necks they finished their hopes In Flanders multitudes of true believers Were sent to be eternal life's receivers In Breda there a Goldsmith dwelt his name Was Petar Coulogue whose renowned fame Had spred all o're the town and ev'ry mouth Proclam'd him faithful if they spake the truth This Pious Deacon quickly was beset With popish catchpoles neither would they let Him once enjoy the company of any Of his own Church he over-pows'd by many Was hurry'd to the Castle while he staid A pris'ner there once every day his maid Brought him his sustenance till they perceiv'd He had much comfort from her lips receiv'd She also was imprison'd where she found Such inward joys as made her heart rebound Now when a little tract of time was spent Peter was called forth who underwent Great pains with admirable patience These cruel villains for to recompence His maids true zeal fetch'd Betkin to the rack Cruelry undeserv'd she nothing slack Went chearfully along ere she did part With life her tongue thus empty'd out her heart Since needs I must sustain afflictions rod First suffer me to pray unto my God This they consented to she scap'd a scouring By this for whilst she out her pray'rs was pouring One of the then Commissioners fell down Into an irrecoverable swown This miracle was hush'd as though in vain 'T was sent now to their cruelty again Examples will not take they 'll not be turn'd They are condemned and they must be burn'd The people wept Peter and Betkin pray'd To God for strength the courage of the maid Did work so kindly on the well-affected That breaking through the danger unrespected The throng'd crowd they the pris'ners did embrace And praised God for his supporting grace Then spake to this effect Fight on fight on The crown prepared you shall wear anon These words spake Betkin with a brow as clear As day My Bretheren and sisters dear See you to Gods word be obedient still And fear not them who can the body kill Not hurt the soul but rather fear him who Hath power to kill the soul and body too And fling them into hell I go to meet My glorious Spouse wrap'd in a fi'ry sheet Then falling on their knees they sent their prayers As welcom ghests to Gods attentive ears Bound to the stake they prais'd the Lord the flame Sent up their souls to heav'n from whence they came William of Nassaw Prince of Orange by A bloody villain shot did thus let fly His latest words O God my God condoul My wounded state take pity on my soul On my departing soul O spare O spare The Spanish people though they sinful are These words no sooner out his soul forscok This earthly and an heavenly Mansion took SECT XXVI The Modern Persecution of the Church in Germany since the year 1630. TH'Imperialists when they by storm had gain'd Paswalick town the Swedish souldiers brain'd At the inhabitants their fury lavish'd And in the open street they females ravish'd Nay child-bed women too they flew the men And fired o're their heads their houses then They massacred Divines and burned down The Christian Churches and at last the town Tilly and Pappenheim became a scourge Unto the famous City Magdenburge Her goodly structures and aspiring Towers Were burn'd down in the space of twice six hours Without the least respect to old and young Were six and twenty thousand slain burnt flung Into the river Elve by sev'ral wayes The torturers abridg'd poor Chrstians dayes Ladies and Gentlewomen yok'd together Forc'd into woods in frosty snowy weather Were ravish'd there strip'd whip'd and with a scoff Dismiss'd while others had their ears crop'd off Hexter is taken and the Popish rage Hew'd all in pieces either sex and age All serv'd alike what the fles-eating sword Had left unspoil'd the greedy flame devour'd At Griphenburge the Senators were starv'd The Heidleburg Divines and Bourgers serv'd With onely bread and water Like dogs not men Were the Frankendales us'd In Pomeren The poor inhabitants were forc'd to eat Up their own excrements unpleasing meat Many suspected to have hidden Gold Or silver suff'red torments manyfold With cords the heads of some they wound about And twisted them until the blood did sprout Out of their eyes ears noses nay unto Tongues Cheeks Breasts Legs and secret parts they do Tie burning matches yea the parts of shame Stuff'd with gun-powder burst with horrid flame With knives and bodkins they do pink the skin And flesh of some draw stiff cords out and in Some rosted were with gentle fires some smok'd Like bacon-hogs others hot Ovens chok'd The hands and feet of some so hard were girted That from their fingers ends and toes there spirted Sanguineous drops They ty'd the arms and legs Of some together backwards and with rags
Ram'd up their mouths because they should not pray Some hung up by the privy members they Hearing their outcries did with tear-throat tones Contend to drown their lamentable mones Had any ruptures they ealarg'd their pain By firing gunpowder they faces plain With chisels and detesticle some men I' th' presence of their wives and childeren Others stark naked through the streets are drag'd VVounded with axes hammers some are gag'd And stinking water Urine and the like Pour'd down their throats till sudden sickness strike Them well-night ' dead their bellies beyond measure B'ing fill'd did swell and so they dy'd by leasure Down others throats they knotted clouts constrain Then with a packthread pull them up again To the displacing of their bowels some VVere by'c made deaf or blinde or lame or dum'b Some have their legs sawn off and others have Their members dislocated those that crave Gods blest assistance are enforc'd to call Unto the Dev'l for help or none at all And if the husband pleaded for his wife Or the wife beg'd but for her husbands life They take the intercessor and likewise Excruciate him before the others eyes Of many by their hard frications They bar'd the legs unto the very bones Others bound backward by the arms were hung By those distorted parts both old and young Rather desired to be shot or slain And so die in an instant then remain Alive and be partakers of such woes As they were like to feel for Ah! their foes Took away all their corn in stead of bread On roots and water they were glad to feed And other some stripp'd to the very skin Had not one sory ragg to wrap them in Hence fruitful soils were utterly destroy'd Cities and towns and villages left voyd Or sack'd all the woods fell'd the ground untill'd And ev'ry Church with desolation fill'd A Reverend Divine bound to a table Was rortur'd by a cat VVhat pen is able To paint their beastliness maids wives chast dames They forc'd to prostrate to their lech'rous flames Friends looking on yea women great with child In child-bed ton the Churches they defil'd The Bedlam-houses Hospitals also In Hessen land they let the women go After they ty'd about their ears their coats Dead corpses violated were The Croats Devour'd young infants and the commons brain'd On light occasions scarce a man remain'd Alive in many places that might tell The outrage of those furies born in hell God did this land his warning pieces show Before his murth'ring-pieces gave the blow A blood-red Comet with a flaming beard For thirty daies together there appear'd God sent to those which had so long abhor'd His faithfull Pastors and despis'd his word This ominous Torch that while asleep they lie On the soft pillow of security They might b' awoken and repent reform Their lives or otherwise expect a storme Foretold by 's Ministers so ill-befriended And which this formidable signe portended At Groningen a blazing Star hung forth One Army in the East and in the North Another were engag'd and did contest Till that was worsted this obtain'd the best At Wien water turn'd to blood three Suns Appear'd at once the thundring of great guns Was heard two Armyes then by clear day-light Deeply engaging in a bloody fight At Wittemburgh and Darmstad blood it rain'd So much that houses and stone walls were stain'd Therewith trees wept red drops besmear'd were then The hands and sickles of