Jerusalem to the Eleven and those that were with them who told them The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared unto Simon then they told them what things were done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking of Bread but neither believed they them But whilest they yet spake whilest it was Evening in the first day of the week the Door being shut where the Disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews He appears again to his Disciples cometh Jesus himself and stood in the midest of them and saith unto them Peace be unto you but they were terrified and affrighted supposing they had seen a Spirit but he upbreaded them with their unbelief and heardness of heart He reproveth their unbelief because they believed not them that had seen him since he was risen and he said unto them Why are ye troubled See my Hands and my Feet a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones and he shewed them his Hands and his Feet and his Side and when they believed not for joy and wondered he said unto them Have ye here any meat and he eat a piece of boiled Fish and an Hony-Comb and the Disciples rejoyced that they had seen the Lord and he said unto them These are the words that I spake unto you that all things must be fullfilled that was written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms of me then opened he their understandings He opens their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures and said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behooveth Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations and ye are witnesses of these things and behold I send the Promise of my Father among you He sendâ— them forth but tarry ye at Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on High He saith unto them again Peace be unto you as my Father sent me so send I you go ye into the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned and these signs shall follow them that believe in my Name they shall cast out Devils and they shall speak with new Tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover And when he had said these things he breathed on them and said unto them Receive the holy Ghost whose Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose Sins ye retain they are retained and thus Jesus appeared five times in the very first day of his Resurrection but Thomas who is called Dydimus one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came and the rest of the Disciples telling him we have seen the Lord he very confidently professed he would not believe it about eight dayes after Thomas being then together with the rest Jesus comes the doors being shut and stands in the midest and saith unto them Peace be unto you and aboundantly satisfies Thomas his unbelief Then the Eleven Disciples went into Galilee unto the Mountain that he had appointed them and when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted and when Jesus came unto them he said All Power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth go therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them c. and I am with you to the end of the World After that Jesus was seen of above five hundred Brethren at once after that by James 1 Cor. 15.6 7. Afterwards Jesus shewed himself to his Disciples again at the Sea at Tiberias or at the least to seven of them as they were Fishing after they had fished all night and caught nothing in the morning Jâ—â—â—â— unknown to them stands upon the Shore and bids them cast their Net on the right side of the Ship where they took a great Number of Fish Last of all he appeared to his Disciples in Jerusalem and led them out as far as Bethany and he lift up his Hands and blessed them and it came to pass as he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Hitherto reacheth the History of the four Evangelists declaring the Sufferings of Christ and now I shall give the Reader a short account what Josephus the Jewish Historian in his eighteenth Book of Antiquity writeth of John the Baptist and Christ concerning the Baptist Cap. 7. he saith thus Herod the Tetrarch killed John Sur-named the Baptist Josephus his Testimony Concerning Iohn a most excellent man who stirred up the Jews to the study of Virtues especially of Piety and Justice and also to the washing of Baptism which he said then would be acceptable to God if not abstaining from some one or two Sins but having their minds first purged through righteousness they also added cleanness of body And whereas there was great resort unto him the Common people being greedy of such Doctrine Herod fearing least the great Authority of the man should raise some Rebellion because they seemed as though they would decline nothing to which he advised them thought it safer to take him out of the way before there was any alteration in the State then to repent too late when the State was once imbroyled wherefore he commanded him to be sent Prisoner to Macharas and then to be put to death Concerning Christ he saith thus Chap. 45. In the same time there was a wise man named Jesus if we may call him a man Iosephus his Testimony concerning Christ he was a worker of miracles and a Teacher of them that willingly receive the Truth he had many both Jews and Gentiles that were his Followers and was believed to be the Christ and when Pilate had crucified him through the envy of our Rulers nevertheless those that loved him continued constant in their affections for he appeared to them alive the third day the Prophets in their Prophesies foretelling both these and many other wonderful things concerning him and the Christians from him so called continue to this very day After the Apostles had seen Christ and had worshipped him after his Resurrection they returned to Jerusalem with great joy from the mount of Olives which is from thence a Sabboth dayes journey and in Jerusalem they abode in an uper Room The holy Ghost fell upon the Apostles and continued with one accord in Prayer with the Women and Mary his Mother and his Brethren and they were filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and many received the Truth and continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and breaking bread from House to House did eat their Meat with gladness and singleness of Heart praising God and having favour with all the people
Friendship and cast off by her whom he took to be his surest Friend knew not which way to go at last he concluded to go to Oxford to some Friends there where a School was proposed to him in Gloucestershire which he accepted and as he was travelling it came into his mind that there was a quarters stipend due to him at Reading for teaching School and to look after his other things he had there he resolved to go to Reading where though he used what endeavours he could to be retired and private he was by the treachery of some Hypocrites discovered and apprehended being taken out of his Bed by Officers to whom he opened not his Lips but was led away as a Lamb to the Slaughter and was committed to Prison where the Keeper like a Ravening Woolfe greedy of his prey put him into a blind stinking and dark Dungeon and there left him for a time hanging by the hands and feet in a pair of Stocks in this Dungeon he remained about ten dayes under the Tyranny of this unmercifull Keeper After this he was brought before the Mayor where he was Accused by those that had Pilledged his Study of divers grieous Crimes but when he came to his Answer he did so deface their Evidence defend his own Innocency that the Mayor was ashamed that he had given so much credit to them and sought how they might convey him privily out of the Country when these Bloody Adversaries saw this Stratagem would not serve their turns they found another Snare which was to Accuse Palmer of Heresie and he was again called out of Prison before the Mayor and Justices to render an Account of his Faith before them and when they had intrapt'd him they caused him and a Bill of Instruction with him to be sent to Newberry to be Examined by Doctor Jeffery at the Visitation at Newberry the 16th of the Month called July 1556. In the mean time he Suffered some hardships in Reading Goal for want of Money to supply his Occasion The publick Examination of Julius Palmer at Newbery before Doctor Jefferies Bishop of Sarum and others Bishop called Palmer and said Art thou the jolly Writer of three half penny books we hear of Palmer I know not what you mean Bishop Have you taught Latine so long that now you understand not English To this he answered Nothing Bishop We understand by your Articles that you are convict of certain Heresies that you deny the Popes Holiness Supremacy that the Priest sheweth up an Idol at Mass and that there is no Purgatory c. Bishop askt him Whether he wrote some Books and he shewed him the Books Palmer answered yea he did Bishop threatned him that he would make him recant and would wring peccavi out of his lying Lips ere he had done with him Palmer I know that though of my self I am able to do nothing yet if you and all mine Enemies should do your worst you shall not be able to bring that to pass neither shall you prevail against Gods mighty Spirit by which we understand the Truth and speak it so boldly Bishop Ah are you full of the Spirit are you inspired with the holy Ghost Palmer No man can believe but by the inspiration of the holy Ghost therefore if I were not a spiritual man and inspired with Gods holy Spirit I were not a true Christian he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his Bishop I perceive you lack no words Palmer Christ hath promised not only to give us store of words necessary but with them such force of matter as the Gates of Hell shall not be able to confound or prevail against it Bishop Christ made such a promise to his Apostles you will not compare with them Palmer With the Apostles I may not compare yet this promise I am certain pertaineth to all such as are appointed to defend Gods Truth against his Enemies in the time of their Persecution for the same Bishop Then it pertaineth not unto thee Palmer Yes I am right well assured that it pertaineth unto me as it shall appear if you give me leave to dispute with you before this Audience in the defence of all that I have there Written Bishop Thou art but a beardless Boy start up yesterday out of the Schools and darest thou presume to offer Disputation or to encounter with a Doctor Palmer Remember M. Doctor the Spirit breatheth where it pleases c. and out of the Mouthes of Babes c. And thou hast hidden these things from the wise c. God is not tyed to time wit learning place nor person The Register said if you suffer him thus impudently to trifle with you he will never have done Then the Bishop said It was not in his Commission to dispute with him but had a great deal more discourse with him and after he had done examining of him the high Sheriff after Dinner sent for Julius Palmer to speak with him and exhorted him to revoak his Opinion to spare his young years wit and learning and told him that if he would be conformable he would give him his meat and ten pound a year c. Palmer thankt him and said that as he had already in two places renounced his living for Christs sake so he would with Gods Grace be ready to surrender and yield up his life also for the same when God should send time Then one Winchcom upon the Bench said Take pity on thy golden Years and pleasant Flowers of lusty Youth before it be too late Palmer I long for those springing Flowers that shall never fade away Winchcom If thou be at that point I have done with thee Then was Palmer had to the Blind-house and in the afternoon John Gwin and Thomas Askin had the sentence of Condemnation and were delivered to the Sheriff and the next morning Palmer was condemned and the same afternoon they were all three burnt About an hour before they were executed Palmer comforted his Fellow-sufferers with these words Happy are you when meâ— revile you and persecute you for righteousness sake rejoyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven fear not them that kill the Body and be not able to touch the Soul God 〈◊〉 Faithful and will not suffer us to be tempted further then we shall be able to bear it and being brought to the Stake and the Fire kindled they cryed Lord Jesus strengthen us Lord Jesus assist us Lord Jesus receiâ—e our Souls until they ended their lives A Remarkable Providence whereby Agnes Wardall was preserved from her Violent Persecutors in the Town of Ipwich This Agnes Wardal was a Woman that lived in Gods fear and was at defiance with their Romish Trash Agnes Wardals Sufferings desiring rather with hard Fair and ill Lodging to be abroad then to be at home in her House among the Tents of the ungodly her Husband also being a man living in the fear of God and for the Testimony
