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
wilt Know that to make thee answer for thy guilt Engines are ready if thou l't not be turn'd Thou shalt beheaded be or rack'd or burn'd What a small matter is 't not worth this strife To strew incense yet that shall save thy life Eulalia not reply'd but spurn'd abroad The incense heaps and did with spittle load The tyrants face the Hangmaa having retch'd her With wilde-beasts talons to the hard bones scratch'd But she ceas'd not to praise the Lord and prize her Th' attainment of these sublime dignities VVith th' iron grate her mangled body's gor'd Her brests with flaming torches are devour'd Her long hair set on fire she opened wide Her mouth and sucked in the flame and di'd The Judge told Agues if she did refuse To sacrifice there was a common stews And in she should the chast religious maid Unto the flock'd-lascivious youngsters said Christ will not suffer this I tell you true This spotless soul to be defil'd by you By you base slaves to lust then was she plac'd Naked i'ch'street and publickly disgrac'd Amongst the rest one scoffing at her shame A flame like to a flash of lightning came And struck out both his eyes he falling down Did wallow in the dirt while she did crown Her soul in praising God the Judge sends word To th'executioner to sheath his sword In her warm bowels Agnes maketh hast To meet with him she cannot run so fast O this said she this this is he whom I Am taken with I long I long to die My brest stands fair thrust souldier if thou wilt Thy glitt'ring rapier up unto the hilt Dear Father open wide the gates of heaven To entertain my soul her life 's bereaven SECT XV. The Persecution of the Christians in Perfia under Sapores about the same time ANd now the Persian Magicians bring In accusations to Sapores King Against the Christians for their adhering To Constantine the Great a crime past cleering The King incens'd herewith with taxes fines Oppress'd them sore and killed their Divines Simeon their Priest was into prison sent For slighting Idol-gods and as he went Vsthazares a Christian of late Since sall'n away who at the Court-gate sate Espying him led by obeysance did him But Simeon for Apostatizing chid him The conscious Eunuch suddenly let fall A briny showre his costly garments all Laid by he mourn'd and with dejected face Deplored thus his lamentable case Ah me with what a brazen brow shall I Look upon God see'ng Simeon doth deny His kinde salute He to the King must go Who gently ask'd him why he mourned so If in my Palace thou want'st any thing Speak man and by the honour of a King It shall be thine that tolerable were But Ah! who can a wounded spirit bear 'T is this said he that acerbates my woe I live who should have dyed long agoe This Sun I see to which I seem'd to bow Thereby denying Christ to pleasure you I 'll take a solemn vow for to adore The great Creator not the Creature more The King adjudged him to lose his head And at his death at his request 't was spread Here 's one that suffers not for any treason But for religion and no other reason The Christians which disheartened had bin By his Apostacy he sought to win By his profession and example too To take new courage and to undergo The like if need requir'd Good Simeon Rejoyc'd and prais'd the Lord for what was don When the next Sun had rais'd them from their beds He and a hundred more all lost their heads The King decreed no mercy should be us'd To them which to adore the Sun refus'd The sword rang'd over all the Persian bounds Devour'd whole Cities and unpeopled towns In brief in all during Sapore's reign Were more then sixteen thousand Christians slain SECT XVI The Churches Persecution under Julian the Apostata Anno Christi 365. NO sooner was Constantius deceas'd Julian his nephew of the West and East Is made sole Emperour he from his youth Was well instructed in religion's truth His good behaviour and ingenious parts Made him a Load-stone to attract all hearts In brief he had what 's difficult to finde The rare endowments of a vertuous minde But he Apostatiz'd Satan his tutor Learn'd him to be the Churches persecutor He op'd the Idol Fanes lock'd up before And when the Christian faith grew more and more By torments he was pityful and mild And by his gifts and flatteries beguil'd The weaker sort who avarous of gaia VVere drawn aside he also did ordain That none professing Christianitie Master of any Art should dare to be Or any Officer he did suborn Jesters to load them with contempt and scorn Himself put none to death yet did the crew Of Heathenish Idolaters imbrew Their hands in Christian gore brain'd them with stones And tore the flesh from off their naked bones Drench'd some in scalding water some were stipp'd Stark naked others had their bellies rip'd And stuff'd with barly