the Harvest-men At Rat'sbone a strange tempest bart'red down Above four hundred houses in the town Kill'd onely four it trees by th'roots up tore And all within a quarter of an hour Near Troppaw a great number of Jack Daws Eagerly fought with their 〈◊〉 claws The battle lasted long and 〈◊〉 Jacks Fall'n down the country men repieuish'd sacks In lower Saxon a loaf of bread Bought by a woman in the cutting bled During Magdenburge siege a capeain's wife In child-bed dy'd body with a knife Was ripped open and her womb did hold A boy as big as one of three years old Having an Helmet and a breastplate on Great boots also after the French fash'on And by his side there hang'd a builet-pouch At Altenburge if any did but touch A blood-turn'd stinking fish-pond he not well Could in three dayes wash off the stinking smell Two Armyes of strange birds in Henssen fought A randevouz of dogs could not be brought T' a peace but seeing musqueteers they joyn For all their guns beat them away kill'd nine SECT XXVII The Persecution of the Church in France which began Anno 1524. AT Melden Paris Fonutains Lions Rhone Many were put to death some burn'd some thrown Into the liquid flood into the fire Others let down by pulleys did expire Others with Oyl and brimstone were anointed Then burnt many distong'd disnos'd dis-joynted Some slander'd some imprison'd were some rack'd And they that would not bow nor give respect Unto the Images of molten-lead Passing along the streets were massacred John Clark through zeal brake all the Idols down That he could light on in the Metzian town Condemn'd he was to die and first to lose His right hand then his arms and breasts and nose VVhich quietly he bore pronouncing then Their gods are silver and are made by men At last they burnt him At the Castle Vik Doctor John Castellane was burned quick James Panaâ—e one that educated youth At Paris dy'd for the professed truth John de Cadurco a renown'd Divine Degraded was and burnt at Limosine One John de Beck a Minister at Troyes Went through the fire unto eternal joyes At Rutiers Stephen Brune for Christ his sake Adjudged was to suffer at the stake The fire was kindsed but the wind so drave The flame from him that he stood up and gave A whole hours space instructions to the rude And easily-seduced multitude They brought Oyl-vessels and more faggots too The wind continu'd and all would not do With that the hangman struck him on the head To whom he thus And must I then indeed Be beaten like a dog as well as I You know by fire I am condemn'd to die He was thrust through and in the fire thrown down And his left ashes in the Air were strown At Bour deaux Aymond de Lavey accus'd His friends advis'd his flight but he refus'd Not so said he I shall be thought absurd To feed men with vain dreams not Gods pure word Whereas I fear not as a truths defender My soul and body too up to surrender In pains he said This body once must die My spir't shall live and that eternally He swowned but recov'ring said he Oh Lord Lord why hast thou sorsaken me Nay said the president thou art mistook Curs'd Lutherane thou hast thy God forsook Alas good masters why why do you so Torment me Lord they know not what they do Forgive them I beseech thee See said thus The Pres'dent how this Caitiff prayes for us The Frier drew
neer and he condemn'd begins To God not you will I confess my sins O Lord make hast to help do not despise Thine-handy work My brethren I advise You that are Scholars to improve your youth In learning of the everlasting truth Labour to know what is Jehovahs will And fear not them that can the body kill Not hurt the soul my flesh too weak withstands My spir't which Lord I give into thine hands With that he strangled was his body burn'd His soul until the day of Doom adjourn'd One Bribard to a Card'nal Secretary And William Hussou an Apothecary Had for their seattering good books about And cleaving to the truth their tongues cut out Then with a pully pulled up and down Into the fire they dy'd but gain'd a crown James Cobard having prov'd the Mass a fable Unto the quick nor dead not profitable Was at St. Michael burnt Stephen Polliot Suffred at Paris Michael Michelet Was put unto his choice either to turn And lose his head or persevere and burn He answer'd God who caus'd him not to tire Would give him patience to abide the fire Blondel a Merchant that profess'd Christs name Condemn'd at Paris yeilded to the flame One Hubert a young man who did rely on Christ Jesus merits suffered at Dyion Anus Audeburt drag'd forth said thus This rope My wedding-girdly is wherewith I hope To be conjon'd to Christ I was first marri'd Upon a Saturday and now have tarri'd Until another Saturday wherein I shall glad day be married agin She in the dung-Cart sang and in the fire Her constancy Spectators did admire One Florent Venote that had four years lain In Paris prison where all kinds of pain He felt and overcome for seven weeks space Was close confin'd to such a narrow place That he could neither stand with ease nor ly At last distongu'd he in the fire did die One Thomas a young man was rack'd so long The hangman grew a weary one among Th'Ir quis'tors wept They bare him to be burn'd And asked him if he would yet be turn'd To whom he said Friends I am in my way To God O do not hinder me I pray One Mathew Dimonel Simon Laloe And Peter Serre did torments undergo Two men at Nivern had their tongues pull'd out Yet God was pleas'd to bring it so about That they spake plain We bid the world flesh sin And devil farewel never to meet agin Of brimstoue and gunpowder bring a fresh Supply salt on salt on this stinking flesh And so persisting constant till the last Their souls to heaven their earth to ashes past One Philbert Hamlin fed the cruel flame One Nicholas of Jenvil did the same At Paris did a Christian congregation Run through much sorrow by the Mediation Of the Palat'nate Prince and Switzers some Of them hardly escaped Martyrdome In Danphin Provence multitudes were kill'd In many other place blood was spill'd And yet the Church the more it was supprest Like to a Palm still more and more encreast SECT XXVIII The Persecution in the time of the Civil Warrs which began Anno 1562. THe Duke de Guise as he upon a day Tow'rds Paris past took Vassy in his way His ears informing him there was a Bell That rang to service in a Barn he fell Thereon with all his troops his widened throat Bawl'd out Kill death of God each Huguenote Some then with bullets some with swords were slain Some hang'd the heads of others cleft in twain Some lost their arms and hands some shred for To feed upon above twelve hundred souls fowles Of all degrees and ranks were kill'd so don The Duke to Paris march'd and seiz'd upon The King himself and filled with abuses The places set apart for pious uses Roan taken by him was for three dayes sack'd The Citizens thereof disliv'd and rack'd Then menacing to ruinate Orleance A young man shot him to deliver France From his great violence Peace was procur'd A happy peace but it not long endur'd The Popish party banishing all pity Kill'd all spar'd none in the Lutetian City At Amiens the slain were thrown in brooks All Bibles burned and Divin'cy books At Meaux Sens Mans they drag'd some on the stones And dash'd against the walls the little ones Some had their houses level'd with the ground Hundreds were massacred starv'd hang'd or drown'd Many were hal'd to Mass and some re-wedded Babes re-baptized others were beheaded At Bar they rip'd up many brests and draw'd Mens hearts thereout with their teeth them gnaw'd VVhen Malicorn Montargis town had got He slew the towns-men and with Cannon-shot Threatned the Lady Rhene to batter down Her Castle if she did the Christians own Not give them up to him the Princess stout Bravely reply'd Look what you go about I charge you for there 's no man in this Realm The King excepted that can overwhelm My pinace with the waves of a command And if your battery go on I 'll stand I' th' breach to try whether or no you dare Thus kill the