Them that belived were of one heart and the Lord daily added to the Church such as should be saved and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one Soul and there was none among them that lacked for as many as had Possessions of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the prices and laid them down at the Apostles feet to be distributed to the use of the Poor in which business Barnabas that is the Son of Consolation shewed the first Example By the hands of the Apostles were many Miracles done among the People and many believed and were added to the Lord. But the high Priests and Sadduces that were with him moved with Envy cast the Apostles into Prison from whence the night following being freed by an Angel were commanded to Teach the people boldly and without fear from whence being brought to the Council by the advice of Gamaliel a Pharisee a Doctor of Law in much esteem among the People were delivered from death after they had been scourged and let go and they went from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus and they taught daily in the Temple and the Word of the Lord increased and the number of the Disciples multiplyed Stephen did many wonders and Miracles among the People and stoutly defended the Cause of Christ against the Jews of the Synagogue of the Libertines Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with them but when they could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake they turn to false accusing him and caught him and brought him before the Council and set up false Witnesses who should avouch that they heard him speak Blasphemous words against the Temple and the Law Stephen before Annas the High Priest and Council shews that the true worship of God was observed by Abraham and his Posterity before the Temple was built by Solomon Stephens Testimony of Christ yea before Moses was born and that Moses gives Testimony of Christ and that the outward Ceremonies that were given to their Fathers were to endure but for a time Then he sharply reprehends the Jews because they alwayes resisted the holy Ghost and had wickedly put Christ to death whom the Prophets had foretold should come into the World now concerning the death of Stephen see it at large in the Testimony of the Martyrs Persecution arose After the death of Stephen there arose a great Persecution against the whole Church that was at Jerusalem in which Saul exceedingly raging made havock of the Church for having received Authority from the chief Priests he not only when the Saints were put to death gave his voice against them but also he himself entering into every House and taking from thence both men and Women bound them and put them in Prison and some were compelled by denying Christ to Blaspheme This Persecution dispersed the Church into divers Countries but with great advantage to the Church It proves to the advantage of the Church for some that were dispersed into the Regions of Judea and Samaria preached the Gospel wheresoever they came others went to Damascus amongst whom was Ananias a devout man according to the Law and one who had a good report among all the Jews who dwelt there others travelled as far as Phenice Cypris and Antioch Preaching the Word of God to those that were dispersed among the Gentiles amongst them that went to Samaria was Philip who Preached Christ there when the Apostles at Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the Word of the Lord they sent unto them Peter and John upon whose praying for them and laying their hands on them they received the holy Ghost which Simon Magus who had a long time Simon Magus his wickedness bewitched the People of Samaria with his Sorceries that giving heed to him from the least to the greatest they said he was the great Power of God seeing the great signs and wonders that were done by the Apostles offered them Money that he also might receive the Gift of conferring the holy Ghost Peter reproveâ— him whose mad impiety Peter sharply rebuking warns him to repent of this his Wickedness and to ask pardon of God who desireth the Apostles that they would pray for him to the Lord The Apostles having cleared themselves in these parts they returned to Jerusalem Preaching the Gospel in the Villages of Samaria as they went Saul yet breaâ—hing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord obtains of the High-Priest Annas and the Council Saul breathes out threatnings against the Christians Letters to the Synagogues of Damascus that if he found any that were Christians he should bring them bound to Jerusalem that they might be punished and as he came nigh to Damascus at mid-night a Light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun shined round about him and them that journyed with him and when they were fallen to the Earth he heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew Tongue Saul Saul Why Persecutest thou me 't is hard for thee to kick against the pricks and when he had said Who art thou Lord it was answered him I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou Persecutest The Lord appears to him but rise and stand upon thy feet I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a Minister and a Witness both of those things that thou hast seen and those things in which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee that thou mayest open their Eyes and turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive remission of sins and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith that is in me and when as Saul full of fear and trembling asked further Lord what wilt thou have me to do The Lord said unto him Rise go unto Damascus and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do The Lord sends him to Damascus but the men that journyed with Saul were so amazed that they were speechless seeing indeed a Light and hearing the sound of words but neither seeing Christ which spake nor understanding any thing which he spake Saul arose from the Earth and being blinded with the Glory of the Light being led by the hand His sight was taken away he comes to Damascus and he was three dayes without sight and did neither eat or drink Now there was a certain Disciple named Ananias to whom the Lord spake in a Vision Arise and go into the Street that is called Streight and inquire in the House of Judas for Saul of Tarsus Ananias is sent by a Vision to him for behold he prayeth and Saul then saw in a Vision Ananias entering and laying his hand on him that he might receive his sight but Ananias answered Year since
can no man lay then that which is already laid which is Jesus Christ if any man build on this Foundation Gold Silver Pretious-Sones Timber Nay Stubble every mans work shall appear for the day shall declare it and it shall be shewed in Fire and the Fire shall try every mans work what it is if any mans work which he hath builded upon abide he shall receive a Reward if any mans work burn he shall suffer Loss but he shall be saved himself yet as it were through Fire By Fire here the Apostle understands Persecution and Trouble for they which do truely preach and profess the Word of God which is called the Word of the Cross shall be railed upon and abhorred hated thrust out of the Company persecuted and tryed in the Furnace of Adversity as Gold and Silver are tryed in the Fire By Gold Silver and pretious Stones he understandeth them that in the midst of Persecution abode stedfast in the Word By Timber Hay and Stubble are meant such as in the time of Persecution do fall away from the Truth and when Christ doth purge his Floor with the Wind of Adversity these scatter away like Chaff which shall be burnt with unquenchable Fire Wherefore my beloved give diligent heed that ye as living Stones be built upon this sure Rock and be made a spiritual House and holy Preistood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ for we are the true Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in us if so be that we continue in the Doctrine of the Gospel we are also a holy and Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices and Oblations And thus I commend you Brethren unto God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you further and to give you an Inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified beseeching you to help me and all them that be in bonds for the Gospel sake with your Prayers to God for us that we may be delivered from all them that believe not and from unreasonable and froward Men and that this our Imprisonment and Affliction may be to the glory and profit of our Christian Brethren in the World and that Christ may be magnified in our Bodies whether it be by death or by life Amen Salute me to all the faithful Brethren let them hear my Letters the Grace of our Lord be with you all Amen George Marsh In another Letter dated from Lancaster the thirtieth of August 1555. directed to his Friends at Manchester he writeth thus Confider what I say the Lord give us understanding in all things Brethren the time is short it remaineth that ye use this World as though you used it not for the fashions of this World vanisheth away see that ye Love not the World neither the things that are in the World but set your affections upon heavenly things be meek and long suffering serve and edifie one another with the gift that God hath given you beware of strange Doctrine lay aside the old conversation of greedy Lusts and walk in a New Life beware of uncleanness covetousness and foollish talking rejoyce and be thankful towards God and submit your selves one to another cease from sin be sober and apt to pray be patient in trouble love each other and let the Glory of God and profit of your Neighbour be the only mark you shoot at in all your doings repent ye of the life that is past and take better heed to your doings hereafter Another Letter to a Friend Grace be with you and Peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus the Lord. After hearty Commendations and Thanks to you for your large token but much more for your loving Letters full of Consolation to me as touching my person unknown to you these shall be to certifie you that I rejoyce greatly in the Lord when I perceive to see the minds of my Friends stirred up to bear part with me in this my costly imprisonment sending me things not only necessary for this persent life but also comfortable Letters encouraging exhorting me to continue grounded and established in the Faith and not to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel whereof according to my small Tallent I have been a Minister and daily I call and cry unto the Lord in whom is all my trust and without whom I can do nothing that he which hath begun a good work in me would go on with it until the day of Jesus Christ being surely certified in my Conscience of this that he will so do for as much as he hath given me that not only I should believe on him but also suffer for his sake The Lord strengthen me with his holy Spirit that I may be one of the number of those Blessed which enduring to the end shall be saved And whereas you say that my suffering of Persecution with Christ is a thing to you most comfortable I answer that in all my Adversities and Necessities nothing on your behalf is greater Consolation unto me then to hear of the Faith and Love of others and how they have good remembrance of us alwayes even as the Apostle said by the Thessalonians Now are we alive if ye stand stedfast in the Lord be strong let your hearts be of good comfort and wait ye still for the Lord he tarrieth not that will come look for him therefore and faint not and he will never fail you Yours George Marsh The next that suffered were John Cordmaker John Cordmaker and three other Martyrs John warn Upholster of London John Ardly and John Simson of Wigborrough in Essex husbandmen against these four persons many Articles were drawn up for not conforming to the Doctrine of the Popish Church according to common course of the Consistory Court they were several times called and the Articles against them read which Articles were much alike against them all and for refusing to recant they were all condemned and burat about the Month of May. The Examinations Sufferings and Martyrdom of Thomas Hawkes called a Gentleman written by himself The said Thomas Hawkes Thomas Hawkes Martyr was condemned when Thomkins and the rest with him were condemned which was in the Month called February but his Execution was not till the Month called June following and now coming in order to that Month it falls in course to relate his Tryals and Sufferings as followeth As touching his Education he was born in Essex of an honest stock and bred up a Courtier his Person and Stature very comly and his mind endued with excellent qualities a man of a gentle behaviour and of a fervent love to true Religion and godliness he was also singularly adorned with valour and courage whose Example therein was a good president to the rest of his Brethren and as it is recorded of him few men stood more notably or triumphed more gloriously then this young man for he was so wise in the Cause of God
then she was shut up under two Locks in the Clink as she was before At another Examination Doctor Martin said Wilt not thou confess and keep thee from the Rack Elizabeth Sir I can confess no more do with my Carkass what you will At another time Doctor Cook said let her head be trussed in a small Line and make her to confess Then said the Bishop Why wilt not thou swear before a Judge that was the right trade of the Anabaptists Then said she I will not swear that this hand is mine my Lord Christ saith that whatsoever is more then Yea Yea and Nay Nay it cometh of Evil. Roger Cholmly being by said It was a man in Womans Cloathes Think you so said Bonner Swear her upon a Book seeing it is but a Question Then Doctor Cook brought her a Book and commanded her to lay her hand thereon Elizabeth but she refused saying I will not swear Docter Cook said swear before us whether thou be a man or a Woman Elizabeth If you will not believe me send for Women into a secret place and I will be tryed Cholmly Thou art an Ill-favoured whore Then said Bonner How believest thou in the Sacrament of the Altar and after some other Questions they cryed Away with her And speaking of Spirit and Faith Cholmly said What nothing but Spirit and Faith Where Then was she carried into the Cole-house and searched for Books and put into the Stock-house and a Knife girdle and Apron taken from her and there both her hands were Manacled in one Iron for several dayes and afterward she was removed into the Lollards Tower and there she remained with both her feet in the Stocks and Irons till the next time of her Examination But shortly upon the request of two Women who sought for her Liberty and became surety for her appearance before the Bishop of London she was set at Liberty In the Town of Bodfeild in the County of Suffolk was an ancient Woman one Elizabeth Lawson apprehended by the Constable of the Town as an Heretick because she would not go to hear Mass for which they laid her in a Dungeon Q. Mary An. 1558. and after that she was carried to Norwich and from thence to Bury-Goal where at last she was condemned to be burnt After Sentence was past Sir John Sylliard the high Sheriff took her home to his house where she was hardly kept and wrapt in Irons till at length when by no means they could move her to Recant she was sent to Prison again with shameful revilings Thus she continued in Prison the space of two years and three quarters in the mean time there was burnt her Son and many others where by she would often say Lord what is the cause that I may not come to thee with thy Children well thy blessed will be done and not mine Through the death of Queen Mary she was preserved although she had been before condemned to die It is also very remarkable to read and consider the many preservations from time to time that these People persecuted so hotly received through the Lords goodness