for the greedy swine To champ upon while some with famine pine Some smear'd with honey up against the Sun In baskets hung for VVasps to feed upon The children neither spar'd father nor mother Nor parents chil'ren no nor brother brother The flesh-deprived bones of some were mix'd VVith asses bones here hangs on crucifix'd And there 's one drag'd about the streets a third Is taken captive like a twiglim'd bird VVhen Julian sacrific'd to Fortune one Maris Bishop of blind-ey'd Chaleedon Sharply rebuk'd him call'd him impious man Apostate Atheist to whom Julian Retorts Blind fool thy God of Galiles VVill not restore thy fight and make thee see Maris reply'd I am not so unkinde As not to thank my God which made me bliade Lest that mine eyes turn'd from a better fight Upon thy so ungracious face should light Cyrillus Deacon in Hier apolis Demolished the Gentiles Images He 's took his belly 's rip'd his liver drawn Out of his body with their teeth is gnawn A little tract of time b'ing wheel'd about Their tongues were rocted and their teeth fell out Of their loose sockecs their blind eyes no more Beheld the objects they beheld before While of Apollo's Delphick Oracle Julian enquir'd a flash of lightning fell From the collided clouds which overturn'd The Temple and Apollo's Image burn'd The fines were more then they were sessed at He scoff'd them thus You ought to undergo All wrongs does not your God command you so Ath'nafius said This persecution Is but a little cloud 't will soon be gon SECT XVII The Churches Persecution under the Arrian Hereticks which began An. Christi 339. GReat Constantine a while before he dy'd Amongst his sons did equally divide His Empire to the rule he did assigne Constantius Constans and Constantine Constantius that governed the East Was soon seduced by an Arrian priest Who him inform'd that Athanasius Return from exile was pernicious Unto the publick good incensed then The Emp'rour sent five thousand
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
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
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
armed men To cut him short the Church was round beset Yet he from them mirac'loufly did get Though many Arrians cast their eyes about For this intent t'indigitate him out Not much unlike a sheep ordain'd for slaughter Nor could this good man live in quiet after In banishment till he was forc'd to hide In a deep pit where he no light espide For twice three years and at last by a maid That us'd to bring him food he was betraid But God's directing spirit did befriend him He scap'd before they came to apprehend him Thirty Egyptian Bishops slain twice seven Were banished some in their way took heaven In Alexandria the Arrians urg'd Twice twenty Orthodox Divines were scourg'd The Emperour at his approaching death Griev'd for his changing of the Nicene faith Valens held on these damnable designs ' Gainst Christians fourscore eminent Divines He ship'd and fir'd so they resign'd their breath By patient suffering of a double death Many he caused to be crush'd to shivers Some to be drown'd i' ch' Sea others in rivers Some in the desarts wandred up and down Cloathed in sheeps-skins pityed by none While other-some so put unto their shifts Lurked in dens and hollow rocky clifts At last this Tyrant from the Goths did fly Who fir'd a village o're his head whereby He miserably dy'd unto his name Leaving behind a monument of shame SECT XVIII The Persecution by the Donatists Anno Christi 410. THe Donatists and Circumcellions In Sun-burnt Affrick rais'd rebellions The Orthodox innumerable wrongs Lay under Bishops lost their hands and tongues And others that remain'd sincere and sound This barbrous outrage either hang'd or drown'd Their goods are plunder'd and their houses turn'd To heaps of eindars and their Fanes are burn'd The sacred Scriptures are by flames devour'd Wives are defil'd and Virgins are deflour'd Where ever these profane Schisma ticks came They holy things profan'd nor was 't a shame Counted amongst them but a grace to feed Their mungrell currs with Sacramental bread But God's just judgements did not long forbear The Dogs run mad and their own Masters tear These furious persons cast into the stocks The godly Christians and the Orthodox All Affrick o're they empty out their gall Destroying many and affrighting all SECT XIX The Persecution of the Church in Affrick by the Arrian Vandales Anno Christi 427. THe Vandales under Genserick's command Remov'd their Quarters from th' Iberian land And march'd to Affrick as along they went Cut down the shrubs which yeilded aliment To the dispersed Saints what e're they found Unruin'd they laid level with the ground The Min'sters sinking underneath their loads Are pricked forward with sharp-pointed goads Some