The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ.The year of Christ.

AFter the Jews had Apostatized, according as the Prophets had foretold, and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come; so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Vir­gin Mary, whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths, and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn;Christ is born the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields, and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men: The great re­joycing at his Birth. The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem, found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger, and they published that which was told them concerning the Child, and they returned Praising and Glori­fying God; but Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her Heart.

The Child was called Jesus (which signifies a Saviour) which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb.He is called Jesus. The Wise men from the East, the Star being their Guide, coming to Herod to Jerusalem, and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea, they went thither, and entering in­to the House which was shewed them by the Star, which stood over it; they found the little Child and Mary his Mother, and falling down worshipped him, and having opened their Treasures, they of­fered unto him Gold, Frankinseence and Myrhe. Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own Country another way.

And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man, who had waited for the Consolation of Israel; and the holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost, That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ; & he came by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law, then took he him up in his Arms,Simeons Testi­mony con­cerning that. and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace, according to thy Word; for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation, which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People; a Light to Lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of thy People Israel: and Joseph, and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him; and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his Mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

In the same moment came Anna, a Prophetess, the Daughter of Phanuel, she also openly acknowledged the Lord, and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, unto their own City Nazareth.

The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream, sheweth him, that he should flee into Egypt, that he might provide for the life of the Child, and escape the Devices of Herod, Herods Cruel­ty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus. who being awakened took the Young Child, and his Mother by night, and departed into Aegypt, where he remained until the death of Herod: Herod think­ing the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem, that he might De­stroy him among the rest, killed all the Children that were in Bethle­hem, and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under, accor­ding to the time (of the Star first seen in the East) that he had enqui­red of the Wise-men.

Herod shortly after dyed Miserably, being dead, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt, and commanded, that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel; but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod, he feared to go thither, and being warned of God in a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee, and there dwelt in the City Nazareth, from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene, and the Christians of Nazarenes.

In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover, year of Christ 12 Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem; his Parents returning home, he stayed behind,His Mouth was first ope [...] ­ed to oppose the Doctors, at twelve, years old. they not knowing where he was, sought him three dayes, and found him in the Temple sit­ting in the midest of the Doctors, hearing them, and asking them Questions; and all that heard him were astonished at his Understand­ing and Answers, and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth, and was obedient unto them, and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter.

In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ, year of Christ 30 John—came forth in his Ministry, Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his Pathes streight, Iohn Ministry what it was. and opening the acceptable year of the Lord, or the time of his divine pleasure, preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins, being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair, and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns, and his food was Locus and wild Hony.

And now Jesus being filled with the Holy Ghost he was led by the Spirit into the desart, where he fasted forty dayes & forty night, where he was tempted,Jesus fasie [...] forty dayes but the Tempter could find no place in him▪ when John was asked by the Sect of the Pharisees, who he was, he told them he was not the Christ, and denying that he was Elias or that Prophet; but said, he was the Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness, Make strait the Way of the Lord; and told them, I Baptize with Water, but there standeth ono amongst you, whom ye know not, he it is who cometh after me, who is preferred before me, whose Shoe Latchet I [Page 34]am not worthy to unloose: The next day John seeing Jesus coming to him, saith, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the world; This is he of whom I spake, there cometh one after me that is preferred before me,Johns Testi­mony concer­ning Christ. and I saw him, and testifie that this is the Son of God.

And now Jesus going into Galilee, commanded Philip to follow him, he finding Nathaniel under a Fig-tree, and brings him to Jesus, who pronounces him to be truly an Israelite in whom was no guile.

And now we are come to the Publick Ministry of Christ, whose Acts I shall briefly mention before I proceed to give an ac­count of his Suffering and Death.

JEsus working Miracles many believed on him, but he did not com­mit himself unto them,The works he did in Jud [...]. because he knew what is in man, leaving Jerusalem where he had been at the Passover, he went into the Land of Judea, with his Disciples, where after he had stayed eight mo­neths, he went into Galilee again, but he must needs go through Samaria, where he brings the Samaritan Woman off from the Jerusalem worship,His works and Acts in Syria. to the worship of the Father in the Spirit and Truth; and in Galilee he worked many Miracles, healing the sick, and casting out Devils, going through all Galilee, and preach­ing in their Synagogues, and healing every disease, and his fame went into all Syria; and a great Multitude followed him, and in a certain City he heals a Leper, who though he was forbid, yet he publisheth it, and they came to him from every place to hear him, and to be healed, insomuch, that he could no more enter openly into the City, but was in desart places and prayed.

After these things was the Feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, The Iews of­fended because he had healed on the Sab­both day. They seek to [...]lay him. where, for healing a man on the Sabboth day, that had had an Infirmity thirty eight years, lying at the Pool of Bethesda: The Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabboth day; Jesus told them, My Fa­ther worketh hitherto, and I work; wherefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he said, that God was his Father; Jesus said, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for whatsoever he doth, these also doth the Son; for the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doth, and he will shew him grea­ter things then these, that ye may marvel, for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Iudgment unto the Son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father, he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him.

And it came to pass in those dayes, that he went into a Mountain to pray,He chose [...]h the twelve A­postles. and continued in prayer all night, and when it was day he chose twelve, whom he called Apostles, and he came down with them, and stood in the Plain, and a great multitude coming unto him, [Page 35]he went up into a Mountain again, and there spake first to his Apostles, and afterwards to the People, exhorting his Disciples to lowliness, pronouncing a Blessing to the Poor, and to them that weep now,His Exhorta­tion to them but a Wo unto them that were Rich, and Full, and unto them that laughed now, for they should mourn and weep; and that they should love their Enemies, and do good to them which hate them: And when he had ended all his Sayings in the Audience of the People, he en­tered into Capern [...]um, and heals the Centurions Servant that lay sick ready to dye; and afterward he went from City to City Preaching, and his Disciples were with him, and certain Women Ministred un­to him: And whilest he spake to the People, it was told him, year of Christ 13 that his Mother and Brethren stood without, desiring to see him, and to speak with him, he answered and said, my Mother and Brethren are these which hear the Word of God and do it.

And as Jesus was going to the House of Jairus (who fell down at Jesus his Feet, and besought him that he would come to his House, for he had one only Daughter of about twelve years of Age,He cures the Woman that had long [...]ad the Issue of blood. and she lay a dying) the People thronged him as he went, and a Woman having an Issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her Li­ving upon Physitians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the Border of his Garment, and she was healed, and the Daughter of Jairus now already dead, is restored to life by his Word only, and likewise he straightly chargeth that no man should know it.

When he departed thence, two blind men followed him,He opens the Eyes of two Blind men. whose Eyes he opened, straightly charging, that no man should know it; as they went out, behold, they brought unto him a Dumb man Pos­sessed with a Devil, and when the Devil was cast out, the Dumb speak, and a Multitude marvelled, but the Pharisees Blasphemed; and he went round about all their Cities and Villages, teaching and healing all their Diseases;He again ex­horts his Di­sciples, & sends them forth to Preach. and he was moved with compassion to­wards the great multitude, when he saw the great Harvest and the few Labourers, and saith to his Disciples, that they should pray the Lord that he would send forth Labourers; and he sends forth the twelve Apostles to Preach the Gospel.

He saith to his Disciples, Wo unto them by whom Offences come; and he teacheth them, that if thy Brother sin against thee, he is to be forgiven.

Lazarus of Bethany was sick, his Sisters therefore sends to Jesus to tell him of his sickness, assoon as he heard that he was sick, he tarries to dayes in the place where he was, but afterwards he saith to his Dis­ciples, let us go again into Judea, who say to him, the Jews of late sought to Stone thee, and goest thou thither again? Jesus answer­ing, saith unto them, Lazarus sleepeth (speaking of his Death, not of his Sleep) let us go to him, saith Thomas, that we may dye with him; Jesus comes nigh unto Bethany, and finds that Lazarus had been buried four dayes in the Grave; Martha comes to meet him, they discourse concerning the Resurrection; Mary hearing of it comes quickly to him without the Town, where Martha met him, [Page 36]who seeing her weep, Jesus wept, and comes to the Grave, bidding them remove the Stone, and giving thanks to his Father, calls Laza­rus out of his Grave;He rais [...]th up Lazarus. whereupon many believed on him, and some going to the Pharisees telling what things Jesus had done, they called therefore a Council, where Caiaphas Prophesied concerning Jesus, and from that day consulted together, that they might put him to death, commanding, that if any knew where he was, they should give notice, that they might take him; and at another time the Pharisees said, Behold, the whole World is gone after him.

And Jesus travelling towards Jerusalem, He weeps o­ver Jerusalem. when he came nigh, see­ing the City, he wept over it, foretelling the utter Destruction thereof; and being come to Ierusalem, having spoken of the desolation and ruin of it, as he sat on the Mount of Olive, over-against the Temple, his Disciples asked him, when these thing shall be, and what shall be the signs of thy coming?He warns his Disciples to watch to whom he answers at large, and warns them to Watch, and to be ready, for they know not the hour when the Lord will come, and teacheth the same thing by the Parable of the ten Virgins, as also by the Parable of the Tallents deli­vered to the Servants to Trade withal.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, he saith to his Disciples, Ye know that after two dayes is the Passover, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed to be crucified. Then they consulted together in the Palace of the High-Priest, that they might kill Jesus, but they said,Juda [...] Cove­nants to be­tray him. not on the Feast-day, least there be an uproar among the Peo­ple; then entered Satan into Judas, who offers himself, and Co­venants to betray him.

In the first day of the Unleavened Bread, when the Passover was slain, and in the Evening he cometh with the twelve, and when they had sat down and eaten, Jesus said, I have greatly desired to eat this Passover before I suffer; and he further said; One of you shall betray me; He telleth who should betray him. and they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him, one by one, Is it I? He answered, It is he that dippeth his hand with me in the d [...]sh; and to Iudas, asking, Is it I? He saith, Thou hast said.

When Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this World unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the World, he loved them unto the end; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God, there being a strife among his Disciples who should be greatest, he riseth after Supper, and layes aside his Garments,He washeth his Disciples Feet. and took a Towel, and girded himself; after that, he poured Water into a Bason, and began to wash the Disciples Feet; Peter saith, Thou shalt never wash my Feet; Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me; Peter saith, Not my Feet only, but also my Hands, and my Head: After he had washed their Feet, and had taken his Garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you, you call me Ma­ster and Lord, and ye say well; for so I am; if then your Lord and Master have washed your Feet, you ought also to wash one anothers Feet; for I have given you an Example, that you should do as I have [Page 37]done to you; and speaking further to his Disciples, he was trou­bled in Spirit, and said, One of you shall betray me, they looked one upon another, doubting of whom he speak; one of the Disciples whom Jesus loved, lying on Jesus his Breast, said, Lord, who is it? Jesus said, He it is to whom I shall give a stop, after I have dipped it, and he gave it to Judas, and said to him, What thou doest do quick­ly. Now when Judas had received the stop, he went immediately out; when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man Glo­rified, and God is Glorified in him; little Children, yet a little while I am with you, ye shall seek me, and as I said to the Jews, Whither I go you cannot come, so now I say unto you,He exhorts them to love one another. a New Commandment I give unto you, That you love one another, as I have loved you, by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples, if you have love one to ano­ther: Peter said, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whi­ther I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards; Peter said, Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my Life for thy sake; Jesus answered, The Cock shall not crow till thou hast de­nyed me thrice.

Against their sorrow conceived by them for his death he comforts them, saying, Let not your hearts be troubled;He comforts them. and that in his Fa­thers House were many Mansions; and that the Comforter, the ho­ly Ghost should come, and be their Teacher; and he exhorts them to to abide patiently the hatred of the World, which hated him, and that they should not be offended though Persecutions attended them.

Again, entering into a Garden with his Disciples, unto whom he said, Pray ye that ye enter not into Temptation;He again ex­horts them to pray against entering into Temptation. sit here till I go and pray yonder, and he took Peter, and the two Sons of Zebedee, with him, and said unto them, Tarry here and watch; and being with­drawn from them about a Stones cast, he kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing remove this Cup from me, nevertheless not my Will, but thine be done; and there appeared an Angel from Hea­ven strengthening him, then he returns and finds his Disciples sleep­ing, he reprehends and admonisheth them,Christ was in an Agony. and being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood; and while he was yet speaking to his Disciples, Judas came and betrayed him to the chief Priests, and they took him; and he said unto them, This is your hour and Power of Darkness; and the Disciples left him, and fled; and they bound Jesus, Judas betray'd him. and brought him first to Annas, who sent him to Caiphas the High-Priest, where were all the chief Priests, Elders and Scribes of the People gathered to­gether; then Caiphas asked him concerning his Disciples, and his Doctrine; Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the World, ask them that heard me; therefore one of the Officers struck him with a Staff, to whom he answered. If I have well spoken, why smitest thou me? Then all the Council sought false Witness against him, and found none; at last two Witnesses came, but their Testimony agreed not; Caiphas then said, answerest thou not to what they wit­ness against thee, but Jesus held his peace; then he adjured him that [Page 38]he should tell, whether he were the Christ, and he answered, I am; wherefore they judged him guilty of death, for this Blasphemy (as they accounted it.Their cruelty to him.) Then they Mocked him, and Spit on him, and cruelly beat him with Buffits, and Staves, and covering his Face, they said, Prophesie who smote thee; and many other things they re­proachfully spoke against him.

And they led him bound unto Pontius Pilate the Governour, from Caiphas, to the Hall of Judgment, and they began to accuse him say­ing, We found this Man perverting the Nation, and forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar, The chief Priests accuse him falsly. saying, that himself is Christ, a King, and when he was accused of the chief Priest and Elders, he answered nothing; then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they Witness against thee, but he answered him not a word, so that Pilate marvell'd; then said Pilate, take ye him & judge him according to your Law, but they urged, it is not lawful for us to put any man to death; Pilate then entered into the Judgment Hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him,He is called before Pilate a­gain. Art thou the King of the Jews, Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thy self, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate an­swered, Am I a Jew? thine own Nation, and the chief Priests have de­livered thee unto me, what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this World; Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a King then?His answer to Pilate. Jesus answered, For this cause came I into the World, that I might bear Witness unto the Truth; Pilate said unto him, What is Truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews and said unto them,Pilate finds no fault in him. I find in him no fault at all; and they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the People, teaching throughout all Galilee to this place; Pilate therefore hearing of Galilee, asked, if he were a Galilean? and when he knew, that he belonged to He­rod's Juridictions, he sent him to Herod, who was at Jerusalem in those dayes,Being in He­rods Jurisdic­tion, he is sent by Pilate to him. and when he saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad, but be­ing deceived in his hopes of seeing a Miracle, and not vouchsafed any answer either to him or the chief Priests and Scribes, vehement­ly accusing him; after Herod had set Jesus at nought and mocked him, Sends him back to Pilate arrayed in a gorgeous Robe; Her [...]d sends. him back. and both the Gover­nors were made Friends that same day; and Pilate when he had called the chief Priests, and the Rulers, and the People, said unto them, Neither I nor Herod find any fault in him,Pilate would have released him. nor any thing worthy of Death, I will therefore Chastize him and release him, for the Go­vernor was of necessity every Feast (as the custom was) to deliver to the People one Prisoner whom they would, and the Multitude cry­ing out aloud, began to desire that he would do unto them as he had ever done; Pilate therefore calling them, said unto them, Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover; will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? The Iews still prosecute their envy against him. Which will ye, either this man or Barrabas? For he knew that the chief Priests had delivered him for envy, but they stirred up the People that he should rather deliver Barrabas unto them: Now he was a notable Thief, who lay bound with them that made Insurrection, and for [Page 39]Insurrection and Murder in the City was Cast into Prison, and when Pilate was sate down in the Judgment Seat, his Wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with the just man; Pilate fits a­gain. His Wife Warns him. for I have suffered many things in my Dream by reason of him this day; Pilate therefore spake unto them again, being willing to release Jesus; which of the twain will you that I release unto you? but they all cryed out, saying, not him, but Barrabas; Pilate, therefore answering, said unto them, what will you that I shall do unto him that ye call King of the Jews, and they all cryed out again, Crucifie him; Pilate said, but what evil hath he done, I find no Cause of death in him? I will therefore Cha [...]tize him and let him go, but they cryed more earnestly, Crucifie him, and were very instant with loud Voices, desiring the same;The Jews Cruelty. then Pilate took Je­sus and Scourged him, and the Soldiers plated a Crown of Thornes, and put it on his Head, and cloathed him with Purple, saying, Haile King of the Jews; and beat him with staves, Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them; behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know I find no fault in him; then Jesus came forth, wearing the Crown of Thorns, and the Robe, and Pilate said unto them, behold the man. When the Chief Priests and Officers saw him, they cryed out, saying, Crucifie him, Crucifie him; Pilate said, take ye him and Crucifie him, for I find no fault in him; the Jews said he ought to dye, because he made himself the Son of God; when Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more affraid,Pilate went a­gain into the Judgment Hall. and went again into the Judgment Hall, and said to Jesus, Whence art thou, but Jesus gave him no answer; then said Pilate speakest thou not unto me, knowest thou not that I have Power to Crucifie thee? Jesus an­swered, thou couldest have no power unless it were given thee from above, and from thence forth Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cryed out, then thou art not Caesars Friend; when Pilate heard this, he brought forth Jesus, and sate in the Judgment Seat, in the Place, called the Pavement, and it was the Preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour; then said he unto the Jews, The chief Priests wicked­ness. behold your King, but they cryed out, Away with him, Away with him, Crucifie him, Pilate said unto them, shall I Crucifie your King? Then answered the Chief Priests, we have no King but Caesar; Pilate washeth his hands, and why. when Pilate therefore saw that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a Tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the Multitude, saying, I am innocent of the Blood of this just Person, see you to it, and all the People answered and said, his Blood be upon us and our Children; then willing to content the Multitude, he released unto them Barra­bas; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him [...]ver to their will, that he might be Crucified.

And the Soldiers of the Governour, when they had led Jesus in­to the Hall, called Praetoriam, they called together the whole Band, and when they had stripped him, they put upon him a scarlet Robe, and plated a Crown of thorns, and put it on his head,The Iews mocked Christ. and a Reed in his right Hand, and bowing the Knee, mocked him, saying, hail King of the Jews; and when they had spit on him, they took that Reed, and smote him on the Head; and when they had mocked him they took off [Page 36]the Purple from him, and put his own Clothes on him, and led him out to Crucifie him.

Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was con­demned, repented himself, and brought the thirty Pieces of Silver to the Chief Priests,Judas his wick­ed end. confesting his Sin unto them, and casting the Silver Pieces into the Temple, went and hanged himself; and they bought with them the Potters-field, that the Prophesie might be ful­filled.

And Jesus came forth carrying his Cross, but as they were lead­ing him, they found one Simon of Cyreen, who came out of the Coun­try, whom they took and compelled to carry the Cross after Jesus; and there were two Thieves that were led with him, that they might be Crucified, and there followed a great Multitude of People, and of Women that Lamented him, to whom he turned and foretold the Lamentable destruction of Jerusalem; and when they were come into the Place called Calvary, but in the Hebrew Golgotha, they gave unto him wine mingled with Mirrhe, and Vineger mingled with Gall, and when he had tasted it, he would not drink it, and they Cr [...] ­cified him there, (and it was the third hour) and the two Thieves with him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do; and Pilate wrote a Superscription in Hebrew Greek, and Latine, and put it on the Cross, which at the request of the high Priest, Pilate would not alter; and after they Crucified him, they parted his Garments into four parts to every Souldier that was imployed in the Execution a part, casting lots, and likewise upon his Seamless Coat, whose it should be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, and they sitting down, watch­ed him there; and the People stood beholding him, but they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Oh, thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three dayes, save thy self, if thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross; likewise also the chief Priest and Rulers,The chief Priests mock Christ. with the People mocking and scof­fing, with the Scribes and Elders, said among themselves, he saved others, himself he cannot save; if he be the King of Israel, if that Christ, the chosen of God, let him come down from the Cross, and we will believe him; he trusted in God, let him deliver him; for he said,The Soldiers also mock him. I am the Son of God: The Souldiers also mocked him, and com­ing unto him offered him Vineger, saying, if thou be the King of the Jews save thy self; one of the Thieves also which were crucified with him, continued rayling against him, the other being converted, re­buked him that rayled, and said unto Jesus, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom; to whom Christ answered, To day shalt thou be with me in Paradice; and there stood by his Cross the Mo­ther of Jesus, and his Mothers Sister Mary, the Wife of Cleoph [...], and Mary Magdalene; when therefore Jesus saw his Mother, and the Dis­ciple whom he loved, standing; he said unto his Mother, behold thy Son, and to the Disciple, behold thy Mother: And when the sixth hour was come there was darkness over all the Land or Country un­til the nineth hour, and about the ninth hour Jesus cryed with aloud Voice [Page 41]Eli, Eli, or Eloi, Eloi lamma Sabacthani; and some that stood by said, that he called Elias; after this when Jesus knew that all things were accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst, now there was set there a Vessel full of Vineger, and they filled a Spung with Vineger, and put it upon Isop or a Reed, and put it to his Mouth, saying, also with rest, let it be, let us see if Elias will come to save him, and take him down: But Jesus when he had re­ceived the Vineger, said, It is finished; and again he cried with a loud voice, Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit, The Ce [...]tu­rions Tes [...]imo­ny conerning Christ. and bowing his head he gave up the Ghost. And when the Centurion saw that he so cried out, and gave up the Ghost, he Glorified God, saying, truely this is a just man, truly this is the Son of God.

And behold the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent, and the Graves were opened, and many Bodies of the Saints which slept arose, and came out of the Graves after his Resurrection, and went into the holy City, and appeared unto many, and the Centu­rion, and they that stood over against, and those that watched Jesus, when they saw the Earth quake, and the things that were done, feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God; and all the peo­ple that came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their Brests and returned, and his Aquaintance, and the Women which follwed him from Galilee stood afar off, beholding these things, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mo­ther of James the less, and Mother of Joses and Salome, who also when he was in Galilee followed him, and Ministred unto him, there were also many other Women that came up to Jerusalem with him.

The Jews therefore, that the Bodies should not remain on the Cross on the Sabboth, because it was the preparation (for that Sab­both was an High day) besought Pilate, that their Legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away; the Souldiers there­fore came and brake the Legs of the two Thieves, but not of Jesus, because he was already dead, but one of the Souldiers with a Spear pierced his side, and there came out strait-way Blood and Water; and these things were suffered to be done that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

And when Evening was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabb [...]th, cometh Joseph of Arimathea, a Rich man, and an honourable Councellor, who also looked for the Kingdom of God, a good man, and a just, and had not consented to the Council and deed of them, being a Disciple, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, Ioseph beggeth the Body of Jesus of Pi­late. came boldly unto Pilate, and begged the Body of Jesus, Pilate mar­velled if he were already dead, and called a Centurion, asked him, and when he knew it, he gave the Body to Joseph; there cometh al­so Nichodemus (which at the first came to Jesus by night) and brought a mixture of Myrrhe and Aloes, about an hundred pound weight; they took therefore the Body of Jesus, ad wound it in a Linnen Cloath, with the Spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury; and Joseph, [Page 24]when he had wrapped him in a clean Linnen Cloth, laid it in his own Sepulchre, which he had hewn out of a Rock, wherein never man was laid,Joseph buries Jesus his Body. and which was in a Garden in a place where Jesus was Cru­cified? and Joseph roled a great Stone to the door of the Sepulchre, and Mary Magdelene and Mary the Mother of Joses, which came with him from Galilee, beheld where they had laid him, and sat over against the Sepulchre, and they returned, and prepared Spices and Oynt­ments, and rested the Sabboth day,The Sepulcher is watched by Pilate Command. according to the commandments, the next day the Pharisees besought Pilate that he would command the Sepulchre to be made sure until the third day, shewing him a rea­son, which when he had yielded unto, they went and made the Sepul­chre sure, sealing the Stone and setting a Watch.

In the end of the Sabboth, or when the Sabboth was now past, when it dawned towards the first day of the week, in the Morning very early, whiles it w [...] yet dark came Mary Magdelene, and Mary the Mother of James and Salome, bringing Spices, which they had bought, that they might see the Sepulchre, and anoint Jesus; and they said among themselves, who shall role away the Stone from the door for us; and when the Sun was risen, coming to the Sepulchre, they saw the stone was roled away; for behold there was a great Earth quake, for the Angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, and roled away the Stone, and sate upon it, and they went in and found not the Body of the Lord Je­sus, and it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereat, that behold two men came to them in shining Raiment, their Counti­nances was as Lightening, and their Garments white as Snow, (Mat­thew and Mark speak but of one Angel) and the Keepers for fear did shake, and became as dead men, and when the Woman were afraid, and bowed their faces to the Earth, the Angel said unto them, fear not ye, I know ye seek Jesus which was Crucified; why seek ye the living among the dead? he is not here, he is risen, as he said; come and see the place where the Lord was laid, and remember what he said while he was yet in Galilee with you, saying, the Son of man, must be delivered into the hands of sinfull men, and be Crucified, and the third day rise again, but go ye quickly, and tell his Disciples, and Peter, that he is risen again from the dead, and behold he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him; behold I have told you; then the Woman remembered the Words of Jesus, and they departed quickly out of the Sepulchre with fear, and wonder, and great joy, and ran that they might tell his Disciples, but they said nothing to any man (as they went) for they were afraid, and when the Women told these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest, their words seem­ed unto them as idle Tales, but Mary Magdelene telling Peter, and the other Disciple whom Jesus loved, they have taken away the Lord, and we know not where they have laid him; Peter there­fore, and that other Disciple went out and came to the Sepul­chre, but that other Disciple out-ran Peter, and came first to the Se­pulchre, and when he stooped down he saw the Linnen Cloathes lying, but went not in; then came Peter following him, and went into the Sepulchre, and seeth the Linnen Cloathes lie, and the Napkin [Page 43]that was about his head, not lying with the Linnen Cloaths, but wrap­ped together in a place by it self; then went in that other Disciple, and saw, and believed; and Peter went unto his own home wondering at what was done, for as yet they knew not the Scriptures that he must rise again from the dead, and the Disciples went unto their own home: But Mary Magdelene stood without at the Sepulchre weeping, and whilest she yet wept, she stooped down into the Sepulchre, and seeth two Angels in white, sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, who said unto her, Wo­man why weepest thou? she said unto them, They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him; Jesus first ap­peared to Mary Magdalene and when she had said thus, she turned her self back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew not that it was him; and Jesus said unto her, Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? she supposing him to be the Gardner, answered and said, If thou hast born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away, Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go and tell my Brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, unto my God and your God; and she came and told his Disciples, and those that had been with him,She goes and tells the Dis­ciples of it. The Disci­ples believed her not as they were weeping and mourning, that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things unto her; but they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not: And as the Women went from the Sepulchre, that they might tell his Dis­ciples, behold Jesus meets them, and spake unto them, saying, Be not afraid, go ye and tell my Brethren, that I go into Galilee, there shall they see me.

Now when they were going, behold some of the Watch came in­to the City, and shewed unto the High-Priests all things that were done; and when they were assembled with the Elders, they took Counsel that they should give large Money to the Souldiers, that they should say, that his Disciples came by night, and stole him away whilest they slept, and if this comes to the Governors Ears, we (say they) will perswade him, and secure you; so they took their Money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews to this day.

And behold two of them went into the Country that same day to a Village sixty Furlongs from Jerusalem, called Emmaus, Christ appear'd to two of the Disciples as they were go­ing to Em­maus. and as they journy­ed Jesus went along with them, and they telling what things were done in those dayes concerning Jesus of Nazareth, how he was Cru­cified, and that he rose again; Jesus shews them out of the Sciptures, that it behoved Christ to suffer, and to enter into his Glory. And in the Village when he had taken Bread, and given thanks and brake it, and given it unto them, he was known unto them, their Eyes be­ing opened; although he appeared in another Form, but he vanish­ed out of their sight; and they rose up that same hour, and returned to Jerusalem to the Eleven, and those that were with them, who told them, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon; then they told them what things were done in the way, and how he was known [Page 44]of them in breaking of Bread; but neither believed they them. But whilest they yet spake, whilest it was Evening, in the first day of the week, the Door being shut, where the Disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, He appears a­gain to his Dis­ciples. cometh Jesus himself, and stood in the midest of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you; but they were terri­fied, and affrighted, supposing they had seen a Spirit; but he up­breaded them with their unbelief and heardness of heart,He reproveth their unbelief. be­cause they believed not them that had seen him since he was risen; and he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? See my Hands and my Feet, a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones, and he shewed them his Hands, and his Feet, and his Side; and when they believed not for joy and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? and he eat a piece of boiled Fish, and an Hony-Comb; and the Disciples rejoyced that they had seen the Lord; and he said unto them, These are the words that I spake unto you, that all things must be fullfilled that was writ­ten in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms of me; then opened he their understandings,He opens their understandings. that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoo­veth Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations, and ye are witnesses of these things, and behold I send the Pro­mise of my Father among you, He send [...] them forth. but tarry ye at Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on High. He saith unto them again, Peace be unto you, as my Father sent me, so send I you; go ye into the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature; he that believeth, and is Baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned, and these signs shall fol­low them that believe; in my Name they shall cast out Devils, and they shall speak with new Tongues, they shall take up Serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover: And when he had said these things, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive the holy Ghost, whose Sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whose Sins ye retain they are retained, (and thus Jesus appeared five times in the very first day of his Resur­rection) but Thomas, who is called Dydimus one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came, and the rest of the Disciples telling him, we have seen the Lord, he very confidently professed he would not believe it, about eight dayes after, Thomas being then together with the rest, Jesus comes; the doors being shut, and stands in the midest, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you, and aboundantly satisfies Thomas his unbelief.

Then the Eleven Disciples went into Galilee unto the Mountain that he had appointed them; and when they saw him they worship­ped him, but some doubted; and when Jesus came unto them, he said; All Power is given unto me, both in Heaven and in Earth, go there­fore and teach all Nations, Baptizing them, &c. and I am with you to the end of the World; After that, Jesus was seen of above five hundred Brethren at once, after that by James, 1 Cor. 15.6, 7.

Afterwards Jesus shewed himself to his Disciples again at the Sea at Tibe­rias, or at the least to seven of them, as they were Fishing, after they [Page 45]had fished all night, and caught nothing, in the morning J [...] un­known to them, stands upon the Shore, and bids them cast their Net on the right side of the Ship, where they took a great Number of Fish.

Last of all he appeared to his Disciples in Jerusalem, and led them out as far as Bethany, and he lift up his Hands, and blessed them, and it came to pass, as he blessed them, he was parted from them, and car­ried up into Heaven.

Hitherto reacheth the History of the four Evangelists declaring the Sufferings of Christ; and now I shall give the Reader a short account what Josephus the Jewish Historian in his eighteenth Book of Antiquity writeth of John the Baptist and Christ; concerning the Baptist Cap. 7. he saith thus, Herod the Tetrarch killed John, Sur-named the Baptist,Josephus his Testimony Concerning Iohn. a most excellent man, who stirred up the Jews to the study of Vir­tues, especially of Piety and Justice, and also to the washing of Bap­tism, which he said then would be acceptable to God, if not abstaining from some one or two Sins but having their minds first purged through righteousness, they also added cleanness of body: And whereas there was great resort unto him, the Common people being greedy of such Doctrine, Herod fearing least the great Authority of the man should raise some Rebellion, because they seemed as though they would de­cline nothing to which he advised them, thought it safer to take him out of the way, before there was any alteration in the State, then to repent too late, when the State was once imbroyled; wherefore he commanded him to be sent Prisoner to Macharas, and then to be put to death.

Concerning Christ he saith thus, Chap. 45. In the same time there was a wise man (named Jesus) if we may call him a man;Iosephus his Testimony concerning Christ. he was a worker of miracles, and a Teacher of them that willingly receive the Truth, he had many both Jews and Gentiles that were his Followers, and was believed to be the Christ; and when Pilate had crucified him, through the envy of our Rulers, nevertheless those that loved him continued constant in their affections, for he appeared to them alive the third day; the Prophets in their Prophesies foretelling both these, and many other wonderful things concerning him, and the Chri­stians (from him so called) continue to this very day.

After the Apostles had seen Christ, and had worshipped him, after his Resurrection, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, from the mount of Olives, which is from thence a Sabboth dayes journey, and in Jerusalem they abode in an uper Room,The holy Ghost fell up­on the Apo­stles. and continued with one ac­cord in Prayer, with the Women, and Mary his Mother, and his Brethren; and they were filled with the holy Ghost, and began to speak with Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance; and many received the Truth, and continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship, and breaking bread from House to House, did eat their Meat with gladness and singleness of Heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people,Them that be­lived were of one heart. and the Lord daily added to the Church such as should be saved, and the multitude of them that belie­ved were of one heart, and one Soul, and there was none among them that lacked; for as many as had Possessions of Lands or Houses sold [Page 46]them, and brought the prices, and laid them down at the Apo­stles feet, to be distributed to the use of the Poor, in which busi­ness Barnabas, that is, the Son of Consolation, shewed the first Ex­ample.