daughter of a King I fear Your threats not I I want nor means nor power T' avenge me on your boldness and devour Your murtherous heart and utterly deface The infants of your most rebellious race When Malicorn thus heard the Lady say He pulled in his horn and sneak'd away At Anger 's into rivers some were thrown Some executed a gilt Bible shown Upon an halbard was and this they sang Behold how well the Hug'nots truth doth hang Hark what the everlasting God will tell Behold the truth of all the devils in hell They throw 't i' th' river and renew'd their sound Behold the truth of all the devils drown'd At Ablevilly Anger 's Foix Auxerre At Troys Crant Nevers Chastillon and Bar In Bloys Tholouse as also Careasson Many outragious villainies were don At Sens and Tours hundreds were put to slaughter Some hang'd up by one foot and in the water Their heads and breasts the bowels are pluck'd out Their rip'd-up bellies and are thrown about The mi'ry streets they torture ev'ry joynt And stick their hearts upon their daggers point A Counsellor was hang'd at the request Of his own father O unnat'ral brest By the Parisian Senators decree The bells are sounded and the Christians be Destroy'd in ev'ry place all their estates Seiz'd on by Catholicks and runagates In Ligneul some they hang'd The village Aze They set one fire and joy'd to see it blaze Augustine Marlorate was hang'd at Rhone Where streetswith slaughter'd carkasses were strown In Gaillac from a steep precipice Many were flung down headlong in a trice Caught break-neck falls In Souraze some were cram'd VVith lime and down their throats had Urine ram'd One Peter Roch they buried alive VVithin his self-made grave They did deprive Many of all they had others were crown'd VVith thorns and others in a well were drown'd One Captain Durre a godly widdow told Ualess she
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
from the Sacred Writ Two hundred sixteen years this faith did flame Amongst them till the Pagan Saxons came Religious Lucius without issue dy'd And now the Barons and the Nobles vy'd For King and while they for the crown contended In step'd the Romans so the quarrel ended For they usurp'd the crown and did o'rewhelm With misery and ruine the whole Realm Sometimes th'Idol'trous Romans bore the sway Sometimes the Christian Britans won the day By turns they got the best by turns they got The worst as Providence did them allot In Dioclesian's time and in the Reign Of Maximinian the Christians slain In Britany and elsewhere did amount To sev'nteen thousand One of great account Alban his name the Proto-Martyr was Of Englands Isle and many more did pass That way he went Religion decaid Bibles were burned and the Churches laid Laid level with the ground disord'red orders Took place and Piety forsook our borders But the fore-named Tyrants over-tir'd With blondy butcheries at last respir'd Experience telling them the more they shed The Christians blood the more the faith still spread They both went down from the Imperial seat Constantius next Constantine the Great Succeeding in the British government The Church was quiet and enjoy'd content Which peace continu'd till the Arrian Sect The novelty-affectors did infect Hereat God raised up the Picts and Seots Two barb'rous nations and to them alots The Victors wreath poor England was opprest And did for many years enjoy no rest Which made them send Embassadors to Rome With sad complaints entreating them to come To aid them so a Roman Legion came Slew some making the rest retreat with shame And quit these coasts advising us withal To raise betwixt us and the Scots a wall A wall being builded by the English men The Roman force returned home agen This news was brought unto the Picts and Scots One this side of the wall they landed boats O're-ran the country laid the corn-sields waste And bare down all before them as they past The Britans send their Legates unto Rome A second time the sent-for souldiers come And vaequish'd them the rest put to disorders Enforcedly desert the British borders Which done they told the Britans flat and plain They should expect no aid from them again Besides it stood not with their ease to take So long and tedious journeys for their sake Now therefore arm your selves and exercise In Warlike feats said they if yee be wise Go go and build you firmer walls that so You may be able to keep out your foe The Romans having took their last farewel Of Britany the Picts and Scots soon fell On the re-builded walls and put to flight The trembling Britains noitrain'd up to fight They that stood out were barb'rously destroy'd And all their goods the enemies enjoy'd Loan Aceldama of blood what store Of slaughtred Carkasses ev'n swim in gore Rome b'ing again solicited to send Relief refus'd the Britains in the end Took heart to grass when earthly comforts fail'd Sought God and ' gainst their enemies prevail'd Gave them the total rout the Picts began To keep their bound save onely now and than They inroads made into the Land the Land At last became under her own command The ground was now manur'd the Lord did bless Th' industrious Britains with a large encrease Of full-ear'd corn that such abundant store Scarce ever in the Land was seen before But Oh! mans sinful heart this Peace this Quiet This Plenty led them to excess and rior To pride contention envy and the like God sent the plague among them which did strike So many dead that the alive were all Unable to afford them burial Yet could the judgements that abroad were sent Not melt their hearts nor move them to repent The death of friends the danger they were in Themselves but hardened them more in sin Not work'd their Reformation oftentimes Judgements prove Shooing-horns to greater crimes They wax still worse and worse the Laity chose And Clergy too to live like ranc'rons foes Gods thundring vengeance which upon them fell My breathing Muse shall in the sequel tell SECT II. The Persecution of the British Church under the Heathen Saxons and English Anno 429 c. THE Britains with ill-neighbours re-infested Instead of turning to the Lord requested The Pagan Saxons aid for to oppose The raging fury of these Northern foes They came and coming conquer'd them at length The Saxons knowing their sufficient strength To over-pow'r the weaker Britains they Fell foul on them exacting greater pay And more provision or else they would Side with the Picts and do the best they could To spoil their country This their resolution No sooner said was put in execution All goodly edifices they destroy'd The Ministers the while they were employ'd In Divine service were of lives depriv'd And rev'rend Bishops with their flocks disliv'd Some left their country and beyond Seas fled Some on the mountaines tops were murthered Some pin'd with hunger creeping from their caves Were soon dispatch'd or made perpetual slaves The English Nobles summoned to treat Concerning peace did on a fix'd time meet At Almshury but by the faithless train Of Saxons were most treacherously slain At Stomheng and that they were bury'd there The yet-remaining monuments declare Now when the Britans found no other way Lay open to redress they fell to pray A fast was call'd and all with one accord Humbled their souls before th' Almighty Lord. Ambrosius Aurelian being chose To be their King did profligate their foes And from that day Gods hand appearing glorious They went out prosp'rous and return'd Victorious At last Aurelian with poyson dead Uter Pendragon reigned in his stead He bidding battail to the enemy Two of their Chieftains took who scaping fly To Belgia for more aid and in the mean The Saxons flock'd in conflicts past between Th'English and them now these and sometimes they As Providence saw good did win the day Octa and Cosa with a force renew'd Came o're again the Britans are subdu'd Their pastors slain Churches demolished No mercy 's shown King Vter sick in bed Seeing his Subjects fall would needs be brought Into his camp so resolutely fought His souldiers then they under God obtain The Victors wreath Octa and Cosa slain Soon ever this great Victory was won Uter of poyson dy'd Arthur his son Was crowned King who twice six Victories Obtain'd against the Saxon enemies His stranger acts and unbeliev'd success As fabulous I leave but questionless Much peace and safety to the British Isle Was in his happy reiga enjoy'd yet while They were at Peace with others they agin Returning to their loathed wayes of sin Fell to intestine broils embracing evil In stead of good and worshipped the Devil Under the notion of an Angel bright The Priests withheld the Gospels purer light From deviating souls which soon procur'd The wrath of God too great to be endur'd Driv'n out of house and home no ease no rest They
