VVE are now come to the Reign of King Henry the 8th, in whoſe time many Godly men, who profeſſed the Goſpel and the Doctrine of Wickliff (who began, the firſt reformation in this Kingdom long before Luther) ſuffered perſecution for their conſciences ſake, under the tittle of Lollards, as they then nicknamed them. In the years, between 1509 and 1517. in the Dioceſs of London, ſeveral were made to abjure, before Richard Fitz-James the then Biſhop, who was in his time a moſt cruel perſecutor of Chriſt's Church. Among the reſt on Joan Baker, Thomas Walker, William Potter, John Forge, Thomas Godard, and more to the number of 41 who were brought into trouble, becauſe ſome of them did not ſhew ſufficient reverence to the Crucifix, others for ſpeaking againſt Pilgrimages, and ſaying ſome that were burnt for their Religion, by the Popiſh power, were true Martyrs: And others again for Speaking againſt the Corporal preſence in the Sacrament, againſt holy daies, and Faſting, againſt invocation of dead Images, and againſt the pride and immoderate riches of the clergy, and ſome again only for keeping company with ſuch as were ſuſpected of Hereſie, and for reading of Engliſh Books, with ſuch like, for which many of them were uſed like ſlaves, by the Inſtruments of Fitz-James, who dying, Cutbert Tunſtal ſucceeded him, who following his predeceſſors ſteps, violently perſecuted all ſuch as profeſſed the Goſpel, and cauſed many thorow fear of his cruelties to abjure, bear Faggots o • their ſhoulders, in publick proceſſion before the Croſs, and to wear after a diſgraceful manner, a Faggot painted upon their ſleeves, or ſome other part of their outward garments, during their lives, or ſo long as it pleaſed the Ordinary, to terrifie others. But among theſe, two poor men, who had abjured, and had worn the infamous badg, injoyned them, the one named William Sweeting, the other John Brewſter, being poor-labouring men, were fain to fly out of the Dioceſs of London, by reaſon of the perſecution, their Conſciences accuſing them for what they had done; the former getting to Colcheſter, became the holy water Clerk to the Parſon of the Pariſh of Mary Magdalen, for which cauſe he had his infamous Badg taken away, the other John Brewſter, being hired for a labourer in the ſervice of the Earl of Oxford, by his controler, had his Badg taken off, but ſuch was the intolerable pride and cruelty of the Popiſh Clergy at that time, that notice being given, that theſe poor men had relapſed to their former errors, after they had abjured, they were both layd hold on, and brought up to London, were excommunicated, and on the 8th of October in the year 1511 were both burnt in Smithfield, though 'tis ſaid, that thorow fear of death, they would have ſubmitted.

About the 4th year of the Reign of King Henry, one John Brown, going home in the Graveſend Barge, chanced into the company of a Prieſt in the ſame Barge, and ſitting too near the proud and ſurly Prieſt, the Prieſt asked him, if he knew him not, that he ſat upon his cloaths: John Brown told him, he did not know him, nor what he was. I tell thee then ſaid the other, that I am a Prieſt. What Sir ſaid John Brown are you a Parſon, or Vicar, or a Ladies Chaplain? No quoth he again, I am a Soul Prieſt: I ſing for a Soul. Do you ſo Sir? ſaid the other, that is well done: But I pray Sir ſaid he where do you find the ſoul when you ſay Maſs? I cannot tell, reply'd the Prieſt. Then ſaid the other where do you leave it when maſs is done? I cannot tell thee, ſaid the Prieſt. If you can tell neither where you find it, nor where you leave it, when your Maſs is done, ſaid John Brown, how do you know how you ſave it? Go thy waies ſaid the Prieſt, thou art an Heretick, and I will be even with thee. As he was; for nor long after John Brown, not thinking any thing, was ſurpriſed in his own houſe, ſet on horſe back, and his feet tyed like a Felon under the horſes Belly, and ſo carried to Canterbury, and there was kept from Low Sunday till the Fryday before Eaſter, his wife and family not knowing what was become of him. There he was moſt cruelly handled by the Biſhops Warham and Fiſher, as he related himſelf to his own Wife before his Death, and the Soles of his feet being ſet upon hot coals, till they were burned to the bones, ſo that he could not ſet them to the Ground, to make him (as he ſaid) to deny his Lord, which he reſolved not to do, and ſo indured their torments, and being condemned to be burnt, at his own Town of Aſhford, whither he was carried, and the night before he was burnt, ſet all night in the ſtocks, where his Wife came to him, whom he exhorted to continue, as ſhe had began, in the fear of God, and to bring up her children vertuouſly in the fear of God. And the next day, being Whit-Sunday even, this godly Martyr was burnt, and ſtanding at the ſtake, with his hands lifted up, he prayed thus:

Into thy hands I commend my Spirit, thou haſt redeemed me O Lord of Truth.

One Chilton the Bayliff ſeeing his Children at the fire, bid them fling them in too, for they would ſpring up Hereticks from his Aſhes. This was the end of this Martyr burnt 1517.

The next in order was Thomas Man, who, the 29. of March 1518. was likewiſe burned in Smithfield: He had for divers years been perſecuted and impriſoned, forced to abjure, and to do Pennance; after which they kept him in a Monaſtery as their ſervant, from whence he eſcaped, his Conſcience troubling him for denying the Truth; but being retaken, he was proceeded againſt as a relapſed Heretick, by the aforeſaid Thomas Hed, Vicar General, who produced falſe Witneſſes againſt him, who ſwore ſeveral Articles that they ſaid were Hereſie, and though he charged the Witneſſes of Adultery and Theft, he could not be heard, and thoſe they had aſſigned him for Advocates being Papiſts betrayed his Cauſe, and wreſted his Words to his deſtruction; upon which he was condemned as a relapſed Heretick, with theſe gloſeing words Rogamus attentè in Ʋiſceribus Jeſu Chriſti ut, &c. In Engliſh thus. We deſire in the Bowells of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that the puniſhment and execution of due ſeverity of thee and againſt thee in this part may be ſo Moderated, that there be no rigorous Rigour, nor yet nodiſſolute manſuetude but to the health and wealth of thy ſoul &c. This Sentence Thomas Man ſaid was like that of Cajaphas againſt Chriſt, when he ſaid to Pilate. It is not lawfull for us to put any man to death, But if thou letſt him go thou art not Caeſars Friend. So they ſaid it was not lawfull for them to take away Thomas Mans life, but they delivered him up to the Sheriffs of London, who cauſed him to be burnt without any warrant for the ſame.

About the ſame time one Robert Coſin, who had been inſtructed by Thomas Man in his flight, was martyred at Buckingham. The chief articles againſt him were, that he had perſwaded one Joan Norman after ſhe had bowed a piece of ſilver to be offered to a Saint, for the health of her child, not to carry it, and told her ſhe needed only to pray to Heaven; And that ſhe needed not to confeſs her ſelf to the Prieſt, but to God, and that ſhe might drink as well before ſhe went to M • ſs on the Sunday, as on any other day. For theſe Perillous Doctrines this poor man was ſacrificed, to the Luſts of the Popiſh Prieſts.

Much about the ſame time Chriſtopher Shoemaker was burnt at Newberry, for profeſſing the Goſpel, and Speaking againſt worſhipping of Saints, and going on Pilgrimages. And in the years 1520 and 1521 many received the Light of the Goſpel, in and about Newberry, Buckingham, Henly, Amer •• m, in the Dioceſs of London, in Eſſex, at Colch • ſter, 〈◊〉 Suffolk, and Northfolk, and many other places, ſo that it ſpread very much before Luther appeared.

Much about the ſame time 7 godly martyrs ſufer'd at Coventry, viz. Mrs. Smith a Widdow, Rober • Hatcher a Shoemaker, Archer a Shoemaker, Hawkins and Thomas Bond both Shoemakers, Wrigſham • Glover, and Landſdale an Hoſier; one of the chi • crimes objected againſt theſe perſons was, the teaching their Family the Lords Prayer, and the te • Commandments in Engliſh, all which were burned in a little Park near the city Anno 1519. This thing being noyſed abroad, and the people grumbling becauſe of their hard uſage the Biſhop and his Prieſt • gave it out, that they were not burned for havin • the Lords Prayer, Creed, and ten Commandment • in Engliſh, but for eating Fleſh on Fridays: ſo th •• you ſee they mended the matter much. About • years after one Robert Silkby, was burned at the ſame place, for the ſame crim • s. About the ſam • time Mr. Patrick Hamtiton, and Henry Foreſt of St. Andrews were both Martyred in Scotland.

Under the aforeſaid John Longland Biſhop of Lincoln, ſuffered Thomas Harding of Cheſham in the County of Buckingham, being force • with his wife to abjure by the ſaid Biſhop, with many more being injoyned penance • n • wearing Badges of Faggots which he did till the year 1532. Being alſo ordered to live in a certain place, and no where elſe, to faſt every Corpus Chriſti Even, and to goe on Pilgrimage during his life every year to Aſhrige, and there make his offerings both him and his Wife. But Thomas Harding neglecting, and being troubled in his mind, retired into the Woods in privat on the Eaſter Holydays, whilſt others went to church to bow down to the Idols, he was eſpied at his prayers, which he read out of an Engliſh Book. And the Officers of the Biſhop being made acquainted with it, they went immediatly to his houſe, and ſearching narrowly, found Certain Engliſh Books hid under the boards of the flower, moſt of them parts of the Holy Scripture. Upon which he was had before the Biſhop then at W • oburn, where being examined, he was ſent to the Biſhops priſon called Little eaſe; Where he endured much hardſhip both of hunger and pain, but they ſeeing him to remain conſtant, the Biſhop ſoon after condemned him as a relapſed Heretick to the fire. committing the charge of his execution to Rowland Meſſenger, Vicar of great Wickham, who accordingly had the aforeſaid Martyr to Cheſham, where he dwelt, where he made a ſermon in the behalf of the Popiſh Clergys Juriſdiction, making Thomas Harding to ſtand before him all the time: And after ſermon was done he cauſed him to be brought before the High Altar, where he asked Tho. Harding if that he • elieved, that the Subſtance of the Bread after Conſecration was any other than the Body of Chriſt • orn of the Virgin Mary. To which he repyled he belie • ed what the Articles of the Creed had taught him, That our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt was born of the Virgin Mary, that he ſuffered under Pontius Pilate, and that on the Third day he aroſe again from the Dead, and ſitteth now in Glory at the right hand of God the Father.

After this he was had to a mans houſe, where he remained all night in prayer, and about 10 of the clock the next morning, the aforeſaid Vicar Rowland, with many Billmen to guard him, hurried him away, many men and women following him lamenting, and others Rejoycing thereat. When he was bound to the ſtake he deſired the people to pray for him, and as ſoon as they had ſet fire to him, he prayed God to forgive his enemies, and with great patience lifting up his hands towards Heaven, he ſaid Jeſus receive my ſpirit, when one of the wicked Crew, t • king up a Billet flung it at him, and daſhed out his Brains. And proclamation was made a • the ſame time that whoſoever ſhould bring a Fa • got towards the burning of an Heretick ſhould hav • 40 days pardon. At the ſame time there was generally a great perſecution of all good men, and w • men, diſſenting any way from the Romiſh Idolatrie thorow out the whole Dioceſs of Lincoln.

In the year 1530. about the time of the fall •• of Cardinal Wolſey▪ one Thomas Hitten a Preacher • Maidſton, being much perſecuted by the Archbiſho • of Canterbury, Warham, and Fiſher Biſhop of R • cheſter and after they had tormented him, and ke • him in priſon, they at laſt cauſed him to be burnt 〈◊〉 Maidſtone, for his Conſtant profeſſion and teſtimon • of Jeſus Chriſt, and of his free grace and ſalvatio • which he ſtill maintained to the death.

Thomas Bilney was brought up in the Univerſity-Cambridge even from a child, profiting in all ki •• of Sciences, •• d in the Profeſſion of both Laws, b •• at laſt being Converted to Chriſt, he ſtudied the G •• pel, being much inflamed with the Love of the 〈◊〉 Religion and Godlineſs, an • by his pious life a • great learning, he Converted many of his fellows 〈◊〉 the true knowledg of the Goſpel viz. Mr Th •• Arthur, Mr Hugh Latimer, and others; at laſt he left the Univerſity and went about preaching the Goſpel, which begot him many Enemies and among the reſt Card. Wolſey, the Biſh. of Norwich, The Fryers of Ipſwich, D. Stokes, Sir Th. More, & others, for he much inveighed againſt the pride of the Popiſh Clergy, and the authority of the Biſhop of Rome. This enraged Wolſey, the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, the Biſhop of London, the Biſhop of Rocheſter, Ely, Bath and Wells, with many others who Combined againſt him, and cauſed him and Mr. Arthur who had accompanied him to be brought before them at the Chapiter houſe in Weſtminſter; where they examined Mr Bilney, whether he had privately or publickly preached or taught the Opinions of Luther, or any other Contrary to the Catholick Church; and that whether he had not made Oath, that he would not preach or defend the Opinions of Luther. To which Mr B lney made anſwer, that he had made ſuch an Oath, but not Lawfully. After which they cauſed them both to take an Oath to Anſwer ſuch Queſtions as they ſhould ask them. Then certain Witneſſes were called to prove the Articles Exhibited againſt them, but the Cardinal having other great matters of State to follow, the buſineſs was referred to Tonſtal Biſhop of London. And on the 20th of Nov. 1527, they were again had before the Biſh & ſeveral Witneſſes ſworn to Articles againſt them. The chief of which were: That he ſaid the Pope nor other could let any man to preach the Goſpel: That none ought to ſo: bear preaching the Goſpel for fear of perſecution: That he ſhould ſay every Chriſtian man is a Prieſt. That there was no Mediator but Jeſus Chriſt, and that they ought not to pray to ſaints. That the curſes of the Biſhops, againſt thoſe who preached the Goſpel, ſhould not harm them, but return upon themſelves with ſeveral others of the like nature, which were for the moſt part confeſſed. Mr. Arthur being fearful ſubmitted himſelf But Bilney ſtanding out, they interrogated him upon 34 Articles which he anſwered with great prudence and moderation, not ſparing to lay out their Idolatrous Worſhip before them, and for which his ſincerity he was twice pulled out of the Pulpit at Ipswich, by the Fryers there, who were his great perſecutors. But among other things, this prophetical man told them, that the time would ſhortly come, that others beſides him ſhould ſhew and preach the ſame Faith and Doctrine, that he did, which was the true Goſpel of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and the mind of the holy Fathers, and whereby they ſhould be brought from their errors in which they had been long ſeduced and led aſide.

On the 4th of Decem. Mr Bilney is again brought before the Biſhop of London, in the Chapiter houſe in Weſtmin▪ where he is by the Biſhop adviſed to ſubmit, and to recant his errors, and deſired to go aſide and to conſider of it with himſelf, but Mr. Bilney would return no other Anſwer than this: Fiat Juſtitia & Judicium in nomine D • mina, Let Juſtice and Judgment be done in Gods Name, &c. and he being ſtill urged to abjure, he would anſwer no otherwiſe only adding: Haec eſt dies quam fecit Dominus, exultemus & laetemur in ea This is the Lords day, and we will rejoyce in it. Then the Biſhop puting off his Cap, after a little deliberation ſtood up, and ſaid: In nomine Patris, & filii, & Spiritus ſancti Amen. Exurgat Deus & diſſipentur inimici ejus. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, let God ariſe, and his Enemies be ſcattered. Then Croſſing his forhead and Breaſt, he gave ſentence thus. I by the Conſent and Council of my Brethren here preſent do pronounce Th • . B ln • who has here been accuſed of divers Ar • icles, to be Convict of Haereſie. And for the reſt of the ſ • ntence, we take deliberation till to morrow, Thus for 3 times Mr. Bilney with great Courage, withſtood both their flatteries and threats, when at laſt for his further tryal, that it pleaſed God weakneſs ſhould appear, being tyred with their importunities • horow Infirmity, rather than Conviction ſubmitted himſelf, and openly read his Abjuration and ſubſc • ibed it: after which the Biſhop abſolved him, & enjoyned him penance, which was, That he ſhould abide in priſon appointed by the Cardinal, till he was releaſed by him, and alſo, that the next day he ſhould go before the Proceſſion in the Cathedral of St Paul, bare headed, with a faggot on his ſhoulder, and ſhould ſtand ſo before the Preacher at Pauls Croſs all the Sermon time.

But after this, Mr. Bilney took ſuch repentance and ſorrow, for what he had done, that he almoſt fell into deſpair, ſo that ſome were fain to be with him day and night to comfort him. And about a year after, coming to Cambridg, he was in ſuch Anguiſh of mind, and Agonies, that nothing could do him good, not being able to eat, drink, or ſleep, imagining the whole Scriptures to condemn him, and to be againſt him. And not being able to reſt, he again openly confeſſed his Faith in the Goſpel of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, being thus for two years troubled in mind, from the year 1529 to 1531, haveing a bitter ſting and remorſe for his Abjuration; but then coming to have ſome peace and quiet of Conſcience, he reſolved to give over his Life for the Confeſſion of that truth he had renounced. Upon which he left the Univerſity, telling his friend he would go to Jeruſalem, meaning he intended to go to ſuffer, and immediately departed to Northfolk, where he firſt preached privatly in houſes, to confirm the Brethren, and an Anchoreſs whom he had converted, who being in Norwich, he converſed with and gave her a new Teſtament of Tindal's tranſlation: and then he preached publickly in the Fields, confeſſing his heinous fact, owned the Doctrine he had abjured to be true, willing all men to take warning by him, and never to truſt to their fleſhly friends, in cauſes of Religion. Upon this he was apprehended and put into Priſon by Nix the Biſhop of Norwich. Upon which ſeveral of their Doctors went to ſee to reclaim him who ſo ſtrenuouſly handled matters that Dr. Cull was himſelf converted to the Doctrines he maintained. But the Biſhop proceeded againſt him, and after examination he was condemned to the fire for an Heretick by Dr. Pells Doctor of Law and the Biſhops chancellor then he was degraded by the Suffragan Ʋnderwood by the Aſſiſtance of the fryers according to their Popiſh manner, which done he was immediately committed to the Lay power to the Sheriffs of Norwich of whom Tho. Necton was one, and Mr. Bilneys good friend and very ſorry for him; but ſuch was the dread he had of the Popiſh Tyranny of thoſe times that he durſt not refu • e doing his office but he could not bear to be preſent at his death and did him all the friendly kindneſs he could in his Confinement.

On the Fryday night being St. Magnus Eve; the day before he ſuffered, divers of his Friends reſorted to him in the Priſon of the Guildhall, where he was kept, and finding him eating ſome Alebrew very chearfully, he told them that he endeavoured to keep up his ruined Tenement of his Body as long as he could. Then exhorting them with godly diſcourſe ſome of them told him, that altho the fire which he ſhould ſuffer the next day ſhould be of great heat to his Body, yet the comfort of God's Spirit ſhould cool it to his everlaſting refreſhment. At which word Mr. Bi • ney putting his finger into the flame of the Candle burning before him, and feeling the heat thereof, he ſaid, I feel by experience, and have known it long by Philoſophy, that Fire by Gods Ordination is naturally hot, but yet I am perſwaded by Gods holy Word, that many who have experimented the ſame, have felt no heat, and in the fire no Conſumption; and I conſtantly believe, however the Stubble of my Body may burn and be waſted by the outward fire, yet my ſoul and Spirit ſhall without pain be purified thereby, with Joy unſpeakable. Then he recited theſe Scriptures. Fear not for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by my Name, thou art mine own. When thou goeſt thorow the water I will be with thee, and the ſtrong floods ſhall not overthrow thee. When thou walkeſt in the fire it ſhall not burn thee, and the flame ſhall not kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Iſrael.

The next in order that ſuffered the torment of the flames, by the bloody perſecuting Papiſts, was Mr. Richard Bayfeild in the year 1532, in the month of Novem in Smithfieild. He was ſometimes a Monk of Bury converted by Doctor Barnes, and two others of London the ſaid Doctor giving him a Teſtament of Tindals Tranſlation, and other godly books in Engliſh, which ſo wrought upon this Monk, that he made them his dayly ſtudy, till at laſt he was found out by ſome of the Fryers of the Covent, & was by them gaged and cruelly whipped▪ and impriſoned in the Houſe, and put in the Stocks for 3 quarters of a year, ere Doctor Barnes could get him out, which he at laſt effected by means of one Dr. Ruffam his friend one of the ſame Houſe. Dr. Barnes had him with him to Cambridge, where he ſtudied, and profited ſo well that he never more returned to his Covent, but went to Lond. where he hid himſelf for a while, till he got beyond ſea, where he was very uſefull and aſſiſted Tindal and Frith, but coming over again to London, and lodging in Bucklersbury, he was betray'd; being dogg'd thence to his Bookbinders in Mark lan • , was there taken and carryed to the Lollards Tower, where finding one Parſon Patmore impriſoned for the ſame Doctrine, he wonderfully ſtrengthen'd him, & confirm'd him by his diſcourſe; which being perceived, they cauſed Mr. Bayfeild to be removed to the Biſhops Colehouſe. As for the Parſon he was afterwards, adjudged by the Biſhop to perpetual Impriſonment, from which he was at laſt delivered by the Kings Pardon. But as for Mr. Bayfeld, he being now in the Colehouſe, was more Cruelly handled than before, for they tied him to the Wall by the neck, middle, and legs, to force him to accuſe others, but he would not. Several Articles were put in againſt him, and among the reſt this, viz. that he ſhould ſay all laud & praiſe ſhould be given to God alone, and not to Saints or Creatures. He very learnedly anſwered all the Articles put in againſt him, and offered to diſpute with the moſt learned of them, the points which he aſſerted, but they had other more powerfull Weapons to fight with than words, the Papal Juriſdiction by which they condemned him, firſt for a relapſed Heretick, and then ſentenced him to be degraded, upon which Mr. Bayfeild being moved more than Ordinary, ſaid to the Biſhop who had pronounced the ſentence againſt him. The Life of you of the ſpirituality is ſo evil, that ye be hereticks, for ye do not only live evilly, but ye maintain evil living contrary to the Goſpel of Chriſt, and the true belief of Chriſts Church. Upon which they proceeded actually to degrade him; which done they delivered him over to the Secular power, who received him into their Juriſdiction, without any Writ, but only by virtue of the Biſh. Letters, according to a Stature made, Hen. 4. when they had degraded Mr. Bayfeild, the Biſhop being preſent, ſtruck him with his Croſier Staff that he had in his hand, on the breſt, with ſuch violence, that he overturned Mr. Bayfeild, who was on his knees before him, and falling back on the pavement broke his head, ſo that he lay a while ſtun'd and in a ſwone, ere they could bring him to himſelf. When he ſaid I rejoyce that I am delivered from the Church of Antichriſt, and that I now am of the true Church of Chriſt militant on Earth, and truſt that ere long I ſhall be in Heaven with Jeſus Chriſt, and the Church triumphant for ever. From the Quire they had him to Newgate, and thence after an hours time which he ſpent in prayer, they led him to Smithfield, who went very chearfully, and there for want of a ſpeedy fire, he was half an hour alive after they had enkindled the fewel, and when that his left arm was burning and on a flame, he rub'd it with his right, till it fell off into the fire from his body, and then he continued in prayer, to the end without moving. This was the end of this godly ſtout Martyr on the 20 of Nov. 1532.

The next that dyed by the hands of the perſecuting Papiſts for his Religion, was one Tewksbury a Leather ſeller of London, being converted by reading the Teſtament of Mr. Tyndel in Engliſh, and was ſo well verſt in all points of his Religion, that he diſputed it before Biſhop Tonſtall and his Prieſts for 7 days together, to their great wonder and amazement; they being not a little troubled and aſhamed, that a Lay ignorant man (as they accounted him) ſhould be able, by the power of the Scriptures, to reſiſt and overthrow all their Arguments. The Biſhop often urged him to recant his hereſies which he ſo well defended, but he anſwered them that he no way erred from the true doctrine of the ancient mother Church. After which many Articles were objected againſt him, to which he gave his particular Anſwers, but at laſt, being thorow many importunities and threats perſwaded, the fleſh being weak, he recanted and ſubmitted himſelf to penance which was, That he ſhould keep his abjuration under pain of ſuffering for his relapſe, That the next Sunday he ſhould openly bear a faggot at Pauls Croſs, and the Wedneſday following another in Newgate Market and Cheapſide: and on the Fryday in Cornhill and Leadenhall; that he ſhould on either ſleeve wear an Embroidered faggot as a badg all his Life time. That he ſhould enter the Monaſtery of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield on the Whiteſon Eve following, and there abide, and not come out unleſs releaſed by the Biſhop of London. And that he ſhould never go out of the Dioceſs of London without the ſpecial leave of the Biſhop, or his ſucceſſors. But nothwithſtanding this, about two years after, the ſaid John Tewksbury being ſtrengthned in his faith, by the Conſtancy and example of Mr. Bayfeild before mentioned, he made an open profeſſion of his Faith, upon which he was apprehended and carried before the Biſhop of London, and St. Tho. Moor, where divers Articles were preferred againſt him, one of which was that he confeſſed, that his Abjuration made before Cuthbert Biſhop of London was done by Compulſion, and againſt his Conſcience: and that he had taken off the Badges of faggots on his ſleeves without order and many others ſuch like, moſt of which the ſaid Tewksbury confeſſed; upon which the Biſhop pronounced ſentence againſt him, and delivered him to the Sheriffs of London: who cauſed him to be burnt in Smithfield upon St. Thomas Eve, being 20th of Decem. 1532. having no writ of the Kings but the Biſhops Warrant.

Edward Freeſe a Painter by profeſſion, who being at Colcheſter, and painting certain cloaths for an Inn there, wrote ſeveral places of Scripture by which they perceived him to be one of them they termed Hereticks, upon which they ſeiſed him, and carryed him away forcibly to London, to the Biſhop, and ſo to Fulham where the Biſhop then was, where he was impriſoned and handled cruelly with ſome others of Eſſex, who had profeſſed al • o t • e Goſpel; moſt of their bread being made of Sawduſt: then friends and wives being denyed to come to ſee them, and the wife of this Freeſe preſſing in at the Gate, deſirous to ſee her husband, the Porter gave her ſuch a Kick on the Belly, ſhe being then big with child, that the child was immediatly deſtroyed, and ſhe not long after dyed of the ſame. The Painter would ever and anon be writing things on the wall of the priſon, and among the reſt, one day, he wrote, Doctor Dodipal would make me beleive the Moon is made of green cheeſe; upon which they put manacles upon his wriſts, ſo that he could not uſe his hands, ſo much as to comb his Head, which they forced him to wear, till they eat into his fleſh, and that the fleſh of his wriſts ſtood up higher than the Irons. After a long ſuit of ſome of his friends, he was brought out of priſon to anſwer at the Conſiſtory, having been kept 3 days before without either meat or drink, ſo that when he came forth he was ſo much amazed, and out of his ſenſes, with their cruel handling him in priſon, that he Stared like a wild man, and could anſwer nothing to any Queſtion was asked him, but that my Lord Biſhop is a good Man. They perceiving him diſtracted they ſent him to an Abby, but he never came again to his perfect mind.

Not long after, the Brother of this man named Valentine Freeſe, and his Wife; were both burned at York. The ſame year, this Biſhop of London, cauſed all the Bibles he could get of Tindals tranſlation, to be publickly burnt.

The next we ſhall mention, is one Mr. James Baynham a Lawyer and ſon to a Knight of Gloceſterſhire well skill'd both in the Latine & Greek tongues, and bred up in the Study of the Laws, of a moſt vertuous diſpoſition, affable Converſation, and extreamly addicted to prayer and meditation, and reading the holy Scriptures, viſiting poor priſoners and relieving them, juſt to his Clients, giving good Council to the poor and widdows without fees, and was a ſingular pattern for all Lawyers, but notwithſtanding his good and holy Life, he was accuſed before Sr. Tho. Moor then Chancellor, arreſted, and carryed out of the Middle Temple to the Chancellours Houſe at Chelſey, where he remained in free priſon for a time, but when Sr. Tho. Moor ſaw he could not pervert him, he handled him cruelly, and cauſed him to be whipt at a Tree in his Garden called the Tree of Truth, and after that ſent him to The Tower to be rack'd, Sr. Tho. Moor himſelf being preſent, till they had lamed him, all to have him accuſe others, which he would not. And his wife becauſe ſhe would not diſcover where his Books were they ſent to the Fleet, and confiſcated his Goods. After this, they had him before the Biſhop of London, and interrogated him upon ſeveral Articles, to which he anſwered with great prudence: The Biſhop told him now was the time for him to ſave his Life or to loſe it, and Sr. Tho Moor uſeing many flattering ſpeeches, they at laſt brought him to ſubmit, tho he could not yield to many of the Articles which he had ſpoken againſt, upon which he was ſent to the Counter, and from thence was ſeveral times carryed before the Biſhop and Conſiſtory, being Exceeding unwilling to abjure, but at laſt for fear ſeeing the Biſhop ready to give a definitive ſentence againſt him, he read and ſigned his abjuration; which done, he was fined 20 l. to the King, and penance enjoyned him: which was, the next Sunday to go in the Proceſſion with a faggot on his ſhouldier at Pauls Croſs, & ſo to ſtand before the Preacher during the Sermon, and after that to remain in Priſon during the Biſhops pleaſure. This done Anno 1532, not long after he was releaſed, but he had ſcearce been a month at home but he continually bewailing his fact of Abjuration, could have no peace in his mind, till he had declared his offence, to all his Acquaintance, asking God forgiveneſs, and the World, before a private Congregation, held in a Warehouſe in Bowlane. And the next Sunday after, he went to ſaint Auſtins Church openly, with a Bible in his hand, and there before them all; with weeping, declared he had denyed God, an • prayed him to forgive his weakneſs, and all goo • people to take warning by him and not to do as h • had done; for the Hell he had felt in his Conſcienc • was greater far than the torment of Burning: upon this he was apprehended and ſent to the Tower and a Proceſs was drawn up againſt him, as a relapſed Heretick: They firſt cauſed him to be whipt and after ſeveral appearances, and ſending him t • ſeveral priſons where they moſt curelly handled him, they at laſt pronounced the ſentence againſ • him, and delivered him to Sr. Richard Greſham Sheriff, who ſent him to Newgate, from whence on the la •• of April 1533. he was had to Smithfield, and there burned. It was obſerved, that being at the Stake in the midſt of the Flames, when his Arms and Leggs were half conſumed▪ he ſpake theſe Words O ye Papiſts, behold ye look for miracles, and here now you may ſee a miracle, for in this fire feel no more pain, than if I were on a Bed of down, but 'tis to me as a bed of Roſes: After which he gave up the Ghoſt.

About the ſame time John Bent a Taylor living at the Deviſes in Wiltſheir, was there burnt, for denying the Real preſence in the Sacrament of the Altar. And alſo in the ſame county one Trapnell was burnt, for profeſſing the Goſpel, at a Town called Broadford.