in their Meetings in the City of London for they met is private places sometimes one hundred sometimes two hundred about the latter end of Queen Mary they greatly encreased and one remarkable Passage of their preservation was as followeth one Cuthbert Simpson one of their Church usually carrying a little Book in his Pocket of the Names of such as were Members of the Congregation the which had been found about him when he was apprehended had not Rough their Minister been warned in a Dream of the danger thereof and thereupon sent to Cuthbert Simpson to leave the Book out of his Pocket which he did otherwise all their Names had been discovered At this time the Popish Party so much abhor'd these despised Peoples Preaching or strengthning one another at the time of their Suffering and Martyrdom that the Queen put forth a Proclamation which was Proclaimed at Newgate and at the Stake where seven were condemned to suffer strictly for bidding any to pray or speak to them or any wayes to comfort them but not withstanding this Proclamation one Bentham one of their Ministers in his Christian Zeal and Charity opened his Mouth and aloud said I know they are the People of God and therefore cannot chose but wish well to them and say God strengthen them which words many People standing by confirmed saying Amen Amen so that then so many appeared to speak well of them that the Officers knew not what to say nor who to Accuse The said Bentham was another time marvelously preserved for as he was passing the Streets he was taken hold on to be a Quest man upon the death of a man found drowned being loath to meddle he was very earnest with the man to be excused alledging he had little experience in such a matter and desired them to take another that might have more Skill but finding what he had said would not satisfie them to excuse him he further alledged that he was a Schollar of Oxford and thereby priviledged from being of any Inquest the Coroner demanded the sight of his priviledge he said if he would give him leave he would fetch it then said the Coroner the Queen must be served withour delay Q. Mray An. 1558 and constrained him to stay and hear the matter when the Book was offered him to swear upon Bentham opening the Book and seeing it a Popish Primmer refused to swear thereupon speaking against the superstition therein contained what said the Coroner I think we shall have an Heretick among us and after further reasoning committed him to an Officer till further examination but mark what hapned for while these matters about Heresie were in debate suddainly came the Coroner of the Admiralty and discharged the first Inquest saying it belonged to his Officer to choose a Jury and Sit there by reason of which Bantham escaped their hands and had no more said to him The Suffering and Preservation of Richard Bartie of Lincolnshire and Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk his Wife In the Reign of Queen Mary Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester surmising the Dutchess of Suffolk to be one of his Antient Enemies because he knew he had deserved no better of her began to practice some revenge upon her for former grudges and thereupon subpaened her Husband Richard Bartie to appear before him at his House at Mary-Overs when he came before him after much discourse at last he said If I may ask the question of my Lady your Wife is she as ready now to set up the Mass as she was lately to pull it down Doth she think her Lambs now safe enough who said to me when I vailed my Bonnet to her out of my Chamber Window in the Tower that it was merry with the Lambs now the Wolf were shut up Richard Bartie after he had heard him endeavoured to moderate things saying that though them words seemed at
might be glorified and they shall build the old wastes they shall raise up the former Desolations and they shall repair the Waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations And thus the Reader may see the many glorious Dispensations and manifestations of Gods Love unto mankind to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets in all Generations and now we are come according to what the Prophets foretold to the day of the Appearance of that great Saviour of the World whose Dispensation far exceeded all others in Glory being that eternal Substance which ended all Types Shaddows and Figures And thus these Jews who had been the true Worshippers being apostatized and degenerated from their primitive glory and institutions and their Worship becoming meerly outside for it s said they drew neer to God with their Mouthes and honoured him with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him the Prophets were raised up and sent from the Lord to Cry against them and to foretel the Desolation and distruction that was to come upon them which accordingly came to pass as will be seen anon and in this condition did Christ at his coming find these Antient people the Jews to whom God had formerly committed his Laws and Commands and given his Oracles but they were wholy apostatized from them as will appear by their fruits in the following Discourse The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ The year of Christ AFter the Jews had Apostatized according as the Prophets had foretold and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn Christ is born the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men The great rejoycing at his Birth The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger and they published that which was told them concerning the Child and they returned Praising and Glorifying God but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her Heart The Child was called Jesus which signifies a Saviour which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. He is called Jesus The Wise men from the East the Star being their Guide coming to Herod to Jerusalem and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea they went thither and entering into the House which was shewed them by the Star which stood over it they found the little Child and Mary his Mother and falling down worshipped him and having opened their Treasures they offered unto him Gold Frankinseence and Myrhe Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod they departed into their own Country another way And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man who had waited for the Consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms Simeons Testimony concerning that and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People a Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel and Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him and Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against In the same moment came Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel she also openly acknowledged the Lord and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee unto their own City Nazareth The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream sheweth him that he should flee into Egypt that he might provide for the life of the Child and escape the Devices of Herod Herods Cruelty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus who being awakened took the Young Child and his Mother by night and departed into Aegypt where he remained until the death of Herod Herod thinking the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem that he might Destroy him among the rest killed all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under according to the time of the Star first seen in the East that he had enquired of the Wise-men Herod shortly after dyed Miserably being dead the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt and commanded that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod he feared to go thither and being warned of God in a dream he departed into the parts of Galilee and there dwelt in the City Nazareth from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene and the Christians of Nazarenes In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover year of Christ 12 Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem his Parents returning home he stayed behind His Mouth was first opeâ—ed to oppose the Doctors at twelve years old they not knowing where he was sought him three dayes and found him in the Temple sitting in the midest of the Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth and was obedient unto them and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ year of Christ 30 John came forth in his Ministry Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his Pathes streight Iohn Ministry what it was and opening the acceptable year of the Lord or the time of his divine pleasure preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns and his food was Locus and wild Hony And now Jesus being
there was condemned and from thence was conveyed to Newgate and by the Sheriffs of London had into Smithfield and there burnt to death the last day of April about three of the Clock in the afternoon Three men executed for pulling down an Idol and burnin it In the year 1532. Robert King Nicholas March Roberâ— Gardner all of Dedham and Robert Debnam of Esthergholt being burdened in their Consciences to see the honour and power of the Almighty Living God to be blasphemed by Peoples adoring an Idol called The Roode of Dover Court to which many People did greatly resort ignorantly believing a common rumour blown abroad that no man had power to shut the Steeple house door where that Idol stood whereupon the aforesaid four men were moved by the Spirit of God to travel out of Dedham in a frosty Moonshiney Night ten Miles to the place where this Idol stood and took the filthy Idol from his Shrine and carried it a quarter of a Mile and there struck Fire and set it on Fire for which fact three of them were indicted as Fellons and were hanged in Chains about half a year after and it is recorded that at their death through the working of the Spirit of God they bore such a living Testimony that the People were more edified in the Truth then they had been by all the Sermons they had heard preacht before The fourth man viz. Robert Gardener had suffered the same death but that he fled away and that way escaped their Hands The same year there was many more Images cast down and destroyed in many places John Frith Martyr John Frith a godly young man and one of great parts and wit and of a ready capacity and a great Scholler in the outward Litteraâ—ure coming acquainted with William Tindal through his Instructions he first received into his heart the Seed of the Gospel and sincere Godlinâ—ss The said John Frith accompanying himself with divers young men of grave Judgment and sharp wits who conferring together upon the abuses of Religion which at that time were crept into the Church were therefore accused of Heresie to Cardinal Woolsey and cast into a Prison within a deep Cave under a Colledge in Oxford where they used to lay their Salt-fish the stink of which so infected their bodies that three of them died in a little space the fourth was John Frith who was shortly after discharged out of Prison and travelled beyond-Sea and after two years returning into England and being at Reading it happened that he was taken as a Vagabond and was put in the Stocks and there kept so long till he was almost pined with hunger and would not discover who he was but desiring to speak with the School-master of the Town to whom he spoke Latine the School-master perceiving that he was a Scholler and a young man of excellent parts obtained of the Magistrates that he might be set at Liberty which he enjoyed not long being so persued by Sr. Thomas Moor Chancellor who persecuted him both by Sea and Land promising great reward to any that could bring news or tydings of him soon after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London where he had many conflicts with the Bishops but especially in writing with the Chancellor and afterwards was carried to Lambeth before the Bishop of Canterbury and from thence to Croyden before the Bishop of Winchester and last of all he was brought before the Bishops in a common Assembly at London the whole matter of his Examination before them was comprehended in two special Articles that is to say of Purgatory and of the substance of the Sacrament to which he answered very fully and wisely and in great moderation and uprightness but no Reason would prevail against the force and cruelty of his Adversaries The twentieth day of the moneth called June 1533. he was brought before several Bishops at Pauls who seeing that by no means they could perswade him to Recant the Bishop of London condemned him to be burnt and past Sentence against him to that effect John Chapman A. Hewit J. Tibauld Martyrs About this time one John Chapman Andrew Hewet and John Tibauld being men Zealous for Religion and Piety were informed against and by the Bishop of London's Chancellor and others were apprehended and carried to the Bishops House Andrew Hewet was sent to the Lollard Tower and Chapman and Tibauld kept asunder in the Bishops House till the next day that he came from Fulham who then examined them not liking their Confession Chapman he committed to the Stocks with this threat that he should tell another Tale or else he should sit there till his Heels did drop from his Arse Tibauld he shut up in a close Chamber but afterwards delivered him out of Prison upon this Injunction that he should not come within seven Miles of his own House Chapman after five weeks imprisonment three weeks whereof he set in the Stocks by Suit made to the Chancellor on his behalf after many threatnings was discharged out of Prison Andrew Hewet being brought before the Bishops and asked what he thought concerning the Sacrament answered even as Frith doth at which the Bishops smiled and one of them said why Frith is an Heretick and is condemned to be burnt and except thou revoke thy Opinion thou shalt be burnt with him truly said he I am contented therewith whereupon he was sent to the Prison to Frith and on the fourth day of the month called July he was carried to Smithfield with Frith and there burned Thomas Bennet Martyr Thomas Bennet School-master in Exeter a man of a godly conversation and a favourer of such as suffered for their zeal to the true Religion after he had lived in a retired condition six years could no longer contain but he must bear a Testimony against the Idolatry of those times though his blood were shed for the same the beginning of his troubles was he wrote a Paper and set it upon one of the Steeple-House-doors of the City in which was written The Pope is Anti-christ and we ought to Worship God only and no Saints which Paper being seen great search and inquiry was made what Heretick should set it up but seeing they could not find the Authorout at that present they agreed that the sentence of a Curse should be pronounced against him that did it the manner of which Curse was as followeth The Priest being in the Pulpit clothed in white and the Monks and Friars standing about him the Cross was held up with Candles fixed to the same then said the Priest By the Authority of God the Father Almighty and of the blessed Virgin Mary of Saint Peter and Paul and of the holy Saints we Excommunicate we utterly Curse and Bann commit and deliver to the Devil of Hell him or her whatsoever he or she be that have in spite of God The Popes Curse by Bell Book and Candle and of Saint Peter whose Church