By the hands of the Apostles were many Miracles done among the People, and many believed, and were added to the Lord.

But the high Priests and Sadduces that were with him, moved with Envy cast the Apostles into Prison, from whence the night following being freed by an Angel, were commanded to Teach the people bold­ly, and without fear, from whence being brought to the Council by the advice of Gamaliel a Pharisee, a Doctor of Law, in much esteem among the People, were delivered from death (after they had been scourged) and let go; and they went from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus, and they taught daily in the Temple, and the Word of the Lord increased, and the number of the Disciples multiplyed.

Stephen did many wonders and Miracles among the People, and stoutly defended the Cause of Christ against the Jews of the Synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with them; but when they could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake, they turn to false accusing him, and caught him, and brought him before the Council, and set up false Witnesses, who should avouch, that they heard him speak Blasphe­mous words against the Temple and the Law.

Stephen before Annas the High Priest and Council shews, that the true worship of God was observed by Abraham and his Posterity, be­fore the Temple was built by Solomon; Stephens Te­stimony of Christ. yea, before Moses was born, and that Moses gives Testimony of Christ, and that the outward Ceremonies that were given to their Fathers were to endure but for a time: Then he sharply reprehends the Jews, because they alwayes resisted the holy Ghost, and had wickedly put Christ to death, whom the Prophets had foretold should come into the World; now concer­ning the death of Stephen, see it at large in the Testimony of the Martyrs.

Persecution arose. After the death of Stephen there arose a great Persecution against the whole Church that was at Jerusalem, in which Saul exceedingly raging, made havock of the Church, for having received Authori­ty from the chief Priests, he not only, when the Saints were put to death, gave his voice against them, but also he himself, entering into every House, and taking from thence both men and Women, bound them, and put them in Prison, and some were compelled by denying Christ to Blaspheme.

This Persecution dispersed the Church into divers Countries, but with great advantage to the Church;It proves to the advantage of the Church. for some that were dispersed into the Regions of Judea and Samaria, preached the Gospel where­soever they came; others went to Damascus, amongst whom was Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, and one who had a good report among all the Jews who dwelt there; others travelled as far as Phenice, Cypris and Antioch, Preaching the Word of God to [Page 47]those that were dispersed among the Gentiles; amongst them that went to Samaria was Philip, who Preached Christ there; when the Apostles at Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the Word of the Lord, they sent unto them Peter and John, upon whose pray­ing for them, and laying their hands on them, they received the holy Ghost, which Simon Magus (who had a long time,Simon Magus his wickedness. bewitched the People of Samaria with his Sorceries, that giving heed to him, from the least to the greatest, they said, he was the great Power of God) seeing the great signs and wonders that were done by the A­postles offered them Money, that he also might receive the Gift of conferring the holy Ghost,Peter reprove [...] him. whose mad impiety Peter sharply rebu­king, warns him to repent of this his Wickedness, and to ask pardon of God; who desireth the Apostles that they would pray for him to the Lord: The Apostles having cleared themselves in these parts, they returned to Jerusalem Preaching the Gospel in the Villages of Sama­ria as they went.

Saul yet brea [...]hing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disci­ples of the Lord, obtains of the High-Priest Annas and the Council,Saul breathes out threat­nings against the Christians. Letters to the Synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any that were Christians, he should bring them bound to Jerusalem, that they might be punished, and as he came nigh to Damascus at mid-night a Light from Heaven above the brightness of the Sun, shined round a­bout him, and them that journyed with him, and when they were fallen to the Earth, he heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew Tongue, Saul, Saul, Why Persecutest thou me, 'tis hard for thee to kick against the pricks? and when he had said, Who art thou Lord? it was answered him, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou Persecutest; The Lord ap­pears to him. but rise, and stand upon thy feet, I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a Minister and a Witness both of those things that thou hast seen, and those things in which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the People, and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee, that thou mayest open their Eyes and turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith that is in me; and when as Saul, full of fear and trembling, asked further, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The Lord said unto him, Rise, go unto Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do; The Lord sends him to Damas­cus. but the men that journyed with Saul were so amazed that they were speechless, seeing indeed a Light, and hearing the sound of words, but neither seeing Christ which spake, nor understanding any thing which he spake; Saul arose from the Earth, and being blinded with the Glory of the Light, being led by the hand,His sight was taken away. he comes to Damas­cus, and he was three dayes without sight, and did neither eat or drink: Now there was a certain Disciple, named Ananias, to whom the Lord spake in a Vision, Arise and go into the Street that is cal­led Streight, and inquire in the House of Judas, for Saul of Tarsus,Ananias is sent by a Visi­on to him. for behold he prayeth; (and Saul then saw in a Vision Ananias entering, and laying his hand on him that he might receive his sight) but Ananias [Page 48]answered,Year since Christ. Lord I have heard by many how much evil he hath done unto thy Saints at Jerusalem; yea, in this place he hath Authority from the chief Priests to bind all that call upon thy Name; and the Lord said un­to him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen Vessel unto me, to carry my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Israel; for I will shew unto him how great things he must suffer for my Name.

He layes his hand on him. And Ananias went and entered into the House, and laying his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the Way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Ghost; His sight is restored. and strait-way their fell from his Eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight forth-with. And Ananias said, The God of our Fathers hath chosen thee that thou shouldest know his Will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the Voice from his Mouth, for thou shalt be a Witness before all men, of those things that thou hast heard and seen; and now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be Baptized, and Washed from thy Sins, calling on the Name of the Lord; and Saul arose and was Baptized; and when he had received meat he was strengthened.

But what was revealed to Saul at Damascus that he should do, Luke shews not in the Acts, but out of those things which in the Epistle to the Galatians, he saith happened unto him immediately after his Conversion, it appears that among other things, it was command­ed him, that he should not confer with flesh and blood, nor return to Jeru­salem to them that were Apostles before him, but that he should go for some time into Arabia, or places neer Damascus, where he should Receive the Knowledge of the Gospel, not being taught of men, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Saul then returns to Damascus, and tarries with the Disciples there a few dayes, and strait-way in the Synagogue he Preacheth that Christ is the Son of God, and they were all amazed who heard these things, and said, Is not this he that destroyed at Jerusalem those that called on this Name, and came hither for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief Priest; and Saul increased the more in strength, and confoun­ded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, teaching that Jesus is the Christ; for to the Jews that dwelt at Damascus was the Gospel first preached by him.

Tiberius being certified by Pilate out of Palestine concerning the Af­fairs of Christ, he proposeth to the Senate that Christ might be rec­koned among the Gods, which the Senate opposing, he remaining in his Opinion, threatens that it should be dangerous for any to accuse a Christian, as Tertullian relates, [in Apologetic. (Chap. 5, and 21.) and others that follow him, as Eusebius in Chronic. and Hestor. Eccles. lib. 2.2.] and our Gildas in an Epistle of the destruction of Brittain, which being granted; we may lawfully say, that the first Persecution, after the Murther of Stephen, that arose in Judea, ceased partly by the Conversion of Saul, who greatly promoted it, and part­ty through the fear of Tiberius.

When Saul had preached the Gospel a long time at Damascus, the Jews took counsel to kill him, and watching the Gates of the City [Page 49]day and night that they might take him and kill him, but being let down by a rope by night in a Baskit escaped from them.

The first three years after his conversion being finished Saul return­ed to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen dayes, and he then assaying to joyn himself to the Disciples, they all were affraid of him, not believing him to be a Disciple; but Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, viz. Peter, and James the Brother of the Lord, he declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached bold­ly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.

Saul also speaks boldly in the Name of Jesus at Jerusalem, but the Jews went about to kill him, Saul being in the Temple praying, was in a Trance, and saw the Lord speaking unto him, saying, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy Testimo­ny of me; to whom he answered, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every Synagogue those that believed on thee, and when the Blood of thy Martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by▪ and kept the Garments of them that killed him; and the Lord said unto him, Go, and I will send thee to the Gentiles.

The Brethren at Jerusalem brought him to Cesarea, years since Christ 38 and sent him into his own Country of Tarsus, and he came into the Countries of Syria, and Cilicia, hitherto he was unknown by face to the Churches of Judea; but they heard only that he preacheth the Faith which once he destroyed, and they glorified God in him, and the Churches had rest through all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and comfort of the holy Ghost, were multiplyed.

About this time King Herod troubled the Church, years since Christ 44 laying hands upon some, for contradicting the Institutions and Rites of the Coun­try, of which he was a most religious observer, as Josephius Lib. 19. Cap. ult. relates.

He slew James the Brother of John with the Sword, and seeing the death of James Peter impri­soned. pleased the people he cast Peter into prison in the dayes of Azincus, delivering him to four Quaturnions, that is, sixteen Souldiers to gua [...]d him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the People,He is woun­derfully deli­vered. but there were Prayers made daily in the Church for him, and an Angel of the Lord delivered him miraculously in the night, and he went to the house of Mary the Mother of John Marcus, where many were Congregated, and at Prayer, and telling them that they might certifie James the Son of Alph [...]as, and Brother of our Lord, and the rest, of the manner of his deliverance, he went into an­other Place,

Herod, rage a­gainst the Pri­son Kepers. Herod being frustrate of his hope, in his rage commands the Inno­cent Keepers to be dragg'd to Execution, and he going down to Caesarea stayed there; he was prejudiced in his mind against the Syrians and Sidonians, whose Land being not sufficient to maintain them, (Espe­cially in that year of scarcity) they were forced to seek for themselves sustentation from Galilee, and other places under Herods Jurisdiction; they came therefore Unanimously to him, by the mediation of [Page 50] Blastus the Kings Chamberlain, whom they had made their Friend, desiring Peace of him; a day being appointed, Herod in his royal attire, and sitting before the Tribunal, made a Speech to them; the People with Acclamations shouting out, 'Tis the Voice of a God, and not a Man; Herod is smote and d [...]ed. but presently the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give the Glory to God, and being eaten up of Worms, he gave up the Ghost.

The very same History Josephius Examplifies, saying, he had now finished the third year of his reign [the fourth now beginning] when he came to Caesaria, which was formerly called Stratons-Tower, where he So­lemnized some yearly Playes for Caesars health, to which Festivity a great multitude of Noble Men and Youngsters came together, out of the Province; on the second day of this Celebrity he goes all attired with his Princely Robe; richly and curiously wrought with Silver, which by the reflection of the rising Sun yeilding an Angelical or extraordinary lusture struck reverence into the Spectators; and presently some wicked Parasites with acclamations from a far off, saluted him God, desiring him to be propitious to them, for that hitherto they had only honored him as a man, but now they saw there was something more in him than humane: This Impious Adulation he neither refused nor repelled, he was suddenly struck to the very heart; afterwards his Belly began to torment him more and more grievously, wherefore turn­ing to his Friends, he said, Behold, I who by your appellation am a God, am commanded out of this Life, my certain fate giving the Lye to your flattery; and I, who you saluted Immortal, am forced to death; but I must endure the pleasure of the Heavens: Having spoken these things, his pain grew worse and worse, and presently these things being divulged about the Country, the rumour went, that he was a dying, and in the end his pain lasted in great extremity, and without intermition for five dayes space, and he then ended his life, Joseph. Lib. 19. Chap. ult.

Saul [...] name is changed to Paul. About this time Saul is alwayes found named by his new name Paul, Paul and Barnabas coming to Antioch, and entering into the Syna­gogues, almost the whole City came to hear the Word of God; but the Jews seeing the multitude, were filled with envy, and contradict­ed what Paul spoke, with whose Blasphemies Paul and Barnabas be­ing grievously offended, they left the Jews and preached only to the Gentiles who with joy embraced the Gospel, and the Word of God was divulged over that whole Nation; they stayed an Antioch a great while, and suffered those things which in his latter Epistle to the Co­rinthians he writes of, to wit, that as at Phillippy afterwards, so twice elsewhere by the Gentiles he had been whipped with rods, and recei­ved five times four hundred stripes from the Jews.

Certain Professors of the Name of Christ of the Sect of the Pharisees came down from Judea to Antioch, years since Christ 52 and said, that the Christians of the Gentiles ought to be Circumcised, and keep the law of Moses, if they would be saved, disturbing the Souls of many of the Brethren in Syria and Cili [...]i [...] with their perverse Doctrine, against whom Paul and Barnabas stifly oppose themselves, Paul calls them Brethren brought in un [...]wards, Philastrius de Heres. Cap. 87. and Epiphanius Heres. 28▪ [Page 51]say, that Cerinthus that arch Heretick was the first Broacher of this Opinion.

Paul fourteen years after his going to Jerusalem, undertaken three years after his Conversation, goes again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, Paul goes to Jerusalem, being both sent from the Church at Antioch with some others, that they might ask the Judgment of the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem (whose names those Disturbers had abused to bolster out their Opini­on) concerning the Controversie newly risen, but Paul would not compel Titus to be Circumcised least he should seem to give place to the false Brethren for a moment.

Peter and Paul had foretold at Rome, that it should come to pass, years since Christ 67 that after a little time God would send a King that should overcome the Jews, and that should lay their City equal with the Ground, and should Beseige them, being pined with hunger and thirst, and then it should come to pass, that they should eat each other, and con­sume one the other, and at last that they should come into their Ene­mies hands, and should see their Wives most grievously Tormented in their sight, and their Virgins to be Violated and Prostituted, their Sons to be torn asunder, and their little Ones to be dashed in pieces; and to be short, all things to be wasted by Fire and Sword, and themselves forever banished out of their own Land; and all this because they exalted themselves against the Son of God; Lactan. lib. 4. Chap. 21.

On the 29th day of the Moneth call'd June, (which last day of that Moneth falls to be within the reign of Nero.) Paul was beheaded at Rome, as the Records both of the Eastern and Western Churches con­firm; whereupon Chrysostom undoubtedly affirms, that the day of his death was more certainly known then that of Alexander himself [in 2 Cor. Homil. 26.] Dionysius the Bishop of the Corinthians affirms in an Epistle to the Romans, that Peter also suffered Martyrdom at the same time with him [in Eusebius l [...]b. 2. Histor. Ecclesiast. Chap. 24.] whom also Origen relates in the third Tome of his Comentaries up­on Genesis, that at Rome he was Crucified with his head downwards (as he had desired, [Ibid. lib. 3. Hist. Chap. 1.]

Four Years before the Jewish War (that was managed by Vespasian) when the City of Jerusalem enjoyed both Peace and Plenty one Jesus, the Son of Ananus, a Country-man, and one of the common People, coming to the Feast of Tabernacles, began suddainly to cry out, A Voice from the East, a Voice from the West, A prophesy against the [...]ews. a Voice from the four Winds, a Voice against Jerusalem and the Temple, a Voice against New Married Men and Women, a Voice against all this People; and crying thus night and day through all the Streets of the City, some of the Nobility disdaining any token of adversity, took the Fellow and scourged him with many stripes; but he spake nothing secretly for himself, nor unto them that scourged him, but continued still in the same Cry; but the Magistrates thinking it rather to be some Mo­tion in him from God, brought him to the Roman Captain, where being beaten till his Bones appeared, he made no intreaty, but with a weeping Voice, at every stroke he said, Wo, Wo, to Jerusalem: [Page 52]Albinus then asked them, who he was, and where he was born, and why he still cryed after this manner? but he answered nothing; yet he ceased not to bewaile the City, till Albinus thinking he was mad suffered him to depart; he crying thus most on the Feast dayes, and that for seven years space (or rather six as it is in Phot. Biblioth. Cod. 47.) and five Moneths, and yet was neither hoarse nor weary; at last he was killed by a stone shot out of an Engine in the time of the seige [Je­seph. lib. 7. bel. Chap. 12.]

And according to these, and many other Prophecies concerning the destruction that was to come upon the Jews for the hardness of their hearts, it accordingly came to pass; for Cornelius and Suetonius relate, that there were six hundred thousand of the Jews killed in this war between Vespasian the Emperor and the Jews, but Josephius, a Jew, and a Commander in that war writes, that ten hundred thousand perished by Sword and Famine; and of the rest of the Jews that were dispersed all the World over, and put to death divers wayes, the number is said to be ninty thousands [so Orolius lib. 7. Chap. 9.] but I find not the number of six hundred thousand of them that were killed in Suetonius; in Josephius [lib. 6. belli. Chap. 17.] the number of Captives is ninty seven thousand, but the other number, eleven hundred thousand, is only the number that perished in the six months seige in Jerusalem; and thus did the Lord afflict with Wars and Destruction these Apo­statized and stiff-necked people the Jews, until they were a scattered and dispersed people, as at this day they are throughout the World.

The Constancy and faithful Suffering of some of the ancient people of the Jews, rather then they would be forced to depart from the Laws of their Fathers, and not to live after the Laws of God.

Eleazer one of the principal Scribes, an aged man, and of a well-favoured countenance, was constrained to open his Mouth,Eleazer persecuted and to eat Swines Flesh: But he choosing rather to dye gloriously, then to live stained with such an Abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment; as it behoved them to come, that are resolved to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted: But they that had the charge of that wicked Feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the Sacrifice commanded by the King; That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them, find favour. But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his Age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray Head, whereunto he was come, and his most honest Education from a Child, or rather the holy Law made and given by God; therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them strait-wayes to send him to the Grave: ‘For it becometh not our Age, (said he) in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazer being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange Religion, and so they through mine hypocri­sie, and desire to live a little time, and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old Age, and make it Abominable; For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead; wherefore now manfully changing this life, I will shew my self such an one, as mine Age re­quireth, [Page 4]and leave a notable example to such as be young, to die wil­lingly and couragiously, for the honourable and holy Laws;’ and when he had said these words, immediatly he went to the Torment; they that led him, changing the good will they bare him a little be­fore, into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind. But when he was ready to dye with stripes, he groaned, and said, ‘It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been de­livered from death, I now endure sore pains in body, by being bea­ten, but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.’ And thus this man dyed, leaving his death for an example of a noble Courage, and a memorial of vertue, not only unto young men, but unto all his Nation.

The Constancy and Cruel Death of seven Brethren and their Mother in one day, because they would not eat Swines Flesh at the Kings Commandment.

Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken, and compelled by the King against the Law,The Mo­ther and her seven Chil­dren perse­cuted. to taste Swines Flesh, and were tormented with Scourges and Whips; but one of them that spake first, said thus, ‘What wouldst thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to dye 'rather then to transgress the Laws of our Fathers:’ Then the King, being in a rage, commanded Pans and Caldrons to be made hot, which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his Body, the rest of his Brethren, and his Mother looking on. Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members, he commanded him, being yet alive, to be brought to the Fire, and to be fryed in the Pan; and as the vapour of the Pan was for a good space disperced, they ex­horted one another with the Mother, to dye manfully, saying thus, ‘The Lord God looketh upon us, and in Truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his Song, which witnessed to their Faces, declared, say­ing, and he shall be comforted in his Servants:’ so when the first was dead, after this manner, they brought the second to make a mock­ing stock; and when they had pulled off the skin of his Head with the hair, they asked him, 'Wilt thou eat before thou be punished 'throughout every member of thy Body; but he answered in his own Language, and said, No; wherefore he also received the next Torment in order as the former did; and when he was at the last gasp, he said; ‘Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have dyed for his Laws, unto everlasting life:’ After him was the third made a mocking stock, and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully, and said couragously, 'These I had from Heaven, and for his Laws I d [...]spise them, and 'from him I hope to receive them again; insomuch, that the King, and they that were with him marvailed at the young mans courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains. Now when this [Page 5]man was dead also, they tormented and mingled the fourth in like manner; so when he was ready to dye, he said thus, ‘It is good being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up a­gain by him; as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.’ Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him; then looked he unto the King, and said ‘Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt, yet think not that our Na­tion is forsaken of God; but abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed.’ After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to dye, said, ‘Be not deceived without cause, for we Suffer these things for our selves, having sin­ned against our God, therefore marvelous things are done unto us; but think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God, that thou shalt escape unpunished.’ But the mother was marvelous above all, and worthy of honorable memory, for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord; yea she exhorted every one of them in her own Language, filled with couragious spirit, and stirred up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them; ‘I cannot tell how you came into my womb, for I nei­ther gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you; but doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the Generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as you now regard not your own selves for his Laws sake.’ Now Antiochus thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with Oathes, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the Laws of his Fathers; and that also he would take him for his Friend, and trust him with affairs; but when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the King called his Mother, and exhorted her, that she would counsel the young man to save his life; and when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him, that she would counsel her Son; but she bowing her self towards him, laughing the cruel Tyrant to scorn, spake in her Country language on this manner, ‘O my Son have pity upon me that bare thee nine Months in my Womb, and gave thee suck three Years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of Education; I beseech thee my Son look up­on the Heaven and the Earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not, and so was mankind made likewise; fear not this Tormentor, but being worthy of thy Brethren take thy death, that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy Brethren:’ While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, ‘Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the Kings commandment, but I will obey the Commandment of the Law that was given unto our Fathers by Moses; and thou that hast been the author of all mischeif against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the [Page 6]hands of God, for we suffer because of our Sins; and though the living Lord be angry with us a little while, for our chastning and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his Servants. But thou, O Godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hands against the Servants of God, for thou hast not yet escaped the Judgment of Almighty God who seeth all things; for our Bre­thren who now have suffered a snort pain, are dead under Gods Covenant of everlasting Life; but thou, through the Judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy Pride; but I, as my Bre­thren, offer up my Body and Life for the Laws of our Fathers, beseech­ing God that he would speedily be merciful unto our Nation, and that thou by Torments and Plagues mayest confess that he alone is God, and that in me and my Brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon all our Nation, may cease.’ Then the King, being in a rage, handled him worse then all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked; so this man dyed undefi­led, and put his whole trust in the Lord: last of all, after the Sons, the Mother dyed. When her Sons were apprehended she exhorted them in the Hebrew Tongue, saying, ‘O my most dear and loving Children, let us hasten to that Agony which may credit our pro­fession, and be rewarded by God with Eternal Life; let us fear­lessly present our Bodies to those Torments which aged Eleazar en­dured; let us call to mind our Father Abraham, who having but one only Son, willingly sacrificed him at Gods command, and fear­ed not to bring him to the Alter, whom with many prayers he had obtained in his old age: Remember Daniel, the three Children, &c.’ Antioch being enraged against her, caused her to be stript naked, hanged up by the Hands, and cruelly whipt; then were her Dugs and Paps pulled off, and her self put into the Red-hot Frying-pan, where lifting up her Hands and Eyes to Heaven, in the midest of her Prayers, she yielded up her chaste Soul unto God. But God suffered not the cruel Tyrant to escape unpunished; for in his Wars against the Persians the Lord struck him with Madness, his Intrals were de­voured with Worms, and stinking like a Carrion, in the Extreamity of his Torments he gave up the Ghost.

A Relation of the Persecutions raised by the Romans against the Christians in the Primitive Age of the Church dure­ing the space of three hundred Years.

Eusebius, and the most part of Writers do number the first Per­secutions to be Ten, wherein great Numbers of the Christians were slain and tormented; some slain with the Sword, some burnt with Fire, some with whips scourged, some stabed with Forks of Iron, some fastned to the Cross, or Gibbet, some drowned in the Sea, some their Skins pluck off, some their Tongues cut out, some stoned to death, some killed with cold, some starved with hunger, some their Hands cut off, or otherwise dis-membred, have been so left naked to the open shame of the World, whose kinds of punishment, although they were divers, yet the manner of constancy in all these Martyrs was one.

The first of the Ten Per­secutions The first of these Ten Persecutions was stired up by Nero Domitias, about the year 67. after the Birth of Christ. Orosius writeth of Nero, [Page 10]that he was the first within Rome did raise up Persecution against the Christians,Orosius lib. 5. and not only in Rome, but in all the Provinces thereof, thinking thereby to abolish the Name of Christians in all places.

In this Persecution the Apostle Peter suffered death,Hien. lib. de viris just. with many more Christians, as Hierome said Simon Peter, the Son of Jona, of the province of Galilee, and of the Town of Bethsaida, the Brother of Andrew, about the year 44. after Christ's birth came to Rome to with­stand Simon Magus, in the time of Nero, and was crucified with his Head downwards, and his Feet upwards, himself so requiring; be­cause, said he, I am unworthy to be crucified after the same manner as the Lord was.

Paul the Apostle, after his great travail and labours in preaching the Gospel in divers Countries, at last suffered Martyrdom in this first Persecution under Nero, and was beheaded; some writers say on the same day on which Peter was Crucified, although not in the same year, but in the next year following, which was the thirty seventh year after the Passion of Christ; that which he spake at his death is written as followeth.

Paul being delivered by Nero bound unto Longimus and Magistus, the cheif Officers, and Acestus the Centurion, that they should lead him without the City, and cause him to be beheaded; and Paul being full of the holy Ghost; spake the words of Eternal life, that both Nero, and all should believe in Jesus Christ, who was King of Heaven and Earth, who would destroy the glory of the world with fire; when they had led him away, Longimus, Magistus, and Acestus began to say unto him, Tell us, O Paul, where is that King? and where will he appear unto you? and how will you know him? and what will he give unto you, or what good will he bestow upon you, that you Chri­stians so mightily love him, that by no means you will consent unto our Religion, that you may live and enjoy the good of this life; but rather, then all the pleasures of delight, to be led to die for him with divers Torments? for this seems to us to be a great error, to hate this joyfull life, and to imbrace with all your desire punishment and death: Paul therefore said, O ye wise men, and flourishing in knowledge, depart out of the darkness and error, wherein the nobi­lity of your understanding is clouded with darkness lest you should see the Truth, which lyeth hid in you, return the eyes of your minds to the Eternal true Light, that ye may be able first to know your selves; and so come to the knowledge of that King with gladness, and to be saved from the fire which is to came upon the world, and to remain unhurt; for we do not War as you think, for some earth­ly King, but the living God, the Kingdom without end, who by reason of the Iniquities that is done in this World, he will come a Judge, and will judge it by fire; happy will that man be who will believe in him, he shall have Eternal life, and shall live World with­out end; and most unhappy is he who dispising the Riches of his Bounties and long Suffering, will not return unto him, for he shall Perish Eternally.

The first Persecution beginning under Nero, as aforesaid ceased under Vespatian, who gave some rest to the poor Christians, after whose reign was moved not long after the second Persecution by the Emperor Domitian, Brother of Titus, his Tyrany was unmeasu­rable, he put to death all the Nephews of Jude, called the Lords Brother, and caused to be sought out, and to be slain all that could be found of the Stock of David. In the time of this Persecution Simon Bishop of Jerusalem, after other Torments, was Crucified to death In this Persecution John the Evangelist was Banished into Pathmos for the Testimony of the Word, and after the death of Domitian, in the Reign of Pertinax the Emperor he came to Ephesus, being releas­ed in the year 100. He lived to a great age; some write, till he was 120. And this was his constant practice to his dying day, when age & weakness grew upon him at Ephesus, Hierom Comi [...] in C. 6. ad Ga­lat. Tom. 9. p. 200. that he was no longer able to Preach to them, he used at every Publick Meeting to be led to the Meeting, and say no more to them, then, Little Children love one another.

He expressed great care for the good of souls, unweariedly spend­ing himself in the service of the Gospel, and to beget People to the Truth,Euseb. lib. 3. Chap. 10. p. 92. witness one instance in his visitation of the Churches neer Ephesus, he made choice of a young man, of goodly body, gra­tious face, and fervent mind, whom with a special Charge for his In­struction and Education he commited to the Bishop of that place; so John returned to Ephesus. But in process of time the young man became very dissolute, & perniciously accompanied himself with idle dissolute persons of ill behaviour, who put him in a way to steal and rob; so after he forsooke the right way, he brought himself unto a bottomless Pit of all misorder and outrage, and a rout of Theeves being gathered together, he became their Captain, which John at his return understanding, was sorely troubled, and said, I have left a wise keeper of our Brothers soul; prepare me a Horse, and let me have a Guide, he hastned and rode in post, being come to the place appointed, he is straitwayes taken of the Theevish watch, he neither fled nor resisted, but said bring me to your Captain, who in the mean time, as he was armed, beheld him coming; but as soon as he saw his face, and knew it was John he was striken with shame, and fled away, the Old man persued, and cryed, my Son, why fleest thou? O Son, tender my case, be not afraid, as yet there remaineth hope of Salvation; I will undertake for thee with Christ, I will die for thee, if need be, as Christ did for us; which words seized so on the young man, that his Countenance changed, and he shook off his Armor, and trembled, and wept bitterly, and imbraced the Old man, and answered as well as he could for weep­ing; so afterwards the Apostle brought him into the Church again.Ex Niceph [...] ­ro Lib. 3. Chap. 32. Yet notwithstanding all these continual Persecutions, and horible Pu­nishments, the Christians daily encreased, deeply rooted in the Do­ctrine of the Apostles, and watred plentiously with the Blood of Saints, as saith Neceph [...]rus.

Everastu [...] pers [...]ed Everastus Bishop of Rome was Martyred under Trajanus in the year [Page 12]102. after Christ, and Ignatius Bishop of Anti [...]ch was Martyred in his Regin; with many more Christians: This Trajanus was very impious towards the Christian Religion, and cruel towards the Christians, and caused the Third Persecution; in which Persecution Pliny the se­cond, a Heathen Philosopher, a man learned and famous, seeing the lamentable Slaughter of Christians, and moved therewith to pity, wrot to Trajanus of the pitiful Persecution, certifying him, that there were very many thousands of them daily put to death, of which none did any thing contrary to the Roman Laws worthy persecution, saving that they used to gather together in the Morning before day and sing Hymns to a certain God whom they worshipped, called Christ, in all other their Ordinances they were godly and honest, and for proof hereof, saith he, I caused two Maidens to be laid on the Rack, and with Torments to be Examined about the same, but finding nothing in them, but only lewd and immoderate superstition. I resolved to sur­cease farther enquiry, till I receive further Instructions from you in this matter: Trajan having read this Epistle, returned answer, that it was his mind that the Christians should not be sought after; but if they were brought and convicted, that then they should suffer Execu­tion. Whereof Tertullian speaking, said, Oh confussed Sentance, he would not have them sought for, as men Innocent, and yet would have them punished as men guilty. This Trajan sent a Command to Jerusalem, that whosoever could be found out of the Stock of David should be inquired for, and put to death. In this Persecution suffered Phocas Bishop of Pontus, whom Trajan, because he would not wor­ship Neptune, caused to be cast into a hot Lime-Kill, and afterwards to be put into a scaulding Bath, where he ended his life in the cause of Christ; Then also Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was apprehended, and sent to Rome, where he was devoured of wild Beafts; and beside these, many thousands more were martyred.

In the Reign of Antolius Verus a great Number of the Christians suffered most cruel punishments and torments,Policarpus suffered. especially in Asia and France, among whom was Policarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was burnt at a Stake at Smyrna. About this time also suffered Blandina, and Ponticus a youth of fifteen years old, who defying their Idols, and constantly cleaving to Christ, were put to all the Torments their inraged Ene­mies could devise, till at last the youth gave up the Ghost; Blandina was first pitifully whiped, and then thrown to the wild Beasts, then tor­mented on the Gridiron, and at last slain. Comolus the Emperour upon his Birth day calling the People of Rome together in a great Royalty, cloathed in his Lions skin, sacrificed to Hercules, causing it to be pro­claimed, that Hercules was the Patron of the City; whereupon Vinsen­cicus E [...]sebius, Perigrenous and Potentionous, learned men, being stirred up with Zeal, went about from place to place converting the Heathen to the Faith of Christ; and hearing of the Madness of the Emperour and People, they reproved that Idolatrous blindness, exhorting them to believe in the true and living God, and that forsaking the worship ping of Divels, they should honour God alone. The Emperour hearing thereof caused them to be Apprehended, & required them to Sacrifice [Page 13] Hercules which they refusing to do, he caused them to be grievously tormented, and pressed to death with weights of Lead.

Severus, another Emperour, put forth Proclamations, that no Christians should be suffered to live; hereby a great Persecution was stirred up on every side, and an infinite number of Martyrs were slain: Potamtena was tormented with boyling Pitch poured upon her,Potamtena persecuted. and afterwards, with her Mother Mersila, and Rhais was burnt in the Fire; and when Basilides Captain, having the Maid to execution, as he led her to the place, he repressed the raging of the Multitude, who followed with raging and reviling, which she seeing, prayed to the Lord for his Conversion to the true Faith, and so with admira­ble patience suffered Martyrdom.

