Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny

The martyrdom of John Rogers.

T He fourth of February suffered M. John Rogers. His examination before the Lord Chancellor, and the rest of the Council, the two and twentieth of January.

When they touched me with marriage being a Priest: I said the true Catholik Church did ever allow marriage to Priests.

His second examination.

Then I was asked of the real presence in the Sacrament: I said I could not understand really and substantially, but corporally, and corporally Christ is only in heaven, a • d cannot be corporally in the sacrament also.

When definitive sentence was read against him, the Lord Chancellor said. I was in the great curse; what a vengable dangerous matter it were to eat and drink with us accursed, or to give us anything: for they that so did should be partakers of the same great curse.

Well my Lord, quoth I, I never willingly taught false doctrine, and therefore have a good conscience before God and men, and I shall be found a true member of the Catholic Church of Christ, and everlastingly saved: you need not excommunicate me from your Church, the Lord be thanked I have not been in • t this twenty years: now you have done what you can▪ I am sure you and I shall appear before Christ, and then I shall be as good a man as you.

Then I earnestly desired my wife might come to me whilst I lived: for we have ten children, and • would counsel her what is best for her to do, which he would not grant, saying that she was none of my wife.

Then I have tried all your charity, said I: you make yourself highly displeased with marriage of priests, but you maintain open whoredom; in Wales every Priest hath his whore openly, and so the Pope suffereth all the Priests in the Low-countries and France to do the like.

He prophesied truly of the destruction of Papistry shortly in England, and the dispersed English flock of Christ shall be brought again into their former estate, or better then in K. Edwards time, and the bloody Babylonicall Bishop, and the whole crown-shorn company brought to utter shame and destruction: for God will not suffer their abominable lying and false doctrine, blood-thirst, whoredom, idleness and poisoned stomachs which they bear towards poor and miserable Christians: some of them shall have their judgment in this world, and they that do escape in this world, shall not escape in the world to come everlasting damnation: this shall be your sauce, O ye wicked Papists, make merry as long as you may; and he exhorted the faithful to be careful then to displace Papists, and to put good ministers into cures, or else your end will be worse then ours.

As he came to the fire he sang Miserere by the way: all the people wonderfully rejoiced at his constancy: whilst he was burning he wash: his hands in the flame: his pardon was brought him at the stake, which he refused: he was the first martyr in Queen Mary's time that gave first adventure upon the fire.

The martyrdom of Laurence Sanders.

HEe was parson of All-hallowes in Breadstr • et, and being minded to give over another Church which he had in Leicester-shire, called Churchlangton: about that time came the broile about the claim that Q. Mary made to the crown; by reason whereof he could not accomplish his purpose. In this trouble he preached at Northampton, & boldly uttered his consci • nce against popish doctrine, and Antichrists damnable errors, which were like to spring up again in England, as a just plage for the little l • ue which the English nation did bear to God's word, which had been so plentifully offered unto them: the Queens men which were there & heard, were highly displeased with him for his Sermon, and kept him amongst them as a Prisoner, but for the love of his Brethren and Friends, which were chee • e do • rs for the Queen, and because there yet was no Law against him, they dismissed him.

He being inflamed with the fire of godly zeal, preached with diligence at both his Benifices, as time could serve him, until the Proclamation was put forth as aforesaid: at which time he was at his Benefice in the Country, where contrary to the proclamation, he • aught diligently God's truth, confirming the people therein, and arming them against false Doctrine, until he was commanded to cease, and with force re •• stead▪ then he returned towards London, to visit the flock which he had there in charge: and as he was coming nigh to the Citty, Sir John Mordant, a Counceller to Queen Mary, overtook him, and asked him whether he went: I have, said Sanders, a Cure in London, and I go to instruct my people according to my duty. If you will fo • low my council (quoth Master Mordant ) let them alone, and come not at them, Sanders answered: How shall I then be discharged before GOD? Did not you (quoth Mordant ) preach such a day in Breadstreete? Yes said he, That is my Cure, I heard you (quoth Mordant ) and it please you, said he, you shall hear me again in the same place tomorrow, where I will affirm by the authority of God's word all that I then said, and whatsoever I have formerly taught them. I would counsel you not to preach, said he. If you can or will forbid me by law I must obey. Nay, quoth he, I will not forbid you, but give you counsel, and so they departed. Mordant told Bonner that Saunders would preach in his cure the next Sunday.

One that was about Saunders perceiving by him that he was troubled, asked him how he did: indeed, said he, I am in prison until I be in prison, meaning he was unquiet until he had preached, and then he should be in quiet though he were put in prison.

The next day he preached upon the second to the Corinthians, and the eleventh Chapter.

I have coupled you a pure Virgin to Christ, but I fear as the Serpent beguiled Eve; so your wills should be corrupted from the singleness which you had toward Christ Jesus.

He rejoiced in the sum of that true doctrine whereby we are coupled so Christ, and saved by free justification by his blood: he compared the papistical doctrine to the Serpents deceauing; and left they should be deceived by it, he made a comparison betwixt the voice of Christ and the popish Serpent, wherein he shown the difference betwixt the Service set forth by King Edward in the English t • ng, and the popish service then used in the Latin tongue. And that the first was good, because it was according to the word of God, & the order of the primate church. The other is evil, because though some good Latin words be in it, yet was it but as it were a little honey and milk with a great deal of poison to drink up all.

In the afternoon he being ready to preach again to the Bishop▪ where was Sir John Mordant. Boner • aid unto his charge the breaking of the proclamation, and also heresy: but his Charity was content to let alone the Treason. But he would prove him an heretic, and all such as taught the administration of the Sacraments, and the order of the Primitive Church are most pure that come nearest to the order of the Primatiue Church, for the church was then in her infancy and could not abide that perfection, which was after to be furnished with ceremonies,

Sanders answered: Saint Augustine saith ceremonies were at first ordained for the weak infirmity of man, therefore it was a token of the more perfection of the primative Church, that it had • ew ceremonies, and a token of the 〈◊〉 of the Church papistical, because it had so many ceremonies, 〈◊〉 blasphemous, some unsavory, and some vnpro •• table.

Then the Bishop bade him write what he believed of transubstantiation, which he did, saying, My Lord, you seek my blood and you shall have it: I pray God you may be baptized in it, that you may after loath blood-sucking, and become a better man: this writing the Bishop kept to cut his throat with. Then the Bishop sent him to the Lord Chancellor, who kneeling before him, the Lord Chancellor said, How happeneth it that you have preached contrary to the Queens Proclamation? Saunders answered, as he was admonished by Ezekiel, because he saw perrilous times at hand, he exhorted his parishioners to persevere in those things which they had learned, for by the example of the Apostles we must obey God before man: we do only profess the sincerity of the word, which although it be now forbidden us to preach with our mouths, yet our blood hereafter shall manifest the same. The Bishop said, carry away this frenzy fool to prison. Saunders answered he thanked God he had given him a place of rest, where he might pray for the Bishops conversion.

Saunders told one that lay with him in prison, that in the time of his examination he was wonderfully comforted, and received a taste of the communion of Saints: a pleasant refreshing did issue from every part of his body to his heart, and from thence into all parts again. He continued in prison a year and three months, and then he was sent for before the Lord Chancellor, who offered him his pardon if he would recant; which because he refused, he was condemned upon his opinion against the Sacrament, with his hand in writing unto Bonner, as before is related.

Then he was carried unto Coventry, and one night he was put into the common Jail amongst other prisoners, where he slept little, but spent the night in prayer and instruction of others: the next day he was led to execution into the Park without the City, going in old gown and a shirt, bare-footed, and as he went he oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed. When he was come nigh to the place▪ the officer told him he was one of them that marred the realm with heresy, wherefore thou hast deserved death, yet if thou wilt revoke thine heresies the Queen hath pardoned thee.

Then answered Saunders, It is not I nor my fellow Preachers that have hurt the realm▪ but it is your-self and such as you are which alter God's word, for I hold no heresies, bnt the doctrine of God and Christ unto everlasting life; and so full sweetly he slept in the Lord.

He wrote many godly letters to Divines during the time of his imprisonment, which thou mayest see in the book at large.

The martyrdom of JOHN HOOPER Bishop of Worcester.

ABout the beginning of the six Articles in the time of King Henry the eighth, being in danger for religion, he went beyond Sea, where he was lovingly entertained at Basel and at Zurich of Master Bullinger his singular friend, where he married his wife, which was a Burgundian; and in the reign of King Edward he repaired home, amongst many other English exiles: who being come to London, used to preach twice, or at least once every Sunday: and at his Sermons the Church would be so full that none could enter further into the doors thereof: he was in tongue eloquent, in Scriptures perfect, in pains indefatigable: after he was called to preach before the King, and soon after made Bishop of Gloster: in that office he continued two years, and behaved himself so well, that his very enemies, except it were for good doings, and sharp correcting of sin, could find no fault with him: and after that he was made Bishop of Worcester, he sustained much vexation about his investing, because he would not wear the Priestly vestures.

In his Bishops palace in every corner there was favor of honest conversation and reading of the Scriptures, there was no Courtly roysting or idleness, no pomp at all, no dishonest word nor swearing; every day he had to dinner a certain number of poor folk of the City by course, and before dinner they were examined by him or his Deputies of the Lord's Prayer, the Articles of their Faith, and ten Commandments.

In Queen Mary's time he was one of the first that was sent for to London by a Purseuant: The Bishop of Winchester received him very approbriously railing and rating him, accused him of religion, and committed him to the fleet.

The next year he was sent for before the Bishop of Winchester, of London, of Durham, of Landaffe, and of Chichester; where after he had suffered many checks, taunts and mocks, that he could not be suffered to make any answer: because he said he would not go from his Wife, and that he believed not the corporal presence in the Sacrament, he was deprived of his Bishoprics.

By his committance he was to have the liberty of the Fleet, and when he had paid five pound for his liberty▪ the Warden complained to Gardener and made him to be committed close prisoner a quarter of a year, then he had liberty to come to dinner and supper, and presently to return to his Chamber without speaking to his friends: the Warden, and his Wife, would ever be picking quarrels with him, and after one quarter of the year fell out with him about the Mass: Then the Warden obtained of Gardener that he should be put into the Wardes, where he continued a long time, having nothing to lie on but a rotten Couering with few Fethers in it: On the oneside was the stink and filth of the house, on the other side, the stinking Town ditch, so that the stink infected him with diverse diseases, and being very sick he cried for help: but the warden, when he hath known me ready to die, and poor men have called to help him, he hath commanded the door to be kept fast, and charged none of his men to come at him, saying; let him alone, it were a good riddance of him.

Untill he was deprived, he paid him twenty shillings a week for his table, and since as the best Gentleman, and yet used worse then the veriest Slaue: he imprisoned and stripped his man, to find Letters, but could find none, but a remembrance of their names that gave him Alms, and to undo them, he delivered the Bill unto STEPHEN GARDINER, there he continued almost eighteen • months.

The twentieth of January he was brought to Gardiners house, at Saint Mary-Oueries, where the Bishop of Winchester with other Bishops, moved M Hooper earnestly, to forsake his evil and corrupt doctrine, preached in King Edwards days, and to return to the unity of the Catholic Church, and to acknowledge the Popes Holines the supreme head thereof, according to the determination of the whole Parliament, promising that as he himself and other his Brethren, had received the Popes blessing, and Queen Mary's mercy, even so mercy was ready to be shown to him, and others, if he would arise with them, and condescend to the Popes Ho •• nes.

Master Hooper answered, for so much as the Pope taught doctrine contrary to Christ's doctrine, he is no member of Christ's Church, much less the head thereof, therefore he could not condescend to any such usurped Jurisdiction, neither doth he esteem that Church to be the Catholic Church of Christ, for the true Church heareth only the voice of Christ her Spouse, and flieth the voice of Strangers. I desire the Queens mercy, if mercy may be had with safety of conscience, and without displeasure of GOD: answer was made, that the Queen would show no mercy to the Popes Enemies, then he was sent to the Fleet again for six days: then he was brought again before the Bishop of Winchester and other Commissioners in Saint-mary-Oueries Church, and the next day condemned, together with Master Rogers, and then they were carried to New-gate, where he remained six days. Bonner and others resorted thither to him diverse times, to persuade him to be a member of Antichrist, and when they could not, Bonner disgraded him: then he was carried to Gloster to suffer death, whereof he did greatly rejoice that he should there confirm his doctrine that he had instructed so many in, with his blood.