The ſame year, many Images were thrown down in the night, by ſeveral perſons, who were troubled at the groſs Idolatry committed before them, by the ſottiſh and ignorant Papiſts; as the the Images and Croſſes in Stoke park. The Image of the Crucifix in the highway by Cogſhall. the Image of St. Petronel in the Church of great Harſeleigh. The Image of St. Chriſtopher by Sudbury. and the Image of St. Petronil in a Chappel by Ipſwich. But above all the reſt, the loſs of the Image or Rood of Dovercourt vext them moſt, being a noted and famous Image, and to which many ignorant devotees reſorted, the Church door ſtanding open night and day, for they had cauſed it to be reported, and 'twas alſo believed by the ſuperſtitious People, that none was able to ſhut the Church door being kept open by this Image, upon which one R • bert King of Dedham, Robert Debnam of Eaſtergolt, Nicholas Marſh of Dodham, and Robert Gardner of the ſame place, agreed together one night to ſee if this feigned miracle were true or falſe, their conſciences troubling them to ſee the Honour of God to be blaſphemed by the jugling Prieſts, impoſeing upon the ſilly People. The roodſtood about 10 miles from the place where they dwelt, which they travelled on foot, and found the Church door ſtanding open, which they found they were able to ſhut, and that the dead Image was not able to hinder them, nor to defend it ſelf, for they made bold to take it down out of its ſhrine, with the Tapers burning before it, and carried it about a quarter of a mile from the place, and then ſet it on fire, which being dry, burned very eaſily. But great inquiry being made after theſe perſons, they were at laſt found, and apprehended, all but Robert Gardner who fled and eſcaped, the other three before mentioned were hang'd • n chaines about half a year after. Robert King was hang'd at Dednam, Robert Debnam at Cattwaycauſe, and Nicholas Marſh at Dovercourt.

The next whoſe hiſtory we ſhall briefly recite, • s Mr. John Frith who was a young man of godly • ife and ſingular learning, being bred in Cambridge, Skilful in the Latine and Greek tongues, and well • ead in Philoſophy and Divinity, of a pregnant wit • nd excellent Converſation, This man falling into • he Acquaintance of Mr. Tindal, was by his means Converted, and owned the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt in • incerity of heart. He being Batchelour of Arts a • ong other noted and learned men who were pickt out to furniſh Cardinal Woolſies new erected Colledg, called Chriſt Colledg in Oxford, was choſen for one: among whom many had received the light of the Goſpel, and often conferred together privately of the ſame, which coming to the Cardinals ear, he cauſed them, and among the reſt this John Frith to be caſt into Priſon, in a ſtinking Cave within the Colledge, where their Salt-fiſh was laid, ſo that thorow the Stink thereof many of them were infected and dyed: 3 of them dyed within one week one of another, having nothing given them to ear, but Salt-fiſh from February to the midſt of A • g • ſt. John Frith eſcaping Death was at laſt rel • aſed out of Priſon and Confined only not to go 10 miles out of Oxford, but he not daring to truſt himſelf among thoſe wolves, that ſought to devour him, • e made his eſcape, and got away beyond ſea. But after that coming back again into his native Country, and being at Reading in poor cloaths, he was taken for a Vagabond, and put into the Stocks, where he ſat till he was almoſt pined with hunger & cold, becauſe he would not declare who he was, for Sr Tho Moor the Chancellor, & great perſecutor, being a bigotted Papiſt, had offer'd great rewards to any that could take this John Frith and had ſent to the Sea Ports and other places to diſcover him. At laſt, not knowing what to do he ſent for Mr. Cox who was Schoolmaſter of that place, whom he accoſted in Latine, and afterward in Greek reciting ſeveral verſes out of Homer, Complaining of his hard Condition. His Eloquence ſo much wrought upon this ingenious Schoolmaſter, that he went to the Magiſtrates and got him releaſed, taking him home and relieving him, being much taken with his learning and wit. After this, often diſguiſing himſelf, and changing his cloaths, ſtaying but a ſmall time with his friends, for fear of diſcovery, he wandred about; but at laſt being betray'd, he was taken and ſent to the Tower, where he wrote an excellen • tract concerning the Sacrament, which Sr. Tho M ••• thought worthy of anſwer by himſelf. But Frith treatiſe coming into ſeveral hands, did much good, and was ſome means of Converting Archbiſhop Cranmer. He maintained his Arguments ſo ſtrenuouſly, and with ſo much learning againſt all the Biſhops, that they knew not what to ſay to him, But in the end, after many appearances before theſe wolfiſh Prelates, on the 20th of June 1533. he received his ſentence from the Biſhop of London, to be burnt, thereupon directing his Letter to Sr. Scephen Peacock the Mayor of London, and to the Sheriffs, to receive him, he was delivered over to the ſecular power, who on the 4th of July following, cauſed him to be burnt in Smithfield, together with Andrew Hewet, where he ſuffered Death with great courage and conſtancy. For when the faggots and fire were put unto him, he embraced them declaring with what quiet of mind he ſuffered for Chriſts Sake, and the true Doctrine, of which he that day gave a cheerful teſtimony with his Blood. The wind bare away the flame from him to his fellow, who was tyed to his back, ſo that he was Longer in dying, yet God giving him ſtrength he bore it with ſuch patience, as if he felt no pain or torment, but rather ſeemed to be joyful for his fellow, than careful for himſelf.

As to the other Martyr who ſuffered with Mr. 〈◊〉 Frith, his name was Andrew Hewet born in Fever •• am, in the County of Kent, he was but a young man, and had been at Apprentiſe to a Taylor in Waring, Street, but being ſuſpected, he was betray'd, • nd had to Priſon in the Lollards Tower where one • rocuring him a file, he filed off his Irons and made • is eſcape, but was not long after retaken, and u • ed much worſe, till at laſt, after much hard uſage, • nd long impriſonment, he was condemned to be • urnt, and ſuffered in the ſame fire with the afore • aid Mr. Frith; when they were at the Stake, and deſired the Prayers of the People; one Doctor Cook a Parſon in London, openly admoniſhed • he People not to pray for thoſe Martyrs, no more than for a Dog. Mr. Frith deſired God to forgive him, and the People were much diſpleaſed.

About the ſame time, a very great perſecution was maintained by Biſh • p Stok • ſly, in his Dioceſs of London, cauſeing about 138 ſeveral perſons to abjure: and the Body of one Mr. Tracy to be taken up and burnt for an Heretick, becauſe he had ſpoken againſt the maſs and praying to Saints in his Teſtament.

About the ſame time, ten Anabaptiſts were alſo put to Death for their Religion: But now, after that King Henry had marryed Ann of Bullein, there was a Ceſſation of their bloody perſecution for a time, and the Church had ſome reſt from theſe Tyrants, ſhe favouring thoſe of the Religion, this being the Mother of our glorious Queen Elizabeth, who was not long after born, and now the Popes Supremacy was utterly aboliſhed out of England: And many of the High and ranting Popelings now turned their coats, and preached publickly againſt the Supremacy of the Pope, for which they before had burnt divers for maintaining it: But Sir Tho. More, and Biſhop Fiſher, two great perſecutors were beheaded.

In the year 1536 Willam Tyndal who may be called the Apoſtle of this Nation, was Martyr'd in Flanders. He was born on the borders of Wales and brought up in the Univerſity of Oxford where he was firſt Converted to the Goſpel, and after that he removed to Cambridg where he alſo ſtudied and ripened in the ſtudy of Gods Word. From thence he went into Gloceſter Shire and lived with one Welch a Knight of that County as a Tutor to his children where he tranſlated the Enchiridion of Eraſmus into Engliſh, but being there perſecuted by the Prieſts of that Country he was fain to fly to London, and thence went into Germany where he Tranſlated the Bible into Engliſh, being aſſiſted in it by Mr. Coverdale. This tranſlation enraged the Popiſh Prieſts ſo that they procured an order to have it burnt, deſiring to keep the people in Ignorance Afterwards Mr. Tyndal being at Antwerp, where he lay, was betrayed by one Phillips his own Country man, to whom he had been very kind and familiar▪ and took him to be his friend, but he was deceived in him, & carried priſoner to Filford Caſtle by the Emperors officers, where he continued till he was Martyr'd, at the procuration of his moſt Cruel enemies the Prieſts, for no other crime than tranſlating the Bible. He was firſt ſtrangled at a Stake, and then burnt to Aſhes by the Emperors decree, Mr. Tyndal crying at his death O Lord open the King of Englands Eyes. The very ſame year Queen Ann was beheaded.

The next we ſhall take notice of is John Lambert Alias Nicholſon, born and brought up in Northfolk, but ſtudied at Cambridg, where he was Converted by Mr. Bilney, and profited very much both in the Latine and Greek tongues: But perceiving the violence of the times, to avoyde perſecution went over into Germany to Mr. Tyndal, where he remained ſometime Preacher and Chaplain to an Engliſh Houſe in Antwerp. till he was diſturbed by Sir Tho. Moor, and taken and brought thence to London, where there was 45 Articles laid to his charge, all which he anſwered in writing. He was kept in priſon till the death of Archbiſhop Warham, when he was releaſed and kept a privat School in London, but not long after, he began to diſpute about the Sacrament and real preſence, which brought him into farther trouble: For by the Advice of Gardner Biſhop of Wincheſter, becauſe the King had Contracted great hatred from the people, for his demoliſhing the Abbies and Monkeries, ſaying he favoured Hereticks and hereſie, he was reſolved to ſhew the Contrary by his Actings againſt this John Lambert, and therefore after ſeveral diſputings before the Biſhops, the King reſolves by Gardners advice to hear the matter himſelf, where this Holy man maintained his Arguments with great learning and modeſty, for 5 hours againſt 10 Prelates, who diſputed againſt him, and notwithſtanding the Kings f • owns and taunts, being upholden by the Spirit of God, the main thing being the buſineſs of the real preſence in the Sacrament which he denyed. At laſt it being night and the King willing to be gone, asked Mr. Lambert whether he would live or dye, for it way yet in his free choyce; to which Lambert Anſwered, that he ſubmitted himſelf wholly unto the will of his Majeſty. Then ſaid the King, commit your ſelf into the hands of God, and not into mine. my Soul replyed he I Commend into the hands of God, but my Body wholly to your Clemency. Then ſaid the King if you commit your ſelf to my Judgment, you muſt dye, for I will not be a Patron to Hereticks. After which he commanded Cromwell to read the ſentence of Death upon him, which was done to his grief, for he was a great favourer of the Goſpellers, but feared if he ſhould refuſe he ſhould incur the Kings diſpleaſure, and do him no good. But it is ſaid, that Cromwel asked him forgiveneſs before he dyed for reading the ſentence againſt him. Lambert having notice of his death prepared for it very cheerfully, and it is to be noted, that among all theſe who had ſuffered at Smithfield there was none that was ſo cruelly handled as this man, for after his Leggs were burned to the ſtumps, withdrawing the fire from him t • put him to more torment, two that ſtood one eac • ſide of him, pitching their piked halberts into his body, lifted him up as high as the chain would permit them: when he lifting up his hands all of a fla •• cryed aloud to the people, none but Chriſt, none b •• Chriſt. and being let down again into the fire he ended his Life, in year 1538.

We cannot here paſs over the murther of Mr. Robert Packington, who was a Burgeſs in Parliamen • for the City of London, where it ſeems he was too free in ſpeaking againſt the Covetouſneſs and pride of the Clergy, for which they Stomached him, and knowing him to be a ſtout reſolute man, ſuch another as Sir. Edmondbury Godfrey, and might do them a prejudice, they reſolved to take him out of the way. They had obſerved that every morning he went to prayers, at 5 of the Clock winter & Summer to the Church called St. Thomas of Acres, now Mercers Chappel, being not far from his houſe, dwelling in Cheapſide; upon which, one morning, as the ſaid Mr. Packington was Croſſing the ſtreet, to go over to the Chappel, being a very miſty morning, and fit for their black purpoſe; he was ſhot with a Gun, ſeveral Neighbours hearing it go off, and the Labourers who ſtood at Soper-lane end, ſaw him fall upon the ſhot, but the Murtherer could not be heard of, having dexterouſly made his eſcape. The blow heard, they had not the opportunity of putting, or (according to our new phraſe) of ſhamming the Murther upon himſelf. But God that reveals the cloſe deſigns of the wicked, and brings ſuch horrid Contrivances to Light, for his Glory and our Inſtruction, at laſt brought this Murther to Light, for Dr. Incent Dean of St. Pauls, being on his Death Bed, had ſuch horrors of Conſcience, that he could not die, till he had confeſſed that he had hired an Italian to murther the ſaid Mr. Packington; no doubt as he thought for the good of the Church; and thus it came to be known, and the horrid malice of the Clergy, to all that ſpeak or any way Act againſt them, to be taken notice of.

We ſhall not omit the burning of Mr. Collens a Lawyer, who by occaſion of the lightneſs of his Wife, whom he paſſionately lov'd, fell mad, and beſides his ſenſes, this man one Sunday going into a Church, and ſeeing the Prieſt holding the Hoſt up between his hands over his head, he took up his Dog, and did the like, which they taking it done in deriſion, tho he was mad, had him Condemned and burned for an Heretick: both he and his Dog being burnt in Smithfield, the ſame year 1538.

In the ſame, or the next following year, one Cowbridg was burnt at Oxford, being alſo mad, and out of his right ſenſes, and had more need of Phyſick to reſtore him to his right mind, than puniſhment, and to be ſent to Bethlem than to the fire; but ſuch was the mercileſs Cruelty of theſe perſecutors, that they would ſpare none. However it was obſerved, that this Martyr being in the midſt of the Flames, lift up his head towards Heaven, and called upon the name of Jeſus till he dyed.

About the ſame time, one N. Peke was burnt at Ipſwich, who being at the Stake, and the Furze and Faggots being ſet on fire, when he was as black as a Coal, Dr. Reading being by with a white Wand which he held in his hand, he ſtroke Peke on the ſhoulder, and bid him recant, and acknowledge that the Sacrament of the Altar was the very Body of Chriſt, Fleſh, Blood, and Bones, and he would abſolve him; to which he anſwered, I defie both it and thee, and with great violence ſpat blood out of his Body, his Veins being broke within him. Upon which this Popiſh Doctor in the Name of the Biſhop proclaimed that whoſoever caſt a ſtick into the fire towards the burning of that obſtinate Heretick, ſhould have 40 days pardon; upon which, many ran and flung ſticks into the fire, to obtain this pardon; ſuch was their blindneſs and Ignorance.

Not long after by the cunning devices of Gardner Biſhop of Wincheſter, and other Popiſh Prelates, the ſix Articles were obtained in Parliament. The firſt of which was concerning tranſubſtantiation declaring the Sacrament of the Altar after the Prieſtly conſecration to be the very Body of our Lord, with a penalty that thoſe who ſhould deny this Article, either by word of mouth, or writing, ſhould be burnt alive, without Abjuration, and all their goods forfeited to the King, and as to the other five it was made death and felony by the Law, to deny them, without benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary. The ſecond being concerning the Sacrament of both kinds, that it ought not to be given to the Laity. The 3d that Prieſts may not marry. 4. That Vows of chaſtity ought to be obſerv'd. 5. That private Moſſes are agreeable to God's Law. 6. That auricular Confeſſion is expedient and neceſſary to be received, &c. and upon theſe Articles was granted by the ſame Parliament, a bloody and Cruel Inquiſition, directed to certain perſons in every ſhire and County, to enquire into all ſuch Hereſies, Felonies, Contempts, &c. committed or done by any, that they might ſuffer according to the Law. Theſe Articles were oppoſed openly in Parliament by Cranme • Archbiſhop of Canterbury: who afterwards ſuff • red Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary, as ſhall be declared. And among theſe▪ we might nominate the Lord Cromwell who loſt his Life in the cauſe of God, by the craft and policy of his Popiſh Adverſa • ies, but ſince it had ſome other ſhew than that of Religion only, we ſhall let it paſs and proceed to others.

After the Death of the Lord Cromwell, Gardner raged againſt all that oppoſed the Papal power at his pleaſure, having now got an Act of Parliament to their bloody minds: and now 3 noted Divines ſuffered together in Smithfield, which I ſhall briefly mention. The firſt was Doctor Robert Barnes, who having been bred abroad at Lovain, and alſo at the Univerſity of Cambridg, was made Prior and Maſter of the Houſe of the Auguſtines, where much to his praiſe he advanced the knowledg of good Letters, and cauſed the Epiſtles of St. Paul to be read, cauſing diſputations of the ſame publickly, which ſeemed ſtrange to the blind and Ignorant Scholars. His firſt Sermon that he made in defence of the truth was at St. Edward's Church belonging to Trinity Hall in Cambridge, the Sunday before Chriſtmaſs day, for which he was accuſed of Hereſie, by two Fellows of Kings Hall, and Articles drawn up againſt him, and not long after he was publickly arreſted by a Serjeant at Arms from London, and the Univerſity was ſearched for Luthers Books: Dr. Barnes was immediately had away to London, and brought before Cardinal Woolſie, who was then in power. After a long diſcourſe with him, the Cardinal being highly offended with him, for his preaching againſt his Pomp, Power, and Dignity, ſeeing he could not cauſe him to recant, but ſtood in the juſtification of what he had publickly delivered according to his Conſcience & the Scriptures, he ſent him to the Fleet, from whence he was had again before the Cardinal, and by the importunity of Gardner, Fox, and others, he was perſwaded at laſt to abjure, and with ſome of the men of the Stillyard, accuſed alſo for Lollardy, he publickely bore a faggot. After which he was remanded to the Fleet, and thence was removed to Auſtins Fryer's in London, where being Complained againſt to the Cardinal, by thoſe who ſought his Life he was removed again to Auſtin Fryer's in Northampton, with intent to have him burnt: But he eſcaped thence, leaving a Letter, as if thorow deſpair hehad gone to drown himſelf, that they might not purſue him, ſo that whilſt they were ſearching the River for his Body, he made his eſcape to London, and thence beyond the ſeas, where he wrote a Book intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum, with a ſupplication to King Henry. There he grew Familiar with Luther, Melancthon Pomeran, the Duke of Saxony and others, and was not long after ſent over by the King of Denmark, as his Ambaſſador into England, where Sir Tho. Moor ſought his Life but, Cromwell ſtood his friend: After that, in the time of Queen Ann, he returned into England, and was ſent by the King as his Embaſſador to the Duke of Cleve. But Gardner getting into the favour of the King, never left till he had undermined Dr. Barne • who was at laſt ſent to the Tower, together with Thomas Garrat, and Mr. Hierom, from whence they never came till they were carried to their Martyrdom.

Thomas Garrat was Curate in Honylane in London, and having received the knowledge of the truth, endeavoured all he could to promote it, and haveing a parcel of Tyndols tranſlation of the new Teſtament, and other books treating of the Scriptures, he went privately to Oxf rd to ſell them there, to thoſe he knew well aff • cted to the Goſpel. But his Adverſar • es having their ſpies in every Corner had notice of 〈◊〉 , • nd imm • d • a •• , ſome were ſent to apprehend both him and his books at Oxford, that they might be both burnt together, and after great ſearch he was taken, but made his eſcape, intending to fly into the weſt, but was purſued and taken again and impriſoned, and after much trouble was forced ag • inſt his Conſcience to abjure: After which he fled again from place to place, for fear of his perſecutors, but was t • k •• 〈◊〉 by the diligence of his Adverſaries, and ſ • nt to the Tower, from whence he was c • r •• ed to the Stake and burnt with his Companions, Dr. Barnes and Mr. Hierome.

The 3d Companion in this glorious ſuffering was Mr; William Hier •• , who was vicar of Stepney and a diligent preacher of God's word, for the comfort and edification of the People, and had preached divers ſermons with intent to implant in the Conſciences of men the ſincere Truth of Chriſtian Religion, and to weed out of mens minds traditions, dreams, and Popiſh fanſies, in the doing of which he had contracted the Hatred of the Papiſts, who were utter enemies of the Goſpel of Chriſt: and for this they ſought this good man's Life: The occaſion they took from a Sermon which he preached at Paul's Croſs the fourth Sunday in Lent, in which, ſpeaking of Sarah and Hagar, he ſaid thoſe who were born of the free Woman were freely Juſtified, and the one would think nothing of falſe doctrine or Hereſie could be gathered from theſe words, yet he was charged therewith, and convented before the King at Weſtminſter, for that he had erroneouſly taught the people, that all that were born of Sarah were freely juſtified, abſolutely without Condition either of Baptiſm or Penance, &c. Several other things were objected againſt him, and he was at laſt ſent to the Tower in order to his Execution. we have ſpoken of theſe 3 Martyrs ſeverally, we ſhall now joyn them together as fellow ſufferers and Martyrs.

About two days after the Death of the Lord Cromwell, a proceſs was iſſued out againſt theſe three men, by means of See. Gardner, to which they were never brought to Anſwer, but on the 30th of July being Condemned, without their knowing the cauſe, and without any hearing, were carried together forth of the Tower to Smithfield to be burnt. Then Dr. Barnes made his proteſtation againſt ſeveral falſe things laid to his charge, reciting his Faith and Belief in God, and the Holy Trinity, and freely declared his Opinion of many things, praying publickly for the health and proſperity of the King, making 4 requeſts to him which he deſired might be made known to him; the firſt was, that he might Continue the head of the Church, and make himſelf fully and wholly obeyed and to hearken to the true preaching of ſuch as they were who were about to dye for ſpeaking the Truth; The 2d was, That his Grace would ſee that Matrimony might be obſerved with more Reverence and eſteem, as an Ordinance of God; 3d That ſwearers might be puniſhed; 4th was That he would proceed to finiſh the work he had begun, and clear Gods word from the traditions of Men. After him Mr. Hierom and Garrat ſpake ſeverally to the people, proteſting againſt Hereſie, making their ſeveral Confeſſions, and exhorting the people to Love, unity, & amity, and not to be afraid of bearing the Croſs of Jeſus Chriſt, forgiving their Enemies and perſecuters, after the example and doctrine of our bleſſed Saviour. After they had all prayed fervently at the Stake, they embraced and kiſſed one another, and with very much cheerfulneſs rendred themſelves to the executioner, taking their death with much Chriſtian patience and Conſtancy, which reſtified to all the world the goodneſs of their Cauſe, and the peace and quiet of their Conſciences.

And here we cannot but take notice of a very ſtrange thing, that at the ſame place, and in the ſame day and hour, that the aforementioned Martyrs ſuffer'd, there were 3 men whoſe names were Powe, Fetherſton, and Abel ſuffered for Popery: that is to ſay, were executed as traytors, by being hang'd drawn & quarter'd for denying the Kings Supremacy, & on their part were alſo eſteemed Saints & Martyrs, by the Romiſh Church: ſo that a ſtranger ſtanding by Cry'd out, Deus bone, &c. Good God what Religion is in this Nation! here the Papiſts are hang'd and there the Antipapiſts or Proteſtants are burnt.

And now the terrible perſecutor and tyrant againſt Gods flock, Bloody Bonn • r Biſhop of London began to rage, and dip his hands in Blood: one Mekin's a poor ſilly ignorant lad, for ſome raſh words was brought to the Stake and burnt in Smithfield, for which many cryed out ſhame of him. About the ſame time 3 were burnt at Salisbury, whoſe names were Spenſer, Ramſey and Hewer, one of them which was Spenſer having been a Prieſt and was married, and had ſpoken againſt the Sacrament of the Altar. And now upon the ſix Articles much trouble and perſecution aroſe in London by means of the aforeſaid Bonner, there being no leſs than 130 odd perſons troubled, preſented, and impriſoned for their Religion.

Among the reſt, one John Porter, a young man, who had an audible voyce, and read well, uſed to read aloud in the Bible, publickly ſet up in Pauls, by Bonner himſelf, by means of the Lord Cromwell, and was there chained: but now things altering for the worſe, and this young man reading often in it, for his own edification, and others who came to hear him read, it came to the Biſhops ears, who thereupon ſent for him, & ſeverely reprehended him for it, but the young man told him that he had done nothing againſt the Law, and that he ſuppoſed that the Bible was ſet up there for that end. But Bonner being gall'd at his prudent Anſwer, lay'd to his charge that he had made Comments on the text, and gathered great multitudes about him to make tumults; and in the end, under this pretext and falſe charge ſent this young man to Newgate, where he was miſerably fetter'd and manacl'd with Irons, both leggs, arms and neck, faſtened to the wall in the Dungeon: Being thus cruelly handled, a Kinſm • n of his with mony and friendſhip for a while bought off his Irons, and he was removed into the Common Goal, where the Felons were, whoſe wicked lives, Curſings and Swearing, was much more intolerable to this good young man than his former Irons, upon which he ſought to admoniſh them, and exhorted them to amendment of Life giving them many Inſtructions out of the Scriptures, for which he was complaned of, and again carried down into the lower Dungeon, and ſo oppreſſed with bolts and Irons, that in 8 days time he was found dead. It was reported by ſome, who lived near, that they could hear his cryes and grones after a moſt lamentable manner, that it peirced their ſouls, ſome nights before he dyed, and 'twas thought that they had put on him an Engine, which they call The Devil on the Neck which ſtraining the neck of a man and his leggs together in ſuch ſort, the more they ſtir or ſtrive for eaſe, the ſtraiter it preſſeth them, ſo that within a few hours, it cruſhes a mans back and body to pieces. Much about the ſame time one James Morton and Thomas Bernard were both burnt at Lincoln by the Biſhop there, he one for reaching the Lords Prayer in Engliſh and the other for having in his houſe the Epiſtle of St. James in Engliſh.

In the year 1544 great Perſecution of ſeveral Goſpellers, and good men, fell out in Windſor, by the means of Doctor London then one of the Prebends there, and a fierce Papiſt, and among the reſt Perſons, Marbeck, Filmer, and Teſtwood, were Condemned to dye, Marbeck had the Kings Pardon but the other 3 were burnt without the Town. Marbeck had begun to tranſlate the Concordance of the Bible out of Latine into Engliſh which ſtomached them, but they Indicted him for ſaying that the Elevation of the Sacrament was the ſimilitude of ſetting up the Images of Jeroboam's Calves in the Temple, with other like things. Teſtwood was a great muſitian, and for his Skill in muſick and ſinging, was preferred to be of the Chanters of Windſor, but being a great Goſpeller and no good diſſembler, he was taken notice of and fell into ſeveral great troubles, but by reaſon of his Skill and Art, he found friends; but at laſt he was Indicted by his Adverſaries, for laughing and deriding the Elevation of the Hoſt. Henry Filmer was alſo of Windſor and had been Church Warden there, and in his office, had noted ſome exorbitances in ſome of the Prieſts and among the reſt of the Vicar of the Town, for which he was maligned, but he was Indicted for ſaying, that the Sacrament of the Altar was nothing but a ſimiltude, and if God be in it, he had eaten 20 Gods in his life time. Anthony Perſons was an honeſt Prieſt living near Windſor, who by his excellent preaching and ſound Doctrine, drew many after him, and was much followed, for which the Popelins envied him and bore him much malice, ſo that they ſet privy Spies to intrap him, and haveing got matter againſt him, he was Indicted for preaching in a place called Wingfield, where he ſhould ſay: That like as Chriſt was hanged between two Thieves, even ſo when the Prieſt is at maſs, and hath lifted the Hoſt over his Head, he there hangeth between two Thieves except he be one that preaches the Word of God truly. That he had ſaid to the people that they ſhould not eat and tear the fleſh of Chriſt with their teeth, &c. For Chriſt ſaid, This is my Body, which was the Word of God which was to be broken to the people, with ſuch like, to which he gave his particular Anſwers: But a Commiſſion was ſent down for the tryal of theſe perſons, according to the Act of the ſix Articles, and the aforeſaid perſons clapt into the Jayle: Teſtwood being ſick and in bed, was haled thence, and forced into priſon, going upon Crutches. The chief Judges who ſat on theſe men were Doctor Capon Biſhop of Salisbury, Sr. William Eſſex Knight, Sr. Tho Bridges, Sr. Humphry Foſter, Mr. Franklin Dean of Windſor, and Mr. Fachell of Reading.

After very unjuſt doings, packing of the Jury, being ſtrangers, and not of the neighbourhood, and all of them farmers belonging to the Colledg of Windſor, and ſome of them Contrary to the Statute had but one witneſs appearing againſt them, yet they were all of them found guilty by the Jurie, and condemned to dye the next day by the Court; Fatchell giving the Sentence. There came a pardon for Marbeck; & the reſt ſeeing their hard lot comforted one another, knowing that they dyed in a good Cauſe. All night they ſpent in fervent prayer to God to ſtrengthen them, that they might be ſtedfaſt in their torments, praying alſo for their perſecutors, that God would forgive them, ſince they did what they did through blind Ignorance and zeal. The next day being Fryday, their execution was reſpired, but on the Saturday, when they were to dye, deſiring to receive the Sacrament, it was denyed them, for they ſaid it was not to be granted to Hereticks, but they might be Confeſſed if they would. As they paſſed thorow the Streets, they prayed all good people to pray for them, and Filmer who was Condemned from the teſtimony of his own Brother, only, as he paſt by his door, called ſeveral times on him that he mought ſee him, but he would not appear, however Filmer moſt Chriſtian like deſired God to forgive him, for he had reſtified wrongfully againſt Him. When they were come to the Stake, Mr. Perſons with a chearful Countenance, embracing the Stake in his Arms, and Kiſſing it, ſaid; Now welcom my own ſweet Wife, for this day ſhall thou and I be married together in the Love and peace of God. Being all bound to the poſt, a certain young man of Filmers acquaintance, brought him a pot of drink, which he dr • nk of to his Companions, who pledged him, at when drinking their Adverſaries made a jeſting, reporting afterwards that they were all drunk, and knew not what they ſaid. After they had drank, Mr. Filmer ſaid, my Brethren, let us be merry in the Lord, for I truſt in. God that after this ſharp Brea • faſt, we ſhall have a good dinner in the Kingdom of Chriſt our Lord and Redeemer. At which words the Fire being ſet to the ſtraw Teſtwood lifting up his Hands and eyes to Heaven, deſired God to receive his ſpirit, And Mr. Perſons pulling the ſtraw to him, put a good handful on his Head, ſaying This is Gods Hat: now am I dreſſed like a true Sould • ers of Chriſt, by wh • ſe merits on • y I truſt this day to enter into his Joy. And ſo they yeilded up their ſouls to God, like meek Lambs, with ſo much patience and tranquillity, and ſo great ſtedfaſtneſs, that amazed the people, & many wiſhed that they had been ſo happy as to have dyed with them.

Not long after the whole Conſpiracy of the Biſhop of Wincheſter, Dr. London Simone and Okeham came to be revealed by Gods Providence and how unjuſtly they had dealt with theſe poor men, haveing alſo lay'd a deſign againſt ſeveral of the Kings Privie Council, and many Knights and Gentlemen, as favourers of Hereſie, which being made known to the King, he withdrew his Favour from Gardner; and London, Simmons, and Okeham, Perjurie being proved againſt them, rode thorow Windſor with their faces to the Horſes tails, and papers of their Crimes pinned on their breaſts, and Okeham the like at Newberry, where he ſtood in the pillory. Thus God by his ſecret Judgment brought the wickedneſs of theſe malicious Papiſts to light, and their perſons to diſgrace, being ever hated of all men.