Shortly after Basilides being required to give an Oath in the be­half of his fellow Souldiers he denied the same plainly,Basilides suffered. affirming, that he was a Christian, and therefore he could not Swear; they which heard him thought he jested at first, but when he had constant­ly affirmed it, they had him before the Judge, who committed him to Ward; the Christians wondering at it, went to him and inqui­ring the cause of his Conversion, he told them, that Potamiena prayed for him, and so he saw a Crown put upon his head, adding that it should not be long before he received it; and accordingly the next day he was beheaded.

A certain Christian being examined before the Judge, and through fear being ready to shrink back, there were certain persons standing by, who were ready to burst for grief, making signs to him, by their hands and jestures, to be constant; which being observed they were ready to be laid hold on; but they of their own accord pressed up to the Judge, professed themselves to be Christians, which much emboldened the weak Christian, and terrified the Judge; this being done, they departed away, rejoycing for the Testimony they had given of their Faith.

The crimes and charges laid to the Christians. The Crimes and Accusations that was laid to the charge of the Christians by the Persecutors, were, That they refused to worship Idols, and the Emperours, and that they professed the Name of Christ; yet besides, all the Calamities and evils that happenedin the World, as Wars, Famine, Pestilence, &c. were imputed only to the Christians. But Cyprian and Tertullian, confuting these Slanders, proved, That the special cause of all those Miseries which befel the Empire, proceeded from the sheding of the Innocent Blood of the Christians; Cyprian was at last condemned to have his Head cut off, who patiently and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword.

Sixtus, Bishop of Rome, with his six Deacons, for the Christian Faith were all beheaded.

Laurence also, another of hi [...] Deacons, following Sixtus, Laurence Martyred. as he went to his Execution, complained that he might not suffer with him, but that he was seeluded, as the Son from the Father; to whom the Bishop answered, That within three days he should follow him, bid­ding him in the mean time to go Home, and if he had any Treasures, [Page 14]to distribute them amongst the Poor; the Judge hearing mention of Treasures, supposing that Laurence had great store in his custody, commanded him to bring the same to him; Laurence craved three days respit, promising then to declare where the Treasure might be had; in the mean time he caused a good number of Christians to be gathered together, and when the day of his answer was come, the persecutors strictly charged him to make good his promise; but Va­liant Laurence streaching his Arms over the Poor, said, These are the pretious Treasures of the Church; these are the Treasures indeed, in whom Christ hath his Mansion, &c. But the Tyrant, in a great fury and madness, cryed, kindle the Fire, make no spare of Wood; hath this Villain deluded the Emperour? Away with him, whip him with Sourges, jerk him with Rods, buffet him with Fists, brain him with Clubs, jesteth the Traytor with the Emperour? Pinch him with fiery Tongs, gird him with burning Plates, bring out the strongest Chains and Fire-forks, and the Grate of Iron, set in on the Fire; bind the Rebel hand and foot, and when the Grate is red hot, on with him, roast him, broyl him, toss him turn him; upon pain of our high dis­pleasure, do every man his office, Oh ye Tormentors; Immediately his command was obeyed, and after many cruel handlings, this meek Lamb was laid on the Gridiron; but what he indured was with such patience, that the Emperour seemed to be tormented more then him, though his Flesn broyled, the other's Heart burned; and when he had been pressed down with Forks for a great space, in the mighty Spirit of God he spake to the Tyrant, thus.

Dioniceous writeth, that the number of those that suffered Martyr­dom about that time was great, Men, Women, young Men, Mai­dens, old Wives, and Men of all sorts and ages, of whom some with Scourgings and Fire, and some with the Sword abtained the V [...]ctory, and got the Crown; neither, saith he, to this day doth the President cease cruelly Murdering such as be brought before him, tearing some with Torments, Imprisoning others, and commanding that no man should come to them; yet God with the daily resort of the Bre­thren doth comfort the afflicted.

Not long after this time the Church had Peace for about the space of forty four years, during which time it did mightily encrease and flourish, and divers of the Christians were preferred both to Court, and elsewhere; but through this great prosperity the Christians be­gan to degenerate, and to grow Idle, striving and contending among themselves upon every occasion, with railing words bespattering one another in a despiteful manner, Bishops against Bishops, and Peo­ple against People, moving hatred and sedition each against other, besides cursed Hyposrisie and Dissimulation more and more, by rea­son whereof Gods Judgments brake forth against them, the Pastours being inflamed in mutual comtempt against each other; then did the Lord raise up Adversaries against his People; then did Dioclecian the [Page 15]Emperour raise a great and grievous Persecution against the Church; commanding all the Meeting places of the Christians to be spoiled and cast down, and the Book of the Scripture to be burnt, which was executed with all rigour and contempt that might be, giving out Edicts for the displacing of all Christian Magistrates; and for Impri­soning of the Elders and Bishops, and a great Persecution ensued: But the Christians manfully passed through exceeding bitter Torments, by Scouging, Whipping, and Racking, and being put to death; so that it cannot be expressed what number of Martyrs suffered, what Blood was shed through all Cities and Regions for the Name of Christ in this Emperours time, by divers Torments; some being hanged up by the Feet, and by the smoke of a small Fire strangled.

One Peter was hoysted up naked, and so beaten and torn with Whips, that his Bones might be seen; then they poured on Salt and Vineger, and after Roasted him with a soft Fire.

Also many Christians being met together, Maximinian the Empe­rour sent some to burn the Meeting place, and burn them all; but first they commanded a Cryer to Proclaim, that whosoever would have life should come out, and sacrifice to Jupiter, otherwise they should be all burnt; then one steping up boldly in the name of all the rest, said, We are all Christians, and believe that Christ is our only God and King, and we will sacrifice to none but him: hereupon the Fire was kindled and many Men Women and Children were burnt in that place.

And the punishments these Christians endured were so great, and horrible, as no Tongue is able to express; as Whippings, Scourg­ings, Rackings, horrible Scrapings, Sword, Fireship-boats, where­into many were put, and sunk into the Sea, as also hanging upon Crosses, binding some to the bodies of Trees, with their Head hang­ing downwards, hanging others by the middles upon Gallowses, till they dyed of hunger, throwing divers alive to Bears, Leopards, wilde Bulls, pricking others with bodkins, and tallens of Beasts, till they were almost dead.

The Christians being assembled at Antioch, where one Romanus ran to them, declaring to them that the Wolves were at hand, which would devour them; yet he exhorted them not to fear: A Band of armed men were sent against them, but they kept their Faith; whereupon the Souldiers sent word to their Captain, that they could not force the Christians to deny their Faith, by reason of Romanus, who did so mightily encourage them; The Captain commanded that he should be brought before him, which was done accordingly; What, saith the Captain, Art thou the Author of this Sedition? Art thou the cause that so many lose their lives,Roman [...] Persecuted. by the Gods I Swear, thou shalt answer for them all, and shalt suffer those Torments that thou encouragest them to undergo: Romanus answer­ed, Thy Sentance, O Emperor, I willingly embrace, I refuse not to be sacrificed for my Brethren, and that by as cruel Torments as thou canst invent: The Captain being much enraged with this his stout answer, commanded him to be trust up, and his bowels [Page 16]drawn out; whereupon the Executionor said, not to Sir; this man is of noble p [...]rantage, and therefore be may not be put to so igno­ble a death; scourge him then, quoth the Captain, with whips having knobs of lead at the end; but Romamus song all the time of his whipping, requiring not to favour him for nobilities sake; not the blood of Progenitors, saith he, but the Christian Profession makes me Noble. Then did he deride their Idol Gods, which in­raged the Tyrant, so that he commanded his sides to be lanced with Knives, till the Bones were laid open; yet still did the holy Martyr preach the living God, and the Lord Jesus Christ to him, for which the Tyrant commanded them to strike out his teeth; also his face was buffetted; his Eye-lids torn; his Cheeks gashed with Knives; the skin of his Beard pulled off, yet the meek Martyr said, I thank thee, O Captain, that thou hast opened to me so many Mouthes, as Wounds, whereby I may Preach my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Look how many Wounds I have, so many mouths I have landing and praising God. The Captain astonished at his constancy, bad them give over tor­menting him, yet he threatned to burn him, reviled him, and blasphemod God saying, Thy crucified Christ is but a yesterdayes God, the Gods of the Gentiles are of greatest Antiquity, But Romanus taking occasion from hence, declared to him the Eternity of Christ, withall, saying, give me a Christian Child of seven years old, and thou shalt hear what he will say; hereupon a Boy was called out of the Multitude, to whom Romanus said, Tell me my pretty Babe, whether thou think it reason that we worship Christ, and in Christ one Father, or else that we worship infinite Gods; the Child answered, that certainly what we affirm to be God must needs be one, which with one is one and the same, and inasmuch as this one is Christ, of necessity Christ must be the true God; for that there be many Gods we Children cannot believe. The Cap­tain amazed at this, said, Thou young Villain and Traytor, where, and of whom learnest thou this Lesson? of my mother, said he, with whose milk I sucked, in this Lesson, that I must believe in Christ; The mother was called, and she gladly appeared; the Tyrant commanded the Child to be horsed up, and scourged; the Standers by beholding this merciless act, could not refrain from tears; the joyful and glad mother alone stood by, with dry cheeks, yea, she rebuked her sweet Babe for desiring a cup of cold water, charging him to thirst after the cup that the Babes of Bethlem once drunk of; she willing him to remember little Isaac, who willingly offered his neck to the dint of his fathers Sword, &c. Then did the cruel Tormentor pull of the skin, hair and all from the crown of the Childs head; the mother, Crying, Suffer my Child, anon thou shalt pass to him that will adorn thy head with a Crown of Eternal glory. Thus the mother counselleth and encourageth, the Child is encouraged and receiveth the strips with a smilling countenance. The Captain seeing the Child invincible, and himself vanquished, commanded him to be cast into the stinking Prison, whilest the Torments of Romanus were renewed and encreased; then was [Page 17] Romanus brought forth again to receive new strips upon his old sorts, the flesh being torn, and the bare bones appearing, yet the cruel Tyrant raging like a mad man, quarrelled with the tormentors for dealing so mildly with him, commanding them to cut, prick and punch him; and then he passed sentence upon him, together with the Child to be burned to death; to whom Romanus, said, I appeal from this unjust sentence of thine to the righteous Throne of Christ, that upright Judge; not because I fear thy cruel Tor­ments, and merciless handling, but that thy Judgments may be known to be cruel and bloody. When they came to the place of Execution, the Tormentors required the Child of his mother, for she had carried it in her Arms from the Prison, she kissed it, delivered it to them, and as the Execution or was striking off his head, she said, farewel my sweet Child.

The Childs head being cut off the mother wrapt it in her garment, laid it to her brest, and so departed. Then was Romanus cast into a mighty Fire which being quenched with a great storm of Rain; the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out, and afterwards cau­sed him to be strangled in the Prison.

Gordius a Centurion in Cesarea, in the heat of this Persecution left his charge, living a sollitary Life in a Wilderness for a long time, at last when a solemn Feast was celebrated to Mars in that City, and multitudes of People were assembled in the Theatre to see the Games, he came and got up into a conspicuous place, and with a loud Voice said; behold I am found of those that sought me not. The Multi­tude hereupon looked about to see who it was that spoke this, and Gordius being known, he was immediatly brought before the Sheriff, and being asked, who, and what he was, and why he came thither? he told him the whole Truth, professing, that he believed in Christ, valued not their threatings, and chose this as a fit time to manifest his Profession in: Then did the Sheriff call for Scourges, Gibbets and all manner of Torments; to whom Gordius answered, That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers Torments and Pu­nishments for Christ and his Cause. The Sheriff more incensed hereby, commanded all those Torments to be inflicted on him, with which Gordius could not be overcome, but sang, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do unto me, and I will fear no evil, because thou Lord art with me, &c. Then did he blame the Tormentors for fa­vouring him, provoking them to do their uttermost; the Sheriff not prevailing that way, sought by flattery to seduce him, promising him Preferment, Riches, Treasures, Honour, &c. if he would deny Christ; but Gordius deriding his foolish Madness, saying, That he lookt for greater preferment in Heaven then he could give him here upon Earth. Then was he condemned, and had out of the City and burnt, [Page 18]Multitudes followed him, and some kissing him with Tears, intreated him to pity himself, to whom he answered, Weep not, I pray you, for me, but for the Enemies of God, which fight against the Chri­stians, weep, I say, for them which prepare a Fire for us, purchasing Hell-fire thereby for themselves in the day of Vengeance; and cease, I pray you, thus to molest my quiet and setled mind; for truly, For the Name of Christ, I am ready to suffer a Thousands deaths, &c. Others perswaded him to deny Christ with his mouth, and to keep his Con­science to himself: my Tongue (saith he) which by Gods goodness I have, cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of the same; for with the Heart we believe unto righteousness, and with the Tongue we confest unto Salvation; and thus perswading and encouraging the People to be willing to dye in the like cause, with an unappalled countenance he willingly gave himself to be burnt.

Basil in one of his Orations relates a Story of one Julitta, from whom one of the Emperours Officers took all her Goods, Lands and Servants, contrary to all Equity; whereupon she complained to the Judges, and a day of hearing was appointed, where the spoiled Wo­man lamentably declared her Case; but the wicked Villain that had robbed her, said, that her Action was of no force, for she was an Out­law, for not observing the Emperours Gods, and that she was a Christian: His Allegation was allowed, Incense was prepared for her to offer to the Gods, which if she refused, she should neither have protection nor benefit of the Emperours Laws, nor continue her life; she hearing this, in the mighty Strength of God, said, Farwel Riches, welcome Poverty; Farwel Life, welcome Death, all that I have, were it a Thousand times more, would I lose, rather then speak one wicked word against God my Creator; I yeild thee most hearty thanks, O my God, for this gift of Grace, that I can condemn and dispise this frail and transitory World, esteeming the Profession of Christ above all Treasures. And thence forth, when any Question was proposed to her, her answer was, I am the Servant of Jesus Christ; her Kindred and Friends earnestly solliciting her to change her mind, but she constantly refused, with detestation of their Idola­try: Then did the cruel Judge condemn her to be burnt, which Sen­tence she embraced joyfully, as a thing most sweet and delectable; and so she addressed her self to the Flames, in countenance, jesture and words declaring the Joy of her Heart, coupled with singular constan­cy, and so embracing the Fire she sweetly slept in the Lord.

Thus near the space of three hundred years was the Church of Christ assaulted on every side, had small rest, no joy nor outward safety in this present World, but in much bitterness of Heart, in continual tears and mourning under the Cross passed over their days, being spoiled, imprisoned, contemned, reviled, famished, tormented and martyred every where, by night assembling to sing Praises to God; in all which their dreadful dangers, and sorrowful afflictions, notwithstanding the goodness of the Lord left them not desolate, but the more their outward Tribulations did increase, the more their inward Consolations did abound; and the farther [Page 19]off they seemed from the joyes of this Life, the more present was the Lord with them with Grac [...] and fortitude to confirm and rejoyce their Souls; and though their possessions and riches in this World were lost and spoiled, yet were they inriched with heavenly Gifts and Treasures from above an hundredfold; then was true Religion truely felt in the Heart; then was Christianity not in out­ward appearance shewed only, but in inward affection received; then was the Name and Fear of God true in Heart, not in Lips alone dwelling; Faith then was fervent, Zeal ardent, Prayer not swiming in the Lips, but groaned out to God from the bottom of the Spirit; then was no Pride in the Church, nor leisure to seek riches, nor time to keep them; contention for Trifles was then so far from Chri­stians, that well were they when they could meet to pray together against the Devil the author of all dissention.

But after this the Christians coming to be in favour with the Emperours, and riches and worldly wealth crept into the Clergy, and the Devil poured his venom into the Church, so that true humi­lity began to decay, and Pride to set in his Foot; and after the Church through favour of the Emperours, was indued with Lands, Dona­tions, Possessions and Patrimonies, and the Bishops feeling the smack of Wealth, ease and prosperity, began to swell in pomp and pride, and the more they flourished in this World, the more Gods holy Spi­rit forsook them; till at last the Bishops, who were for a long time kept low, and persecuted, as before is related, now of persecuted People, began to be Persecutors of others, and through their pride and riches were wholy degenerated from the true Religion, and be­came Adversaties to God, and persecuted and destroyed his living Witnesses and Members, as any were raised up from time to time to bear a Testimony against their Apostacy, as in this following Histo­ry will appear.

Great Persecution in Gaunt, and other parts of Flanders Anno, 1543, 1544.

The Edict against the Lutherans to be read twice a year. Charles the Emperor lying in Gaunt, the Fryars and Docters obtain­ed, that the Edict made against the Lutherans might be read openly twice a year, which caused a great Persecution to follow; so that there was no City nor Town in all Flanders wherein some were not either Expulsed, Beheaded, Condemned to perpetual Imprisonment, or their Goods Confiscate, without respect either to Age or Sex, espe­cially at Gaunt where some of the cheif men in the Town were burnt for their Religion.

Afterward the Emperor coming to Brussels, there also was terrible Slaughter and Persecution of Gods People, namely in Brabant, Hone­gow and Artois, the horror and cruelty whereof is almost incredible; insomuch that two hundred Men and Women were brought out of the Country into the City, some of whom were drowned, others buried Quick, others privately made away, others sent to perpetual Imprisonment, whereby the Prisons were filled to the great sorrow of them which knew the Gospel, the Professors whereof being now compelled either to deny the same, or confirm it with their blood; the Story whereof was at large set forth by Francis Ensenes in Latine, who himself was a Prisoner at the same time in Brussels for the Truth Sake.

Martin Hoeurblock Martyr. Martin Hoeurblock Fishmonger in Gaint 1545. being converted to the Truth from the Superstitious Idolatry of the Papists, and a great change wrought in him, having all his time till then lived a wicked and a fleshly life, was a wonder to his Neighbours to see such a sudden change; the Franciscan Friars, who before knew him, and remembring how beneficial he had been to them, now seeing him so altered, and taking notice of his visiting the Prisoners, and comfor­ting them in Persecution, and confirming them that went to the Fire, they soon caused him to be detected and imprisoned, and with grie­vous and sharp Torments would have constrained him to utter more [Page 40]of the same Religion, to whom he answered, That if they could prove by the Scripture, that his detecting and accusing of his Bre­thren, whom they would afflict with the like Torments, were not against the Law of God, then he would not refuse to prefer the ho­nour of God before the safegard of his Brethren; he was soon after had to the Council in Flanders, where the Causes laid against him were, the Sacrament, Purgatory, &c. for which he was condemned and burn at Gaunt, all his goods being Confiscate.

Nicholas and Francis Thiesten Martyrs. Nicholas and Francis Thiesten Anno 1545. for standing firm in the Truth, and bearing witness against the Church of Rome, and their Auriculer Confession, Purgatory, &c. were condemned to be burnt, and coming to the place of Execution, for exhorting the People, they put Wooden-gags in their Mouths; when they were fastned to the Stake they patiently endured the Fire; the Mother of these two men was for her stedfastness to the Truth condemned to perpetual Imprisonment.

Adrian Tay­ler and Ma­rion his wife Martyr. Adrian Tayler and Marion his wife of Dornick Anno 1545. by reason of the Emperors decree at Worms against the Lutherans, were appre­hended and persecuted; Adrian not so strang as a man, for fear gave back, and was but only beheated; the wife stronger then a Woman, withstood their threats, and abode the uttermost, and being inclosed in an Iron grate, formed in shape of a Pasty, was laid in the Earth, and buried quick; when the Adversaries first told her that her Hus­band had relented she believed them not, but as she was going to the place where she was to die, passing by the Tower where he was, she called to him to take her leave, but he was gone before.

Peter Bruly Martyrs. Peter Bruly, of Stratsburge, at the earnest request of faithful Bre­thren, went down to visit the Lower Counties, about Artois, which the Magistrates of Dornick hearing, shot the gates of the Town, and made search for him three days, he was privately let down the Wall in the night by a basket, and as he was let down into the Ditch, rea­dy to take his way, one of them which let him down leaning over the wall, to bid him farewel, caused unawares a stone to slip out of the wall, which falling upon him brake his Leg, by reason whereof he was heard of the watchmen, complaining of his wound, and so was taken: So long as he remained in Prison he ceased not to preach the Truth to all that came unto him, he wrote his own Confession, and Examination, and sent it to the Brethren, he wrote also another Epistle to them that were in Persecution, another he wrote to all the faithful, another Letter he wrote to his wife the same day he was burned; he remained four Months in Prison before he was sentence­ed to be burnt; Letters were sent from Duke Frederick, of the Lant-grave to intreat for him, but he was burnt before the Letters came.

Peter Moice Martyr. Peter Moice being converted to the Truth by Peter Bruly, was ap­prehended and let down into a deep Dungeon under the Castle-Dirch, which was full of filthy Vermine, the Friars coming to ex­amine him, he told them, whilst he lived an ungodly life they never concerned themselves with him, but now for favouring the Word [Page 41]of God they sought his blood; being brought before the Senate, he would have boldly answered to what they objected against him, but they interrupted him, to whom he said, if you will not suffer me to answer for my self, send me back to Prison among the Toads and Frogs, which will not interrupt me, while I talk with my God, and continuing constant in the Truth was at last burnt to death.

Nicholas Frenchman Martyr. Nicholas Frenchman having been at Geneva, intending to go into England, but in his way was apprehended by the Lieutenant of Dornick and being bound hands and feet was brought to Burgis, and there laid in a Dungeon, the Friars when they came to examin him, went away in a shamefull rage, saying, he had a Devil; and cry­ing, to the fire with him. Soon after the Judges condemned him to be burnt to Ashes, at which sentence giving, he blessed the Lord which had counted him worthy to be a witness in the cause of his beloved Son; going to the place of Execution he was threatned, that if he spake they would put a wooden ball in his mouth, never­theless, being at the Stake, he minded not their threats but cryed out with a loud voice, saying, Oh Charls, Charls, how long shall thy heart be heardned; with that one of the Souldiers gave him a blow; then he said, O miserable People, who are not worthy, to whom the Word of God should be Preached; then the Friers cryed out, he hath a Devil, to whom he said, depart from me all you Wicked, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my Weeping: So in the midst of the fire commended his Spirit unto God, and ended this life.

Bertrand Le Blais Martyr. Bertrand Le Blais at Dornick in the year 1555. Suffered lamentably, his Torments being almost incredible that the Tyrants shewed unto him, his constancy was admirable. This Bertrand being a Silk-Weaver, having something upon his Spirit, set his House in order, and desired his Wife and Brother to pray that God would esta­blish him in his enterprise, that he was going about, which was, upon Christ-mass (day so called) he went to the high place at Dornick, where he took the Cake out of the Priests hands, as he would have lifted it over his head, at Mass, and stampt it under his feet, saying, that he did it to shew the Glory of that God, and what little power he hath; at the sight hereof the People were amazed, and he hardly escaped with his life; it was not long before the Governor of the Castle heard of this passage, who like a mad man threatned he should be an example to all posterity; Bertrand being brought before him, he askt him if he repented of his fact, who answered no, and if he had a hundred lives he could give them in that Quarrel; then was he thrice put to the Pin-bank and Tormented most miserably, to utter his Setters on, then they past sentence against him, and this was executed; First he was drawn from the Castle of Dornick to the Market place having a ball of Iron put in his mouth, then he was set upon a Stage where his Right hand was Crusht and prest between two hot Irons, with sharp Iron edges fiery red, in the like manner they served his right foot, which Torments he endured with mar­velous constancy, that done, they took the ball of Iron out of his [Page 42]mouth, and cut out his Tongue; notwithstanding his Tongue was cut out, he still called upon God as well as he could, whereby the hearts of the people were greatly moved, whereupon the Tormen­tors thrust the Iron ball into his mouth again, from thence they brought him down to a lower Stage, where his legs and hands were bound behind him, with an Iron Chain going about his body, and so he was let down flat upon the Fire, the Governer standing by, caused him to be plucked up again, and so down and up again, till at last the whole body was consumed to Ashes.

James Fa­ber and three others Martyrs. James Faber and three others suffered at Valens, James Faber be­ing an old man, said, that though he could not answer nor saisfie them in Reasoning, yet he would constantly abide in the Truth of the Gospel.

Godfry Ha­mell Martyr. Godfry Hamell a Taylor taken and condemned at Dornick, when they had condemned him by the Name of an Heretick, nay, said he, not an Heretick, but a Servant of Jesus Christ; when the Hang­man went about to Strangle him, to diminish his punishment, he refused, saying, that he would abide the Sentence that the Judges had given.

Besides these that suffered in Germany before mentioned, a great number there was, both in the Higher and Lower Countries of Ger­many, which were put to death for Religion, many of them were burnt, some buryed alive, some secretly drowned, many of their Names are mentioned in the Acts and Monuments, but little of the circumstances of their Tryal and Execution being mentioned I have omitted them for brevities sake.

Sufferers in France for bearing the like Witness to the Gospel.

Dennis Renix Mar­tyr. Denis Renix at Melde in the year 1558. Was burnt for testifying a­gainst the Mass, he was alwayes wont to have in his mouth the Words of Christ, He that denyeth me before men, him wi [...] I also deny be­fore my Father; he was burnt in a slow Fire, and did abide much Torments.

Note, upon a complaint made to the Council, called Le Chamber Ardante, that the Judges suffered Hereticks to have their Tongues; Immediately thereupon a Decree was made, that all which were to be burned unless they recanted at the fire, should have their Tongues cut off, which Law afterwards was diligently observed.

Stephen Polliard Martyr. Stephen Polliard coming out of Normandy in the year 1546. (where he was born) unto Meux, tarried there not long, but he was com­pelled to flee, and went to a Town called Fera, where he was ap­prehended and brought to Paris, and there cast into a foul and dark Prison, in which Prison he was kept in Bonds and Fetters a long time, where he saw almost no Light; at length being called for before the Senate, and his sentence given to have his Tongue cut out, and to be burnt alive, his Satchell of Books hanging about his neck; O Lord, said he, is the World in blindness and darkness still; for he thought, being in Prison so long that the World had been altered [Page 43]from its old darkness to better knowledge, at last with his Books a­bout his neck he was burnt to death.

Florent Venote Mar­tyr. Florent Venote remained a Prisoner in Paris four years, during which time he was put to divers Torments, one kind of Torment was, he was put in a narrow place, so straight that he could neither stand nor lie, which they called the Hose, or Boots, because it was strait below, and wide above; in this he remained seven weeks, where the Tormentors affirm, that no Thief or Murtherer could ever endure 15 days, but were in danger of Life or Madness; and at last on the 9th of the Moneth, called July, he was burnt to death, with divers other Martyrs who were burnt as a Spectacle at the Kings coming into Paris.

The next that suffered was a poor Taylor in Paris, who for work­ing upon Holy-days (so called) and denying to observe them,A poor Tay­lor in Paris Martyred. was clapt in Prison, the King hearing of it sent for him before him, and some of his Peeres; being before the King, he answered with great boldness, wit and memory, defending the cause of Christ, neither flattering their Persons nor fearing their threats, which struck the King in a great damp, in museing in his mind; which the Bishops seeing, committed the poor Taylor again to the hands of the Officer, saying, he was a stubborn Fellow, and fitter to be punisht, then to be marvelled at; within few days after he was condemned to be burnt alive.

The next year two men for friendly admonishing a certain Priest which in his Sermon had abused the Name of God, were both burn­ed; another young man of the Age of eighteen years, for rebuking a man in Paris for Swearing, being suspected to be a Lutheran, was apprehended, and brought before the Council at Paris, who com­mitted him to Prison, where he was so cruelly Racked and Torment­ed, that one of the Persecutors seeing it, could not but turn his back and weep; when he was brought and put in the Fire, he was pluckt up again upon the Gibbet, and asked, whether he would turn, to whom he said, that he was in his way towards God, and therefore desired them to let him go.

John Joyer, and his Servant being a young man, in the year 1552. coming from Geneva to their Country with certain Books,John Joyer and his Ser­vant and his Ser­vant Mar­tyrs. were ap­prehended by the way, and had to Tholouse; where the Master was first condemned, the Servant being young, was not so prompt to answer, but directed them to his Master, to answer them; when they were brought to the Stake, the young man first going up, be­gan to weep, the Master fearing lest he should recant ran to him, and he was comforted; as they were in the Fire, the Master standing upright to the Stake shifted the Fire from him to his Servant, being more carfull for him, then for himself; and when he saw him dead, he bowed down himself in the flame and so expired.

Mathias Dimonetus Merchant at Lyons, in the year 1553. having been a man of a Vicious and detestable life,Mathias Dimonetus Martyr. was notwithstanding through the Grace of God brought to the knowledge and Savour of [Page 44]his Truth, for a Testimony to which he was soon after Imprisoned; being in Prison he had great conflicts with the infirmity of his own Flesh, but especially with the temptation of his Parents, Brethren and Kinsfolks, and the great sorrow of his Mother; nevertheless the Lord so assisted him that he endured to the end; and was burnt to death.

In the year 1558. the fourth day of the Month called September, there being a Company of the Faithful, to the number of three or four hundred met together at Paris in a certain House, in the begin­ning of the night, they were discovered by some Priests, the House was soon beset, and the City in an uproar, many being in an extream rage, furiously seeking to have their blood; at the suddenness of this thing, the poor people were strucken in great fear; and fell to prayer, about six or sevenscore of them having Weapons, escaped thorow the Multitude, save only one, who was knockt down with Scones, and destroyed; the Women remaining in the House were taken by the Magistrates and had to Prison; in their passing to the Prison they were plucked and haled by the rude Multitude, who tore their Gar­ments, and pulled of their Hoods, and disfigured their Faces with dirt; they were accused to the King by a Priest, that they put out the Candles in their Meetings, and went together Jack and Gill; and that they maintained there was no God, and denyed the Divi­nity and Humanity of Christ, the Immortallity of the Soul, and the Resurrection of the Body, &c. these things a lying Doctor charg­ed on them, without any proof, moving the King & People to destroy them; and shortly after a Commission was directed out by the King to certain Councellors to try and give Judgment upon the aforesaid Sufferers, a particular Relation of whose Execution is at large insert­ed by my Author, but there being little material circumstances either in their Tryal or Execution, wherefore I thought not meet here to insert them.

A Relation of the man­ner of the Spanish In­quisition. About this time many suffered Martyrdom under the cruel and bloody Inquisition in Spain, first began by King Fardinandus and Elizabeth his wife; the Spainsh Priests do hold the holy and sacred In­quisition, as they call it, cannot err, and that the holy Fathers the Inquisitors cannot be deceived; if any be apprehended as favourers of Hereticks, he is carried and put into a horrible Prison, and none permitted to come to him, but there he is kept alone in a place where he cannot see so much as the ground, and often Whipt, Scourged, Irons put upon him, Tortured and Racked, sometimes brought out and shewed in some higher place to the People, as a Spectacle of re­buking Infamy; and thus some are detained there many years, and murdered by long Torments in which is more cruelty executed then if they were at once slain by the Hangman; during all their time of imprisonment, whatsoever process is done against them, no person knoweth it, but only the holy Fathers and Tormentors, which are sworn to execute the Torments; all the proceedings of the Cour of that Execrable Inquisition are done in hugger mugger, the Accuset [Page 45]is secret, the Crime secret, and the witness secret, by the rigour of which Inquisition many good men have been destroyed, both in Spain and Italy.

In the Kingdom of Naples in the year 1560. in the time of Pope Pius the fouth, was begun a hot Persecution against the Protestants, ma­ny men and their wives being slain.

Likewise the same year in Calabria, the number of Eighty eight Persons both old and young suffered for the Protestant Religion by the Papists,Eighty eight per­son, But­chered for Religion in Calabria all which were put together in one House, and taken out one after another, and laid upon the Butchers Stall like the Sheep in the Shambles, with one bloody Knife they were all killed one after ano­ther, a Spectacle most tragical for all Posterity to remember, and almost incredible to believe, but that it is confirmed by two Epi­stles of sufficient credit, which are at large incerted in the Book of Martyrs.

The next matter to be treated on is the great Persecution and De­struction of the People of Merindol and Cabries in the Country of Province, where not a few persons, but whole Villages, and Town­ships, with the most part of all the Country both Men, Women, and Childen, were put to all kind of cruelly, and suffered Martyrdom for the profession of the Gospel.

From the year 1200. they had refused the Bishop of Rome's Authori­ty,Persecuted in Merindol and Cabries. for this cause they were often accused and complained of to the King, as Contemners and Dispisers of the Magistrates, and Rebels; wherefore they were called by divers names according to the Coun­tries and places where they dwelt; for in the Country about Lions, they were called the poor People of Lions; in the borders of Sarmatia, and Liv [...]nia, and other Countrys towards the North, they were cal­led Lollards; in Flanders and Artois, Turrelupines, of a Desart where Wolves did haunt in Dolphine; with great dispite they were called Chagnars, because they lived in places open to the Sun without House or harbour, but most commonly they were called Waldoys of Waldo, who first instructed them in the Word of God, as before is related, which name continued till the name of Lutherans come up, which above all others was most hated and abhorred.