Sir Anthony Kingston, which was one of the Commissioners to see him executed, came to him and lamented his case, and desired him to consider that life is sweet, and death is bitter, therefore seeing life may be had, desire to live; hereafter you may do good: who answered, though death be bitter and life sweet, yet death to come is more bitter, and life to come more sweet; therefore for the desire and love I have to the one, and the terror of the other, I do not so much regard this death or esteem this life, but have settled myself by the strength of God's spirit rather to suffer any torments then to deny the truth of God's word, desiring you and others to pray for me.

He answered, Well my Lord I perceive there is no remedy: I thank God that ever I kn • w you; for whereas I was an adulterer, and a fornic • tor, God by your good instructions, hath brought me to the forsaking and detesting of the same.

The same day a blind boy got leave to speak with Master Hooper: the boy a little before had been imprisoned at Gloster for confessing the truth. After Master Hooper had examined him of his faith, he said unto him, Ah poor boy▪ GOD hath taken from thee thy outward sight, but he hath given thee another sight much more precious: for he hath endued thy soul with the eye of knowledge and faith. When he was burned he was not suffered to speak to the people. He wrote many godly letters to diverse whilst he was in prison, which thou mayest see in the book at large.

Doctor Rowland Taylor.

THe Town of Hadley was instructed by Thomas Bilney so well, that you might have found there many, as well men as women, that had often read over the Bible, and could say a great part of Saint Paul's Epistles by heart, and give a godly learned sentence in any matter of controversy, and there Children and Servants were trained up in the knowledge of God's Word, that the town seemed rather to be an University, then a town of clothing. In this town the said Rowland Taylor was Parson: He most faithfully endeavored himself to fulfill his charge: No Sunday nor Holiday passed, nor other time that he could get the people together, but he preached to them the Word of GOD; there was none so rich but he would tell him his fault, with such earnest and grave rebukes as best became a good Pastor: He was ready to do good to all men readily forgiving his enemies. H • e was a Father to the poor. Thus this good Shepherd continued all the time of King Edward.

In the beginning of Q. Mary's reign he retained in his Church the Service which was used in King Edwards time▪ and faithfully preached against Popish corruptions, which had infected the whole Country round about. One Foster and one Clerke hired one John Au • rth Parson of Aldam, a Popish Idolater and a whoremonger, to set up Mass again at Hadly, and built him an Altar: in the night their Altar was beaten down, and they built it again and watched it; then 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 the Priest came thither with all his implements and garments to play his Popish Pageant and was guarded with weapons lest he should be disturbed from this 〈◊〉 sacrifice.

Doctor Taylor seeing him, said, Thou Devil, who made thee so bold to profane this Church of Christ with abominable Idolatry? To whom Foster said, Thou Traitor, why dost thou disturb the Queens proceedings? He answered, I am no Traitor, but the Sheepheard that Christ hath appointed to feed this Flock. I command thee thou Popish Wolf in the name of the GOD of heaven, that th • u avoid hence, and presume not to poison Christ's Flock with thy Popish Idolatry. Then Foster with his armed men took Taylor, and violently carried him whether he would or no out of the Church, and thrust his wife out after him, because she knee • led down and made humble supplication unto God, to be revenged of one of them, and then they shut the door, least the people should • aue rent their sacrificer in pe • ces, some that were without threw in stones, an • miss • d him but little.

Upon complaint to Gardener, he sent for Taylor, and though his friends and acquaintance persuaded him by all means possible they could to the contrary: yet he was resolved to go to the Bishop, and to his Beard to tell him he doth naught. I am old, though I suffer GOD will raise up Teachers for his people: I shall n • uer do GOD so good service as now I may, what Christian would not gladly die against the Pope and his adherents, for I know the papacy is the Kingdom of Antichrist, and leaving one Richard Yeoman a godly Priest in his cure, which after was burned at Norwich, He took his journey with one John Hull his servant.

There was in the town of Hadley one Alcocke, who after Richard Yeoman was driven away used daily to read a Chapter out of the Bible, and to say the English Litany in Hadley Church, they sent him up to London, and there he died being in prison in Newgate.

When Gardener saw Doctor Taylor, according to his custom, he called him knave, traitor, heretic, with many villanous reproaches.

My Lord, quoth he, I am neither Traitor nor Heretic, but a true Subject and faithful Christian: My Lord, you are but a Mortall man, I trow, if I should be afraid of your Lordly looks. Why fear you not God? How dare you look any Christian man in the face, seeing you have forsaken the truth, denied Christ and his word, contrary to your own oath and writing? With what countenance will you appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, to answer your oaths to Henry the eight, and Edward the sixth.

Gardener answered, that was Herod's oath, unlawful, and therefore worthy to be broken, I have done well in breaking it, and I thank God I am come home unto our Mother the Catholic Church, and the Pope hath dispensed with me, and so I would thou shouldst do.

Taylor, Should I approve those lies, errors, superstitions, and Idolatries, that the Pope and his company this day approved: nay, God forbid, let the Pope return to Christ and his word, and leave Idolatry, and then will we turn to him, the Pope nor no man else can assoil you of that oath▪

I see, quoth Gardener, thou art a very knauish fool.

Taylor said, leave your reyling my Lord, it is not seemly for you.

That art a married man quoth the Bishop.

Taylor said, I thank GOD that I am, and I have nine Children, and I thank GOD for the ordaining of Matrimony, that we should not live in Adu • tery.

Gardener, Thou wouldst not suffer Mass in Hadley.

Then said the Bishop, thou shalt confess it a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead, ere thou and I have done, and commanded him to be sent to the Kings Bench.

Then Taylor kneeled down and said; Good Lord I thank thee, and from the tyranny of the Pope, and all his detestable errors, Idolatries, and abominations, good LORD deliver us, and GOD be praised for King Edward: so he was carried unto the Kings Bench, where he lay in Prison almost two years.

Being in Prison, he spent his time in Prayer, Preaching, and Writing, with • in few days after, were diverse learned and godly • men, in sundry Conn • rie • in England, committed to prison for Religion: so that almost all the Prisons in England were right Christian school • and Churches, so that there was no greater comfort to Christian harts, then to come to the Prisons.

Now were placed in Churches blind Mass-m • ngers, with their Latin babbling and apish ceremonies, who like cruel Wolves, spared not to murder all such that did but whisper against Popery: the godly Preachers were other fled, or committed to Prison, where as Lambes they waited when the Butchers should call them to slaughter.

Master Bradford, that devout and vertuons Preacher, who was a miracle or our time, was in the Kings Bench, Taylor exhorted him to constant perseverance unto the end: Master Bradford praised God he had such a comfortable Prison-fellow.

Taylor told his Friends that came to see him, that GOD had graciously provided for him, for to send him where he found such an Angel of God to be his comforter.

After Taylor had line in Prison a while, he was sent for and deprived, because he maintained Priests marriage, and would not be separated from his Wife.

And after a year and three quarters, when they had gotten the laws put down that were made by King Henry the eight, and King Edward, against the Pope: They sent for Taylor before my Lord Chancellor, and either Commissioners, the effect of whose communication with him, he described himself as followeth.

First, my Lord Chancellor said, you amongst other, are sent for to enjoy the King and Queens mercy, if you will rise again with us from the fall, which we ge • erallie have received in this Realm, from the which we are delivered miraculousli • : If you will not, you shall have Judgment. To this I answered, That so to rise, should be the greatest fall that ever I could receive, for I should fall from Christ unto Anti-christ: I will not decline from the Religion which was in King Edwards day • s, which is according to the word of God, as long as I live.

My Lord Chancellor asked me, whether I had read his • ooke upon the Sacrament, I said I had read it: He asked me how I liked it; My Lord said I, there are many things far 〈◊〉 from GOD'S truth in that Book▪ then he called me varlet; I said that was as bad as fool, then he called me ignorant Beelebrow.

I said, My Lord, you wrote a Book De vera obedientia, I would you had been constant in that, for you never did declare a good conscience, as I heard of, but in that Book.

How like you that said my Lord, I wrote against Priests marriage but y ^• pleaseth not such as thou art. I answered their proceedings now against Priests marriages, is against natural Law, Civil Law, Canon Law, general Councils, Canons of the Apostles, ancient Doctors, and God's Laws.

Then because I would not turn, I was sent to prison again.

After Doctor Taylor, Master Bradford, and Master Sanders, were called to appear before my Lord Chancellor, and other Commissioners, where because they would not yield to papistry, they were condemned, and sentence was read against Taylor.

They rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for Christ▪ Word and truth, and they stoutly said unto the Bishops, GOD the righteous Judge, will require our blood at your hands, and the proudest of you all shall repont this receiving again of Antichrist, and the tyranny you show against Christ's flock.

So Taylor was sent to the Clinke, he said unto the people that flocked about to see him as he was going; GOD be praised good people, I am come away from them undefiled, and will cenfirme the truth with my •• oud. And at night he was carried unto the Counter in the Poultry, where he lay seven nights.

Bonner came to the prison to him, to disgrade him, he said; Master Doctor, I would you would remember yourself, and turn to your holy Mother the Church, and I will sue for your pardon.

Taylor answered, I would you and your fellows would turn to Christ, as for me, I will not turn to Antichrist.

Then Bonner had him put on the Uestures to be disgraded, but he would not, when they were put upon him, he put his hands by his side, and said; How say you my Lord, am not I a goodly Fool: How say you my Masters, it I were in Cheape-side, should I not have Boys enough to laugh at these apish toys and toying trumpery; and when the Bishoppe should strike him upon the breast with his Crossier Staff: his Chaplains said; Strike him not my Lord, for he will surely strike you again, That I will said he, for it is our Savior Christ's cause, so the Byshoppe laid his curs • oll him, but struck him not.

When he came to Master Bradford, for they both lay in one Chamber, he told him laughinglie, how he had made the Bishop afraid to strike him: that night his Wife, his Son Thomas, and his man John Hull, were suffered to sup with him, after Supper, he thanked GOD, that he had given him strength to abide by his holy Word: Then he said unto his Son; My dear Son, God give thee his Spirit, truly to serve Christ, to learn his word, and to stand by it all thy life: my Son, fear God, fly sin, pray to him, and apply thy book, and see thou be obedient unto thy Mother, cherish the poor, and count that try chief riches, is to be rich in a • mes.

Then he said, my dear Wife, be steadfast in the • ear and love of God, be not defiled with Popish Idolatries: we have been faithful yoke-fellows together, the Lord will reward you for your faithfulness towards me, I now must be taken from you; and I would advise you to marry with some honest man that feareth GOD, he will provide such a one for you, and he will be a merciful Father to you, and your Children, whom I pray bring up in the fear of God and learning, and keep them from Romish Idolatry, then with weeping fears they prayed together, and kissed each other.

The next day he was carried away towards Hadley, to be burned there, diverse Gentlemen and Justices came to him there, who labored him to return unto the Romish Religion, shown him his pardon and promised him great promotions, yea a Bishopric if he would, but all was vain, for he had not built his Rock upon the sands, in peril of every wind, but on the sure Rock Christ. When he went through Hadley to execution, the streets being full, they cried out with lamentable voices: Ah good Lord, there goeth our Shepherd from us, that hath so faithfully taught us, so fatherly cared for us, and so godly governed us, what shall we poor scattered Lambes do? What shall become of this wicked world? good Lord comfort him: wherefore the people were fore rebuked, and Doctor Taylor ever said to the people; I have preached unto you God's word and truth, and am come this day to seal it with my blood.

Comming against the Alms-heuses, he cast to the poor people all the Money which remained of that which good people had given unto him in Prison, for his Living was taken away from him so soon as he was put in Prison, so that he was sustained during the time of his imprisonment, by the charitable Alms of good people. When he saw the place of execution, and the multitude of people that were gathered together, then said he; thanked be God, I am even at home.

They had clipped his head ill-fauoredly, like a Fools head, by Bonners persuasions, when he was disgraded: when he came there, all the people said; God save thee good Master Doctor Taylor, Jesus strengthen you, the Holy Ghost comfort you. When he would have spoken unto the people, one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month: then he desired license of the Sheriff to speak, but he denied him, and had him remember his promise made unto the Council. It was a common fame, that the Council sent for such as were condemned, and threatened them they would cut their tongues out, except they would promise them, at their deaths to keep silence, and not to speak unto the people.

When he was in his Shirt, he was set in a Pitch Barrel to be burned, then he said with a loud voice; Good people, I have taught you nothing but GOD'S Word, and those Lessons which I have taken out of GOD'S blessed Book, I am therefore come hither this day to seal it with my blood, then one Homes, a Yeoman of the Gard, who had used him very cruelly all the way, gave him a great stroke on the head.

The Sheriff called one Richard Doningham a Butcher to set up the Faggots, but he would not, then he got others, and one of them called Warwick, cruelly cast a Faggot at him and brake his face, that the blood ran down. Doctor Taylor said; Ah friend, I have harm enough, what needeth this? When the fire was set to him, he said; Merciful Father of Heaven, for Jesus Christ's sake, receive my Soul into thy hands, and so stood still, without either crying or moving, with his hands folded together, until one Soyce struck him upon the head, that the Brains fell out, and his Corps fell into the Fire and was burned.