Howet and John Frith One Thomas Bennet who was cursed with Bell Book and Candle fastned to the stake And fir'd a comfortable end did make The Papists to their power the truth supprest And Persecuted those that it profest But God was pleas'd deliverance to bring To his afflicted Saints for now the King Divorc'd the Lady Katharine of Spain And took to wife Lady Anne Bullen Vain Were all the Popes projects none in this nation Might now ensorced be to abjuration Eliz'beth Barton th' holy maid of Kent A Nun both subdolous and fraudulent By the strange alt ' ring of her countenance Gull'd silly people lying in a trance As Quakers do and then as if sh ' had been Inspir'd by God would in reproof of sin Speak much and raile against the Gospels light Calling it Heresy her ranc'ous spight She vented to the King and Queens dishonour By Satan back'd she also took upon her T' advance Rome's Doctrine praising constitutions Idol ' try Pilgrimages Absolutions c. But Doctor Cranmer with the Lord Cromwel And Mr. Latimer did wisely smell Out all the knavery so that the Nun And her associates hang'd their dayes were don Though England did the Popish pow'r disown Yet Popery still hover'd up and down And William Tindal was betraid arrain'd Condemn'd and burned for the Truth maintain'd Anne Bullen also that Religious Queen Who now about three yeers had married been By false reports and sinister suggestions Had lost the Kings affection he questions Her dearest love which he intends to smother By marrying himself unto another Queen Anne was to the Tower carried And e're three weeks were over lost her head The Vertuous Lady standing up erect Upon the Scaffold spake to this effect Good Christian people if you wonder why I am come hither know it is to die Having already heard my sentence strict Nor lies it in my pow'r to contradict I come not hither for this end to clear My self nor tell who my accusers are I pray God save the King his life maintain And make you flourish in his happy reign c. And if among you there be any shall Presume to question my untimely fall Anne Bullen begs Anne Bullen does implore That they would judge the right and judge no more Thus thus vain world I take my leave of you Dear Christian friends I bid you all adieu I pray be fellow-feelers of my case And put up prayers to the Throne of grace In my behalf Oh Lord in mercy shine Upon me take my soul for it is thine Sweet Jesu it is thine This oft she sed On her bent knees until she lost her head The King no longer time then three dayes tarried But to the Lady Jane Seymer was married About this time which God to pass did bring Lord Cromwel grew in favour with the King By whose advise and sage deliberation The Church was brought unto a reformation The Kings injunctions all abroad made known Idol'trous Images were overthrown Our Ladies at Walsingham Worcester Ipswich and Thomas Becket's image were Cast down with others which had long deceiv'd The silly people who indeed believ'd They liv'd for they by secret Engines found Could open shut their eyes and roll them round The same year as Lord Cromwel did advise Abbeys were ruin'd and Monasteries A little after for opposing Rome Mr. John Lambert suff'red Martyrdome Packington Collins Leiton Puttedew Peck Doctor Barnes Garret and Heirom too Two eminent Divines the Lord Cromwel Great Essex Earl all for the truths sake fell Yea all the prisons within London walls Were fill'd and many were enclos'd in Halls By vertue of an Act for prohibition Of truth and countenancing superstition John Porter unto New-gate Dungeon sent For reading in the Bible underwent Hard usage bolts and Iron chains did check The freedom of his legs his hands and neck At last into the lowest dungeon cast Not many dayes expir'd he breath'd his last At Lincoln Bishop Longland took away James Morton Thomas Bornard in one day One Mr. Barber who the truth deny'd With sorrow wore away until he dy'd One Testwood Person Filmore tost and turn'd Under afflictions hand at last were burn'd Neer Windsore Castle with a cheerful face Anthony Person did the stake embrace Kissing it said Welcom mine own sweet Bride For this blest day shalt thou and I be ty'd As man and wife together in the love And Matrimonial peace of God above Of God above I long for to be there c. When all of them unto the stake bound were Said Filmer then My bretheren rejoyce In God unto him make a joyful noise For after this sharp breakfast we a boon Dinner shall have with Christ in heaven at noon Testwood with hands and eyes to heaven up heav'd Desir'd God that his spir't might be receiv'd Person said thus tricking with straw his head This is Gods hat now I am dress'd indeed Like a true souldier of Christ by whom This day into his joy I trust to come And so they suffer'd with such constancy That many with them could afford to die The Lord Lisle Thomas Brooks James Cock Ralph Hare James Barber Mr. Smith John Butler bare The cross of Christ Said Rockwood Bad 's my state I can't repent All too late all too late The under-Marshal fell upon the floor I' th' Councel room and never spake word more One Richard Mekins that had scarce out-worn The fifteenth year they did in Smithfield burn Two labouring men there was at Callice Martyr'd And Mr. Daâ—slip was hang'd drawn and quarter'd Button was persecuted Mr. Dod Resign'd up in the flame his soul to God One Mr. Saxie to his end was brought By Gardiner's appointment as ' cwas thought Kerby at Ipswich Roger Clarke at Bury Fry'd Faggots to appease their foemens fury Anne Askew being tost from post to pillar And cruelly misus'd an evil-willer Led her into a dungeon where he rack'd Her body till her very bowels crack'd Nay when her bones and joynts were pluck'd asunder She praised God and pray'd to all a wonder Then the Lord Chanc'ller sent her word that burn'd She should be if she chang'd not she return'd An answer back that she would rather die Then once recant and her true faith deny To New-gate being sent she penned there Her faith's confession ending with this prayer O Lord the hairs which on my head do grow Are not so num'rous as my foes I know Yet Lord take not thy grace and comfort from me So shall they not with flatt'ring words o'recome me Do thou fight for me so my soul shall fear No danger for on thee I cast my care With all the mischief that they can invent They fall upon me and have even spent Me thy poor creature Sweet Lord let me slight My foes for thou alone art my delight And Lord I pray thee when thy wrath begins To burn them quench it O forgive their sins Lord open thou their hearts restore the