Notwithstanding in these most spiteful Contumelies and Slanders, the People dwelling at the foot of the Alpes, and also in Merindol, and Cabries alwayes lived so Godly, so uprightly and justly, that in all their life and conversation there appeared to be in them a great fear of God; and that little Light of true Knowledge which God had given them, they laboured by all means to kindle and encrease daily more and more, sparing no charges, whether it were to purchase the Scriptures in their own Language, or to encourage one another in Godliness, travelling into other Countries, even to the furthest parts of the Earth, where they had heard, that any Light of the Gos­pel began to shine.

But the more zealous these people were for a Reformation in their Religion, the more did the fury and rage of Persecution stir in the Bishops, Priests and Monks in all Province against them; amongst the [Page 46]rest, one Jo. de Roma, a Monk obtaining a commission to examine those that were suspected to be of the Waldoys or Lutherans profession, forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kinds of Cruelty that he could devise or imagine;The Cruel­ty of the Papists. amongst other most horrible Tor­ments, this was one, which he most delighted in, and most com­monly practised, he filled Boots with boyling Grease, and put them upon their Legs, tying them backward, to a Form with their Legs hanging down over a small Fire, and so he examined them; thus he tormented very many, and in the end most cruelly put them to death: this cruelty coming to the French Kings ear, he was much dis­gusted, wherefore he wrote to the Parliament at Province, that the Monk might be apprehended and punisht, but he conveyed himself away; but the Lord not long after smote him with sickness, indeed a most horrible and strange Disease, his Body being greatly tormented with Pain, and could get no Help; being had to an Hospital, his Flesh rotted away, and stunk so that none cared to come near him; and in this Rage and Torment he was under, he often cryed out, Who will deliver me? The Just Judgment of God a­gainst a cru­el Persecu­tor. Who will Kill me, and deliver me out of these Torments and Pains, which I know I suffer for the evils and oppressions that I have done to the poor men? and in this anguish he most miserably ended his unhappy dayes.

After the death of this persecuting Monk, the Bishop of Aix by his Official continued the Persecution, and put a great Multitude of them in Prison, of whom some by force of Torments revolted, from the Truth, the others, which proved constant, after he had condem­ned them of Heresie, were put into the hands of the ordinary Judge, which at that time was one Meiranus, a cruel Persecutor, who with­out any form of Process or order of Law, such as the Official had pro­nounced to be Hereticks, he put to death with most Cruel Tor­ments.

After this Persecutor was dead one Bartholomew Casenes, President of the Parliment of Province, a Pestilent Persecutor, whom God at length struck with a fearful and sudden Death: in the time of this Tyrant those of Merindol were cited personally to appear be­fore the Kings Attorney; but they hearing that the Court had de­termined to burn them without any Process or Order of Law, durst not appear at the day appointed, for which cause the Court award­ed a cruel Sentence against Merindol, and condemned all the Inhabi­tants to be burned, both Men, Women and Children, and their Town and Houses to be rased to the Ground, and their Country to be made a Desart and Wilderness never more to be inhabited. This bloody Arrest or Decree seemed strange and wonderful, same openly saying, They marvelled the Parliment should be so mad to give out such an Arrest so manifestly injurious and unjust, and contrary to all Reason and Humanity; others said, The Judges are not bound to observe either Right or Reason in exterpating such as are suspected to be Lutherans; but what ever was said in opposition to this Decree the Bishops from time to time used all the opportunities to endeavour to put the same in execu­tion as appears in the following Relation.

Amongst these poor men that suffered in Merindol there was a Book-seller, who for [...]etting publickly to sale certain Bibles in French and Latine, in the sight of the Bishop of Aix and other Prelates, they were thereat greatly moved, and caused him to be apprehended, and committed to Prison, and afterwards he was sentenced and burnt: the Prelates seeing great dissention among the people of Avinion, and that many murmured at the death of this Book-seller for selling the Bible, to fear the people the next day they put out a Proclamation against all, French Bibles, That none should keep them in their Hands upon pain of Death.

After this Proclamation the Bishop of Aix endeavoured his utmost to prosecute the people of Merindol, being very earness with the Pre­sident to that effect, and to put the Parliaments Arrest and Decree in execution, the President shewing himself unwilling to the Bishop to shed Innocent Blood pleaded, The King would be displeased to have such destruction made of his Subjects: then said the Bishop, Though the King at the first do think it ill done, we will so bring it to past, that in a short space he shall think it well done; for we have the Cardinals on our side, espe­cially Cardinal Tournon.

By these Arguments of the Bishop, the President and Councel of Parliament were perswaded to raise a Force, and destroy the people of Merindol, according to the Decree: The Inhabitants of Merindol hearing thereof, and seeing nothing but present death to be at hand, with great Lamentation commended themselves and their Cause unto God by Prayer, and made themselves ready to be murdered, as Sheep for the Slaughter; whilst they were in this grievous distress, there was one raised up called the Lord of Alner, to plead with the Pre­sident on their behalf, giving the President several Reasons, why he ought not to destroy these poor Christian man of Merindol; by which Reasons the President was perswaded, and immediatly called back his Commission, which he had given out, and caused the Army to Retire, who were within a mile and a half of Merindol; which the people of Merindol understanding, that the Army was retired, gave thanks unto God, comforting one another with Admonition and Exhortation, Alwayes to have the fear of God before their Eyes, and to seek after the everlasting Riches.

The noise of these Proceedings, and of this Arrest and Decree, coming to the King of France his ear, he appointed persons to make Inquiry into the whole matter, and to make a Report to him thereof, and what manner of People these Merindolians were.

These Deputies brought a Copy of the Arrest Decree and Pro­ceedings unto the Kings Lieutenant, declaring unto him the great Injuries, Polling, Extortions, Exactions, Tyrannies and Cruel­ties which the Judges, as well Secular as Ecclesiastical, had used against them of Merindol and others, as touching the be­haviour and disposition of those which were persecuted, they re­ported, that the most part of the men of Province, affirmed them to be men given to great Labour and Travel, and that about two hundred years past (as it is reported) they came out of the Coun­try [Page 48]of Piedmont to dwell in Province, and took to tillage and to inha­bit many Villages destroyed by the Wars, which they had so well husbandred, that there was now great store of Wine, Oyle, Honey and Cattle, so that Strangers were greatly relieved; and that they were a Peaceable Quiet People, beloved of all their Neighbours, man of good Behaviour, constant in keeping of their Promise, and paying of their Debts, without suing men at Law; that they were also Charitable men, giving Alms, relieving of the Poor, and suffered none amongst them to lack, or be in necessity, harbouring and Nourishing poor Strangers and Passengers in their necessities: moreover that they were known by this throughout all the Country, that they would not Swear, and that if they heard any Swear, blaspheme, or dishonour God, they strait-way departed out of their Company; this was the tenour of the report made to the Kings Lieutenant touch­ing the Life and Behaviour of these Inhabitants of Merindol who were persecuted by the Popish Bishops and Cardinals, which the Lieuten­ant advertised the King, who was a good Prince, moved with mercy and pity, sent Letters to the Parliament, Expresly charging and commanding them that they should not hereafter proceed to prose­cute the said Arrest and Decree so Rigorously as they had done be­fore against this People, and not to molest or trouble them in per­son or goods, and to command them to set at Liberty all Prisoners, which either were accused or suspected of Lutheranism; and withal included in his Letter, That if any of them should be convict of He­resie by the Scriptures of the old and New Testament, they should be caused to abjure.

Notwithstanding this Letter was writ in favour unto the people of Merindol, yet the Bishop of Cavaillon took advantage at one part of the Letter to prosecute his Malice against the people of Merindol for upon the Kings Letter the Parliament ordained, that John Durand Counceller of the Parliament, with the Secretary, and the Bishop of Cavaillon, with a Doctor of Divinity should go to Merindol, and there declare to the Inhabitants the Errors and Heresies which they knew to be contained in their confession of their Faith, and make them apparent by good and sufficient Information, and having so convicted them by the Word of God, they should make them to renounce and abjure the said Heresies, and if they did refuse to abjure, then to make report thereof, that the Court might appoint how to proceed against them; the Bishop of Cavaillon would not tarry till the time appointed by the Court for the Execution of this Matter, but he him­self with a Doctor went to Merindol to make them abjure, but they refusing he grew very angry with them.

Shortly after John Durandus Councellor of the Parliament, went to execute the Commission, according to order, to whom the Bailiff of Merindal said, it seemeth unto me that there is no due form of Process in this Judgment, for there is no party here, that doth accuse us; if we had any Accuser present, which according to the rule of the Scripture, either should prove by good demonstration out of the New and Old Testament, that whereof we are accused, or if he were [Page 49]not able, should suffer punishment, due unto such as are Hereticks; I think he will be as greatly troubled to maintain his Accusations, as we to answer unto the same.

Thus things debated for some time, but the Bishop and Doctor were much confounded, and the Inhabitance of Merindol were in rest and quietness, for a space, until John Miniers an exceeding bloody Tyrant began a new Persecution; he put five or six of his own Tennants into a Cistern under the ground, and closing it up there he kept them till they died for Hunger, pretending that they were Lutherans; but it was to get their goods and possessions by these practices this Wretch grew great, and wealthy, and became Pre­sident of the Parliament, and Lieutenant General in the Country of Province, he imployed all his power to obtain Letters Pattens from the King to prosecute the Decree against the people of Merindol, which by the help of the Cardinal of Tournon, he did obtain. After this he gathered all the Kings Army, and imployed them to the destruction of Merindol, Cabries and other Towns, to the number of twenty two, giving Commission, To spoil, ransack, burn and destroy all together, and to kill Man, Woman and Child without mercy. The people of Merindol seeing all in a flame round about them, left their Houses, and fled into the Woods, carrying their Children upon their shoulders a days Journey, but the way that they were to pass thorow being rough and cumbersome they thought it expedient to leave the Woman and Children behind, hoping that the Enemy would shew mercy to the Woman and Children, being destitute of all Succour; no Tongue can express, what Sorrow, what Tears, what Sighings, what Lamentation there was at that Woful departing, when they were compelled to be thus seperated asunder, the Husband from his Wife, the Father from his tender Children, and never like to see each other again: They were not gone far, but the Enemy sudden­ly came upon them, finding them assembling together at prayers, and spoiled them of all that they had, some they Ravished, and some they Scourged, practising what Cruelty and Villany they could divise against them; the woman were in number about five hundred. This Miniers caused thirty men to be carried into a Meadow, & there to be miserably cut and hewed to peices by Souldiers, and he caused forty woman to be put into a Barn full of Straw, and the Barn to be set on fire to destroy them: the number of those that were so unmercifully murdered by this bloody Tyrant were about one Thou­sand persons, Men, Women and Children. It is unexpressible how Lamentably and Cruelly these poor People were Persecuted, insomuch that no kind of Cruelty and Tyranny was left unpractised; for them that escaped into the Woods and Mountains, being taken, were either slain out-right, or put in the Gally and made Slaves; some were famished in Rocks and Caves with Hunger; and thus it continued till God by his just Judgments cut off the bloody Tyrant Miniers by death.

Now follows the Persecution of the Waldenses in Angrogne, Lu­cerne, Perouse and Piedmont, and other places, from the year 1555, to 1561.

Though these people by long persecution were driven from place to place, and in all places afflicted, yet they were not utterly de­stroyed, nor would never yield to the superstitions of the Popish Religion but abstained from their Idolatry; they had many Books of the New Testament translated into their own Language; they lived in great simplicity, and with the sweat of their brows, they were quiet and peaceable among their Neighbours abstaining from Oaths, Games, Dancing and filthy Songs. The said People at Angrogne having drawn up a confession of their faith, it was by learned men at the Kings Court condemned as Heretical; wherefore the King requi­red them to give Obedience to the Church of Rome on pain of loss of goods and life; and to give their Answer in three days; but upon some of the German Princes interceeding with the French King on their behalf, desiring him to show some pity to these Churches, they were not molested for three years; only one of their Ministers that travelled from place to place was apprehended, and suffered Martyrdom, to wit, Jeffery Varnigle: but the Pope envying this Liberty obtained through the Moderation of the German Princes, who intreated on their behalf. The Pope stirs up the Duke of Savay against them (who in his own nature was rather inclined to let them live in quietness) telling him, that he ought to banish the Waldenses, for that they were a rebellious People against the holy Mother the Church; these Instigations caused great Persecutions on these poor People; for soon after several of them were burnt, many fled and their Houses were ransakt, some were taken and sent to the Gallies; and Procla­mation was put out, That none should go to their Assemblies on pain of death. In the midst of this Suffering they thought the best way to put a stop, was to send to the Duke a Declaration of their Religion, and wherefore they suffered, which they did, withal declaring, that if by the Word of God it could be proved, that they were in Error, they should not be obstinate, but be reformed, &c. after this the Per­secution seemed somewhat to abate for a time; but in the month called June following, it was first proposed to them. To put away their Ministers that were Strangers; which they refusing to do, it was then commanded of them, in the Dukes name, That they should banish from them all their Ministers that were Strangers: and a New Proclamation was put out, and Persecution began afresh, and many of the said People were slain, and many imprisoned and cruelly handled the Monks being very active in this Persecution; in one place causing two Women to carry Faggots to the Fire where their Mini­ster was burnt, and to speak these words to him, viz. Take this thou wicked Heretick in recompence of the Naughty Doctrine thou hast taught us; to whom he said, Ah! Good Women, I have taught you well, but you have learned ill. Great was the Havock and Ruin they made upon [Page 15]these poor Peoples Estates and Bodies in this Persecution; and not long after an Army was raised to destroy the Waldoys, which they hearing, their Ministers met with the cheif Rulers, to advise what in such an Extremity they were best to do, upon due consideration they concluded not to defend themselves by force of Armes, but to flee to the Mountains, and carry their goods with them; others of their Ministers hearing of the resolution that they at Angrogne and Lucern had made, thought it strange that they might not defend themselves against their Enemies violence in so just a cause, know­ing that it was the Pope and his Ministers who were the cause of their Troubles; and some stood in their own defence, and made great Slaughters upon their Enemies at times; and when they persued their enemies, they often retired to avoid shedding Blood, meaning only to defend themselves, and held their Adversaries so titely to it that they were at last brought to make a Peace upon Articles and condi­tions so that the Persecution was stopt and the Pride, Malice and Rage of their Adversaries was abated.

Thus having given an Account in brief of the troubles and Per­secutions sustained by the faithful Martyrs in Forrei [...] parts, it remains to give a further Relation of such as suffered in this Nation of England in this Kings Reign.

After that the light of the Gospel began to Shine and encrease be­yond Sea, the Beams of it began to spread and grow more here in Eng­land, and a great stir and alteration followed in the hearts of many, so that coloured Hypocrisie and painted Holiness began to be spied more and more, by such as in any measure tasted of the Truth, and some there were that could distinguish Christ from Anti-christ; a­mongst whom was one Simon Fish of Grayes-Inn, who wrote a sharp Book against the Corruption of the Clergy, Entituled, The Suppli­cation of Beggers, which Book was wrot beyond Sea,Anno 1525. he being fled thither for fear of Cardinal Woolsey, who had taken distaste against him; in this Book was shewed what a great Oppression the Priests and Clergy were to the Nation, for that they had got into their hands more then a third part of the Realm, besides their Tythes of all the enerease of Corn, Hay, &c. The Book being read to the King, after a pause, he said, If a man should pull down an old stone wall, and begin at the lower part, the upper part thereof might chance to fall on his head, and took the Book and put it in his Desk, and seemed to be pleased at it, for he encouraged Simon Fish his Wife to send for her Husband to come before him; but how much so ever he liked it, he would make no show of it openly; for that Book and others being thrown about London, the Cardinal acquainted the King therewith and bid him beware of them; and the Cardinal and Bishop of London consulted how they might stop the mischief that might acrew by that and other Books being so spread about; where­upon they agreed that, the Bishop of London should send forth a Pro­clamation to call in the New Testament, Translated into English; The Supplication of Beggers; The Revelation of Anti-christ by Martin Luther; and other Books in English. This was one way they took, by which [Page 52]they thought-to have suppressed the growth of those they accoun­ted Hereticks; but not thinking that sufficient, obtained a Procla­mation from the King to suppress the Sectaries, Hereticks and Lol­lards, and for abolishing divers of their Books in English; the Bi­shops having that now they would have, there was no dilligence wanting on their parts for the putting the same in execution; whereupon ensued a grievous Persecution and Slaughter of the Faithfull.

Thomas Bil­ [...]ey Martyr. The first that went to wrack was Thomas Bilney, who after his Examination and Condemnation by Doctor Pells Chan [...]llor, he was committed to the Lay Power, viz. to the Sheriffs of the City of Norwich; a day before his Execution some Friends being with him and comforting him, that though he was to go through the Fire, the Lord would refresh him in it: At this he put his finger in the Candle (as he used to do divers times) saying, I know the fire is hot, and my body shall be wasted by it, and it is a pain for the time, but he would often reherse this Scripture for his comfort, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by my name, thou art mine own; When thou goest through the water, I will be with thee; when th [...]s 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: Going to Execution, he said, The Marriner for a while meets with a troubled Sea, and is tossed with the Waves, but he is in hopes when he comes to the Haven he shall be at quiet; I doubt not (though I feel storms) but by Gods Grace I shall attain to the Haven; and be­ing brought to the Stake, he very Patiently endured the Fire till doath.

Richard Bayfield Martyr. The next that suffered was Richard Bayfield, who receiving the truth in a measure, and reading the Testament in English, and a book cal­led, The wicked Mamman, &c. He was cast into Prison, and there sore whipped with a Gag in his mouth, and then stocked, and there continued in Prison three quarters of a year, and then was set at Liberty, but soon after was taken again, and put in the C [...]le-house, where he was tyed by the neck, middle and legs, standing upright by the walls; this punishment was inflicted on him to make him con­fess who bought his books, but he accused none, but stood to his Religion, and told them he would Dispute for his Faith; at his Tryal he was accused of divers things, but the chief were, for bringing Books over from beyond Sea, and spreading them here in England; on the twentieth day of November. 1532. being had into the Quire of Pauls Cathedral, the Bishop of London, with other Pre­lates being there ready to pass sentence on him, and being de­livered to the Sheriffs of London, to carry him to Newgate, and from thence to the place of Execution, but first the Sheriffs were com­manded to have him into the Vestry, and to bring him forth again in Anti-christs apparel, to be degraded, having been a Monk; where the Bishop took his Crosier Staff, and smote him on the Brest that he threw him down backwards, and brake his head, and he swound­ed, but coming to himself again, he thanked God that he was [Page 53]delivered from this Malignant Church of Anti-christ; and being led to Newgate, after one hours respite, he was had to the Fire and burnt.

John Tew­kesberry Martyr. John Tewksberry Leather-seller of London, he was converted by the reading of the Testament in English, and the Book called, The wicked Mammon, in the moneth called April, in the year 1529. he was brought before the Bishop of London in the open Consistory, where he disputed with the Bishops and the Prelates concerning his Faith, and was very expect and prompt in his answers to them; be­ing indued with heavenly Wisdom, that they were not able to resist him; insomuch that the Bishops were ashamed, that a Leather-seller should so confound them; he affirmed in his Doctrine, that there was no Purgatory after this life, but that the Souls of the faithful departing this life rest with Christ, that prayers ought not to be made to Saints, there being no other Advocate but Christ alone; for which and other Prin­ciples he was condemned to die by the Bishop of London, and by him dilivered to the Sheriffs of London, and by them burnt in Smithfield.

Edward Freese Mar­tyr. Edward Freese Painter, for painting upon clothes in an Inn certain Sentences of Scripture, was noted to be a Heretick, and was appre­hended, and brought to London and from thence had to the Bishops House at Fulham, where he was imprisoned with several other, men and their wives, and there fed with Manchets, part of which was made with Sawdust, and there kept so strait in Prison, that their Re­lations were not Suffered to come at them; the Painters Wife being very desireous to see her Husband, and pressing to go into the Prison, notwithstanding she was big with Child, the Bishops Porter kickt her on the Belly so that her Child died immediately, and she died soon after.

After that the Prisoners were all put in the Stocks for a long time, and after they were let loose, some had Horse-locks put on their Legs, and some other Irons, the Painter would ever and anon be writing on the Walls with Chalk or Coal, which so provoked his Adversaries, that they Manackled his wrists so long, till the Flesh of his Arms was grown higher then the Irons, from that Prison he was brought to the Lollards Tower, where they kept him there dayes without Meat, and used him so heard, that he lost his understanding and sence; so that when he was brought before the Consistory at Pauls he could say nothing, but look upon the People like a wild man; and if they askt him a Question he could say nothing, but my Lord is a good man, my Lord is a good man; and in this unsensible condition he continued to his dying day.

Valentine Freese, Brother of the said Edward Freese, and the said Valentine's wife were both burned at one Stake in York, for the Testi­mony of Jesus Christ.

James Bain­ham Mar­tyr. James Bainham, Son to a Knight, in Glo [...]cestershire, the said James was a man of a virtuous disposition, and a Godly Conversation, much addicted to Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures, a great maintainer of the Godly, a visiter of the Prisoners, liberal and merci­ful, [Page 54]delighting in doing equity and Justice to the Poor, very dilli­gent in giving counsel to all Widdows, Fatherless and A [...]ucted, without Money or Reward, being a man bred in Knowledge in the Law; this Bainham for his Religion was apprehended by the instiga­tion of Thomas Moor Chancellor of England, who kept him Prisoner in his own house, and there whipt him at a Tree in his Garden, which he called, The Tree of Troth, from thence he sent him to the Tower to be Racked, being himself present to see it effectually done, till in a manner he had lamed him, to make him confess where his Books lay, and because his wife denyed them to be at his House, she was sent to the Fleet, and their goods were Confiscated; these Tor­tures making him confess nothing, the Chanceller sent him to the Bishop of London in the year 1531 who examined him upon certain Interrogatories concerning his Religion; asked, Whether he be­lieved there was any Purgatory of Souls hence departed; to which he answered, If we walk in the Light even as he is in the Light, we have Society together with him, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son hath clensed us from all Sin; if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves, and the Truth in not is us; if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our Sins, and will purge us from all our Imqui [...]es. Several other things they objected against him, and often had him to and again before them, threatening him with the danger that would ensue if he did not abjure his Religion; whereupon, he being overtaken with fear, he consented unto them; after he had abjured, the Chancellor fined him twenty pound to the King, and enj [...]yned him Pennance, which was to go before the Cross in profession at Pauls, and to stand before the Preacher during the Sermon at Pauls Cross, with a Fagger upon his Shoulder, and then to return with the Sumner to Prison again; but, soon after he was discharged of his Imprisonment, and before he had been at Liberty a month, he be­wailed his Fact and Abjuration, and was never quie [...] in his Mind and Conscience until before a Congregation of the People of God, who in those dayes met in a Ware-house in [...]ow-Lan [...], he ut­tered his Condemnation of the Fact, asking God and that Assembly forgiveness, and the next Sunday (so called) afterwards went to a place, called St. Austins, and stood up in a Pew with a Testament in English in his Hand, and with Tears declared to the People that he had denied God, and desired the People to forgive him, and to beware of his weakness, and rather to choose to die then to do as he did, for he would not for all the World to feel again such a Hell as he had done, to this purpose he also wrote to the Bishop, whereupon he was shortly after apprehended, and committed to the Tower of London, from thence he was removed to the Bishops Coale-house, where he lay two weeks in the Stocks with Irons upon his Legs, then he was carried to the Chancellors, and there Chained to a post two nights, from thence he was had to Fullham, where he was cruely handled, for the space of a week; from thence he was commit­ted to the Tower, where he lay a fortnight, and there scourged with Whips to make him revoke his Opinions; from thence he [Page 55]was carried to Barkin, and from thence to Che [...]sey, and there was condemned, and from thence was conveyed to Newgate, and by the Sheriffs of London had into Smithfield, and there burnt to death, the last day of April about three of the Clock in the afternoon.

Three men executed for pulling down an I­dol and burnin it. In the year 1532. Robert King, Nicholas March, Rober [...] Gardner, all of Dedham, and Robert Debnam of Esthergholt, being burdened in their Consciences to see the honour and power of the Almighty Li­ving God to be blasphemed by Peoples adoring an Idol, called, The Roode of Dover Court, to which many People did greatly resort, igno­rantly believing a common rumour blown abroad, that no man had power to shut the Steeple house door where that Idol stood; where­upon, the aforesaid four men were moved by the Spirit of God to travel out of Dedham, in a frosty Moonshiney Night ten Miles, to the place where this Idol stood, and took the filthy Idol from his Shrine, and carried it a quarter of a Mile, and there struck Fire, and set it on Fire, for which fact three of them were indicted as Fellons, and were hanged in Chains about half a year after, and it is record­ed, that at their death, through the working of the Spirit of God, they bore such a living Testimony, that the People were more edified in the Truth, then they had been by all the Sermons they had heard preacht before.

The fourth man, viz. Robert Gardener, had suffered the same death, but that he fled away, and that way escaped their Hands.

The same year there was many more Images cast down and destroy­ed, in many places,

John Frith Martyr. John Frith a godly young man, and one of great parts and wit, and of a ready capacity, and a great Scholler in the outward Litte­ra [...]ure, coming acquainted with William Tindal, through his Instructi­ons he first received into his heart the Seed of the Gospel and sincere Godlin [...]ss.

The said John Frith accompanying himself with divers young men of grave Judgment and sharp wits, who conferring together upon the abuses of Religion, which at that time were crept into the Church, were therefore accused of Heresie to Cardinal Woolsey, and cast into a Prison within a deep Cave, under a Colledge in Oxford, where they used to lay their Salt-fish, the stink of which so infected their bodies, that three of them died in a little space, the fourth was John Frith, who was shortly after discharged out of Prison, and travelled beyond-Sea, and after two years returning into England, and being at Reading, it happened that he was taken as a Vagabond, and was put in the Stocks, and there kept so long till he was almost pined with hunger, and would not discover who he was, but desiring to speak with the School-master of the Town, to whom he spoke Latine, the School-master perceiving that he was a Scholler, and a young man of excel­lent parts, obtained of the Magistrates that he might be set at Liberty, which he enjoyed not long, being so persued by Sr. Thomas Moor Chancellor, who persecuted him both by Sea and Land, promising great reward to any that could bring news or tydings of him; soon after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London, [Page 56]where he had many conflicts with the Bishops, but especially in wri­ting with the Chancellor, and afterwards was carried to Lambeth, be­fore the Bishop of Canterbury, and from thence to Croyden, before the Bishop of Winchester, and last of all he was brought before the Bishops in a common Assembly at London, the whole matter of his Examina­tion before them was comprehended in two special Articles (that is to say) of Purgatory, and of the substance of the Sacrament, to which he answered very fully and wisely, and in great moderation and up­rightness, but no Reason would prevail against the force and cruelty of his Adversaries: The twentieth day of the moneth called June 1533. he was brought before several Bishops at Pauls, who seeing that by no means, they could perswade him to Recant, the Bishop of London condemned him to be burnt, and past Sentence against him to that effect.

John Chap­man A. He­wit J. Ti­bauld Mar­tyrs. About this time one John Chapman, Andrew Hewet and John Tibauld, being men Zealous for Religion and Piety, were informed against, and by the Bishop of London's Chancellor and others were apprehend­ed and carried to the Bishops House; Andrew Hewet was sent to the Lollard Tower, and Chapman and Tibauld kept asunder in the Bishops House till the next day that he came from Fulham, who then examined them not liking their Confession, Chapman he committed to the Stocks, with this threat, that he should tell another Tale, or else he should sit there till his Heels did drop from his Arse; Tibauld he shut up in a close Chamber, but afterwards delivered him out of Prison upon this Injunction, that he should not come within seven Miles of his own House; Chapman after five weeks imprisonment, three weeks whereof he set in the Stocks, by Suit made to the Chancellor on his behalf, after many threatnings was discharged out of Prison; Andrew Hewet being brought before the Bishops, and asked, what he thought concerning the Sacrament, answered, even as Frith doth, at which the Bishops smiled, and one of them said, why Frith is an Heretick, and is condemned to be burnt, and except thou revoke thy Opinion, thou shalt be burnt with him; truly, said he, I am contented there­with; whereupon he was sent to the Prison to Frith, and on the fourth day of the month called July he was carried to Smithfield with Frith, and there burned.

Thomas Bennet Mar­tyr. Thomas Bennet School-master in Exeter, a man of a godly con­versation, and a favourer of such as suffered for their zeal to the true Religion, after he had lived in a retired condition six years, could no longer contain but he must bear a Testimony against the Idolatry of those times, though his blood were shed for the same, the beginning of his troubles was, he wrote a Paper, and set it up­on one of the Steeple-House-doors of the City, in which was writ­ten, The Pope is Anti-christ, and we ought to Worship God only, and no Saints; which Paper being seen, great search and inquiry was made what Heretick should set it up, but seeing they could not find the Au­thorout at that present, they agreed, that the sentence of a Curse should be pronounced against him that did it; the manner of which Curse was as followeth.

The Priest being in the Pulpit clothed in white, and the Monks and Friars standing about him, the Cross was held up with Candles fixed to the same, then said the Priest; By the Authority of God the Fa­ther Almighty, and of the blessed Virgin Mary of Saint Peter and Paul, and of the holy Saints, we Excommunicate, we utterly Curse and Bann, commit and deliver to the Devil of Hell him or her, whatsoever he or she be, that have in spite of God, The Popes Curse by Bell Book and Candle. and of Saint Peter whose Church this is, in Spite of all holy Saints, and in Spite of our most holy Father the Pope, Gods Viccar here in Earth, and in Spite of the reverend Father in God John our Diocesian, and the Worshipfull Cannons, Masters Priests and Clarks which serve God daily in this Cathedral Church, fixed up with wax such Cursed and Heretical Bills, full of Blasphemy, upon the Doors of th [...]s, and other holy Churches within this City, Excommunicate be h [...] she or they plaenally, and delivered over to the Devil as perpetual Malefactors and Schismaticks, accursed they be, and given Body and Soul to the Devil, Cursed be they he or she, in Cities and Towns, in Fields and Wayes, in Houses and out of Houses, and all other places, standing, lying, or rising, walking, running, waking, sleeping, eating, drinking, and whatsoever thing they do besides; we seperate them him or her from the Threshold, and from all the good Prayers of the Church from the participation of the holy Mass, from all Sacraments, Chappels and Altars, from Holy Bread, and Holy wa­ter, from all the Merrits of Gods Priests and religious men, and from all their Cloisters, from all their Pardons, Priviledges Grants and Immunities which all the holy Fathers Popes of Rome have granted to them; and we give them over utterly to the power of the Devil, and let us quench their Souls if they be dead this night in the pains of Hell-fire, as this Candle is now quenched, and put out: (and with that he put out one of the Candles) and let us pray to God, if they be alive, that their ey's may be put out, as this Candle light is; (so he put out another Candle) let us pray to God, and to our Lady, and to Saint Peter and Paul and all holy Saints, that all the Sences of their bodies may fail them, and that they may have no feeling, as now the Light of this Candle is gone, (and so he put out the third Candle) except they he or she come openly now, and confess their Blasphemy and by repentance (as in them shall lie) make satisfaction unto God, our Lady, Saint Peter, and the Worshipfull Company of this Cathedrall Church.

Thomas Bennet being not able to digest these Fopperies, writ other Bills, and caused them to be set up upon the Gates of the Grave yard, but the person that set them up being taken in the action, Thomas Bennet was thereby discovered, and being apprehended, confest they were his Bills, and that he could do it again to discover the Abomi­nable Blasphemy of their Anti-christ the Pope, and to let people see that he is the B [...]ar come out of the Wood, which destroyeth and throweth down the Hedges of Gods Church. Whereupon he was committed to Prison, and the next day was had to the Bishop, who committed him to Prison again, where he was kept in the Stocks with strong Irons, with as much favour as a Dog should find, then his Hou [...]e was Searched for Books, and his wife shamefully abused, which she bore with patience, being contented to bare the Cross with [Page 56]her Husband, and to fare hardly with him, and eat Course meat and drink: A gray Fryar possessing Thomas Bennet with the many dangers that he was lyable to fall into in that condition, Thomas re­plyed, my life is not dear to me, I had rather by death (which I know is not far off) depart this Life then to partake of your detest­able Idolatries and Superstitions, or be subject to Anti-christ your Pope.