The fourteenth of February, the Lord Chanceller and the Bishops, caused the Image of Thomas Becket to be set up over the Mercers Chappe • l door in Cheape-side in London, in the form of a Bishop, with Miter and Crosier: within two days after his two blessing fingers were broken away, and the next day his head was stricken off. Whereupon many were suspected, and one Master Barns, Mercer, being a Professor of the truth, was charged therewith, and he and three of his Servants were committed to Prison, and though it could not be proved against him, he was bound in a great sum, to build it up again, now, and as often as it should be broken down, and to watch and keep the same. The next day after that it was set up again, the head was the second time broken off, then there was a Proclamation set forth, that he that could tell who did it, he should have an hundred Crowns, with thanks, but it was not known who did it.

The virtuous and godly King Christianus, King of Denmark, hearing of the captivity of Miles Coverdale, whom he knew, by reason he was in Denmark in King Henry the eight his time, and lamenting his dangerous case, made intercession by Letters to Queen Mary, desiring the said Miles Couerdalo to be sent unto him: after the King had written two letters, Queen Mary after long delay, made full answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters; by which providence of God, Miles Coverdale was delivered.

ROBERT FARRAR Bishop of Saint David's in Wales.

THis Bishop, by the favor of the Lord Protector, was first promoted unto that Dignity: he may well be said twice mar • ired; first, for diverse injuries and mollestations which he suffered most unworthily of his enemies, in King Edwards time, after the fall of the Duke of Somerset, and of his martydome in Queen Mary's time. His Adversaries in King Edwards time, were • ames Constantine, his Register, to whom he gave the Office by Patent, and a Doctor of the Law, and Canon of the Cathedral Church of S. David's, and a Chanter of the same.

They did exhibit to the Kings Council certain Articles, to the insent to blemish the Bishops credit, and utterly as they thought, and made their boasts to pull him from his Bishopric, and bring him in a premunire.

The chief effect of their Articles, which were fifty six, was, that he did not in his Proce • that he made write the King supreme head of the Church, and that he tolerated other superstitions and Idolatries.

After these wrangling Articles were given up, then the Bishop was called to answer, the hearing whereof was committed unto Sir John Mason, Knight, and Doctor Woe • ton.

Then they had a Commission into the Country, where they examined sixscore and seven witnesses, and during the time of the examination of these witnesses, the said Bishop was stayed at London, because his adversaries said, if the Bishop should go into his Dioces, he would let them of their proves.

During which trouble King Edward died, and in Queen Mary's time another named Henry, was made Bishop of S. David's, who sent for the said Robert Farrar, and committed him to prison, and afterward declared unto the said Robert the great clemency, that the King and Queens Highness pleasure was to be offered unto him, if he would submit himself unto the Laws of this Realm, and conform himself unto the unity of the Catholic Church, and seeing the said Robert made him no answer, he ministered unto him these Articles.

First, whether he believe the marriage of Priests to be lawful by the law of God and holy Church.

Secondly, whether he believed the very body and blood of Christ is really and substantially in the Sacrament, without the substance of bread and wine. Bishop Farrar would not answer, until he saw a lawful Commission, so he was committed again: then he was called again after, and would answer no otherwise then as before; whereupon he was pronounced Contu • nax, and for punishment thereof, to be counted Pro confesso, and committed him again. The next day of appearance, the said Bishop Farrar craved time to answer, and at the time did answer.

Then the foresaid pretensed Bishop, gave him a writing of certain Articles to subscribe unto: adding to the Articles before, that the Mass was a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and the dead, and that the general Councils never erred, neither 〈◊〉 err: that a man is not justified by Faith only, but by Charity also; and that the Catholic Church only hath authority of interpreting of the Scriptures, and to compound Controuersies, and also to appoint such things as appertain to public discipline, and that the Church is visible, as a city upon a hill known unto all men, and not obscure and unknown, as the heretics of our age do teach.

To these Articles he refused to subscribe: affirming that they were invented by man, and pertain nothing to the Catholic Faith: Then he assigned him a day to assign them affirmatively, or negatively, which he would not do • , but appea • ed unto the Cardinal: notwithstanding they gave sentence against him.

When they had put the priestly vestures on him to disgrade him; he called them rags and relics of Rome: When he was brought to ex • cution in the Ci • ie of Carmarden, he was burned with Turffes and Soddes, which was to him a more grievous torment, but praised be God he suffered it patiently.

The next month a godly man named Rawlins White, was burned in Cardiffe in Wales.

THOMAS TOMKINS.

THomas Tomkins of Shordich in London Weaver, was brought before Boner, for all hitherto were condemned by Stephen Gardener Lord Chancelor; but he being weary, put off the rest unto Boner, of whom this Tomkins was the first; who when by no means he could be driven from the • ruth, Boner caused a burning Candle to be brought to him: Then said he, come on naughty knane, if thou likest the torments of the fire so well; I will make thee feel in this flame what it is to be burned: then if thou be wise thou wilt change thy mind: Then he commanded his right hand to be put into the fire, but he endured the burning; yet was not Bonet therewith contented, but never rested until he had consumed the whole body to ashes in Smithfield.

He was condemned upon these points: First, that his belief • , that the body of Christ is not truly and verily in the Sacrament of the Altar, but only in heaven, and so in heaven that it cannot be really in the Sacrament: and although the Church a • low the Mass a wholesome and profitable sacrifice; yet my belief is that the Mass is full of Superstition and Idolatry, and unprofitable for my soul: and the Sacrament of Baptism ought to • ee only in the vulgar tongue, and without such ceremonies as are used in the Latin Church: and being exhorted to leave his opinions: He answered he was brought up in ignorance until now of late years, and now I know the truth, wherein I will continue unto death: and he said my Lord you would have me forsake the truth, and fall into error and heresy: Then he was condemned and delivered unto the Sheriff; who carried him to Newgate, where he remained most joyful and constant, until he was conveyed to Smithfield, and there sealed up his Faith in the flaming fire.

The constant suffering of Higbed and Causon.

THese two were descended of worshipful stock in Essex, which of all Shires was most fruitful of Martyrs; the one called Thomas Higbed of Horneden Hill; the other Thomas Causon of Thunderst, they were both in flourishing estate in riches, and much more flourishing in godliness.

They were diverse times examined before Bonner, and defended the truth valiantly, and he and his fellows did much labor to make them to recant, but could not prevail: The substance of all their Arguments appeareth in a Confession that they wrote with their own hands, which was read in the Court of Paul's, before the Mayor and Sheriffs, and all the people, not without great sure, before it could be licenced to be read.

First we believe and profess in Baptism to forsake the Devil & all his works, and all the vanities of the world, and the lusts of the 〈◊〉 .

2 We believe the Articles of our Faith, and that we are bound to walk in God's Commandments all the days of our life.

3 We believe the Lord's Prayer containeth all things necessary for soul and body, and that we are thereby taught only to pray to our heavenly Father, and is no Saint nor Angel.

4 We believe there is a Catholic Church, even the Communion of Saints, built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ being the head corner stone: for which Church Christ gave himself to make it a glorious congregation without fault in his sight.

5 This Church of it self is sinful, and must needs say Father forgive us our sins, but through Christ and his merits she is freely forgiven.

6 He is our only Mediator as Saint Paul saith, there is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and Man Jesus Christ: Therefore no other Mediator.

7 We believe this Church is, and hath been persecuted according to the promise of Christ: as they have persecuted me, so shall they persecute you, for the Disciple is not above his Master. And Paul saith it is not given to you only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake: for all which will live godly must suffer persecution.

8 The true Church teacheth the Word of God truly, not adding thereto, nor taking there-from; and Ministers the Sacraments according to the Primitive Church, and it suffereth all men to read the Scriptures: as Christ saith: Search the Scriptures: And when Paul preached, the audience searched the Scriptures; whether he preached truly: David teacheth to pray with understanding: Saint Paul saith, when the people understand not what is said, how can they say Amen at giving of thanks: And Saint Paul saith, true Faith cometh by hearing the word.

9 The Church of Christ teacheth God ought to be worshipped according to his word, and not after the Doctrine of men: as Christ teacheth us, likewise Christ saith, you shall forsake Father and Mother and follow me, whereby we learn if our elders, teach otherwise then God commanded in that point we must forsake them.

10 The Supper of our Lord ought not to be altered, because Christ the wisdom of the Father did institute it: For it is written, cursed is he that changeth my ordinances, or taketh anything from them.

This Supper is sorely abused, it is given in one kind, where Christ gave it in both: it is made a private Mass, where Christ made it a Communion: He gave it to all his Apostles in the name of the whole Church, & not to one alone: Christ ordained it for a remembrance of his everlasting sacrifice upon the Cross once for all; and not again to be a daily sacrifice both for them that are alive, and them that are dead: And Saint Paul saith, where there is no remission of sins, there is no more sacrifice for sin: and in that it is worshipped, where as nothing is to be worshipped that is made with hands: and in that it is given in an unknown tongue whereby the people are ignor • nt of the right use thereof: besides this it is hanged up and shut in a Box, many times so long that worms breedeth in it, and so it putrifieth, they that abuse it bring up the slander thereof and not we.

12 Concerning Christ's words, This is my body, the mind of Christ must be searched out by other Scriptures: for the Apostle saith no Scripture hath any private interpretation, and the Scriptures are full of such figurative speeches: as the Cup is the New Testament, the Rock is Christ: whosoever (saith Christ) receiveth a Child in my Name receiveth me; which sentence must not be understood after the Letter, as the Capernaites did which taught that Christ's body should have been eaten with their teeth; when he spake of the eating thereof, to whom Christ said, the Spirit quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, for my words are spirit and life: so we see Christ's words must be understood spiritually, and not literally: he that cometh to this worthy supper must not prepare his iaw but his heart: neither tooth nor belly, but believe, saith Saint Augustine, and thou hast eaten it: so we must bring with us a Spiritual hunger, and examine our selves whether our Conscience do testify that we do truly believe in Christ according to the Scriptures, whereof if we be truly certified, being new borne from our old conversation, in heart, mind, will and deed, then may we boldly with this marriage garment of Faith come to the feast.

And that there is no change but bread still remaineth, Christ saith, Do this in remembrance of me: And Saint Paul, As often as you shall eat this bread and drink this Cup, you shall remember the Lord's death until he come: here is no change but bread still: And Christ saith, except I go to my Father the Comforter cannot come: And Saint Peter saith, heaven shall keep him until the last day: in that he is God he is everywhere, but in that he is Man he cannot be but in one place, as his body was not in all places at once when he was here: He was not in the grave when the women sought him as the Angel said: neither was he at Bethania when Lazarus died by Christ's own words: and thus we conclude that the Christ is in the holy Supper sacramentally and spiritually, in all them that worthily receive it: and corporally in heaven both God and Man.

When they would not turn from the truth by no p • rswasions the sentence was read against them: In the reading whereof Higbed said, you speak blasphemy against Christ's Passion, and go about to trap us with your subtleties and snares; and though my Father, Mother, and other my kindred do believe • , you say yet they were deceiu • d in so believing: And whereas you say Cranmer and others in the said Articles were heretics, I wish I were such an heretic as they were and be. Then the Bishop asked him whether he would turn from his • rrour: To whom he said, would ye would recant, for I am in the truth and you in error.

Then they were delivered unto the Sheriff and sent to Newgate, where they remained not so much in afflictions, as in consolations: Fourteene days after they were carried to Essex: And Thomas Higbed burned at Hornden on th • Hill: and Thomas Causon at Rayly, where they died most constantly.

The Martyrdom of WILLIAM HVNTER.

THe said Hunter was at all times brought before the Bishop of London, with the aforesaid Thomas Tomkins, and had the same Articles, Reasons and persuasions objected as the said Thomas Tomkins had and they made both the same answers, saving that Boner used these words only to Hunter: Will you abjure and return to the Catholic Church: He answered, I will stand to that which I have said: And further he said it is false Doctrine & belief, to believe that Christ's true body is in the Sacrament, which is only in heaven, and that his friends and kindred were deceived if they otherwise believed, I will continue in the truth that is taught me as long as I live, • or if I do otherwise I shall perish both body and soul, and I had rather my body perish, then my soul. Wherevpon he was condemned, and after carried to Burnt-wood, where he suffered most ioifully. He was a very young man, borne of good parents, of whom he was not only instructed to godliness, but confirmed unto death, a rare example to be had in admiration of all parents, where the natural affection of parents were overcome with godliness, w • o like the holy mother in the Maccabees, encouraged their son as much as they could to go through valiantly, rejoicing with wonderful gladness, and either of them drank unto him, confirming him in the Lord, I cannot tell whether I should praise the virtue of the Son or of the Parents.