had until they crack'd again their legs Wrested with bow-strings grease and oily dregs Salt-water stinking mire and Vinegar Into the mouths of others forced are The Reverend gray hairs from them obtain'd No mercy as for infants they were brain'd Or torn in pieces from the fundament The Carthaginian Senators were sent To wander in exile without respect To sex or age the Roman City's sack'd Upon A sceation-day a Christian train Meeting at Church were by these her'ticks slain There was a Noble man nam'd Saturus The Tyrant seeing him bespake him thus Y' had best to execute my just commands Or you shall forfeit else your house and lands Your wife shall marry one that drives the plow Your children shall be sold nor did this bow The good mans faith his wife hearing her doom Was to be marry'd to a scurvy groom Runs to her husband doth her fine clothes tear And rends from off her head her curious hair Her brood of children hanging at her heels A suckling in her arms then down she kneels And said my deatest Oh some pity take On thy poor wife O for the Lord Chrift's sake Let not thy bantlings under slav'ry tire Nor me be linked to a filthy Squire Be rul'd sweet heart if by constraint th' art brought To act amiss thine will not be the fault He thus Thou speakest like a foolish wife Acting the Devils part thy husbands life If thou didst dearly tender as thou shouldst Entice him so to fin thou never wouldst Which will procure a second death to me Worse then the first I am resolv'd to be Obedient therefore to my Gods commands And quite forsake wife children house and lands To b'his Disciple Scarce these words were out He was despoil'd of all and sent about The Country begging Genserick being dead Hunrick succeeded in his fathers stead Well night five thousand that did Christ profess He banished into the wilderness He made his Courtiers dig the earth for corn And brought the women into publick scorn Mothers their little children followed Right glad that Martyrs they had born and bred One leading by the hand her little Son Hasting t'oretake them said Run Sirrah run Seest how the Saints do trudge along how fast They make unto their crown hast sirrah haft She 's thus rebuk'd How now why do you go So speedy woman whither haste you so She thus reply'd Good folks pray pray for me I go to exile with this child you see For fear the enemies corrupt his youth And so mislead him from the wayes of truth As the Saints went along to banishment Multitudes follow'd and with one consent Flinging their children down did this express And must we then be wedded to distress While you haste to your crown what will become Of us poor wretches as we are at home VVhat Ministers have we you gon to feed Our hungry souls with sacramental bread VVho shall baptize our infants tell us who Instruct us w'have a greater minde to go Then stay behinde but Ah! our feeble strength VVill not hold out so great a journeys length Now they that went and could not mend their paces Were dragged by the Moors through rugged places Their flesh all rent and torn they that were stronger Came to the wilderness to kill their hunger And barely are allow'd the Scorpions crawll About them but do them not hurt at all VVith their lethif'rous sting thus God did please After affliction to send them ease Hunrick sends Mandates throughout Affrica That all the Bishops should by such a day At Carthage meet on purpose by dispute To prop their faith and if they could confute The Arrian Bishops now the time drew near And they according to command appear Dispute began The Orthodox thought best To cull out some to answer for the rest The Arrians plac'd themselves on sublime thrones These stood o' th' ground and said Inequall ones Are too unfit to hold an argument No no it is by general consent That Disputants the controversie rear On equal termes until the truth be clear An hundred strokes on ev'ry one were laid For this bold speech whereat Eugeuius said The Lord in mercy look upon our woes And mark our sufferings under raging foes The Arrian Bishops moved to propound What they intended at the first gave ground
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