In the year 1546, Mr. Kerby and Clark were burned for their religion in Suffolk: paſſing over one Henrie and his ſervant burnt at Colcheſter, and alſo one Sary a Prieſt who was hang'd privatly in the Biſhop of Wincheſters Porters lodg, and that not without the privity of the Biſhop himſelf, as it was thought, for indeed it would be too long to enumerate all the publick and private Murthers of theſe bloody Papiſts. But as to the Story of Kerby and Clark, in brief it was this.

Kerby and Clark of Mendelſham in the County of Suffolk, were apprehended for Goſpellers, and thrown into the Goal, and a Commiſſion was ſent down to try them, the chief of the Commiſſioners was the Lord Wentworth. Being brought before them having in Secret prayed to themſelves a while with hands & eyes lifted up, they hearkned to their charge, which were certain Articles put in againſt them, concerning the Sacrament, and being there publickly demanded, if that after the words of Conſecration ſpoken by the Prieſts, the breed did not then become the very fleſh, blood and bones of Jeſus Chriſt, as he was born of the Virgin • they anſwered No: That they did not believe it, but that it was a ſign to put us in mind of Chriſts Death, for the remiſſion of our ſins: Upon his, after they had uſed 〈◊〉 •• g • ment • , perſwaſions, and threats to theſ poor men, to make them alter th • ir minds, in vain; ſentence was given againſt them, Kerby to be burnt in Ipſwich the next Saturday following, and Roger Clark at Bury before Gang Munday enſuing. Kirby having received his ſentence, holding up his hands, with humble reverence bowing himſelf, he ſaid, Prayſed be Almightie God; and then ſto • d ſtill ſaying no more. And Clark at p • rting from the Judgment ſeat ſaid, with ſome Vehemency: Fight for your God, for he hath not long to co • tinue. which was a Propheſie of the Reformation which happened not long after. The next day, which was Saturday, Kerby was brought forth to the marker place about ten of the Clock, where was a Stake ready, wood, broom and ſtraw for his burning. Having put off his clothes to his ſhirt, with his night cap on his head, he was faſtened to the Stake with Irons. The Lord Wentworth and others ſitting in▪ Gallery to ſee the execution; a very great Concourſe of people being preſent: One Doctor Righam made an oration or ſermon, after which he examined Kerby concerning his belief of the Sacrament to which he anſwered as before, and that he would dye in that Opinion. After which the Sheriff asking him if he had any more to ſay, he took off his night Cap, and Caſting it away, he lifted up his hands and ſaid the • e Deum, the Belief, and other prayers in the Engliſh tongue. And it was obſerved, that the Lord Wentworth and divers others could not refrain from weeping at the humble Carriage of this holy Martyr. After he had done, he bid the Sheriff do his office, and fire being ſet to him, he called upon God, Knocking his Breaſt, as long as he had any remembrance left. The people being much affected at the Carriage and Conſtancy of this illiterate man, prayſed God with great admiration.

On the Gang Monday about ten of the Clock, Anno 1546, Roger Clark was brought out of priſon, going on foot to be burnt in Bury: By the way the proceſſion met him, but he would take no other notice, but kept on his way, only reproving the people for their Idolatry and Superſtition, at which the officers were much offended: When he came to the place of execution, all things being ready, he kneeled down at the Stake, and ſaid aloud, the Magnificat in Engliſh, making a kind of parraphraſe thereof: After he had done, he was faſtned to the Stake, and fire was ſet to him, but the wood being green he was almoſt ſuffocated with ſmoke, and part of him being only ſcorched, he ſuffered unmerciful torments, and his feet being put into a pitch'd barrell, he was ſo pained, that he got them out with Violence. At length, one beating off the Iron ring that faſtened his neck to the Stake, let him fill down into the fire, and ſo he was at laſt Conſumed to Aſhes. About the ſame time one Rogers was burnt in Northfolk, by means of that Biſhop, and the Duke, upon the 6 Articles.

But I ſhall now conclude this ſecond part with the Martyrdom of Ann Askew a Vertuous and Conſtant woman in the Cauſe of Chriſt, with whom alſo was burnt in Smithfield, John Lacells a Gentleman of the Court and houſhold to the King, Nicholas Belenian a Prieſt, and John Adams a Tayler.

Mrs. Ann Askew had been in great tro • ble for a year before 1546, having been in ſeveral priſons, had before the Lord Mayor, the Biſhop, and Councell, for her religion, chiefly for not owning the real preſence in the Sacrament being alſo moſt falſly accuſed of ſeveral other Articles, by the malice and Inſtigation of the Popiſh Prieſts her inveterate Enemies; but by her prudent Anſwers to all their intrapping queſtions, and by the ſolicitation of her Friends, ſhe came cut upon bail; but the year 1546. by means of her aforeſaid Enemies, and eſpecially by the power and malice of Biſhop Bonner then Biſhop of London, and the Chancellor Writhſley ſhe was brought again into trouble, and put into priſon, being ſeveral times examined, they hoping by her means to detect ſeveral Ladys and great perſons of her acquaintance, for Hereticks; but all they could doe could not make her Confeſs any to do them injury; which ſo enraged them, that they took her from Newgate where ſhe had been impriſoned, and ſent her to the Tower, where they reſolved to torment this Innocent Gentlewomen, but moſt Conſtant ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt. Therefore to make her Confeſs, they cauſed her to be put upon the Rack, where they kept her till ſhe ſwouned, and when the Lieutenant of the Tower pittying her weak Condition, refuſed to rack her any Longer, The Chancellor himſelf and o • e Mr. Rich who was with him, threatned the Lieutenant of the Tower to Complain of him to the King, for favouring Hereticks; this was Sr. Anthony Knevet; but when they ſaw they could not prevail with him to torment the languiſhing Gentlewoman any farther, the Chancellor and Rich throwing off their gowns, would needs play the Tormentors themſelves, and asking her firſt if ſhe were with child, ſhe told them they ſhould not ſpare her for that, but do their wills upon her, upon which they lay'd her again upon the Rack, where they moſt Cruelly and barbarouſly tormented her, till all her bones and joynts were pulled out of their places, ſhe enduring it with moſt admirable patience, all the time praying to God, and when they had tyred themſelves to no purpoſe, not being able with all their torments to make her Confeſs any thing, or accuſe any body▪ they left her to be carried away in a chair to her lodging, not being able to ſtir hand or foot. She was therefore at laſt Condemned to be burnt, upon that Article, for denying the real prefence after the words of Conſecration, which ſhe denyed, ſaying, that then their Creed was falſe, which ſays, he ſitteth at the Right hand of God the Father Almighty, &c. This Gentlewoman was born of a good ſtock, and might have liv'd well and plentifully and in great proſperity, would ſhe have gone againſt her Conſcience, and have denied Chriſt: But ſhe gloried in her ſufferings, which God en • bled her to endure, and at laſt ſealed ne • teſtimony with her blood, after ſhe had been ſeveral ways tormented, and leaving behind her an example of Chriſtian fortitude for all men to follow, and by her example and exhortations, the three aforeſ •• d men, Mr. Laceſ • s, Belenian, and Adams, were encouraged, and received from her great comfort at their Death, being burnt with nor in Smithfield. Mrs Askew being not able to goe by reaſon of her racking, ſhe was brought to the Stake in a chair, where ſhe was faſtned by the middle, with a chain, and ſo were the reſt of the Martyrs, and all things being prepared, there being a great Concourſe of people, and the Chancellor, the Duke of Northfolk, the Earl of Bedford, the Lord Mayer and others of quality being preſent, ſitting on a Scaffold, Dr. Snaxton made a Sermon, after which the fire being ready to be put to them, the Chancellor ſent to Mrs. Askew the Ks. pardon, if ſhe woul • recant her opinion, which ſhe utterly refuſed: Then the ſame was offer'd to the reſt, but they alſo followed her example, being ſtrengthened by her exhortations, upon which the Lord Mayor cryed, fiat J • ſtitia. and ſo cauſed fire to be put to them, which theſe Martyrs conſtantly and without ſhrinking, or ſhewing any change endured, till their bodies were conſumed. This execution was about the month of June. 1546.

Th • Reformation begun by King Ed. 6th.

The next year being 1547, King Henry dyed, and the Church of God had a reſpite, by the reign of the moſt pious King Edward the 6th, who begun the Reformation, and fully extirpated Popery out of his Land, all whoſe daies the Goſpel flouriſhed, and the Church of Chriſt was eſtabliſhed, and he with ſingular conſtancy maintained Religion, but his reign being but ſhort, continuing but ſix years and eight Months, and Queen Mary his ſiſter a ſtrong Papiſt ſucceeding, the bleſſed Reformation was thrown down, Popery again ſet up, and fire and flame enkindled, in all places thorow this Kingdom, by the means of the Popiſh Clergy, who moſt cruelly handled all thoſe who profeſſed the Goſpel of Chriſt; being a far greater and ſmarter perſecution, than any that went before, which ſhall be, God willing, the ſubject of our Third, and laſt part of the Popiſh Cruelties, exerciſed upon the Bodys of Proteſtants, diſſenters from them, or ſuch as profeſſed the true Goſpel of Chriſt, or any ways oppoſed their Idolatry and Superſtition.

IT is not our part to give you the Hiſtory of Queen Marys coming to the Crown, which was by blood, nor of her falſifying all her Oathes, promiſes, and declarations, before ſhe obtained it, that ſhe would not alter the Religion begun by her Father, and eſtabliſhed by her brother, being reformed according to the Goſpel rules, nor how ſoon ſhe broke them, and reeſtabliſhed the Papal Tyranny in this kingdom, after it had been aboliſhed by the Kings aforeſaid; but as we began, we ſhall as briefly as we can, and with all truth and ſincerity, with plainneſs, and without flouriſhes of ſt •• e give you an account of the Martyrs, and bloody •• rſecutions, which fell upon all thoſe who made ••• feſſion of the Goſpel, or diſſented from the •••• ſh ſuperſtition, in the Reign of this papiſt •• 〈◊〉 influenced by the Popes chief bloody 〈…〉 Gardner and Bonner, Biſhops of 〈◊〉 and London. Queen Mary began her reign 1553. & in th • firſt year and begining of her Reign, ſhe releaſed 〈◊〉 the Popiſh Biſhops out of priſon, and all thoſe w ••• profeſſed the Reformation were put into priſon, 〈◊〉 a very great number, among whom was Archbiſho • Cranmer, Mr. Bradford Ridley, Rogers, Coverdal, Biſho • of Exceter, Hooper, Biſhop of Worceſter, Mr. Ver ••• Mr. Beacon, Mr. Latimer, and ſeveral other emint •• preachers, were all impriſoned for the Goſpel: th • Statutes of Prem • nire repealed; Altars and Maſſ •• ſet up, all people diſſenting from the Rom • ſh Religi ••• without diſtinction perſecuted, for Judg Hales 〈◊〉 upright Honeſt man, who, tho of a contrary Relig • on, had oppoſed the diſinheriting Queen Mary f •• being a Popiſh ſucceſſor to the endangering his Life was caſt into the Maſhalſea, where with ill uſage t • grew deſperat, and loſt his ſenſes, and when he wa • releaſed thorow melancholly made himſelf away by drowning. The Lady Jane Grey and her H • band were beheaded, in the ſecond year of 〈◊〉 Reign, for tho they ſuffer'd as civil Criminals, being Proteſtants we only mention them, and it is obſerved that Judg Morg • n, who gave ſentence o • this Lady, fell ſuddenly after mad, ſtill crying out o • the Lady Jane till he dyed: The Biſhop of Winch • ſter had likewiſe at the ſame time, a deſign of takeing away the life of the Lady Elizabeth, but God preſerv'd her for his Glory, and the comfort of his Church, fruſtrating all the wicked deſigns of he Popiſh Enemies.

In the year 1554, the Archbiſhop Cranmer, D • . R dly Biſhop of London, and the learned Mr. Huge Latimer, were taken out of the Tower, and ſent to O • ford, to diſpure the poynts of their Religion there, which they did for ſeveral days with great learning and proof, but however they were on the 20th of April Condemned for Hereticks, and no members of the Church, for maintaining Heretical opinions. After ſentence thus pronounced upon them, by the Commiſſioners, who ſat at St. Mary's, the Archbiſhop ſaid; From this your Judgment and ſentence, I •• peal to the juſt Ju • gment of God Almighty, truſting 〈◊〉 be preſent with him in Heaven, for whoſe preſence in •• e Altar I am thus Condemned. Then ſaid Dr. Ridley: •• ltho I be not of your company, yet doubt I not, but my • ame is written in another place, whither this ſentence • ill ſend us ſooner than we ſhould by the Courſe of Na • ure have come. Then Mr. Latimer ſaid: I thank God •• ſt heartily, that he hath prolonged my Life to this end, • hat I may in this caſe glorifie God by that kind of Death. Then Dr. Weſton ſaid to them, If you goe to Heaven • n this faith, then I will never come thither. After • heir ſentence theſe good men were ſeparated one • rom another, and ſent to ſeveral priſons. Tho theſe men were thus condemned, yet there were others who got the ſtart of Martyrdom before them, and therefore we ſhall treat of them in their order, • s they dyed, and firſt of all we ſhall briefly relate the Martyrdom of Mr. John Rogers vicar of St. Pulthers, and Reader of St. Pauls in London.

Mr. John R • gers a Martyr and ſervant of God, was brought up in the Univerſitie of Cambridge, where he profited much in humane Learning from which place he was called and choſen, by the Merchants Adventurers, to be their Chaplain to their Factory at Antwerp in Brabant, where he lived in great content, and with ſingular piety for many years, in which time he aſſiſted Mr. Tindale and Mr. Coverdale in the tranſlation of the Bible into Engliſh, and by the Converſation of theſe men he came to great knowledge of the Goſpel; and perceiving the abominable errours, ſuperſtition and Idolatry of the Church of Rome, he utterly forſook it, and ſhook off the yoak of Popery. Therefore Marrying a Wife, by whom he had ten Children, he removed to Wittenberg in Saxony, where he increaſed in godly Learning and got the knowledge of the Dutch Tongue ſo perfectly, that a Congregation was committed to his charge, in which Miniſtry he diligently and faithfully ſerved for many years, until ſuch time that it pleaſed God, King Edward the 6th came to the Crown, and made the Reformation in England, baniſhing popery thence; he then deſiring to ſe • his native Country, returned into England, & was by Biſhop Ridley, Biſhop of London, made one of the Prebends of St. Pauls, and was by the Dean and Chapter choſen Reader of the Divinity leſion there; in which capacity he continued till Quee • Mary came to the Crown, baniſhing the Goſpel and the true Religion, brought again the Popiſh Idolatry into the Land. After this Queen was come to London, this Mr. Rogers being appointed to preach a • Pauls Croſs, he there openly maintained the Doctrine of Chriſt, as it was here ſtabliſhed under K. Edward, exhorting the People to remain conſtant to the ſame: For which ſermon he was immediatly called to account, and tho he was at that time acquitted by the Council, yet the Biſhops thirſting after his blood, as ſoon as the Queen had put forth her Proclamation to prohibit preaching, he was • gain called before the Council, and his Doctri •• found fault with, and he confined to his Houſe: But it was not long ere he was taken thence, and ſent to Newgate, by the procurement of Biſhop Benner: And on the 21 of Jan. 1555. he was examined upon certain Articles before the chancellor, which was Gardner Biſhop of Wincheſter. Where he maintained, that the Church of Rome was not the Catholick Church, and that Chriſt, not the Pope, was the Head of the Church. On the 28th and 29 day following of the ſame month, he was again examined, concerning the real preſence in the Sacrament, which he would nor own. Then they asked him if he would come over to the Church of Rome, and ſubmit himſelf, and receive the Queens mercy as others had done; but he refuſed to deny his opinions, or to embrace that which he knew was antichriſtian. After they had thus baited this holy man for two daies, they condemned him upon theſe Articles: That he had ſaid that the Catholick Church of Rome was the Church of Antichriſt, and that in the Sacrament of the Altar there was no Subſtantial, Real or Natural body of Chriſt.

The next that we ſhall mention, who much about the ſame time ſuffered by fire, for the Goſpel; was Mr. Lawrence Saunders, who was burnt at Coventry, on the 8th of february 1555. This man was born of good parents, his mother being a Gentlewoman of good Quality, he was firſt educated at Eaton Colledg, & from thence ſent to Kings Colledg in Cambridge, where he continued for ſome time, and profited very much in his Studies, but his mother intending him for a Merchant, took him from thence, and bound him Prentiſe to Sr William Cheſter who was afterwards Sheriff of London, the ſame year that Mr. Saunders was burnt. But God ſo wrought on the ſpirit of this young man, that he ſtill continued his Studies, finding an averſion in himſelf to the way he was in, which made him penſive and melanchollick, which being perceived by his Maſter, he deſired to know what might be the reaſon of it, upon which he freely declared his mind, and how he was bent on his Studies, and did not at all reliſh that kind of Life; upon which his Maſter wrote to his friends, and freely gave him up his Indentures, and ſet him at liberty; to his no ſmal • rejoycing. He was then once more ſent to the Univerſity, where he increaſed his knowledg; and became a great proficient in the Greek and Laune tongues, and alſo of the Hebrew, giving himſelf whol • y to the ſtudy of the Scripture, that he might be a Miniſter of Gods word, which he ardently deſired. He lived a very ſtrict and Godly life, much exerciſed in prayer, and thus continued till he was Maſter of Arts, and a long time after. In the beginning of King Edwards Reign, when the Goſpel was reſtored, he beg in to preach; and was ſo well l • ked of, that he was appoynted to read the Divinity Lecture at the Colledg of Fothringha. He married a wife about that time, and after the Colledg was diſſolved he was placed to be Reader in the Minſter of Litchfe •• d, from thence he was beneficed in Leiceſter ſhire, at a place called Church Laung • on, where he reſided, kept a liberal Houſe, and taught Gods word diligently. From thence he was called to •• ke a Benefice in London, being Allhallows Bread- •• eet, which he accepted, and being minded to •• ve over that in the Country, he went thither much about the time that Queen Mary came to the Crown: At which time, preaching at Northampton, • reat exceptions were taken at his ſermon by the Papiſts, for that he inveighed againſt the Popiſh Religion as Antichriſtian. After this they had a malicious eye againſt him, and ſought for his blood, which he perceived; but ſeeing he could not now • eſign his Benefice but into the Hands of a Papiſt, • e kept both, conſtantly preaching, ſometimes at • ondon and ſometimes in the Country, till the pro •• bition came forth which we before mentioned. • et his Conſcience not giving him leave to deſiſt, tho • e foreſaw the danger he ſhould incurr, he continu •• d to preach the Goſpel, and would not fly the Realm, tho adviſed to it by his friends. And it was not long after, that preaching at his cure in London, he was a • prehended by the order of Biſhop Bonner, and carried out of the Church, and brought before him, where the Biſhop accuſed him of Treaſon and Her • ſie; to which Mr. Saunders anſwered with much ſobriety, endeavouring to prove he had done nothing againſt the Laws, or ſpoke contrary to the D • ctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles. After much talk, the Biſhop bid him to write down his mind concerning Tranſubſtantiation, or the Real preſence in the Sacrament. Mr. Sau • ders perceived that Bonner fought his Life, my Lord ſaid he, you ſeek Blood, and you ſhall have it: I pray God, that you may be baptized in it, that you may hereafter loath blood ſucking, and become a better man. And upon this he wrote his mind boldly, not fearing what they could doe, being willing to ſeal to the Teſtimony of the Goſpel with his Death. From him he was ſent to the Chancellor Gardner, who after Examination before him (being ſecretly nipped by Mr. Saunders anſwers, for that he had in the days of King Henry the 8th written a book treating of true obedience, in which he openly declared the Princeſs Mary to be illegitimate) ſent him to priſon, from whence he was had before the Council, and after ſeveral examinations he was condemned; after which Mr. Saunders at his goeing away ſaid, that he did preach ſincerely the word in its purity, and th • he now was forbidden by them to do it, with his mouth, yet he doubted not, but that his blood would do the ſame. He was ſent to priſon, where he continued a year and 3 months, in which time one that was his Bedfellow declared, that he had often heard Mr. Saunders ſay, that he felt the power of God upon him wonderfully comforting him inſomuch, that not only his Spirit, but his Body alſo received a taſt of the Communion of Saints, whilſt he felt 〈◊〉 ſweet and pleaſant refreſhing, flow thorow every part and member thereof, from the heart, ebbing and flowing like a tide of ſweet and Spiritual flame thorow his whole body. But ſuch was their cruelty that in all this time, by the Biſhops order, they would not ſuffer his Wife to come to ſee him; ſhe ſeveral times attempted it; but one day intreating the Keeper with her young Child in her Arms, the Keeper took the Child and carried him (being a Boy) to his father, which rejoyced the Heart of Mr. Saunders, who ſaid, what man would not lay his Life down before he would make ſuch a fine Child a Baſtard, and its Mother a Whore, as I muſt if I embrace the Religion of Rome? At laſt Bonner came to the priſon where he was, and degraded him, and then delivered him over to the Secular Power, (after he was Excommunicated) to be burnt for an Heretick. The Sheriff of London took him, and carried him to the Counter in Bread-ſtreet, his own Pariſh, but he ſtayed not long there, becauſe an order was ſigned for his burning in Coventry, to which place he was carried, and put into the Common Goal where he ſpent the night in prayers, and the next day being the 8th of February, he was led to execution in the Park without the City, going in an old Gown, and a ſhirt, bare footed, falling often flat on his face, and praying to himſelf. When he came to the Stake, a pardon was • ffer'd him, if he would recant, but he refuſed it ſaying, it is not I, nor my fellow Preachers, that hurt • he Queen, or the Realm, but ſuch as you (ſpeaking to 〈◊〉 officers) who reſiſt Gods holy word, and I ſhall never woke the Truth of what I have taught, and openly •• intained. Upon that they cryed our, away with • im to the fire; to which he went with a chearfull Countenance, nothing daunted, and coming to the take Kiſſed it, Crying, Welcome Life: Welcome the • roſs of Chriſt. After they had chained him faſt, they •• t fire to the fewell, which being green ſmothered • nd would not burn clearly, ſo that they put this • oly Martyr to intollerable pain, which he yet ••• tained with admirable patience, till he fell a •• eep in the Lord, at laſt, in the midſt of the fire.

The next moſt godly Martyr, who ſuffered for the Goſpel of Chriſt, by the cruel and bloody Papiſts, was that moſt Reverend and Holy Biſhop both o • G • oceſter and Worceſter, and who was burnt at G •• c • ſter Feb. 9th 1555. This man was bred a Student in the Univerſity of Oxford, where he led a pious and ſober Life, and was a good Scho • lar, but in the time of perſecution in King Hen. 8th days, he was forced to leave the Univerſity and to become Steward to Sr. Th • mas Arundel, but S • . Thomas being a Papiſt, tho he loved Mr. Hooper yet looking on him as an Heretick he would not keep him, bu • ſent him privately to the Biſhop of Wincheſter that he might Convert him: but the Biſhop not being able to anſwer Mr. Hoopers ſolid Arguments ſe •• him back to his Maſter, but intending to do him 〈◊〉 miſchief, he being a Conſtant perſecutor of all good People: but Mr. Hooper having notice of it, left Sr. Tho. Arundels Houſe and ſervice and got overſeas to Paris, where he ſtayed not long, before he returned for England and was retained by one Mr St. Lowe, but he was not long there before noti •• was given of him, and he was fain to diſguiſe himſelf and fly over to Ireland, from whence he we •• to France, and thorow France into Germany wher • he remained, both at Baſil and at Zurick in th • company of ſeveral Proteſtant Miniſters, who we •• great friends to him, and where he Married a wi •• who was a Burgundian. Here he ſtayed till th • Reign of the pious King Ed. 6th, when deſirous t •• ſee his native Country, he took leave of his friend • and among the reſt the famous Mr. Bullinger wh • at parting deſired him not to forger them when 〈◊〉 proſperity in his own Land, tho he ſhould be mad • a Biſhop; to whom Mr. Hooper prophetically r • plyed that he would conſtantly write to them, 〈◊〉 that he ſhould not be able to write them the la •• news of his death, for that, where he ſhould ta •• moſt pains he ſhould be burned to Aſhes; b • that you will hear of me (ſaid he) tho I ſhall 〈◊〉 be able to write it to you. After he was return • to England, he preached conſtantly, once and m •• times twice a day, being much beloved and followed: He had a grave and auſtere look, eloquent of tongue, Conſt • nt in his teaching, not altered by any promotion, nothing could corrupt him, pure of life, and unſpotted of reputation, of unblemiſh'd manners, of great patience, ſparing in diet, yet liberal in his houſe keeping. At laſt he was called to preach before the King, who liked him ſo well, that he made him Biſhop of Gloceſter, and afterwards of Worceſter, both which Biſhopricks he held at one time. It is obſerved that when he was made a Biſhop, he took for his Arms, or elſe it was prophetically given him by the Heralds, A Lamb in a fiery Buſh, and the ſun beams deſeending from heaven upon the Lamb, which was an Hierogliphic of his ſuffering by fire, which afterwards came to paſs. He continued in his Dioceſs of Glouceſter till ater the Death of King Edward, and that Q Mary came to the Crown, when being ſent for up to London by the Queens order, his friends Counſelled him to fly, but he refuſed it ſaying, tho he formerly did ſo, when he bad no charge, yet now being called to be a ſhepherd of ſouls, it became not a Biſhop to fly from his flock, and tho he knew the danger of ſtaying, yet he would willingly ſeal to that Doctrin he had taught, with his Blood. Being come to London he was had into examination by the Council, where his Marriage was urged againſt him, which he maintained to be Lawful by the Law of God. Then they examined him upon the 6 Articles, eſpecially that of the real preſence in the Sacrament, which he denyed, and ſhewed his Arguments for his opinion, according to the holy Writ: alledging this Text, Quem • portet coelum, &c. Whom the Heavens ſhall contain until the Reſtauration of all things. But this did • ot ſatisfie, he had ſeveral diſputes with the Biſhops and Doctors upon this point, and was ſeveral times examined before them, keeping him in priſon almoſt 18 months. He was kept in the Fleet ſo ſtrictly, that none of his friends were ſuffered to come to him, and the more to torment him Babington the then Warden, put him into a room over the Common ſhore, which ſtunk like Carion, gave him the Sciatica, and other diſeaſes, where he had nothing to lye on but a pad of Straw, and an old Coverlet to throw over him, and when the Warden was told by ſome of the Warders, that they thought he would dye, he groaned ſo much; let him dye (ſaid he) if he will, there will be a good rid dance of him, and ſo Commanded the doors to be kept faſt lock'd upon him. At laſt after many Conferences and Examinations, ſeeing they could not bring him over to them, Articles being exhibited againſt him, he was at laſt Condemned, and delivered over to the Sheriffs, he being firſt deprived of his Biſhopricks, and after he had been ſome time in Newgate, Biſhop Bonner with his Aſſiſtants came and formally degraded him. After which an order was granted for the writ de Comburendo, &c. and that he ſhould be burnt at Glouceſter, which did not a little rejoyce this good man, that he ſhould die in his own Dioceſs, and there confirm the Doctrine he had taught, with his blood. On the 5th of Febuary early in the morning, he was delivered to ſome of the Queens Guards, who conducted him on horſeback to Glouceſter, and delivered him to the Sheriffs there, in order to his Execution the next Day; the Lord Chandois and ſeveral others, being made Commiſſioners for that purpoſe. That night before his death, he went to bed early, and having had his firſt ſleep, which was ſound, he ſpent the reſt in prayer, having deſired of the Sheriffs that he might not be diſturbed by any, till they came to have him away, which was granted, and about 8 of the Clock the next morning, with a great Guard they fetched this good man to carry him to his burning, to which he walked on foot, in a borrowed Gown, multitudes of people bewailing him, crying, and wringing their hands. But he exhorted them to patience, and told them he came not to dye as a Traytor, but becauſe he would not account that Hereſie and falſe Doctrine, which he preached to them when he was their Paſtor. He look'd very chearfully, as he went, and more ruddy than uſually, but he was Commanded not to ſpeak to the people; ſo they ſtop'd his mouth, which he was fain to ſubmit to, tho it grieved him to ſee the people weep ſo bitterly, but lifting his eyes to heaven, he prayed to himſelf when he came to the Stake, and the preparation was made for him, near unto the great Elme, near the Colledg of Prieſts, where he uſed to preach to the people, he kneeled down, beckning to ſeveral that he knew, to hearken to his prayers, but the Officers did all they could to keep the people at a diſtance, that they might not hear him. In the midſt of his prayer, a Box was brought and lay'd before him, in which they ſaid was his pardon, if he would recant, at which he cryed out, if you Love my ſoul away with it, if you love my ſoul away with it: defiring them not to interrupt his prayers. Then ſaid the L. Chandois ſeeing there is no remedy, diſpatch him quickly. At which the good man ſpeaking to the Sheriffs, told them, all the favour he deſired of them was, that he might make an end of his prayers, and that he might have a quick fire. His prayers being finiſhed he pulled off his Gown, and gave it to the Sheriffs to be delivered to him that lent it, and ſtripping himſelf to his doublet & breeches, he thought to be burned in them, but the Sheriffs made him ſtrip all off to his ſhirt, which he ſubmitted to, and taking a poynt from his Hoſe he truſſed up his Shirt between his leggs where they cauſed about a pound of Gunpowder in a bagg to be placed, and as much under either Arm: then they brought Iron hoops to put about his leggs, neck, and middle, but he refuſed them, ſaying that he knew God would give him ſtrength to indure the torment of the fire without them; yet at laſt he was perſwaded to ſuffer one about his middle, & his belly being ſwell'd and big by lying in priſon, it pinch'd him much. After he was placed, he look'd about and ſaw the people round him bitterly weeping, but not being ſuffered to ſpeak to them, he lifted up his eyes towards Heaven and prayed to himſelf. After he had done, the executioner came to ask him forgiveneſs, to whom he ſaid he knew not that he had ever offended him; to whom he replyed: I am appoynted to ſet fire to you to burn you; In that ſaid Mr. Hooper thou doſt nothing offend me, God forgive thee thy ſins and do thy office. Then the reeds being put about him, he took them in his Arms and Kiſſed them, giving order how they ſhould be placed: preſently fire was ordered to be put to him, but by reaſon the faggots were green and alſo very few, they put this holy man to intollerable torments, and the wind being alſo ſtrong, blew the flame from him ſo that he was only ſcorched by the fire. Then they fetch'd ſome dry faggots and made a new fire, but all the reeds being gone, they burnt his neither parts, and never reach'd his upper parts, only ſcorch'd and Shriffled his Skin, and burnt his hair. All which time this holy Martyr was heard to pray as one without pain, O Jeſus the ſon of David have mercy upon me, and receive my ſoul: After this ſecond fire was ſpent, he wiped his eyes with his hands, and beholding the People he ſaid with an indifferent loud voyce. For God's Love good People let me have more fire, and all the while his neither paris were burning. Then they made a 3d fire more extream than the other, & then the bladders of Gunpowder broke, which did not much good, by reaſon the wind was ſo Violent; then he prayed with a loud voyce, Lord Jeſus have mercy upon me, Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit: theſe were the laſt words he was heard to ſpeak; but when his lipps and mouth were black as a Coal, and his tongue ſwelled, they were perceived to move till his lips were quire burnt away. Then he knocked his breaſt with his hands till one of his Arms fell off, and then he knocked it ſtill with the other whilſt water, fat and blood fryed out at his fingers ends: at laſt they renewed the fire when bending his body over the hoop of Iron he yeilded up his Spirit.