William Pygot, Stephen Knight, and John Lawrence.

AT the same time that Tomkins and Hunter were examined as before these three likewise were examined before Boner; the same reasons, Articles and persuasions that were used to them, were used unto these also, and they made all answers all • ke: and when by neither flattery nor threatening they could be brought from the truth, they were cond • mned, and were carried into Essex to be burned: William Pigot burned at Braintree.

Stephen Knight was burned at Mauld • n, who at the stake kneeled down and said this prayer: O Lord Jesus, for whose love I • eaue this life, and desire bit • r death, with the loss of all earthly things, • ather then to abide the blasphemy of thy name, or to obey men breaking thy Commandments, where I might live in wealth to worship a false God, I chose rather the torment of this body, and have counted all things but dung that I migh • winns thee: which death i • dearer to me then thousands of Gold and Silver: such love hast thou laid up in my breasts that I hu • ger for thee▪ As the wounded Deare des • reth the soy •• , s • nd • hy holy comforter, to aid, comfort, and strengthen me • a weak piece of earth, empty of all strength of it self, of thy great love thou • ast bidden me to this banquet, accounted me worth • to drink of 〈◊〉 own cup, amongst thine ele • t • give me strength against this • hine elem • nt which is most irksome to my sight, that it may be sweet and pleasant to my mind, that I may pass through this fire into thy • oso • e according unto thy p • omi • e: accept this sacrifice, for thy dear Son Jesus Christ his sake, for whose Testimony I offer it with all my heart; forgive me my sins as I forgive the world: sweet Savior spread thy wings over me: O holy Ghost by whose inspiration I am come hither, conduct me to everlasting life: Lord into to thine hands • commend my spirit, Amen.

John Lawrence was brought to Colchester, and not b • eing able to go, for his legs were so sore worn with his Irons in prison, and his body so weakened with evil keeping, he was fain to be brought unto the fire in a chair: At his burning the young children came about the fire, and cried Lord strengthen thy servant, and keep thy promise: which manifesteth God's glory, which writ this in the hearts of these little ones, and their parents are to be commended, that brought them up from their youth, in the fear and knowledge of God.

God's Judgment upon the Parson of Arundell.

VPon Shroue-Sunday the Parson of Arundell besides Canterbury, declared unto the people all such Articles as were set forth by the authority of the pope, and commandment of the Bishops of this Realm, and when he had done he thanked God that ever he had lived to see that day, and straightway he fell sudde • lie out of the pulpit, and never spake after.

The history of Judge Hales.

SIr James Hales as before, took Queen Mary's part, and would not subscribe to have any other Queen, though all the rest had subscribed to Edward the sixts Will. He was an upright and conscionable Judge. To these his gifts and qualities were linked sincere affection to the Gospel of Christ, showing himself a true Gospeller by word and deed.

At the beginning of Queen Mary's reign, the mass not being restored by law, diverse Priests presumed to say mass, and they were indicted at the a •• ises before Judge Hales, and he gave order therein as the law required: wherefore when the term came, he coming to do his office, was sent for by Gardner Lord Chancellor, to whom he justified that he did it both by the justice of the law, and of his conscience, wherein he was fully bent to stand in trial to the utmost that can be objected: and it therein I have done any injury, let me be judged by the law; for I will seek or desire no better defense for myself, considering chiefly that it is my profession.

Ah Sir, said the Chancellor, you be very quick and stout in your answers, it seemeth that which you did was more of will, favoring your opinion of Religion against the service now used, then for any occasion of zeal of justice, seeing her Highness doth set it forth as yet, but withing all her subjects to embrace it accordingly.

My Lord, quoth Hales, I do but show myself as I am bound in love to God and obedience to the Queens Majesty, in whose cause willingly for justice sake, I did of late, as your Lordship knoweth, adventure as much as I had: and as for my religion, I trust it is such as pleaseth God, wherein I am ready to adventure both my life and substance, if I be called thereto; and for lack of mine own power and will, the Lord's will be fulfilled.

Shortly after he was committed unto the Kings Bench, then he was committed to the Counter in Breadstreete, and from thence he was conveyed to the Fleet, where he endured most constantly for the space of three weeks: and when thus in diverse prisons being tossed and wearied, he could in no wise be subdued, there was in the prison where he was a Gentleman of Hampshire called Foster, who, •• ing suborned by the Bishops, used all kind of persuasions whereby he might draw him from the truth, which at length he brought to pass; then next morning early the Bishop of Chichester came to him into the prison, to comfort him therein, and after Judge Portman came to him: but as soon as he had yielded to them he • rew into such an extreme desperation by the worm of his conscience, that he eat little meat that night. When supper was done he gate him straight to bed, where he passed the night with much anxiety of mind: about six of the clock in the morning he sent his man for a cup of beer; his man was no sooner gone but with a pen-knife he wounded himself in diverse places, and would have killed himself, but that his man meeting the Butler at the chamber door, returned presently into the chamber, and let his Master from destroying himself.

Upon this Cranmer straight-way took occasion to call the doctrine of the Gospel openly in the Star-chamber the doctrine of desperation. M. Hales being within a while after delivered, getteth himself home to his house, whether it was for fear that if he should again profess the Gospel he should be imprisoned again and burned, and beggar all his posterity, or if he should go to hearing of masses he should do worse: having all things set in order a good while before that pertained unto his Testament, desperately he cast himself into a shallow River, and was drowned in the year 1555.

JOHN AWCOCKE.

THis year the second of April, one John Awcocke died in prison, who was buried in the fields, as the manner of the Papists was, for they de • ied them Christian burial to such as died out of their Antichristian Church.

Pope IVLIVS the third.

THis year, about the end of March died Pope Julius the third, whose deeds to declare it were not so much tedious to the Reader, as horrible to good ears.

Johannes de Casa was Dean of this Popes chamber, Archbishop of Beneuentanus and chief Legat to the Uenetians, who well declaring the fruit of that filthy Sea, did not only play the filthy Sodomite himself, but in Italian meter set forth the praise of that beastly iniquity, and yet his book▪ was printed at Venice by one Troyanus Nauus, and the Pope suffered this beastliness under his nose in his chamber, which could not abide the doctrine of Christ.

This Pope delighted greatly in Porke flesh and Peacocks: by the advice of his Physicians, his Steward ordered that he should set no Porke flesh before him; missing it▪ where, said he, is my Porke? the Steward answered, his Physician had forbidden any Porke to be served, the Pope in a great rage, said, Bring me my Porke in despite of God.

Another time he commanded a Peacock at the Table to be kept cold for his Supper: when Supper came, amongst hot Peacocks he saw not his cold Peacock, the Pope after his wonted manner, began horribly to blaspheme God: one of his Cardinals said, Let not your Holiness, I pray you, be moved in so small a matter. Then said he, if God were so angry for one apple that he cast our parents out of Paradise, why may not I, being his Uicar, he angry for a Peacock, which is a greater matter?

This was he under whom Popery was restored in England in Queen Mary's time; and the affection that was borne unto him here may be seen by the Dirgs, Hearses, and Funerals commanded to be had and celebrated in all Churches by the Queen and her Council. At his death a woman seeing a Herse and other preparation in Saint Magnus Church at the Bridge foot in London, asked what it meant: it was told her it was for the Pope, and that she must pray for him; nay, quoth she that I will not, for he needeth not my prayers, seeing he could forgive us all our sins, I am sure he is clean himself: by and by she was carried unto the Cage at London Bridge, and bade to cool her self there.

GEORGE MARSH.

THis Marsh was an earnest letter forth of true Religion, to the defacement of Antichrists doctrine, in the parish of Dean, and elsewhere in Lancas • ire, and he most faithfully acknowledged the same in Queen Mary's time, whereupon he was apprehended and kept in straight prison within the Bishoppe of Chesters house four months, not permitting him to have comfort of his friends, but the Porter was charged to mark them that asked for him, and to take their names and deliver them to the Bishop: shortly after he came thither, the Bishop sent for him, and communed with him a long time in his Hall alone, and could find no fault with him, but that he allowed not transubstantiation, nor the abuse of the Mass, nor that the Lay people should receive under one kind: with which points the Bishop went about to persuade him, but all was in vain, then he sent him to Prison again. Afterward diverse were sent unto him, to persuade him to submit himself unto the Church of Rome, and to acknowledge the Pope to be the ha • d thereof, and to interpret the Scriptures no otherwise then that Church doth.

George answered, he doth acknowledge one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, without which is no salvation: and this Church is but one, because it hath and believeth in but one God, and him only worshippeth, and one Christ, and in him only trusteth for salvation; and it is ruled only by one Spirit, one Word, and one Faith: and that it is universal, because it hath been from the beginning of the world, and shall be unto the end of the world; having in it some of all Nations, kindreds and languages, degrees, •• ates, and conditions of men. This Church is built only upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the Head-corner-stone, and not on the Romish Laws and Decrees, the Pope being not the supreme head, and that it was before any succession of Bishops, general Councils, or Romish Decrees, neither was bound to any time or place, ordinary succession, general Councils, or Tradition of Fathers; neither had any supremacy over Empires and Kingdoms.

But that it was a little 〈◊〉 flock dispersed abroad as sheep without a Shepherd in the midst of Wolves: or as a flock of fatherless Children, assisted, succoured, and defended only by Christ Jesus their supreme head; from all assaults, errors, troubles and persecutions, wherewith she is ever compassed about.

He proved by the flood of Noah, the destruction of Sodom: The Israelites departing out of Egypt by the parables of the sower: by the Kings sons marriage: of the great Supper: and by other sentences of the Scriptures, that this Church was of no estimation, and little in comparison of the Church of hypocrites and wicked worldlings.

After the Bishop caused him to be brought to the Chapel of the Cathedral Church of Chester, where the Bishop with diverse others were set: After he had taken his oath for a true answering, the Chancelor charged him that he had preached heretically, and blasphemously in diverse places against the Popes authority and Catholic Church of Rome: the blessed Mass, the Sacrament of the Altar, and many other Articles.

He answered, that • e neither heretically nor blasphemonsly spake against any of the said Articles, but simply and •• uely as occasion served according to his conscience, maintaining the truth touching the said Articles, as it was taught in King Edward the sixth his time, whereupon they condemned him at the next appearance. And when he would have persuaded them otherwise by the word of God, the Bishop told him he ought not to dispute with heretics. Then he prayed the people to bear him witness, he held no other opinions then were by Law most godly established, and publicly taught in King Edwards time, wherein he would live and die.

As he came on the way towards the place of execution, some folk proffered him mo • ey and looked that he should have had a little purse in his hand, as the manner of 〈◊〉 ▪ was at their going to execution, to gather money to give to a Priest to say trentalls of Masses for them after their death▪ whereby they might be saved: but Marsh said he would not be troubled with money, and hade them give it to the prisoners and poor people.

When he came to the •• re his pardon was offered him: he answered, being it tended to pluck him from God, he could not receive it upon that condition. They would not suffer him to speak to the people. He was somewhat long a dying by reason of the • lacknes of the •• re, which he bare wondrous patiently, in so much as the people said he was a Martyr, which caused the Bishop shortly after to make a Sermon in the Cathedral Church, wherein he affirmed that George Marsh was an heretics, burned like an heretic, and a fire-brand in hell: in short time after the just judgment of God appeared upon the said Bishop, through his adulterous behavior he was burned with a harlot, and died thereof.

William Flower, alias Branch.

THis William was borne at Snow-hill in the County of Cambridge: after he owelt at Lambeth, and coming over the water to Saint Margaret's Church at Westminster, where he seeing a Priest at mass, being greatly offended in his conscience, he wounded him on the head. whereupon he was apprehended and laid in the Gate-house at Westminster • and from thence being brought unto Bonner, and being examined, he said he came of purpose to do it, and when he saw the people to kneel down and give the honor of GOD unto a piece of Bread, he could not possibly forbear any longer, but drew forth his Hanger and smote the Priest: the Witnesses proved, that he smote him on the head, arm, and hand, and that he bled abundantly, and that having a Calais full of consecrated Hosts, the Hosts were besprinkled with the blood: The Bishop offered that he should be pardoned, if he would recant his opinion of the Sacrament, and return to the holy Church: He answered, Do what you will, I am at a point, for the heavens shall as soon fall, as I will forsake mine opinion. He was often called before the Bishop, but when neither by flatteries nor threatening he would not 〈◊〉 ▪ he was condemned.