time forward in the Latin tongue c. John a Lasco Peter Martyr and more Protestant forr'ners were exil'd this shore And many godly-minded English fly To Friez land Cleavâ—land Basil Germany Where through God's mercy they were kept from dangers And all found favor in the eyes of strangers The number of these Peregrines encreas'd Unto eight hundred persons at the least Then to the Tower Lady Elizabeth Was sent and bore afflictions worse then death Latimer Cranmer Ridly Bishops spent Much time at Oxford in imprisonment One Mr. Sanders crying down the Mass Became close pris'ner Doctor Tailour was To London sent for up Henry Lord Gray Of Suffolk Duke condemn'd was brought to pay His sought for life where having open broke His sealed lips he to the people spoke I have displeas'd the Queen contrair'd her Laws Take notice Christians that 's the onely cause I suffer so and seeing they are bent T' a bridge my fleeting dayes I am content And do beseech you all bear me record I die in the true faith of Christ my Lord And for salvation on his merits rely Not on inefficacious trumpery For me and all true penitents beside Who in him stead fastly believe Christ dy'd Repent I do and do desire you all To pray for me that when my body shall Resigne its breath God will be pleas'd to take My soul unto himself for Christ his sake Forgive me yee whom I offended have Saies Dr. Weston then As he doth crave The Queen hath done him thus the throng rebuke God send thee such forgiveness So the Duke Kneel'd down and prai'd concluding I resigne My soul O Lord into those hands of thine Then made he preparation to embrace The bloody blow and having veil'd his face With his own handkerchief he kneeling said The Lords pray'r over down his head he laid Venting these latest words Christ look upon me Have mercy Jesus O have mercy on me And now the stroke was fetch'd he being cast At the black bar of death breath'd out his last Divers of all degrees who bought or sold Some good religious books were kep'd in hold As Bonner past his Visitation He charg'd all Sacred sentences upon The Church-walls painted should be washed out And Visitors he also sent about The Universities to bring therein All Popish trash to turn out they begin The ablest men some of themselves forsook Their fellowships while worth-less persons took Their places up to the great hinderance Of learning and religions advance By this 't was bruited over all the land The Queen went quick with child upon command Thanks were returned to Almighty God In ev'ry Church and after all abroad Prayers were made that she might have e're long A male child fair wise valiant and strong The Godly Min'sters before Winchester In and about the City must appear Who ask'd them If they would recant and so Have pardon from the Queen All answer'd No Yea all of them unan'mously agreed To stand to what they taught the Bishop's speed Made them close prisoners and did divorce Their friends from interchangable discourse Mr. James George one of them there did yield His spir't up whom they bury'd in the field Then Mr. Hooper Rogers Bradford hated And Sanders too were excommunicated And Pious Dr. Tailour Ferrar Crome Did all of them with them receive their doom Commissions and inquisitors were sent Throughout the Realm great multitudes from Kent From Essex Suffolk Norfolk and elsewhere VVere brought to London and encloyftred there Part of them dead in prison out were turn'd To dunghills and the flames a many burn'd Also Hanks Hunter Pigot Laurence brought Before the Bishops were for no just fault When Stephen Gard'ner saw that what h'assail'd By threats hard usage not at all prevail'd To make men shake off truth he did begin As utterly discouraged therein The business in hand for to renounce Meddling no more with condemnations But unto Bishop Bonner them referr'd Who in that trust imposed so bestirr'd Himself that sending for all in great hast Th'above nam'd parties he upon them past Death's final sentence Dr. Ferrar quick He sent down to St. Davids Bishoprick Within the Cambrian country there to be Condemn'd and executed crueltie To th' Queen in Mr. Coverdale's behalf Twice wrote the King of Denmark for his safe Release from prison but with much ado To him the Queen permitted him to go One Thomas Tomkins Weaver by his trade An humble man and one that conscience made Of what he did who would begin his labour With servent prayers and to his needy neighbour So charitable was that he 'd disburse Unto them all the mony in his purse If any came to borrow of him when His creditors would bring it home agen He u'sd to bid them keep it longer yet Till they more able were to pay the deb This man was kept in pris'n a half years space By Benner's means who beat him on the face With livid blows and plucked off a piece Of his fast beard yet this did but increase His patience more the Bishop then affail'd When other tearms nothing at all prevail'd With gentle words to win him but the trial Succesless prov'd Tomkins return'd denial The Bishop having by a flaming Torch Took Tomkins by the fingers and did seorch His hand therewith afterwards Tomkins told A friend of his that whilst Bonner did hold His hand to burn he felt no pain at all Such consolation from God's spirit did fall Nor shrunk he in the least until his veines The fire contracted fire you know constreines And sinewes crack'd again and water spurt On Dr. Harpsfield's face as from a squirt Who was so pityful compassionate As to beseech the Bishop to abate His cruel minde O be not so so rough Said he have you not tryed him enough Into the Bishops consistory brought Examined he was whether he thought Christs real body in the Sacrament Was present yea or no to which he sent This answer that he verily believ'd The Sacrament by a true faith receiv'd Was onely its remembrance with the High'st The very body and the blood of Christ In heaven is and nowhere else being ask'd If he 'd recant God hath said he unmask'd His truth to me in such corruscancy That in it I resolve to live and die The Bishop then death's sentence on him past And to the Sheriffs deliv'red him who cast Him into Newgate prison in Smithfield The truth in fine with his dear blood he seal'd And in the Lord slep'd sweetly Then William Hunter that had scarce out-worn The nineteenth year of Godly Parents born VVho him instructed in Religion's truth And plac'd him out in London this good youth VVas charg'd by special command to go To Mass break bread which he refus'd to do Hunter when threatened that this should come Unto the Bishop's ear leave got went home To Burnt-wood and did with his Parents stay About six weeks And going on a day Into the Chappel there which pleas'd him well He
Braintree William Pigot for Christs name Endur'd the fury of the ardent flame At Maulden Stephen Knight before the stake Kneel'd down and pray'd Sweet Jesu for whose sake I freely leave this life and rather choose Thy cross and irrecoverably loose All worldly goods then to give audience To men in breaking thy commandements Thou seest O Lord that whereas I but now VVas proffer'd great preferments if I 'd bow To a false helpless God I was content My body should be burnt and my life spent Counting all things below but dung and dross For thee happy such gain which comes by loss Thousands of silver and as much of gold Then death I do of lesser value hold Just as the wounded Deer desires the soil So longs my soul for thee pour down the Oil Of consolation on a crumbling clod So helpless of it self Thou know'st O God That I who am but sinfull flesh and blood Can of my self act nothing that is good And therefore as of thine abundant love And goodness still deflowing from above On me me that am lesser then the least Of mercies thou hast bid me to this feast And judg'd me worthy to drinke of this cup With thine elect even so O bear me up Great God! against this Element of fire So formidable to the sence so dire Sweeten it by thy spirit so asswage The heat that I may overcome its rage And pass into thy bosome Holy father Forgive thou me as I do all men gather My soul sweet Son of God my Saviour Beneath thy shady wings a Balmy Bower O blessed Holy-Ghost whose strength destroies Fleshly corruptions hasten thou my joyes Eternal joyes Lord I commend take then My parting spirit Amen Amen Amen John Laurence legs with bolts and irons lame His body with hard usage out of frame Was to the stake transported in a chair And suff'red for the saith at Colchester Young children while he burn'd cry'd out O Lord Strengthen thy servant and make good thy word Stand up stand up for thy poor servant's aid As thou art just O do as thou hast said Ferrar set o're St. Davids Bishoprick Was apprehended for an Heretick Him Winchester misus'd call'd him base slave False-hearted