would produce her hid-up gold He 'd rost her quick and after throw her down From the sublimest tower in the town VVell said she though I fall yet shall I stand Supported by the Lord Almightie's hand He made her drink his piss then in her face Flung the remainder and withall the glass He claps her up more torments to abide Her friends redeem'd her but she shortly did The Prot'stants of Valougne their dear lives lost And souldiers in their houses rul'd the rost In Mascon Bonnet Bor a rare Divine Scoff'd beaten drown'd Lamp-like in heav'n doth shine Monsieur Valongues a Minister they kill'd And spurn'd his naked corps the Mass-Priests fill'd His mouth and wounds with Bible-leaves and said Preach thou Gods truth now invocate his aid Monluc at Reim brain'd sucking infants then The mothers hang'd above five hundred men They sprinkled salt upon the bleeding wounds Of one poor mangled man Monluc confounds The Protestants in fight the prisoners He hangs especially the Ministers Captain Lamoths he stabs that will not do He thrusts him with a rapier through and thro And his blasphemous mouth these words lets fly Villain thou in despite of God shalt die He prov'd a lyar though the man endur'd Such mortal wounds yet was he strangely cur'd In Limoux Grenoble Beann Cisteron Normay and Aurange many undergon Hard usage Ah! what hearts what tongues what Quills Can think can speak can write those worst of ills Females were ravish'd others drown'd some kill'd Their houses with unruly souldiers fill'd Hundreds of women nay and children too Like harmless sheep unto the slaughter go Those to blaspheme that would not be constrain'd Were with the butt-end of a musket brain'd Or hewn as small as herbs unto the pot Others rhrown out at windowes others shot A fair young woman after much disgrace Was ravished before her husbands sace Then forc'd to hold a rapier wherewith One made her her own husband kill A Smith Because he would not give the devil his soul B'ing on his anvil laid they beat his poul In pieces with great hammers some were crush'd To death with weights others were har quebush'd They dash'd brest-sucking babes against the walls And slew the crazy in the hospitals No sex nor age nor quality they let Go free all all was fish that came to net The Massacre at PARIS Anno 1571. WHen the third Civil War in France was ended A Massacre at Paris was intended And put in execution first of all They set upon and slew the Admiral The watch-word was the tolling of a bell Which rang by break aday the cut-throats fell On the attendants of the King of Navar And Prince of Conde not the least of favour Was shew'd to any they knock'd down and brain'd Ten thousand persons Sein'c swift streams were With the effused blood the streets were pav'd stain'd With mangled bodies not a man was sav'd These blood-hounds met with Pistols Poiniards Knives Curtlaces Pikes did make away with lives The Muskets bouncings Oh the horrid tones Of howling murth'rers mix'd with dying grones The Lords and Gentlemen were murthered Some on their houses roofs and some in bed In France this persecution so encreas'd Were thirty thousand Massacred at leaft But let 's to some particulars descend One Monsieur de la Place was brought t' his end And Peter Ramus with his life did part The Kings Professor in that subtile Art Thrown from the chamber window trail'd about The streets and whip'd his bowels falling out A villain snatched up a little child Who toy'd and played with his beard and smil'd But he hard hearted wretch not mov'd at all Drew out his sword and stabbed it withall And cast it all gore-blood into the river This gnaws an infant's heart and he the liver Such protestants as did through fear revolt Must in the fore-front give the first assault Or else be kill'd themselves Some had their grease Try'd out and sold They us'd such blasphemies Where 's now your God are Psalmes and Prayers come To this sure he is either deaf or dumb Let him come save you if he can they cry'd Kill kill them all and let 's the spoil divide What fearfull shrikes and outeries were there then Caus'd by these Devils in the shapes of men What breaking up of doors what noise of guns At Orleance was there heard confusion runs In ev'ry street what trampling of War-Horses Rumbling of Carts that bore away dead coarses The Papists in this massacre confess'd That they slew eighteen thousand at the least Some of them boasted in the streets aloud Th'nad dy'd their doublets in the Hug'nots blood At Tholouse they the call'd-out pris'ners slay Not suffring them to speake much less to pray VVhen the Parisian massacre was known At Bourdeaux the like cruelty was shown How sad was it to see poor Protestants VVander now here now there and none their wants Supply Alas unparalelled woes Rejected by their friends destroy'd by foes SECT XXIX The siege of Sancerte Anno Christi 1573. THe Chastrian Lord besieging Sancerre town His thundring cannons play'd and batter'd down Her stony walls the shiver'd timber flew Continually about yet none it slew Some had their hats breeches and coats through shot Themselves not hurt nor prejudic'd one jot The siege endured long at last through want Horse-flesh was turn'd to food which growing scant The Twons-men fed on dogs cats rats mice moles Hides parchments halters Lantera-horns roots coals Their bread was made of straw-meal they did boyl Them pottage of old Oyntments grease and Oyl And when these fail'd they pounded