On the ſame day that this laſt mentioned holy Martyr ſuffered at Glouceſter, Dr. Rowland Taylor the Conſtant Martyr of Jeſus Chriſt in the behalf of his Goſpel was burnt at Hadley in ſuffolk, where he had been the Parſon all the Reign of King Edward the 6th and upon the bringing in of Popery under Queen Mary he was diſturbed at his own Church, thruſt out, and Popiſh Maſs Celebrated before his Face; but he endeavouring all he could to hinder it, complaint being made to Gardner Chancellor and Biſhop of Wincheſter, he ſent for Dr. Taylor by his Letters miſſive to come before him at London, which he readily obey'd: But his friends knowing the Cruelty of that perſecutor, adviſed him to fly and ſave his Life but he utterly refuſed it ſaying: Tho he knew they had neither Juſtice or Equity on their ſide, and that he looked for nothing at his Popiſh Adverſaries hands but Impriſonment or Cruel dearn, yet ſince he knew his cauſe to be good, and Righteous, and Truth upon his ſide, he would not flinch, but appear, and be willing to dye in ſo good a cauſe, for that he was ſatisfied in his Conſcience, that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome led them to Idolatry, Superſtition, Errors, Hypocriſy, and Lies. After he came to London, He was examined before the cruel Chancellor, who called him Knave, Villain, Fool, and ſuch like unchriſtian expreſſions (for which the Doctor humbly reproved him) and ſeeing he could not make him turn to his Idolatry, he ſent him priſoner to the Kings Bench, where he lay almoſt two years. At his going away from the Biſhop, he kneeled down on the floor, and lifting up both his hands with a loud voyce he ſay'd: From the Tyranny of the Biſhop of Rome, and all his deteſtable errors, Idolatries, and abominations, Good Lord deliver us. When in priſon, he ſo preached to the reſt of the priſoners there, and uſed ſuch godly exhortations and diſcourſes, leading alſo ſo ſtrict and holy a life, that he wrought upon many and converted them from their Superſtitious errors. He was alſo very Charitable while he had it, relieving others, tho he had a Wife and 9 Children: but they ſoon deprived him of his benefice, ſo that he had nothing to ſupport him, but the charity of good people, which with Gods providence he found ſufficient. Several examinations he had before the Biſhops, where he ſtrenuouſly maintained his poſitions, for the Clergies Marriage, and againſt the Corporeal preſence of Chriſt in the Sacrament, but at laſt, they overcame him, with their Temporal Weapon, perſecuting power, backt by Statute Law, and by it they Condemned him, with Mr. Bradford and others to death, as Hereticks to be burnt alive. After this ſentence he was degraded, by Biſhop Bonner in priſon, and they were compelled by main force to put on their Popiſh Trinkets upon his back, he refuſeing to do it himſelf, and after they had notch'd his Hair and pair'd orſcrap'd his fingers ends, and with all their foppiſh Ceremonies ſtript him of his Popiſh habiliments, when the Biſhop ſhould have ſtruck him on the Breaſt with his ſtaff, ſeeing the ſturdineſs of the Doctor, who was a portly bigg man, Bonner was afraid, and omitted that laſt Ceremony, leſt the Dr. ſhould have ſtruck him again. The next day after this his degradation, which is like the laſt unction for the burial, at two of the Clock in the morning the Sheriffs took him and delivered him to his Guards, who were to Conduct him to Hadley to be burnt there, at which he rejoyced being willing to ſeal the Doctrine he had there preached with his blood. His Wife fearing they would have him away by night (for they feared daylight and the people) ſhe watched all night with two Children in the Porch of St. Buttolphs Church near Algate, which way ſhe knew he muſt paſs, and about 3 of the Clock it being very dark ſhe heard the noiſe of the guard, at which ſhe ran out to her husband, where was ſuch a moaning and pathetick greeting, or rather ſeparation, that the Sheriffs wept, but forced her to depart and led him to the ſign of the Woolſack, where he was put on horſeback with a hood over his face, a place made for his Eyes to look out at, and a ſlit for his Mouth that he might breath; After this manner they carried him along that he might not be known; all which he patiently ſuffered. When he was come to Suffolk many of the Gentry and Juſtices of the peace met him, of his friends and acquaintance, all endeavouring to perſwade him to ſave his Life, by Recantation, offering him not only pardon for his Life, but great promotions, even a Biſhoprick. But this good and conſtant profeſſor of the Goſpel, ſtrengthned by Gods holy Spirit, refuſed all thoſe Temptations; coming to Hadley he rode thorow the Town, where the poor people were aſſembled with grievous Moans and Tears, Kneeling down and with lifted up hands, prayed to God to ſtrengthen him, to whom he ſayd (That he had preached to them Gods Word & the Truth, and that he was now come to ſeal it with his blood. But the Officers reproved the people and kept them off; when that they came againſt the Alms houſes, what mony he had left, he put it into a glove and flung it to them, having no more need of money now, for they led him ſtraight to the place of his execution without the Town on a Common. The Council and Biſhops had threatned to cut off his Tongue unleſs he would promiſe not to ſay any thing to the people, of which promiſe the Sheriffs now put him in mind, telling him, it was not permitted him to talk, ſo afraid were they to hear the Truth. When he alighted from his Horſe, he tore his hood from his head, and ſaid, I thank God I am now even at home. And when the people beheld his notched crown, and his reverend white beard diſfigured, they fell into a grievous weeping and lamentation crying out, God ſave thee good Dr. Taylor. Jeſus Chriſt ſtrengthen thee and help thee, the Holy Ghoſt Comfort thee, with ſuch like godly wiſhes. He would fain have ſpoken to the people, but the Yeomen of the Guard would not permit him, for aſtoon as he, opened his mouth, one of them ran a tipſtaff into it; when he was come to the place he ſat him down and cauſed one to pull off his Boots, then he ſtript himſelf of his Cloths to his ſhirt, which done, he ſtood up and with a loud voyce ſaid, Good People, I have taught you nothing but God's holy word, and what I have taken out of the bleſſed and ſacred Scriptures the Bible, and I am come hither this day to ſeal it with my Blood. With that one of the Guard Struck him over the Head with a ſtick, and cry'd, is this the keeping your word you Heretick? Then ſeeing he could not be ſuffered to ſpeak, he kneeled down and prayed, they Keeping off the people that they might not hear him, threatning ſuch who preſſed near, to trample them under their horſes feet, when he had done he went to the Stake and Kiſſed it, and placed himſelf in a pitch'd barrel they had prepared for him, they then bound him with chains, and ſeveral of the people being commanded to put up the fagots about him refuſed, tho threatned with Impriſonment, and they could ſcarcely find any to do it, he was ſo beloved; but one took a f • ggot and flung at him, which broke his head, ſo that the blood ran down his face; O friend, ſaid the Doctor, I have harm enough, what needed that? After that he ſaid the Pſalm miſerere in Engliſh, upon which the Sheriff ſtruck him o're the mouth with a ſtick, ſaying, you knave ſpeak Latin or I will make thee. At laſt they ſet fire to him, and the Dr. holding up both his hands called upon God and ſaid, merciful Father of Heaven, for Jeſus Chriſt my Saviours ſake receive my ſoul into thy hands, and ſo he ſtood ſtill without either crying or moving in the midſt of the flame with his hands folded together till one with an halbert ſtruck him on the head and beat out his Brains, and then his Body fell into the fire. This was the end of this moſt bleſſed Martyr.

On the 8th of February, 1 • 55, there were no leſs than 6 perſons condemned to be burnt at one time their names were Pigot, Knight, Haukes, Lawrence, Hunter, & Tomkins; this laſt was burnt in Smithfield on the 16th day of March following. He was a Weaver by trade, and dwelt in Shoreditch, of a godly and upright life, juſt in his dealings, very Charitable to the poor, Conſtant in prayer, without which he never would begin his work. This man was accuſed among others for an Heretick, & had before Biſhop Bonner at Fulham, where he kept him half a year in priſon, during which time, they often had him to examination, and ſeeing be was but an ignorant man, yet ſo converſant in the holy Scriptures, and ſo well able to maintain his opinions, the Biſhops grew imaged againſt him, and when he could not overcome him by arguments, he buffeted him on the face, and pluck'd off part of his beard and then, as he ſaid, that he might look more Catholick, he cauſed his Buber to ſhave him, and made him work every day to make his Hay: but one day above the reſt ſeveral tyrannical Prieſts like himſelf, being together they ſent for this Tomkins to hear him diſpute, and • ſ • er a while, to try his conſtancy, Bonner took him by the hand, and holding it over a wax taper which ſtood burning upon the Table, held it ſo long, till the ſinews ſhrunk, and the water and blood ſpirted out of the fleſh into their faces; he all the while ſhewing no ſign of pain or hurt, for as he profeſſed afterwards that he was ſo rapt and carried forth in his Spirit, that he felt no pain. But this did not ſerve his turn, for this bloody Butcher of Gods Sts. not content with this puniſhment, cauſed him to be wholly conſumed to Aſhes in Smithfield on the day aforeſaid, where he ſealed his Faith with a Cruel death, which he bore with admirable conſtancy, to the glory of Gods holy name, and the confirmation of the Weak.

On the 26th of the ſame month, was burnt at Burntwood in Eſſex William Hunter, who was a youth of not above 19 years of Age, and was an Apprentiſe in London, to a Silkweaver, & being commanded to goe to maſs and to receive the Sacrament, his Conſcience not permitting him, he refuſed, for which he was threatned to be lay'd hold on, and his Mr. fearing he ſhould bring him into trouble, ſent him away to his Father, who dwelt, at Burntwood in Eſſex, where he continued about ſix weeks, when one day reading in the Engliſh Bible, which he found in the Church, the Vicar and one more, called him heretick but he diſputed with them after ſuch a manner, that they could ſay nothing againſt him but they went and complained to the Juſtice of Peace, who ſent for Will. but he having ſome notice of it fled, and hid himſelf, upon which the Juſtice ſent for his Father, and threatned to ſend him to priſon, unleſs he would find out his ſon; at which the old man was much troubled, yet promiſed to look about as he did, tho not with any intent to diſcover him if he had known where he had been: but the good ſon hearing that his Father was like to be brought into trouble for him, came from the place where he was hid to his Father; and tho he would have perſwaded him to the Contrary, he would not leave him but went home with him; where he was no ſooner come, but he was taken by the Conſtable and carried before one Juſtice Brown, who would needs diſpute with this youth concerning the real preſence in the Sacrament; but Will. Hunter being too hard for him, he flung away the Bible in a Rage, and ſent him up to Biſhop Bonner, who alſo argued the caſe with him but finding that he could not prevail upon him, he put him into the Stocks in his Gate-houſe, where he continued 2 days and 2 nights without any thing but a Cruſt of Bread and a Cup of water, which he would not touch. After this the Biſhop ſent for him again, and finding him ſtill in the ſame mind, refuſeing to deny his Faith, he ſent him to the priſon where the Convict were kept, and cauſed him to be loaden with as many irons as he could bear. There he lay near three quarters of a year, having only a halfpeny a day, of the Biſhop, for bread and drink. In which time he had been 4 or 5 times before the Biſhop, ſometimes threatning him with burning, at other times flattering him and offering him perferment, as to make him a Freeman, and to give him 40 l. to ſet up his trade, or elſe he would make him his Steward, finding him a witty young man; But he anſwered that unleſs he could convince his Conſcience by the Scriptures, he could not turn from his Faith and from God, for the Love of the World, for that be accounted all worldly things but loſs and dung in reſpect of the Love of Chriſt. After this he was Condemned and ſent to Newgate, and thence to Burntwood to be Martyred. Thither he was carried, and received by the Sheriffs, he ſhewing an Admirable Conſtancy. His father and mother being of the ſame faith, tho tender of him, rejoyced to ſee his undaunted Conſtancy, he being ſo young a man his mother ſaying, ſhe was heattily glad that ſhe was ſo happy, as to bear ſuch a child who could find in his heart to loſe his life ſo willingly for Chriſts name ſake. Ah mother (ſaid William) for the little pain I am like to ſuffer, Chriſt hath promiſed me a Crown of Joy. You may be glad of that; then his mother kneeling on her knees ſaid, I pray God to ſtrengthen thee to the End, for I think thee as well beſtow'd as any child that I ever bare. The night before he was burnt, he ſaw every thing in his dream that hapned the next day and related it when he awaked, to his fellow priſoner, who was alſo burnt not long after in another place, which we ſhall mention, and every Circumſtance of it was fulfilled: when he came to the place of execution according to his dream, the Queens pardon was offer'd if he would recant, but he refuſed it, but goeing to the Stake ſtood upright againſt it, to which they bound him; and whilſt they were placing the faggots about him, he deſired the People to pray from him ſo long as they ſaw he was alive, and deſired they would quickly diſpatch him. Then the Juſtice ſaid that he would pray no more for him than for a Dog. Then ſaid William I pray God, Mr. Brown, this my death be not laid to your charge, in the laſt day: however I forgive you. I ask no forgiveneſs of you reply'd the Juſtice, 〈◊〉 God do not forgive you (ſaid William) my blood will be required at your hands. Then being ready to put fire to him he cryed, O ſon of God ſinne upon me; and it was obſerved upon thoſe words, it being a dark and cloudy morning, the ſun immediately ſhined forth, and ſo full on his face that he was forced to turn his head another way; at which the people muſed. Then taking up a faggot of broom in his Arms, a Prieſt who he had ſeen in his dream came to him, with a Popiſh book to perſwade him to recant, to whom he uſed the ſame wo • ds as he had done in his dream, Away thou falſe Prophet, beware of them good people, and come from their wicked Abominations, leſt you be partakers of their plagues. Then quoth the Prieſt, look how tho • burneſt here, ſo ſhalt tho • burn in Hell. Th • u heſt thou falſe Prophet, (ſaid William) away thou falſe Prophet, away; fire being then put to him he lifted up his hands toward • Heaven and ſaid, Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my Spir •• then caſting down his head into the flame, Smother and Smoke, he yeilded up his life, for the Truth, ſealing it with his Blood, to the praiſe of God.

The very ſame day, that this laſt holy Martyr ſuffered, Mr. Higbad and Mr. Caſton, both Gentlemen of good repute in Eſſex, ſuffered likewiſe in ſeveral places. They were both of them true ſervants of God, and profeſſors of the Goſpel, for which they had been clapt up into Colcheſter Go • l, and Biſhop Bonner coming thither, had them to examination, but ſeeing he could not reclaim them he cauſed them to be carried to London, where he kept them in ſtrait priſon, till they were brought to their publick examination at the Conſiſtory of St. Pauls, where ſeveral Articles were exhibited againſt them: and to which they ſeverally put in their Anſwers, but in fine, not Truth but power prevailed, for when the Biſhops ſaw they could not bend them to their minds, they made uſe of the Temporal Sword, or rather fire to cut them off▪ For they condemned them to death, and delivered them to the Sheriffs of London, who carried them to Newgate, and after they had been there 14 days they were carried without Algate, and delivered to the Sheriffs of the County of Eſſex, Who cauſed them to be bound & carried away in a Cart, to the places of their habitations, where they were to ſuffer, the one to Hornden on the Hill, the other to Rayly, where on the ſaid 26 day of March, they did moſt conſtantly ſeal their Faith, by ſhedding of their blood, by moſt cruel fire, to the Glory of God, and to the great ſtrengthning of the godly.

Becauſe we intend this Book for a Manual or ſmall pocket book and of eaſy price, that every one may be able without great hurt to themſelves to purchaſe it, we are forced to be very brief in the ſequel, & as it were juſt to name them to you, for indeed there was let forth ſuch a glut of Innocent blood being above 300 Martyrs beſides ſuch as dyed privately in Priſons, not made known or remarqu'd, that we are not able to give you the full relation of them all, in this narrow compaſs, which we have allotted to our ſelves: But what is moſt moving and worthy obſervation, ſhall not be omitted; ſo that you have magnum in parvo, a great Volume in a little Book.

William Pigot, Stephen Knight, and John Laurence, had been condemned as we told you before, and now upon the 28th day of March Pigot was burnt at Braintree, & Knight at Maldon in Eſſex. Lawrence having been a Prieſt, was firſt degraded by Bonner, and then ſent to Colcheſter, where on the 29th of the aforeſaid Month, not being able to go or ſtand, by reaſon his leggs had been ſo worn with heavy Irons in priſon, and his body weakned he was carried to the fire in a chair, & ſo ſitting ſhewing great conſtancy, was conſumed to Aſhes. When he was in the flames a great many young Children, that could but juſt ſpeak and run about, came near and cryed, Lord, ſtrengthen thy ſervant, and Keep thy promiſe: Lord ſtrengthen thy ſervant, and Keep thy promiſe; Which being rare, was no ſmall Manifeſtation of the Glory of God. For out of the Mouths of Babes and ſucklings will he be glorified.

On the 30th of the ſame Month, Robert Farrar Biſhop of St. Davids in Wales, that worthy and conſtant Martyr, ſuffered at Caermarthen, in the place, on the South ſide of the Market Croſs: Where he moſt conſtantly, in the behalf of the Goſpel, ſuſtained the torments of the Fire. He had been cited to London by Gardner, had before the Council, and after ſeveral examinations and diſputes, not being by any means to be wrought upon to deny the doctrine of the Goſpel, which he had taught, he was ſent down into Wales, where by certain Commiſſioners conſtituted for that purpoſe he was condemned and then degraded, and laſtly as we have ſaid; executed. Before he went to ſuffer, one of his friends much bewailing him, in that he muſt ſuffer ſo painful a death as that of Fire ſeems to be, this conſtant Martyr and Biſhop ſaid to him, That if he ſaw him once to ſtir in the pains of his burning, be ſhould then give no credit to his Doctrine. And as he ſaid, ſo he performed, for he ſtood ſo patiently in the midſt of the Flame, never crying or ſtirring, but holding up his hands till burned to ſtumps, and till one with a Staff ſtroke him on the head, and beat him down into the fire where he was conſumed to aſhes.

In the ſame month one Rawlins white was burned at Cardiff, the chief Town of Glarmorgan Shire in Wales. Thi • Rawlins was by profeſſion a Fiſherman belonging to Cardiff, a very good and pious man, tho ignorant in Letters, but breeding his ſon at School, he cauſed him every night to read to him out of the Scriptures in Engliſh, to his great comfort and inſtruction, which continued all the time of King Edward. But when Idolatry and the Remiſh Superſtition came in, for this (he ſtill continuing the ſame) he was threatned, and at laſt ſent for by the Biſhop of L •• daff, upon which ſome of his Friends knowing the Danger, adviſed him to fly, but he told them he had learnt a better Leſſon, for ſhould he preſume to deny his Maſter Chriſt, Chriſt would at the laſt day deny and Condemn him, and therefore ſaid he I will by his Grace, bear witneſs of him before Men, that I may find him in everlaſting Life. The Biſhop having examined him and finding him reſolute in his opinions, ſent him to priſon where he was kept an whole year, but at firſt not ſo ſtrictly but he mought have got away if he would. After which the Biſhop ſending for him asked him if he had changed his mind? To whom he ſtoutly replyed; Rawlins you left me Sir, and Rawlins you find me, and by God's Grace Rawlins I will Continue. After this he was put in a very vile, loathſom, dark priſon or dungeon, in the Tows called Cockmarell: where however he moſt chearfully paſſed away his time in prayer and ſinging of Pſalms. Being Condemned by the Biſhop and the writ de Comburendo, &c. being procured, he had notice given him over night, to prepare himſelf for Death the next day: upon which he ſent to his wife for his Wedding Garment, which it ſeems was a large white ſhirt he had kept to be ſhrouded in, and now was reſolved to be burnt in it: with great grief and many tears his wife obey'd him, and not being permitted to come at him, ſhe and her children met him the next day, as he was going to the Stake, which ſight moved the old man ſeeing their bitter weeping, inſomuch that Stopping a while, his tears guſhed forth and ran down his cheeks and white beard, for he was above threeſcore years of age. At laſt as it were coming to himſelf and ſtriking his Breaſt he Cry'd out: Ah, fleſh, ſtayeſt thou me? wouldſt thou fain prevail? But do thou what thou canſt by Gods Grace thou ſhalt not have the Victory. When he came near the Stake he ſell flat on his face to the ground, Kiſſing it, and after he aroſe, finding ſome of the Earth Sticking to his noſe he ſaid, Earth unto earth and duſt unto duſt, thou art my Mother and •• to thee I muſt return. It was obſerved that his very nature • eemed to be changed, for whereas before he uſed to go • tooping through labour and age, & had a dull & melanchol •• ck Countenance, that now he went bolt upright, and look • d bri • k and chearful, to the great amazement of the be • olders. After he had ſet himſelf againſt the Stake in his •• irt, as the Smith was Knocking in the ſtaples of the chain 〈◊〉 the Stake, Friend (ſaid he) Knock it faſt, for perhaps the fleſh may be weak and may ſtrive for it ſelf: but God of his great mercy give me patience to abide the extremity. After that, when they placed the reeds and faggots about him, he was as buſie as the reſt, and ſeem'd leſs concerned, putting and ordering them about him for his beſt advantage of being ſoon diſpatch'd. They had a Prieſt there, who undertook to preach or ſpeak to the People, but when he came to ſpeak of Chriſts bodily preſence in the Sacrament Rawlins oppoſed him, and put him to ſilence, upon which ſome cryed out, put fire to him, put fire to him, which being done, there was a great and ſudden flame, in which he ſtood rubbing and bathing his hands, till, his ſinews crackt without any ſhew of pain, and then wiping his face with his flameing hands, at laſt he cryed out, Lord receive my ſoul, O Lord receive my Spirit; which he continued, till his mouth was burnt, and that his Body falling over the Chain, he was wholly conſumed to Aſhes. And this was the end of this godly old man, for the Teſtimony of Chriſt, and his Goſpel, and for which, according to his Faith, without any doubt, he is rewarded with a Crown of everlaſting Life.

The next that we ſhall mention is the Martyrdom of George Marſh, who was burnt at Cheſter, by the Biſhop there, Dr. Coates. He was a Lancaſhire man bred a Farmer, married and had children, yet afterwards he went to Cambridg, fell to his Studies, and at laſt took orders, and was a Curate in the time of King Edward the 6th, but in Queen Maries days being detected, he was ſent for by the Biſhop, and being in ſome perplexity in his mind, whether he ſhould fly or no, ſome of his friends ſent him word, that he ſhould ſtay and boldly Confeſs Jeſus Chriſt, upon which having hid himſelf, he went and delivered himſelf up to thoſe who ſought him, who carried him to the Biſhop, where he ſo wiſely anſwered to all their objections, that they could not find matter to take away his Life: yet the Biſhop ſent him to priſon in his own houſe, where he kept him 4 Months, not ſuffering any of his friends to come near him, or to give him any relief, and where he ſuffer'd great hardſhips; the Porter was commanded to take notice of any that came but to enquire after him, and to give thei • names to the Biſhop, ſo that many were afraid of being brought into trouble for asking after him. From the Biſhop he was had before the Earl of Darby who examined him, after which perceiving he was not able to bring him to his bent, he committed him to another priſon, being a cold windy ſtone houſe, without bed to lye on, only a few Canvas lent Cloathes, where he contin • ed in this manner for ſome time, ſeeing no man but the keeper, who brought him meat and drink. After this he was again examin'd before the ſaid Earl, yet Mr. Marſh very prudently and warily anſwered their intrapping queſtions concerning the Sacrament; ſaying, he believed Chriſt preſent in the Sacrament, which ſo inraged them ſeeing he would give no other anſwer, that they ſent him to Lancaſter Goal, where he was put among the Felons, and 3 times cauſed to hold up his hand at the bar, with bolts upon his Leggs tho they had nothing to object againſt him. He uſed to preach and exhort the priſoners, for which he was threatned and reproved, and the Biſhop coming to Lancaſter cauſed him to be more ſtraitly kept and cruelly handled; ſeveral times was he had before the Biſhop and examined, and Articles were put in againſt him, one of which was, that among other moſt damnable and Schiſmatical Hereſies, he had ſaid, that the Church and Doctrine taught and ſet forth in King Edwards time, was the true Church, and that the Church of Rome was not the true and Catholick Church. At laſt the Biſhop read the ſentence of Condemnation againſt him, and after he had done, now ſaid he I will pray for thee no more than for a dog. But I will pray for you ſaid the holy Martyr. He was then delivered to the Sheriffs, who put him into an hole or dark dungeon, where none were ſuffered to come at him or ſpeak to him. When the time came of his execution, he was led forth to the place, being without the City of Weſtcheſter, and being come to the Stake a black Box was ſhewed him, in which they ſaid there was the Queens pardon, if he would recant: He told them that he had no deſire to dye, and would accept of her Graces mercy, being her true Leige man, but if he could not have it without ſuch Conditions, which tended to pluck him from God, he would not receive it. After that he began to ſpeak to the people, but the Sheriffs told him, there muſt be no Sermoning there, ſo afraid were they of hearing the Truth, upon which Mr. Marſh Kneeling down ſell to prayer, which done he ſtript himſelf to his ſhirt, and ſo was chained to the poſt, and the faggots put about him. Over his head they had placed a firkin, with pitch, and Tar, and by reaſon the wind blew hard, and the fire did not diſpatch him, but melting the pitch, it fell upon him, and put him to intollerable torment, notwithſtanding he bore it patiently, ſtanding a long time without moveing, haveing all his fleſh ſo broyled and puffed up, that they thought he had been dead, when on a ſudden, ſpreading his hands abroad, he cryed out aloud, Father of Heaven have mercy upon me, and ſo yielded up his Spirit into the hands of the Lord; All the people ſaying he dyed with admirable patience and was a Martyr. He was burnt in April, 1555.

On the 24th day of April the ſame year, one William Flower was Martyred in the Church yard of St. Margarets Weſtminſter, where it ſeems, in his zeal, he had ſtruck a Prieſt, that had been ſaying maſs, and had wounded him, for which he himſelf was afterwards troubled, but ſaid he had ſuch an impulſe then upon him, that he could not forbear, tho he confeſſed it was not according to the Doctrine of Chriſt, to ſmite any man. He knew the fact would bring his Life into jeopardy, and he was prepared for it, being reſolved not to deny the Goſpel he had profeſſed. This William Flower lived then at Lambeth, haveing a Wife and children, tho he was bred firſt a Monk of Ely, till his eyes being enlightned by the Goſpel, he left that life and became a Secular Prieſt, preaching in divers places; at laſt marrying, he ſtudyed phyſick and taught School in ſeveral places, when at laſt living at Lambeth, his zeal againſt Idolatry carryed him forth too furiouſly, for which he was had before Biſhop Bonner, who ſent him priſoner to the Gate houſe, where after ſome time he was again brought before the Biſhop, who ſought all ways to make him recant his opinions, but in vain; for he reſolutely told him: That the Heavens ſhould aſſoon fall as he recant his opinions, but for his aſſault of the Prieſt, he was ſorry, and ſubmitted himſelf to his Lordſhip, and the puniſhment he would inflict. But this would not ſerve the Biſhop turn, for after ſeveral Articles exhibited againſt him, and witneſſes produced, he was condemned, degraded and delivered over to the ſecular power to be burnt. On the 24th of April aforeſaid, he was brought to the place of his execution, in St. Margarets Church-yard, where after he had prayed audibly and ſervently, he deſired all People to forgive him, and all that he had any ways offended, for he forgave all the World. This done, his right hand was firſt faſtned to the Stake and Cut off, at which they could not perceive that he ſo much • s ſhrunk, only a little moved his ſhoulders. Then being faſtned to the Stake, fire was ſet to him, which burning about him, he cryed with a loud voyce O ſon of God have mercy upon me. O Son of God receive my ſoul, three times; till his Speech was taken from him, then lifting up his ſtump, and his other Arm, he ſtood, his lips moving, till he was ſtricken down to the ground, where he lay with the neither parts of his body burnt, and the upper only ſcorched, for want of fire, his lips ſtill being ſeen to move, till they diſpatched him.

you ſee ſcarce a day paſſes, without burning and deſtroying Gods people in one place or other, for on the 30th of May following, one Mr. Cardmaker, who had been an obſervant Fryer before the diſſolution of the Abbies, and afterwards a Prehend in the Church of Wells, and after that in the time of King Edwards he married and was a Miniſter, being made Reader at St. Pauls, which very much incenſed the Papiſts againſt him, and one Mr. John Warren an Upholſter in London were both burnt in one fire in Smithfeild. Aſſoon as the tyde turned, Mr. Cardmaker was clapt into Newgate, and aſſoon as popery was ſetled and they had got the Act for their purpoſe, in putting the fiery Laws, in Execution againſt theſe proteſtant diſſenters, he was brought before the Biſhop and examined, and ſeveral articles exhibited againſt him concerning the bodily preſence of Chriſt in the Sacrament, which he would in no wiſe deny, but offered to maintain his opinions as truth by the H. Scriptures: and when they ſaw that they could by no means make him recant, he was condemned to be burnt, and at the ſame time with John Warren. This John Warren was formerly condemned to be burnt in the days of King Henry the 8th with Ann Askew, but then pardoned by the King, but they now finding him profeſſing the Goſpel which he always Conſtantly did, Bonner the cruel perſecutor of God's people laid hold of him, and had ſeveral Articles brought againſt him, which he plainly confeſſed, being only the Truths he had owned and declared, and willingly yeilded himſelf to be put to death for a Teſtimony of them. On the 30th of May they were both brought to the Stake in Smithfield, & whilſt Mr. Cardmaker was in privat conference with the Sheriffs, who were perſwadeing him to recant, and which diſcourſe laſted a long time, Mr. Warren was ſtripp'd & faſtned to the Stake, it was rumour'd by ſome of the Papiſts, that Cardmaker would turn to ſave his life, and by the long diſcourſe he had with the Sheriffs, the People began to Suſpect it would prove true, but when at laſt they ſaw him depart from them, and ſtrip himſelf to his ſhirt, & kneel down at the Stake, ſhouting aloud they cryed out, God be prayſed: the Lord ſtrengthen thee Cardmaker, The Lord Jeſus receive thy Spirits; and this continued till the Executioner put fire to them, & that they both with great conſtancy & alacrity of Spirit, paſſed thorow the flame, to everlaſting reſt and peace, among God's holy Martyrs, to enjoy the Crown of Victory prepared for them.

On the 29th of the ſame month was alſo Condemned John Simſon, and John Ardley, both husbandmen of Eſſex, and in Bonners Dioceſs, who ſoon diſpatch'd them, for their Conſcience ſake: tho they offered, to ſave their lives, all their eſtates, or what ever they had, ſo their Conſciences might be free, but nothing but their blood would ſerve their turns, and therefore they were ſent into Eſſex, where about the 10th of June they both ſuffered the fire in ſeveral places. Simſon at Rochford, and Ardley on the ſame day at Railey, in which places both finiſhed their Martyrdom moſt quietly in the quarrel of Chriſt's Goſpel.