fellow and a cross-grain'd knave Morgan a fraudulent supplanter turn'd him Out of his place and at Carmarthen burn'd him Not long before his death one Richard Jones A Knights son comming his sad pains bemones T'whom Ferrar thus Sir if you see me move My hand or foot during the flames do prove What mettle I am of believe not then My Doctrine oft inculcated to men And as he said he did with the fire hot Besieged round he stirred not a jot Held his stumps bolt upright then with a pole Knock'd down i' ch' fire he breathed out his soul One Rawlins White a Fisher-man in Wales Of Cardiffe town when superstitions scales Drop'd from his eyes the Truth he understood And in his country aid a deal of good He dayly now expects to he surpriz'd By truths oppugners his dear friends advis'd Him to retire elsewhere and be excus'd For their good will he thank'd them but resus'd He 's apprehended and in prison laid In Cardiffe Castle where a year he staid His friends resorting to him he would spend The time in pray'r exhorting them to mend At last the Bishop of Landaffe commands That he be brought he threats him now then stands On fairer terms but all this would not stir His unmov'd brest a day 's appointed for His condemnation which being come The Bishop call'd him forth and told him some Heretical opinions he did hold And had seduced others Rawlins bold Reply'd My Lord a Christian man I am I praise God for 't my tenents are the same With Sacred Writ if from God's word I stray I would be gladly brought in the right way The Bishop said Speak if you will be won Else I 'll proceed to condemnation Proceed said Rawlins but you never shall Condemn me for an Heretick Let 's fall To pray'r said Landaffe that the Lord some spark Of grace would send thee to disclose the dark Now said he you deal well and if your pray'r Do with God's will agree he 'll doubtless hear Pray to your God and I to mine will pray I know my God will hear and not say nay The Bishop and his Chaplains pray'd anon Rawlins pray'd by himself alone pray'r don The Bishop said How is it with thee now Thine errours what wilt thou revoke and bow To our true God no surely no said he Rawlins you left and Rawlins you finde me Rawlins I was and am and Rawlins will Through God continue to be Rawlins still God would have heard you had your sute bin just But he hath heard me and on him I trust The Bishop being wroth him soundly shent So went to Mass Rawlins his minde then bent Shot forth these words Good people if there be Amongst you any breth'ren two or three Or if but one bear witness at the day Of judgement that I to no Idols pray Mass don he was condemn'd and after thrown Into a darke and loathsome dungeon There Rawlins pass'd his time in drowning wrongs With spir'tual prayers and religious songs The night before his death t' his wife he sent To send his wedding weed a shirt he meant Which he rejoycingly next morn put on And being led to execution Guarded he was with bills and Pike-staves too Alas said he what need all this ado By God's grace I will nothing start aside VVho is 't that gives me power to abide All this affliction for his own names sake But God his be the glory At the stake He his dear wife and children having found Pickled in briny tears or rather drown'd His eyes let fall a tear but having made A recollection of himself he said Ah flesh saiest thou me so would'st thou obtain The Victor's Palm I tell thee 't is in vain To strive thy pow'r is like the morning mist Then failing on the ground the ground he kist And spake Earth unto earth and dust to dust Thou art my mother and return I must To thee With an exhilarated brow Then going to be bound to th'stake I now Said he t' a friend of his finde great contest Betwixt the flesh and spirit for the best I pray you therefore when you see me shrink Hold up your finger that I may bethink My too oblivious self B'ing bound he rais'd These words up to the height The Lord be Prais'd Unto the Smith then spake he Pray good friend Knock it in fast the flesh may much contend But God support me let thy grace refresh My fainting spirits and my trembling flesh About him pulled he the reeds and straw VVith such a merry look that all that saw Much wondred at it Now a Priest appear'd And preached to the people Rawlins heard Until he spake of Transubstantiation Alledging Scripture for its confirmation This is my Body Come you here good folk Said Rawlins
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
said the Shrieffe in the Queen's name To fling that Vip'rous book into the flame Then spake he with a cheerful voice and said Dear friends bear witness I am not affraid To seal Christ's Gospel with my dearest blood Knowing 't is true and was of late your food Though now surrepted from you and because I 'll not deny it to obey mans laws Condemn'd I be to dy see that you walk In answer to the truth of which you talk And as for those that do the Pope believe Hell 's theirs without Gods merciful reprieve Except said then the Sheriffe believe thou do The Pope th' art damn'd both soul and body too Pray to thy God that he may set thee free Or strike me down The Lord forgive said he Your temerarious words Dear Lord thou knowst How I left all to come to thee thou dost Draw with Magnetick-love to thee I fly For shelter Ah! but when my serious eye Darts on thy power and on my self looks down I fear the wrath of a condemning frown What shall I shrink no now the flames surround me I 'll trust my God although my God confound me Christ Jesus help Christ Jesus look upon me He cry'd and dy'd with Lord have mercy on me Iveson said All the treasure in the nation Should never draw him to a recantation I to the mercy of my God appeal And would be none of your Church for a deal Yea though an heaven-sent Angel came t' expound Unto me other Doctrine I 'm not bound For to receive it hereupon condemn'd And put into the fire he death contemn'd James Abbes a Godly man did shift about From place to place for safeties sake found out At last they carri'd him to Norwich town VVhere by the Bishop's threats he did disown VVhat he profess'd the Bishop seeing so Gave him some money and dismiss'd him too But conscience bringing him upon the rack The Bishops money he returned back Repenting e're he took it then again The Bishop strove to gain him but in vain Though Peter-like he fail'd now to persever Resolve he did and stood more fast then ever Even to his last-drawn breath the Bishop's fury Condemn'd him to be burn'd he burn'd at Bury John Denly Newman Partrick Packingham Dy'd constant Martyrs for their Saviours name Wright Coker Collier Hooper Stere and more Besides in Canterbury faggots bore Robert Smith Stephen Harwood Thomas Fust And William Hale dy'd for the truth their trust Eliz'beth Warne condemned to be burn'd By Bonner unto Bonner soon return'd These words Do what you will with me for why If Christ was in an errour so am I Otherwise not but Christ spake true I know Therefore then was she burn'd at Stratford-Bow About this very time George Tankerfield Did at St. Albanes to their rancour yield George King John Wade and Tho. Leyes with sore Usage fell sick and dy'd in Lollards tower In Suffolk Mr. Robert Samuel Of Barfold Min'ster who instructed well The flock committed to his charge was tost To Norwich goal there chained to a post And so erect that 's body did command For some small ease induc'd his tip-toes stand Hunger and thirst bad helpers are procur'd VVhat tongue can tell what he poor man endur'd At last brought to be burn'd an easie pain To what he felt before he did detain Some friends in telling them a most strange story Of what fell out while he was us'd so sory VVhen I much want said he had undergon I slept and then me thought appeared one Cloath'd all in white who whisp'red in mine ear Samuel Samuel be of good cheer Take heart to grass man thou hast past the worst Henceforth thou shalt nor hunger feel nor thirst VVhich came to pass such consolation did Sweeten his woes that modesty forbid Him tell the same So as he went along