and upon private conference together the King called him Knave Arrent Beast and Fool withal commanding him out of his Presence The King after his departure returned to the Queen who perceiving him to be much chafed with Sweet words endeavoured to qualifie his displeasure saying that though she knew not what might be the cause he was Offended but desired him if it were not hainous that for her sake he would pass it by Ah poor Soul said the King little dost thou know how ill he deserves this Grace at thy hands on my word Sweet Heart he hath been towards thee an Arrant Knave and so let him go And thus the Queen through Gods Providence and the Kings Favour escaped the Hands of her bloody Persecutors who sought to have destroyed her Persecuted in Scotland In the year 1534. the Arch-Bishop of Andrews convented before him David Stratton and one Norman Gourlay the first of these having a Fisher-boat that went to Sea the Bishop of Murray demanded Tythe-Fish of him to whom he answered That if they would have Tythe of that which his Servants caught in the Sea they should take it in the Place where it was caught and so caused his Servants to throw the tenth Fish into the Sea again All this while he had nothing in him for Religion But when hereupon he was summoned to answer for Heresie it troubled him exceedingly and then he began to frequent the company of such as were godly and here appeared a Wonderful change in him so that whereas before he despised the Scriptures now all his delight was in hearing them read to him and he became a vehement Exhorter of all men to peace and concord and contempt of the World he much frequented the company of the Laird of Dun Ariskin whom God in these dayes had marvelously illuminated and hearing that Text read for he could not read himself He that denyeth me before men or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked Generation I will deny him before my Father and holy Angels at those words being suddenly as one revived he fell upon his Knees and stedfastly lifting up his Eyes and Hands at length he burst out into these words O Lord I have been wicked and justly mayst thou withdraw thy Grace from me But Lord for thy Mercies sake let me never deny thee nor thy Truth for fear of Death or any Corporal Pain soon after Norman and he were brought to Judgment to Holy Rood house the King himself being present much means was used to draw this David Stratton to make a Recantation but he persevered in his constancy still denying that he had offended and so they were both condemned to the Fire and after dinner they were both first hanged and then burnt Not long after the burning of these two there was one Thomas Forret a Dean who used to preach every first day to his Parishoners the Epistles and Gospels this was counted a great Novelty in those time for none used to preach but the Fryers and therefore they envying him accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden for an Heretick and one that re rad the Mysteries of Scriptures to the vulgar People the Bishop instigated by the complaint of the Fryers called the said Thomas Forret before him to whom he said My joy Dean Thomas I love you well and therefore I must give you Council how to govern your self The Dean thanked him and then he proceeded My joy Dean Thomas I am informed that you preach the Epistles and Gospels every Sunday to your People and that you take not your Dues from them which is very prejudicial to the Church-men and that therefore my joy Dean Thomas I would have you to take your Dues or else it s too much to preach every Sunday for by so doing you make the People think that we should do so also Thomas answered My Lord I presume none of my Parishoners complain for my not taking my Dues and whereas you say it s too much to preach every Sunday I think it is too little and wish that your Lordship would do the like Nay nay Dean Thomas said the Bishop let that be for we are not ordained to preach and Dean Thomas go your wayes and let all these Fancies be for if you persist herein you will repent you when it is too late I trust said the Dean my cause is good and just in the presence of God and therefore I care not what follows thereupon and so went away but shortly after he was summoned to appear before the Cardinal by whom he was condemned and burned for a chief Heretick and Teacher of Heresie But notwithstanding their bloody Tyranny the Knowledge of God did Wonderfully encrease in this Country partly by reading and partly by brotherly Conference which in those dangerous dayes were much used to the Comfort of many which so enraged the Popish Party that in the year 1538. there were burned in one Fire four Persons The year after Jeremy Russel and Alexander Kenedy were apprehended and brought before the Bishop the said Jeremy being a man of a meek and quiet Nature Alexander was a young man about eightteen years old Alexander at first was faint and would fain have recanted but when all place of Repentance was denyed him the Spirit of God began to refresh him yea the inward Comfort began to burst forth as well in his Vissage as in his words and he cryed in prayer to God Oh Eternall God how Wounderful is thy Love and Mercy who hast made me to feel Heavenly Comfort which takest from me that ungodly fear which before I was oppressed with now I defie death do with me what you please I praise God I am ready Then did they rail upon him and Jeremy who also said unto them This is your hour and power of darkness Now sit ye as Judges and we stand wrongfully Accused and more wrongfully to be Condemned but the day will come when our Innocency will appear and ye shall see your own blindness to your Everlasting Confusion Go forward fulfill the measure of your Iniquity Shortly aft'r th'y were Condemned to die as they went to Execution Jeremy comforted Alexander saying to him Brother fear not greater is he that that is in us then he that is in the World the pain that we are to suffer is short and shall be light but our Joy and Consolation shall never have end Let us therefore strive to enter into our Master and Saviours Joy by the same Strait Way which he hath taken before us Death cannot hurt us for it is already destroyed by him for whose Sake we now Suffer And thus they constantly continued stedfast in the Flaming Fire till they finished their Course by Death In the year 1543. George Wiseheart a man of a Courteous Modest and Temperate Behaviour fearing God and hating Covetousness very charitable and moderate in his Apparel and Diet and for his Innocency was a man well beloved he was
accused on several Articles by the Bishops and afterwards Condemned by them as an Heretick to be burnt when he came to the fire he said Father of Heaven I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands and then turned him to the People and said these Words I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affliction and Torments which you see already prepared for me but I Exhort you that you Love the Word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake which is your undoubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort Moreover I pray you shew my Brethren and Sisters which have heard me oft before that they cease not nor lâ—â—ve off the Word of God which I taught unto them after the Grace given to me for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World which lasts not and shew unto them that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable after the Constitution made by men and if I had taught mens Doctrine I had gotten great thanks of men but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men not sorowfully but with a glad Heart and Mind for this cause I was sent that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake this grim Fire I fear not and so I pray you to do if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake and fear not them that Kill the Body and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul Then he prayed for them which accused him saying I beseech thee Father of Heaven to forgive them that have through Ignorance or an evil Mind forged Lyes against me I forgive them with all my heart and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly So being first Hanged he was then burnt many People bewailing his death VVabter Mille amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland his Constancy is not to be past over with silence out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland many Articles were drawn up against him for which he had sentance pronounced against him that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge and punisht as an Heretick which was to be burnt Now when all things were ready for his death and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire Andrew Olifant Judge that past sentence upon him bad him Go to the Stake he said Nay except thou pull me up with thy hand for I am forbidden by the Law of God to lay hands of my self then Olifant put him up with his hand thereupon he went gladly saying I will go to the Altar of God and desired that he might have time to speak to the People which his Executioner denyed saying That he had spoken over-much and that the Bishops were oâ—fended that the matter was so long continued but some young men that stood by desired him to speak what he please so after he had prayed he rose up and standing upon the Coles said on this wise Dear Friends the Cause why I suffer this day is not for any Crime laid to my Charge but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus for which as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves being assured after the Death of their Bodies of Eternal Felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his Mercy among the rest of his Servants to seal his Truth with my Life which as I received it of him so willingly I offer it to his Glory Therefore as you will escape the eternal death be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests Monks and Bishops and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his Mercy that you may be delivered from Condemnation All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude for they perceiving his Patience Stoutness Boldness and Constancy were not only moved and stirred up but their hearts also were so inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland for Religion after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake and being in the Fire he said Lord have Mercy on me pray People while there is time and so be constantly departed The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth Henry the Eighth being dead Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years he was a Youth of a meek nature and disposition much inclined to Clemency and Mercy yea so much that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie all the Council could not move him to set his hand saying to Cranmer what will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error Doctor Cranmer perswaded him with much ado at last to put his hand to whom he said He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord. But though this King was of so mild a Nature and a Person inclining to love Religion from a Child being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church abolishing the Mass c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset a man also very Zealous for Reformation and an Encourager of such as profest the Gospel but in the midst of these meek and gentle times on the other hand the Pâ—pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecution and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle inclinable to yet the most of this Kings Reign which was but short the Sword was taken out of their hands so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign yet some there were that suffered for Religion viz. Joan of Kent an English woman and one George a Dutchman and one Thomâ—s Dobb who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass and committed to Prison where he died The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion and as it is recorded of him a man so Innocent that he was like a Dove without any Gall or Bitterness and more apt to receive Injury then do wrong to any one It happened that as he was passing by Pauls in London seeing the Priest at Mass being at the Elevation as he passed by the young man filled with godly Zeal pitying the Ignorance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up was not able to forbear but opened his Mouth and turning to the People exhorted them testifying against their Idolatry for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet where falling sick he soon after died In this Kings time there was also one John Hume a servant to one Lewnax accused by his Master of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real