At his burning he was most cruelly handled, his right hand was hold against • he stake and stricken off, at which striking he in no part of his body did once shrink: to his burning little wood was brought, not sufficient to burn him, but they were fain to strike him down into the fire.

John Cardmaker, alias Taylor, and John Warne Vpholster of Saint John's in Walbroke in London.

THese two were condemned by Boner, for holding that there was no transubstantiation in the Sacrament, and denying the carnal▪ real, and corporal presence of Christ in the Sacrament.

This Cardmaker was one of the Prebendaries of the Cathedral Church of Welles: He was apprehended and • aken by the Bishop of Bathe, and committed prisoner unto the Fleet in London, the laws of King Edward being yet in force: but afterward when they had restored their old popish laws by Act of Parliament, these two, namely, Cardmaker and Warne were brought to 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor, who offered them the Queens pardon, if they would recant: Wherevpon they made such an answer as the Lord Chancellor and his fellows allowed them for Catholic, but it was but for a further advantage, and that they might have some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the 〈◊〉 of the rest which were to be examined: and to all that after were examined: they commended Cardmaker, and one Barlow for soberness, discretion, and learning; which Barlow was, for all his good answers, led to the Fleet, from whence being delivered, did by exile constantly bear witness to the truth of the Gospel.

Cardmaker was conveyed to the Counter in Breadstreet: the Papists having a certain hope that Cardmaker was become theirs, diverse of them conf • rred with him; in the end he required them to put their reasons in writing, and then he would answer them in writing, which was done, but they never came unto our hands.

When Warne and he were brought together to Smithfield to be burned, the Sheriff called Cardmaker aside, and talked with him secretly so long, that Warne had made his prayers, and was chained to the stake, and wood and • eeds set to him. The people thought sure Cardmaker would have recanted: but when they saw him put off his clothes, and go boldly to the stake and kiss it, and shake Warn by the hand, and did him be of good comfort, they cried out for joy, with so great a shout as a greater hath not been heard, saying, God be praised, the Lord strengthen thee Cardmaker, the Lord receive thy spirit; thus they both through the fire passed into the joys of heaven.

William Tooly Poulterer of London.

HEe was hanged for robbing a Spaniard at S. James, and in his prayer at the Gallows, which was near Charing-cross, he prayed God to deliver us from the tyranny of Rome and all the Popes detestable enormities: to which all the people said Amen. And being hanged and buried, the Mitred Priests took this grievously: and after consultations what was best to be done, there was a Mandate of Bonner set up at Charing-cross, on Paul's Church door, and at Saint Martins in the Fieldes, for the citing of Tooly, hanged a little before, to appear before the said Bishop for heresy; where, after many witnesses examined, he was suspended, excommunicated, condemned, and committed to the secular power, to wit, the Sherifes of London, who digged him up, laid his dead body on the fire and burned it.

THOMAS HAVKES.

HEe was sent to London to Bonner for not suffering of his child to be christened in three weeks: he told the Bishop the reason was because their baptizing was against the word of God, there being in it so many things which have 〈◊〉 invented by men, as Oil, Creame, Salt, Spittle, Candle, and conjuring of water, &c.

The Bishop sent for me, and Harpsfield was with him; then the Bishop said, this is the man I told you of, that would not have his child christened, nor will have no ceremonies.

An old Bishop that lost his living for • arrying a wi • e, came to Bonner with a gift, and he sent for me, and told him how that I had a child and would not ha • e it christened. I said I de • ie not baptism. Then he said angerly, Thou • oole, thou cann • st not tell what thou wouldst have. I said a Bishop must be 〈…〉 not given to anger. Thou judgest me angry, 〈◊〉 by my faith I am not. Then said the old Bishop, Alas y • ng man, you must be taught by the Church, and by your ancients, and do as your fathers have done.

The Bishop after writ somewhat that he should set his hand too, and there was in it, that I Thomas Lankes had talked with mine Ordinary, and with certain good, godly and learned men: He answered, he would not grant them to be good, godly, and learned men: After also he told the Bishop, as for your cursings, railings, and blasphemings, I care not for them: for I know the moths and worms shall eat you, as they eat Wooll or Cloth, and at length with diverse others in the month of June he was condemned, and being carried into Essex, at Cophall, by martyrdom, he changed his life: His friends privily desired him, that in the midst or the flame, he would show some token that they might be certain whether the pain were so great that one cannot keep his mind constant therein, which he promised to do, and if it were tolerable to hold up his hands over his head, and when his breath was taken away, his skin drawn together, his fingers consumed in the fire, and all men looked that he would give up the Ghost, He mindful of his promise • made did lift up his hands half burned, and burning with heat above his head to the living God, even on a sudden, and with great rejoicing, striketh them three times together: by which thing, contrary to all men's expectation being seen, there followed so great rejoicing, and cry of the multitude, as though heaven and earth would have come together, and presently he sunk down, and gave up the Ghost.

THOMAS WATS.

HE was of Billerica in Essex, being brought to the Bishop of London▪ he put certain Articles to him: The effect of the answer whereof followeth.

That he hath and doth believe that Christ's body is in heaven, and nowhere else: and that he will never believe that Christ's body is in the Sacrament, and that the Mass is full of Idolatry and abomination, never instituted by Christ, and that he never did nor doth believe that a Priest can absolve him of his sins: but he believeth it is good to ask council at the Priests mouth: and he confessed that he said openly in the sessions, that all that is now used and done in the church is abhominable, heretical, and scismaticall, and altogether naught.

And he doth believe, that the Pope is a mortal enemy to Christ, & his Church: and that he prayeth as Tooly did, that we may be delivered from the tyranny of the Pope and all his enormities.

And after he had been many times brought before Boner, and his company, and the Bishop perceiving, neither his threatenings, nor flattering promises, nothing to prevail: he condemned him, and after he was carried to Chemes-ford, & there most patiently and constantly sealed his faith with his blood, by most cruel fire.

The morning before he died, he said words to this effect to his Wife and Children. Wife and good Children, I must now depart from you; henceforth I know you no more, but as the Lord hath given you to me, so I give you again unto the LORD, whom I charge you to obey and fear, and beware that you turn not to this abhominable papistry, against the which I shalll ano • e by God's grace give my blood. Let not the murthering of God's Saints be any cause for you to relent: but take occasion thereby to be stronger in the Lord's quarrel, and I doubt not but he will be a merciful father unto you, and then I kissed them all, and was carried unto the fire.

When he came to the stake he kissed it, and then he said so my Lord Rich, beware, beware, for you do against your conscience herein, and without you repent, the Lord will revenge it, for you are the cause of my death.

Thomas Osmond, Fuller, William Bamford, alias Butler, Nicholas Chamberlain, John Ardley, and John Simpson.

THese were sent out of Essex unto Boner, to be examined, they had the same Articles ministered unto them, and agreed all in the same answers in substance, that Thomas Wats next aforesaid made, and when by no means they could be persuaded from their constancy, being many times sent for, they were at last condemned, and burned in several places in Essex, Chamberlain at Colchester, Thomas Osmond at Maning-tree, William Bramford at Harwidge.

John Ardley told Boner, my Lord neither you nor any of your Religion is of the Catholic Church, for you are of a false Faith, and shall be deceived at length, bear as good a face as you can, you will kill the innocent blood, and you have killed many, and▪ o • gee about to kill more, if every hair of my head were a man, I would suffer death in the Faith that I am in.

At • he Examination of Simpson and Ardley, there were a great multit • de of people assembled in the Church of Paul's round about the Consistory: The Bishop being angry with their bold answers, cried allowed, have him away, have him away: Wh • n the people in the Church heard these words, thinking the prisoners had their judgments, they severed themselves to make way, which caused such a noise in the Church, that they in the Consistory were amazed: The Bishop asked what was the matter: The standers by said there was like to be some tumul • , for they were together by the ears: The Bishop with the rest of the Court ran away to the door that goeth into the Bishops house, but the rest being lighter footed then the Bishop, recovered the door first, and thro • ging hastily to get in, kept the Bishop out: and cried save my Lord, save my Lord: whereby they gave the standers by good matter to laugh at, whereby th • se were a little while stopped of 〈◊〉 Judgment: but not long after they were called to the fire: John Simpson suffered at Rochford, and John Ardley at Rayby.

JOHN BRADFORD.

HE was borne at Manchester in Lan • aster: On the 13. day of August, in the first year of Qu • ene Mary: Master Bourne, Bishop of Bathe, made a beastly Sermon at Paul's Cross to set up popery, as before is said: Boner being present, the people were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit, and a Dagger was hurled at him, and being put from ending his Sermon, he entreated Bradford being with him, to speak and appease the people, when he came into the place of the Preacher, all the people cried Bradford, Bradford, God save thee Bradford: And after they heard his godly exhortation they left off their raging. Bourne thought himself not yet sure of his life, until he was safely housed, th • ugh the Sheriff and Mayor were ready to help him. Wherefore he desired Bradford not to depart from him until he was in safety, and • radford went at his back shaddowing him with his Gowne: Amongst whom one G • ntleman said: Ah Bradford, Bradford, thou sauest him that will help to burn thee: I give thee his life for if it were not for thee, I would run him through with my sword, within three dares after Bradford was sent for to the Tower, and there the Council charged him with sedition for this matter, and committed him to the Tower, and from the Tower to the Kings Bench in Southwarke, and after his condemnation unto the Counter in the Poultry, whilst he remained in these two prisons he preached twice a day continually almost two years.

After he was brought with Bishop Farrax as a • oresaid, before the Lord Chancellor, and the Queens Commissioners: after the Lord Chancellor had laid unto his charge the aforesaid sedition at Paul's, and Boner had bore witness against him, and Bradford had shown his innocence, and affirmed that notwithstanding Boners seeing and saying, yet the truth I have told, as at the day of Judgment wi • l appear, in the mean time because I cannot be believed, I am ready to suffer what God will license you to do to me.

And after he had been three times called before the Lord Chancellor, at all which times there was no arguments of divinity but about transubstantiation: For denying whereof, and affirming that the wicked do not receive Christ, though they receive the Sacrament he was condemned: after this the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Chichester came to him, and argued this point▪ and after them two Spanish Friers, and diverse others at other times: The sum of his Doctrine herein followeth.

Reasons against Transubstantiation, gathered by JOHN BRADFORD.

1 TErtullian saith that which is former is true, that which is later is false. Transubstantiation is a late Doctrine; for it was not generally defin • d until the Council of Lateran, about the year one thousand two hundred and fifteen, under Innocent 3. before it was free to believe it, or not believe it: Ergo, the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is false.

2 That the words of Christ's Supper be figurative: the Circumstances of the Scripture: the proportion of the Sacraments: the sentences of all holy Fathers: For a thousand years after Christ do all teach: It followeth there is no Transubstantiation,

3 The Scriptures do witness that the Lord gave bread to his Disciples, and called it his body: He took bread in his hands: he gave thanks over bread, he brake bread, and gave bread to his Disciples: As Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Epiphanius, Augustine, and all the Fathers of antiquity do affirm: but in as much as the substance of bread and wine is another manner of thing: then the substance of the body and blood of Christ, it is plain there is no Transubstantiation.

4 The bread is no more transubstantiated then the wine: CHRIST calleth that the fruit of the Uine, saying, I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine: Therefore by Christ's words it was not Blood but Wine: therefore it followeth there is no Transubstantiation: Chrysostom upon Matthew and Cyprian, do confirm this reason.

5 The bread is called as well Christ's mystical body, as his natural body: for the same spirit that saith the bread is my body; saith also, we being many are one body, but it is not the mystical body by transubstantiation, no more is it his natural body by transubstantiation.

6 The words over the Cup are not so effectual as to transubstantiate it int • the New Testament: Therefore the words spoken over the bread, are not so mighty to make Transubstantiation.

7 The Doctrine of Transubstantiation doth not agree with the Apostolic and mother Churches, which received there Doctrine of the Apostles, who received it of Christ, and Christ of God: as of Greece, of Corinthus, of Philippos, Collosia, Thessalonica, Ephesus, which never taught Transubstantiation: yea, it agreeth not with the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, taught in times past, for Gelasius the Pope doth manifestly confute the error of transubstantiation, and reproveth them of sacrilege, which divide the mystery, and keep the Cup from the lay people: Therefore the Doctrine of transubstantiation agreeth not with the truth.

Communication betwixt the Archbishop of York, and the Bishop of Chichester, with BRADFORD in prison.

John Leafe burned with Master Bradford.