During the time of his imprisonment the hate of the people through ignorance was great against him, notwithstanding they could never move his patience; during his imprisonment, his wife provided Sustenance for him, when she Lamented he Comforted her, and gave her many good and godly Exhortations, and desired her not to move him to comply with his Adversaries. After the Clergy saw they could by no means cause him to recant, they Con­demned him to be burnt, and delivered him to the Sheriff of Devon­shire to see him Executed; the mild man rejoycing to see his end approach so near, as the Sheep before the Shearer yielded himself with all humbleness to abide and suffer the Cross of Persecution; be­ing brought to his Execution in a place called Livery Dole, without Exeter, he gravely and soberly spake to the people to seek the honour of God, and the knowledg of him, and to leave the devices and immaginations of mens inventions, and saying, Oh Lord receive my spirit, patiently endured the Cruelty of the Fire untill his life was ended.

Thus the Reader hath an Account of such as sustained death for Christs Cause through the rigorous Proclamation aforesaid, set out in the name of the King, but indeed procured by the Bishops, and by them so strictly Executed, that no good man could peep out with his head never so little, but he was caught by the back, and either brought to the fire or else forced to abjure their Religion, a great number of which are particularly mentioned in Foxe's Acts and Monuments, which for Brevity sake are here omitted.

Thomas Phillip being one of them that was prosecuted, and being asked by the Bishop, whether he would abjure or not, he said, except ye shew me cause wherefore I should abjure, I will not say, yea or nay to it, but will stand to my appeal, then the Bishop read openly the Bill of Excommunication against him, charging all men to have no company, or any thing to do with him; after this Excommunication what became of him, whether he was burnt, or died in the Tower, no mention is made in the Register, I mention him because a Letter that was found in his Pocket, and the sub­stance of one Tracy's Will, are worth the taking notice of, which are as followeth.

This is the Substance of the Letter; now follows the Substance of Tracy's Will.

About this time the House of Commons assembled in Parliament put up a Supplication by way of Complaint to the King against the Clergy, this Complaint the King seemed at first not to take much notice of, yet afterwards coming to have a clear understanding of the abuses and enormities of the Clergy, especially of the corrupt Authority of the See of Rome, provided certain Acts against the same, and wholly excluded the Popes Authority out of his Realm; but thinking the work not sufficiently done, as long as Abbies and Priories kept their Station, which were as it were his Fortresses and Pillars, there was not long after means found to have them suppressed; for aspersions being laid upon them, of Adulteries and Murders, they by Act of Parliament at least near four hundred of them were sup­pressed, and all their Lands and Goods conferred upon the King, and afterwards all the rest, and all Colledges, Chanteries, and Hospi­tals; also the same Parliament enacted, that Bishops should pay no more Annals or Money for their Bulls to the Pope, and that no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome, and an Act was made, that the King should be the Supream head of the Church of England, &c.

But although the Popes Wings were thus cut, and his Power and Authority in England abrogated by Act of Parliament, as before is mentioned, yet the Bishops here went on persecuting such as they accounted Sectaries and Hereticks; but before I give an account of such as further suffered here in England for Religion, it falls in order to give an Account of the Sufferings of William Tindal beyond Sea.

This William Tindal was burnt near Wales, William Tindal Marryr. and being a man Zealous for Reformation and Religion, and considering, that if the Scripture were turned into the vulgar Speech it might much conduce to [...]he propagating thereof; and finding his purpose could not be well effected here in England by reason of the strictness of the Bishops and Chancellor, he travelled into Germany, and there he first translated the New Testament, and then the Old, and writ several other Books against the irreligious Practice of the Prelates, which Books being published and sent over into England, it cannot be spoken what a door of Light they opened to the whole English Nation, who before were many years shut up in darkness.

But though the spreading of these Books wrought much good to the upright, and such as had in any measure a desire to advance the Truth, yet the envious and persecuting Spirit of the Bishops was also much more stirred up thereby, seeking by all means how to stop them from being spread, lest their Hypocrisie and works of Darkness should he discerned, wherefore they made great stir and search, as Herod did at the birth of Christ, and sought out by what means they might hinder the travels of this Tindal, and of his Printing and Pub­lishing the said Books, and set persons to search and examine at [Page 59] Antwerp how things stook with Tindal, which when the Bishops and Chancellors in England understood how things were, they sent over one Henry Phillips to betray him into the hands of the Empe­rors Procurator General at Brussells, the said Procurator, through the treachery of Phillips, seized upon all Tindalls Books, and apprehend­ed him and sent him Prisoner to Filford Castle, eighteen English Miles from Antwerp, being brought to his Tryal, they offered him to have Councel to plead for him, he refused, saying, he would answer for himself; after much reasoning and Dispute, he was Condemned by virtue of the Emperors Decree made in the Assembly at Aus­brough, and upon the same was brought to the place of Execution at Filford, Anna 1536. being ryed to the Stake, he cryed with a fervent zeal, and a loud voice, Lord open the King of Englands eyes, and so was burnt to death.

When the King had taken the title of Supremacy from the Bishop of Rome, and Stated the same to himself, he perceived by the Wis­dom and advice of Thomas Cromwell, one of his Privy Councel, that the corrupt State of the Church had need of Reformation in many things.

This Cromwell was through the goodness of God raised up to be a friend and a favourer of those that profest the Gospel, who though but a Smiths Son, born at Putney, for the pregnancy of his wit, he was first entertained by Cardinal Woolsey, and by him em­ployed in many great Affairs; the Cardinal falling, the King took him unto his Service, and finding his great Abillities, advanced him for his worth to great places of Honour and Trust, through whose perswasions several Injunctions were put out by the King for Refor­mation in Religion; and he was the great Instrument in overthrow­ing Abbies, Monasteries and Friaries, which were a little before by Act of Parliament given into the Kings hands: Whereupon, not only their Houses were rased, but their Possessions were divided amongst the Nobility, insomuch that all Friars, Monks, Cannons, Nuns, and other such Sects, were so rooted out of this Land from the Foundation, that there seemed to be no room left for such Weeds to grow here any more.

But as this Thomas Cromwell was raised up for good, and being so greatly in favour with the King, used all means he could to perswade him to reform the enormities in the Church; on the other hand, Satan raised up his Instrument, which was Stephen Gardner, Bishop of Winchester, who used all wilds and subtill means he could to per­swade the King against the same, casting upon the Professors of Truth the name of Hereticks, Sectaries, Anabaptists, and Sacra­mentaries, and so far prevailed with the King, that by the Kings Authority certain Injunctions were published prohibiting the pub­lishing any Books in English, written by the Sectaries and Sacramen­taries, under the pain of the forfeiture of all their goods and Chat­tels, and their Bodies to be Imprisoned during the Kings pleasure: And further, this Stephen Gardner instigated the King, not only a­gainst the Queen (who was a favourer of Religion and Reformation) [Page 60]but also against this Thomas Lord Cromwell, who no doubt had brought the encrease of true Religion, according to his understand­ing, to more prefection, had not this Gardner, and other Malignant Opposers thereof set themselves against it, to hinder the prosperi­ty thereof: but now through the said Gardners evill advise, the King, who before had raised the said Thomas Cromwell for his worth and integrity, now for his pleasure took him off, and suffered him to be Beheaded: After his death Religion, and the Reformation more and more decayed, whereby the Reader may see how variable the State of things stood in reference to Religion at this time, and with what difficulty any thing of Light and Truth came forth, how often things changed, even as the King was ruled and gave ear; sometimes it went a little forward, and then backward again, accord­ing as the persons prevailed that were about the King.

And now the King being led through Gardners suggestions, began to withdraw shewing any favour to the Reformation in Religion, concluding so to do was most for his safety both at home and abroad, having so much displeased the Pope, and other Popish Princes, in what he had already done; and though he had rejected the Popes Authority, he would declare himself nevertheless to be a good Catho­lick Son of the Mother Church, and a withstander of new Heresies; and then calling a new Parliament, and Convocation of Prelates, there was six Articles decreed concerning Religion, which was after­wards commonly called a whip with six Srings, it was pretended for the Unity of the Church, but what Unity followed, the groaning hearts of many that suffered death by the same, both in this Kings time, and in Queen Maries time, may declare.

The Six Articles of the Bishops Condemning all to be burnt as Hereticks that should hold,

• First, That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacra­ment after Consecration.
• Secondly, That the Sacrament might not truely be administred un­der one Kind.
• Thirdly, That Priests entred into holy Orders might Marry.
• Fourthly, That Vows of Chastity entred into, upon mature deli­beration, were not to be kept.
• Fifthly, That private Masses were not to be used.
• Sixthly, That Auricular Confession was not to be used in the Church.

Before these Articles were published, Bishop Gardener having ob­tained his desire with the King, he and the rest of the Prelates began again fresh to persecute the Protestants, & the first they stretched forth their Hands against was John Lambert a Norfolk man, and one zealous for the Spreading of the Truth, according to the Manifestation of it then broke forth; and to that end was conversant with Tindal and Frith at Antweep, until by the Instigation of Sr. Thomas Moor he was [Page 61]apprehended and brought to London, where he was first brought to Examination at Lambeth, and then at the Bishops House at Oxford, before Worham Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and others, where fourty five Articles were objected against him, to all which he answered in writing very fully, and wisely, both according to the Scriptures and Reason; the Articles, and his Answers may be read at large in Foxe's Acts and Monuments.

The Bishop of Canterbury shortly after dying, whereby Lambort for that time was delivered out of Prison; and coming to London it was not long before he fell into trouble again; for having a private Con­ference with one Doctor Tayler, what past between them in their dispute in private grew at last a publick and common talk, which coming to the Arch-bishops Ear, he sent for Lambort, and forced him to defend his Cause openly; in that Disputation Lambort appealed to the King from the Bishops.

Upon this appeal Bishop Gardener goes to the King, and privately possesses him, that now he had an opportunity to quiet the minds of the people who were offended with him for abolishing the Bishop of Rome's Authority, and subverting of Monasteries and Abbies, &c. he might now remedy these troubles, if he would manifestly appear in this matter against Lambort, and shew himself stoutly to resist the Hereticks; the King immediately received this wicked Counsel of the Bishop, and forth with sent out a general Commission, command­ing all the Bishops and Nobles of the Land, to come with all speed to London to assist the King against Hereticks; these preparations be­ing made, a day was set, upon which Lambort should appear be­fore the King, and the rest assembled with him, to be Tryed and Judged.

The day being come, the King ascended his Throne, clothed all in white, he lookt upon the Prisoner with a sterne Countenance, as if his mind was full of Indignation, and then called forth the Bishop of Chichester, and commanded him to declare to the People the Causes of that Assembly, the Substance of the Bishops Speech tended to this, That the King would have none to conceive, that whereas the Au­thority and Name of the Bishop of Rome being utterly abolished, he would also extinguish all Religion, or give Liberty to Hereticks to trouble the Churches of England without punishment; the Bishop having ended his Speech, the chief thing that the King prest Lambort to declare, was, what Opinion he held touching the Sacrament of the Altar; to which he answered fully, and the Dispute held chiefly con­cerning that point for some hours until the King and Bishops, enra­ged against him, forced him to silence at last.

The King being minded to end the Dispute, said to Lambort, What sayest thou after all these Labours and Reasons of these learned Men? Art thou yet satisfied? Wilt thou live or die; thou hast yet free choice?

Lambort answered, I yield and submit my self wholly unto the will of your Majesty.

Then said the King, commit thy self unto the hands of God, and not unto mine.

Lambort, I commend my Soul unto the hands of God, but my Body I wholly yield and Submit unto your clemency.

Then said the King, if you do commit your self unto my Judg­ment, you must die, for I will not be a patron to Hereticks, and so caused the Sentence of Death to be read against him: Shortly a [...]er he was had to Smithfield, and there burnt; in the midst of the Flames he cryed unto the people in these words, None but Christ, none bu [...] Christ; and so ended his life.

The aforesaid six Articles being consented unto, and concluded by the King and Parliament, the Bishops caused further to be enacted, that whosoever denyed Transubstantiation; or whosoever should be Alders, Comforters, Counsellors, Consentors, and A bettors therein, should be adjudged Hereticks; That every such Offender should have and suffer Judgment, Execution and pain of death by way of burning, without any Abjuration, benefit of the Clergy, or Sanctuary, and should forfeit to the King all their Land, and Tenements, Goods and Chattels, as in Cases of high Treason: And for all such as did preach, teach, uphold, maintain or defend any thing contrary to the five last Articles should be adjudged as Fellons, and lose both life and goods, as in the Case of Fellony.

When these Articles were in debate in the Parliament house, Doctor Cranmer, in favour to the Professors of the Truth, earnestly disputed in defence of the Truth against them; but notwithstanding all his opposition, the Act was past.

By reason of these fix Articles a great Number were apprehended in London and other Places, so that all the prisons in London were too little to hold them, and many were imprisoned in Halls.

Amongst whem was one John Porter of London, John Porter died in Pri­son. who for reading to people in a Bible, was sent for by Bonner, and sharply reproved, Porter answered, he trusted he had no way offended contrary to the Law thereby; Bonner charged him for making expositions upon the Text, and for gathering Multitudes about him, this Porter denyed; yet did Bonner send him to Newgate, where he was miserably Loaden with Irons, both hands and legs, with a great Collor of Iron about his neck, whereby he was fastned to the Wall in the Dungeon; after a while he sent for a Kinsman of his, who by bribing the Keeper, ob­tained, that he was put amongst Thieves and Murtherers; but Porter hearing and seeing their Wickedness, exhorted them to amendment of life, giving them good instructions; for this he was complained of, and carried down into the lowest Dungeon; where he was so cruelly oppressed with Bolts and Irons, that within few daies after he was found dead.

In the year 1544. One Robert Testwood living at Windsor, being a favourer of the Lutherans, Robert Test­wood Mar­tyr. and seeing People licking and kissing a white Alablaster Image that stood behind the high Altar, at which his Zeal was so stirred, that with a Key that he had in his hand he [Page 63]struck off the Images nose; saying, see good People what it is, it cannot help it self; how then would you have it help you: The noise hereof being spred abroad, one Simonds a Lawyer took up the Nose, and said, one day it should be a dear Nose to Testwood.

And further, upon a day whereon every one was to carry a Relick in procession, Testwood, amongst others, had Beckets Rochet pro­ferred him, but he pusht it from him, saying if they gave it him he would wipe his Tayle with it.

These doings so offended the Clergy, that they said he was a Here­tick, and would roast a Fagot one day for this geer, but notwithstanding their Threats he lived in quiet till the death of the Lord Cromwell, and till Winchester had insinuated into the affections of the King, and wholly ruled; at which time Testwood being sick in bed, was fetched out and cast into Prison, together with one Anthony Person, John Mar­beck and Henry Filmer, and after a while they were all brought forth to Judgment be fore Doctor Capon [...]i [...]op of Salsbury and others: Test­woods Indictment was, for that when the Priest lifted up the Sacra­ment, he said, what wilt thou lift it up so high? what yet higher? take heed that thou let him not fall: As also, that at such times, when the Sacrament was lifted up, he used to look down on his Book, or another way, that he might not see the Sacrament; whereupon, he said, Whereon did he look that marked me so well: Marry, quoth the Kings Attorney, he could not be better Occupied, then to mark such Hereticks. The Prisoners being Condemned, they spent the greatest part of the night (before their Execution) in prayer, that the Lord would strengthen them and enable them with stedfast Faith, and power, to go through their Exercise.

About this time there rose a great Persecution in Callice in France, which was then under Englands power,Persecution in Callice. there was at one time twelve persons Imprisoned for their Religion, but the Lord Cromwell (so cal­led hearing of it, wrote immediately to the Commissioners in Callice, in the Kings Name, requiring, that the Hereticks, with their Ac­cusers, should be sent over into England; forthwith, the Commissio­ners loading them with Chains, sent them over; as soon as Cromwell heard they were arrived, he sent for them to his House, and smi­ling upon them, said, Go your ways to the Fleet, and Submit your selves Prisoners there, and be of good cheer; for if God give me life, you shall shortly go home with as much honesty, as ye came with shame. But it pleased God that shortly after this Cromwell was beheaded; so that the poor men then had no hope but in the Providence of their Heavenly Father, who comforted them in their deep Troubles, that as their Afflictions abounded, their joyes and consolations abound­ed much more; for when all hope was past, the Lord Audley Chan­cellor of England, sent for them; and without any further ex­amination discharged them of their Imprisonment.

In the year 1541. The King sent out a Commission for apprehending of such as offended against the six Articles, and when the Commissio­ners sat [...] at Mercers-Chapple, being such as were chosen on purpose, they enquired not only for such as offended against the six Articles, [Page 64]but of such as came seldom to Church (as its called) and received not the holy Bread and Water; so that they indicted above five hundred persons, most of which had either died in Prison, or been burnt in Smithfield, but that the King (being informed by the Lord Audley, that they were indicted of malice) granted them his Pardon.

Richard Meekins Martyr, be­in [...] a Boy of fifteen years old. About the same time one Richard Meekins, a boy of fifteen years old, was accused for spaking some words against the Sacrament of the Altar, and when the first Jury would not find the indictment against him, they were soundly ratled by the Bishop of London, and another Jury impannelled that found it, and so the poor Boy was burnt in Smithfield.

Persecuted at Callice. By reason of the diligent preaching of Adam Damplip and one William Smith at Callice, the Devil raised up his Instruments to Per­secute them, and others their Hearers, and Letters were wrote over to the Council in England, suggesting, that by the means of Damplip, they were infected with horrible Heresies and Errors, Persons accused were Thomas Brooke, Ralph Hare, James Cock, and James Barber, who were sent for over and committed to Prison at VVestminster, afterwards they were brought before the Bishops; grievous Let­ters were written against them from Callice by their Adversaries, so that if God had not preserved them, they had all certainly Pe­rished.

One of these, viz. Ralph Hare, though so unlearned, that he could scarce read, yet was very zealous, and so holy and inofensive in his life, that none of his Adversaries could accuse him of evil; he was charged for speaking against Auricular Confession, holy Bread, holy Wa­ter, as also for that he would not Swear, nor use any Pastime, but used to be in a Corner by himself, looking on his Book, when others were at Liberty. Thus being charged, he said to the Commissioners, I take God to Witness, I would not willingly maintain any Error or Heresie; wherefore I beseech you, let my Accusers come before me face to face; for if they charge me with that I have spoken, I will not deny it; and if it be Truth I will stand to it, if an Error, I will with all my heart forsake it; I mean, if it be against Gods holy Word; for, the Lord is my Witness, I daily pray to God that I may know the Truth, and shun Errors, and I hope God will preserve me from them. The Bishop of Winchester said, I perceive now thou art a naughty Fellow: Alas, said Hare what evil have I spoken? Bishop re­plyed, Marry Sir, you said, the Lord, the Lord, and that is Symbolum Hereticorum; what is that said Hare? Thou art naught, thou art naught, said the Bishop, and further said, I pity thee, for I think thou art a good simple man and meanst well enough if thou hadst not bad bad School-masters, and then Thomas Brook was called for; who was charged with sediti­on, and that he had contributed towards maintaining Adam Damplip, and that he should say, that what the Priest held up at Mass was not [Page 65]the Body of Christ; Brook denyed the charge, and after some debate was for that present dismissed,

The Suffering and Martyrdom of Anne Askew.

Anne Askew being apprehended for her Religion, and examined be­fore one Christopher Dare an Inquisitor, who asked her, if she did not believe the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real Body of Christ: To this question she refused to answer: Then he told her that she was accu [...]ed for reading, that God dwelt not in Temples made with ha [...]ds, thereupon she shewed him the 7 and 17. Chapters of the Acts for it: Then he asked her, how she understood those texts, she answered, that she would not cast Pearls before Swine; Then he charged her for saying that she had rather read five lines in her [...]ible, then hear a Mass; she said, the rea­son was, because one did greatly edifie her, and the other did not; and after other questions askt her, he had her before the Mayor of London; The Mayor, after some discourse with her, ordred her to be had to Prison; she askt, if Sureties would not serve turn; he said, he would take none, but after some time she was released from that im­prisonment; but not long after was apprehended again and carried before the Kings Council, where the Chancellor askt her, her Opi­nion about the Sacrament, she said, that she believed that so oft as she received the Bread in remembrance of Christs death, she received therewith the fr [...]s of his most glorious Passion; the Bishop of Winchester bid her answer directly; she answered, she would not sing the Lords Song in a strange Land; The Bishop told her, she was a Pariat: To which she replied, that she was willing not only to re­c [...]ve rebukes from him, but whatsoever should follow besides, and that gladly; after much other debate, she was imprisoned until the next day; at which time, they asked her again, what she said to the Sacrament, she answered, that she had said what she could say.

Then the Bishop of Winchester said, he would speak with her familiarly, she said, so did Judas when he unfriendly betrayed Christ; Then de­sired the Bishop to speak with her alone, but she refused; he asked h [...]r Why? she said, that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every matter should stand, after Christ and Pauls Doctrine.

Then the Chancellor began to examine her again of the Sacrament; Math. 18.2 Cor. 13.; she askt him, how long he would halt on both sides; then would be needs know where she found that, she said, in the Scripture? then he went his way: Then the Bishop told her she would be burnt, she answered,3 Kings 18. that she had searched all the Scriptures, and could never find that either Christ or his Apostles put any Creature to death, and told them God would laugh their threatings to scorn.

After much other arguing, wherein she answered them wifely and holily, they dismissed her; a few dayes after she was taken very sick like to die, in which extremity of her sickness they sent her [...]o New­gate.

After a time she was brought to her Tryal at Guild-hall, where she [Page 66]was required to recant, or else she was condemned by the Law for an Heretick; she answered, she was no Heretick, neither deserved death by the Law of God; Then they asked, if she would deny the Sa­crament to be Christs Body and Blood; she said, yea; They wished her to shrive her self to a Priest, at which she smiled and said, she would confess her faults to God, for she was sure he would bear her with favour.

Then they would know of her whether the Bread in the Box were God or no; she said, God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth; After she was Condemned she wrot a few li [...]es to the King, to this effect.

Shortly after she was sent from Newgate to the sign of the Crown, where, she said, one Rich and the Bishop of London, used all their power by flattering words, to perswade her from God, but they pre­vailed not with her; one Nicholas Shaxton counselled her to recant, as he had done; she told him, it had been good for him he had never been born; then Rich sent her to the Tower to be racked, where first he and one of the Councel examined her, telling of her, that the King was informed, that if she would, she could name a great num­ber of her Sect; she answered, that the King was as well deceived in that, as he was in other Matters.

The manner of her Racking was thus, she was first lead down into a Dungeon, where the Lievtenant of the Tower commanded the Goaler to pinch her with the Rack, which being done, so much as he thought sufficient, he went about to take her, down but Wristley, the Chancellor, not contented that she was loosed so soon, confessing nothing, but lay still, and did not cry, commanded the Lievtenant to strain her on the Rack again, which because he denyed to do, ten­dering the weakness of the Woman, the Chancellor threatened him he would signifie his disobedience to the King; Then Rich and the Chanceller took pains to Rack her themselves, till she was near dead; first asking her whether she was with Child; to whom she answered, you [...]hall not need to spare for that, but do your wills upon me, and so quietly and patiently praying unto the Lord, she abode their Tyran­ny, till her Bones and Joynts were almost pluckt assunder; after she [Page 67]was loosed from the Rack, she swooned, but they recovered her again, and she was carried away in a Chair to a house, and laid in a bed, with weary and painful Bones; the Chancellor sent her word, that if she would leave her Opinion she should want for nothing, if she would not, she should be forthwith sent to Newgate, and so be burned; she sent him word again, that she would rather die then break her Faith.

The Prayer of Anne Askew before her Death.

The day of her Execution being appointed, she was brought into Smithfield in a Chair, because she could not go on her feet by means of her great Torments; when she was brought to the stake, she was tied by the middle with a Chain that held up her Body; and so encom­passed with the Flames of Fire, as a blessed Sacrifice unto God, she re­signed up her life, in the Year 1546. leaving behind her a singular ex­ample of Christian-Constancy, for all men to follow; there was at the same time three others burnt with her in Smithfield.

After the death of this Woman, the Ponish Clergy consulted toge­ther, how they might further proceed to keep the Truth under and down, and to that end obtained another Proclamation, in the Kings name, for the abolishing the Scriptures in English, and all other Eng­lish Books, which might give any light to the People, which made [Page 68]sore work and caused Persecution for a time, but it was not long that it continued by reason of the Kings death, which was shortly after.

But before there be a full Conclusion of the Transactions in this Kings reign, its necessary a short Account be given of the rise and fall of Thom is Cromwel; of whom mention is made before; especially, seeing he was a man so Zealous for Reformation of both Church and Common-wealth.

He was born at Putney, his Father being a Smith, as is before rela­ted, in his youthful dayes, it is said, he had little regard to God and Religion, but travelled beyond Seas, and for a time was there a Souldier; at length getting the New Testament in English, by often reading in it he began to be touched, and something opened in his un­derstanding, and coming into England again, Cardinal Woolsey enter­tained him in his service, where, after some yoars remaining, he was preferred to be Solicitor to the Cardinal. After the fall of Cardinal Woolsey, he was by the Master of the Roles preferred to the King (who had then to do against the Pope) as a fit person to be imployed by him, and being brought to the King at his Garden in Westminster, where he possessed the King that his Authority was abused by the Clergy, and by being sworn to the Pope they had run themselves into a Premunire, and that now the King had an Opertunity to inrich him­self: To this the King gave ear, and liked well his advice, and admit­ed him into his service, and sent him to the Convocation-house a­mongst the Bishops, where he made a Speech to this effect, that in as­much as they had sworn to the Pope, contrary to their Fealty due to the King, they had forfeited all their Goods, Chattels, Lands, Possessions to the King, &c. This amazed the Bishops at first, but after a little pause, they began to shrink, and before they could be quit of the Premunire, by Act of Parliament it cost them to the King no less then One hundred eighteen thousand eight hundred and forty pounds.

After this Cromwel grew greatly in favour with the King, and was made one of his Privy Council, and Master of the Rolls, and after­wards Knight of the Garter, and Earl of Essex; and now being come into such Authority, and seeing the Superstition, Blindness Hypocrisie and Idolatry of the Monks, and Fryars, and Papists, whose filthy stink did breath up a most pestiferous fume, as Matthew Paris said in the like case of Rome: Wherefore Cromwel, like a Cham­pion, was raised up to root them up, which while the King favoured him, he prosecuted with effect, as before is related; but when the Popish Bishops saw the Popes power abolished out of England, they never gave over using all their uttmost Endeavours, and Po­litick Contrivances, till they had laid a Plaister to his Wounded Head.

It would be too long to recite what benefit this Cromwel by his Pru­dence and Zeal wrought in a little time for the publick good, what good Orders he established, what Wickedness and Vices he suppres­sed, [Page 69]what Corruptions he reformed, what Abuses he brought to light, and Popish Idolatry and Images he suppressed, (One called, The Rood of Grace) wherein a man stood inclosed with a hundred Wyres within the Rood, to make the Image goggle its Eyes, nod its Head, hang the Lip, and move and shake his Jaws, according to the value of the Gift offered; if it were a small piece of Silver, then would he hang a frowning Lip, if it were a piece of Gold, then should his Jaws go Merrily: Thus were poor peoples Souls seduced, and their pockets pickt by these Idolatrous Forgers, until Cromwel caused the said Image to be carried publickly to Pauls, where the People tore it in pieces.

He was a man not only Zealous for the publick Reformation, but also always ready to help private persons that were in distress; and though its common amongst men that are raised from low estate to great place and outward preferment; to forget themselves what they formerly were, and the persons from whom they received benefits; It was not so with him, for in his Travels beyond Sea, be­ing brought to a low condition, and being relieved by a Rich Mer­chant in Florence, and entertained in his House, when he was in great distress, and when he was minded to return to England, the Merchant gave him a Horse, Money and Apparel, which Cromwel re­ceived with great thankfulness.

This Merchant not long after (through great losses fell to decay; and having money owing him in England, came over to see if he could get it, and arriving at London, not thinking of the kindness he had shewed to Cromwel; but as he was travelling the Streets, Cromwel, as he was riding along espied him, and knew him, and alighted, and took notice of him, and of his former kindness, and invited him to Court, who coming there, after he had dined with him, he had the Merchant into a private Room, and paid him fully for all he had of him at Florence, and gave him sufficiently over, as a Recompence for his kindness, and kept him in his House all the time of his remaining in England. This is but one example of many that might be mentioned to shew this Cromwells Gratitude and Courtesie.

His care and Zeal for the setling the Protestant Religion was that which brought him to his end, for that, for the better estalishing thereof he devised to effect a Marriage between the King and the Lady Anne of Cleeve, whose Sister was Married to the Duke of Saxony, a Protestant Prince, by which Marriage, it was supposed, there would be established a perpetuall Peace and Amity between this Kingdom and the Protestant Princes of Germany, which would much strengthen the Protestant Party against the Tyranny and Oppression of the Pope and his Adherents: But presently after the Marriage, Stephen Gardner, who had soon after crept into favour with the King (as is before related) suggested to him some occasions of distaste against the Duke of Saxony, and some apprehensions, of fear by reason of that Odium which he had pulled upon himself, by rejecting the Pope, and demolishing Abbies and Monasteries, [Page 70]whereby (as he told him) he had made the Pope the Emperour, the King of France, and the King of Scotland his Enemies; but especial­ly his own Subjects, who were much distasted with the Innovations in Religion, and that the only way to heal all, was to shew himself Sharp and severe against the new Sectaries: This occasioned the King to withdraw his favour from Cromwell; for being one day in the Council Chamber, he was suddainly apprehended and committed to the Tower of London; at the hearing whereof many good men were much troubled, the charge laid against him was, that he was a supporter of Hereticks, and a Spreader of their Books, and that he had caused to be translated into English Books wrote a­gainst the Sacrament of the Alter, and that he had spoke words a­gainst the King; but whatever he was accused of, he was soon after condemned in the Tower, without coming to his Answer, and was beheaded; his death the King shortly after bewailed, wishing he had his Cromwel alive again; so that it appears it was more the malice of his Adversary, that stirred up the King against him, then any real cause by him given or acted that might justly occasion his death.

In this year viz. 1545. one John Athee was indicted by the Kings writ for speaking certain words against the Sacrament; That he would not believe in the thing that the Knave Priest made, neither in that which Longs wife selleth, but only in God which is in Heaven; and when it was told him, that God through his Word could make it Flesh and Blood, he answered, so he might if he would turn it into a Chickens leg.

Here followeth a Narative of a sudden Fear and Surprizal that fell upon the Doctors and others at Mary's Steeple-house in Ox­ford, by reason of a mans Crying Fire in the Street, and what hapned thereupon.

There being a Sermon to be preached in the aforesaid Steeple-house at the Recantation of one Malory; the Priest had no sooner got into the Pulpit, and Malory come forth with his Faggot on his Shoulder, accompanied with a great Congregation of people, but one in the Street seeing a Chimney on Fire, cryed out Fire, Fire, which so ala­rumed the People in the Steeple-house that the Doctor and Congre­gation were amazed, expecting the Steeple-house had been on Fire, and at last they all generally concluded it was on Fire and that the Hereticks had set it on Fire, and with eagerness running on heaps to get forth, they raised such a dust, that it seemed like Smoak of Fire, and thrusting many together to get out, they stopt up the Doors, that few could pass; and thus being afrighted, as if great Danger or present Death were at hand, did they crowd one upon another; the Heretick throwing down his Faggot, and shifting as well as he could among the rest, the Doctor that was preaching his Recantation, cry­ed out, Lord have Mercy upon me, this is the Hereticks doings: amongst [Page 71]the rest a Monk, one of the Auditors, fearing the Danger, and see­ing the way to escape stopt; he got up to a Window and breaking the glass thrust himself part thorow, but there stuck, and could get no further, neither in nor out; a Boy also endeavouring to escape got upon the Door, and jumping down, jumpt into a Monks Cowle, as it hung at his Back, the Monk hearing one in his Cowle, cryed out, who is that at my Back? The Boy cryed, I am Bertrams Boy: Who art thou, said the Monk? I am Bertrams Boy; good Master let me go? and with that the Cowle began to crak, the Monk took him out, and the Boy ran away: Some lost their Clothes in the throng, and some their Money in this Surprizal and Fright at the noise of a Fire that did them no hurt.

About this time one Sr. George Blague of the Kings Privy-Chamber was falsly accused for speaking against the Mass; whereupon Wrisly the Lord Chancellor sent him to Newgate, and the next day he was arraigned and Condemned at Guild-Hall, and within a day or two af­ter should have been burnt in Smithfield; but some of the privy-Chamber making suit to the King on his behalf, the King was much offended that they should come so neer him as his Privy-Chamber without his knowledge and Consent, sent for the Chancellor, and commanded him presently to draw up his Pardon himself, whereby he was set at liberty: George Blague afterwards coming into the Kings Presence, the King said to him, Oh, my Pig! (for so he used to call him) Yea, said he, if your Majesty had not been better to me then your Bishops were, your Pig had been roasted before this time.