To execution amidst the throng A maid there was who after scap'd did fall About his neck and kissed him withall The while his body burn'd it shin'd as bright As new-try'd Silver or as Cynthia's light Next day Anne Potten and Joan Trunch field come From Ipswich prison unto Martyrdome Thomas Cob William Allen Roger Coo Death for the sake of Christ did undergo In Coventry and Litchfield-Diocess One Mr. Robert Glover did profess The Gospel he surprized had his doom To be confined to a narrow room And dark withall next to the dungeon Scarce having straw enough to lie upon No chair nor stool to fit on none might look To him though sick pen paper ink nor book Was not allow'd him yet a Teftament And Prayer-book by stealth he getting spent Most of his time in pray'r and meditation On Gods great love in working mans salvation Yea said he health began to come my peace Of conscience did more and more encrease God's spir't reviv'd me I had sometimes some Glimm'ring reflections of the life to come All for his own Son's sake to him alwayes Be Glory Honour and Obedience Praise Two dayes before his death he found his heart Less lightsome then it was and fear'd the smart Would too much try his patience for his pray'rs God heard not he unbosomed his fears Unto a Godly Minister his friend Who wish'd him to be constant to the end O play the man your cause is just and true God will appear anon I 'll warrant you The stake in fight he said I see him whom I call'd for Austin Oh he 's come he 's come And look'd so cheerful e'en as though new breath He should receive and not a painful death Cornelius Bongey Capper also came With him and burned in the self-same flame Mr. John Glover now was troubled sore Seeing his brother took for him therefore He would have suff'red in his brother's stead But by his friends importunings he fled Into the neighbouring Woods did there abide Till he with cares and cold sickned and dy'd His body privately was buri'd in The Church-yard they his bones dig'd up agin A twelvemonth after threw them out Opains For to be trampled on by Horses Wains And thus though in his life he scaped from Their rage yet after 's death on him they come William the third brother in Shropshire dead Might not by their consent be buried Wolsey and Pigot suff'red in the Isle Of Ely And within a little while Bishop Ridly and also Latimer Burned at Oxford Stephen Gardiner That day to dine till almost night deferr'd Th' old Norfolk Duke then with him having heard Word of their deaths he with a smiling brow Said to the Duke let us to dinner now The Table fill'd as merry as a Buck The Bishop was but on a sudden struck Two bits scarce eaten carry'd from the table To bed he was his pains intolerable Nature he could not ease for fifteen dayes His tongue was swoln and black his mouth 's assaies Could giv 't no house-room his pin'd body all Sadly enflam'd he gasp'd and gave a sprawl And now John Webbe George Roper Greg'ry Parke At Canterbury burn'd not
in said Ha! And after that soon vanished away This much rejoyc'd his soul upon the morrow He Hugh Fox and one Devnish fire went thorough One Thomas Hudson Thomas Carman too And William Seaman Norfolk-men did go Through tribulation to heavenly bliss To have the crown their own the cross they kiss There was one mother Bennet of the town Wetherset who was driven up and down For Jesus sake returning home she dy'd Her corps b'ing buri'd by the high-wayes side She was exceeding lib'ral to the poor Her mate once told her merrily their store If she had bin but sparing had bin much To what it was said she I cannot grutch The poor Alas good husband be content Let us be thankful God enough hath sent Wee still sweet heart have good competent fare Content's a fear although the feast be bare I cannot see the needie's wants and hoard Least in so doing I displease the Lord But husband let 's be rich in good works still So pleasing God we shall have all at will One Cicely Orms b'ing ask'd over his head What 't was the Priest held up she answ'red Bread Bread at the best and if you do endeavour To make it better 't will be worse then ever Brought to the stake she kiss'd it and respir'd Welcome Christs cross his sweet cross so desir'd My soul doth magnify the Lord my spirit In God rejoyceth and my Saviours merit So casting up her head on heaven she fix'd Her eyes and in the flames her hands commix'd She yielded up the ghost Thomas Spurdance Of Norwich suff'red for the truths advance George Eagles Tailour travell'd up and down In sev'ral countries went from town to town Confirming weaker Saints in a short season At Chelmsford he condemned was for treason And hang'd up with two theevs the one where of With tears sought Christ the orher with this scoffe Put off George Eagle's exhortation Our Captain leads we shall to heaven anon The Pen'tent thiese did call upon the Lord. The mockers fhtt'ring tongue spake not one word Upon the ladder Eagles was cut down Half dead his heart pull'd out his members strown George Eagles sister and a man call'd Fryer At Rochester did in the fire expire A Proclamation was sent about That all good books within this Realm set out Or from beyond seas brought should all be turn'd To ashes if not so their owners burn'd Soon after this dire Proclamation Twice twenty persons met neer I slington Were caught some scap'd some burn'd with faggot-sticks In Smithfield thirteen and in Brainford six Amongst these Godly persons there was one Nam'd Roger Holland who had boldly done His duty in reproving bloody Bonner Spake thus at last God will redeem his honour With your destruction and will soon asswage His spir't so tells me your unbridled rage Against his Church he heareth the complaints His servants make for the afflicted Saints Whom you so dayly persecuted have As us you do now Christ will shortly save His spotless Spouse in God I dare be bold To tell you that you are too fierce to hold And my dear breth'ren know that in this place After this day not any shall embrace The fire and faggot by this means procur'd Mark what I say and be thereof assur'd Which came to pass for for the Lord Christ's sake None after them suff'red at Smithfield stake Said Bonner then What Roger I perceive here Thou art as bad an Heretick as ever And in thine anger thou wouldst now become A railing Proph't but th'hadst as good be dumbe Though thou and all like thee would see me turn'd Over the ladder yet to see thee burn'd I shall live yea and before God I vow I 'll make you rue it ev'ry one of you That comes within my clutches so he went Roger call'd on the people to repent And to think well of all the Saints that past The fiery tryal which not long should last For God intended to abridge straightwayes For his elect's sake those sanguineous dayes Roger embrac'd the stake and said O Lord I praise thee for affording me thy word And fellowship with Saints which in heavens coasts Sing Holy Holy Holy Lord of Hosts O God receive my soul preserve thy flock Save them from Idols O be thou their Rock So with his fellowes praising God above They all reposed in the arms of love There was one William Pikes amongst the six VVhich dy'd at Brainford false-nam'd Hereticks VVho while that he his liberty enjoy'd I' th' Summer at noon-day of cares devoyd His Bible with him in t' his garden took Sate down to read upon it on his book Four drops of blood fell suddenly he knows Not whence it came t' his call'd-wife it he showes Saying I well perceive God will have blood It cannot no it must not be withstood His will be done God help me to abide The trial for without him I shall slide And so they went to pray'r and in short space Burned he was in the aforenam'd place One Thomas Hinshaw like a dog was us'd By Harpsfield first by Bonner next abus'd Who in an arbour pulled down his breeches VVhip'd him with willow-rods and with sharp speeches Returned him to prison there was one John Willis the like usage undergone T' whom Bonner thus Me bloody Bonner call Ye do a plague of God upon you all I 'd fain be rid of you but you delight