nutshels slates Eat mens dung fry'd ho these were precious cates A lab'rer and his wife were put to th'slaughter For feeding on their famin-starved daughter Some little corn by stoldred brought to town Each pound was valued at half a crown The sword did but eighty four persons slay The famine half a thousand swept away Many chose rather to resign their breath At the swords point then famish'd be to death The parents look'd upon with grief of heart Their children but could no relief impart A boy of five years old neer spent with hunger Did run about the streets but when no longer His feeble feet could bear him down he fell Before his parents sight 't is sad to tell The horrour of their souls and how their eyes Ran down when they did feel his with'red thighs Then said the child Father and mother dear What mean you so to weep for Gods sake spare Those needless drops and do'nt my cause bemone I ask no bread as knowing you have none But since it is Gods will that I should rest By such a death as this his name be blest Have not I mother in my Bible read Of Laz'rus wants and that was all he said At last God flirr'd up the Polonians To free the poor distress'd Sancerrians They with their arms and goods might go away And such as would might without trouble stay The siege of Rochel Anno 1573. ROchel
And after condemnation he was brought To execution his cap gown and coat He gave t' his servant and exhorted him To venture all for Christ yea life and lim Bound to the stake he cry'd For Christ his merit O Lord be pleased to receive my spirit How long shall clouds of darkness overwhelm Great God! how long shall foes oppress this realm A Fryar then Vnto our Lady pray Salve Regina say c. Away away Satanick Imps God hears me in the flame His soul went up to heav'n to praise Gods Name Straton converted said O Lord I have Bin wicked and deserv'd thy wrath yet save O let not me for fear of corp'ral pain Or death deny thee or thy truth again They his and Mr. Norman's person bring And burn them in the presence of the King Such words the Bishop of Dunkelden us'd To one Dean Porret whom the Fry'rs accus'd My joy Dean Thomas I do love thee well And therefore take the liberty to tell Thee of thy faults I am inform'd you do Preach the Epistle nay the Gospel too Each Sunday to your people and refuse To take from them as a reward your dues Which prejudicial to the Church-men is My joy Dean Thomas I advise you this Take tythes or else it is too much to preach But once a week for if thou gratis teach May not the people think that we likewise Should do the same Tom be not so precise It is enough for you when you have sound A good Epistle and Gospel to expound The liberty of holy Church express'd Therein and 't is no matter for the rest Thomas reply'd My Lord if I abstain From tythes will my parishioners complain I know they will not and whereas you say It is too much to preach each Sabbath-day I think it is too little for my part And from the very bottom of my heart Wish that your Lordship would be pleas'd to take Such pains as that Nay nay Dean Thomas spake The Bishop then no orders do us reach Whereas said Thomas you do bid me preach When a good Chapter I do light upon I 've read them over all and finde not one That 's bad amongst them shew me where they lie And at your shewing I will pass them by I bless God said the Bishop I ne're knew What was the Testament nor old nor new And I will not know any thing at all Saving my Portvise and Pontifical Go go your wayes and cease so much to prate Lest you repent you when it is too late I trust said Thomas that my cause is clear In Gods eyes therefore what need I to fear And so he went his way But when time 's glass Had run a little more he burned was Though bloody clouds were rais'd Religion's raies Shone forth in Scotland in those worst of daies Partly by reading comfort flowing thence And partly by fraternal conference Which so enrag'd the Papists that they came And burnt four noted persons in one flame One Jerom Russet that profest the truth And Alexander Kennedy a youth Were brought to Judgement Kennedy's heart panted For fear at first and would have fain recanted But when no hopes was left God's Spirit reviv'd His drooping soul yea inward comforts striv'd To shew themselves both in his face and tongue Then falling on his knees these words out sprung Great God! What love hast thou to all express'd And unto me vile wretch above the rest O who hath tasted of thy clemency In such a high degree O Lord as I For just now when I would deny thy power And Jesus Christ thy Son my Saviour T' have plung'd my self all over head and ears In everlasting flames unquench'd with tears Thy right hand hath not suffer'd me to dwell With the black subjects of the Prince of hell And I that was of late with fear opprest Enjoy