On the ſame day was burned Mr. Tho. Hawks, whom we have formerly mentioned to have been Condemned with 5 other Martyrs, whoſe ſtorys we have given you; but this Gentleman, for he was one and bred a Courtier, haveing ſerved the Earl of Oxford all the time of King Edward, was reſpited till this time, in hopes to prevail with him to recant, tho in vain, for he was moſt conſtant and reſolute not to deny his Faith, for he boldly told the Biſhop, that if he had an hundred lives and an hundred bodys, he would give them all to be torn to pieces reather than abjure and recant. He was firſt taken, becauſe he had kept his child 3 weeks without Chriſtning it, becauſe it was againſt his Conſcience to yeild to their Popiſh Ceremonies, as their Oyl, Salt, Cream, Spittle, Candle, and conjuring Water, which he decalred, was not of divine Inſtitution, but mens fooliſh Inventions. For this he was had before the Biſhop, and he being a man of parts, and a gentleman, much pains was taken with him, and he was much pittied, for that he was a very handſom man, of a fine make, and ſweet Countenance, and of an excellent ſweet nature. But all this was nothing to the Love he bore to God, for whoſe ſake he forſook all the offers and pleaſures of the world, to undergo a rigorous Death. After his Condemnation aforeſaid, he was ſent into Eſſex, and delivered over to the Lord Rich to ſee him burnt, who brought him guarded to the place of execution, which was at Coxhall in Eſſex. A little before the time, he uſed much exhortation to his Friends, to be ſtedfaſt in the Faith, ſome of which were greatly confirmed by him, both by his talk and example, but much more by his death, for ſome of them, who feared the ſharpneſs of the puniſhment, and thought it was intollerable to the fleſh, deſired of him, if he were able, to give them a privat ſign when he was burning, if it were to be born, which he promiſed to do, and if that the pain were tollerable and might be quietly born, he would lift up his hands over his head before he gave up the Ghoſt. After he came to the place, with fervent prayers made to God he with great patience and meekneſs addreſſed himſelf for the Fire, being bound to the Stake with a chain, an innumerable company of people encompaſſing him and lamenting him. After he had ſpoken many things to the Lord Rich, concerning their ſhedding thus the innocent blood of Gods Saints, and that his prayers were ended, they ſet fire to him, in which he continued long and when that his ſpeech was taken away, with the violence of the fire, and his skin ſhrivled and drawn together, and his fingers ends conſumed in the flame, and the reſt of his Arms and body burning, ſo that all men thought he had been certainly dead, ſuddenly and contrary to all expectation, being mindful of his promiſe to his friends he reached up his hands over his head, burning of a light fire, and, as it were rejoyceing, clapt them together 3 times, to the amazement of all the people; upon which aroſe ſuch an outcry or ſhout, eſpecially by thoſe who underſtood the ſign, that the like had not been heard. After which this bleſſed Martyr ſinking down into the fire gave up the Ghoſt, being a moſt Conſtant and faithful witneſs of the Goſpel.

Thomas Wats alſo of Eſſex, having been ſent up to the bloody Biſhop Bonner, after many examinations and appearances, he was condemned to the fire and ſent down to Chelmsford in Eſſex, to be Martyr'd the Lord Rich being ordered to ſee him executed, where his wife and 6 Children came to him, to whom he ſaid: My dear Wife and children, I muſt now depart from you and hence forth know you no more, but as the Lord hath given you to me, ſo I give you again unto the Lord, whom I charge you to obey and fear, and beware you turn not to this abominable Papiſtry, againſt which by God's Grace I ſhall anon give teſtimony with my blood. Let not the Murthering of God's ſaints cauſe you to relent, but take an occaſion thereby to grow ſtronger in the Lords quarrel, and I doubt not but he will be a merciful Father to you. Two of his weeping Children offer'd themſelves to be burnt with him, but he kiſſing and Heſting them, bad them farewel, and ſo was carried to the fire. When he came to the ſtake, he kiſſed it, and then ſpake to the Lord Rich theſe words. My Lord beware beware, for you do againſt your own Conſcience, and without you repent, the Lord will revenge it, for you are the cauſe of my death. After which he ſuffered the fire as the reſt, and no doubt received his Reward in Heaven.

On the 14th of June the ſame year, Nicholas Chamberlin was burnt at Colcheſter, and on the 15th Thomas Oſmond was burnt at Maintree, and William Bamford alias Butler the ſame day at Harwich, all which▪ ſealed to the Teſtimony of the Goſpel with their blood.

I ſhall now proceed to give you briefly, the Hiſtory of the noted Mr. Bradfood, a godly Preacher and holy Martyr for the Goſpel of Chriſt. Mr. John Bradford was born at Mancheſter in Lancaſterſhire, being brought up in Learning by his parents, attaining to great perfection in the Latin tongue, in ready writing, and in Accounts, which preferred him to the ſervice of Sr. John Harrington Knight, who was Treaſurer of the Kings Camp and buildings, by him Mr. Bradford was imployed, both at home and abroad beyond ſeas, and he was in a thriving way, and ready for great preferment; But God having otherwaies deſigned this then young Man, called him, to the Goſpel, and to the ſtudy of the H. Scriptures. Finding a call in himſelf, he immediatly embraced it, looking upon it as the Spirit of God, that prompted him to forſake worldly Riches, preferment, and Honour, in the way he was following, and to retire to Cambridge, for the benefit of his ſtudies, and to ſit him for the Miniſtry. He had not been in the Univerſity above a year, but he obtained the Degree of Mr. of Arts, and not long after he had a fellowſhip given him in Pembroke Hall; Where the learned Bucer being acquainted with him, ſtirred him up to the Miniſtry And Dr. Ridley Biſhop of London, made him a Deacon, giving him licence to preach, and made him alſo a Prebendary in his Cathedral Church of St. Pauls. In this office conſtantly preaching he continued 3 years, ſharply reproving ſin, declaring Chriſt crucified, oppugning Hereſies and Papiſtical Errours, & earneſtly perſwaded all to a godly Life But after Queen Mary came to the Crown, and had introduced the aboliſhed Popery, Idolatry, & Superſtition, he flinched not, neither would he fly as many did, but continued his diligent preaching until deprived of that Liberty by the Queen and Council on the 13th of Auguſt, in the firſt year of Queen Mary, Dr. Bourn Biſhop of B ••• preaching at Pauls Croſs in the behalf of Popery, the people were all in an uprore at his ſermon, and one among the reſt flung a dagger at him as he ſtood in the Pulpit, and narrowly miſt him; He ſeeing his life in danger, deſired Mr. Bradford, who was ner him, to pacifie the people, which he readily did, ſtepping forth, ſpake to them in ſuch ſort, and ſheltrin • the Biſhop, that he ſaved his Life, for it was verily thought, that if it had not been for Mr. Bradford, the people had torn the Biſhop to peices, they were ſo much incenſed by his ſermon. At which time o •• called to him, and ſaid, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Bradford, you now ſave him, who will ſhortly help to bu •• you, which proved true enough; for from this very Act of Charity, finding how much he was beloved by the people, and fearing his Doctrine and abilities they called this ſedition and a Commotion, and he was ſent for before the Queen and Council, where his preaching was objected againſt him, and was a • laſt committed to the Tower, and then into other priſons, as the Kings Bench, the Counter and Newgate into all which he was caſt for his conſcience ſake & becauſe he would not embrace the Romiſh ſuperſtition. All the time he was in priſon, he preached almoſt continually, and when in Newgate, would g •• once a week among the Felons & Thieves, preachin • to them and exhorting them, doing a great deal 〈◊〉 good amongſt them. Preaching, reading, and praying ſeem'd to be his whole Life. He eat but one meal a day, and that but little. He was almoſt continually on his Knees: Often muſeing and bitterly weeping to himſelf. He was ſomewhat tall of perſon, of a ſanguine complexion, with an awbourn hair and beard. He ſeldom ſlept above 4 hours in a night, and alwaies read in his bed till ſleep came. He counted that hour ill ſpent in which he did not ſome good. He was very Charitable and Liberal to his fellow priſoners. He was much beloved through his winning carriage, even of his Keepers, who gave him ſuch liberty, that he might have got away if he would; nay, they often let him go forth on his word, which they were ſure of, he being alwaies moſt punctual. He was ſeveral times brought before the Chancellor and before Bonner, and other Biſhops, and much pains was taken by ſeveral of the moſt learned among them, to bring him over to them, but in vain; for he ſo confounded them with the Scriptures, and manifeſted the Truth to them concerning the preſence of Chriſt in his Sacrament, that they knew not what to ſay to him, but having the power in their hands, they condemned him as an Heretick, to be burnt, and reading the ſentence to him, when the Chancellor came to the word Johannes Bradford Laicus, ha! (Said he) is he no Prieſt? to which Mr. Bradford replyed, no, he never was Prieſt, nor beneficed, nor Married, nor a Preacher, till publick Authority had Eſtabliſhed Religion. After which he fell down on his Knees, and heartily thanked God, that he counted him worthy to ſuffer for his name ſake. They had kept him near 2 years in priſon, and he was now condemned on the laſt of January, from which time, to the 1ſt of July, they kept him in priſon, where they had ſeveral conferences with him, but he ſtill kept conſtant and unſhaken in his faith. Not long before his burning he dreamed all the order of it as it afterward happened. They had an intent to have ſent him to Mancheſter to have been burnt there, but their minds altering they order'd it to be done in Smithfield. One afternoon as he was walking in his Chamber, the Keepers wife came runing to him almoſt out of Breath, & amazed and crying, O Mr. Bradford I come to bring you heavy news. What is that ſaid he? That you muſt be burned, & your chain is now buying. Mr. Bradford pulling off his Gap, and lifting up his eyes towards heaven, ſaid I thank God for it: I have looked for it a long time, it is no unexpected thing, the Lord make me worthy of it. The rumor of Mr. Bradfords burning ſoon ſpread thorow the City, and by 4 a clock in the morning people began to gather together in the ſtreets: As he was paſſing between Nowgate and Smithfield, his Brother in Law came and took him by the hand, to take his laſt leave of him, for which Woodriff the dogged Sheriff ſtruck him over the head till the blood ran down his face, which grieving Mr. Bradford, he deſired him to remember him to his Mother, and others of his friends, and ſo diſmiſt him. This ſheriff was a great perſecutor of Gods Saints, rejoycing much at their ſufferings, whereas his brother never ſaw their Martyrdoms with dry eyes, much pitty and Commiſeration. But God met with him, for not long after Mr. Bradfords burning he was ſuddenly ſtruck with a dead palſie, ſo that for 8 years till he dyed, he could not turn in his Bed, but as he was helped. When Mr. Bradford came to the place, he fell flat on his face and prayed to himſelf a good ſpace. At the ſame time, there was to ſuffer with him, for the ſame cauſe one John Leaf a London Apprentice to a Tallow-Chandler, a mere ſtripling of 18 or nineteen years of Age, at the moſt, who had moſt ſtoutly and reſolutely confeſſed his Faith touching the Sacrament before Biſhop Bonner, touching auricular confeſſion, & other points to which he argued very orthodoxically, having been well grounded therein, by the Holy Martyr Mr, Rogers whoſe Schollar he was. After he had been condemned, whilſt in priſon, the Biſhop ſent to him a Recantation in writing, and alſo his confeſſion, bidding him to chooſe, which he would ſign, the one was for his Life, the other his Death. The young man could not write nor read, therefore cauſed the writings to be read to him, and when he had heard the recantation, he diſliked it, and ſaid he would not ſign it, but hearing his own confeſſion read he ſaid, he approved that, and thereupon pricked his finger with a needle, he took of his blood, and made a mark on the paper, and bid them tell the Biſhop, that he had already ſigned that with his Blood. This young Man having undauntedly ſigned this Bill, was the ſame day brought with Mr. Bradford to the ſtake, where he alſo lay flat on his face on the ground praying, on the other ſide of the ſtake, till the Sheriff bid them diſpatch, for that the preſs of the people was great. At which words they both ſtood up, when Mr. Bradford taking a faggot in his hands, he Kiſſed it, as likewiſe the ſtake, then ſtripping himſelf, he went & ſtood by the ſtake and ſaid, O England, England, repent thee of thy ſins, repent thee of thy Sins. Beware of Idolatry, beware of falſe Antichriſts, take beed they do not deceive you. Upon this the Sheriff bid them bind him and tye his hands if he would not be quiet. O Mr. Sheriff, I am quiet ſaid Mr. Bradford, God forgive you. To which one of his Officers reply'd, you had beſt hold your peace, if this be your learning, you are a Fool. Mr. Bradford ſaw how it was; that he might not be permitted to ſpeak, he anſwered not, but ſaying as he forgave all the world, ſo he asked forgiveneſs of all men, and deſired the people to pray for him. Then turning his head to the young man who ſuffered with him he ſaid be of good comfort Brother: for we ſhall have a merry ſupper with the Lord this night, then embracing the Reeds, he ſaid, Strait is the way, and narrow is the Gate that leadeth to eternal Salvation and few there be that find it. Then fire being put to them they both with great patience and conſtancy ended their lives in the Fire, without any alteration in their countinances, being voyd of all fear hoping to obtain (as no doubt they did) the heavenly reward for all their ſufferings.

The next day after Mr. Bradford ſuffered in Smithfield, one William Minge a Prieſt, ſhould have ſuffered at Maidſtone, but that he dyed in priſon. On the 3d of July one James Treviſam in Lothbury pariſ • dyed a priſoner, being lame and ill uſed, and whe • he was dead, becauſe he was an Heretick (as they termed him) they would not let his wife bury him in the Church-yard, nor have ſo much as a Coffin to put him in, but was forced to carry him on a Table into the fields, and bury him there without Moorgate.

On the 12th day of July 4 men, viz. John Bland Miniſter of the pariſh of Adiſham in Kent, John Frankiſh Vicar of Rolvindon, Nicholas Shetterden and Humphry Middleton, all of the ſame County, were long impriſoned at Canterbury, and after ſeveral examinations and Articles exhibited againſt them, they all ſtanding firm to the Truth, for the Goſpels ſake ſuffered all in one fire, at two ſeveral Stakes, in the City of Canterbury.

In the ſame month of July, Nicholas Hall a Bricklayer, was Condemned by the Biſhop of Rocheſter, for maintaining that under the forms of Bread and wine, was not the very Body and Blood of Jeſus Chriſt after Conſecration, but that the Body of Chriſt was in Heaven only; with ſome other things concerning the Superſtition of the Maſs, for which he was burnt at Rocheſter about the 19 of July.

Chriſtopher Waid was of Dartford in the County of Kent a Linnen weaver, Condemned alſo upon the like Articles, by the aforeſaid Biſhop of Rocheſter, and burnt at Dartford, in the ſame month of July, at a place called the Brimth without the town, the Common place of Execution of Felons. As he was goeing to his Martyrdom one Margery Pooly of the Town of Tunbridg a widdow, who was afterwards Martyr'd, ſaid to him, you may rejoyce Waid to ſee ſuch a company gathered to celebrate your Marriage this day. Being come to the place, he ſtript himſelf & put on a fair white ſhirt delivered to him by his wife, when coming to the Stake, he took it in his arms and embraced it, and Kiſſing it, he ſet his back to it and was faſtned to it with an Iron hoop, ſtanding in a Pitch'd Barrel: being thus ſetled he ſpake with a clear and chearful voyce the laſt verſe of the 86 Pſal. Shew ſome good token upon me O Lord, that they who hate me may ſee it and be aſhamed, becauſe thou Lord haſt helped me and Comforted me. Near to the Stake was a little Hill where ſtood a Fryar with a Book in his hand, ready to ſpeak to the People, but Wade cryed out ſo eagerly to the People, to beware of the Doctrine of Antichriſt, that the Friar went away amated and ſaid nothing. The Sheriff bid him to be quiet and dye patiently, then puting the reeds before his mouth, he made a hole with his hands, that his voyce might be heard, but ſome flung faggots at the hole and hurt his face: when at laſt fire being put to him he cryed out often, Lord Jeſus receive my Soul, without any ſign of Impatience; at laſt holding up his hands above his head, he continued in that poſture without moving them, even after he was dead, as if they had been propped up with Stakes; being a token to his Enemies, according to his prayer, of his Conſtancy, to their ſhame and Confuſion.

Margery Pooly a widdow, was alſo Condemned by the aforeſaid Biſhop of Rocheſter, and ſuffered at Maidſtown in Kent in the ſame month. And on the 22d of the ſame month at Lewis in Suſſex, was burned Dirick Carver, who was a man of ſmall learning, yet bleſſed by God with temporal Riches, which yet was no hindrance to him in profeſſing the Goſpel, tho after he was impriſoned the Ravenous Harpies left little for his wife and children. After he had been ſeveral times before the Biſhop, and his confeſſion read to him, he owned it, and being asked if he would recant, or ſtand to the ſame, he replyed That he would ſtand to his confeſſions, for your doctrine is Poyſon and Sorcery, and if Chriſt were here (ſaid he) you would put him to a worſe Death, than he was put to before. You ſay you can make a god, you can make a Pudding as well. Your Ceremonies in the Church are full of poyſon, and beggerly rudiments, & auricular confeſſion is contrary to Gods Word, with divers others the like, which made the Biſhop haſten his condemnation. When he came to the Town of Lewis in order to his burning, the people called upon him, beſeeching God to ſtrengthen him in the Faith of J • ſus Chriſt: He thanked them and prayed unto God, that he of his mercy would ſtrengthen them in the like Faith. When he came to the ſtake he kneeled down, and made his prayers: After he had done, they took his book and threw it into the pitch'd barrel; And aſſoon as he had ſtript himſelf, he went into the barrel prepared for him himſelf, and taking up his book, he flung it among the people, but the Sheriff commanded them in the Queens name, on pain of Death, to throw it in again, that it might be burnt. Then the bleſſed Martyr lifting up his voice ſaid, Brethren and Siſters, witneſs all of you that I am come here this day to ſeal with my blood Chriſt's Goſpel, becauſe I know it is truth. It has been here truly preached, but now is not. Becauſe I will not deny God's Goſpel and be obedient to Man's Laws, I am Condemned to dye. As many of you as believe upon the Father, Son and holy Spirit unto everlaſting Life, ſee you do the works appertaining to the ſame: And as many of you as believe on the Pope of Rome, you believe to your utter Cond mnation except the great mercy of God help you. Immediately the Sheriff ſaid; If thou doſt not believe on the Pope thou art damned both body and Soul. Speak to thy God (ſaid he) that • e may deliver thee now, or elſe ſtrike me down to the example of the People. But the Martyr reply'd the Lord forgive you your ſayings. Then with a loud voyce he ſaid to the people. Dear Brethren, I ask you all to forgive me, if I have offended any of you, in word or in deed. Then he prayed and ſaid: O Lord my God, thou haſt written, He that will not forſake Wife, Children, Houſe, and all that ever he hath, and take up thy Croſs and follow thee, is not worthy of thee. But Lord thou knoweſt I have forſaken all to come unto thee. Lord have mercy upon me, for to thee I commend my Spirit, and my Soul rejoyceth in thee. When the fire was put to him, he gave a ſpring up into the flame, and cryed, O Lord have mercy upon me, and ſo ended his Life.

On the 23d of the ſame month, was alſo burnt at Stening, another named John Launder of God-Stone in the County of Surry: one of the ſame Town a Carpenter, named Thomas Iveſon was burnt in the ſame month at Chicheſter. And on the 2d of Auguſt one James Abbies a young man being by, the Biſhop of Norwich wrought upon him to recant, and gave him mony which ſo burthened his Conſcience that he could have no reſt till he had carried the Biſhop his mony, and owned his opinions, for which on the day aforeſaid he was burnt at Bury.

Greater and hotter the perſecution grew dayly, and they began now to be fleſh'd in blood, tho nothing ſatiated, but ſtill greedy of more. On the 8th day of Auguſt the ſame year, one Mr. Denly, a Gentleman, was Martyred at Ʋxbridge, having been Condemned by the bloody Butcher, Bonner. When fire was put to him he fell a ſinging a pſalm, which Doctor Story a Popiſh perſecutor hearing, he bid one of the Sheriffs Officers fling a fagot in his face, to ſtop his mouth, which the fellow did, and hit him ſo full in the face, that the blood ran down; upon which Mr. Denly was ſilent, clapping both his Hands upon his face: Then ſaid the Popiſh Doctor to the fellow: Thou haſt marr'd a good old ſong. At laſt the holy Martyr ſpreading his hands abroad in the midſt of the flames, ſung again, and ſo yeilded up his ſpirit into the Hands of God, rejoycing. On the 28th of the ſame month in the ſame place, one Patrick Packington, condemned by Bonner, was burnt; being urged to recant, he told them no: their Church was the Church of Satan, and he would never turn to it. At the ſame time, one John Newman was Condemned by Bonner, and burnt at Saffron Walden, for that he argued againſt the bodily preſence of Chriſt in the Sacrament; they told him, tho he could not ſee it with his bodily eyes, yet it was there under the forms of Bread and wine, and that the Bread and Wine was only a Quality or Accident; to whom the Martyr reply'd that if they could ſhew him a Quality or Accident without a Subſ •• nce, h • would believe them, not elſe; Beſides, he uſed this Argument ſo them: That if the Body of Chriſt were really and Bodily in the Sacrament, then whoſoever received the Sacrament received alſo the Body: But the wicked receiving the Sacrament, receive not the Body of Chriſt: Therefore, the Body of Chriſt is not really in the Sacrament. Tho they knew not how to anſwer this, they knew how to burn him for his opinion, which they did, endeavouring to convince him with Fire and faggot This man was a Pewterer by trade. Much about the ſame time one Richard Hook was burnt at Chicheſter in Saſſex for the ſame cauſe.

About the latter end of Auguſt Six more whoſe names were, William Coker, Wi •• iam Hopper, Henry Lawrence, Richard Collier, Richard Wright and William Steer were all burnt together in one fire at Canterbury for the Goſpels ſake by the Papiſts unmercifull Tyranny.

Towards the latter end of A guſt, alſo Elizabeth Warren, the widdow of John Warren the Upholſter, who was Martyr'd before, was burnt at Stratford Bow, being perſecuted by her Kinſman Dr. Story; who was ſo Zealous as not to ſpare his own kindred, for the cauſe of the Popiſh Church. The chief Article againſt her was, that of the real preſence, which ſhe Conſtantly deny'd; for being urged to recant, ſhe told them ſhe never would, do what they could, for (ſaid ſhe) If Chriſt be in an error then I am in an error; upon • h • ch ſhe was Condemned and ſuffered as above ſaid.

On the 26th of Auguſt one George Tankerfeild a Cook, ſuffered at St. Albans, in a Green called Romeland, neer to the Abby there. All the days of King Edward he had been a ſtrict Papiſt, but when he perceived their bloody Cruelties in the days of Queen Mary, it made him begin to doubt of their Religion, as not agreeing with the Doctrin of Chriſt; upon this he began to read the Teſtament, and prayed earneſtly to God to open to him the Truth, that he might be thorowly perſwaded, whether it was of God or no; and if it was not, that he might utterly abhor it in his Heart. God heard his prayer, and he found day • y a working in him more and more, which made him to deteſt and abhor the Religion he had ſo long • mbraced, and the Lord inlightning his mind, he went no more to maſs: after which being ſi • k and l • me, he could not but openly profeſs his Religion, and declare his mind, for which he was had before the bloody Biſhop Bonner, and ſeveral times examined, and as uſual, when before Condemnation he was urged to Recant, he boldly told the Biſhop, that he would never forſake his opinions, unleſs he could refell them by Scripture, for (ſaid he) you Condemn all men, and prove nothing againſt them. Upon which ſentence was read againſt him, and he was delivered over to the ſecular power. When he was brought to the Town of St. Aloans from London, being kept at an Inn there, he cauſed a fire to be made in his Chamber, and putting his bare foot to it, he was forced to withdraw it thorow the Smart; upon which he ſaid, The fleſh would perſwade him one way, and the Spirit another. The fleſh ſaid, O fool wilt thou burn when thou needeſt not? But the Spirit ſaid, be not afraid, for it was nothing in reſpect of fire Eternal. The fleſh ſaid, leave not thy Friends who love thee: But the Spirit ſaid, The company of Jeſus Chriſt exceeds all fleſhly Friends, with the like diſcourſe more at large on this ſubject; but at laſt the Spirit got the Victory, and he went joyfully and with great Reſolution to his Death, and when he was at the ſtake, and the Faggots placed about him, a Prieſt would have perſwaded him to believe in the Sacrament of the Altar, upon whiah he vehemently cryed out, I defie the Whore of Babylon, that moſt abominable Idol. Then the Mayor bid them to ſet fire to him, ſaying if he had but one load of Faggots in the World, he would give it to burn the Heretick, Fire being put to him, he deſired the people to pray for him, and ſo embracing the fire he bathed his Arms in it calling on the name of Jeſus till he was out of his pain.

In the ſame Month, at Ʋxbridge, ſuffered Mr. Robert Smith, who had been a ſervant belonging to Sr. Thomas Smith, and a Clerk at Windſor, but was in the ſecond year of the Queen impriſoned for his Opinions, and with ſeveral other kept long in durance. At laſt he was ſeveral times had before Bonner, who finding he could not prevert him, condemned him to the Fire. When he came to the ſtake, he ſpake to the People, endeavouring to comfort the People who bewailed him, willing them to think well of his cauſe, and not to doubt, but that his body dying in that quarrel, ſhould riſe again to Life. And, ſaid He, I doubt not but God will ſhew you ſome ſign thereof. And it hapned to the great Confirmation of the people, that after he was almoſt half burnt, and that his Body was as black as a Coal, and drawn together in a lump, all men thinking that, he had been dead, ſuddenly he roſe upright before the people, and lifting up the burning Stumps of his Arms, and Clapping them together, did as it were declare to them the rejoycing of his Heart, then bending down again, and hanging over the flames, he ſlept in the Lord, and ſo ended his Mortal Life.

Much about the ſame time, two more were Martyrd, being Condemned with the above mentioned Martyr, by the bloody Butcher of Gods people Bonner, the one was named Stephen Harwood, who ſuffer'd at Stratford, the other Thomas Fuſt who was burnt at Ware. In the ſame month alſo ſuffered another of their Companions, named William Hale who was burnt at Barnet, where he Conſtantly ſealed his Faith with his Blood. There were at the ſame time 3 more Condemned to be burnt, viz: George King, Thomas Leys, and Joon Wade, but theſe were ſo Cruelly handled in the priſon of the Lollards Tower, belonging to the B • ſhop, that they dyed before they could be executed, and were buried by night in the field. The like was done to one William Andrew a Carpenter, who dying in Newgate was caſt out in the fields like a dog, till ſome Charitable People buried him.

The next whom we ſhall mention in this brief Martyrology, is one Mr. Robert Samuel, a godly and zealous Preacher, and Miniſter of Gods word at Barfold in ſuffolk, where he faithfully taught his flock all the days of King Edward, but upon the ſetting up of Popery, he was put out of his Benefice, as many more godly Miniſters were, and that becauſe he would not put away his wife, and conform to the Romiſh Superſtition; however not giving over his care of his flock, he preach'd to them, and taught them privately and by ſtealth, till he was laid hold on, and clapt into Ipſwich Jail, but he did not long Continue there, before he was removed to Norwich, under the power of the moſt cruel and perſecuting Biſhop of that See, who had no mercy. Thinking by Cruelty to prevail upon this good man, they uſed him when in their Clurches moſt inhumanely and Barbarouſly, for they chained him bolt upright againſt a poſt, ſo that he could not lye down, and ſo that his toes could but juſt touch the ground, and in this manner they kept him a long time, allowing him but one bit of Bread and 3 Spoonfulls of water to maintain his Life, for further torment, ſo that his Stomach was clung together for lack of food, and he could have eat his own fleſh. Being thus tormented, and ſtill continuing conſtant, to the admiration of his Tormentors, he endured with great patience extream pains, and almoſt intollerable torments. O worthy Conſtancy of the Martyr! and O pittileſs hearts of the Papiſts, whoſe hearts were made of Adamant and would not be moved to relen! When he had been thus tormented ſeveral days, he fell into a ſlumber, and he beheld one ſtanding by him, clad all in white, who ſaid to him; Samuel, Sam • el, be of good cheer, take heart, for after this day thou ſhalt never be either hung. 〈◊〉 thirſty. Which proved true, for from that time as he declared himſelf, he never felt the leaſt hunger or thirſt, which continued till he was Martyr'd which was not long after; and it was ſaid by divers that beheld him burnt, that his Body, when in the flames, did ſhine as bright as new tryed Silver, to the great amazement of the beholders. He ſuffered on the 31th day of Auguſt Anno 1555.

About the beginning of September following, one William Allyn a labouring man, but very upright and honeſt, & of an unblemiſh'd reputation, was Martyr'd at Walſingham, for denying to fall down before the Croſs, and to follow in proceſſion when he went to the Fire. By reaſon of his former upright coverſation, he was ſuffer'd to go untyed, and when he came to ſuffer, and the chain was faſtned about him, he ſhewed ſuch conſtancy that he ſtood quietly without the le • ſt noiſe or ſhrinking till he dyed.

In the ſame Month of September, Roger Coo of Milford in Suffolk Sheerman, was brought into trouble, and brought before the Biſhop, who had a long diſpute with this poor man, among other his diſcourſes, he asked him if he would not obey the Kings and Queens Laws? To which he replyed, as far as they were agreeable to the word of God he would. Whether they agree with the word of God, or not (ſaid the Biſhop) we are bound to obey them, if the King were an Infidel. Mark the large Conſcience of this Popiſh Biſhop. To which this honeſt Martyr rep • y'd If Shadrac Meſac and Abednego had ſo done, Neb • chadnezzar had never confeſſed the living God. But in the end, after many troubles and afflictions, he was Condemned, and ſuffered at Yexford in Suffolk where being very aged, this bleſſed Martyr ended his days. The ſame month, was burnt in the Town of Thetford, one Thomas Cob, a Butcher, being condemned to the fire by the Biſhop of Norwich, his bloody Chancellor Dunnings.

In the ſame Month alſo at Canterbury about the 6th day five perſons were burnt in one fire, their names were, George Catmir, Robert Streater, Anthony Burward, George Brodbridge and James Tutt • , Condemned by the Biſhop of Dover upon the Ar • icles of the Sacrament.

It will be too tedious to give you the relation of all that ſuffered, for now bonfires were made of mans fleſh, by theſe Tyrannous Papiſts almoſt thorow out England, but fell more or leſs in thoſe places, where the Biſhops were more or leſs merciful or tyrannical, and we find the chief perſecution and havock to be made in London, and the Counties about it, as Eſſex, Northfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Surry, and the like: yet in other places we find ſeveral Martyr'd: for about the midſt of this month, Thomas Hayward and John Goreway were Condemned, and burnt at the Town of Litchfield.