THis John, was an Apprentice with a Chandler in Christ-Church in London, eighteen years old, borne in Kirkley M •• eside, in the County of York, he was examined before Bonner: he said, that after the words of consecration in the Sacrament of the Altar, over the Bread and Wine, there was not the true and natural body and blood of Christ in substance: and as it is now used and believed in the Realm of England, it is abhominable Idolatry: And he believed, that after consecration, it remaineth Bread and Wine as it was before, and it is received in the remembrance of the death and passion of Christ, and so spiritually in Faith they receive Christ's body and blood. And he affirmeth, that Auriculer confession is not necessary to be made unto a Priest, and it is no point of souls health to believe that the Priest hath any authority by the Scriptures, to remit sins.

And being asked if he had been Master Rogers his Scholar, he granted it so to be, and he did believe the Doctrine of the said Rogers, and the Doctrine of Bishop Hooper, Cardmaker, and others of their opinion, which of late were burned for Christ, and that he will die in that Doctrine: and the Bishoppe moving of him to unity of the Church, He said, My Lord, you call mine opinion Heresy, it is the true light of the Word of GOD, and he would never forsake his well grounded opinion whilst breath was in his body: Whereupon he was condemned.

When these two came to the stake in Smithfield to be burned, Master Bradford lay prostrate on the one side of the stake, and the young man on the other, praying a space, until the Sheriffs man bad Master Bradford arise, then they both rose. Master Bradford desired the Sheriff that his man might have his apparel, which he granted him. When he was unready, he said; O England, England, repent thee of thy sins, beware of Idolatry, beware of false Antichrists, that they deceive thee not. Then the Sheriff bad tie his hands, if he would not be quiet: He said, I am quiet, God forgive you this. One of the Officers that made the Fire said; If you have no more learning then that, you are but a fool, and were best to hold your peace: Then Master Bradford answered no more, but asked the world forgiveness, and forgave all the world, and prayed the people to pray for him, and • id the young man be of good comfort, for we shall have a merry Supper with the Lord this night, then he embraced the Reeds and said: Straight is the way, and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternal salvation, and few there be that find it: In the Book at large thou mayest see many godly Letters of his.

This Master Woodroffe, Sheriff, as he would not suffer Master Bradford to speak, but bad his hands to be tied: so, or worse, he served Master Rogers, and all that were burned, where the other Sheriff would weep at their burning, he would laugh at it, and would restrain and beat the people, who were desirous to take them by the hand. In fine, the foresaid Master Woodroffe, after the burning of Master Bradford, as soon as he came home, was taken lame both arm and leg, so that after he could never stir out of his house, nor scarce move himself.

WILLIAM MINGE.

THe next day after Bradfords death, William Minge, Priest, died in Maidstone Jail, being in bonds for Religion, and had suffered martyrdom if he had lived, for he died in great constancy and boldness.

John Bland, John Frankesh, Nicholas Scheterton, Humphrey Middleton.

THE twelfth of June John Bland, John Frankesh, Nicholas Scheterton, and Humphrey Middleton, were all four burned at Canterbury together: Frankesh and Bland were Ministers of the Church there, and Preachers of God's word.

Bland was twice or thrice cast into Prison before for preaching the Gospel, and was delivered at the suit of his friends, and yet preached the Gospel again as soon as ever he was delivered. His friends would again have delivered him, if he would have promised to abstain from preaching: he stood in it so earnestly, that he would admit no such condition, expressing the example of Saint Paul, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or anguish, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or persecution, or the sword, &c.

These were tumbled and tossed from prison to prison, from sessions to sessions, a year and almost a half, and at the last they were condemned for denying the real presence in the Sacrament.

The substance of a letter, written by Nicholas Scheterton to his mother: These are to wish you, increase of grace and wisdom, that you may see the crafty bewitching of Satan, our mortal enemy, which doth not only openly, but under color of devotion, deceive them which keep not a diligent eye upon him, but having confidence in man's traditions, & customs of the world, leaving the commandments of God and testament of Christ, do grow more into superstition and hypocrisy, then into wisdom and true holiness. Satan by his Ministers, maketh many believe, that those things which they compel us unto for their bellies sake, have many godly significations, although they be most contrary to God's will: as the Serpent in Paradise said to Eve; hath God commanded you not to eat of the tree of knowledge, but you shall not die: so say our ministers, hath God commanded you that you shall not make any Image. Tush say they, what harm can they do, may we not remember God the better when we see his Image, for they are good books for Laymen, (but indeed they are better for the Priests, because they receive the offerings) and as true as the promise of the Serpent was kept with Eve; so is the perswas • on of the Priests found unto us: for as Adam and Eve did become like GOD in knowing of good and evil, so are we in remembering God by his Images. For Adams eyes were so opened, that he lost both innocence and righteousness, and became most miserable of all Creatures; so we, by remembering Christ by Images, have forgotten his Commandments, and counted his Testament, confirmed with his blood, for stark madness or heresy. We have so miserably remembered him, that of all people we are most blind, and this is because we will presume to remember God by breaking of his Law, there • ore except we repent, God will remember us in his wrath: They will say, where went he to school, is he wiser then our great Doctors, that have studied all their life? and they say it is good hay, although we our selves smell it musty, yet we must believe it is sweet, and then pay them well for their so saying, and then all is safe. But I may say to them, what Sir; you be wiser then Christ, and God the Father, or the Holy Ghost? what, wiser then the Prophets or the Apostles, and all holy Martyrs? where had you your high learning, it is a very strange learning, that neither God the Father, nor Christ, nor his Apostles could reach to the knowledge of it, but vain men are never without some shift, peradventure they will not be ashamed to say; that Christ coming on his Fathers message, did forget half his arrant by the way: for it is hard to find one thing in the Church as he left it, so Rumishlie hath Antichrist turned the Church up-side-down for lucre sake. Some will say, why should we condemn our Fathers that lived thus? they did according to their knowledge, therefore we condemn them not, but let us take heed they condemn not us: for if they had heard the word and been warned as we are, it is to be thought they would have more thankfully received it, then we; yea, they were more faithful in that which they knew, then now many are, therefore they shall condemn us, if we do not embrace this grace now offered: our disobedience is greater then their ignorance, wherefore if we will meet our Fathers in joy, let us not refuse the mercy offered more largely to us then to them, God will not bear it at our hands, to turn • back being we are delivered. Remember Lots Wife.

James Treuisam.

HEe was of the parish of Saint Margaret's in Lothburie: he was lame and kept his bed, and could not rise out of it a long time; one John Smale his servant read to him on the Bible; in the mean time Berd the Promoter came into the house, and went up the Stairs, where he found four persons besides Treuisam and his wife, which he carried to the Counter, where they remained a fortnight, and he brought a Cart to the door to have the lame man to Newgate, but that his neighbors entreated for him, and put in sureties for his appearance. One Master Farthing the parson came to him, and communicated with him, and they agreed well. Then one Toller meeting the Priest, said, if you be agreed I will accuse you, for he denieth the Sacrament of the Altar: then the parson went to him again, and then they could not agree; whereupon the parson told Bonner, and he said he should be burned, and if he were dead he should be buried in a Ditch; so when he died he was buried in More-fields, the same night he was digged up, and his sheet taken away, and he left naked upon the ground, then the owner of the field buried him again, and fortnight after the Somner came to his grave, and summoned him to appear at Paul's before his Ordinary; but what more was done, I have no certainty of.

Nicholas Hall a Brick-layer, and Christopher Wayde of Dartford.

THese were condemned by Maurice Bishop of Rochester for denying the real presence in the Sacrament, and saying the Mass was abominable, Hall was burned at Rochester, and Wayde at Dartford.

Margerie Polley widow.

SHe was wife of Richard Polley of Pepingbery, and was condemned by the said Bishop of Rochester for saying he neither allowed the Deity of the sacrament nor the absurdity of their mass, and was burned at Tunbridge.

Derick Carver, John Launder.

CAruer was of Brighthamsted in Sussex, and Launder was of Godstone in Surrey, that together with Thomas • ueson and William Veisie, with others to the number of twelve, being together at prayers, and saying the service as in King Edwards time, in the house of Dericke, they were apprehended by one Master Edward Gage.

Dericke was condemned by Bonner for saying that after consecration of the Sacrament there remaineth Bread and Wine, and not the flesh and blood of Christ naturally, and that there is no sacrifice nor salvation to a Christian in the Mass, except it were said and used in the mother tongue, and likewise also that the ceremonies of the Church are not profitable for a Christian. And as touching Auricular confession, he said it was necessary to go to a good Priest for counsel, but the absolution and laying hands on a man's head by the Priest, as it is now used, is not profitable, and that the faith and doctrine now taught is not agreeable to GOD'S word, and that Hooper, Cardmaker, and others of their opinion which were late burned, were good Christians, and did preach the doctrine of Christ.

John Launder was coudemned by the said Bonner for affirming that whosoever doth teach or use any other Sacraments then the Lord's Supper and Baptism, or any other ceremonies, he believeth that they were not of the Catholic Church, but abhorreth them, and that he himself is a member of the true Catholic Church: he denied the real presence in the Sacrament, but he believeth that when he receiveth the material Bread and Wine it is in remembrance of Christ's death, and that he eats Christ's body and blood by faith, and no otherwise, and that the Mass is naught and abominable, and directeth against God's word, and that the gloria in excelsis, the Creed, Sanctum, Pater noster, Agnus and other parts of the mass be of themselves good, yet being used amongst other things, are naught also, and that auricular confession is not necessary to be made to a Priest, but to God, and that none but Christ hath authority to absolve sins.

Derick being asked whether he would recant: your doctrine, quoth he, is poison and sorcery: if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before. You say you can make a God, you can make a Pudding as well: your ceremonies in the Church are beggary, and poison, and auricular confession is poison and against God's word: so they were condemned and burned. Derick was rich, but the ra • eners made such havoc thereof, that his poor wife and children had little or none thereof: he was old and past learning, yet when he was put into prison being ignorant of any letter in his book, he could before his death read perfectly.

When he was burned they threw his book into a barrel that he was burned in to be burned with him, but he threw it amongst the people, and the Sheriff commanded upon pain of death, in the King and Queens name to throw it into the fire again: then he said, Deare brethren and sisters, as many as believe in the Father, the Son, and holy Ghost unto everlasting life, see you do thereafter; and you that believe in the Pope or any of his laws, you believe to your utter destruction, for except the great mercy of God you shall burn in hell continually.

The Sheriff said, if thou dost not believe in the Pope thou art damned, therefore speak to thy God that he may deliver thee now, or else to strike me down to the example of this people; but he said unto him, The Lord forgive you that which you have said.

THOMAS IVESON.

THis Iueson was condemned by the said Bonner for saying the Sacrament of the Altar is a very Idol, and detestable before GOD as it is now-a-days ministered, and that the Mass is naught, and that auricular confession is not necessary, for that a Priest cannot forgive sins, that baptism is a token of Christ, as circumcision: he believeth his sins are not washed away thereby, but only his body washed, and his sins washed only in Christ's blood, and that there is but two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which now are not rightly used in England, & that all the ceremonies now used in the Church are superfluous and superstitio • s: and being earnestly labored withal to recant, said, he would not forsake his belief for all the goods in London. I do appeal to God's mercy, and will be none of your Church: and if there came an Angel from heaven to teach me other doctrine then that which I have now, I would not believe him, whereupon he was burned.

JOHN ALEWORTH.

HEe died in prison at Reading for the testimony of the truth, whom the Catholic Prelates, as their use is, did exclude out of Catholic burial.

JAMES ABBES.

THis Abbes be • ng examined by the Bishop of Norwich, he relented at their naughty persuasions: now when he was dismissed, and should go from the Bishop, he gave him some money; but after he was pittiously vexed in conscience, he went again to the Bishop and threw him his said money which he had received, and said, it repented him that ever he had consented to their wicked persuasions: then the Bishop and his Chaplains labored a fresh to win him again, but in vain, and so he was burned at Berry.

John Denley Gentleman, John Newman, Patrick Pachington.

AS Edmund Tyrell, a Justice of Peace in Essex, came from the burning of certain godly Martyrs, he me • with John Denley and John Newman, both of Maidstone in Kent, and upon the sight of them (as he bragged) he suspected and searched them, and finding the confessions of their faith written about them, he sent them to the Queens Commissioners, who sent them to Bonner: the effect of the writing followeth;

In the Sacrament Christ's body is figuratively in the Bread and Wine, spiritually he is in them that worthily eat and drink the Bread and Wine, but really, carnally, and corporally he is in heaven, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Then Bonner ministered articles unto them and unto Patrick Pachington, who all answered alike, to this effect following.

The Catholic Church is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ being the head corner stone: it is the Congregation of the faithful dispersed through the whole world; and two or three gathered together in Christ's name are the members thereof. This Church doeth preach GOD'S holy word and minister the blessed Sacraments truly: the Church of England using the Faith and Religion which now is used is no member thereof, but is the Church of A • tichrist, the Bishop of Rome being the head thereof; for they have altered the Testament of GOD, and set up a Testament of their own devising, full of blasphemy and lies, Christ's Testament being that we should have all things done for the edifying of the Church.