In burning sure I think but if I might Have my desires O then I'faith I 'd stitch Your mouths up sack you throw you in a ditch Or down the stream this would I do with speed My fingers itch to do this pious deed Upon a time Bonner came to the stocks VVhere this John Willis lay and spake with mocks How like you John your lodging and your fare Willis said VVell had I a straw-pad here VVhile thus they commun'd in the good man's wife Came great with child to beg her husbands life Told Bonner she within his house would stay And there her count neer out her belly lay Unless her loving husband might be sreed And pack along with her Indeed indeed Said Bonner then that were a handsom trick How say'st thou John thou damned Heretick Suppose thy wife should with her brat mscarry And perish man art thou not accessary To both their deaths what thinkst thou To be short The woman would not go ' cwas pretty sport To hear these parly Bonner lest in 's house She should cry out did let her husband loose On easie tearms A Godly Minister Nam'd Mr. Richard Yeomans much did bear At last he finding how his foes were bent To take away his life went down to Kent Selling pins needles points thred white and black And some odd trifiles to supply the lack Of himself his poor wife and childeren He was imprison'd but releas'd agen He went to Hadly to his wife and there Hiring a chamber they abode a year Carding of Wool he sets himself about She spins thus pick they a poor living
out At length the Parson having understood How this good old man liv'd he took a brood Of Officers with him at night rebound He made the doors search'd diligently found Old father Yeomans and his family laid In bed together whereupon he said Ne're trust me if I did not think a knave I with a whore should finde and so I have And would have pull'd the bed-cloaths off withall But father Yeomans held them fast Call call Us what you please here 's neither knave nor whore But a cojugal pair in God though poor I bless God for it you in darkness grope And I defie with all his trash the Pope Then in the cage they carri'd him away There to the stocks with one John Dale he lay VVho shortly after dy'd he told's faith for which Degraded and condemn'd he burnt at Norwich John Alcock a young man by trade a Shear-man In Hadly-Parish said I do not fear man But God if for my God I suffer may 'T will be a happy and a joyful day As for the Pope I will not be forgiven By him forgive me thou great God of heaven He was a Newgate pris'ner hereupon And thrust into the lower dungeon Where he with cruel handling and beside Ill keeping suddenly fell sick and dy'd One Mr. Thomas Benbridge though estate Enough he had yet through the narrow gate Of persecution did he chuse to enter Into heaven's Kingdom manfully adventure His life and limb for Christ Truth he defended Against the Pope till he was apprehended Condemn'd therefore at the place unappal'd His rich apparel he put off and call'd Upon his God then fastned to the stake Said Dr. Seaton to him Do but make A recantation and thou shalt be freed Said Mr. Benbridge Shall I so indeed I thank you but I will not Christ's my Guerdon I don't regard you man no nor your pardon The Doctor said In troth it is a sin Good folk to pray for such a dog begin Benbridge begin a new leaf wilt thou say Away thou Babylonian away Benbridge reply'd they kindled then the wood VVhich burnt his beard yet he unmoved stood Fire seiz'd on 's legs unable to abide So grievous pains I do Recant he cry'd The fire 's removed and his life is granted But he his recantation recanted it pleasing God his conscience to awake And six dayes after suff'red at the stake John Cook James Ashly Alexander Lane And Robert Miles because they did abstain From going to the Church did pass the Fury Of corm'rant Vulcan at St. Edmunds Bury One Philip Humphry John and Henry David Two brothers were destroy'd and yet were saved Green Wilmot Williams Cotton Collingborow And Harris whip'd run through a deal of sorrow One Alexander Gouge Alice Driver By Mr. Noon a Suffolk-Justice were So hunted after that a while they lay For safety sake hid in a mow of hay The Justice with his men searching about Thrust Pitch-forks in the mow and found them out Sent them to Melton goal where being prov'd A certain time they were to Bury mov'd At the Assizes they Christ crucifi'd Boldly confessed and the Pope defi'd Alce Driver did compare exceeding well Queen Mary in her rage to Jesabel Her ears to be cut off the Judge procur'd Hereat which she rejoycingly endur'd Both are to Ipswieh sent examin'd there By Dr. Spencer Norwich Chanceller And others the main matter was intent About Christs presence in the Sacrament Alce Driver did so baffle them herein That they had nothing to reply agin Thus she concluded then the Lord be blest You are though learn'd not able in the least T' oppose God's spirit in me a silly woman Of low degree and tutoured by no man I am no Academick nor was I E're brought up in the University As ye have been yet in the truths defence And in the cause of Christ my Master whence I power derive I will set foot to foot To any of you if you put me to 't For to maintain the same and if I had A thousand lives to lose I should be glad To let all go for it The Chancellour Condemn'd and sent her to the Sec'lar power Gouge also was condemn'd for Christ his name And so both sweetly dy'd in Ipswich flame Alce Driver's neck being chain'd O said she heed Here is a goodly handkerchief indeed VVell God be praised for it As they stand At stake some came to take them by the hand The Sheriffe bids they be caught the crowd forbid The Sheriffe bids let alone and so they did There liv'd in Cornwall a religious Dame Her husband a recusant often came To hear Mass read nor would he ever lin Till his forc'd-wife did joyn with him therein Which was no little trouble to her soul She thereupon did seek the Lord and roul Her self upon him and by earnest prayer Crav'd his direction God was pleas'd to hear And one night fill'd her with such spir'tual mirth That she enjoy'd a little heaven on earth From husband children and from all she run For conscience sake and for her living spun Yet to her husband she return'd at last Where but a very little time being past Her neighbours apprehending carry'd her To th'Bishop of the town of Exeter She was condemned and the reason why VVas that she spake against Idolatry The Bishop said to her VVoman do y'hear Minde your good husband and your children dear She answered Remembred and forgot They 're soon I have them and I have them not While I enjoy'd my ease I them enjoy'd But now all such relations are voyd Standing here as I do in Christ his cause Where I must either frangifie the Laws Of Grace or Nature either Christ forsake Or else my Husband I 'm content to take Christ as my heavenly Spouse and to renounce The other with my children all at once The Bishop after much Argumentation Gave her a months time for consideration Seeing a Dutch-man who new Noses made For images defac'd when Edward swaid She said Mad-man what meanst thou to compose New Noses for such images as those Which will so shortly loose their heads For this She was close pris'ner kep'd nor did she miss Threatnings taunts scoffes call'd Anabaptist whore Mad-woman drunkard vagabond and more Then many specious promises were us'd Of liberty of wealth which she refus'd With husband goods and children they affail To win her but yet nothing would prevail Her heart was fixed trusting in the Lord She had cast anchor and renounc'd abhor'd The sin-involved world with all the wiles Which Satan uses when he souls beguiles She was devoyd of learning yet so vers'd I' th' Scriptures that not onely she rehers'd Apposite proofs Quotations but could tell The Book and Chapter also very well Condemn'd and given to the sec'lar power The country Gentlemen came flocking to her Bidding her yet to call on God for grace And cease her fond opinions to embrace So got'her husband and her children dear Thou art a woman ignorant we fear And