The Troubles of the Queen Katherine Parr, for showing fa­vour to the Professors of the Truth, and how the Lord made way for her Deliverance,

About this time the King coming from Bullein, information was given him, that the Queen, Katherine Parr, was much given to reading the Scriptures, and entertained divers godly persons in confe­rence about spiritual Matters: At first the King seemed to like well of it,Her Coun­cil to the King. which made her the more bold sometimes freely to debate with the King about Religion, often beseeching him, That as he had to the glory of God and his own Eternal Fame began a good work in banish­ing the Popes supremacy, that he would perfect what he had begun, and thorowly to cleanse away the dregs of Popery, whereof much re­mained yet behind. The King though he was grown very teasty and froward, yet out of his singular Affection to her, was content to bear with her; for never did Maid more seek to please her Mistriss then she did withal painful endeavour apply her self by all virtuous means in all things, to please his Humor. She was a Woman very beauti­ful, virtuous and of a comely personage, which greatly delighted the King: But some subtil and malicious Instruments of Satan,Popish Sub­tilty. fear­ing what might be the Issue of it, sought by all means to set the King against her; these were the Bishop of Winchester, Wrisly the Chan­cellor, and others of the Council and Privy-Chamber, hoping [Page 72]that if they could but take away her, that was such an Encou­rager of the Professors of the Truth, they might soon destroy the rest.

The King growing sickly and froward left off his accustomed man­ner of visiting the Queen, and therefore she took all opportunities to visit him, and did earnestly solicite him to be Zealous in the Reforma­tion of the Church; Winchester being present at one time, and percei­ving the King not to be very well pleased with her; when she was gone he maliciously endeavoured to stir up the Kings Indignation a­gainst her, possessing the King, That under his Favour, he with others of the Council, could in a short time disclose such Treason cloaked with the vail of Heresie, that his Majesty should easily perceive how dangerous it was to nourish such a Serpent in his Bossom; this so stirred up the King that he gave them leave to draw up Articles against her, and thus far they got their end; the next thing was, to suborn Witnesses to betray and accuse her, and to find out what Books she had in her Closets that were forbidden by Law, and to search her Closets, and to apprehend the Queen, and send her by Barge to the Tower. The King being made privy to this devise by Winchester and Wrisly, he politickly seemed to approve it, that he might see how far the malice of the Bishop would carry him; and thus the Day, Time and place for the Apprehending the Queen, and some about her was conclu­ded of.

The King at this time lay at White-hall, and by reason of his dis­temper seldom stirred abroad, and the time approaching for the ap­prehension of the Queen; she suspected nothing of it, and therefore used after her accustomed manner, when she came to the King, still to deal with him about Religion, as formerly she had done; but one night after she had taken her Leave of him, the King imparted the whole design to Doctor VVendy, enjoyning him not to spake of it to any Creature; but by Providence these Articles drawn up against her, & signed by the King fell from of the Bosom one of these Coun­cellors, and was immediately carried to the Queen, who reading the Articles, knowing the Kings hand was supprised with such a sudden fear, that she made pitious Mean and Lamentation; The King hearing that she was in peril of her Life, sent his Physicians to her, and Doctor VVendy knowing the cause better then the other, began secretly to break with her about the Articles, tilling her, that he knew well of them, though he stood in danger of his Life by revealing of them, yet to quiet his Conscience he could not but give her Warning of them, intreating her somewhat to conform her self to the Kings mind, not doubting but that by her humble sub­mission, she should find him favourable to her; shortly after the King hearing of her dangerous Condition went to her, to him there­fore she uttered her Greif, fearing, as she said, lest he had taken dis­pleasure against her. Whereupon he like a loving Husband with sweet and comfortable Words somewhat eased her perplexed Mind, so that she began to recover; the King being departed she caused all her Books which the Law was against to be conveyed away, and taking [Page 73]a fit season in an Evening, she went to visit the King, who was con­fering with some of his Bed-Chamber. When he saw her, he in­tertained her Courteously, and began to Commnue with her a­bout Religion, seeming desirous to be resolved by the Queen of certain doubts which he proposed to her; she perceiving his drift, with mild and reverend Conutenance answered him thus. Your Majesty knows right well, neither am I ignorant what weakness attends our Sex, and therefore we are inferiour and Subject to man, our Head, whence all our directions must pro [...]eed; God hath made man in his own Likeness, endued him with more exellent Gifts, &c. But he hath made Woman of Man, by whom she is to be governed and directed: seeing therefore that God hath appointed such a Naturall Difference, and you being of so excellent. Wisdom; and I a poor sily VVoman, so much in feriour to you, why should your Majesty propose such difficult Cases to me? yea, when I have said what I can, I must and will refer my self unto your Wisdom, as my Supream H [...]ad under God, by whom I must be d [...]rected. This that she decla­red, and other discourse that passed between them at that time, so pleased the King, that he shewed great favour unto her, as hereto­fore he had done. Her Adversaries knew nothing of this, and there­fore were providing for her Apprehension, which was to be next day, at which time they intended to carry her to the Tower; the Day, and almost the Hour being come, the King intending to take the Air, went into the Garden, whither the Queen also went to him, being sent for by him, where the King being merrily disposed with her, on a sudden, in the middst of the mirth in came VVrisly the Chancellor, with forty of the Kings Guard at his heels, whom the King sternly beholding, went to him, and upon private conference together, the King called him Knave, Arrent Beast, and Fool, withal commanding him out of his Presence. The King after his depar­ture returned to the Queen, who perceiving him to be much chafed, with Sweet words endeavoured to qualifie his displeasure, saying, that though she knew not what might be the cause, he was Offended, but desired him, if it were not hainous; that for her sake he would pass it by, Ah poor Soul, said the King, little dost thou know how ill he deserves this Grace at thy hands, on my word, Sweet Heart, he hath been towards thee an Arrant Knave, and so let him go.

And thus the Queen through Gods Providence, and the Kings Fa­vour escaped the Hands of her bloody Persecutors, who sought to have destroyed her.

Persecuted in Scotland.

In the year 1534. the Arch-Bishop of Andrews convented before him David Stratton and one Norman Gourlay, the first of these having a Fisher-boat that went to Sea, the Bishop of Murray demanded Tythe-Fish of him; to whom he answered, That if they would have Tythe of that which his Servants caught in the Sea, they should take it in the Place, where it was caught, and so caused his Servants to throw the tenth Fish into the Sea again. All this while he had nothing in [Page 74]him for Religion; But when hereupon he was summoned to answer for Heresie, it troubled him exceedingly, and then he began to fre­quent the company of such as were godly, and here appeared a Wonderful change in him; so that, whereas before he despised the Scriptures, now all his delight was in hearing them read to him; and he became a vehement Exhorter of all men to peace and concord, and contempt of the World; he much frequented the company of the Laird of Dun Ariskin, whom God in these dayes had marvelously illuminated, and hearing that Text read (for he could not read him­self) He that denyeth me before men, or is ashamed of me in the midst of this wicked Generation, I will deny him before my Father and holy Angels; at those words, being suddenly as one revived, he fell upon his Knees, and stedfastly lifting up his Eyes and Hands, at length he burst out into these words, O Lord I have been wicked, and justly mayst thou with­draw thy Grace from me; But, Lord, for thy Mercies sake, let me never deny thee nor thy Truth, for fear of Death or any Corporal Pain. soon after Norman and he were brought to Judgment to Holy Rood house, the King himself being present, much means was used to draw this David Stratton to make a Recantation; but he persevered in his constan­cy, still denying that he had offended, and so they were both condem­ned to the Fire, and after dinner they were both first hanged and then burnt.

Not long after the burning of these two, there was one Thomas Forret a Dean, who used to preach every first day to his Parishoners the Epistles and Gospels, this was counted a great Novelty in those time; for none used to preach but the Fryers, and therefore they envying him, accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden for an Heretick, and one that re rad the Mysteries of Scriptures to the vulgar People, the Bi­shop instigated by the complaint of the Fryers called the said Thomas Forret before him, to whom he said, My joy, Dean Thomas, I love you well, and therefore I must give you Council how to govern your self; The Dean thanked him, and then he proceeded, My joy, Dean Thomas, I am informed that you preach the Epistles and Gospels every Sunday to your People, and that you take not your Dues from them, which is very prejudi­cial to the Church-men, and that therefore my joy, Dean Thomas, I would have you to take your Dues, or else its too much to preach every Sunday; for by so doing you make the People think, that we should do so also.

Thomas answered, My Lord, I presume none of my Parishoners complain for my not taking my Dues, and whereas you say, its too much to preach every Sunday; I think it is too little; and wish that your Lordship would do the like.

Nay, nay, Dean Thomas, said the Bishop, let that be, for we are not ordained to preach; and Dean Thomas, go your wayes, and let all these Fancies be; for if you persist herein, you will repent you, when it is too late.

I trust, said the Dean, my cause is good and just in the presence of God, and therefore I care not what follows thereupon; and so went away, but shortly after he was summoned to appear before the Car­dinal, [Page 75]by whom he was condemned and burned for a chief Heretick, and Teacher of Heresie.

But, notwithstanding their bloody Tyranny, the Knowledge of God did Wonderfully encrease in this Country, partly by reading, and partly by brotherly Conference, which in those dangerous dayes were much used, to the Comfort of many, which so enraged the Popish Party, that in the year 1538. there were burned in one Fire four Persons.

The year after Jeremy Russel and Alexander Kenedy were appre­hended and brought before the Bishop, the said Jeremy being a man of a meek and quiet Nature; Alexander was a young man about eight­teen years old, Alexander at first was faint, and would fain have re­canted, but when all place of Repentance was denyed him, the Spirit of God began to refresh him, yea, the inward Comfort began to burst forth as well in his Vissage as in his words, and he cryed in prayer to God, Oh Eternall God, how Wounderful is thy Love and Mercy, who hast made me to feel Heavenly Comfort, which takest, from me that ungodly fear, which before I was oppressed with; now I defie death; do with me what you please; I praise God I am ready. Then did they rail upon him and Jeremy, who also said unto them, This is your hour and power of darkness: Now sit ye as Judges, and we stand wrongfully Accused, and more wrongfully to be Condemned; but the day will come when our Innocency will appear, and ye shall see your own blindness to your Everlasting Confusion: Go forward, & fulfill the measure of your Iniquity. Shortly aft'r th'y were Condem­ned to die, & as they went to Execution Jeremy comforted Alexander, saying to him, Brother, fear not, greater is he that that is in us, then he that is in the World; the pain that we are to suffer is short, and shall be light, but our Joy and Consolation shall never have end: Let us therefore strive to enter into our Master and Saviours Joy by the same Strait Way which he hath taken before us; Death cannot hurt us, for it is already destroyed by him, for whose Sake we now Suf­fer. And thus they constantly continued stedfast in the Flaming Fire till they finished their Course by Death.

In the year 1543. George Wiseheart a man of a Courteous, Modest and Temperate Behaviour, fearing God and hating Covetousness, very charitable and moderate in his Apparel and Diet, and for his Innocency was a man well beloved; he was accused on several Ar­ticles by the Bishops, and afterwards Condemned by them as an He­retick to be burnt; when he came to the fire he said, Father of Hea­ven, I commend my Spirit into thy holy Hands; and then turned him to the People, and said these Words, I beseech you Christian Brethren and Sisters, that you be not offended in the Word of God for the affli­ction and Torments which you see already prepared for me; but I Exhort you, that you Love the Word of God, and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable heart for the Words sake, which is your un­doubted Salvation and Everlasting Comfort.

Moreover I pray you, shew my Brethren and Sisters, which have heard me oft before, that they cease not, nor l [...]ve off the Word of [Page 76]God which I taught unto them, after the Grace given to me, for any Persecutions or Troubles in this World, which lasts not; and shew unto them, that my Doctrine was no Old Wives Fable, after the Con­stitution made by men; and if I had taught mens Doctrine, I had gotten great thanks of men, but for the Word and true Gospels sake I suffer this day by men, not sorowfully, but with a glad Heart and Mind; for this cause I was sent, that I should Suffer this Fire for Christs Sake, this grim Fire I fear not, and so I pray you to do, if that any Persecution come unto you for the Word's sake; and fear not them that Kill the Body, and afterwards have no power to Kill the Soul.

Then he prayed for them which accused him, saying, I beseech thee, Father of Heaven, to forgive them that have through Ignor­ance, or an evil Mind, forged Lyes against me; I forgive them with all my heart, and I beseech Christ to forgive them who have Condemned me to death this day ignorantly. So being first Hanged, he was then burnt, many People bewailing his death.

VVabter Mille, amongst the rest of the Martyrs of Scotland, his Con­stancy is not to be past over with silence, out of whose Ashes Sprung thousands of his Religion in Scotland; many Articles were drawn up against him, for which he had sentance pronounced against him, that he should be delivered to the Temporal Judge, and punisht as an Heretick, which was to be burnt.

Now when all things were ready for his death, and he conveyed with Armed men to the Fire, Andrew Olifant Judge, that past sentence upon him, bad him Go to the Stake; he said, Nay, except thou pull me up with thy hand, for I am forbidden by the Law of God, to lay hands of my self: then Olifant put him up with his hand, thereupon he went glad­ly, saying, I will go to the Altar of God, and desired that he might have time to speak to the People, which his Executioner denyed, saying, That he had spoken over-much, and that the Bishops were o [...]fended that the matter was so long continued, but some young men that stood by de­sired him to speak what he please; so, after he had prayed, he rose up, and standing upon the Coles, said on this wise.

Dear Friends, the Cause why I suffer this day, is not for any Crime laid to my Charge, but only for the defence of the Faith of Christ Jesus, for which, as the faithful Martyrs have heretofore gladly offered themselves, being assured, after the Death of their Bodies, of Eternal Felicity; so this day I praise God, that he hath called me of his Mercy, among the rest of his Ser­vants, to seal his Truth with my Life; which as I received it of him, so willingly I offer it to his Glory: Therefore as you will escape the eternal death, be no more seduced by the Lyes of Priests, Monks and Bishops, and the rest of the Sect of Antichrist, but depend only upon Jesus Christ, and his Mercy, that you may be delivered from Condemnation.

All that while there was great Mourning and Lamentation of the multitude, for they perceiving his Patience, Stoutness, Boldness, and Constancy, were not only moved and stirred up, but their hearts also were so inflamed, that he was the last Martyr that died in Scot­land for Religion; after his prayer he was hoised up on the Stake, and [Page 77]being in the Fire, he said, Lord have Mercy on me; pray People while there is time, and so be constantly departed.

The Persecutions in the Reign of Edward the sixth.

Henry the Eighth being dead, Edward the sixth succeeded him at the Age of nine years; he was a Youth of a meek nature and dispo­sition, much inclined to Clemency and Mercy, yea, so much, that when one Joan Butcher being condemned to be burnt for Heresie, all the Council could not move him to set his hand, saying to Cranmer, what, will you send her quick to the Devil in her Error? Doctor Cranmer perswaded him, with much ado at last to put his hand, to whom he said, He would lay all the charge thereof upon Cranmer as before the Lord.

But though this King was of so mild a Nature, and a Person incli­ning to love Religion from a Child, being very Zealous for a further Reformation in the Church, abolishing the Mass, &c. and a Protector being appointed during his Nonage, which was his uncle the Duke of Somerset, a man also very Zealous for Reformation, and an Encou­rager of such as profest the Gospel; but in the midst of these meek and gentle times, on the other hand, the P [...]pish party having a great power in the Kingdom used all the Means and Endeavours to stir up Persecu­tion, and to hinder that good they found the King and his Uncle in­clinable to, yet the most of this Kings Reign, which was but short, the Sword was taken out of their hands, so that they had not power to shed much Blood all his Reign; yet some there were that suffered for Religion, viz. Joan of Kent, an English woman, and one George a Dutch­man, and one Thom [...]s Dobb, who was apprehended for speaking against the Idolatry of the Mass, and committed to Prison, where he died.

The cause of the Imprisonment of Thomas Dobb was as followeth.

The said Thomas Dobb being a Man fervent and zealous for Religion, and as it is recorded of him, a man so Innocent, that he was like a Dove, without any Gall or Bitterness, and more apt to receive In­jury then do wrong to any one: It happened, that as he was passing by Pauls in London, seeing the Priest at Mass, being at the Elevation as he passed by, the young man filled with godly Zeal, pitying the Igno­rance and Idolatry of the People in honouring that so devoutly which the Priest lifted up, was not able to forbear, but opened his Mouth, and turning to the People, exhorted them, testifying against their Ido­latry, for which cause he was presently apprehended by the Mayor, and being accused by the Bishop of Canterbury, was Committed to the Counter in Bredstreet, where falling sick he soon after died.

In this Kings time there was also one John Hume, a servant to one Lewnax, accused by his Master, of denying the Sacrament of the Altar to be the real Flesh and Blood of Christ: And for saying, That he would never vail his Bonnet to it, if he burnt therefore: And for saying, That [Page 78]if he heard Mass he should be damned. For these things he was accused of his Master and Mistress, and sent up by them to the Bishop of Can­terbury, with Letters, desiring that he might be severely punished for the same, but no mention is made of his Execution, and so that may be past by, and return may be to give a short account of the Reformati­on in this Kings time, and how far it extended.

Injunctions were set out in his time, viz, that Bibles in Eng­lish should be placed in some convenient place in the Church (so called) that the People might read in them when they pleased, and rather be furthered to read them, then hindred by the Priests or Curates.

And the Priests or Curates should not at any time haunt Taverns or Ale-houses, neither spend their time Idly in unlawful Games, but should give themselves to read and hear the Scriptures read, and every Benificed-Preacher to preach twice a year, and that all Monuments of Idolatry in Churches (so called) and Houses, and Windows should be taken away, and that Homilies should be read every Sunday.

He took away and abrogated all Acts made by former Kings for re­formation of Hereticks and Lollords, and the Act of the six Articles, and all Acts published prohibiting the speading the Scriptures in English.

He also sent out a Letter to the Arch-Bishop, signed by the Council, to abolish Images, and that the Altars should be taken down, and a Ta­ble set up instead thereof.

Though this may be acounted but a little Reformation to what is since, yet it so troubled the Popish Adversaries, that they sought all the wayes and means they could to hinder its further proceeding and growth, and would not be satisfied untill they had found out a way to answer their Wicked purposes. And now the old Adversary of all good put it in the Heads of the Popish Party, to charge the Duke of Somerset, the Kings Vncle and Protector of his Person, and the Realm, as that he was the occasion of all the Sedition that had hap­pened in the Realm, &c.

And though he was in a high state, yet that could not, nor did not preserve him; and indeed it is a vain thing for man to put Trust or Confidence upon the brickle Pillars of Worldly Prosperity, how high soever it seemeth, considering that where vertue is most prefect, it is there most envied by Wicked men, as in the Example of this Duke appears.

This Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset being Protector, had a Brother who was high Admiral of England; these two Brethren, so long as they were knit and joyned together in Love and Concord, preserved themselves, the King and whole Common-Wealth, from the Violen [...]e and Fear of Danger of all their Adversaries: But the old Subtil Serpent alwayes envying mans felicity, through Slanderous Tongues sought to sow matter, first of discord between them, then of Suspition, and last of all of Extream Hatred, inso­much that the Protector suffered his Brother, being accused (whether true or false, the Lord knoweth) to be Condemned, and to lose his [Page 79]Head whereby it came to pass that not long after he himself was over-matched by his Adversaries, and overthrown by them, and being cast into the Tower, at last lost his Head also, to the great Lamentation of many good men, and so the fall of one Brother was the Ruin of the other; for it was not long after the Admiral was beheaded but that Insurrections began in several parts of the Kingdom; but after they were subdued, several of the Lords as­sembled at Baynard; Castle, and at the Mayor of Londons House, and had great Consultations against the Protector, who was then with the King at Hampton Court, which the King hearing of, sent the Secretary to them with a Message, to which they made no answer, and not long after published a Proclamation in the City against the Protector, charging him with divers Crimes, as that he should be the chief Occasion of all the Sedition that had of late happened in the Kingdom and that he did what in him lay to cause Variance between the King and the Nobles, and desired the City to aid them; the King also sent the Mayor and City a Letter, requiring aid likewise. This made the Mayor and Citizens in a strait, some being for help­ing the King, and some on the other side, for helping the Lords, and against the Protector; the Recorder prest the Citizens to assist the Lords against the Protector, who, he said, had abused the King and the whole Realm, and prest the Common Council for an Answer, and that they would declare what they would do; but they were silent in the matter until one Ge [...]rge Stadlow stood up and told them, It is good to consider of things p [...]st, to avoid dangers in things to come, and then related to them, what inconveniences & damage befel the Citi­zens in assisting the Barons in their Wars against King Henry the third: In conclusion the Lords hearing what past in the City, assembled in the Star-Chamber next day, & sent a Messenger to the King to VVindsor, who so ordered his matter with the King, that the Protector was apprehended, and shortly after was had to the Tower in London, and there was charged with several Articles, and a terrible Proclamation put out against him, but through the Kings Love and labouring in his behalf, he was shortly after let out of the Tower, and the Proclamation called in again; after which trouble he continu­ed two years at Liberty, though not restored to his former Office.

But after this respite, he was again apprehended and committed to the Tower, from whence he was in a short time after convey'd through the City, (with the Tower-Ax carried before him,) to VVestminster, and there tryed by the Peers, where in a quiet, patient and Suffer­ing Spirit, he Modestly Behaved himself, shewing himself an Ex­ample of Meekness, yea, wisely replying to the Articles, object­ed against him, and was at last cleared of the Treason laid to his charge, which the People understanding, were greatly rejoyced at; but his Adversaries quickly found out another Snare; for they charged him with Felony, for intending and purposing the death of the Earl of Northumberland, which was by them adjudged Felony according to a Law, wherein it was enacted, That it should be Felony [Page 80]for any Subject to seek or procure the death of any P [...]y Councillor; and being condemned he was again conveyed to the Tower, and shortly after from thence was had to the place of Execution, where neither his Voice nor countenance changed, but after his usual manner he spake to the people to this effect. Dearly beloved Friends, I am brought hither to suffer death, though I never offended the King neither in Word nor Deed, and have been always as faithful and true to this Realm as any man hath been: And after other words, he said, morecover, Dearly beloved Friends, there is yet somewhat that I must put you in mind of, as touching Christian Religion, which so long as I was in Auth [...]rity I alwayes dilligently furthered to my power, neither do I repent me of my doings, but rejoyce therein, seeing the state of Christian Religi [...]n cometh nearer to the order of the Princitive Church, which thing I esteem as a great benefit given of God both unto you and me, most heartily exhorting you all, th [...]t this which is most purely set forth unto you, you will with the like thankfulness unbrace and accept of, and shew forth the same in your living, which thing if you do not, without doubt greater mischief and Calamity will follow. And af­ter other Good exhortations to the people he kneeled down, without shewing any token of Trouble or Fear, but like a meek Lamb received the Stroak of Death.

As touching his disposition and Conversation whilst alive, (as it is written of him) it could not be sufficienly commended according to his worth, being a man of so meek and gentle a nature, as is rare to be found in so high an estate; he was alwayes ready to give ear to the com­plaints of the Poor, and very attentive unto the Affairs of the Com­mon Wealth; he was a man ignorant of all Craft and Deceit, and as void of Pride and Ambition, as he was from doing injury, being indeed void of both; he was of a gentle Disposition, m [...]re apt and ready to be deceived, then to deceive; and last of all, he was a man Zealous for the Religion and Truth, so far as it appeared, and was broken forth in that day; and in all likelyhood he had been a good Instrument in the work of Reformation, had not this difference be­tween the Lords and him happened, which put a period to his dayes, for so long as they agreed, and that there was Concord among them, the two great persecuting Bishops Winchester and Bonner were kept under, and their power was but little, which afterwards upon seeing the great division amongst the Nobles they then again began to have hopes they should have another Day and Time, further to execute their presecuting power, which soon after then had, for the next year af­ter the death of the Duke of Somerset the King died, and Queen Mary reigned next, and of the bloody work that was made in her Reign a Relation will herein be given in its place.

A Relation of the Lamentable Suffering of William Gardner an English Merchant in Portugal, for his Testimony to the Truth against Popish Idolatry.

William Gardner was born at Bristol of honest Parents, he was natural­ly given to gravity, of a mean stature of Body, but of a comely and pleasant Countenance, but in no part so excellent as in the inward qualities of the mind which from a Child he had kept without spot of reprehension; being a Prentise with a Merchant in Bristo [...], his Master sent him a Voyage into Spain, but by accident the Ship arri­ved at Lisbon in Portugal; where after he came ashore, he was very strict in keeping himself, lest he should be defiled with the Portugals Superstition, whilst he remained there a great Marriage was to be solemnized between the King of Portugals Son and the King of Spains Daughter, the which amongst other People he going to the Publick place to see, and there beholding the Peoples great Idolatry, the young man was sore pricked and moved in his Conscience against it, but had not an opportunity to bear his Testimony against it at that time, but left the place and went away with a great Burthen upon him, and so it continued upon him insomuch that he sought out secret and solita­ry Places where he might call upon God with Tears, and ease his mind, bewaling himself for neglecting his duty in testifying against the Impiety and Superstition of that People; concluding in his mind to take another opportunity to clear himself, and to that end he made up his accounts with all men, and then gave himself continually to Prayer and Meditation on the Lord, taking little Meat by Day, or Sleep by Night.

And shortly after he went on a Sunday (so called) to the Publick Place of Worship again where the King was present, and a great As­sembly of people, getting as near to the high Altar as he could, ha­ving a Testament in English in his hand, in which he read while the Mass was celebrated by the Cardinal, until the Cardinal took the Host in his hand, and then William being moved with Zeal, and not longer able to forbear, he stept speedily and snarched the Cake out of the Priests hand and trod it under his Feet, and overthrew the Chal­lice: This made the People all amazed, and to rise in a great Tumult, and one run him into the Shoulder with his Dagger, and immediately they would have killed him, but that the King commanded he should be saved.

After the Tumult Ceased, he was brought before the King, who askt him, What Country man he was, and how he durst be so bold to do such an Action in Contempt to him and the Sacrament of the Church?

William Gardner, told him, He was an English man, and came thither a Merchant, and seeing so great Idolatry in so famous an Assembly, he was not satisfied in his Conscience until he had acted what he had done, further telling the King; there was [Page 82]not any thought in him of acting any [...]ing in Contempt to his Presence.

Then he was urged, to discover the persons that instigated him to the Action; He desired there might be no such suspicion conceived of him, saying, He was not moved thereunto by any man, but by his own Conscience, and that he did it as required of God, and for the Peoplé Salvation.

While he was thus examined, he was ready to faint with the wound he received, whereupon Chirurgions were sent for to cure him, if possible, to the end he might be further examined, and receive grea­ter punishment; for they were fully perswaded some others had stir­red him to do the Action, and thereupon the English Merchants were apprehended, and his bed-fellow was examined, and cruo [...]ly tormen­ted, and kept in Prison two years after, and having [...]ched William Gardner's Chamber, thinking there to find out [...]me of the Authors of the interprize, but finding none they repa [...]ed to him again, urg­ing him to discover who was the Author or Instigator of him to do the fact, using an unheard of piece of Cruelty [...] [...]ke him [...]fess, which was thus, they made fast a threed to a Cl [...]th B [...]ll [...] [...] [...]st it down his Throat, and then pluckt it up again, and so pluckt [...] and fro for some time, till they were wearyed and seeing they could work nothing that way, they askt him, whether he did repeat of his wicked Deed? he answered, That he thought, that if is were to do again he should do it.

After they had used divers Torments to make him confess, and saw it was to no purpose, they had him to Execution; but first they carryed him into the Vestry, and cut off his Right Hand; then he was had into the Market-place, and there they cut off his Left Hand; then his Arms were bound behind him, and his Feet under the Horses Belley, and so was carryed to the place of Execution, where he was let down by a pulley into the Fire, and then pluckt up, and let down again, all which cruelty he endured with a constant Spirit, saying, O Eternal God, Father of all Mercies, look down upon thy Servant, and with patience he suffered, till at last the Rope burning he fell down into the Fre, and was consumed. This was in the year 1552.

Persecutions in the Reign of Queen Mary, beginning Anno 1553.

After the Death of Edward the fixth, Queen Mary succeeded; and after the was setled in her Throne, a Sinod was assembled for con­sulting about matters of Religion, and the point, especially of the real Presence in the Sacrament, after a long Disputation, where Rea­son and Scriptures were not so much weighed as Voices numbred, the Papal side, as having most voices, carried it, and thereupon was that Religion again restored, and the Mass commanded again in all Churches (so called) to be celebrated after the ant [...] m [...].

And shortly after, Cardinal Poole, and English man, that [...] fed [Page 83]to Rome for Succour in the former time,Q. Mary. was sent for over again to England by the Queen, who was no sooner come, but the Attaindor upon Record against him, was by Act of Parliament taken off, and he restored; and a few days after, coming to the Parliament, before the Queen, and both Houses assembled; after the Bishop of VVinchester, who was Chancellor, had made a short speech to them, signifying the presence of the Cardinal, and that he was sent from the Pope, as his Legate, for their good and benefit: Then the Cardinal stood up, and made a long Oration to them, thanking them for resto­ring him, whereby he was made a Member of their Society: Then Exhorting them to return into the Bossom of the Church, for which end he was come, not to Condemn, but to Reconcile; not to compell, but to call and require; and for their first work of Reconcilement, requiring them to repeal and abrogate all such Laws as had former­ly been made in derogation of the Catholick Religion.

After which Speech, the Parliament going together, drew up a Supplication, which within two dayes after, they presented to the King and Queen, wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former Errors, and humbly desired them to inter­ceed for them to the Cardinal and the See Apostolick, that they might be pardoned of all they had done amiss, and be received into the Bossom of the Church, being themselves most ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome.

This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinal, he then gave them Absolution in these words, We, (by the Apostolick Authority, given unto us by the most holy Lord Pope Julius the third, Christs Vicegerent on Earth) do absolve, and deliver you, and every of you, with the whole Realm and Dominions thereof from all Heresie and Schism, and from all Judgments, Censures and Pains, for that cause incurred; and also we do restore you again to the unity of our Mother the holy Church. The report hereof coming to Rome, was cause that a solemn Procession was made for Joy of the Conversion of England to the Church of Rome.

And now all Bishops which had been deprived in the time of Edward the sixth, were restored to their Bishopricks, and the new removed, and all that would not turn and forsake their Religion were turned out of their Livings; and Stephen Gardner and Bonner became again to be had in favour, and were restored to their former places, and several old Laws were again revived by Act of Parliament for the tryal of Heresie and Commissions, and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all parts of the Realm; whereupon many were appre­hended and brought to London, and there Imprisoned, and afterwards most of them burnt to death, or else through cruel usage died in Prison, and were buryed in Dunghils in the Fields, to the Number of near three Hundred Persons, Men and Women, in the short Reign of this Queen.

And now Bonner being re-invested into his Bishoprick, he sends forth Injunctions, that six in every Parish (upon their Oaths) should present before him such as would not conform; and soon after, about threescore Inhabitants of the City of London were apprehen­ded [Page 84]and imprisoned, for dispersing and selling certain Books, sent over into England out of Germany, and other Countries.

About this time, the people going a Procession in Smithfield, and the Priest being under the Canopy with the Box,John Street persecuted. according to the usual Custom, one John Street, a Joyner in Coleman-Street, going by in haste about his business, by chance went under the Canopy by the Priest, at which the Priest was so surprized, and overcome with fear, that he let the Pix fall down; the people being amazed, pre­sently apprehended the poor man, and committed he was to the Compter; and the Priest accused him to the Council, as if he came to slay him; from the Compter, he was removed to Newgate, where he was cast into the Dungeon, and there chained to a Post, and so miserably used till he lost his Sences, and then they sent him to Bedlam.

Roods Commad­ed to be a­gain set up in the places called Churches. These were but in the beginnings of Bonners Cruelty in this Queens time; the next thing he did was, he put out a Mandate to the Curates within his Diocess, requiring them to abrogate and blot out all Scrip­ture Texts wrot upon the Walls in Churches (so called) in Edward the sixths time; which he said was opening a Window to all Vice; and further, commanded that comely Roods should be again set up in all Churches.