On the 20th of September, two bleſſed Martyrs, to wit, Robert Glover and Cornelius Bongey, were burnt at Coventry. Robert Glover was the Son of a Gentleman of good eſtate, whoſe elder Brother John Glover lived in Coventry, and was one who profeſſed the Goſpel, for which the Biſhop of that Di • c • ſs ſent to apprehend him, but the Major being his friend, gave him timely notice of it, ſo that with another Brother, he made his eſcape, leaving R • bert in his Chamber who by reaſon of a long ſickneſs was not able to go out of it, or ſcarce from his Bed, yet theſe Papiſtical Catch-poles, full of all manner of cruelty, not finding the prey they look'd for, violently haled this Martyr out of the Houſe, and carried him before the Sheriffs, who knowing he was not the perſon nominated in the warrant, would have diſmiſſed him, but the Biſhops Catch-poles, would, right or wrong, though in a very weak condition, have him before the Biſhop which they did, who examining him, and finding that he alſo held the ſame opinions with his Brother, and alſo learnedly diſputed the ſame with the Biſhop, being a Maſter of Arts of the Univerſity of Cambridge, he was ſent to priſon (mark the Biſhops Charity) and put into a Cold place next the Dungeon in Lichfeild, without bed, only a pad of ſtraw to lye on, which in his condition, was enough to have kill'd him; had not God in his great mercy ſupported him. From thence he was had to Coventry, where he was kept in priſon ſtrictly, without letting his relations come at him, and without Pen, Ink and Paper, or any Books, but a Latin Teſtament & Prayer book he had about him unknown to them: After he was condemned, and the writ for his burning came down, he found himſelf very heavy and lumpiſh, at which being troubled, he complained to a friend, n • med Auſtin, fearing that God had forſaken him. His friend bid him to wait the Lord's pleaſure which he did, fervently praying that God would ſend him comfort, yet he Continued heavy, penſive, and without alacrity, tho not diſtruſting, till the day he went to be burnt, and he was no ſooner in ſight of the Stake, but he was ſuddenly repleniſh'd with the power and Love of God, feeling ſuch comfortable and heavenly Joyes, that he Clapt his hands together, crying out, O Auſtin Auſtin, He is come, he is come, with ſuch joy as if he had eſcaped ſome eminent danger, rather than going to dye, ſuch was the wonderful change of this good man. With him was Burned Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Coventry condemned by the ſame Biſhop, and both patiently dye I together prayſing the Lord. As for John and William the other Brothers, who fled, they both not long after dyed, the latter in Shropſhire; the Former ſome where in the Country near Coventry, being often ſought for; ſo that by lying in the woods he caught cold and an Ague which kill'd him, he was privatly inter'd in a Church-yard, without Parſon or Clark, but it coming to the Ears of the Biſhops Chancellor he ſent a Command to the Parſon, to have him taken up and his body to be thrown into the high way, the Parſon returned anſwer, that the body was by this time putrified and ſtunk, that none could come near it: he then ſent word, that he ſhould lye for a year, and that then his bones ſhould be dug up and thrown into the high way, for horſes to trample on them, and that then he would come and hallow the Church yard. Williams body lay two dayes and a night without burial, being caſt out in the fields, till ſome Charitable people buryed it by night in a broom feild. ſeveral others they ſerved after the ſame manner, and taking up the bones of others, not letting them reſt quiet in their Graves.

On the 9th of October following, were condemned, & on the 16th burnt at Ely, two more, the one named R • b. Pigot a painter, the other W •• liam Wolſey both of Wiſhbich Theſe two tho burnt together, were of different tempers, the former was meek, gentle and humble, ſaying often to his adverſaries, he would yeild to them if they could convince him by the Scriptures, but he could not do any thing againſt his Conſcience, the other was bold, ſtout, and vehement, deteſting their doings, and ſhewing a great averſion of Spirit againſt them, knowing he ſhould receive nothing from them but Cruelty, unleſs he would prove an Idolater like them, and forſake Chriſt and his Goſpel. He was therefore much afraid of his companion, ſeeing him ſo meek and humble, leſt he ſhould yield to their perſwaſions, but he held out with great Conſtancy. Wolſey had ſo great a deſire to the Crown of Martyrdom, that being ſick in priſon, he was ſo afraid of dying, that he was extreamly troubled, being overjoyed when the day of his execution came, which he called his Glad day. When they were at the Stake, they ſung 106 pſalm, and ſo joyfully received their Martyrdom with great Conſtancy prayſing God.

Doctor Ridly, deſcended from a right worſhipf •• ſtock in Northamptonſhire, was brought up at Schoo •• and thence tranſlated to the Univerſi • y of Cambridg • where he extreamly profited in his Studies, being one of great memory, acute wit, and profoun • Judgment, ſo that he attained to great Learning and became famous becoming head of Pembroc •• H • ll, where he commenced Doctor in Divinity. After this he travelled to Paris, and at his retur • was made Chaplain to King Hen. 8th, and afterwards promoted to the Biſhoprick of R • cheſter, and from thence in King Edward's days, was tranſlated to the ſee of London, where he Continued preaching and teaching the true and wholſom Doctrine of Chriſt to his flock, except hindred by extraordinary occaſions; moſt Holy days & Sundays he preached ſome where or other in his Dioceſs, the people every where ſwarming after him like Bees, ſo ſweet was his eloquence. But he not only taught diligently but alſo liv'd holily, teaching them as well by his Life as Doctrine. He was a ſtraight upright man, both in Body and Mind, of an handſom m • ke, and good Complexion, gentle and meek to all men, and a lover of his Relations. He bore malice to none, and was apt to forgive Injuries. He loved and cheriſhed Goodneſs where ever he found it, and hated evil tho in his neareſt Kindred. He was very Converſant in prayer and meditation in his greateſt proſperity, for aſſoon as his Cloaths were on he prayed by his bed ſide on his Knees, for half an • our, and thence he went to his Study, where he Continued till 9 of the Clock, and from thence he came to the Common prayers read in his Family before Dinner, and this he dayly Continued. His • able was free but chaſt, all diſcourſes there being grave and edifyint; after dinner he ſometimes played at Cheſs, and unleſs buſineſs called him abroad, • e went again to his Study till 5 of the clo • k, when • e again went to prayers with his family. After ſupper he would recreate himſelf for an hours ſpace, and then retire again to his Study; where he continued till 11 of the Clock at night, the uſual time of his going to Bed, which he never did, without praying to God on his Knees by his bedſide as in the Morning. And that we may ſee the diffe • erce between a good & an evil Biſhop, or between this man and Bonner, and to ſhew the latters wicked ingratitude, we ſhall mention how kind Biſhop Ridly had been to Bonners Relations, cheriſhing his Mother and ſiſter as if they had been his own For all the time he was at Fulham, he never would ſit down, till he had ſent for his Mother Bonner, (as he called her) being Biſhop Bonners own Mother, and dwelling in the Town, and when come, allways placed her at the upper end of the Table, let what perſons of quality ſoever dine with him, and would make an excuſe and ſay, that was his Mother Bonners place, and would ſeat her there, giving her the ſame reſpect as if ſhe had been his own mother, and that he had been born of her Body; the like he did by one Mrs. Bungie Bonners own Siſter, whom he cheriſhed as if ſhe had been his own: yet the ungrateful Butcher Bonner, when he was reſtored to his Biſhoprick, by Queen Mary, prov'd the bloody perſecutor of this good Man to death, and not only of him, but dealt cruelly and unjuſtly by all his Relations, extorting from them all that they had, and had not ſome ſtood between, he had taken away the Life of Biſhop Ridleys own ſiſters husband: ſuch difference is there between a good Biſhop according to the Goſpel, and an evil perſecuteing papiſtical Biſhop according to the Popes Doctrine.

The firſt occaſion of this good Biſhops converſion to the truth, was by reading of Bertrams book of the Sacrament, and by his conferring with Doctor Cranmer and Peter Martyr, who confirmed him, and in which he continued to his Death, and ſealed with his blood. You have already heard how this Biſhop together with Dr. Cranmer and Mr. Latimer, were condemned at Oxford, after their ſeveral learned diſputes there, with the Papiſtical Doctors, where they were kept priſoners in ſeveral places, till they came to dye, Dr. Ridley and Mr. Latimer being burnt in one fire, as we ſhall relate; only firſt a word or two of the education of this good man Mr. Hugh Latimer.

This champion of Chriſts cauſe, was the Sun of Hugh Latimer of Thirkeſſon in the County of Leiceſter, an husbandman of good repute, being his only Son, he bred him at School, and being very prompt at 14 years of Age he was ſent to the Univerſity of Cambridg, where he gave himſelf to the Study of Divity. Being made a prieſt, he was a moſt zealous obſerver of all the Popiſh ſuperſtition, believing if be were a Fryer he ſhould never be damn'd, with other ſuperſtitious fantaſies, obſerving ſervilly all the Popiſh decrees, and in his blind zeal a great enemy to to the profeſſors of the Goſpel; thus he continued till it pleaſed God to convert him to himſelf, by the means of Mr. Bilney, whom we have ſpoken of. After he was converted he ſoon left his old manner of Life, and began publickly to own and preach the Goſpel, for which he was for a time ſilenced by the Biſhop of Ely, but getting a Licence,, he continued there for 3 years teaching and preaching both publickly and privately, and with that applauſe and power, that his very enemies could not but admire him, for the Biſhop himſelf one day coming in and hearing him, was compelled to commend him, wiſhing that he had the lik • Gi • . At laſt he was cited before the Cardi • al, and accu • ed by his Adverſaries, by ſeveral Articles, about the worſhiping of Saints, which be dery'd, and praying to the Virgin Mary; Purgatory, and ſeveral other Popiſh tenents, for which be endured great troubles and perſecutions by the B ſh •• s of London and Canterbury, Tokeſly and W •• ham, about the year 1531. And he had then hardly eſcaped their Clutches, but by the favour of •• e King, by the means of Dr. Butts the Kin •• Phyſition who reſcued him from the hands of his enemies, and by the aſſiſtance of Cromwel, advanced him to the B • ſhoprick of Worceſter. Where be continued •• m • f • w years, • nſtructing his Dioceſs, like a good B ſhop▪ & a diligent and faithful Paſtor where he likewiſe endured ſeveral troubles, &c. perſecu • ions, be •• g brought before the King by his Adv • rſ • ries, who thought to have put him into the Tower, but the King perceiving the Integrity of this good man, his heart relented, and he diſmiſſed Mr. La • tme • to the grief of his enemies, But being preſſed hard upon the 6 Articles, not being able to do any thing againſt his Conſcience, he of his own voluntary mind reſigned up his Biſhoprick; and when among his friends, putting off his Rochet, he thanked God he put off ſo heavy a burthen. However he could not be free from troubles, which his Popiſh Adverſaries followed him with though he kept ſilence till the Reign of the bleſſed King Edward: All whoſe days be preached conſtantly twice every Sunday, and often before the King who was delighted with him, though he was very aged, being above threeſcore. He was a Prophet, and foretold the perſecution that followed after, ſaying he knew he ſhould be put to Death for preaching the Goſpel and that Gardner was reſerved in the Tower for that purpoſe, as it proved; For he was no ſooner releaſed by Queen Mary, but he ſent a Purſivant for this good Biſhop, who having notice of it, refuſed to fly, but had prepared himſelf for his Journy to London againſt the Purſivant came who wondring at it, he ſaid to the Meſſenger my Friend, you are welcome to me, and I go as willingly with you to London, being called thither by my Prince to render an account of my Doctrine, as ever I was to go to any place in my Life, and doubt not as God has enabled me to preach his word to two excellent Princes, ſo he will inable me to witneſs the ſame unto the Third. After which the Purſivant departed, and left him to go by himſelf, or to have departed the land, which his enemies would have been glad of, fearing his ſtoutneſs and conſtancy ſhould do them more hurt, than his Death would do them good, as no doubt it did. Coming up to London, and riding thorow Smithfield, he ſaid ſmilingly that Smithfield had long groaned for him, and now he was come. After he had been before the Council, he was ſent to the Tower, where he was kept very ſtrictly, & it being winter & very cold & froſty, was kept without any fire by which means the good old man was almoſt ſtarved to Death with cold which made him ſay to his Keeper, that he ſhould tell his Maſter the Lieutenant, that if he did not look better to him he ſhould ſhortly deceive him, upon which the Lieutenant put more Guards upon him, & came to demand of him the reaſon of his words, Indeed ſaid Mr. Latimer, you expect that I ſhould be burnt, but except you let me have ſome fire I am like to deceive your expectation, and die of cold. Afterwards he was with Biſhop Ridley and Archbiſhop Cranmer had to Oxford, to diſpute with the Popiſh Doctors there, as you have heard, and where they were all condemned to the fire, the beſt way they had of confuting them. But it was obſerved, that appearing before the Commiſſioners, that when all of them upon reading the Commiſſion, at the naming of the Cardinal as Legate à Latere from his Holineſs the Pope, they all put off their Caps, Biſhop Ridley who ſtood uncovered before, put on his Cap, as not owning the Popes ſupremacy; and being chid for ſo doing as a contempt to the court, he told them he honour'd them as the Q. Commiſſioners, but ſhould never acknowledge the Popes ſupremacy; upon which they cauſed his C • p to be taken off his head, which he ſuffer'd. And when they came to have him d • graded, • f er their ſuperſtit • o • s manner, he would by no means yield to it, ſo that they were fain by meer force to put on the Popiſh Trinkets, and to perform their A •• ſh ceremonies of degradation againſt his will be all the time vehemen • ly enveying againſt them, inſomuch that ſome would have had him gagg'd, to have made him Silent.

After they had thus degr • ded him, the night before he was to ſuffer, he waſhed his feet and L • gs a • d ſhaved his B • ard, and appeared to his Friends ſo unconcerned, that they had never ſ • en him merrier in all his life, inviting them to his marriage the next d • y, and deſired his Brother-in-law and his Siſter to be there, and when his Brother • ſter'd to W • tch with him that nigh • , • e would not ſuffer him, telling him he intended to ſleep as quietly that night as he • ad done in any of his Life, which he did, and th • t tho in the morning he ſhould have a ſharp breakf • ſt yet he was ſure of a pleaſant and ſweet ſupper. On the Northſide of the Town, in the D • ch over againſt • a • el Co • ledy, the place for their ex • cution was appointed. Mr. Lat • mer all • igh • was earneſt with God in prayer, to whom he made 3 requeſts, which were heard and granted: The •• t was, That as God had made him a preacher of his word, ſo that he would give him ſtrength to ſeal it with his death, and with his h •• r • s blood; and it ſo came to paſs, that he ſhewed a • mi • able conſt • ncy, and the fire opening his breaſt near his heart, the Blood was ſeen to guſh out in ſuch abundance, running down his body into the fire, as if all the Blood in his body had been gathered to that pl • ce. The ſecond requeſt was, that God would reſtore the Goſpel to England, which alſo came to paſs: And the Third was, that he would perſerve the Life of the princeſs Elizabeth, from the Malice of her ſoes, that ſhe might be the glorious Inſtrument of the Goſpels reſtauration: which alſo came to paſs. As they paſſed thorow the ſtreets, a world of people crouding to ſee them, for fear of • ny tumu •• the L. Williams was Commiſſionated to ſee the execution performed, Doctor Ridly went in a black Gown furred and faced with faines, ſuch as he was wont to wear when a Biſhop, and a Velvet Tipper furred about his neck, a Velvet Cap upon his head, and a corner Cap upon the ſame, going in his ſl • ppers and led between the Mayor and an Alderman. After him came Mr. Latimer, in a poor old worn out Briſtow frize frock, with a Keirchief about his head, and on it an old burton'd Cap with a new ſhroud under his Coat, that hung down to his feet, being ready for the fire, ſo that many wept to ſee him ſo poorly clad, who lived ſo well, and had been a Biſhop. When Dr. Ridly ſaw him coming after him, O are you there, ſaid he: yes ſaid Mr. Latimer, I am coming after you as faſt as I Can. When they both came to the ſtake Biſhop Ridly holding up both his hands and looking towards heaven prayed, and ſeeing Mr. Latimer come, he ran to him and embraced him and Kiſſed him ſaying, Be of good heart Brother, for God will either aſſwage the fury of the Flame, or elſe ſtre • gthen us to abide it. With that he Kneeled down at the Stake Kiſſing it, and then fell to prayer, and Mr. Latimer behind him, both earneſtly calling upon God. After they aroſe, and talked a little while together, when Dr. Smith who in King Ed. days had renounced Popery, now embracing it, preached to the people on this Text, Tho I give my Body to be burnt &c. inveighing very much againſt the opinions of the Lutherans: after he had done, both Dr. Ridly and Mr. Latimer had a deſire to have reply'd to what he had ſaid, but as ſoon as they began to open their mouths, ſome ran to them and ſtop'd them, telling them, unleſs they would recant, they ſhould not be ſuffered to ſpeak. Gods will be done, then ſaid Biſhop Ridly, but ſo long as I have breath in my body, I will never deny my Lord Chriſt, and his known truth. Then he ſaid with a loud voyce: I Commit our cauſe to Almighty God who will indifferently Judg all. Then Mr. Latimer ſaid, what is hid ſhall be revealed. They were then Commanded to make themſelves ready, which they did, and were both Chained to the Stake, and Dr. Rilleys brother-in-law brought each a Bag of Gunpowder to tye about them, which they accepted of as ſent them from God. Dr. Ridley ſtripped himſelf and gave away his things among his friends, there being great ſtriving to have ſome remembrance from this good Man: but Mr. Latimer ſuffered himſelf to be ſtrip'd by the officers, haveing nothing worth beſtowing. Dr. Ridly being now at the ſtake prayed ſaying; holding up both his hands: O heavenly Father I give thee moſt hearty thanks, for that thou haſt called me to be a profeſſor of thee, even unto Death. I beſeech the O Lord have mercy upon this Realm of England, and deliver the ſame from all her Enemies. Then he made a Requeſt to the Lord Williams, to intreat the Queen to be good to ſeveral poor people, to whom he had let Leaſes, that they mought injoy them; which he promiſed to do, but Biſhop Bonner like a wretch took them all from them. Then fire was put to them, when Mr. Latimer ſaid be of good comfort Mr. Ridly, and play the Man, we ſhall this day light ſuch a Candle by God's Grace in England, as I truſt ſhall never be put out. Dr. Ridly when he ſaw the flame approach him, he cryed out, In manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum: Domine recipe Spiritum meum, that is, Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit: O Lord receive my Spirit, which latter part he often repeated in Engliſh, Mr. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other ſide, O Father of Heaven receive my Soul. Who receiving the flame as it were imbracing it, ſoon dyed, with little or no Pain. But Biſhop Ridly by reaſon of the fire being ill made, endured great torment, having all his lower parts burnt, before his upper were touched, ſo that he was heard to cry to them often, for the Lords ſake to put the fire to him, I cannot burn, and then crying out, Lord have mercy upon me, he Continued a long time, and all one ſide of him remained untouch'd, till a •••• ſt t •• G ••• owe • cr ••• k fir • , after which he w •• 〈◊〉 ſe • n to move • y more. And this was the e •••• th ſ •• two • oly Martyrs, & Bleſſed Biſhops, for the Goſpel of Chriſt's ſake, by the hands of perſecuting Papiſis, and by the Religion • hen eſtabliſhed by Law. The Death of p •• ſe •• ting Gardner.

Wit in a w • ilt af •• r, the B oody perſecuting P •• l •• Steph •• G •• d •• dyed, for that day, the laſt mentioned M • rty • s were put to death, tho the Duke of No •• hfolk and other perſons of Quality came to dine with him, he would not go to d • nner till 3 or 4 of the Clock, expecting to hear of the Death of theſe w • m • n, and aſſ • on as his man ri ••• g poſt had br •• ght him word of it, he began to be merry, and ſat down to dinner, but was emmediately ſtruck with the hand of God, the firſt but • e put • nto his mouth, being carried from the Table, Continuing for • 5 days in great Torments, nor being able to evacuate Natur • any way, and his Tongue (that had ſo often blaſpher • ed God) ſwollen, and black, lolling out of his mouth till he dyed.

Tho he we • e dead yet perſecution Continued and the Devil found Inſtruments to do his Work. For in the Month of November three flour Champions of Jeſus Chriſt ſuffer'd in one Fire in Canterbury viz J • hn w • bb Gentleman, George Ro • er and G • egory Parke, being all condemned to the fire by the Biſhop of Dover and Nic • o • as Harſpfield. As they went to the pl • ce of their Martyrdom they ſung Pſalms; two of them were will ſtri • ken in years but R • per was a younger man, of a freſh Complexion, going all • ith whi e Linnen and their gowns upon it▪ They all ſhew • d great Conſtancy but R • per eſpecially who coming to the place le • ped for Joy, and wh • n fi • e wa • put to h • m he ſtreatched out both his A • ms into •• e • l • mes ſtanding like a Croſs unmevable, and ſo continued never ſtirring them till they were both burnt • ff and afterwards his Body to Aſhes. Several dyed in Priſon in the •• llards Tower through the b • •• arity of the Papiſts, and were Caſt into t he open fields for doggs and ſwine to tear with command that none 〈…〉 h • m, yet by night ſome were • ound to be • o C ••• table as to fling Eart • over th • m.

The next 〈…〉 m •• t ••• W •• •• ought to the ſt • ke, by th • ſe blood ſ •• k ••• , w • Mr J •••• 〈◊〉 Archdeacon • f Winc •••• ▪ •• e w •• t • e 〈…〉 Gent • ema • • f 〈◊〉 go • d f •• m • ly, in 〈…〉 brought up in N ••• Co •• cag • in Ox •••• , 〈…〉 died th • Civil •• ws, 6 or 7 yea • s w •• 〈…〉 •• ral Arts 〈◊〉 •• ence, and • ſp ••• ly 〈…〉 in which he profite • , and more 〈…〉 Hebrew: He w • s of a pre • an • ••• t, 〈…〉 and reſolution, fervent in Religio • , • ree from 〈◊〉 ••• tery and hypocriſie, and hated •• ſſi •• ulati • n F •• m Oxford he went to travel, to improve himſelf, going thorow Italy, and other parts where he increa •• d his knowledg, and loſt nor (as many do) good m nners, and Love to God. Returning into England, he was made Arc • d • acon of Wincheſter in King Edw • rds days, under the Biſhop Dr. Poinet, who had ſucceeded Gardner. But • fter that Queen Mary came in, and cauſed a Convocation of Prelates to Aſſemble about Religion, this good man believing they might there ſpeak freely, he manfully maintained the cauſe of the Goſpel againſt all its Adverſaries; for which he was afterwards •• p •• ioned, and after a twelve months time or more, w s had to be examined before B • ſhop Gardner, and afterwards before Bonner, and o • her Commiſſioners, which examinations, and his ſ • lid and leart • ed An •• ers, may be read at large in Mr. Fox's Martyrologie. He was carried to the Biſhop of Lond •• 's Colehouſe, where he was k • pt, and ſh wed the Stocks there, which were made for me • and Leggs, and hands, to torment poor men with, to bring them to th • ir bent, and thorow exceſſive torment and hardſhip to make them •• o • nt againſt their Conſciences. After this bleſſed Martyr had been convented before the Popiſh Biſhops 14 times, and they ſaw they were neither abl • to pervert or confute him, Biſhop Bonner read the ſentence of Death againſt him, condemning him upon 3 Articles. The firſt, that he was fallen from the C • tholick Church. The 2d That he had moſt Blaſphemouſly ſpoken againſt the Maſs and called it Idolatry. 3d. That he had denyed the real preſence of Chriſts Body and blood to be in the S • crament. After which they pronounced him an Heretick. to whom Mr, Philpot reply'd I thank God that I am an Heretick out of your curſed Church, But I am none before God. God bleſs you and make you repent of your curſed doings, and let all men beware of your bloody Church. After this he was had to Newgate, where the cruel Keeper loaded him with Irons, till one of the Sheriffs being made acquainted with it, ſent his Ring off his finger to the Jaylor, to take them off. He was not long there, but he had notice to prepare himſelf the next day to dye, which he Chearfully received, ſpending his time in prayers. In the Morning about 8 of the Clock, the Sheriffs came for him, who came to them with a Joyful counteuance, and was led to the place of execution in Smithfield; when he came to the ſtake he kneeled down ſaying theſe words, I will pay my vows in thee, O Smithfield; After he had kiſſed the ſtake, ſhall I disdain (ſaid he) to ſuffer at this Stake, ſeeing my Redemer did not refuſe to ſuffer a moſt vile Death upon the Croſs for me? Then he ſaid the 106, 107 and 108 Pſalms, and when he had done praying, he gave mony to the Officers, and ſo was bound to the ſtake, and fire was ſoon ſet to him, and in the midſt of thoſe fiery flames he yielded his ſoul into the hands of Almighty God, like a Lamb without ſtrugling. And this was the end of this holy man, on the 18th day of December 1555.

The fires rather increaſe than diminiſh, and there is no ſatisfying theſe Popiſh Canibals, with the humane fleſh of Diſſenters; And which they long to be at again, but we hope God has more mercy to poor England, and hi • flock there. We are now come to the year 1556, and they begin it with the burning of no leſs than 7 Martyrs in one fire in Smithfield, on the 27th of January, their Names were Thomas Whittle a Prieſt, Bartlet Green a Gentleman, John Tudſon an Artificer, Job. Went, Tho. Brown, Iſabel Forſter a wiſe, and Joan W • rren alias Laſhford a maid. Theſe, as they were burnt together ſo were they all condemned together. But we ſhall mention ſomething of them particularly, though as briefly as we can, Firſt Whittle being a Prieſt was turned out for owning the Goſpel, yet he would privately preach ſometimes, but it was not long before he was brought before Bonner, who finding his Anſwers not ſuting his proud ſtomach he buffered the poor man about the face, head and neck, the marks, of this Biſhops fiſts remaining in his fleſh ſeveral days. He was then ſent to the Colehouſe, & put into the ſtocks & ſo tormented, that for eaſe he ſubſcribed a Recantation, that was brought him; but after he had done it, and was releaſed, he found ſuch an Hell in his Conſcience, that it gave him ten times more pains than ever he had ſuffered: ſo that he could have no peace till he had got the bill of Recantation out of their hands, though he knew Death would follow upon it. But he had no ſooner freed himſelf of the ſnare, but he found peace and Joy within, and being condemned, went chearfully with the reſt to the fire, and ſealed his Religion with his blood.

Mr. Bartles Green was the ſon of a Gentleman, and bred up in the Romiſh Religion in Oxford, where he was at length Converted by hearing the Divinity Lectures of Peter Martyr, and though he was removed to the Temple to ſtudy the Laws, yet he would not leave his practice of reading and ſtudying the Scriptures, and of divinity, but dayly increaſed therein, till it was at laſt known, and then he had many temptations to return to the Romiſh Religion, & great proffers made him of preferment, but God was pleaſed to keep him, that he abode in the faith and like a good Champion fought the good fight of Faith, and gave his Teſtimony to the Truth of the Goſpel with his blood.