lay two nights without any bed saving a few great Canvas Tent Cloths and after two nights he had a pair of Sheets allowed him but no Woolen clothes and there was kept without any being suffered to come at him only twice a day the Keeper when he brought him Victualls shortly after he was brought before the Earl again who examined him of the Sacrament at his Answers the Earl seemed to be somewhat pleased and hoped he would be conformable and commanded that he should have a bed and fire and liberty to go amongst his Servants when he departed he was much troubled in his Spirit for fear lest he had given advantage to his Adversaries in not confessing Christ so boldly as he ought to have done and was much grieved but considering his condition he cryed earnestly unto the Lord saying Strengthen me with thy holy Spirit with boldness to confess thee and deliver me from their enticing words that I may not be spoiled through their Phylosoply and vain deceit A day or two after he was sent for before two Priests who began to discourse with him concerning the Mass asking him what part of the Mass offended him he answered the whole Mass did offend him upon which discourse and other matters that past between them Articles were drawn up against him and they exhorted him to recant his Opinions he told them he could not change nor alter and desired them to speak to the Earl that during his Imprisonment his Friends might be suffered to relieve him with necessaries they still presisted to advise him to forsake his Opinions not regarding any Worldly shame he answered what he did was not for avoiding Worldly shame nor yet for any vain praise of the World but in the reverent fear of God they told him it was pity such a well-favoured Young man should so foolishly cast away himself he answered them to this effect My Wife Children and other delights of this World are as Sweet to me as another mans may be to him and I am as unwilling to lose them as another would if I might enjoy them with a good Conscience but my trust is said he that God will strengthen me to lose them all for his sake for I do not say or do any thing either out of Stubbornness willfullness vain Glory or any other Worldly purpose but with a good Conscience in the fear of God and farther said I commit my cause unto God who hath numbered the hairs of my head and appointed the dayes of my life who is a Righteous Judge and will make inquisition for my blood From Latham he was carried to Lancaster Castle where he was threatened for preaching to the people out of the Prison shortly after he was carried to Lancaster the Bishop of Chester came thither and sent for the Goaler and rebuked him for suffering George Marsh to fare so well and from thence he was removed to Chester and being brought before the Bishop he was further examined concerning the Sacrament and other matters and Articles drawn up against him and the last time he was brought before the Bishop the Bishops Chanceller made a Speech to the people to this effect The Bishop said he as a good Shepherd doth see to his Flock that no Scabby diseased Sheep infect the other wherefore his Lordship hath sent for this George Marsh as a Scabby Sheep to weed him out lest he corrupt others and then read the Articles against him and askt him if he would have mercy Marsh said he durst not deny Christ then the Bishop read the Sentence against him and committed him to the Northgate Prison and there was he kept in a dark Dungeon where none dared to come to him that had any Friendship towards him for fear of the Bishops threats so that he was kept very strictly in Prison until the time that he suffered death having little comfort or relief from any worldly Creature sometimes in an Evening some Citizens at a hole upon the Wall of the City that looked into the dark Prison would call to him and ask him how he did he would answer them chearfully that he did well and thanked God that he of his Mercy had appointed him to be a Witness of his Truth and to suffer for the same wherein he did rejoyce desiring that he might not faint under the Cross but patiently bare the same to Gods Glory and the Comfort of his Church once he had ten pence cast him in at the said hole and another time two shillings which did help to supply his necessity shortly after he was led to the place of Execution with a Lock upon his Foot he began to exhort the people but one of the Sheriffs would not suffer him to speak saying We must have no Sermon now so with patience he ended his dayes in the Fire Whilst he was a Prisoner he wrot several Epistles to his Friends and Relations and such as had been assistant to him in the time of his Sufferings the Epistles being large I shall only insert some of the Principle heads of some of them which if the Reader pernseth he will find them to be worth â—oting considering the time they were wrot in and first I shall begin with a letter he wrot to the Faithful Professors at Langton An Epistle by George Marsh to his Friends at Langton Grace be unto you and Peace be multiplied in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen I thought it meet to write unto my beloved in the Lord at Langton to stir up your minds and to call to your remembrance the Words which have been told you before and to exhort you as that Good Man and full of the holy Ghost Barnabas did the Antiochians That with purpose of heart you continually cleave unto the Lord and that ye stand fast and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel when Persecution ariseth because of the word do not fall away like shrinking Children and forsake the Truth for after this life the Godly being delivered from their Tribulations and Pains shall have a most quiet and joyful rest whereas the Wicked and Ungodly contrary wise shall be tormented for evermore as Christ by the Parable of the rich Glutton and wretched Lazarus doth plainly declare these ought we to have before our Eyes alwayes that in the time of Adversity and Persecution we may stand stedfast in the Lord and endure even unto the end that we may be saved for unless we like good Warriors of Christ Jesus endeavour our selves to please him who hath chosen us to be his Souldiers and fight the good sight of Faith even unto the end we shall not obtain the Crown of Righteousness which the Lord that is a righteous Judge shall give to all them that love his Coming Let us therefore receive with meekness the word that is grafted in us which is able to save our Souls and ground our selves on the sure Rock Christ for as the Apostle saith Other Foundation
never the better but worse and worse and therefore I will delay the time no longer but send you to Newgate Hawkes You can do me no better pleasure Bonner Why would you so fain go to Prison Hawkes Truly I did look for none other when I came to your hands Bonner Come on your wayes you shall see what I have written And then shewed him several Articles he had drawn up against him whereupon he thought he should have been carried to Prison the next day and so he had but that he was kept till Doctor Harpsfield had some discourse with him who began to perswade him concerning the Sacrament and the Ceremonies and after much talk he said That the Sacrament of the Altar was the same Body that was born of the Virgin Mary which did hang upon the Cross Hawkes He was upon the Cross both alive and dead which of them was the Sacrament Harpsfield Alive Hawkes How prove you that Harpsfield You must believe he that believeth not is condemned already Hawkes John saith he that believeth not in the Son of God is condemned already he does not say he that believeth not in the Sacrament is condemned already Harpsfield There is no talking with you Then said Hawkes Why is the Roodloff set between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield You have askt a question you cannot answer your self Hawkes Yes that I can for this saith one of your own Doctors that the Body of the Church doth present the Church Millitant and the Chancel the Church Triumphant and so because we cannot go from the Church Millitant to the Church Triumphant but that me must bare the Cross of Christ this is the cause of the Roodlofâ— being between the Body of the Church and the Chancel Harpsfield This is well and Clarklike concluded Hawkes As all the rest of your Doctrines and so the discourse ended and Thomas Hawkes returned again to the Porters Lodge The next day being the first day of the Monâ—th called July the Bishop went to the Porters Lodge himself and called Thomas Hawkes to him and commanded him to make ready to go to Prison and writ a Warrant and sent two men with him to the Gate-house at Westmenster in the Warrant he writ to this effect to the Keeper to keep him safe Prisoner and let none speak with him for that said he he is a Sacramentary and one that speaketh against Baptism a seditious and perilous man some dayes after his commitment the Bishop sent two of his men to see how he did and whither he was the same man still to whom he answered I do like a Prisoner and am not changed They said my Lord would be glad that you should do well If he will do me any good said Hawks let him suffer my Friends to come to me so they departed but Hawkes heard no more of the Bishop till the third day of the Monâ—th called September following And then Bonner brought a charge against him and required him to set his hand to it but he refused saying I shall set my hand to nothing of your making or devising then the Bishop in great anger thrust him on the breast and said he would be even with him and with all such proud Knaves in Essex Hawkes You shall do no more ther God shall give you leave And as for your Cursings and Railings I care not for them for I know the Moths anâ— Worms shall eat you Bishop I wâ—â—â— be even with you when time shall come Hawkes You have been even with some of us already you may in your Mallice destroy a man but when you have done you cannot do so much as make a finger Bonner If I do thee any wrong take the Law of me Hawkes Soloman saith Go not to Law with a Judge for he will judge according to his own honour Bonner Soloman saith Give not a Fool an answer and I count thee a Fool and so dost thou me but God forgive thee Hawkes Thought is free Then took Bonner the Bill of Articles and read it again when he saw he could not have Hawkes hand to it he biâ— him take it into his hand and give it him again Hawkes What needeth that Ceremony It shall neither come into my hand nor heart After these private Conferences between the Bishop and Thomas Hawkes the Bishop seeing no hopes to win him to his Wicked Wayes he was fully bent to proceed openly against him and to that end caused him to be brought to the publick Consistory where Bonner brought the Articles he refused to sign against him the Bishop adding four more to them to the which Hawkes answered publickly then the Bishop exhorted him to return to the Mother Church but in a constant resolution he satisfied them he should never recant so long as he lived whereupon Bonner past the Sentence of Death upon him and shortly after he was delivered to the Sheriff of Essex and burnt at a Town called Coxhall This following Epistle he wrote to the Congregation An Epistle written by Thomas Hawkes Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ be alwayes with you all My Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ for ever and his holy Spirit conduct and lead you in all your doings that you may alwayes direct your deeds according to his holy Word that when he shall appear to reward every man according to their works you may as Obedient Children be found Watching ready to enter into his Everlasting Kingdom with your Lamps Burning and when the Bridegroom shall shew himself ye need not to be ashamed of this life that God hath lent you which is but transitory vain and like unto a vapour that for a season appeareth and vaniâ—heth away so soop passeth away all our terrestial honour glory and felicity For all Flesh saith the Prophet is grass and all his glory as the Flower of the Field which for a season sheweth her beauty and as soon as the Lord bloweth upon it it withereth away and departeth For in this transitory and dangerous Wilderness we are as Pilgrims and Strangers following the foot-steps of Moses among many unspeakeable dangers beholding nothing with our outward man but all vanities and vexation of mind subject to hunger cold nakedness bonds sickness loss labour banishment in danger of that dreadfull Dragon and his sinfull seed to be devoured tempted and tormented who ceaseth not behind every Bush to lay a bait when we walk awry to have his pleasure upon us casting abroad his Apples in all places times and seasons to see if Adam will be allured and enticed to leave the Living God and his most holy Commandments whereby he is assured of everlasting life promising the World at will to all that will fall down in all Ages and for a mess of pottage sell and set at nought the Everlasting Kingdom of Heaven so â—rail is Flesh and Blood and especially Israel is most ready to walk awry when