The Mass now used is most abominable idolatry and intolerable blasphemy: Christ ordained his Sacraments to be eaten together in remembrance of his death until he • come, and not to be worshipped and to make an Idol of them; for GOD will not be worshipped in his creatures, but we must remember to praise him for his creatures: what is kneeling, holding up your hands, knocking of the breast, putting off the cap, and making curtsy, with other superstition to the bread, but Idolatry?

You object you worship not the Bread and Wine, but the body of Christ, borne of the Virgin under the form of Bread and Wine: but that is a very lie, for Christ's body that was borne of the Virgin is in heaven.

Auricular confession is not good: if I have offended God I must seek to him for remission of sins by Christ: if I have offended my neighbor, I must reconcile myself to him again: if I were a notorious sinner, after the first and second adm • nition it ought to be declared to the Congregation, and the Minister hath power by the word to excommunicate me, and I am to be taken as a heathen, not for a day or for forty days, but until I openly in the Congregation acknowledge my fault, and then the Minister hath power by the word to preach to me remission of sins by Christ.

Touching Baptism, John the Baptist used nothing but preaching the word and water, as appeareth by Christ's baptism and others: the Chamberlain said to Philip▪ Here is water, what letteth me to be baptized? he asked not for Creame, nor Oil, nor Spittle, nor conjured Water, nor conjured Wax, nor Crysome, nor Salt; the like is to be said of the rest of the ceremonies of the Church.

And he said there were but two sacraments, except they would make the Rainbow a Sacrament, for there is no sacrament but such as hath the promise annexed unto it.

Bonner seeing their unmovable constancy, after all means they could were used, they were condemned, and Denley was burned at Uxbridge: he sang a psalm in the fire; then cruel Doctor Story commanded one to hurl a Faggot at him, which made him bleed on the face, whereat he left his singing and clapped his hand on his face: Doctor Story said to him that flung the Faggot, truly thou hast marred a good old song; then Denley put his hands abroad and sung again.

Not long after him Patrick Pachingham was burned at Uxbridge, and John Newman was burned at Saffron Walden in Essex.

RICHARD HOOKE.

HEe near about the same time and for the same matter that those formerly spoken of died for • gave his life at Chichester.

William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Lawrence, Richard Colliar, Richard Wright, William Steer • .

THese being examined before the Bishop of Dover, and Harpsfield the Archdeacon of Canterbury and others, Henry Lawrence denied auricular confession, and would not receive the sacraments because the order of the Scripture is changed in the order of the Sacrament; and when the Suffragan made mention of the Sacrament, and put off his cap, he said, you need not reverence the same, and he said the Sacrament of the Altar is an Idol, and being required to subscribe his hand, he wrote, Ye all are of Antichrist, and him ye follow. William Steere of Ashford being commanded of the Judge to answer, bade him command his dogs, and not him, and said Dicke of Dover, meaning the Bishop, had no authority to set in judgment against him, alleging that the Bishop of Canteburie that was in prison was his Dioccesan, and he said he found not the Sacrament of the Altar in the Scripture, therefore he would not make any answer thereto.

The Judge speaking of the Sacrament put off his cap; he said he needed not reverence that so highly, saying withal that the Sacrament of the Altar was the most blasphemous Idol that ever was.

The other also denied the Sacrament, wherefore they were all condemned, and burned all in one fi • e at Canterbury.

Elizabeth Warne, George Tankerfield, Robert Smith, Stephen Harwood, Thomas Fust, William Hall, Thomas Leyes, George King, John Wade, Joan Leyshford.

THe Prisons of London being replenished with God's Saints, and still moe and moe coming in, wherefore these ten were sent for of Bonner to be examined, and rid out of the way. The chief point he examined them of, was touching the corporal presence of Christ's body and blood in the Sacrament, as the profitablest foundation for their Catholic dignity. Many other things were objected against them, as not coming to Church, for speaking against the Mass, and for despising their Ceremonies and Sacraments. Elizabeth Warne answered unto them, I deny them all, and if Christ was in an error, then am I in an error, wherefore she was condemned. Doctor Story was of some alliance unto her, who delivered her once by his earnest suit, before he was Commissioner, but after he was Commissioner, he caused her, John Warne her Husband, and her Daughter, to be apprehended, never leaving them, until he had brought them all to Ashes.

George Tankerfield of London, Cook, borne in the City of York, he utterly denied aur • culer Confession, and Transubstantiation, and affirmed that the Mass was naught, and full of Idolatry and abomination: and affirmed that there were but two Sacraments. He told the Bishop he cared not for his Divinity, for you condemn all men, and prove nothing against them, and he said the church whereof the Pope is supreme head, is not Christ's Church; and pointing to the Bishop he said to the people beware of him, and such as he is, these be they which deceive you: Wherevpon he was condemned.

ROBERT SMITH being asked by Boner when he was Confessed: He answered, not since the time he had discretion: I am not commanded of God to show my sins to any of that sinful number whom ye call Priests: He was a Painter, and he told the Bishop he had used his vocation better then he had used his Bishopric: He said he never used the Sacrament, nor never would, because it hath not God's ordinance, but rather it is directed to mock GOD: I count it a detestable Idol, and not GOD, but contrary to GOD and truth: Then the Bishop said, he should be burned: He answered, he must not think thereby to quench the Spirit of GOD, nor make your matter good for your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with blood, even the Children have all your deeds in derision: so that though you patch up one place with authority, yet it shall break out in forty to your shame: Then the Bishop said by my truth if thou wilt be shrieuen, I will tare this paper of thy examination: I answered, it would be too much to his shame, to show it unto men of discretion.

The second Examination.

The last examination.

Stephen Harwood was burned at Stratford, and Thomas Fust was burned at Ware.

When William Hayle of Thorpe in Essex was condemned: O good people said he, • eware of this I • olater and Antichrist, pointing to Bonner. He was burned at Bar • et.

George King, Thomas Leyes, and John Wade, sickned in Prison and died, and were cast into the fields, and buried by night of the faithful, when none durst do it in the day.

Joan Lashford, the Daughter of John Warne, and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs, was repreeued to a longer day: her martyrdom was next year.

William Andrew.

HE was sent out of Horsie in Essex by the Lord Rich, and Sir Richard Southwell, and being twice examined before Boner, he stood manfullie in the defense of his Religion: at length, through straight handling in the Prison in Newgate, he died, and after the Popish manner he was cast into the fields, and in the night secretly buried by the faithful.

Robert Samuel.

IUstice Foster of Cobdocke in Suffolk, a deadly hater of the Professors of the truth, amongst many others that were also troubled by him, this Robert Samuel, a godly Preacher in King Edwards days, was one: He was Minister of Barford in Suffolk, and being put from the Ministry, as others were, he taught privily, and when that the order came up, that Priests should put away their Wives, and be compelled to single life, Samuel would not agree thereto. Master Foster sent out espials to apprehend him, and carry him to Prison if he were found to come unto his Wife: whereby he was taken, and put into Ipswich Jail, from thence he was carried to Norwich, where Doctor Hopton the Bishop, and Doctor Donnings his Chancellor, exercised great cruelty against him. They kept in him strait prison, where he was chained bolt upright unto a great post, that he was • aine to bear all his body on tip-toe, and kept him without meat and drink, only he had every day two or three mouthfuls of Bread, and three spoonefuls of Water. He would often have drunken his own Water, but his body was so dried up, that he was not able to make water. When he was brought forth to be burned, he reported, that after he had been famished with hunger two or three days together, he fell into a slumber, at which time one clad all in white, seemed to stand before him, which said; Samuel, Samuel, be of good cheer, for after this day thou shalt never be hungry or thirsty, which was performed: for speedily after he was burned, and from that time until he suffered he felt neither hunger nor thirst: and he said, he declared this, that all might see the wonderful works of God. He said, he could utter many such comforts, as he had of Christ in his afflictions, which modesty would not suffer him to utter.

As he was going unto the fire, a Maid named Rose Nottingham, took him about neck and kissed him, who being marked, the next day was sought for to be had to Prison, and burned, yet by God's goodness the escaped: yet two honest Women fell into the rage of that time; the one a Brewers wife, the other a Shoe-makers Wife, who were burned the next day after Samuel: the one was called Anne Potten, the other Joan Trunchfield.

The report of them which saw Samuel burned, is, that his body in burning did • hine as bright and white as new tried Silver in the eyes of them that stood by. In the book at large thou mayest see a godly Letter of his, and a godly confession of his Faith.

William Allen.

HE was a laboring man, sometimes Servant to John Houghton of Somerset, he was burned at Walsingham: he was imprisoned, for saying he would never follow the cross on procession. The Bishop bad him return unto the Catholic Church: he answered, he would turn unto the Catholic Church, but not to the Romish Church; and said, if he saw the King and Queen, and all other follow the Cross, and kneel down to the Cross, he would not.

Roger Coo.

HE was of Melford in Suffolk, a Sheare-man, an aged Father: after his sundry conflicts with his Adversaries, he was burned at Yexford in Suffolk, for denying the Sacrament of the Altar, and when the Bishop said he must obey the King, whether his command agree with the word of God or no. He answered: If Sidrach, Misaach, and Abednago had done so, Nebuchadnezzar had not confessed the living Lord: and when the Bishop said he had charge of his Soul, he answered, if you go to the Devil for your sins, where shall I become.

Thomas Cobbe.

LIkewise Thomas Cobbe of Hauehill, Butcher, was burned by the said Bishop of Norwich, for denying the real presence in the Sacrament, and for saying he would be obedient to the King and Queens commandment, as the Law of God would suffer, and no further.

George Catmer, and Robert Streater of Hyth, Anthony Burward of Calete, George Brodbridge of Bromfield, James Tutty of Breachley.

THese were brought before Thorton Bishop of Dover, where they being examined, they did all affirm the Sacrament of the Altar to be an abhominable Idol, and George Brodbridge said, he would not be confessed of a Priest, because he could not forgive his own sins. And moreover, as for holy Bread and holy Water, and the Mass, I do (quoth he) utterly defy them, therefore they were all five burned as Heretics at Canterbury.

Thomas Heyward, and John Gorway.

WE find they were condemned and burned at Lichfield, in the Dioces of Lichfield and Coventry.

Robert Glover, and John Glover his Brother, and William Glover another Brother.

John was the eldest brother, a Gentleman of the Town of Mancetor, he was endued with fair possessions and worldly goods, but much more enriched with heavenly grace: He with his two brethren not only embraced the light of the Gospel, but most zealously professed the same.

In King Henries days, this John fell into a despair of himself, upon the occasion of these words in the 7. to the Hebrews, For it cannot be, that they which were once illuminated and have tasted the heavenly gift &c.

The Bishop sending a warrant for this John, the Mayor of Coventry sent him a privy watch-word, who with his Brother William conveyed himself away, but the Sheriff found Robert lying sick in bed, and although the Sheriff would fain have dismissed him, saying; He was not the man for whom they were sent, yet fearing the stout words of the Officer, he put him in Prison until the Bishops coming.

After for denying that there were anymore then two Sacraments, and that the Mass was neither Sacrament nor Sacrifice, because it differeth from the true institution of Christ, and taketh it clean away, and that he denied Confession to a Priest: he was condemned and burned at Couentree.

Cornelius Bungey.

IN the same fire which the said Robert Glover was burned, Cornelius Bungey a Capper of Coventry▪ who was condemned by the said Bishop: First, for that he did maintain that the Priest had no power to absolve a sinner from his sins, and that there be but two Sacraments: Baptism, and the Lord's Supper: And that there was not the Lord's body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of their popish Altar: And that the Pope is not head of the Church.

WILLIAM WOLSEY, and ROBERT PYGOT Painter.

THese were condemned and burned by the Bishop and Chancellor of Eli, and both in one fire at Eli were burned.

NICHOLAS RIDLEY, Bishop of London, and HVGH LATIMER Bishop of Worcester.

NIcholas Ridley came of a gentle stock, borne in Northumberland; he was first Bishop of Rochester, and after Bishop of London, in which offices he so occupied himself in preaching the wholesome Doctrine of Christ, that never child was so dearly beloved of his parents, as he was of his flock: he preached every Holiday or Sunday in someone place or other, to whom the people swarmed like Bees.

He did carefully instruct his Family: he gave them everyone a New Testament, and would give them money to learn certain principal Chapters by heart, being marvelous careful over them, that they might be a spectacle of virtue and honesty to others.