The same Injunction for setting up Roods was published in other Diocesses at this time; for at Cockram in Lancashire, the Parishoners and Wardens had agreed with a Carver to make them a Rood, and to set it up in that they called their Church, at a certain prise, which the Carver did; but the Rood being made of an ugly grim Counte­nance, they disliked it, and refused to pay the Work-man that made it; whereupon by Warrant he brought them before the Mayor of Lancaster, who was a favourer of the Protestants, and a man against Images; when they came before the Mayor, he askt them, Why they did not pay the man according to their Agreement? they reply­ed, they did not like the grimness of its Vissage; saying, they had a man formerly with a hansome Face, and they would have had such another now; well, said the Mayor, though you like not the Rood, the Poor-mans Labour has been never the less, and its pity he shold loose; but I tell you what you shall do, pay him the Money you promised him; and if it will not serve you for a God, you may make a Devil of it, at which they laughed, and so de­parted.

About this time, about thirty Men and Women were taken at a Religious Assembly, in Bow-yard in Cheapside, and were Committed to Prison; their Preacher, one Rose, was had before the Bishop of VVinchester, S. Gardner, and by him Committed to the Tower.

Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer ap­prehended. Shortly after, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, three Bishops, were sent to the Tower, and from thence Conveyed to Oxford; there to Dispute with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion, but especially of the Eucharist; the Oxford men were Cole, Chadsey, Pye, Harpsfield, Smith, and Weston Prolocutor; the Cambridge men were, Young, Seaton, Watson, Fecknam, Atkinson, and Sedgwick; the [Page 85]matter was so carried by these twelve men, that it went against the Prisoners; and after the Disputation was ended, the Prisoners were brought again upon the Stage, and demanded, whether they would persist in their Opinion or recant? They affirming they would persist, they were all three adjudged Hereticks, and Con­demned to the Fire, but their Execution was not till a year or two after.

John Rogers Martyr. In the mean time we have an account of John Rogers, who was the first Martyr in this Queens time, who was burnt in London, after a long and fore suffering by Imprisonment. Soon after him was burnt Lawrence Saunders, Lawrence Saunders Martyr who was by order kept straitly in Prison, and none suffered to speak with him, not so much as his Wife suffered to visit him; in his Examination the Chancellor threatning him that he should not live many dayes. Saunders said, Welcom shall the Will of God be, either Life or Death, for I have learned to die; but I Exhort you to beware of shedding Innocent blood, Truly it will Cry. As the Officers were leading him away from his Examination, he exhorted the People to Repentance, warn­ing them to defie Anti-christ, Sin, Death, and the Devil, that they might receive blessing and favour from the Lord; being Condemned, he was carried down to Coventry to be burnt, where he was put into the common Goal, where he slept little, but spent the Night in Prayer, and instructing others, and the next day was burnt; during the time of his Imprisonment, he wrote several good Epistles, to comfort and strengthen such as were under the like Suffering with him: I shall only insert the Substance of one to his Wife, by which may be perceived the seriousness and Zeal that was stirred up in him against his Adversaries, forbidding his Wife to seek any way for his delivery.

John Hoo­per and Rowland Taylor Martyr. Shortly after were burnt for Religion, John Hooper, and one Rowland Taylor, the one at Gloucester, and the other at Hadley: The time of Rowland Taylor's Execution drawing nigh, his Wife and Son coming to see him, and one John H [...], that had been his Servant; after he had supt, he turned to his Son, saying, Thomas, my dear Son, God Almighty bless thee, see that thou fear God always, and flee from Sin, and wicked living; be vertuous, and apply thy self to thy Book; and in any wise see thou be obedient to thy Mother, love her, serve her, & be ruled by her in thy Youth, and follow her good Coun­sel in all things: Beware of Lewd Company of Young men that fear not God but follow their lewd lusts; flee from Whoredom, and hate all filthy living; and when thy Mother is old, forsake her not, but provide for her to thy power, and see that she lack nothing; then will God bless thee, and give thee long Life upon Earth, and Prosperity. To his Wife, he said, my dear Wife, continue sted­fast in the fear and Love of God; keep your self undefiled from Po­posh Idolatries and Superstitions; I have been unto you a faithful Yoke-fellow, and so have you been to me, for which I doubt not, dear Wife, but God will reward you: Now the time is come that I shall be taken from you; The Lord gave you unto me, and the Lord will take me from you, Blessed be the Name of the Lord; I believe they are blessed which die in the Lord; The Lord is my Light, and my Salva­tion, whom then shall I fear; God is he that justifieth, who is he that can condemn: In thee O Lord I have trusted, let we never be confounded: On the next day by two of the Clock in the Morning, he was taken out of the Compter by Officers, and had to Chelmsford, and there was he delivered to the Sheriff of Suffolk, who was commanded to see him burnt.

The suffer­ing of Hailes. About this time One St. James Hailes, on of the Justices of the Common-Pleas, at an Assizes in Kent, giving charge upon the Sta­tutes of Henry the Eighth, and Edward the Sixth, in derogation of the primacy of Rome; when he was before the Chancellor in Westminster Hall, being there among other Judges to take his Oath, the Chan­cellor said:

I am informed you have Indicted certain Priests in Kent for saying Mass.

I Indicted none, but certain Indictments of that Nature were brought before me at the Assizes in Kent, and I did according to Law therein, and according to Conscience; and if it were to do again I could do no less then I did.

Your Conscience is known well enough.

You may do well to search your own Conscience; for mine is bet­ter known to my self then to you.

This and other talk at that time so displeased the Bishop, that not many dayes after this discourse in Westminster Hall, Judge Hailes, was by the Commandment of the Bishop, committed to the Kings Bench, where he remained some time, and then was com­mitted to the Compter in Bred-Street, and from thence carried to the Fleet; being in the Fleet, some endeavoured to perswade him to Compliance; how far he yielded to those Perswasions and Assaults of the Enemy, it was not known; but shortly after he fell into a great horrour and terrour in his Conscience, and in the anguish of his Spirit stabbed himself with his Pen-Knife, and so thought to end his misery, but through providence he was disappointed of destroying himself at that time: But this Action being noised abroad, as it was occasion of great sorrow and trouble to many that had a great Esteem of him, being reputed so worthy a Judge, and so just a man, so it also opened the Mouth of his Adversary, the Bishop, who openly in the Star-Chamber blasphemed against such as profest the Truth, calling the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Doctrine of Desperation. But it was not long before the Judge was set at Liberty, but he had not been long at home, (but his trouble encreasing upon him) he watch an apportunity, and drowned himself in a shallow Water neer his House.

Now, Stephen Gardner, Bishop of Winchester, having got the Law and outward Sword on his Side, he thought to Rule as he pleased; and having taken off (either by Imprisonment or Death) most of the principal Preachers, of those he counted Sectaries, he concluded the rest would be thereby terrified, and kept under; but his Expecta­tions herein were frustrated.

For within a few Weeks after the Apprehension and Execution of the aforesaid persons,The appre­hending of Thomas Tomkins and five others. there were six more raised up to testifie against the Popish Idolatry then established by a Law; their names were William Piggot, a Butcher, Stephen Knight, a Barber, Thomas Tom­kins, a Weaver, Thomas Hawkes, John Lawrence, and William Hunter; these Persons being brought before B. Gardner, he was so concerned to see his former devices so little effect the end he intended, that he refu­sed to Act any more against them; but being wholy discouraged, turned them over to Bonner Bishop of London, who Prosecuted all that were brought before him to the utmost of his power, not sparing to act his cruelty, as from time to time he had an opportunity, to the uttermost.

They were all condem­ned by B [...]n­nor. Upon the 8th day of the Moneth called February 1555. The a­foresaid six persons were brought before B [...]nner, at the Consistory at Pauls, where nhe next day he past Sentence of Death upon them, shewing himself a rash and cruel Judge, to pass Sentence so sud­dainly upon so many Innocent mens Lives; but he gave them a little time before they were put to death, which was till the Mo­neth following.

The most remarkable Passages that I find at their Tryals and Examinations, are briefly related as followeth.

Thomas Tomkins a Weaver, dwelling in Shoreditch, a man accounted by such as were acquainted with him Zealous and Godly,The Ex­amination of Thomas Tomkins. much given to Prayer; during the time of his Imprisonment, which was half a year, the Bishop Bonner beat him sorely about the Face, and pluckt him by the Beard (being long) and caused his Beard to be Shaved off; but though the rage of the Bishop was great, the con­stancy and patience of the poor man was as great; for he was not mo­ved at the Bishops cruelty; the Bishop seeing the course he had taken would no wayes prevail, he fell from Beating to Burning; for ha­ving a great Candle burning in his Hall at Fulham, he took Tomkins by the Fingers ends holding his hand over the flame of the Candle, trying him whether he would Recant, but with patience he bore this cruelty also, until Doctor Harpsfield standing by, moved with pity, told Bonner he had tryed him enough, and then Bonner let his Fingers go.

The last time Thomas Tomkins appeared before Bonner, there were several other Bishops present, one of which earnestly exhorted him to leave off his Opinions; to whom he answered, I was Born and brought up in Ignorance until of late years, and now I know the Truth, I shall continue in the same until Death; which Bonner hearing, thought it time to pass Sentence upon him; and as he had be­gun to burn his Hand, so sentenced his Body to be burnt, delivering him to the Sheriff of London, who carried him to Newgate, where he remained untill the 16th day of the Moneth called March, and then sealed his Faith in the Flames.

The 26th day of the aforesaid Moneth, followed the Martyr­dom of another of these six persons, viz. VVilliam Hunter, a Zeal. ous Young man for Religion;William Hunter Martys who was about the Age of ninteen years when he suffered; he was born of godly Parents, by whom he was not only Instructed in godliness, but also confirmed by them until Death.

William Hunter, being an Apprentize in Coleman-Street in London, with one Thomas Taylor a Silk-weaver; the beginning of his trouble was, for refusing to hear Mass, and to receive their Eucharist, for which the Priest of the Parish threatned to have him before the Bishop; his Master fearing lest he should come to suffer, by reason of Williams not conforming, desired him to depart from him, where­upon William went home to his Fathers, to Burntwood in Essex, where after he had remained a little time, happening to go into the Chap­pel of Burntwood, and finding a Bible lying upon a Desk he read therein; while he was reading, one Atwell, a Sumner, coming in, reproved him, saying, Wherefore meddlest thou with the Bible? William answered, I read in it for my comfort; Atwell replyed, It was never a good World since the Bible came abroad in England; William answered, say not so, it liketh me well, and I pray God we may have the Bible amongst us continually.

I perceive you are one of them that mislikes the Queens Laws, and therefore you came from London; but you must turn another Leaf, or else you will Broyl for it, and in a fury went away, saying, he would fetch one that should talk with him, and went to an Ale-house hard by, and fetch out the Viccar of Soutweld, who coming into the Chap­pel, and hearing William read, said, Sirrah who gave thee leave to read in the Bible? William answered, I read for my Comfort, and shall read while I Live; and told the Viccar, He ought rather to en­courage, then discourage people in reading the Scriptures.

Doth This become thee to tell me what I have to do, thou Heretick?

said, I am no Heretick.

What sayst thou to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar? be­lievest thou in it? and that the bread and wine is transubstantiated in­to the very Body and Blood of Christ?

I learn no such thing in the Scriptures, as you speak of; you understand Christs Words much like the Carnal Cappern [...]tes, who thought that Christ would have given them his Flesh to feed upon, which opinion Christ corrected, when he said, The Words which I speak unto you are Spirit and Life.

I have found you out now; I see thou art an Heretick in­deed, and that thou doest not believe in the Sacerament of the Altar.

whereas you doubt my belief, I would it were tryed, whether you or I would stand fastest in our Faith.

Thou Heretick, wouldst thou have it so tryed?

In that way which you call Heresie, do I serve the Lord my God; I would you and I were even now tyed fast to a Stake, to prove which of us would stand firmest in our Faith.

It shall not be so tryed.

No, quoth William, I think so, for if it might, I know who would soonest Recant; I durst set my Foot against yours, even to the death.

That we shall see, quoth the Viccar, and so departed, threatning William to complain of him; Shortly after, according to his words, he instigated one Justice Brown against William, who shortly after sent for a Constable, and for William's Father to come before him; Wil­liam being gone from home, the Justice threatned his Father, He would make him tell where he was, or else he would send him to Pri­son; the Old man said, Would you have me seek my Son to be burn­ed? If thou bring him to me, saith the Justice, I will deal well enough for that matter, and with flatterings and threatnings perswaded him to seek his Son out.

When the old man had found his Son he told him what the Justice said; William told his Father, I will go home with you, and save you harmless, what ever comes on it; as soon as he came home, he was apprehended by the Constable, and put in the Stocks, and the next day was had before the Justice.

Ah Sirrah, are you come; I hear say you are a Scripture-man? [Page 90]What say you to these words, where Christ saith the Bread is his Body?

the Scripture saith, that Christ took Bread; but not that he changed it into another Substance, but gave that which he took, and brake that which he gave, which was Bread, as is evident by the Text, else he should have had two Bodeis.

At which the Justice began to be angry, and called him Naughty Boy, saying, Doth not Christ call the Bread his Body plainly, and thou wilt not believe that the Bread is his Body after Consecration, thou goest about to make Christ a Lyar.

We ought earnestly to search what the mind of Christ is in that holy Institution, wherein he commendeth unto us the remembrance of his Death, Passion, Resurrection and coming again, saying, This do in remembrance of me; And though Christ calls the Bread his Body, so he did also say, that he is a Vine, a Door, &c. Yet is not his Body turned into Bread, no more then he is turned into a Door or Vine; wherefore Christ called the Bread his Body by a figure.

William Hunter [...]ent up to Bonner. At these words, the Justice was enraged, calling him Villain, and the next day sent him and a Letter by an Officer to Bonner, Bishop of London; When he came before the Bishop, at first the Bishop began to flatter him, telling him, he should have no harm for any thing he had done or said, if he would be ruled by him; saying further, It may be thou mayest be ashamed to bear a Fagot, a Recant openly of what thou hast said; but if thou wilt Recant thy sayings, I pro­mise thee, what thou speakst between me and thee shall go no fur­ther, and thou shall go home again without any hurt, so that thou wilt go to Church and continue a good Catholick.

I will not do so for all the World.

Then said the Bishop, If you will not do so, I will make you sure enough, I warrant you.

You can do no more then God will permit you.

Wilt thou not Recant indeed, by no means?

No, never while I live.

Then the Bishop commanded his Men to put him in the Stocks, in his Gate-house, where he sate two dayes and two nights, only with a Crust of brown Bread, and a Cup of Water; at the two dayes end, the Bishop came to him, and finding the Cup of Water, and crust of Bread still by him upon the Stocks, he said to his men, take him out of the Stocks, and let him Breakfast with you; whereupon they took him forth of the Stocks, but would not suffer him to eat with them, but called him Heretick.

He told them, He was as unwilling to be in their company as they were to be in his.

After Breakfast, the Bishop sent for him, and askt, whether he would Recant?

He answered, No, he would never Recant that which he had confest before men, concerning his Faith in Christ.

Then the Bishop sent him to Prison, and commanded the Keeper [Page 91]to lay Irons upon him, as many as he could bear, and askt William how old he was?

He told him, he was nineteen years Old.

Well, said the Bishop, you will be burnt ere you are twenty year old, if you do not Recant.

answered, God strengthen me in his Truth, and so he parted from the Bishop. He continued in Prison three quarters of a year, in which time, he had been before the Bishop five times, besides the time when he and five more were Condemned in the Consistory in Pau [...]s, which was on the ninth day of the Month, called February, be­fore the Se [...]ence was past; the Bishop askt him, if he would Recant; but finding [...]un to stand firm in his Faith, said, I have alwayes found thee at this Point; I see no hope of reclaiming thee to the Catholick Faith, but thou wilt continue a corrupt Member: And then pro­nounced Sentence upon him, how that he should go from that place to Newgate, for a time, and from thence to Burntwood, Where, said he, Thou shalt be Burnt.

After he had Condemned the rest, he called for William again, and would have perswaded him to Recant; saying, if thou wilt Recant, I will make thee a Free-man of the City; and I will give thee forty Pounds to set up thy Trade with, or I will make thee Steward of my House.

Replyed, I thank you for your great Offers, if you can­not perfwade my Conscience with Scriptures, I cannot find in my Heart to turn from God for the love of the World; for I count all things worldly but loss and Dung in respect of the Love of Christ.

Then said the Bishop, If thou diest in this mind, thou art damn­ed forever.

answered. God Judgeth righteously, and justifieth them whom man condemneth unjustly.

Then the Bishop departed, and William and the rest were sent to Newgate, where they remained about a Month, and then William was carried down to Burntwood, where his Father and Mother com­ing to him, hartily desired of the Lord, that he might continue to the end in that good way in which he had begun, counting them­selves happy, that they had a Child that could lose his Life for Christ's sake.

Many people resorted to the Inn to see him, whom he exhort­ed to leave the Abomination of Popisn Superstition and Idolatry. At his Execution he desired the people to pray for him.

that first apprehended him, standing by, said I will pray no more for thee, then I would for a Dog.

answered, Now you have what you sought for, I pray God it be not laid to your charge at the last day, I forgive you.

said, I ask no forgiveness of thee.

If God forgive you not, I shall require my Blood at your Hands.

The Fire being kindled, William said, I am not afraid; and lifting [Page 92]up his Hands, said, Lord receive my Spirit, and so sealed his Testimony with his Blood to the praise of God.

commanded an Officer to take Robert Hunter, William's Brother, and put him in the Stocks, until he came back from the burning of Higbed, at Hornden on the Hill; on the same day, after he was taken out of the Stocks, and brought before the Justice, he askt him, If he would do as his Brother had done? Robert Hunter, answered, If I do as my Brother hath done, I shall have as he hath had; Thou mayest be sure of that, said the Justice. But after some further Examination, he bid him go home.

Higbed and Canston Martyr. The next that suffured, were Higbed and Canston, both of Essex, two men so fervent for Religion, that in these blind and Idolatries times, could not lie long hid in obscurity, but were constrained to bear their Testimony, though it were by Death.

Bonnet perceiving these men were men of repute in their Country and such as were called Gentlemen, was so much the more concerned to bring them off their Profession, that he went down to Colchester him­self, to seek to reclaim them; sometimes using fair Promises and flattering Enticements; other times threatning them, with high words to terrifie them; in fine, seeing them both constant and un­moveable in their Zeal for their Religion, he caused them, and some others at the same time and for the same cause apprehended in that Country, to be brought up to London Prisoners, where they were committed close Prisoners, where they were first privately examined, and urged by all means to forsake their Opinions by the Bishop and his Chaplain: But when the Bishop saw that way would work no alteration, he caused them to be brought to open Examination at the Consistory at Pauls, the seventeenth day of the Mouth called February, 1555. where being further pressed to Recant of the Errors they said they held, and to return to the unity of the Church, which they still refused; whereupon, a great List of Articles were delivered them, and their Answers thereunto the next day required of them.

At the second time of their publick appearance and tryal their Answers were read, and Canston being first called, was exhorted a­gain to be conformable to the unity of the Church, into which (they said) they were ready to receive him; He replyed, you lay Snares and Gins to catch us, but mark, what measure you meet shall be mea­sured to you again.

Then Higbed was called, to whom the like perswasions were used; but to as little purpose as the other; for he told them, he had been sixteen years in that mind he was then in, and should not alter now.

At their last appearance before them, the Prisoners declared (cal­ling God to record) that their persisting in that stedfastness, was not in wilfulness, as some might judge, but for Conscience sake; for, said they, we sought the Lord, that we might do nothing contrary to his bles­sed [Page 93]Word, and in that he hath shewed his Power in our weakness, we cannot but praise him, unto whom we give thanks through Christ Jesus our Lord.

When they had thus spoken, the Bishop began to pronounce the Sentence against Canston; to whom Canston said, it was a rash Judg­ment without Love and Mercy; Then was sentence also pronounced against Higbed, and both delivered to the Sheriffs, who sent them to Newgate, where they remained fourteen dayes contiunally praising God, not so much concerned at their Afflictions as rejoyced in their Consolations, praying, and earnestly desiring they might per­severe to the end, to the praise of the Eternal God, and Comfort of the Brethren.

The fourteen dayes being expired, they were by four a Clock in the Morning led from Newgate to Algate, and there delivered to the Sheriff of Essex, who conveyed them to the places where they were Executed, viz. Higbed to Hornden on the hill, and Thomas Canston to Rayly, where they both with great constancy finished their Testimonies in the Fire, greatly rejoycing and giving the glory to God.

The next that suffered were William Pyget, Stephen Knight and John Lawrence, Pyget, Knight, Lawren [...] Martyr. at their Examinations it was demanded of them, to declare their Opinion concerning the Sacrament of the Altar; to which they answered, to this effect; That in the Sacrament of the Altar, under the forms of Bread and Wine, there is not the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ: This Answer being given, the Bishop caused Articles to be read against them, to which they answer­ed. The second time they were brought before him; he prest them to recant, which they refusing, saying, They should stick to their Faith. Wherefore, the third time being brought before him, he past Sentence upon them, and committed them to the Custody of the Sheriffs of London, who sent them to Newgate; where they re­mained in much Joy and comfort, and at last were had down to Essex, and there burnt. When Stephen Knight came to the Stake, which was at Maulden, he kneeled down and prayed; some Sentances of which Prayer are as followeth.

‘O Lord Jesus Christ, for whose Love I leave willingly this Life, and desire rather the bitter Death of the Cross, with the loss of all Earthly things, then to abide the Blasphemy of thy most holy Name, or to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandment; Thou seest, O Lord, that where I might live in Wordly Wealth, to Worship a false God, and honour thine Enemy, I choose rather the Torment of the Body, and the loss of this Life, and have count­ed all things but Vile, Dust and Dung that I might Win thee; which Death is Dearer unto me then thousand of Gold and Silver; such Love, O Lord, hast thou laid up in my Breast, that I Hun­ger for thee, as the Deer that is Wounded desireth the Soil; send thy holy Comforter, O Lord, to Aid, Comfort, and Strengthen this Weak piece of Earth, which is empty of all strength of it self; [Page 94]Thou rememberst, O Lord, that I am [...]ut [...], therefore as thou of thy Love hast bidden me to this Banquet, and accounted me worthy to drink of thine own Cup amongst thine Elect, even so give me strength, O Lord, that so through me strength of thy holy Spirit, I may pass through the rage of this fire, into thy Bossom, according to thy Promise, and for this Mortal receive an Immor­tall, and for this Corruptible put on Incorruption; accept this burnt Sacrifice and Offering, O Lord, not for the Sacrifice, but for thy Sons sake, for whose Testimony I offer this Free-will-Offering with my Soul; into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit, Amen.’

The next day John Lawrence was brought to Colchester, and being not able to go, his Legs being so worn in Prison with heavy Irons, and his Body weak, he was carried in a Chair to the Fire and burnt sitting.

After these, suffered two persons in Wales, viz. Robert Farrar, in Carmarthen, Robert Farrar and Raw­lins White Maryrs in Wales. who was a Bishop of a place called St. Davids, and one Rawlins white, a Fisher-man, burnt at Cardiff: This Rawlins, for the love that was in him to the Truth, and delight he took in hearing the Scriptures read, trained up his Son at School on purpose to read to him, because he could not read himself; and by often hearing the Scriptures read, having a good Memory, he so retained them, that he at last became an Instructor and Teacher to People, and travelled from place to place, with his little Boy with him, visiting such where he saw any hopes of receiving the Truth; ha­ving thus continued for five years, in Edward the sixths time he be­came a noted Preacher, until by the Bishop of Landaff he was com­mitted Prisoner to Chepstow, and from thence was removed to Cardiff Castle, where he continued a Prisoner a whole year, which tended to the ruin of his poor Wife and Children in this World; yet he, as a man unconcerned at the loss of the World, continued exhor­ting and speaking to such as came to visit him, declaring the Way of Salvation to them, according to the best of his understanding, ad­monishing them to beware of false Prophets, that come to them in Sheeps Cloathing. At his Examination, the Bishop speak to him to this effect, that they had taken pains to reduce him from his O­pinions, but seeing he continued still obstinate and willful, he must condemn him as an Heretick; but, said the Bishop to the People, before we proceed any further, let us pray that God may turn his heart; after Prayer, the Bishop askt him, how it was with him? and whether he would recant? He answered, Rawlins you left me, and Ralwins you shall find me: Thereupon he was carried again to Cardiff, and ordered to be put in the Town Prison, a very dark loathsom bad Prison, where he continued about three week, before he suffered, in which time the Enmity of his Persecutors was such, that they would have burnt him before the Writ de hareticis Comburendis came from London, had not the Recorder of the Town stopt them, tel­ing them if they should so do they were liable to be called in question; when the Writ came, as they had him to Execution, his Wife and [Page 95]Children met him by the way,Q. Mary. An. 1555. with great Weeping and Lamentation, at the Suddain sight whereof, his heart was so pierced, that the tears trickled down his Face; yet on he went cheerfully to the Stake, and being fastned thereto with a Chain, and the Fire kin­dled, he give up his life, crying, O Lord, receive my Soul; O Lord, receive my Spirit.

About this time the Pope knowing how things stood in England in reference to Religion, and how the Power of the Sword was turned against such as had been the chief Instruments in reforming Religion, he thought it was now a good time to stir, to redeem and cause to be restored to the Church such Rites as not long before had been taken from her; for Queen Mary signifying to the Council, that in her Conscience she was not satisfied until she had restored Abbey Lands to the former Proprietors: The Council objected against it upon this account, for that it brought in such an incom to the Crown, without which possessions, they said, it could not well be furni­shed, nor maintained; she answered, the Salvation of her Soul was more to her then ten Kingdoms (a zealous Expression, and could not have been discommended, had it been spoken in a good cause) The Pope hearing this, sends over a Bull, with all speed, with full Authority to Command the Restitution of Abbey Lands, thun­dring out Excommunication against all such as should detain them; but many of the chief, both of the Clergy, and others being against the alteration of those Laws that had given them to the Crown, considering the profit they brought in, over-ballanced that good will and affection they had to observe the Popes Directions and Command, which no doubt they were ready enough to incline to, had it not been in a matter wherein the Revenues of the Crown would have been so lessned, if the Bull had been prosecured; and therefore it was let fall without taking so much notice of it as to see it performed: but to return to shew the next that suffered.

The Sufferings and Examination of George Marsh Martyr, at West­chester the 24th day of the Moneth called April 1555.

The said George Marsh was born in the Parish of Deane, George Marsh Mar­tyr. in the County of Lancaster, about the Age of twenty five years, he Married, and took a Farm towards the Maintenance of himself and Family; for favouring the Protestant Religion, and Preaching a­gainst the Anti-Christian Doctrine of the Papists; he was at length apprehended and committed to Prison: The beginning of his trouble was thus; there was strict search made for him in Boulton, with intentions, if he had been apprehended to have him before the Earl of Derly, there to be examined concerning his Religion; divers of his Friends and Relations hearing of it, advised him to escape their hands, laying before him the danger that might ensue if he did not, which caused him to consult with himself, and to be full of trouble, not knowing what course he had best to take; but soon after a Friend writ to him, counselling him, that he should not flee, [Page 96]but abide, and boldly confess the Faith of Jesus Christ, at which words he was so confirmed and established in his Conscience, that from thenceforth he consulted no more, but was resolved to appear before those that sought after him, and patiently to bear such Cross as it should please God to lay upon him; upon which Conclusion be found great peace and quietness in his Conscience. And appear­ing before one Barton that had sought for him, Barton shewed him a Letter from the Earl of Darby, wherein he was Commanded to send the said George Marsh and others to Latham; when he came to Latham he was brought before the Earl of Darby, who after he had ask his name, enquired further of him, whether he was not one that sowed evil seed and diffention among the People, which thing he denied, desiring to know who were his Accusers; and after many more Questions askt him, in Conclusion they committed him to Ward, in a cold windy Stone House, where was little room, where he lay two nights without any bed, saving a few great Canvas Tent Cloths; and after two nights he had a pair of Sheets allowed him, but no Woolen clothes, and there was kept without any being suffered to come at him, only twice a day the Keeper when he brought him Victualls; shortly after he was brought before the Earl again, who examined him of the Sacrament, at his Answers the Earl seemed to be somewhat pleased, and hoped he would be conformable, and commanded that he should have a bed, and fire, and liberty to go amongst his Servants; when he departed he was much troubled in his Spirit, for fear lest he had given advantage to his Adversaries, in not confessing Christ so boldly as he ought to have done, and was much grieved, but considering his condition, he cryed earnestly unto the Lord, saying, Strengthen me with thy holy Spirit, with boldness to confess thee, and deliver me from their enticing words, that I may not be spoiled through their Phylosoply and vain deceit: A day or two after, he was sent for before two Priests, who began to discourse with him concerning the Mass, asking him, what part of the Mass offended him? he answered, the whole Mass did offend him; upon which discourse, and other matters that past between them, Ar­ticles were drawn up against him, and they exhorted him to recant his Opinions; he told them he could not change nor alter, and de­sired them to speak to the Earl, that during his Imprisonment, his Friends might be suffered to relieve him with necessaries, they still presisted to advise him to forsake his Opinions, not regarding any Worldly shame; he answered, what he did was not for avoiding Worldly shame, nor yet for any vain praise of the World, but in the re­verent fear of God; they told him, it was pity such a well-favoured Young man should so foolishly cast away himself; he answered them to this effect; My Wife, Children and other delights of this World, are as Sweet to me, as another mans may be to him, and I am as unwilling to lose them, as another would, if I might enjoy them with a good Conscience, but my trust is, said he, that God will strengthen me to lose them all for his sake; for I do not say or do any thing either out of Stubbornness, will­fullness, vain Glory, or any other Worldly purpose, but with a good Con­science [Page 97]in the fear of God; and farther said, I commit my cause unto God, who hath numbered the hairs of my head, and appointed the dayes of my life, who is a Righteous Judge, and will make inquisition for my blood.

From Latham he was carried to Lancaster Castle, where he was threa­tened for preaching to the people out of the Prison; shortly after he was carried to Lancaster, the Bishop of Chester came thither, and sent for the Goaler, and rebuked him for suffering George Marsh to fare so well, and from thence he was removed to Chester, and being brought before the Bishop, he was further examined concerning the Sacra­ment, and other matters, and Articles drawn up against him; and the last time he was brought before the Bishop, the Bishops Chancel­ler made a Speech to the people, to this effect; ‘The Bishop, said he, as a good Shepherd, doth see to his Flock, that no Scabby diseased Sheep infect the other, wherefore his Lordship hath sent for this George Marsh, as a Scabby Sheep, to weed him out, lest he corrupt others;’ and then read the Articles against him, and askt him, if he would have mercy; Marsh said, he durst not deny Christ; then the Bishop read the Sentence against him; and committed him to the Northgate Prison, and there was he kept in a dark Dungeon, where none dared to come to him, that had any Friendship towards him for fear of the Bishops threats, so that he was kept very strictly in Prison, until the time that he suffered death, having little comfort or relief from any worldly Creature; sometimes in an Evening, some Citi­zens (at a hole upon the Wall of the City that looked into the dark Prison) would call to him, and ask him how he did, he would answer them chearfully, that he did well, and thanked God that he of his Mercy had appointed him to be a Witness of his Truth, and to suffer for the same, wherein he did rejoyce, desiring that he might not faint under the Cross, but patiently bare the same to Gods Glory, and the Comfort of his Church; once he had ten pence cast him in at the said hole, and another time two shillings, which did help to supply his necessity; shortly after, he was led to the place of Execution, with a Lock upon his Foot; he began to exhort the people, but one of the Sheriffs would not suffer him to speak, saying, We must have no Sermon now; so with patience he ended his dayes in the Fire.

Whilst he was a Prisoner he wrot several Epistles to his Friends and Relations, and such as had been assistant to him in the time of his Sufferings; the Epistles being large, I shall only insert some of the Principle heads of some of them; which if the Reader pernseth, he will find them to be worth [...]oting, considering the time they were wrot in; and first, I shall begin with a letter he wrot to the Faithful Professors at Langton.

The next that suffered were John Cordmaker, John Cord­maker, and three other Martyrs. John warn Upholster of London, John Ardly and John Simson of Wigborrough in Essex husband­men; against these four persons many Articles were drawn up, for not conforming to the Doctrine of the Popish Church; according to common course of the Consistory Court they were several times cal­led, and the Articles against them read, which Articles were much alike against them all; and for refusing to recant they were all con­demned and burat about the Month of May.

The Examinations, Sufferings and Martyrdom of Thomas Hawkes (called a Gentleman) written by himself.

The said Thomas Hawkes, Thomas Hawkes Martyr. was condemned when Thomkins and the rest with him were condemned, which was in the Month cal­led February, but his Execution was not till the Month called June fol­lowing, and now coming in order to that Month it falls in course to relate his Tryals and Sufferings as followeth.