Mass this is the most unshamfaced Heretick that ever I heard speak Smith Well sworn my Lord you keep a good Watch. Bonner Well Mr. Controler you catch me at my Words but I well Watch thee as well I warrent thee John Mordant being by said By my Troth my Lord I never heard the like in all my life but I pray you my Lord mark well his answer for Baptism he disalloweth therein holy Oyntment Salt and such other laudable Ceremonies which no Christian man will deny Smith That is a shameful Blasphemy against Christ so to use any mingle-mangle in your Baptism Bonner I believe I tell thee that if they die before they are Baptized they are damned Smith You shall never be saved by that belief but I pray you my Lord shew me are we saved by Water or by Christ Bonner By both Smith Then the Water died for our Sins and so must you say that the Water hath life and it being our Servant and created for us is our Saviour Bonner Why how understandest thou these Scriptures except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And again suffer saith our Saviour these Children to come unto me if thou wilt not suffer them to be Baptized after the laudable order thou lettest them to come unto Christ Smith Where you alleadge except a man be born c. And will thereby prove the Water to save The Apostle asked the Calathians whether they received the Spirit by the deeds of the Law or by the Preaching of faith And where you say I let the Children from coming unto Christ it is manifest by our Saviours Words that you let them to come that will not suffer them to come without the necessity of Water for he saith suffer them to come unto me and not unto Water and it is not saith St. Peter the washing away of the filth of the Flesh but in a good Conscience converteth unto God and to prove that the Water only bringeth not the holy Ghost it is written that Simon received Water and would have received the holy Ghost for Money and many received the holy Ghost before Baptism and to Judge Children damned that be not Baptized it is Wicked Mordant By our Lady Sir but I believe that if my Child dye without Water he is damned Bonner Yea and so do I and all Catholick men good Master Mordant Smith Well my Lord such Catholick such Salvation Bonner Well Sir what say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith You may call it the Sacrament of Misorders for all orders are appointed of God but as for your Shaving Anointing Creasing Poling and Rounding there are no such things appointed in Gods Book and therefore I have nothing to do to believe your orders and as for you my Lord if you had grace or intelligence you would not so dis-figure your self as you do Bonner Sayst thou so now by my Troth and I will go shave my self to anger thee withall desiring me before he went to answer to these Articles Bonner What say you to the holy Bread and holy Water to the Sacrament of Anointing and to all the rest of such Ceremonies of the Church Smith I say they be Baubles for Fools to play withall and not for the Children of God to exercise themselves in and therefore they may go among the refuse Then went away M. Mordent and my Lord went to shaving leaving there certain Doctors as he called them to assay what they could do of whom I was baited half an hour of whom I asked this question where were all you in the dayes of King Edward that you spake not that which you speak now Doctor We were in England Smith Yes but then you had the Faces of men but now you have put on Lyons Faces again you shew your selves as full of malice as may be for you have for every time a visor yea and if another King Edward should arise ye would then say down with the Pope for he is Antichrist and so are his Angels Then they reviled me and had me away but brought me before them again and one of them asked me if I disallowed confession Smith To whom I answerd look in my Articles and they will show you what I allow Doctor In your Articles you confess that you allow not auricular Confession Smith I allow it not because the Word alloweth it not nor commandeth it not Doctor Why it is written thou shalt not hide thy Sins and Offences Smith No I do not when I confess them to Almighty God Doctor Why you cannot say that you can hide them from God and therefore your must understand the words are spoken to be uttered to them that do not know them Smith You have made a good answer then must the Priest confess himself to me as I to him for I know his faults and secrcets no more then he knows mine and David said I will confess my Sins unto thee Lord And after some more words passed between me and the Doctors came in the Bishop from shaving and asked me How I liked him Smith Forsooth you are even as wise as you were before you were shaven Bonner Well How standeth it Master Doctors have you done any good Doctor No by my Troth my Lord we can do no good Smith Then it is fulfilled which is written How can an evil Trâ—â— bring forth good Fruit Bonner Nay naughty fellow I set these Gentlemen to bring thee home to Christ Smith Such Gentlemen such Christs and as truly as they have that Name from Christ so truly do they teach Christ Bonner Well wilt thou neither hear them nor me Smith Yes I am compelled to hear you but you cannot compel me to follow you Bonner Well thou shalt be burnt at a Stake in Smithfield if thou wilt not turn Smith And you shall burn in Hell if you repent not But my Lord to put you out of doubt because I am weary I will strain Curtesie with you I perceive you will not with your Doctors come unto me and I am not determined to come unto you by Gods Grace for I have hardned my Face against you as hard as Brass Then after many railing sentences I was sent away And thus have I left the Truth of my Answers in writing being thereunto desired by my Friends that you may see how the Lord hath according to his promise given me a Mouth and Wisdom to answer in his Cause for which I am condemned and my Cause not heard The Substance of the last Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner with his Condemnation in the Consistory The second day of July I was with my Brethren brought into the Consistory and mine Articles read before the Mayor and the Sheriffs with all the Assistants unto which I answered as followeth Bonner By my faith my Lord Mayor I have shewed him as much favour as any man living might do but I perceive all is lost both in him
Heart that feareth God For therewith bless we God above and therewith Curse we men And thereby Murders do arise through Women now and then And seeing God hath given a Tongue and put it under power The surest way is for to set a hatch before the door For God hath set you in a seat of double low degree First unto God and then to man a subject for to be I write not that I see in you those things to be suspect But only set before your Face how sin should be correct For flesh and Blood I know you are as other Women be And if ye dwell in Flesh and Blood there is infirmity Receive a Warning willingly that to thy teeth is told Account the gift of greater price then if he gave thee Gold A wise man saith Solomon a warning will imbrace A Fool will sooner as he saith be smitten on the Face And as your members must be dead from all things that are vain Even so by Baptism you are born to live with Christ again Thus farewel free and faithful Friend the Lord that is above Encrease in thee a perfect faith and lead thee in his Love And as I pray with perfect Love and pour out bitter tears For you and all that are at large abroad among the bryars Even so I pray thee to prefer my person and my bonds Unto the Everlasting God that hath me in his Hands That I may pass out of this Pound wherein I am opprest Inclosed in a clod of Clay that here can have no rest That as he hath begun in me his mercies many one I may attain to overtake my Brethren that be gone That when that death shall do his worst where he shall point a place I may be able like a man to look him in the Face For though he catch away my Cloâ—k my body into dust Yet am I sure to save a Soul when death hath done his worst And though I leave a little dust dissolved without blood I shall receive it safe again when God shall see it good For my Redeemer I am sure doth live for evermore And sitteth high upon the Heavens for whom I hunger sore Even as the Deer with deadly wounds escaped from the spoile Doth haste by all the means he may to seek unto the soile Of whom I hope to have a Crown that always shall â—emain And eke enjoy a perfect peace for all my wo and pain The God that giveth all encrease and seeketh still to save Abound in thee that perfect peace which I do hope to have And I beseech the living God to hold thee in his Hands And wish thee even withal my heart the blessing of my bands Which I esteem of higher price then Pearl or precious Stone And shall endure for evermore when earthly things are gone For though the Fire do consume our Treasure and our Store Yet shall the goodness of the Lord endure for evermore And where thou art a Friend to him that is to me full dear The God of might make thee amends when all men shall appear That hath shewed Mercy to the meek and rid them out of pain And thus the Lord possess thy Spirit till we do meet again If thou wilt have a Recompence Abide still in obedience The Exhortation of Robert Smith unto his Children GIve ear my Children to my words whom God hath dearly bought Lay up my Law within your heart and print it in your thought For I your Father have foreseen the frail and filthy way Which flesh and blood would follow fain even to their own decay For all and every living beast their Crib do know full well But Adams heirs above the rest are ready to rebel And all the Creatures on the Earth full well can keep their way But man above all other Beasts is apt to go astray For Earth and Ashes is his strengh his glory and his reign And unto Ashes at the length shall he return again For flesh doth flourish like a flower and grow up like a Grass And is consumed in an hour as it is brought to pass In me the Image of your years your treasure and your trust Whom you do see before your face dissolved into dust For as you see your Fathers flesh converted into Clay Even so shall ye my Children dear consume and wear away The Sun and Moon and eâ—e the Stars that serve the day and night The Earth and every earthly thing shall be consumed quite And all the Worship that is wrought that have been heard or seen Shall clean consume and come to nought as i ft had never been Therefore that ye may follow me your Father and your Friend And enter into that same life which never shall have end I leave you here a little Book for you to look upon That you may see your Fathers Face when I am dead and gon Who for the hope of heavenly things while he did here remain Gave over all his golden years in Prison and in Pain Where I among mine Iron bands enclosed in the dark A few dayes before my death did dedicate this work To you mine heirs of earthly things which I have left behind That ye may read and understand and keep it in your mind That as you have been heirs of that which once shall wear away Even so you may possess the part which never shall decay In following of your Fathers foot in Truth and eke in Love That ye may also be hâ—â— heirs for evermore above And in example to your youth to whom I wish all good I preach you here a perfect faith and seal it with my Blood Have God alwayes before your Eyes in all your whâ—le intents Commit not sin in any â—ise keep his Commandments Abhor that arrant Whore of Rome and all her blasphemies And drink not of her decretals nor yet of her decrees Give honour to your Mother dear remember well her pain And recompence her in her age in like with love again Be alwayes aiâ—ing at her hand and let her not decay Remember well your Fathers fall that should have been her stay Give of your Portion to the poor as Riches doth arise And from the needy naked soul turn not away your eyes For be that will not hear the Cry of such as are in need Shall cry himself and not be heard when he would hope to speed If God hath given you great increase and blessed well your store Remember you are put in trust to minister the more Beware of foul and filthy last let whoredom have no place Keep clean your Vessels in the Lord that he may you imbrace Ye are the Temples of the Lord for ye are dearly bought And they that do defile the same shall surely come to nought Possess not pride in any case build not your nests too high But have alwayes before your face that ye be born to die Defraud not him that hired is your labours to Sustain But give him alwayes out of hand his
way look not back have the Eye of your heart fixed upon God and so run that you may get hold of it cast away all your Worldly Pelf and Worldly respects as the favour of Friends the fear of men sensual Affâ—ction respect of Person Honour Praise Shame Rebuke Wealth Poverty Riches Lands Possessions carnal Fathers and Mothers Wife and Children with the love of your own selves and in respect of that Heavenly treasure you look for let all these be denied and utterly refused of you so that in no condition they do abate your zeal or quench your Love towards God in this case make no account of them but rather repute them as vile in comparison of Everlasting life away with them as Thorns that cheak the Heavenly Seed of the Gospel where they be suffered to grow they are burthens of the Flesh which encumber the Soul exchâ—â—ge thâ—â— therefore I beseech you for advantage doth not he gain that findeth Heavenly and immortal treasure for Earthly and corruptible Riches looseth that man any thing which of his carnal Father and Mother is forsaken when therefore he is received of God the Father to be his Child and Heir in Christ Heavenly for Earthly for Mortal Immortal for transistory things permanant is great gains to a Christian Conscience Therefore as I began I exhort you in the Lord not to be afraid shrink not my Brethren mistrust not God be of good comfort rejoyce in the Lord hold fast your Faith and continue to the end deny the World and take up the Cross and follow him which is your Lead man and is gone before if you suffer with him you shall reign with him What way can you glorifie the Name of your Heavenly Father better then by suffering death for his Sons sake What a Spectacle shall it be to the World to behold so godly a fellowship as you Servants of God in so just a Quarrel as the Gospel of Christ is with so pure a Conscience so strong a Faith and so lively a hope to offer your selves to suffer most cruel Torments at the hands of Gods Enenies and so to end your daies in Peace to receive in the resurrection of the Righteous life Everlasting Be strong therefore in your Battel the Lord God is on your side and his Truth is your cause and against you be none but the Enemies of the Cross of Christ as the Serpent and his Seed the Dragon with his Tail the marked man of the Beast the Off-pring of the Pharisees the Congregation Malignant the Generation of Vipers and Murtherers as their Father the Devil hath been from the beginning To conclude such are they as the Lord God hath alwayes abhorred and in all Ages resisted and overthrown God from whom nothing is hid knoweth what they are he that searcheth the hearts of men he hath found out them to be crafty subtle full of Poyson Proud Disdainfull Stiff-necked Devourers Ravenours and Barkers against the Truth filthy and shameless and therefore doth the Spirit of God by the Mouthes of his holy Prophets and Apostles call them by the names of Foxes Serpents Cockatrices Lyons Leopards Bulls Bears Wolves Dogs Swine Beasts teaching us thereby to understand that their natural inclination is to deceive poyson and destroy as much as in them lyeth the faithfull and Elect of God but the Lord with his right Arm shall defend his little Flock against the whole rabblerment of these Worldlings which have conspired against him he hath numbered all the hairs of his Childens Heads so that not one of them shall perish without his Fatherly will he keepeth the Sparrows much more will he preserve them whom he hath purchased with the Blood of the Immaculate Lamb he will keep them until the hour appointed wherein the Name of God shall be glorified in his Saints in the mean time let them