In purſuance 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 view of ••• iſtical perſecutions, we ſhall ••• e yo • a very ••••• nct Relation of the Life and 〈◊〉 of that •• ſt worthy and Religious Prelate, Dr. 〈◊〉 , Ar • hbiſhop of Canterbury. who ſuffered for the Goſpel ſake at Oxford, On the 21th of March 〈◊〉 . He was born in Not •• ghamſhire of a very 〈◊〉 •• mily, bred up carefully at School, and ſent to the Univerſity of Cambridg, where he profited w • ll in his Studies, and was at laſt made Fellow of 〈◊〉 Colledg. When he was Maſter of Arts and Fellow of the Colledg, he married a gentlemans daughter, and ſo loſt his Fellowſhip, and was made thereupon Reader in Buckingham Colledg. But not long after, his wife dying in Childbed his old Companions deſirous of his Company choſe him again Fellow of the Colledg, where he grew in great repute, and Commenced Dr. in Divinity, and was commonly appointed one of thoſe who were to examine ſuch as were to take the Degrees of Batchelours or Doctors of Divinity; now he favouring the knowledg of the Scripture, often put by ſuch whom he found ignorant in the Hiſtory of the Scripture, which extreamly enraged the Prieſts and Fryers, many of which Maſs-mongers could not tell who was Sol • mons Father, ſo little were they acquainted with the Hiſtory of the Bible, ſtudying other Authors to little purpoſe. This Firſt begat the envy of the Papiſts againſt him. He was however choſen to be one of the Fellows of the Cardinal's new founded Colledg at Oxford, which he refuſed, not without the great indignation of that proud Prelate. But it hapned, that whilſt he Continued at Cambridg, the plague raging in the Univerſity, that he removed to a friends at Wa • tham, and the King paſſing that way, ſome of his followers, as Gardner his ſecretary, and Fox his Almoner, lying at the ſame houſe with Dr. Cranmer, whom they knew, had accidentally ſome diſcourſe of the Kings ſcruple of Conſcience, for marrying his Brother's wife and upon the Divorce he had ſued for at Rome, and the proceedings thereupon, which was the general Diſcourſe at that time. Dr. Cranmer without any deſign, declared his mind ſo to the purpoſe, telling them that he thought they did not goe the ready way to work, by proſecuting the Laws Ec • leſiaſtical, when it had been more proper, to have 〈◊〉 the point diſcourſed by Divines, and the au •• ority of the Word of God, in the Scripture, which •• ght be better done in England, and in the Univer … , than at Rome. This being told to the King, he cauſed Dr. Cranmer to be ſent for to him to London, to the Doctors great trouble, not deſiring to intereſt himſelf in the buſineſs, but the King ſending his peremptory command, he was forced to obey againſt his mind, and having by ſeveral diſcourſes well ſatisfied the King, he commanded him to write his mind fully on the point, and ordered the Earle of Wiltſhire, to entertain him in his houſe at Durham place, and to let him have Books and what ever he wanted. Accordingly Doctor Cranmer wrot his mind fully, and delivered it to the King, in which he ſhewed by the Authority of the Scripture, and of general Councels, and ancient Writers, that the Biſhop of Rome, had no ſuch authority whereby he might diſpence with the word of God and the Holy Scripture. This opened the Kings eyes, and rejoycingly he asked the Dr. if he durſt ſtand by it, which he told him he would even to the Popes face at Rome, if he would be pleaſed to ſend him thither; whereupon the King ſent the queſtion to moſt of the Univerſities of Europe to be diſputed on, and by moſt it was Concluded, that no ſuch Matrimony could be Lawful by the Word of God or Authority of the H. Scripture. The King alſo ſent Dr. Cranmer to diſpute the point at Bonnonie, where the Pope then was, with his Ambaſſador the Earl of Wiltſhire, and ſeveral other Doctors and learned men in company. When they came before that proud Antichriſtian Biſhop, he ſat inthroned in great State, under a Canopy, in Rich Robes and Sandals on his feet, which in a proud manner he held out to the Earl to Kiſs, but he diſdaining it, ſtood ſtill, but his ſpaigniel by what inſtinct we know not, ran to his held up foot, and caught it in his mouth ſo rudely and unmannerly, that the old Biſhop was ſomewhat afr • ghted, which made the Engliſh men ſmile. But after the firſt Complement, the Earl told him from his Maſter, that he had brought with him certain learned men, who were there ready to prove, that no man jure divino could or ought to marry his brothers wife, and that the Biſh • p of Rome, could or ought no • to d • ſpence to the Contrary. Prom • ſe was made that the point ſhould be diſcuſſed, but th • old fox, after many put offs and delays, •• ut them away without a ••• ing ſo ingrareful a diſpute. The E •• b •• ſ dot, and the reſt returned home, but Dr. C •• mer by order went to Vienna to the Emperor, to anſwer what the Emperors learned Council could ſay againſt it, and he ſo ſatisfied the gre • t and Learned Cor ••• tus • gr • ppa, with his reaſons, that no publick Diſputation would be ſuffered to be had; for which that learned m • n fell into the Emperors diſple • ſu •• . Upon his return home having done to the King ſuch ſingular ſervice, and Archbiſhop W • rren then dying, the King made Dr. Cranmer Archbiſhop of C •••• bu • in his place. Here he got the Envy of all the Popiſh Prelates his enemies, for oppugning the Popes authority, but this good and worthy man ſhewed himſelf a Biſhop, according to the Rule of St. Paul, anſwering in all reſpects that of the 1 Tim. 3. and that to Titus Chap. 1. A B • ſhop muſt be faultleſs, as becometh a Miniſter of God. N • r Stubborn, nor •• gry, no drunkard, ſighter, nor given to filthy lucre, but Charitable, a lover of Goodneſs, ſober minded, righteous, temperate, cleaving to the truth, and able teach or inſtruct. All this he was and that in an high degree. He ſtudied much, riſeing at 5 of the Clock in the Morning, Continuing private till 9. from which time • o D • nner, he ſpent in hearing ſuitors, or minding the King Affairs. I ſhall not goe about to give you the hiſtory of this good man's life, which was ex • mpla •• not of • ll the troubles and perſecutions he in ••• ed, from his Enemies, the chief being Gardner the Biſhop of • encheſie • , in this Kings days, who alway, ſtood by him and well perceived the Integrity of the Archbiſhop, and the implacable hatred of his Enemies, ſo that in his dayes he was preſerved in the King • Favour, and afterwards he was dear to 〈◊〉 E ••• rd, and one who aſſiſted in the Reformantio • of Religion, writing his Faith in 5 books concerning the Sacrament. But aſſoon as Queen Mary c • me to the Crown, yo • m • y be ſure ſhe would • emember what he h • d done as to • e • Mothers divorce, and was indeed his bitter Enemy, tho he was very, •• rdly brought to ſubſc • ibe againſt her, for the Lady Ja •• . We have • lready told you how he was had from the Tower, with Biſhop R •• ley and L •• mer to diſpute at O • ford, and the iſſue thereupon, that he w • s condemned, and where be continu • d a priſon • r about 3 years, they uſing all ways an m • nner of means to cauſe him to recant, and ſin • ing th • t force and threatning would not do, they tryed flattery and fair means, but he had reſiſted all things, till a • l • ſt, reſolved they were he ſhould be burnt, upon which they degraded him, and tho he told, them, they being but Biſhops, and • e their ſuperior, they could not rightfully degrade • im their Archbiſhop, however, ſaying, as they were the Popes Delegates and Commiſſionated by the Queen, they had power to do it, and ſo they uſe • all their to • piſh Ceremonies: Biſhop Bonner uſing him roughly and u • m • nnerly: All this needed not ſaid the Archbiſhop, for I had fl • ng off all this gear long agoe. Then being ſtript to his Jacot, they put on him a Be • dles old gown, and a Townsmans Cap, and ſo delivered •• m over to the ſ • cular power. Yet for all this, being extream deſirous to have him recant, they afreſh ſet upon him, trying all ways to allure him, with promiſe of Life, and hopes of Reward, and ſo importunate they were night and day, never ceaſing to ſolicit • him that at laſt human • frailty appeared, and he was overcome, and they got him to ſign a Recantation againſt his Conſcience. The Queen received it very gladly, but bearing Revenge and malice in her heart, ſhe nevertheleſs reſolved he ſhould dye, and for that End, diſpatched away Dr. Cole to preach at St. Maries at Oxford, and to declare his Recantation. Cranmer was now Miſerable, being tormented in his Conſcience for what he had done, and too late began to perceive the Malice of his Enemies, who thirſted for his Blood. Subtilly and treacherouſly they dealt with him, not giving him any notice of his death, but ſtill put him in hopes of his Life, urging him publickly to make his Recantation in St. Marys, for which end they had prepared a ſtage in the midſt of the Church; to which place they led him, whilſt Dr. Cole mounted the Pulpit, to make his Oration. The Lord Williams, and ſeveral other Commiſſioners, were there, with a multitude of people, thinking to hear the Recantation of the Archbiſhop. But things could not be ſo cloſely carried, tho they kept all people from the Archbiſhop, that might inform him, but he began to ſurmiſe they intended to put him to Death, and at laſt plainly perceived it, when they gave him mony to diſtribute to the poor, as he paſſed thorow the ſtreets to the Church. It was a lamentable ſpectable to the people, to behold the Metropolitan and Primate of England. ſtanding with his bald head, and reverend gray beard, in an old tattered gown, on the ſtage, expoſed to the Contempt of all men; which ſight made many weep, eſpecially ſeeing the Tears running down his Cheeks and beard: As he thus ſtood by a pillar, he lifted up his eyes and hands toward heaven, and prayed privatly to himſelf, till Dr. Cole began his ſermon, the firſt part being paſſed over, he turned his whole diſcourſe upon the Archbiſhop, exhorting him to take his Death pariently, and to glorifie God with his Converſion, from his hereſie, ſince it had pleaſed. God to reclaim him, ſaying that before in his proſperity he was not worthy of Life, but now ſince he could not Live, he ſeemed unworthy of Death: But he promiſed that Maſſes and Dirges ſhould be ſaid in all the Churches in Oxford for the ſuccor of his ſoul, if he continued to dye a good Catholick. Cranmer with extream grief of mind heard out his Sermon, ſhowing by his Countenance the agitation of his ſpirit, and when he had done and that all men expected he ſhould have read his recantation, he pulled out of his Boſom a writing, which he had prepared, and began to read, Good people I beſeech you all to pray to God for me, that he may forgive me my ſins, and eſpecially one which I • ominate to you by and by: then Kneeling down • e made a moſt excellent prayer which being not long I ſhall here recite.

O Father of Heaven, O Son of God Redeemer of the World, O holy Ghoſt, three Perſons and one God, have mercy upon me, moſt wretched Catif and miſerable ſinner. I have offended both againſt Heaven and Earth, more than my tongue can expreſs. Whither then may I go, or whither ſhall I fly? To Heaven I may be aſhamed to lift up mine eyes, and in Earth I find no place of refuge or Scucor. To thee therefore O Lord do I run, to thee do I humble my ſelf, ſaying, O Lord my God, my ſins are great, yet have mercy upon me for thy great mercy. The great myſtery that God became Man was not wrought for little or few offences. Thou didſt not give thy Son (O Heavenly Father) unto death for ſmall ſins only, but for all the greateſt ſins in the world, ſo that the ſinner return to thee with his whole heart, as I do here at this preſent. Wherefore have mercy on me O God, whoſe property is always to have Mercy. Have mercy upon me O Lord for thy great mercy. I crave nothing for mine own merits, b • t for thy names ſake, that it may be hallowed thereby, and for thy dear Son Jeſus Chriſt's ſake. And now therefore our Father, which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name &c. Then riſeing up he deſired he might exhort the people, before his death, that God might be glorified and they edified.

He then began an excellent Exhortation, preſſing them to brotherly Love, and ſhewing the Vanity of the world, exhorting to Alms, and obedience to the Queen, with many other excellent things, and at laſt He made a ſhort Confeſſion of his Faith, repeating the Articles of the Creed, continuing: I believe every Article of the Catholick Faith, every word and ſentence taught by our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, his Apoſtles and Prophets, in the new and old Teſtament, an • now (ſaid he) I am come to the great thing th t ſo much troubl • th my Conſcience, more than • ny • oing th • t ever I did or ſaid in my whole Late, and that is the ſ • tti • g my hand to a writing C ntrary to Truth, which I now renounce, being done only for fear of Death, and for as much as my hand offended againſt my heart, this my hand ſhall be firſt of all puniſh • d for it, and aſſ • on as I can co • e to the fire ſhall be firſt bur • t. As for the Pope, I refuſ • him, as C • ri •• s E •• my and Antichriſt, with all his f • ſ • D • ctrin • . As for the Sacrament I believe is as I have taugh • it in my Book, againſt the Biſh • p of Winc • eſter, which ſhall ſtand at the laſt d • y, before the Judgment of God, where the Papiſti •• Doctrine Contrary thereto ſh • ll be never able to appear.

All the people being amazed, looked one up •• another and all the Prieſts and Fryers were in an uprore, ſeeing their great expectation fruſtrated, and Cole bellowed from the Pulpit ſtop the Heretick: Mouth, pull him down, pull him down. Upon which the rabble of Prieſts and Fryers laid hands on Cranme • , and pull'd him off the ſtage, and all things being prepared for his burning, in the ſame place where the Martyrs, R •• ey and Lat • mer ſuffered, they haled and dr • gged him thither, to which place all the co •• any r • n, yelping and hauling at the good Archbiſh • p. When he came to the place he kneeled down, making but ſhort prayer • , ſeeing them ſo • ager to have his Life, and putting off his garments to his ſh • rt, which hung down to his ſeer, which were •• re, as likewiſe his head, being thus ſtript, they f • ſ • ned the holy Martyr to the Stake, with a chain, and after ſeveral of them • ad tryed in vain to move him to recant, and ſaw that he was ſtedfaſt, they cauſed fire to be ſet to him, into which aſſoon as i • began to burn, he thruſt his right hand, which had ſigned the Recantation which he h • ld therein ſtedfaſtly and unmoved, (ſ • eing that once therewith being of a ſt • me be wipe • his face) that all men might ſee his hand was burned before his body was touched. His body aboad the burning and torment of the Flame with ſuch Conſtancy and ſtedfaſtneſs, that he was not ſeen to ſtir or move any more than the ſtake, to which he was faſtned, ſhewing to their amazement a noble Conſtancy of mind, and heroick fortitude. His eyes were ſeen to be lifted up towards Heaven, and he was heard oftentimes to repeat, whilſt his hand was burning, O unworthy right hand: at laſt in the greateſt of the flame, he gave up the Ghoſt, uſeing theſe his laſt words, O Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit. This was the end of this bleſſed Martyr, Thomas Cranmer Archbiſhop of Canterbury, who ſuffered about the middle of the Reign of the Cruel Queen Mary.

About the ſame time ſuffered in the Town of Ipſwich in Suffolk two ſimple women, • he one named Ag • es Potten the other Joan Trunchfeild the wife of a Shoemaker, both for that they denied the bodyly preſence of Chriſt in the Sacrament: they both dyed with wonderful Conſtancy, exhorting the people at their death, today hold on and believe the word of God, and to deſpiſe the ordinances of the Romiſh Antichriſt, and after fire was ſet to them; they ſtood holding up their hands, and calling on the name of God in the midſt of the flames, till they dyed.

In the ſame Month of march on the 24th day, three men were burnt in one fire without Salisbury, in Wiltſhire, for the ſame cauſe as other Martyrs before them, for denying the Popes Supremacy, Purgatory, and that murthering Article of the bodily preſence; their names were John Mandrel an husbandman who had long profeſſed the truth and in King Henry 8. days had done penance. William Coberly a Taylor, and John Spicer a free-maſon, all 3 Companions both before, and at their Deaths. They died with great fortitude, and when the Sheriff offered them pardon if they would turn, one of them replyed, not for all Salisbury. And John Spicer ſaid O Mr. Sheriff muſt you be the Butcher of theſe Papiſts, and be made guilty of Shedding innocent blood before the Lord, Coberly was longer in burning than the other, and when his Arms were burnt off, and his body hung over the chain black and ſhrunk up, ſo that all thought he had been dead, he ſuddenly roſe up again, and then fell down and dyed.

About the 23d of April 1556. were burnt in one fire in Smithfield, no leſs than 6 bleſſed Martyrs, two of them being Miniſters, viz Robert Drakes Miniſter of Tunderſley in Eſſex, and William Tymes, Curate of Hookley in the ſame County, This Tymes, upon his examination before Bonner, one of his Articles being for denying the Popes Supremacy, told him that he owned no more than what his Lordſhip had maintained in print. Where have I written any thing againſt the Church of Rome? ſaid the Biſhop angrily. In your Preface replyed Tymes to the Chancellors Book, Stephen Gardner, which he wrot purpoſely againſt the authority of the Romiſh Church, where alſo you in your preface inveigh againſt the Biſhop of Rome, reproving his Tyranny and falſhood, calling his power falſe and pretended only, and this is ſtill extant. This much abaſhed the Biſhop, and made him ſpeak, more gently afterwards, ſaying, it was done in perilous times, and when it was death to have declared otherways, but that the Chancellour and himſelf had ſince owned their errors, as he would now have him to do, but Mr. Tymes told him that would be againſt his Conſcience, and he would never do it, for what he himſelf had wrote againſt the Popes Supremacy was according to the Scriptures, and he would prove it; upon which he entred on his proofs & was much too hard for them all in the Scriptures, but at laſt he was condemned, with the reſt whoſe names were Richard Spurge Sheerman, Thomas Spurge Fuller, John Cavel Weaver, and George Ambroſe Fuller, all of Eſſex, and of the Dioceſs of London, and ſo condemned by Bonner, and ſuffered together in one Fire, in Smithfeild, with the true Conſtancy of other holy and bleſſed Martyrs.

In the ſame Month of April, at Rocheſter ſuffered John Harpool and Joan Bench in one fire. Alſo in the ſame month ſuffered at Cambridg, John Hullier a Miniſter, brought up at Eaton School, and afterwards Scholar and Conduct in Kings Colledg in Cambridge, where he at laſt ſuffered, being condemned by the Biſhop of Ely, for preaching the truth, and owning the Goſpel, and diſavowing their Idolatry and Superſtition.

Eſſex was fruitful in Martyrs, & the fires were ſo frequent, that we can but juſt name them to you. On the 28th of April, Six were burnt together at Colcheſter, being condemned to the fire by the Biſhop of London, or rather Butcher of London, Bonner, chearfully ending their lives, to the glory of God's name, and the great incouragement of others.

This bloody Bonner had mercy on none, all went to pot who came under his Clutches, one Hugh Lavercock a Painter by trade, of the Pariſh of Barkin 68 years of Age, and a Cripple, and John Apprice a poor blind man, were both accuſed to the Biſhop, who ſent for them to examination, which was about the Sacrament, the bodily preſence of Chriſt, in the ſame, which they denyed, and Lavercock told him that their Doctrine was contrary to the Scriptures. and the Blind Man ſaid, you are not of the Catholick Church, for ye make Laws to Kill men, and then make the Queen your Hangman. This ſo enraged the Biſhop that he immediatly cauſed the definitive ſentence of excommunication to be pronounced againſt them, and ſo delivered them over to the ſecular power to be burnt, they were carryed from the Biſhop to Newgate, and on the 15. of May 1556. were both drawn thorow London to Stratford le Bow: when they were come to the ſtake, after they had put the Chain about them, the Cripple flung away his Crutch merrily ſaying to the blind man his fellow ſufferer, Be of good cheer Brother, for my Lord of London is our good Phyſitian, he will ſhortly heal us both, thee of thy blindneſs, and me of my lameneſt. And ſo patiently, fire being put to them; theſe two poor men but holy Martyrs, ſuffered in the fire and praiſing God, yeilded up their Souls into his hands, whoſe name to the end they Conſtantly confeſſed.

The very next day after theſe ſuffered, being the 16th of May, 3 women were Martyred in Smithfield, a fourth was condemned with them, by Bonner, whoſe name was Margeret Ellis, but ſhe dyed in Newgate before the day of their execution: the names of the other 3 were Katherin Hut a widdow Joan Hornes a maid and Eliſabeth Thackvel. Theſe being examined upon ſeveral Articles but eſpecially that of the Sacrament which chiefly touched their Lives, Katherine Hat told the Biſhop that ſhe deny'd it to be God, becauſe it was a dumb God, and made with mens hands, and Joan Horns ſaid, If you can make your god bleed or ſhew any Condition of a living Body, I will believe you, and not elſe: And as for the Romiſh See, I forſake all its abominations, from which good Lord deliver us. Thoſe 3 innocent women were condemned for the cauſe of the Goſpel, had to Smithfield, and willingly gave their Bodyes to be burnt, dying more joyfully in the flames, than many in their beds: ſuch a Lord is God, glorious and wonderfull in all his Saints.

In the ſame month of May at Glouceſter, ſuffered one Thomas Croker a Bricklayer; and a blind boy named Thomas Drowrie, who had been much confirmed in the Faith by Biſhop Hooper. This boy being examined upon the Article of the Sacrament, by Dr. Williams the Biſhops Chancellor, and being asked if he believed the bodyly preſence in the Sacrament, the boy anſwered boldly no, he did not believe it Then being asked who taught him that hereſie, That did you (ſaid the boy) in the Pulpit of this Church, where you told us in your Sermon: That the Sacrament was to be received Spiritually by Faith, and not Carnally and really as the Papiſts have heretofore taught. At this the Dr. was vext, but ſays he to the Boy, do you as I have done, repent, and you ſhall live or elſe be burnt, Tho you (ſaid the Boy) can ſo eaſily diſpenſe with your ſelf, and mock God, the World and your Conſcience, yet I can't, nor will do ſo. Then ſaid the Chancellor, I will read the ſentence againſt thee. Gods will be done reply'd the blind boy. And ſo he was condemned with the other before mentioned, and delivered over to the ſecular power, both of them in one fire, Conſtantly and Joyfully yeilding their ſouls into the hands of the Lord Jeſus.

On the 21ſt of the ſame month of May, three men were burnt together at Beckles in Suffolk, their names were Thomas Spicer a Labourer, John Denny, and Edmond Pool, whom they were ſo haſty to put to Death, that they burnt them before the writ de Comburendo came from London. When they were at the ſtake they prayed, and recited the belief and when they came to the Article of belief, in the Catholick Church, a Knight that was by ſaid that is well, 'tis the beſt word you have ſaid yet. To which Pool anſwered, Tho we believe in the Catholick Church, we do not believe in the Romiſh Church. Then fire being put to them they praiſed God in the midſt of the flames, with ſuch an audible voyce, that it ſeem'd wonderful to all thoſe who ſtood by and heard them. But ſome were ſo wicked, that they bid the people to fling faggots at them, to ſtop their mouths, which however none would do.

In the next Month of June, on the 6th day 4 more were burnt in Lewis in Suſſex, after long Impriſonment; their names were Tho. Harland a Carpenter, John Oſwald an Husbandman, Thomas Avington a Turner, and Thomas Read. In the ſame month in the ſame Town, was burned Thomas Wood a Miniſter, and Thomas Mills a lay man. Several dyed in priſons which we do not mention.

We ſhall now mention a large malfire of humane fleſh no leſs than 11 men and two women burnt together at Stratford on Bow, condemned by Bonner, three more were condemned, but reprieved by the Cardinal, theſe on the 27th of June were drawn from Newgate to the place aforeſaid, moſt of them being of Eſſex; their names were Henry Adlington a Sawyer, Lawrence Parnam a Smith, Henry Wye a Brewer, William Hallywell a Smith, Thomas Bowyer a Weaver, George Searles a Taylor, Edmund Hurſt a Labourer, Lyon Cawch a Broker. Ralf Jackson a ſerving man, John Derifal a Labourer, John Routh a Labourer, Elizabeth Pepper the wife of a weaver, and Agnes George the wife of an husbandman, whoſe husband was afterwards condemned, but ſaved by the Death of the Queen. When they were brought to the place, they were divided, and put a while apart into two ſeveral Rooms, then the Sheriff going to one company told them, their companions had recanted, and had ſaved their Lives, adviſing them to do the like, but they anſwered, That their Faith was not builded on man, but on Chriſt Crucified: The Sheriff finding no good to be done with them, he went to the other company, telling them the ſame lye, to whom they anſwered, as their brethren had done, that their Faith was not built on man, but on Chriſt, and his Word, &c. Theſe 11 men were tied to 3 ſtakes, and the women were put in amongſt them looſe; Elizabeth Pepper being at the ſame time, 11 weeks gone with child. Theſe poor Creatures ſhewing great love one to another, and ſuch Conſtancy in their Martyrdom for the ſake of their Saviour, that all the beholders marvailed very much, thus reſigned their Souls and Bodys into the Hand of their Creator.

No leſs valiantly on the 30th of June, ſuffered the pains of Martyrdom by fire, at St. Edmunds-bury, Roger Bernard a Labourer, Adam Foſter an husbandman, and Robert Lawſon a Weaver, condemned by the Biſhop of Norwich. Theſe ended their Lives moſt triumphantly, ſhewing their Conſtancy in their Faith, and making a moſt Joyful, end, to the praiſe of God, and incouragment of others in the ſame Quarrel.

In July following, the 16th day, ſuffered that memorable Martyr, Mr. Julius Palmer, with two others in one fire at Newberry, whoſe Hiſtory I ſhall briefly relace. This Julius was born in Coventry of good parentage, his father being an Upholſter, and a Merchant, and had been Mayor of that City, he was bred at School, and ſent to Oxford, where he profited much in the tongues, and Philoſophy, and many times ſupplyed the place of the Gr. Reader in Magdalin Colledg, where he became Batchellor of Art, and became at laſt Fellow of the ſaid Colledg, when he began to ſtudy divinity: He was of a very civil behaviour, courteous, pleaſant, and chearful, without affectation, and of great ſimplicity, not knowing how to diſſemble, an indefatigable Student, riſeing at 4 of the clock every morning to his Studies, and ſitting up till 11 at night, ſo that in a little time he profited much. He was admitted to the office of a Reader in Logick, and thus Continued a ſtiff and zealous Papiſt, till the Reformation, and then owned the cauſe of the Pope ſo far, that he was expelled the Colledg, and was fain to go and teach School privatly, Continuing thus all the Time of King Edward, and when Papiſtry was reſtored by Queen Mary, he was alſo reſtored to his fellowſhip in the Colledg, having for his Religion undergone much hardſhip: yet ſee the providence of God, to bring this man home to himſelf, for it was the blood of the Martyrs, which is the ſeed of the Church, and their Conſtant ſufferings, which made him firſt to begin to look into the Doctrine they profeſſed, and it ſo pleaſed God to open his eyes, that in a ſhort time he began to ſee clearly the Superſtition and Idolatry of the Popiſh Church, and being one who knew not how to diſſemble againſt his Conſcience, he was ſoon taken notice of, and ſeeing they began to have • n evi • eye upon him, leſt they ſhould expel him the Colledg, he voluntarily left it. The curſing with excommunication, burn • ng, hanging, drowning, racking Scourging, and perſecuting men for Religion made him ſee and know it could not be of Chriſt, who Commands the quite Contrary, and this made him cry out when he heard of the Conſtant Death of Biſhop Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, and others: O Raging Cruelty! O Tragical Tyranny and more than Barbarous. Being about to leave the Univerſity, growing dayly more fervent in the Truth, one of his intimate Friends asked him, whither he would go, to whom he Anſwered, I know not, But the Earth is the Lords and the fullneſs thereof. Let God do as he pleaſe I will commit my ſelf to him and to the wide World. And being adviſed by another to beware of the fire, for it was no eaſy matter to burn he reply'd, I have yet eſcaped it, but I verily believe it will be my end, at laſt, welcome be it by the grace of God, it will be eaſie to be ſuffered, by the grace of God. He for ſome time kept School at Reading in Barkſhire, but after a time being found to be a Goſpeller he was forced to fly thence, and repairing to his own Mother, who was a Papiſt, and had heard of his turning from their Religion, hoping to obtain ſome monys due to him by his fathers will, and asking her bleſſing as he uſed to do, the unnatural Mother Cry'd out, thou ſhalt have Chriſts Curſe and mine, where ever thou goeſt; being troubled at this heavy greeting, & amazed for a time, he at laſt ſaid, ah! Mother you may give me your curſe, which God Knows I never deſerv'd, but God's Curſe you Cannot give me for, he hath already bleſſed me. With that ſhe reviled him, giving him moſt bitter taunts, calling him Renegade, and one who had embraced a new upſtart Doctrine. It is not new (ſaid he) but as old as Chriſt and his Apoſtles; with that ſhe charged him to go out of her ſight and never ſee her afterwards, flinging to him a piece of Gold, and ſo leaving him to his ſorrows. But being ſought after, it was not long e're he was taken, and caſt into priſon, in a Dungeon prepared for thieves and Murtherers, and there left for a time hanging by the hands and feet in a pair of Stocks ſo high, that no part of his Body could touch the Ground: in this Cave or Dungeon he remained 10 days, under the Tyranny of an unmerciful Keeper. After this he was ſeveral times examined before the Mayor of Reading, and before the Biſhop of Sarums Chancellor; from Reading he was had to Newberry, and clapt in the Jail there, where he found two others, namely John Guin and Thomas Askin, poor ſimple men, who were Martyred with him. Here he had his laſt examination, and was condemned with the two aforeſaid Perſons by Dr. Jeffrey. Many endeavours were try'd to make him recant, and great proffers of preferments to tempt him, but nothing would move him, and he alſo confirmed his fellow ſufferers in their Faith: Happy are you when men revile you; and perſecute you for Righteouſneſs ſake. Rejoyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven. Fear not them that can kill the Body, but are not able to touch the ſoul. God is faithful, & will not let us be tempted further than we can bear. We ſhall not end our lives but make a change only for a better life. With the like comfortable ſpeeches he cheared his fellow Martyrs, and cauſed tears to fall from others who heard him. When they came to the place of execution, they fell all 3 on their faces, and prayed, and Mr. Paimer recited aloud the 31 Pſalm: After that two Popiſh Prieſts urged him to recant, but he cry'd to them away, away, tempt me no longer: Away I ſay from me all yee that work Iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my Tears. Forthwith they ſtripped themſelves, went to the ſtake, Kiſſed it, and were bound to it, then Mr. Palmer ſaid: Good people pray for us that we may perſevere to the end. And for Chriſt's ſake beware of Popiſh teachers for they deceive you, with that one of the Officers threw a faggot at him, and hit him on the face that all the blood ran down. When the fire was kindled, and begun to take hold of their Bodys, they lifted up their hands towards Heaven, and quietly and chearfully as if they felt no pain, cry'd, Lord Jeſus Strengthen us: Lord Jeſus aſſiſt us. Lord Jeſus receive our Souls. And thus they all ended their Lives without any ſtrugling, only Julius when that all people thought him dead, being almoſt burnt to pieces, he was on a ſudden ſeen, as if awaked out of a ſleep, to move his tongue and Jaws, and heard to pronounce ſoftly the name of Jeſus, and ſo being burnt to Aſhes yeilded to God his ſoul.

I did not intend to mention any out of England that were Martyr'd, but theſe in Garnſey being our Kings ſubjects, and the Example profoundly Barbarous, I could not refrain mentioning it. On the 18th of July this year, Katherin Cawches, Guillemine Gilbert her daughter, and Perotine Maſſey another daughter, were burnt together in one fire for the Goſpel, the Mother in the midſt between her two daughters, and the youngeſt Perotine being big with Child, the fire ſeiſing on the belly of the Martyr, it burſt on a ſudden, and the Child ſprung out alive thorow the flames, being a fine boy, and was taken and lay'd on the graſs, but the wicked bayliff cauſed it to be flung into the fire again, and to be burnt with the Mother for an Heretick. So that this Infant was baptiſed in its own blood, was born, and dy'd a Martyr.

About the ſame time 3 more were burnt at Greenſtead in Suſſex, 2 men and 1 woman, their names were Thomas Dungate, John Foreman, and Mother Tree. Not long before a poor Simple man named Thomas Moor was burnt at Leiceſter, for ſaying he believed his Maker to be in Heaven, and not on the Altar. On the 22d of Auguſt following Joan Waſte a blind woman ſuffered in Darby. And on the 8th of September following Edward Sharp, an aged and devout perſon was Martyrd at Briſtow: And on 25th another who was a Carpenter ſuffered, in the ſame place. On the 24th of the ſaid September 4 more received Martyrdom at Mayfield in Suſſex, two of their names were John Hart, Thomas Ravenſdale, the one was a Shoemaker, the other a Currier. Alſo one John Horn and a woman about the ſame time were burnt at W • tten Ʋnder-Hedge in Gloceſterſhire. On the 11th of October a Shoo-maker ſuffered at Northampton. With ſeveral others who dyed in priſons in ſeveral places that are not mentioned; Five were ſtarv'd to Death, in November in Canterbury Caſtle, who were condemned to be burnt. Their names were John Clark, Dunſten Chittenden, William Forſter, Alice Pothins, and John Arches.

Dear Proteſtant Reader, I doubt thou art almoſt tyred with the Continuance of theſe tragical Hiſtories, I ſhall therefore haſt to a concluſion, God not permitting any long Reign to this bloody perſecuting Queen. We are now come the year 1557, in the beginning of which Cardinal Pool viſits the Univerſity of Cambridg, where he cauſes on the 9th of Jan. the bones of the famous Bucer and Paulus Phagius, profeſſors of the Goſpel, to be taken up, and with a ſolemn proceſſion to be publickly burnt, with all their Books. Thus devilliſhly mallicious are theſe Papiſts, that they will not let men lye in quiet in their Graves. At Oxford this Cardinal in his viſitation did the like by Peter Martyrs wife, whoſe bones he cauſed to be taken up and deſpitefully buried in a dunghill. About the 15th of this Month of January 6 men were burned at Canterbury, in one fire, their names were Kemp, Waterer, Powling, Lowick, Hudſon, and Hai. Two more, Stephens and Philpot, at Wye, and on the 16th one Final and Bradbridg were burnt together at Aſhford, in the ſame county. In February following, as if the Magiſtrates and Biſhops were ſlack in • eſtroying Gods people, whom they called Hereticks, a new bloody Commiſſion is ſent abroad, and new Inquiſitors are made to torment and burn the profeſſors of the Goſpel. And not long after out of Eſſex, that fruitful place of holy Martyrs, were ſent to London from Colcheſter no leſs than 22 perſons at one time, men and women, all bound with ropes one to another and ſo guarded up to London after a ſtrange manner. On the 12th of April 5 were burned in Smithfield, whoſe names were Thomas Loſeby, Henry Ramſey, Thomas Thirtel, Margaret Hide, and Agnes Stanly. In May following 3 others viz Morant, Gratwait, and King, were burnt in Southwark. On June the 18th 5 women and 2 men were burnt at Maidſtone in Kent, their names were Joan Bradbridg, Joan Mannings, Elizabeth a blind maid, Walter Appleby, and Petronel his wife, Edmund Allin, and Katherine his wife. On the 30th of the ſame month were burnt at Canterbury 3 men and 4 women. I ſhall but name them, John Fiſhcock, Nicholas White, Nicholas Pardo, Barbara Final, a Widdow, the wife or Widdow of Bradbride formerly mentioned and Mariyt'd, the wife of one Wilſon, and the wife of Benden: All theſe ſuffered for the Goſpel. The horrible uſage of theſe poor Creatures in the Biſhops Priſon is unſpeakable, where they lay upon ſtraw, and had but 3 farthings a day apiece, allowed them; a halfpeny for Bread, and a farthing for bear, on which God enabled them to Live. On the 22th of June no leſs than ten Martyrs ſuffered together in one fire at Lewis in Suſſex, their names were Richard Woodman, George Stevens, W. Mainnard, Alexander Hoſman his ſervant, Thomaſin Wood his maid, Marg • ry Morris, James Morris, her Son, De • is Burgis The wife of Aſhden, and of Groves. On the 13th of July Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper were burnt at Norwich. on the 2d of Auguſt ſuffered no leſs than ten Martyrs at Colcheſter, Six in the Morning, & 4 in the afternoon. Their names were Bongeor. Purcas, Benold, Agnis Silverſide, Helen E • rine, Eliz. Folks In the afternoon were burnt. W. Munt and Alice his wife, R • ſe Allin their daughter, and John Johnſon. When Munt and his wife were taken, the woman being ſick in bed, deſired her daughter to fetch her ſome drink, and as ſhe was paſſing thorow the room one Tyrril, of the race of that Tyrril who Murthered King Edward the 5th met her, and bid her to give her Father and Mother good Counſel, to whom the maid repyled; Sir, they have a better inſtructor than I am; For the holy Ghoſt doth reach them, who will not ſuffer them to err. Thou naughty huswiſe (ſaid Tyrril) art thou of that mind? 'tis time to look to ſuch Hereticks. That which you call hereſie (replyed Roſe) is the true Worſhip of the living God. Then Goſſip (ſaid this perſecutor) I perceive you will burn for company with the reſt; not for companies ſake, but for Chriſt's ſake, who I hope in his Mercy will enable me to bear it, if I am compelled thereto, returned the Maid to him again; with that this cruel Tyrril, took the candle which ſhe had in her hand burning, and held the back of her hand over it, burning, it till the very ſinews crackt and burſt in two. And ſeeing the Maid did not cry out, why thou whore ſaid he, wilt not thou cry? She reply'd he had more reaſon to cry than ſhe, for ſhe thanked God, ſhe had no cauſe but to rejoyce. Thou young, ſtrong, beaſtly whore, ſaid he, get thee: gone: When ſhe came to her Mother, and ſhewed her her Martyr'd hand, her Mother asked her how ſhe could indure it; to whom ſhe replyed, that at firſt it was ſome little pain to her, but the more it burnt, the leſs ſhe felt, or well near none at all. The like cruelty you heard of Bonner, who alſo ſerved a blind harper after the ſame manner, with a burning coal. Likewiſe one George Eayles a Taylor by profeſſion, but privately preached the Goſpel to the great Comfort of many good people, taking great pains therein drinking only water, and earing little, lying in the woods and Fields, which ſecured him for ſome years, but at laſt he was taken, and had to London and there condemned for a traytor, for meeting in traytorous companies or Conventicles, and ſtirring them up againſt the Q. though nothing of that nature could be prov'd againſt him, yet he was condemned and executed after a barbarous manner, at Chelmsford in Eſſex. On the 5th of Auguſt ſuffered Rich, Craſhſield at Norwich. About the ſame time a converted Fryer & a Woman who was Siſter to the late mentioned George Eagles were burnt at Rocheſter.