As touching his Education he was born in Essex of an honest stock, and bred up a Courtier, his Person and Stature very comly, and his mind endued with excellent qualities, a man of a gentle behaviour, and of a fervent love to true Religion and godliness; he was also sin­gularly adorned with valour and courage, whose Example therein was a good president to the rest of his Brethren; and as it is recor­ded of him, few men stood more notably, or triumphed more glori­ously then this young man; for he was so wise in the Cause of God, and so godly in his life, and so constant to the death, that he shined as a Star most clear in the Church by his Example. But to the Relati­on of his Sufferings, his Trouble first began for refusing to sprinkle his Child after the Papistical manner, for which the Earl of Oxford (to whose family the said Thomas Hawkes had not long before been a re­tainder) [Page 101]being apprehended and brought before the said Earl, he forth­with sent him to Bonner to London, with a Letter, signifying his Crime; his Examinations and Answers before the Bishop are very long, and therefore I have thought meet to insert only some of the chief or most principal matters contained therein.

Being brought before the Bishop, the first question he askt him, was; Why he left his Child unchristned so long?

Because I am bound to do nothing contrary to the Word of God.

Why Baptism is commanded by the word of God.

His Institution therein I do not deny.

What deny you then?

I deny things invented and devised by men.

What things are those that so offend you?

Your Oyle, Spittle, Cream, Candle, and Conjuring Water.

Will you deny that the whole World and your fore-Fathers were contented withall?

What my Father and all the World have done, I have no­thing to do with, but what God hath commanded me to do, to that I stand.

The Catholick Church hath taught it.

What is the Catholick Church?

It is the Faithful Congregation wheresoever it be dispersed throughout the World.

Who is the head thereof?

Christ is the head thereof.

Are we taught in Christ, or in the Church now?

In John, Its said, he would send the Comforter which should teach you all things.

I grant the Comforter was to lead into all Truth; but that was not to teach a New Doctrine.

Ah, Sir, you are a right Scripture man, you will have nothing but the Scripture; there are a great number of your Country men of your Opinion; and askt him, if he knew one Bagget?

He said, Yea.

Whereupon Bagget; by the Bishops order was called; the Bi­shop telling Hawkes, (in mean time) that he was a proud stubborn man.

It seemeth so to you, said Hawkes, because I do not bow to you.

Then Bagget appearing, the Bishop said, Do you know this man?

Yes.

He refuseth to have his Child Baptized after the custom now used in the Church, what say you to it?

I say nothing thereto; said the Bishop, Ile make you tell me whether it be laudable, and ought not to be used in the Church.

I beseech you parden me, he is old enough, let him answer for himself.

Ah, Sir Knave, are you at that point; go call me the Por­ter, said the Bishop, Thou shalt sit in the Stocks, and have nothing [Page 102]but bread and water; I perceive I have kept you to well; have I made thus much of you, and have I you at this point? The Porter being not in the way, the Bishop took him aside, and bid one of his men talk with Thomas Hawkes the while; who enquired of Hawkes, whom he knew in Essex, and who were his Teachers?

replyed, when I see your Commission Ile make you an­swer; and then returned the Bishop again, and sitting under a Vine in his Orchard, called for Bagget and Hawkes to him; and to Bagget he said, How say you now to Baptism; Ought it to be used as now it is in the Church?

To which Bagget said, yes, it is good.

I befool your heart could you not have said so before? you have wounded this mans Conscience. Then the Bishop turned to Hawkes, and said, How say you now, Sir, this man is turned, and Con­verted.

I build my Faith neither upon this man, nor upon you, but upon Christ only.

I perceive you are a stubborn Fellow, I must work ano­ther way with you to win you.

Whatsoever you do, I am ready to suffer it; for I am in your hands, and must abide it.

Well; you are so, come on your wayes, you shall go in, and I will use you Christian-like; you shall have meat and drink; but in any wise talk not.

I purpose to talk nothing but the Truth.

I will have no Hercsie talkt on in my House.

Why, Is the Truth become Heresie?

If you will have my favour take my counsel.

then let your Doctors and Servants give me no occasion; for if they do, I will surely utter my Conscience.

After Dinner, some of the Chaplains fell in discourse with Thomas Hawkes, and whilst they were reasoning, in came the Bishop, who said, Did not I give you a charge not to talk?

answered, Did not I desire your Servants should give me no occasion?

Then went he into his Orchard,After he had been a while in the Orchard, they went to the Chapple, and had Hawkes with them. and took his Doctors and Hawkes with him: to whom he spoke to this effect.

Will you be content to tarry here, and your Child shall be baptized, and you shall not see it, so that you will agree is it?

If I would have done so, I need [...]d not to have come to you, for I had the same counsel given me before.

Do you not think that the Queen and I cannot command it to be done in spite of your Teeth?

I shall not question what the Queen can do; but my con­sent you get never the sooner for that.

Well, you are a stubborn young man; I perceive I must work ano­ther way with you.

You are in the hands of God, and so am I.

Whatsoever you think, I would not have you speak such words to me; thou art a proper young man, God hath done his part [Page 103]unto thee, I would be glad to do thee good; thou knowst that I am thy Pastor, and one that shall answer for thee, if I do not Teach thee well.

That I have said I will stand to it, God willing, there is no way to remove it.

Nay, nay, Hawkes, Thou shalt not be so wilful; remember Christ bid two go into his Vineyard, the one said he would, and went not, the other said he would not, and went.

The last went.

Do thou likewise, and I will talk Friendly with thee; How sayst thou; It is in the sixth of John, I am the Bread of Life, and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh, &c. Do you believe this?

I must needs believe the Scripture.

Then I hope you are sound concerning the Sacrament.

I beseech you put no more to my Conscience then what I am accused of to you.

Well, well, let us go to Evensong, with that Hawkes turned his back to go out of the Chappel.

Why, will you not tarry?

No, I will not; It will not edifie me.

Then said the Bishop, I pray you tarry, you may pray by your self.

He replyed, I will not Pray in this Place, nor in no such.

Then said one of the Chaplains, let him go, my Lord, and he shall not pertake with us in our prayers.

I think my self best at ease when I am furtherst from you.

So to prayer they went, and Tho. Hawkes walkt in a Court, between the Hall and the Chappel, till they had done, and then he was cal­led up into the Bishops Bed-Chamber, where he examined him con­cerning the Sacrament; saying, you could not have your Conscience ex­amined any further, then in that you were accused of.

I thought you would not be both my Accuser and Judge.

And the Bishop speaking further of the Sacrament of the Altar.

said, I do not know it.

Well, we will make you know it, and believe in it too before we have done with you.

No, you shall never do that.

Yes, a Fagot will make you do it.

No, no, a point for your Fagot, what God thinketh meet to be done that shall ye do, and more shall ye not do.

How say you to the Mass, Sirrah?

I say it is Destable, Abominable, and Profitable for no­thing.

What nothing Profitable in it; what say you to the Epistle and Gospel?

Its good, if it be used as Christ left it to be used.

Well, I am glad that you somewhat Recant.

I have not, nor will not Recant.

How say you to Confiteor?

I say, it is Abominable, Detestable, and Blasphemy against God and his Son Christ, to call upon any, to turst to any, or to pray to any but to Christ Jesus.

The next day he was brought before Bonner, and another old Bi­shop; to whom Bonner said, This young man hath a Child, and will not have it Christened, and was very angry with Tho. Hawkes, cal­ling him Fool.

meekly replyed, A Bishop ought to be blameless, sober, dis­creet, no Chider, nor given to Anger.

Then said the old Bishop that stood by, Alas, young man! you must be taught by the Church, and by your Antients, and do as your fore­fathers have done before you.

Then said Bonner, No, no, he will have nothing but the Scriptures, and them he understands not; he will have no Ceremonies in the Church; what say you to holy Water?

I say to it as to the rest, and to all that be of his making that made them.

Why? the Scriptures allow it; and we read that Elisha threw Salt into the Water.

It's ture, Elisha threw Salt into the water, and the water became sweet and good, which before was Corrupted; when our waters are corrupted, if by throwing in your Salt you can make them sweet and wholsome, we will believe better of your Cere­monies.

You believe no Doctrine but that which is wrought by Mi­racles.

No, these tokens said Christ shall follow them that be­lieve in me, they shall speak with new Tongues, they shall cast out Devils, and if they drink any deadly Poyson it shall not hurt them.

With what new Tongues do you speak?

Whereas heretofore I was with my Tongue a foul Blasphemer, a filthy Talker; since I came to the Knowledge of the Truth, I have praised God, and given thanks to him: Is not this a new Tongue?

Did you ever drink any deadly Poyson?

Yes, that I have, for I have drunk of the Pestilent Traditions and Ceremonies of the Bishop of Rome.

Now you shew your self to be a right Heretick; you shall be burnt if you continue in this Opinion.

Where prove you that Christ or his Apostles did kill any man for his Faith.

Did not Paul Excommunicate?

Yes; but there is a great difference between Excommuni­cating and Burning.

Have you not read of the Man and the Woman in the Acts of the A [...]ostles whom Peter destroyed?

Yes, I have read of one Annanias and Saphira his wife, who were destroyed for Lying against [...]he holy Ghost, which serveth nothing to your purpose.

After some other words the Bishop went to Dinner, and Hawkes to the Porters Lodge.

After Dinner the old Bishop by Bonners advice took Hawkes into his Chamber, and sitting him down in his chair, said to him, I would to God I could do you some good; you are a young man, and I would not wish you to go too far.

I will bear with nothing that is contrary to the Word of God.

And he looked that the old Bishop should have made him an answer, but he was fallen fast asleep; then Hawkes departed our of the Cham­ber, and went to the Porter's Lodge again. The next day Fecknam camo and discoursed with him.

How say you, Christ took bread and brake it, and said, take, cat, this is my body.

Is every word to be understood as Christ spake it? Christ said, I am a door, a Vine. I am a King away, &c.

Christ spake these words in para [...]les.

And why spake he these in P [...]rables more then when he said, take, eat, this is my Body; for after the same phrase of speech that he said the one, he said the other?

Then Fecknam stood up, and said; Alas, these places serve no­thing for your purpose; I perceive you build upon them at Ox­ford.

I build my Faith upon no man, for if those men, and as many more should recant, and deny that they have said or done, yet will I stand to it, and by this shall you know that I build my Faith up­on no man.

If any of those recant, what will you say to it?

When they recant I will make you an answer.

Then Fecknam departed, and Hawkes went to the Porters Lodge again.

The next day Doctor Chadsey, and the Bishop entered discourse with him; he told Chadsey this man is Stubborn and will not Christen his Child, but is against the Ceremonies of the Church.

He thin [...]eth there is no Church but in England and Ger­many.

And you think there is no Church but the Church of Rome.

What say you to the Church of Rome?

I say, it is a Church of a Sort of vicious Cardinals, Priests, Monks and Fryars which I will never credit nor believe; after much more discourse, Chadsey at his parting said, it is pity thou shouldst live, or any such as thou art.

answered, In this Case I desire not to live, but rather to die.

The next day Chadsey was to preach in the Bishops Chappel, where [Page 106] Bonner would have had Thomas Hawkes to have gone in to hear him, but he would not go into the Chappel, but stood at the Door. After Dinner, the Bishop askt him, How he liked the Sermon.

To whom he replyed, as I like all the rest; then said the Bi­shop, it was made on purpose for you.

Said Howkes, I am sorry he should bestow so much labour upon one that so little regarded it.

The next day, the Bishop called him into his Chamber, and said, you have been with me a great while, and you are never the better, but worse and worse, and therefore I will delay the time no longer, but send you to Newgate.

You can do me no better pleasure.

Why would you so fain go to Prison?

Truly I did look for none other when I came to your hands.

Come on your wayes, you shall see what I have written; And then shewed him several Articles he had drawn up against him; whereupon he thought he should have been carried to Prison the next day, and so he had, but that he was kept till Doctor Harpsfield had some discourse with him; who began to perswade him concer­ning the Sacrament, and the Ceremonies; and after much talk, he said, That the Sacrament of the Altar was the same Body that was born of the Virgin Mary, which did hang upon the Cross.

He was upon the Cross both alive and dead; which of them was the Sacrament?

Harpsfield, Alive.

How prove you that.

You must believe, he that believeth not is condemned already.

saith, he that believeth not in the Son of God is con­demned already, he does not say, he that believeth not in the Sacra­ment is condemned already.

There is no talking with you.

Then said Hawkes, Why is the Roodloff set between the Body of the Church and the Chancel?

You have askt a question you cannot answer your self.

Yes, that I can, for this, saith one of your own Do­ctors, that the Body of the Church doth present the Church Milli­tant, and the Chancel the Church Triumphant; and so because we cannot go from the Church Millitant to the Church Triumphant, but that me must bare the Cross of Christ, this is the cause of the Roodlof [...] being between the Body of the Church and the Chancel.

This is well and Clarklike concluded.

As all the rest of your Doctrines, and so the discourse end­ed, and Thomas Hawkes returned again to the Porters Lodge.

The next day being the first day of the Mon [...]th, called July, the Bishop went to the Porters Lodge himself, and called Thomas Hawkes to him; and commanded him to make ready to go to Prison, and writ a Warrant, and sent two men with him to the Gate-house [Page 107]at Westmenster; in the Warrant he writ to this effect to the Keeper, to keep him safe Prisoner, and let none speak with him; for that (said he) he is a Sacramentary, and one that speaketh against Bap­tism, a seditious and perilous man; some dayes after his com­mitment, the Bishop sent two of his men, to see how he did, and whither he was the same man still; to whom he answered, I do like a Prisoner, and am not changed; They said, my Lord would be glad that you should do well: If he will do me any good, said Hawks, let him suffer my Friends to come to me, so they departed, but Hawkes heard no more of the Bishop till the third day of the Mon [...]th, called September, following: And then Bonner brought a charge against him, and required him to set his hand to it, but he refused, saying, I shall set my hand to nothing of your making or devising: then the Bi­shop in great anger thrust him on the breast, and said, he would be even with him, and with all such proud Knaves in Essex.

You shall do no more ther God shall give you leave: And as for your Cursings, and Railings, I care not for them, for I know the Moths an [...] Worms shall eat you.

I w [...] be even with you, when time shall come.

You have been even with some of us already; you may in your Mallice destroy a man, but when you have done, you cannot do so much as make a finger.

If I do thee any wrong, take the Law of me.

Soloman saith, Go not to Law with a Judge, for he will judge according to his own honour.

Soloman saith, Give not a Fool an answer; and I count thee a Fool, and so dost thou me, but God forgive thee.

Thought is free.

Then took Bonner the Bill of Articles, and read it again; when he saw he could not have Hawkes hand to it, he bi [...] him take it into his hand, and give it him again.

What needeth that Ceremony? It shall neither come in­to my hand nor heart.

After these private Conferences between the Bishop and Thomas Hawkes, the Bishop seeing no hopes to win him to his Wicked Wayes, he was fully bent to proceed openly against him; and to that end caused him to be brought to the publick Consistory; where Bonner brought the Articles (he refused to sign) against him, the Bi­shop adding four more to them; to the which Hawkes answered publickly; then the Bishop exhorted him to return to the Mother Church; but in a constant resolution he satisfied them he should never recant, so long as he lived; whereupon Bonner past the Sentence of Death upon him and shortly after he was delivered to the Sheriff of Essex, and burnt at a Town called Coxhall.

The Sufferings, Examinations and Martyrdom of Thomas Watts.

The said Thomas Watts, of Billery Key, in the County of Essex, Thomas Watts Mar­tyr. Lin­nen Draper, expecting for his non Conformity to be shortly appre­hended, he disposed of his Estate for the benefit of his Wife and Chil­dren; and according to his expectation, not long after he was had be­fore the Judges at Chelmsford, where one called the Lord R [...]ch, spake to him to this effect; Watts, You are brought hither, because you will not obey the Queens Laws, and will not go to Church, nor hear Mass, but have your Conventicles in Corners.

replyed, If I have offended a Law, I am here subject to the Law.

Then Justice Brown said to him; Watts, who first taught thee this Religion?

You taught it me, and none more then you; for in King Edwards Dayes, in open Sessions you spoke against this Religion now used, calling the Mass abominable, exhorting people not to believe in it, but to believe in Christ only.

Then said Justice Brown, what a Knave is this, to b [...]ly me to my face: Hereupon a letter was writ and signed by the Justices, and Watts sent up to Bonner, as a Non-conformist; what entertainment he received from the Bishop at their private conference no mention is made of it; but about the beginning of the Month called May, he was brought to the publick Consistory, where Articles were objected a­gainst him for denying the Sacrament of the Altar, and saying the Mass was abominable; being brought the second time into the Consistory; [Page 110]the Bishop counselled him to Recant; to which he answered, I am weary to live in such Idolatry as you would have me to live in: He was several times afterwards brought before them, and continuing sted­fast in his Religion, which the Bishop perceiving, fell to his last and strongest Argument, which was to pass Sentence of Death upon him, and delivered him to the Sheriff of London; where he continued till the ninth day of the Month called June, and then was carried to Chelmsford, where his wife and his six Children met him; to whom he said, My Wife and Children, I must now depart from you, therefore henceforth know I you no more, but as the Lord hath given you unto me, so I again give you unto the Lord; charging them to fear and obey him and to beware of the abominations of Popery, and so sealed his Testimo­ny in the Fire.

After this Watts there were three others suffered in this County of Essex, viz. Thomas Osmond Fuller, William Bamford Weaver, Nicholas Chamberla Weaver, all of Coxhall; one and the same Articles were objected against them all, viz. for denying the Sacrament of the Altar, Auricular Confession, &c. according to the accustomed manner, they were several times brought to the Consistory, where they were some­times flattered, and sometimes threatened, to see if they would re­cant, after the common usage of the Ecclesiastical Court, and at last were condemued as Hereticks, and delivered to the Sheriffs, and shortly after were all three burned in Essex.

John Brad­ford and John Lease Martyrs. The next that suffered were John Bradford, and one John Lease, an Apprentize to a Tallow-Chandler; the chief matter for which they suffered was, for denying the real presence in the Sacrament, Auricular Confession, &c.

The said John Lease, after he had been examined by the Bishop, had the Articles of his Confession sent to him to the Courter Prison to sign, after he hard them read, because he could not write, in stead of a Pen he took a pin, and pricking his hand sprinkled the blood upon the paper, and bid the Messenger tell the Bishop, he had sealed them with his blood already.

The Words that John Bradford spoke at the Stake, were to this effect; O England, England, repent thee of thy Sins, repeat thee of thy Sins, beware of Idolatry, beware of false Anti-christs, take heed they do not deceive you, Strait is the Way, and Narrow is the Gate that leadeth to Eternal Salvation, and few there be that find it.

This John Bradford, during the time of his imprisonment, exerci­sed himself in writing several consolating Letters, not only to particu­ler persons, but to several Towns and Counties where he had labou­red, shewing his great Zeal for the encreasing and spreading the most reformed Religion, earnestly exhorting all men, and tenderly com­forting the heavy hearted, confirming and encouraging all to continue stedfast in the Way he had taught them.

Bland, Fran­kish, Shetter­den and Middleton Marytr. Shortly after were four others burnt at Canterbury, viz. John Bland, John Frankish, Nicholas Shetterden, and Humfrey Middleton, all con­demned for their denying the real Presence in the Sacrament.

Shetterden, being at first illegally committed, when he was brought [Page 111]before the Chief Pri [...]sts, and examined upon certain Articles, he re­quired [...] see their Commission, which they shewed, and read to him, whereby he perceived that upon suspition they might examine upon two A [...]ieles, viz. [...]hather Christs real Presence were in the Sacrament (so called) and whether the Church of England were Christs Catholick Church.

Whereupon Sh [...]terden said, I have been a Prisoner three quarters of [...]ar, and as I think wrongfully, reas [...]n would therefore that I should answer to those things wherefore I was first [...]ed.

The Sus [...]agan said, his Commission was, You m [...]st ans [...]er directly, yea, or [...]y.

This Commission was not general to examine whom you woodd b [...]t upon just s [...]sp [...]ion.

said, You are suspected, and presented to me.

I require the Accusation may be shewed.

I am not bound to shew it.

For what I have done I ask no favour; but as I am a Subject, I require Justice.

You are suspected.

Prove vour suspition, or shew the cause of it.

Thou wast cast into Prison for that cause.

Because I was cast into Prison contrary to the Law of God; must I now to make me amends be examined upon suspition, with u [...]a cause, to hide all the wrong done to me before?

Then said the Bishop, I my self do suspect thee.

Whereby, said Shetterden?

It is [...]n [...] matter whereby you are suspected.

It is not meet for you to be my Accuser and my Judge: If I have offended the Law, let me be punished, I ask no favour.

Then said they, You are obstinate, and will not answer.

Because you greedily seek Blood, I will answer only to what you have against me.

No, we seek not thy Blood, but thy Conversion.

That we shall s [...]e, if you first prove that you have a­gainst me before you condemn me upon suspition.

Sh [...]r [...]ly after he was had before the Bishop of Winchester.

I have sent for you, because I hear you are indictedof Heres [...] and being called before the Commissioners, you will not answer, nor submit your self.

I did not refuse to answer, but did plainly answer, that I had been in Prison a long time, and I thought it was but reason that I should b [...] charged or discharged for that, and not to be exami­ced upon Articles, to hide my wrong imprisonment; neither did I know any Indictment against me; if there were any, it could not be just; for I was not abroad since this Law was made.

Yet if you be suspected you ought to clear your self.

I thought it sufficient to answer to my Offences, &c.

If thou wilt declare thy self, thou shalt go, and then thou wayst have a Writ of wrong Imprisonment.

I am not minded to sue, but require Justice to be done me; and if I have offended the Law, let me be punished; and after some other discourse the Bishop departed.

being examined (who was one of the four burnt at this time) concerning his belief in the Sacrament, he said, he believed in his own God, my living God, and no dead God.

After their Examinations they were condemned by the Bishop of Dover the five and twentith day of the Month called June 1555. and were delivered to the secular power, and all burnt in one Fire at Can [...]erbury.

before his death, prayed to this Effect.

O Lord my God and Saviour, which art Lord in Heaven and Earth, Maker of all things visible and invisible, I am thy Creature, and Work of thy Hands, Lord God look upon me, and other thy People which at this time are oppressed of the Worldly minded for thy Lawes sake; Yea, Lord, thy Law it self is now trodden under foot, and mens Inventions exalted above it, and for that cause do I, and many thy Creatures refuse the Glory Praise and Commodity of this Life, and do choose to suffer adversity, and to be bani­shed, yea, to be burnt with the Books of thy Word, for the hopes sake that is laid up in store; for, Lord, thou knowest, if we would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word, we might by their permission enjoy these Comodities that others do, as Wife, Children, Goods, and Friends, all which I acknowledge to be thy Gifts, given to the end I should serve thee; and now, Lord, that the World will [...]ot suffer me to enjoy them, except I offend thy Laws, behold, I give unto thee my whole Sp [...]rit, Soul and Body, I leave all the pleasures of this life, in hopes of Eternal life, purchased by Christs Blood for all them that are content to suffer with him for the Truth.

In the conclusion of his Prayer he cryed, Lord Jesus receive my Spi­rit into thy Hands, Amen.

In the same Month, next after the suffering of the aforesaid Ken­tish men,Nicholas Hall and Christopher Waid Mar­tyrs. followed the death and Martyrdom of Nichola [...] Hall Brick­layer, and Christopher Waid of Dartford, both condemned by the Bi­ship of Rochester, about the last day of the Mouth called June, upon Articles much to the same effect as the Kentish mens were; As that they should hold and maintain, that in the Sacrament of the Al­tar, under the forms of Bread and Wine, is not the very Body and Blood of Christ; and that the Mass was nought and Abomi­nable.Three o­thers burnt in Kent.

In the Month called July, three others were condemned by the same Bishop, whose names were Joan Beech widdow, John Harpolt of Roche­ster, and Margery Polly. Derick Car­ver, John Launder Martyrs.

The twenty second day of the same Month Derick Carver was burnt at Lewis in the County of Sussex, and the next day John Launder was [Page 113]burnt at Stenning, in the same County; they were first apprehended by one Edward Gage, as they were at prayer within the dwelling house of the said Derick Carver, and by him sent up to the Council, who after examination, sent them to Newgate, and shortly after were ex­amined privately by Bonner, who used many fair words to perswade them to recant of their Religion, who when he saw that way would not do, he caused them to be brought to the publick Consistory at Pauls, where the Bishop first beginning with Derick Carver, causing his Articles and Answers to be openly read, asking him, whether he would stand to the same, to whom Derick replyed, he would; for, said he your Doctrine is Poyson and Sorcery, and if Christ were here, you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before: your Ceremonies are beggerly, and your Auriculer Confession is very Poyson.

The Bishop seeing his constancy, and that neither his accustomed flatteries, nor yet his cruel threatnings could once move him to en­cline to their Idolatry, he pronounced his usual Sentence against him, and also against John Launder, and delivered them both to the She­riffs, who conveyed them to the aforesaid places in Sussex, wh [...]re they were both burnt.

When Derick Carver came to the Stake he bore Testimony to the people to this effect, as followeth, Dear Brethren and S [...]sters, Witness to you all, that I am come to Seal with my Blood Chr [...]sts Gospe [...], because I know that it is true, and because I will not deny here Gods Gospel, and be obedient to mans Laws, I am condemned to die; and he said further, O Lord my God, thou hast written, he that will not fors [...]ke wife. Children, House, and all that ever he hath, and take up the Cross and follow thee, is not worthy of thee; but thou, Lord, knowest that I have forsaken all to come unto thee; Lord have Mercy upon me, for unto thee I command my Spi­rit, and my Soul doth rejoyce in thee.

At Chichester about the same Moneth was burnt one Thomas Jveson of Godsto [...]e in the County of Surrey Carpenter;Tho. Jveson Martyr. his Examination and Ar­ticles were much like Derick Carver and John Launder's; when the Bi­shop prest him to recant, he said, he would not recant for all the goods in London; I do apeal, said he, to Gods mercy, and will be none of your Church, nor submit my self to the same, and what I have said I will say again, and if there came an Angel from Heaven to teach me any other Doctrine then that which I am now in, I would not believe him, for which answer he was condemned as an Heretick, and shortly after was burnt at Chichester as before is mentioned.

James Abbies, a Young man,James Ab­bies Martyr. which through compassion (of the Tyranny then used) travelled from place to place to avoid the peril of the times, but at last happened to be apprehended, and to be brought before the Bishop of Norwich, who examining of him con­cerning his Religion, and very strictly charging him, sometimes with threats, and other whiles with flatteries, perswading him at last, the Young man did yield to their perswasions, although against his Conscience; then the Bishop dismist him, giving him a small piece of Money; he was no sooner gone from the Bishop, but his Con­science [Page 114]began to work, and inwardly to be Accused, how that he had displeased the Lord, by consenting to their delusions; whereupon he immediately went back to the Bishop, and threw him his Money a­gain, saying, I repent that ever I consented to your wicked perswasions, and received your Money: Upon this the Bishop, with his Chaplins, fell a labouring to reduce him again, but all was in vain, for he would not yield to them at all, but with constancy suffered death for his Religion, being burnt in Bury the second day of the Moneth called August 1555.

The next that suffered were John Denly, John Newman and Pa­trick Packington, John Deuly John New­man, and Patrick Packington Martyrs. the manner of their apprehending was as follow­eth.

One Edmund Terril a Justice in Essex having been at the Execu­tion of certain Martyrs, met with John Denly and John Newman (both of Maidstone in Kent, travelling upon the way, and going to [...]i­sit their Friends; upon sight of them, the said Terrill suspected them to be religious persons, and caused them to be apprehended, and searched, and at last sent them up to London to the Queens Commissi­oners, who shortly after sent them to Bishop Ben [...]er, who, accord­ing to his accustomed manner, would have perswaded them to recant; to whom, Denly said, God keep me in the mind that I am in, and from your Counsel; for that you count Heresie I take to be the Truth: Shortly after they were brought to the open Consistory, where Articles were drawn up against them, but their unmovea­ble constancy appearing, they were soon condemned for Here­ticks, and delivered to the Sheriffs of London, to see them Exe­cuted.

The Chief heads of the Examination of John Newman, be­fore Doctor Tornton and others, are as followeth.

How say you to this, This is my Body which is given for you.

It is a figurative speech, one thing spoken, and another meant, as Christ saith, I am a Vine, I am a Door, I am a Stone; Is he therefore a material Stone, a Vine, and a Door?

This is no figurative speech, for he saith, This is my Body which is given for you, and so saith, he not of the Stone, Vine, or Door; but that is a figurative speech.

Christ saith, this Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood, if ye will have it so meant, then let them take and eat the Cup.

Nay, that is not so meant; for it is a common Phrase of speech among our selves, we say to our Friend, drink a Cup of drink, and yet we account he should drink the drink in the Cup.

Why, if you will have the one sound erstood, you must so understand the other.

Well, how say you, is the Body of Christ really in the Sacra­ment or no?

No, I believe it not.

Well, will you stand to it?

I must needs stand to it, till I be perswaded by a fur­ther truth.

Many other Questions Thornton asked, which for brevity sake are omitted, being not very material to be inserted.

Six persons burned at Canterbury, and one at Chichester. About this time there suffered death for the same Cause seven per­sons, viz. one Richard Hooke, burnt at Chichester in Sussex, and the other six were all burnt at Canterbury, viz. William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Lawrence, Richard Colliar, Richard Wright, and William Steer; the last six were persecuted by the aforesaid Thornton Bishop of Dover, for denying the real presence in the Sacrament, and Auri­cular confession, &c. Henry Lawrence being charged, for not putting off his Cap, when Mention was made of the Sacrament by the Suffergan; the said Lawrance told them, It was not so holy that they need put of their Caps to it, calling it an Idol, &c. Richard Wright, another of the Prisoners, being asked what he believed concerning the Sacrament of the Altar, he said, he allowed not of it, nor of the Mass, but was ashamed to speak of them.

At this time the Prisons at London began to be filled with the Ser­vants of God, many being daily committed, being sent up to the Commissioners from one part of the Nation or another, and now here is an account of Ten persons sent by the Commissioners, to Bon­ner, at one time, as appears by the following Letter.

An Account of the most remarkable Passages at their Exami­nation and Executions, are as followeth.

Elizabeth Warne Martyr. Elizabeth Warne of London Widdow, her Husband being not long before her death, burnt for the same cause she was first apprehended at a Meeting in Bow-Lane, where she, with others, were at prayer, and was first carried to the Counter, and from thence to Newgate; be­ing brought before Bonner, the common Articles usally administred to the Martyrs, and such as had before suffered were objected a­gainst her: In the end, being brought divers times before him, [Page 116]and urged to recant, she said, do what you will; for if I am in an Error, Christ was in an Error, upon which answer he condemned her as an Heretick, and she was burnt at Stratford-Bow neer London, about the latter end of the Month called May, 1555.

George Tankerfield of London, Cook, born in the City of York, Aged about twenty seven years,G. Tanker­field Mar­tyr. at his first conversion, being some­thing touched in his understanding; he desired the Lord would open his Truth to him; according to his Request there was wrought in him daily a further detestation of the Mass, and such Idolatrous stuff, so that he did abhor the same, and his mind came more and more to be enlightened, that at length such a Flame was kindled in him, that he began not only to reprove, and declare against his own for­mer ignorant actions, but exhorted others to repent, and to return to the Truth; but no sooner did this good thing stir in him, but the bad stirred in his Adversaries against him, who sent one to his House to apprehend him; when the Messenger came for him, he was from home, but the Messenger declaring to his Wife a Lye, saying that he was come for her Husband to dress a Banquet for the Lord Paget; the Woman mistrusting no evil in the matter, sought out her Hus­band, and acquainted him of the business; the poor man, when he heard the Message, said, A Banquet Woman, indeed its such a Banquet as will not be very pleasent to the Flesh, but Gods will be done; and went home with her, where he was soon apprehended, and had to Newgate: shortly after he was brought to Examination before Bonner, where the common Articles concerning the Sacra­ment, and Auricular Confession, &c. were objected against him, and for refusing to recant, Sentence was past against him, and he was delivered to the Sheriff of Hartford-Shire, and burnt at Albions upon the 26th of the Moneth called August 1555.

The Sufferings and Examination of Robert Smith who Suffered for the Truth in the Month called August 1555.

Robert Smith, was brought to Newgate the fif [...]h of the Month called November, by John Mathew, yeoman of the G [...]ard, by order of the Council; this Smith first served in the house of Sir Thomas Smith Knight, being then Provest of Eaton, from thence he was pre­ferred to Windsor, having there in the Colledge a Clerk n [...]p of ten pounds a year, of stature he was tall and slender, a [...]e [...]bout many things: In Religion he was fervent; after he had [...]ce [...]d the Truth, at the coming of Queen Mary to the Crown he was [...]eprived of his Clerkship by her Visitors, and not long after w [...]s appreheaded and brought to Examination before Bonner, as here followeth, written and testified with his own hand.