work their wills let them Envy let them Malign let them Blasphem let them Curse Ban Betray Whip Scourge Hang and Burn for by this means God will try his Elect as Gold in the Furnance and by these Fruits shall they also bring themselves to be known what they be for all their Sheep skins for as he that in suffering patiently for the Gospel of God is thereby known to be of Christ even so also is the Persecutor of him known to be a member of Anti-christ Besides this their extream cruelty shall be a means the sooner to provoke God to take pity upon his Servants and to destroy them that so Tyranniously entreat his People as we may learn by the Histories as well in the Bondage of Israel under Pharaoh in Eygpt as also in the miserable Captivity of Judas in Babylon where when the People of God were in most extream thraldom then did the Lord streath forth his mighty Power to deliver his Servants though God for a time suffered them to be exalted in their own pride yet shall they not escape his Vengeance To conclude my Brethren I commit you to God and the Power of his Word which is able to establish you in all Truth his Spirit be with you and work alway that ye may be mindfull of your duties towards him whose ye are both Body and Soul whom see that ye Love Serve Dread and Obey above all worldly Powers and for nothing under the Heavens defile your Conscience before God dissemble not with his Word God will not be mocked Nay they that dissemble with him deceive themselves such shall the Lord deny and cast out at the last day such I say as bear two faces in one hood such as play on both hands such as deny the known Truth such as obstinately rebel against him all such with their partakers shall the Lord destroy God defend you from all such and make you perfect unto the end your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy This aforesaid Robert Smith the valiant and constant Martyr of Christ thus replenished as you have read with the fortitude of Gods Spirit was condemned at London by Bishop Bonner the 12th day of the Moneth called July and suffered Death at Uxbridge the Eighth day of the Moneth called August Anno 1555. A Letter sent to his Wife Anne Smith The God and Father eternal which brought again from death our Lord Jesus Christ keep thee dear Wife now and ever Amen and all thy Parents and Friends I praise God for his Mercy I am in the same state that ye left me in rather better then worse looking daily for the living God before whom I hunger full sore to appear and receive the Glory of which I trust thou art willing to be a partaker I give God most hearty thanks therefore desiring thee of all loves to stand in that Faith which thou hast received and let no man take away the Seed that Almighty God hath sown in thee but lay hands of Everlasting Life which shall ever abide when both the Earth and all earthly Friends shall perish desiring them also to receive thankfully our
Hereticks Philpot God hath appointed a day shortly to come in the which he will surely Judge us with righteousness howsoever you judge of us now After some further discourse with him he was with four others had to the Keepers House in Paster-noster-row where the Arch Deacon of Londons Servant Q. Mary An. 1555 in his Masters name offered John Philpot a Bed for that night To whom he gave thanks but said it would be a grief to him to lie well one night and the next night worse wherefore said he I will begin as I am like to continue and take such as my Fellows do whereupon they were brought to the Bishops Cole-house unto which is joyned a little blind house with a pair of Stocks where they found one person sitting with his hand and foot in At his fifth Examination as he was going to the Cole-house he met with Bonner who said to him Philpot If there be any pleasure I can shew you in my house I pray you require it and you shall have it Philpot The pleasure that I require of you is to hasten my Judgment which is committed unto you and to dispatch me forth of this miserable World unto my Eternal rest Note for all this fair Speech I could never attain hitherto this fortnight space neither Fire nor Candle nor good Lodging Another time being sent for before Bonner Bonner said I charge you to answer to such Articles as my Chaplain and my Register have from me to object against you Philpot Omnia Judicia debet esse publica All Judgment ought to be publick therefore if you have any thing to charge me lawfully withal let me be in Judgment lawful and openly called and I will answer otherwise in Corners I will not At which the Bishop was angry and called him foolish Knave and bid them put him in the Stocks Philpot Indeed you handle me with others like Fools and we must be content to be made Fools at your hands Stocks and Violence is your Bishop like Almes so he was put in the Stocks alone in the house seperate from his Fellows for which he praised God that he thought him worthy to suffer any thing for his Names sake Not long after the Bishop coming to view the Cole-house saying he was never there before and his coming then was for no good for he thought the place too good for John Philpot and called for the Keeper and caused him to put the said John Philpot in another place by himself where the Keeper pluckt off his Gown and searched him and took away his Pen and Ink and Papers At another Examination the fourth of December Chadsey said You shall be constrained to come to us at length whether you will or no. Philpot said Hold that Argument fast for it is the best you have for you have nothing but violence Soon after Bonner pronounced the Sentence against him and then delivered him to the Sheriffs whose Officers had him to Newgate in his way he said Ah good People Blessed be God for this day At Newgate he was cruelly handled by the Keeper having Irons put on because he had not wherewithal to satisfie the unreasonable Goalers demand for Fees Upon the 17th day of December the Sheriff sent a Messenger to him to bid him make ready for the next day he should suffer and be burnt at a Stake He answered I am ready God grant me strength so he went into his Chamber and poured out his Spirit unto the Lord God giving him thanks that he of his mercy had made him worthy to suffer for his Truth and when he came into Smithfield he kneeled down saying these words I will pay my Vows in thee O Smithfield and so died a constant Martyr The death of the Persecuting Bishop of Winchester About this time died one of the great Persecutors viz. Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester at his House in Southwark of whose death its memorable that the same day in which Ridley and Latimer suffered at Oxford he would not go to Dinner till four a Clock in the after-noon though the old Duke of Norfolk was come to Dine with him the reason was because he would first hear of their being burnt and as soon as word of that was brought him he presently said now let us go to Dinner where sitting down and eating merrily upon a suddain he fell into such an Extreamity that he was fain to be taken from the Table and carried to his Bed where he continued fifteen dayes without voiding any thing either by urine or otherwise which caused his Tongue to swell in his Mouth and so he died â—556 Seven Martyrs burnt in Smithfield About the 27th of January were burned in Smithlfield London these seven persons hereafter following viz. Thomas VVhittle Bartelet Green John Tudson John VVent Thomas Browne Isabel Foster Joane VVarren alias Lashford At which seven as they were burned together in one Fire so were they likewise upon one sort and form of Articles condemned in one day This Thomas VVhittle one of these Sufferers was the person that Jo. Philpot found in the Stocks when he was put into the Bishops Cole-house Thomas Whittle was sorely beaten and heardly used by the Bishop for two nights he lay on a Table without Bed or Straw the Bishop telling him he should be fed with Bread and Water the Bishop sometimes giving him fair words and sometimes threatning him and Doctor Harpsfield perswaded him very much to forsake his Opinions Thomas answered he held nothing but the Truth but he had made a Bill for Thomas to subscribe to this effect that he should detest all Errours and Heresie against the Sacrament of the Altar and other Sacraments and to believe the Faith of the Catholike Church and live accordingly Now after he had signed it he was under great condemnation as appears by this Testimony under his hand the Substance of which is as followeth To the Bill I did indeed set my hand being much desired and counselled so to do and the Flesh being alwayes desirous to have liberty I considered not throughly the inconveniences that might come thereupon and respite I desired to have had but earnestly they desired me to subcribe Now when I had so done I had little joy thereof for by and by my Mind and Conscience told me I had done evil by such a slighty means to shake of the sweet Cross of Christ and yet it was not my seeking as God he knoweth but altogether came of them O the crafty Subtilty of Sathan in his Members let every man that God shall deliver into their hands take good heed and cleave fast to Christ for they will leave no corner of his Conscience unsought but will attempt and guilefull and subtil means to corrupt him to fall both from God and his Truth The night after I had subscribed I was sore grieved and for sorrow of Conscience could not sleep for in the deliverance of my Body out of Bonds which
I might have had I could find no joy nor confort but still was in my Conscience tomented more and more being assured by Gods Spirit and his Word that I through evil counsel and advisement had done amiss and with the disquietness of my Mind and other cruel handling I was sick lying upon the ground when the Keeper came and so I desired him to pray Doctor Harpsfield to come to me and so he did And when he came and the Register with him I told him that I was not well at ease but especially I told him I was grieved very much in my Conscience and Mind because I had subscribed and I said that my Conscience had so Accused me through the just Judgment of God and his Word that I had felt Hell in my Conscience and Sathan ready to devour me and therefore I pray you said I let me have the Bill again for I will not stand to it so he gently commanded it to be fetcht and gave it me and suffered me to put out my name whereof I was right glâ—d when I had so done although death should follow and hereby I had experience of Gods Providence and Mercy towards me who tryeth his People and suffereth them to fall but not to be lost for in the midst of this Temptation and Trouble he gave me warning of my deed and also delivered me his name be praised for evermore Amen By me Thomas VVhittle Bartlet Green born in the City of London in the Parish of Baâ—inghal of the age of twenty five years Bartlet Green Martyr being examined by Bishop Bonner with whom he had sundry Conferences and publick Examinations but in the end Bonner seeing his stedfastness to the faith of Christ to be such as against the which neither their threatnings nor yet their flattering promises could prevail After he he had condemned the other six he called for Bartlet Green and pronounced the definitive sentence against him and so committed him to the Sheriffs of London who sent him to Newgate and when he came to Prison he was often exercised in prayer and godly meditations and exercises until the twenty eighth day of the month called January when he with his other above mentioned Brethren went most cheâ—rfully unto the place of their Torments at the stake repeating these Latine verses following Christe de us sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor Q. Mary An. 5515 te duce falsa nege In English thus O Christ my God sure hope of health besides thee have I none The Truth I love and falshood hate by thee my Guide alone After these seven above rehearsed martyred together in Smithfield shortly after in the same Month being the one and thirtieth day of the Month called January Four Women and one Man burnt at Canterbury four Women and one Man were burnt for the Faith of the Gospel at Canterbury their names are as followeth viz. John Lomas a young man of the Parish of Tenterden Anne Albright Joan Catmer of the Parish of Hyth Agnes Snoth Widdow of Smarden Joan Sole Wife of the Parish of Horton The aforesaid five persons were burnt at two Stakes and one Fire ratifying and confessing the true faith of Christ Jesus and when the flame was about their ears they sung for joy whereat John Norton called Knight standing by wept bitterly to hear and see what was done The Persecutors names The Judges and others Assistants which face upon these Martyrs were Richard Faucet John Warren John Mills Robert Collins and John Baker the Notary Now we come to the time of Cranmers Execution who the year before as I have mentioned was condemned and degraded by Commission from the Pope Cranmers Martyrdom after which being by the subtylty of some put in hope of life out of frailty he subscribed to a Recantation which yet did him no good for whether it were that Cardinal Pool would no longer be kept from being Aron-Bishop which he would not be as long as he lived or that the Queen could not be gotten to forget his being the chief Instrument of her Mothers divorce his Execution was resolved to be in the same place at Oxford where Ridley and Latimer five Months before had suffered before the Execution Doctor Cole preached who to make use of Cranmers recantation told the People they should do well to hearken to this learned mans Confession who now at his death and with his death would testifie which was the true Religion never thinking Cranmer would have denied his former Recantation but Cranmer being brought to the Stake contrary to expectation acknowledged that throught frailty he had subscribed it praying God heartily to forgive it for that he had set his hand contrary to the Truth that was in his heart and now for a punishment that hand which had done â—â—should first suffer and therewithal thrusting his Right hand into the Fire he there held it till iâ— first then his whole Body was consumed The next that suffered were Agnes Potter and Jone Trunchfield in the County of Suffolk both Married Women dwelling both in one Town they were burnt in Ipswich when they had prepared themselves ready for the Fire they exhorted the people very earnestly to lay hold on the Word of God and not upon mans devices and inventions despising the Ordinances and Inventions of the Romish Antichrist with all his Superstitions and rotten Religion After these two Women were burnt three Men at one Fire in Salsbury their names John Spicer Free-Mason William Coberly Taylor John Maundrel Husbandman The beginning of their Imprisonment was after this manner going into a Steeple-house and seeing the Idolatry by the people performed in following the Idol in procession exhorted the people to return to the living God speaking more particularly to one Robert Berksdale head man of the Parish but he took no regard to their words soon after the Priest came into his Pulpit who being about to read his Bedral and prayer for the Souls in Purgatory Jo. Maundrel speaking with an Audible voice said that that was the Popes Pinfold after which words by commandment of the Priest they were had to the Stocks where they remained till their Worship was done and then were had before a Justice of Peace and the next day were all three had to Salsbury and presented before Bishop Capon and William Geoffry the Chancellor of the Diocess by whom they were imprisoned and often Examined of their Faith in private but seldom openly in their Answer to the Articles charged against them they said that the Popish Mass was abominable Idolatry and injurious to the Blood of Christ and being asked whether the Pope was supream head of the Church they said he usurped Authority and said Christ was the head of the Church and said Christs Blood purged away their Sins and not the Popes Purgatory and being asked whether Images were necessary in the Church John Mundrell said Wooden Images were