by thee a joy-enamel'd brest I fear not death do with me as you please I praise God I am ready death 's an ease Then railed they on him and Jerom who Said also unto them Miscal us do This is your hour and power to command Yee sit as Judges we as guilty stand But know a day will come shall clear our blame And yee curs'd yee to your eternal shame Shall see your blindness Go on forward still Till you the Ephah of your sins up fill No sooner were they both condemn'd to die But Jerom comforted young Kennedy Brother said he fear not he that indwels Our souls him that is in the world excels The pain we here indure is light and short But we shall have unfading glory for 't O strive we then though many rubs annoy To enter in unto our Masters joy And with our Saviour pass the narrow road Which few shall finde the way to hell is broad We die for Christ and Christ hath death subdu'd Death cannot hurt us hence me may conclude We are the members and if Christ our head Be risen can the members long lie dead Thus death and Satan under-foot they trod And in the flame breath'd up their souls to God At Edenburgh the cruel Card'nal Beton Hang'd some upon suspicion they had eaten Goose on a Friday and above the rest A woman with her suckling at her brest He drown'd for being scrupulous and wary Of making prayers to the Virgin Mary He sent into exile some Christian brothers And at St. Johnstons he imprison'd others Mr. George Wischard a Divine whose worth Wan him much admiration in the North Having drunk deeply of afflictions cup. Cheerfully in the flames surrendred up His soul unto its donour God fulfill'd His prophesy the Cardinal was kill'd One Henry Wallace as an Heretick Condemned to be burnt was burned quick One Henry Forr'st betrayed by a fryar Was burnt and had the end of his desire Said Ol'phant to one Walter Mill who pray'd Rise up Sir Walter Prayers don he said My name is Walter if you call me right I have bin too too long a Popish Knight Ben't there sev'n Sacraments Give me but two Said he and all the rest I leave to you Wilt thou recant he answer'd I am corn Not chaff and will not be i' th' truth out-born Then go to th'stake Said he I may not kill My self but put me in and bear I will This is my resolution Having made His pray'r to God he to the people said Although it be confess'd that I have bin A friend to Satan and a slave to sin Yet 't is not that that doth my suff'rings cause I suffer for observing God's just Laws And now God out of his abundant grace Doth honour me so farr as in this place To make me seal what others not withstood His truth's profession with my dearest blood Dear friends as you 'd escape eternal doom And live still happy in the life to come Let not Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Seduce you any more for they are Lyars Trust God alone O alwayes make his power Your rock your bulwark of
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
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
miss'd their mark One Thomas Whittle Minister accus'd By Bonner was most wickedly misus'd Who fell upon him beat him with his fists And him enclos'd within a close rooms lifts There said he though I did on the bare ground lie Two nights I prais'd be God slep'd very soundly He Joan Warne Is'bel Foster Thomas Brown John Went Iobn Tudson Bartlet Green lay down Their lives together did at Smithfield stake Of heaven-prepared joys for to partake The last of which going to bear the yoke Cheerfully this repeated Dystich spoke Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutie Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego In English thus O Christ who art my God In thee for mine abode With thee I onely hope Vnder thy Conduct I Seek the truth and deny The falsi-loquious Pope He was a man exceeding charitable Unto the poor so far as he was able Nor did he love his modesty was such Pop'lar applause though he deserved much His beatings he conceal'd till neer his end When he declar'd it to a bosome-friend Anne Albright Agnes Snoth Joan Catmer Sole At Canterbury were burnt to a coal Good Doctor Cranmer then of Canterbury Archbishop also past the fi'ry fury At Salsbury on William Coberly John Spicer and John Mandrel so did die Richard and Thomas Spurge Tims Cavel Drake Ambrose all Essex-men fell at the stake Master Tims many Godly letters sent T' his friends not long before his life was spent In one he us'd these passages I praise The Lord for helping you to minde his wayes Consider I beseech you what of late Fell from my lips so shall we meet in state I 'm going to the Bishops coal-house now And hope to go to heaven e're long do you Hie after me I have a great while tarri'd For you but seeing y' are not yet prepared I 'll stay no longer you shall finde me blest And singing Holy Holy Lord of Rest