About the ſame time ſuffered Mrs. Joyce Lewis, ſhe was a Gentleman's daughter, tenderly bred up all her Life, and Marryed to Mr. Tho. Lewis of Mancheſter. who was her 2d Husband. She had been all her Life time a Papiſt, and ſo continued till the begining of Queen Maries reign, and that ſhe ſaw ſuch Cruelties exerciſed againſt the Goſpellers, and eſpecially upon the burning of that learned Martyr, Mr. Lawrence Saunders, whom we have mentioned, ſhe began to enquire more narrowly into the matter, and more eſpecially converſed often with Mr. John Glover, living near him in Coventry, who taught her and inſtructed her in the Truth, ſo that ſhe being throughly convinced of the Popiſh errors, and their damnable Doctrins, ſhe refrained from going to Maſs, but her Husband one day forcing her to go to Church againſt her will, when the Prieſt went to ſprinkle her with holy Water, ſhe turn'd her back to him, upon which ſhe was next day cited to come before the Biſhop; but her Husband being enraged at the fellow who brought it, ſet his dagger to his throat, and made him eat the citation, and drink an health to it afterwards; but upon this, they were both had before the Biſhop; the Husband ſubmitted himſelf, & was bound in a recogniſance of 100 l. to bring his Wife, after a months time given her to Conſiders which the unatural husband did, rather than to undergo any farther trouble, and the poor Gentlewoman being Conſtant, and rather reſolving to ſuffer, than to deny the Truth, was committed to ſo naſty and ſtinking a priſon, that her maid who went with her, not being able to endure it ſwounded; but God gave her ſtrength, and tho ſhe had many Temptations, yet by the power and aſſiſtance of God's holy Spirit, ſhe overcame them all, ſhe was ſeveral times had before the Biſhop, who reaſoned with her, endeavouring to make her come to Maſs, but ſhe ſtill anſwered him, it was againſt her Conſcience, and not Commanded in the Word of God, for if he could ſhew them there, ſhe would with all her heart receive, eſteem and believe them. To which this Popiſh Biſhop replyed: If thou wilt believe no more than is in the Scripture, concerning matters of Religion, thou art in a damnable caſe. Upon which ſhe being ſomewhat amazed, told him his words ſavoured of ungodlineſs. She was then condemned, but after her condemnation, ſhe was kept a whole year, ere ſhe was burnt, but at laſt ſeeing they could not pervert her, they procured the burning writ, and ſhe having notice of it received the news very chearfully, ſpending the night before her Martyrdom in prayers, receiving great Conſolation and Joy in her Spirit, in that God had accounted her worthy to ſuffer for his ſake; The next morning, refuſing the Prieſt, they had ſent to take her confeſſion, ſhe went to the ſtake prepared for her a • Leichfield, being accompanied with ſeveral of her friends, & ſeveral of her Neighbours & acquaintance, ſhe being beloved, and many of them drank with her at the ſtake, all which were noted by the Fryers, and made for ſo doing, to undergo publick pennance. When ſhe was tyed with the chain, ſhe ſhewed ſuch chearfulneſs and patience, that all were amazed and moſt of them could not abſtain from weeping, who beheld her. When the fire was ſet to her, ſhe neither ſtruggl'd or ſtir'd, only lifting up her hands towards heaven, ſhe was quickly dead: the under Sheriff being her Friend, had prepared ſuch ſtuff, as ſoon diſpatch'd her. And this was the end of this good and bleſſed Gentle woman and Martyr.

On the 17th of September 1557 Ralf Allerton, James Auſtoe, Margery Auſtoe his wife, and Richard Roth, ſuffered all in one fire, at Iſlington; on the ſame day and year were burnt at Colcheſter in one fire, two godly women, Agnes Bongeer and Margaret Thurſton. About the ſame time one John Noys a Shoe maker of Laxfield in the County of Suffolk was burnt. On the 23d of September the ſame year Cicilly Ormes a poor ſimple woman was burnt at Norwich, for profeſſing the Goſpel. At her Death ſhe utterly renounced Popery, and admoniſhed people to beware of its Idolatry: When ſhe came to the ſtake, ſhe Kiſſed it, and embracing it, ſhe ſaid, welcome thou Croſs of Chriſt, being bound to it, and fire being ſet to her, ſhe ſaid: My ſoul doth Magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour, and in ſo ſaying ſhe ſet her hands together right againſt her breaſt, caſting her eyes and head upward, ſhe ſtood without moving till her Arms being burnt in two, fell into the fire, and ſo yeilded up the Ghoſt as if ſhe felt no pain.

On the 18th of November following, John Hollingdale, W. Sparrow, and Richard Gibſon, being all condemned by Bonner, ſuffered together in Smithfield. On the 22th of December, were alſo burnt in Smithfield John Rough a Miniſter, and one Margaret Mearing, in one fire. On the 28th day of March following being the year 1558. Cutbert Symſon who had been a Deacon in the Congregation, of the laſt mentioned Miniſter, Mr. Rough, was burnt in London. He was like another Stephen, moſt Zealous for Religion and never ceaſed, labouring earneſtly how to help and preſerve others from the Popiſh Tyranny. This man keeping the Books of the Regiſter of the names and accounts of the Congregation, Mr. Rough, before Martvr'd, had a viſion of his trouble, that came ſuddenly upon him, and leſt they ſhould find this Book and thereby know all the names of Gods Saints, belonging to the Congregation, to bring them into trouble, being warned in his dream, be cauſed Cutbert not to carry that book about him, as be was wonted to do; for it ſo fell out, he was layd hold on, and becauſe he would not Coufeſs, and betray thoſe of the Congregation, he was had before the Recorder of London, and the Conſtable of the Tower, but he abſolutely denying to Confeſs any thing, they ſet him 3 hours upon the rack, but not being able to move him with their torments, they looſed him & ſent him to priſon for that time, but the Sunday following, he was ſent for again, and being asked if he would ye▪ Confeſs the Hereticks, ſhortly anſwered, that he never would, upon which the Lieutenant of the Tower ſwore by God, he would make him, and preſently cauſed his forefingers to be bound together, and then betwixt them, thruſt a ſinall forked Arrow, drawing it backward and forward, Cruelly tormenting and curting his fingers, but ſtill finding him Conſtant and reſolute, theſe bloody and Tyrannical Papiſts rack'd him twice more, and ſet him 3 hours in an Iron Engine, in the Tower, called Skevingtons Gives, all which he with great patience ſuffered, and they could not get their wills of him. And Biſhop Bonner was forced to confeſs, that ſo patient a man he had never before ſeen, being thrice racked in one day, and it was pity he was an Heretick. The night before he was burnt, he heard his priſon doors as he thought unlock, about midnight, he ſaw an apparition of great brightneſs to enter the dungeon, ſaying nothing to him but Ha! and then departed, but the ſight thereof filled him with extraordinary Joy and comfort. With this Conſtant Martyr Cutbert Symſon, ſuffered alſo Hugh Fox and J • h •• evoniſh, for the ſame cauſe, all ending their lives on the day and in the place aforeſaid, with great Joy and alacrity to the Strengthning of others.

On the 6th of April following, was burnt at Haverford Weſt in Wales, one William Nicholſon a plain ſimple man, who there lay'd down his life for the Goſpel.

On the 19th of May following, was burnt at Norwich in one fire, Will. Seaman an husbandman, Tho. Carman a lay man, and Thomas Hudſon a Glover, all of them condemned by the Biſhop of Norwich Hudſon had often prayed to God that he might ſuffer for the Goſpels ſake, and when he was taken, he was ſo far from flying, that he chearfully met the Officers ſaying, welcome friends, welcome, my hour is now come: you are they that ſhall lead me to Life in Chriſt; I thank God for this, and the Lord inable me thereto for his mercies, ſake. When they were brought to the pl • ce of execution, which was without Biſhop gate in Norwich, called Lollards pit, after they had made their prayer, to God, they were chained to the Stake, when Hadſon, not feeling that Joy in Spirit he uſed to do, he d • ſired them to ſtay a while, which ſome believed was that he might recant, but he falling on his Knees, prayed with great Vehemency to God, to viſit him with his ſpirit, and at laſt he received that comfort he deſired, and then he aroſe up with great Joy, as a man new changed even from Death to Life, and ſaid: Now I thank God I am ſtrong, and paſs not what man can do into me: And ſo fire being put to them, all three ſuffered moſt Joyfully, Conſtantly, and manfully, and were Conſumed with the Fire, glorifying God, to the terrour and amazement of their bloody perſeſecutors, and to the comfort and ſtrengthning of their Brethren.

The 29 of the ſame month, were burnt alſo for the Goſpels ſ • ke 3 more together at Colcheſter, their Names were, William Harris, Richard Day, and Chriſtian George, who dyed chearfully and willingly.

On the 27th of June following, being Anno 1558, were burnt together in one fire in Smithfield 7 bleſſed Martyrs, all condemned thereto by the bloody, butcherly Biſhop Bonner, who gloried in his ſhame; the names of theſe men were Henry Pond, Raignold Eſtland, Ro. Southam, Ma • thew Richarby, John Floyd, John Holyday. And Roger Holland. This laſt was a Gentlemans ſon of Lancaſhire, of great kindred, & many friends, being bred a ſtrict Papiſt, and bound Prentiſe in London, where he lived ſo leud and debauch'd a Life, till the begining of Queen Maries days, that there was little likelyhood of his coming to be burnt for the ſake of Chriſls Goſpel. But it pleaſed God at laſt to work upon him, in the midſt of his ryot and licentious Life, being given to dancing, fencing, gaming, banqueting, and all manner of luxurie, and one night having loſt 30 l. at play of his Maſters mony, he grew troubled, and reſolved to run away and go beyond ſeas to France or Flanders, and making a Bill under his hand, acknowledging his debt to his Maſter, he privatly made his caſe known to the ſervant maid in the houſe, who was a religious maid, and one who profeſſed the Goſpel, and deſired her to give his Maſter that Note, when he was gone, premiſing to pay him ſo ſoon as he was able, if he would keep it from his friends, for if they ſhould know of it, they would never look on him, and it would be his Ruine. This maid pittying the young man, and hopeing to reclaim him from his Evil ways, haveing ſome monys by her, left to her by ſome of her friends, ſhe kept the note and fetch'd him 20 l. to pay his Maſter, upon Condition he would leave his leudneſs and debauchery, read the bible, pray to God, and frequent ſermons, and to leave all his Papiſtical Books and licentious Ballads, and Ribaldry, and to lead a new life, giving him a great deal of good and grave advice. He promiſed what ſhe deſired, and endeavouring it, God ſo wrought upon him, and ſtrengthened him in this good way, that in ſome time he left off all his wicked and debauch'd Companions, and became a ſtrict profeſſor of the Goſpel, to the great Admiration of all thoſe who had known his former wicked Life. After ſome time he bought ſeveral good books, and going into the Country to his father carried them, and beſtowed them among his friends whereby his father, and many others began to taſt the Goſpel, and to abhor the Idolatry of the Papiſts; his father giving him a ſtock to begin with, his time being out, he goes to London and repairs to the maid, who had generouſly lent him the 30 l. pays her▪ and in return of her kindneſs Marrys her. Haveing a child by her, he cauſed it to be privatly baptized, for which he was lay'd hold on and caſt into priſon, and divers times had before Bonner, who by reaſon of his many and great kindred (the Lord Strange being one of them) he ſought all he could to have him recant, and ſave his Life, but he was a ſtout and noble Champion, and would not be perverted by any means: He told the Biſhop that he had been bred a Papiſt, and then liv'd in all manner of ſin, being abſolved by the Prieſts, ſo that he made no Conſcience of committing any crime, whilſt in their Church, for he knew that for a little mony, he could be abſolved from all his wickedneſs, and begin again anew, he could eat fleſh on Frydays, whore, ſwear, drink, game, and all was well enough, ſo long as he went to Maſs, but now the he lived a ſtrict and ſober life, leaving their Idolatry, he muſt be perſecuted to death, being called by the light of God's Word to Repentance, and that by Prieſts, who blaſpheme God, and lead Scandalous lives, without puniſhment, ſome of them, having 6 or 7 Children apiece, to his knowledge, by four or five ſundry women. He told them many other crimes and Enormities of their Church, to the Biſhops face, too long to rehearſe, which ſo enraged the Biſhop, that he read the ſentence againſt him, nor permitting him to ſpeak any more, ſaying he was one of the m • ſt blaſphemous hereticks, that ever he heard of. He heard his ſentence of Condemnation very patiently, and when they would have had him away, he deſired to ſpeak two or three words, but the Biſhop Cry'd, away with him, way with him; at laſt, ſome of his friends prevailed, not knowing but he might recant, and being permitted to ſpeak he thus propheſied: I tell you (ſaid he) that God has now heard the prayers of his ſervants, which have been poured forth with tears for his Afflicted Saints, which you dayly perſecute, as you do us. But this I ſ • • o you, moved thereto by his holy Spirit, that God will ſhorten your hand of C • u ••• •• d t ••• nor B •• thre • t •• a ſh • rt time will be able to 〈◊〉 ••• e, ſo to • t you ſhall not be able to perſecute them 〈◊〉 more: For mark me, after this da •• n this place, 〈◊〉 ••• h I & 〈◊〉 B •• thren, and fellow Marty • s are to ſuff • r, no more ſhall undergo the try ••• of F •• e and faggot. Upon this Bonner ſaid, I • ow perceive Roger that thou art as mad in thy •••• ſie, as ever was Joan B •• cher. Thou wouldſt f ••• be accounted a railing prophet, and tho thou and all the reſt of you, deſire to ſee me hang'd 〈◊〉 ſh • ll live to burn you, ye • I will burn all of you 〈◊〉 co •• under my h • nds, that will not wo • ſ • 〈◊〉 bl • ſſ • d Sacrament of the Altar, for al •• 〈◊〉 prating. And to they haled him away, but th •• H • l • man was no falſe prophet, for he and his 6 Companions above named w • o were burnt with him, were the laſt who ſuffered in that place, for the teſtimony of the Goſpel. That day theſe holy Marty • s ſuffered, a proclamation was made, that none ſhould dare to ſpeak or talk a word to them, or receive any thing from them, or touch them, on pain of Impriſonment, without bad or mainpriſe. Notwithſtanding, the people cryed out, d • ſiteing God to ſtrengthen them. When they all came to the Stake Roger Holland embracing it ſaid aloud Lord, I moſt humbly thank thy Majeſty, that haſt called me from the State of Death unto the Light of thy heavenly Word, and now unto the fellowſhip of the Saints, that I may ſing and ſay, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hoſts. And Lord, into thy hands I Commit my Spirit. Lord bleſs theſe thy people, and ſave them from Idolatry: ſo being faſtned to the Stake with the reſt, looking up towards Heaven, praying and praiſing God, with the reſt of his fellow Martyrs, he ended his Life, and exchanged for a better, with great Courage, holy reſolution, and manlike Conſtancy.

Not long after the Martyrdom of theſe 7 laſt mentioned in Smathfield, viz. on the 14th of July following, Six more ſuffered in one fire at Brainford. Their names were Robert Wills, Stephen Colt • n, Robert Dynes, Stephen White, John Slade, and William Pikes a Tanner. All theſe were condemned By Bonner, and ordered to be burnt at the place aforeſaid. When they came to the ſtake, they made their prayers with great humility, like ſo many Lambs prepared for the ſlaughter, th • n and reſ • ing themſelves, they went joyfully to the ſtake, to which they were bound, and the fire being put to them, and flaming about them, they yield 〈◊〉 their Bodies, Lives, and Souls, into the hand of Jeſus, for whoſe cauſe they ſuffer'd. The laſt mentioned William Pikes, being a very godly, holy and religious man, not long before he was taken, as he was reading the B • ble of Mr. Rogers his tranſlation in his Garden, 4 drops of blood fell down upon the Bible, from whence he could not tell except it came out of the Element, upon which he called his wife, and ſhewed her the prodigy, blotting out one of the drops with his finger At laſt he ſaid, I perceive the Lord will have blood, his will be cone, and give me grace to abide the tryal. And it was not long after that be was apprehended. The ſame man being in Newgate, fell extreamly ſick, ſo that none looked he could have lived 6 hours, being given over for a dead man; upon which he prayed, and deſired of God, that he might glorifie his name at the ſtake, which came to paſs accordingly God hearing his prayers.

This Bloody Bonner, who in a matter of 3 years ſpace, had deſtroyed one way or other, about 200 Martyrs for the Goſpel, haveing one Thomas Hinſhaw an Apprentice in London before him in Examination at Fulham, and not receiving ſatisfactory Anſwers to his mind, he ſet him in the ſtocks all night with bread and water only, the next day he ſent his Archdeacon Harpsfield, ſuch another perſecutor as himſelf, who calling this young man, who was about 19 or 20 years of Age, Previſh boy, asking him whether he thought he went about to dams his Soul, or no, unto which the ſaid Thomas anſwered, that he was perſwaded, they laboured to maintain their dark and deviliſh Kingdom, and not for any Love to Truth. This put the Archdeacon into a Rage, and away he goes to Bonner, who furned and fretted, not being able to have his will of a young man, preſently he ſends for him into an Arbour in his Garden, untruſſing him, he cauſed the young man to Kneel down, and to lye over a bench, where with his own Epiſcopal hands, he wore out a willow Rod upon him, who bore it all patiently, till this ſ •• u • whipping Biſhop, who had none of St. Pauls Characters in him, could lay on no longer, for want of B • eath. With this, and other ill • ſu • ge, this poor young is an fell ſick, and ſo continued in a •• ngring St • kn • ſs, till he was treed by the Death of this Popiſh Perſecuting Queen Mary.

Beſides, this young man, there was another named John Wills a Capper, and was brother to the above mentioned Robert Wills, Martyr'd at Brainford; he was kept for ſome time in Bonners cole hole at Fulham, and put into the Stocks, being taken at a meeting in the fields at Iſlington: Bonner had him ſeveral times in Examination, rapping him often on the head with his ſtick, and flirting him under the chin, and on the ears, when he croſs'd him: The poor man often mentioning the Scripture to the Biſhop, Ha •• Sirrah, ſaid he, What have you to do with Scripture? Do you believe the Scripture? To whom this honeſt confeſſor reply'd that he did: why then ſaid this learned Biſhop, St. Paul ſays if the man ſleep the woman is at Liberty to go to another man and then wouldſt thou having a wife be content ſhe ſhould go to another man, when thou art aſleep? And yet this is Scripture. As thou ſeeſt the Bodies of the Hereticks burnt in Smithfield, juſt to do their ſouls hang burning in hell, for forſaking the true Church. They call me bloody Bonner, a vengeance of you all, I think you have a delight in burning, but if I might have my will, I'de ſoon be rid on you all, for I would ſow up all your Mouths, put you into Sacks, and drown you: O excellent Popiſh Biſhop! But ſeeing the honeſt Capper no ways approving his Doctrins, he cauſed him to be untruſſed, and in his Arbour, this Whipping fat paunch'd Biſhop, exerciſed himſelf on his hinder parts, with a willow Rod, which being ſpent, he ſent for a birchen Rod, with which he clawed off the poor man, till he could Labour no longer. This man was delivered from his tyranny, by the Death of the Queen.

We will alſo take notice of another cruel Whipping in this Biſhops houſe, either by himſelf of his Ca • plains; one John Fetty of •• e kenwell, being for the cauſe of the Goſpel in the Lollards Tower, where for many weeks he had indured great hardſhip, being often tormented in the ſtocks, it chanced that one of his Children, a Boy of about 8 or 9 years old, came to the Biſhops palace, to ſee if he could get into the priſon, to ſee his Father, and being met by one of the Biſhops Chaplains, who asked the child what he would have? who told him he came to ſee his Father that was in priſon in the Lollards Tower. Your Father then ſaid the Prieſt is an Heretick. No ſaid the Child, he is no Heretick, but you are Hereticks, for you have Balaam's Mark: With that this hard hearted Prieſt took the Child in, and among them ſtripping him, whipt him all over, till he was of a gore blood, and then in that condition ſent him to his Father, which cut the poor man to the heart to ſee him ſo cruelly handled. He then asked the Child who had done it? the Child replyed a Prieſt in the Biſhops houſe, with Balaams Mark on him, had uſed him thus; with that the cruel hangman, carryed the Childback, where they to cruelly handled the poor Innocent, that 〈◊〉 about 15 days after he dyed. The Biſhop hearing that the Child was about to dye, f • aring he ſhould be called to account for it, releaſed th • Father, and ſo ſaved his Life, for murthering his Childs.

On the 10th of July, one Richard Yeoman of 70 • ears of Age was Martyr'd at Norwich. This Richard Yeoman was a Miniſter, and had been the Martyr'd • . Taylors Curate, & to whom he had left his care, but being turned out, and a Popiſh Prieſt put in, having a Wife & being aged, he fell into great poverty wandring about with a few Pinns, Tape, and Laces and ſuch like to ſell, and where he durſt he often preached and inſtructed good people, in the true doctrine of Chriſt., After long wandring about he came home ſecretly to his Wife, who lockt him up in her Chamber, going abroad to get • nd beg Victuals to maintain them, but at laſt it was ſuſpected, that he was in the houſe, and in the night when in bed together, they broke into the houſe, where their Popiſh Adverſaries found them; Ha, ſaid the Prieſt, I thought we ſhould find a Rogue and an Whore together; upon which the old man told them, they were lawfully Married, and they did ill ſo to • erm thoſe who came lawfully together by Gods ordinance, which he would own: They then forc'd him to riſe, and had him to the Cage, where they kept him all night, & where he found one John Dale who had been kept there two or 3 days. Thence they were had before the Juſtice, and from him ſent to the Jail at Norwich, where Dale dyed before he was executed, Yeoman being examined by the Biſhop, who finding him reſolute in owning the truth, he was condemned, degraded, and deliver'd over to the ſecular power to be burnt, and ſo on the day, & in the place aforeſaid he ſuffer'd, ſealing his teſtimony with his blood, paſſing thorow the torments of the fire to everlaſting peace.

I am now come near to a concluſion of theſe cra •• perſecutions of the Papiſts, and ſhall end w ••• mentioning one or two more. Mr. Thomas Benbridg of the Dioceſs of Wincheſter, was a Gentlem •• of Eſtate, and mought have lived in all plenty 〈◊〉 Earthly pleaſures, all which he forſook for the ſak •• of the Goſpel, and of his ſoul, which was more der •• than all earthly delights and pleaſures, for which cauſe being apprehended and brought before th • Biſhop, he had ſeveral diſputes with him, but i • the end he was overcome by their cruel Topick th • Fire, to which he was condemned: Coming to th • ſtake very richly clad, his coat ••• ing lay'd all ove • with Gold and Silver lace, his Cap of Velvet and other things ſutable, which he caſt off at the ſtake, i •• being tyed thereto, was willed by Dr. Seaton to recant, and that he ſhould have his Pardon, but he refuſing it, the Dr. willed the people not to pray fo • him no more than for a Dog, & becauſe he ſaid to th • Dr. Away thou Baby • o • man, away! ſome would hard had his Tongue cut out, but his Adverſaries ſeeing he would not yeild, try'd a new way to Tormen ••• him, and inſtead of putting him to death, they rather roſted or broyled him with a few Faggots, that he might through the great torment of the ſire recant, for they burnt part of his legs, and ſcorched his face and heard, i • in a • itious manner, ſo that the pain being ſo grea • , he cryed out he would recant, upon which the fire was withdrawn, and he was led back to priſon; but he was ſo troubled at what he had done, that he could have no quiet or peace in his conſcience, till he had given under his hand that be utterly renounced that forced Recantation and that he was willing to dye for the Goſpel, which he had and d • d ſtill profeſs Upon which his Popiſh Adverſaries being enraged, that day ſeven-night after, he was had again to the ſtake, where they as before, rather broiled him than burnt him to Death, which he then manfully endured, and ſo at la •• ſlept in the ••• rd, July 19. 1558.

About the beginning of Auguſt, and a little before •• een Mary ſickned, 4 Martyrs were burnt toge •• er at St. Edmunds-bury, by the B • ſhop of Norwich, •• e names of theſe were James Aſh • ey a B • tchelor, •• on Cook is Sawyer, Robert • l •• es a Sheerman, and Exander Lane a Wheel-wright.

In Ip • wich on the 4 of November, one Alexander •• uch and Alice Driver were Martyr'd, the aforeſaid ••• e Driver having both her ears out off, for com • ring Queen Mary to Jezabel. When they came to •• e ſtake ſinging of Pſalms, the Sheriff was ſo cruel •• d chur •• ſh to them, that he interrupted them, and • ould not let them ſtay to pray, but would have • em faſtned to the ſtake, and was enraged to ſee •• y take them by the hand, threatning to have them 〈◊〉 priſon, yet they would not forbear: Thus they • xpreſſed their malice to theſe poor wretches, but his wicked Sheriff died within 3 weeks after, which • as lo • k'd on as a juſt judgment upon ſo cruel a • erſecutor.

In the ſame month 3 more were burned at Bary, •• eir names were Philip H • mfre • , John David, • nd Henry David his Brother. At Exeter a poor • oman was burnt, being the wife of one P •• e • , of • bout 56 years of Age, and being a ſilly ignorant • oman, in the eſteem of the Prieſts, they thought • hey ſhould be able to overcome her, but they •• avelled in vain, and all they could do could not • ervert her, being ſtrengthend by the Spirit of •• od: When the came to the ſtake, ſhe ſhewed •• eat chearfulneſs and alacrity, and ſaid, I thank • ee O God, this day I have found what I long •• ught •• r. And being u • ged to recant Nay (ſaid ſhe) God •• rbid I ſh • uld loſe Eternal L • f, for this Carual and • ort life, I will never turn from my heavenly husband, •• my earthly hu • band, from the fellowſh • p with Angels, to morial Children: And if my husband 〈◊〉 h • an be faithfull, then am I theirs. God is my F ••• God is my Mother, God is my Siſter, my Brother 〈◊〉 Husband: God is my friend, moſt faithfull. F ••• being put to her ſhe cryed out, God be mercif •• me a S •• ner, God be mercifull to me a Sinner, as ſo Continued whilſt ſhe had life.

The laſt that ſuffered for the Goſpel in the day of Queen Mary, and that but 6 or 7 days, before her death, were three m • n and 2 women, 〈◊〉 the 10th of November, at Canterbury: their a m ••• were J • on Corajord Chriſtopher Brown, Jo •• H ••• Alice Snoth, and K • therin •• 〈◊〉 an aged woman: Theſe Five cloſed up the rage of Que ••• Marys perſecution for the reſt mony of th • t w • r • for which ſo m • ny had dyed before, and geve • their Lives me • kly and patiently, ſuffering th • violent malice of the Papiſts The matte • for which they were judged to the fire was, for believing that the Body, Blood, 〈◊〉 Bones of Chriſt was not in the Sacrament of 〈◊〉 Altar. Upon which, theſe poor people were 〈◊〉 communicated, in theſe Words: In the name 〈◊〉 our Lord Jeſus Chriſt▪ the Son of the moſt mig ••• God, and by the power of his Holy Spi • it, and the Authority of his holy Catholick and Ap ••• lick Church, we do hereby give into 〈◊〉 H •• ds of Sathan to be deſtroyed, the Bodys of all theſe Blaſphemers, and hereticks, that do maintain, &c Upon this they were delivered over to the ſecular power, and ſuch was the inveterate malice of theſe Papiſts, to thoſe who profeſſed the Goſpel, that although they well knew that the Queen was given over by the Phyſitians, and that the could not live; yet they had a mind to diſpatch theſe poor wretches, and to rid them of their lives, blaſphemouſly making uſe of the names of God and Chriſt in their Excommunications, to torment the Bodys of the Saints with fire, and 〈◊〉 give their Souls to the Devil, and all to ar •• • o their bloody ends. When theſe Five came 〈◊〉 the ſtake, they prayed very fervently to God, •• at he would have mercy on the Nation, and •• at their Blood mig • t be the laſt that ſhould 〈◊〉 ſhed by the violent Rage of the bloody Papiſts; • nd ſo it was, that God heard their prayers, for •• eſe were the laſt who ſuffered for the Goſpel 〈◊〉 her Days; for on the 17th of the ſame month • he dyed, and the glorious and renowned Queen • hiz •• eth her Siſter ſucceeded, and put a full pe • iod to the rage, reign, and bloody Tyrannie of • he Church of Rome, in England, and reſtored the • eformed Church as now Eſtabliſhed, to its ſplen •• our and purity, which having paſſed the firy •• val, and drunk ſo deeply of perſecution, one would believe ſhould never go about to perſecute others: But God preſerve this Nation from the dreadful Tyranny of the Biſhop of Rome, and let all people heartily ſay Amen.