wait for me for God put in my mind that they would lay wait for me at all Sea-Coast Towns as they did So when all was husht I went abroad among our Friends and Brethren and at length I went beyond the Seas both into Flanders and France but I thought the time long till I came home again I was there but three weeks but it was known among Baals Priests who could not abide it but got Warrants and searched my House for me sometimes twice in a week sometimes I went privily sometimes openly from home staying abroad two or three weeks together otherwhile living a Moneth together at home doing openly such work as I had to do and yet mine Enemies laid no hands on me till the hour was fully come and then mine own Brother according to the flesh delivered me into their hands The Examination of Richard Woodman before the Bishop of Chichester Doctor Story Doctor Cooke and others Bishop What is your name My name is Richard Woodman Then said the Bishop I am sory for you you have been a man of good report and esteem in your Country till now of late therefore look to your self your Wife and Children and Friends and be ruled and think not your self wiser then all the Realm but be informed and you shall have their favour as much as ever you had Woodman My Life my Wife and my Children I love them but they are all in Gods hands and I have them as if I had them not Bishop Q. Mary An. 1557. The Sheriff told me that you were desirous to spake with me Woodman I thought meet to appeal to you because you have taken upon you to be the Physitian of our Country for many unjust things are laid to my charge and they seek my Blood and I have appealed unto you that if my blood be shed unrighteously it might be required at your hands Doctor Story Is not this a perverse Fellow dost thou think thou shalt be put to death unjustly and that thy Blood shall be required no said he and further added that he could condemn a hundred such Hereticks and threatned that he would help to rid him Then Woodman would have answered but the Bishop desired them both to give him place Bishop Well Neighbour Woodman I call you Neighbour because you are one of my Diocess and you are sent to me that I should give you spiritual counsel for I am your Spiritual Pastor therefore hear what I say unto you Woodman First I desire you to hear me a few words you have said you will give me Spiritual counsel are you sure you have the Spirit of God Bishop No I am not sure of that I dare not be so bold to say so Woodman Then you are like the Waves of the Sea Tossed about with every wind and unstable in all your wayes and can look for no good thing at the Lords hand yea you are neither hot nor cold and therefore God will spue you out of his Mouth Then in a fury Story said What a perverse Fellow is this he hath a Devil in him and is mad and the Bishop said He is sent to me to learn and taketh upon him to teach me Then Richard Woodman seeing their Blindness and Blasphemy it made such an impression upon him that his heart was melted and and his eyes gusht out with tears and he spoke to them after this manner The Jew's said to Christ he had a Devil and was mad as you have here said to me but I know the Servant is not above his Master and God forbid that I should learn of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Bishop Why do you think that you have the Spirit of God you boast more then ever Paul did or any of the Apostles the which is great presumption Woodman I boast not in my self but in the Gift of God as Paul did who said He verily believed that he had the Spirit of God making thereof no question 1 Cor. 7. Chichester It is not so you bely the Text. Woodman If it be not so let me be burnt to morrow Story Thou shalt not be burnt too morrow but I will promise thee thou shalt be burnt within six dayes Bishop If it be so it 's wrong Translated as it is in a thousand places more Woodman Take heed that you bely not the Translators I believe they had the fear of God more before their Eyes then you report of them but if that place be wrong translated I can prove by places enough that Paul had the Spirit of God Bishop How prove you that Woodman No man can believe that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and again we have not received the Spirit of Bondage to fear any more but we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father the same Spirit certifieth us that we are the Sons of God also John saith he that believeth not that Christ is come in the Flesh is an Anti-christ and denieth both the Father and the Son and he that believeth in God dwelleth in God and God in him Story What an Heretick is this why do you here him send him to Prison to his Fellows in the Marshalsea and they shall be dspatcht within these twelve dayes Woodman When I heard him say so I rejoyced greatly in my heart desiring God if it were his will to keep them in that mind for I expected to have been sent to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house or Lollards Tower but they sent me to the Marshalsea to my Brethren and old Prison-Fellows whereby it pleased God that the burden I looked for was something eased when they saw I rather rejoyced then feared imprisonment the Bishop said My thinks he is not afraid of the Prison Woodman No I praise the Living God Story He hath the right terms of an Heretick the living God c. I pray you be there deads Gods that you say the Living God Woodman Are you angry with me for speaking the words written in the Bible Story Bibble Babble what speakest thou of the Bible there is no such word written in all the Bible Then said Woodman I am much to blame and brought several Scriptures to prove that there was a Living God and dead Gods for David said My Soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh rejoyce in the living God Story My Lord I will tell you how you shall know a Heretick by his words that is they will say the Lord and we praise God and the Living God c. Woodman The Lords Name be praised from the rising of the Sun until the going down of the same also as many as fear the Lord say alwayes the Lord be praised Story My Lord this is an Old Heretick send him to Prison you will do no good on him I will leave you and go to Church
as if he by his Power were unable to perform it The Church formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church The pretended Church now do terrifie others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the World when as the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad scapulam It agreeth both with human Reason and natural Equity that every man worship God uncompelled neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint forasmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and of good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit let us strike through with the Arrows of the Spirit all Sons and Disciples of mis-led Hereticks that is with Testimonies of Scriptures the slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius upon the first of the Corinthians chap. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences for willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and cheerful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Books of the Civil Magistrate saith The Laws of the Civil Magistrates Government extends no further then over the Body or Goods and to that which is external for over the Soul God will not suffer any man to rule only he himself will Rule there wherefore whosoever doth under take to give Laws unto the Souls and Consciences of men he usurpeth that Government himself which appertaineth unto God c. Therefore upon 1 Kings 5. In the building of the Temple there was no sound of Iron heard to signifie that Christ will have in his Church a free and a willing People not compelled and constrained by Laws and Statutes Again he faith upon Luke 22. It is not the true Catholick Church which is defended by the secular Arm or humane Power but the false and feigned Church which although it carries the name of a Church yet it denies the power thereof And upon Psal 17. he saith For the true Church of Christ knoweth not Brachium seculare which the Bishops now adayes chiefly use Again in Postil Dom. 1 post Epipham he saith Let not Christians be commanded but exhorted for he that willingly will not do that whereunto he is friendly exhorted he is no Christian wherefore they that do compel those that are not willing shew thereby that they are not Christian Preachers but worldly Beadles Again upon 1 Peter 3. He saith If the Civil Magistrate shall command me to believe thus and thus I should answer him after this manner look you to your civil or worldly Government your Power extends not so far as to command any thing in Gods Kingdom therefore herein I may not hear you for if you cannot bear it that any should usurp Authority where you have to command how do you think that God should suffer you to thrust him from his Seat and to seat your self therein SECT IV. The Fourth Reason It s no prejudice to a Kingdom or Common-wealth if Liberty of Conscience be suffered to such as fear God as is or will be manifested in such mens lives and conversations as Scripture Examples testifie AEraham abode among the Cananites a long time yet contrary to them in Religion Gen. 13.7 and 16.13 Again he sojourned in Gerar and King Abimelech gave him leave to abide is his Land Gen. 20.21 23 24. Isaac also dwelt in the same Land yet contrary in Religion Gen. 26. Jacoh lived Twenty years in one house with his Unckle Laban yet differed in Religion Gen. 31. The People of Israel were about Four hundred and thirty years in that infamous Land of Egypt and afterwards seventy years in Babylon all which time they differed in Religion from the State Exod 12. and 2 Chron. 36. Come to the time of Christ when Israel was under the Romans where lived divers Sects of Religion as Herodians Scribes and Pharisees Saduces and Libertines Thudeans and Samaritans besides the common Religion of the Jews Christ and his Apostles all which differed from the common Religion of the State which was like the worship of Diana which almost the whole World then worshipped Acts 19.20 All these lived under the Government of Caesur being no thing hurtful to the Common-wealth giving unto Caesar that which was his and for their Religion and Consciences towards God he left them to themselves as having no dominion over their Souls and Consciences and when the Enemies of Truth raised up any Tumults the wisdom of the Magistrate most wisely appeased them Acts 18.14 and 19.35 SECT V. Several Testimonies shewing that Conscience ought to be free and not to be imposed upon and no person be compelled to accuse himself or purge himself by Oath c. ACcusare se nemo tenetur saith Vasquius nisi coram deâ— secundum illud Chrysostomi non tibi dico ut teprodas Valque Coâ—irs illustraes p. 124. num 27. No man is bound to accuse himself but before God according to that of Chrisostome I do not say that thou shouldst betray thy self Quis sibi utrumque audeat assumere ut unquam sit ipse accusator Judex Aug. hom 50. Who dares assume to himself to be both an Accuser and a Judge saith Austin That famous Lawyer Cooke saith Juramentum in propria est inventio Diaboli ad detrudendum anim as miserorum in infernum The Oath Ex officio saith he is an invention of the Devil to cast the Souls of miserable people into Hell Let the Judges saith Tindall judge and condemn the Trespasses under lawful Witnesses Tindals Obed. of Christ p. 22. Col. 2. and not break up into the Consciences of men after the Example of Antichrists Disciples and compel them either to forswear themselves or to testifie against themselves which abomination saith he our Prelates learned of Caiphas Matth. 26. saying to Christ I adjure or charge thee in the name of the Living God that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the Son of the Living God SECT VI. Some remarkable Observation collected out of a Book entituled ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΕΚΛΕΚΤΙΚΗ A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying shewing the unreasonableness of prescribing to othermens Faith and the Iniquity of persecuting different Opinions by Jer. Tayler D. D. so stiled Chaplin in Ordinary to his late Majesty IN his Epistle Dedicatory are these words viz. As contrary as Cruelty is to Mercy as Tyranny to Charity so is War and Bloodshed to the Meekness and Gentleness of Christian Religion And further speaks to dispute men into Mercies Compliances and Tolerations mutual and further adds I designed a Discourse to this purpose with as much greediness as if I had thought it possible with my Arguments to have perswaded the rough and hard handed Souldiers to have disbanded