At my race end now therefore my dear hearts Make hast and loyter not lest light departs And yee who with the foolish Virgins stay Be with the foolish Virgins turn'd away And now in witness that I have not taught Contrary to the truth revealed ought My blood-writ name I send you for a Test That I will seal my Doctrine with the rest So fare you well and God defend you then From Antichrist and his false Priests Amen Use constancy in pray'r with faith require And gain the fulness of your choice desire John Hullier formerly an Eaton Sholar At Ely by his patience conqu'red dolour Hugh Lavrock John Ap-Rice this blind that lame Told Bishop Bonner that he laws did frame To take mens lives away making the Queen His hangman Bonner burn'd them out of spleen At Stratford-Bow In Litchfield Colchester Gloster and Leister many burned were One Mr. Julines Palmer and some more At Newb'ry dy'd One Sharp at Bristol bore The flames with joy In Darby town Joan Waste Born blind did in the fire breath out her last Sir John Cheek for the truths sake underwent In London-Tow'r a sore imprisonment A new Commission from the King and Queen Like Dracoes laws came forth that they which lean T' his Holiness the Pope should raise the fire Of Persecution yet a little higher By means where of throughout the Kingdoms quarters Prisons were stuff'd with Saints fires grac'd with Martyrs First to begin with Colchester where they Apprended three and twenty in one day And burnt the major part Margaret Hyde With Agnes Standly stak'd at Smithfield dy'd They Stephen Gratwick William Moraunt King Iato St. Georges field in Southwark bring And burn together In the Diocess Of Canterbury many did profess The truth and suffered In Lewis town Ten faithful servants in one fire laid down Their lives for Christ one of them Richard Woodman Betraid was b'his father and brother good man Eliz'beth Cooper Simon Millar too At Norwich fir'd Eliz'beth cry'd Ho ho And shrunk a little Simon Millar said Reaching his hand out to her What affraid Raise up your spirits in the Lord be strong And cheerful for these pains are of no long Continuance Good sister by and by We 'll take our supper with alacrity This so becalm'd her heart she through-stitch run The work she had so happily begun And so committing their blest souls to God They clim'd to heaven death being under trod Mrs. Joyce Lewis a gentlewoman born Accuted and condemn'd contemn'd with scorn Death's rigid brow my Christ is fair when him I see said she death looks not half so grim Urg'd to confess before her end begins She said to God she had confess'd her sins And he had pardon'd them the Priest befool'd Told her e're long her courage would be cool'd At stake the Mass she pray'd against cry'd then The crowd and Sheriffe himself aloud Amen Taking a cup of drink Here here 's to all That love the truth and wish proud Babel's fall Her friends do pledge her and some others too For which fact penance many undergo Bound at the stake her smiling ruddy face Made all spectators pitying her case Go with wet eyes much grieving for her woes Inflicted on her by tyran'cal foes She striv'd nor strugled when the fire rag'd most But with her lift-up hands gave up the ghost Ralph Allerton and Richard Roth With James Astoo and his wife dyed in the flames At Islington as did at Colchester Margaret Thurstone and Agnes Bongier John Noyes a godly Shoo-maker who liv'd At Laxfield in Suffolk sentence receiv'd There to burn'd the people in the town Put out their fiers and no house but one And that discov'red by the Chimnies smoak Had some the Sheriffe and 's Officers in broke So got a coal John Noys fell down and pray'd And being bound unto the stake he said Fear not the bodies killer but him who Can kill thee damne thee soul and body too Seeing his sister weep he thus begins Weep not for me but weep you for your sins He took a faggot up gave it a kiss And said Did I e're think to come to this Blessed be God that ever I was born Then spake he to the people Of bread-corn They tell you they can make God but beleive Them not at all nor their false truths receive Pray bear me witness I expect salvation Not by mine own good works but Christ his passion The fire was kindled and his last-spoke word Was Christ have mercy O have mercy Lord. Within the Diocess of Chichester Many accus'd condemn'd and burned were Hillingdal Sparrow and one Gibson dy'd In Smithfield flames John Rough Minister try'd With Marg'ret Mearing neer about this time Were also burned for the self-same crime One Cuthbert Sympson Deacon in one day Though rack'd no less then thrice would not betray The Congregation lying in the stocks At midnight one whom he well heard unlocks The coal-house doors and though no candles light Nor fire's he saw yet his amazed sight Splendour beheld he that came