He called Mistress Boner Bishop Boners Mother, his mother, and when he was at his house at Fulham, the dwelling there, he ever sent for her to meals, and placed her in a Cha •• e at the Tables end, and she was never displaced of her seat, though the Kings Council were there, but he would tell them that this place of right and custom is for my mother Boner: but he was well recompensed therefore by Boner, who was the destruction of him and his.

He was immediately after the coming of Queen Mary committed unto prison and carried to Oxford like a most heinous traitor and heretic with Cranmer, and Latimer, accompanied with a band of Soldiers, as is before mentioned.

The Conference of RIDLEY and LATIMER, upon the objection of ANTONIAN.

A man ought to obey his Prince, but in the Lord, and never against the law of the Lord: for he that lovingly obeyeth his Prince against God, is a deceiver of his Prince, and helpeth him to work his own destruction: we must give unto the Prince that which is his, and unto God that which is his. Valentinianus the Emperor choosing the Bishop of Milan, said, He set him in his seat for this cause, that if we do offend we may submit our selves unto him. Polycarpus the most constant Martyr, when he •• ood before the chief Ruler, was commanded to blasph • me Christ, and to swear by the fortune of Caesar; we are taught (quoth he) to give honor unto Princes, but such honor as is not contrary to God's Religion.

HVGH LATIMER.

THis constant Martyr was the son of one Hugh Latimer of Thirkesson, in the County of Leicester, a husbandman of wealthy and good estimation: he studying Divinity in Cambridge, at the first was zealous in the popish Religion, and so scrupelous (as he himself confesseth) that being a Priest, and using to say Mass, he did so observe the Romish Decrees, that he thought he had never mingled enough his massing Wine with water, and he was of the opinion that he should never be damned, if once he were a professed Frier, with diverse such superstitious fantasies, and in his blind zeal he was a very enemy unto the professors of the Truth, and when he took the degree of proceeding Batcheler of Divinity, he made his oration against Philpot, Melanchthon, & his works: Then Master Bilney, as before is said, persuaded him to forsake his former study of the School Doctors, and such fooleries, and to become a true scholar in true Divinity: so that where before he was an enemy, and almost a persecutor of the Gospel of Christ, he was now an earnest seeker after CHRIST JESUS, and became both a public preacher, and a private instructer of his brethren in the University two years, but Satan never sleepeth when he seeth his Kingdom decay: he raised his Children to trouble him.

Latimer in his Sermons before Christmas gave the people certain Cardes, out of the fifth, sixth, and seventh of Matthew: Wherevpon they might occupy the time, for the chief Carde he limited the Heart, as the principal thing they should serve GOD with, and thereby he overthrew all hypocritical, and external Ceremonies, to that end he wished the Scriptures to be read altogether in the English tongue, that the common people might thereby learn their duties to GOD and their Neighbors: hereby he wrought in the hearers much fruit, to the overthrow of Popish Superstition, and setting up of true Religion.

The Sunday before Christmas day, in his Sermon he delivered his Cards as aforesaid, making the heart the chief Carde, inviting all men to serve the Lord with inward heart and true affection, and not with outward ceremonies, that in the seruic • of the heart consisteth true religion, and not in the outward deeds of the letter, or in the glistering show of men's traditions, of pardons, pilgrimages, ceremonies, vows, devotions, voluntary works, and works of supererogation, foundations, oblations, the Popes supremacy: you may see two Sermons of his to this effect in the book at large.

Doctor Bucknam about the same time of Christmas, to deface Master Latimer, brought forth his Christmas Dice, casting to his audience Cinque and Quater, whereby to prove that it were not expedient that the Scriptures should be in English, lest the vulgar people by the occasion thereof should be brought to leave their vocation, or to run into some inconvenience; as the Plowman, when he hears that, No man laying his hand unto the Plough and looking back, is meet for the Kingdom of heaven, might perhaps cease from his Plough: likewise the Baker, when he heareth that a little leaven corrupteth a whole lump of dough, may perchance leave our bread unleavened, and so our bodies shall be unseasoned: and when the simple man heareth, If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee, may make himself blind, and so fill the world full of beggars. These, with other moe, he brought to the number of five: yet Master Latimer, notwithstanding all his adversaries (which were man • ) together with Master Bilney, continued in Cambridge a certain space: they used much to confer and to walk together in the fields: the place of their conference was long time after called by the name of Heretics hill.

These two did often visit the prisoners, rely • e the needy, and feed the hungry. There was a woman laid in prison for suspicion of murdering her child, she denying it, they searching into the matter found that her husband loved her not, and therefore sought to make her away. The matter was thus: her child having been sick a whole year, died in harvest, then she went to have her neighbors to help to bury it▪ but all ware at harvest; whereby she was enforced to prepare the child to burial her self: her husband coming home accused her of murthering the child.

Master Latimer thinking in his conscience that she was not guilty, and being called to preach before King Henry the eighth, after the Sermon the King sent for him, and talked with him; at which time Master Lati • er kneeled down and opened the whole matter to the King, and begged her pardon, which the King granted, and gave it him when he went home. In the mean time the woman was brought a bed in prison, and Master Latimer was God-father, but he told her not of the pardon, but labored to have her confess the truth. When the time came that she looked to suffer, she greatly lamented that she should not be purified before she did suffer, thinking she should be damned if she died vnpurified. Master Bilney and Master Latimer told her that the law was made for the Jews, and not for us, and how women be as well in the favor of God before purification as after. And when they had brought her into a good way, they shown her the Kings pardon, and let her go. Many moe like good matters were wrought by him, but the more his virtues and good doings began to be known, the more his adversaries began to spurn against him.

One Doctor Redman, of great authority in Cambridge, seeing the boldness of Master Latimer, in setting abroad the Gospel, he wrote to him earnestly, requiring him for charities sake not to stand so much in his own conceit, nor to prefer his singular judgment in matters of religion and controversies, before so many learned men and the whole Catholic Church, having neither the word of God, nor the testimony of any authentic writer to make for you: consider you are but a man, therefore lying and vanity may quickly blear your eyes, which doth sometime transform it self into an Angel of light: suffer not the Church to take offense by the hardness of your heart, let not the unity of Christ's coat without seam be torn asunder, trust not in your own wisdom.

To which he answered, it is enough for me that Christ's sheep hear no man's voice but Christ's: you have no voice of Christ against me: for my part I have a heart that is ready to hearken to any voice of Christ's that you can bring me; so fare you well, and trouble me not anymore from the talking with the Lord my God.

At length M. Latimer was called before the Cardinal for heresy, by the procurement of his adversaries, where he was content to subscribe to such articles as were propounded unto him.

After he was appointed for one of them that labored for the Kings supremacy, and remaining at Court, he preached often in London: after, at the suit of the Lord Cromwell, he was benef •• ed at West-Kingston in Wilshire, where he was very diligent in teaching: his diligence extended also to all the country round about, but there also he could not escape without enemies. It so chanced that he preaching upon the Virgin Marie, he proved that Christ was her Savior. Certain Popish Priests being therewith offended, drew Articles against him concerning the matter of our Lady, of praying unto Saints, and of Purgatory: to which Articles he answered in effect as followeth;

1 To reprove certain Priests and beneficed men which give so much to our Lady, as though she had not been saved by Christ, which is the savior of her and of all that be or shall be saved. I did reason that either she was a sinner or no sinner; if a sinner, then she was delivered from sin by Christ, or if she were no sinner she was preserved from sin by him, so he was her Savior which way soever you take it.

2 Images of Saints are called Saints: to pray to these Saints is Idolatry. Saints in heaven do of Charity pray for us, but we are not commanded to pray to them, for Christ only is a holy Mediator for them and us.

3 The scurfe must be taken away from pilgrimage before it be good, to wit superstition, Idolatry, false faith, and trust in the Image, debts must be paid, restitutions made, wife and children provided for, duty to our poor neighbors discharged, and when it is at best, be • fore it be vowed it need not be done, for God commandeth it not.

4 I said the Ave maria was a greeting which the Angel brought from God to the Uir • in Marie, but I said it was not a prayer, as the Pater noster, which our Savior Christ made, and bade us say for a prayer, not adding that we should say ten or twenty Ave Mariaes with it.

5 The torment of hell is not a material fire, no more then it is a material stinging of a worm or snake, but a metaphor signifying the pain, torment, anguish, grief, misery, sorrow, and heaviness inexplicable and intolerable, whose nature and condition none can tell.

6 That the souls that are not in hell, are in as great joy as souls can be, and cannot be put from eternal joy, and suffer no pain, of charity they pray for us, and have no need that we should pray for them, and besides this there is no other Purgatory. I had rather be there then in the Bishop of London's prison, though they call the fire thereof never so hot, yet if the Bishop with his two fingers can put away some of the fire, and a Friers Cowle the fourth part thereof, and Scala Coeli altogether, I will never found Abbey, College, or Chauntery for that purpose.

Prouision for Purgatory hath brought thousands to hell, debts have not been paid, nor lands and goods evil gotten restored, poor people are suffered to perish for want, and all to build religious houses to deliver out of Purgatory, and to pay for Dirges, Masses, and ringing of Bells to carry us to hell withal; who can purge pilgrimage from Idolatry, and Purgatory from robbery, but he shall be in suspicion of heresy?

As for Pilgrimage, you would wonder what juggling there is to get Money withal, I dwell by the way, and you would admire how they come by flocks out of the West Country to many Images, but chief • lie to the blood of Hayles, and they believe verily it is the blood of Christ's body, shed upon Mount Caluarie for our salvation, and that the sight of it doth certify them out of doubt, that their sins are forgiven, and they are in state of salvation. If you should common with them coming and going what faiths they have, you would wonder, they cannot away with forgiving their enemies, and reconciling themselves unto their Brethren, for the sight of that blood doth quite them for the time; they that did violently and miraculously pluck the blood out of Christ's body, by whipping and wounding him, saw his blood, and yet were not thereby in clear life. Christ doth suffer the Devil to use his crafty fashion for our probation: it were very little thank to believe well, if nothing should move us to believe superstitiously; it was not in vain, when Christ had taught us truly, that he had us beware of false Prophets.

These points following his Adversaries preached, y ^• Christ's blood is not sufficient without the blood of Martyrs, Magdalene did not know Christ to be God before his Resurrection, there can be now no Idolatry: Rome cannot be destroyed, the Pope is Lord of all the World, whatsoever he doth, is well done: Pater noster is to be said unto Saint Peter: Pater noster is but a beggarly prayer, Ave Maria is infinitely better, there must be twenty Ave Mariaes for one Pater noster, Ave Maria was before Pater noster, and shall be after: it was not necessary that the scriptures should be written: Christ saying, he that leaveth father or mother, praueth our pilgrimage, with many moe.

Many dangerous hazards he suffered amongst the Popes friends and God's enemies, for the Gospel sake. When there was a Proclamation set forth for the calling in of the Bible in English, and many other good books, he hazarded himself to write to King Henry the eight to dissuade him therefrom, which Letter thou mayest see in the book at large: at length by the means of Doctor Butts and of good Cromwell, he was made Bishop of Worcester and continued so a few years, instructing his Diocese according to a diligent Pastor, but (as before) both in the University, and at his Benefiee he was tossed and turmoiled by the wicked, so in his Bishopric some sought his trouble, insomuch that he was accused to the King for his Sermons. Thus he continued in this laborious function of a Bishop for certain years, until the coming up of the six Articles, and altering of Religion, so when he could not keep his Bishopric with a good conscience, of his own free will he resigned the same: at which time Shaxton Bishop of Salesburie resigned also with him his Bishopric. These two remained a great space vnbishopped, keeping silence until the time of King Edward. A little after Latimer had renounced his Bishopric, he was sore bruised with the fall of a tree, and coming to London for remedy, he was troubled of the Bishops, and at length was cast into the Tower, where he continued prisoner until the Rain of King Edward, then the golden mouth of this preacher, shut up long before, was opened again, and beginning a fresh to set forth his plough again, and continued all the time of the said King, laboring in the Lord's harvest most fruitfully: he preached for the most part twice every Sunday to no small shame of unpreaching prelates, which occupied great rome, to do little good: he did most evidently prophes • e of all these kind of plagues which after ensued: so plainly that if England ever had a Prophet, he might seem to be one, and he did ever affirm, that the preaching of the Gospel would cost him his life, and he was certainly persuaded that Winchester was kept in the Tower, to be his death, which fell out right, for after the death of King Edward, and Queen Mary proclaimed, a Purseuant was sent down unto him (by the doing no doubt of Winchester) Latimer had warning thereof six hours before the Purseuant came, whereby he might have • scaped, but he prepared himself towards his journey before the Purse • ant came, who marvelled to see him so prepared for his journey, he told the Purseuant, he was a welcome guest, and be it known unto you and the whole World; that I go as willingly to London at this present, being called of my Prince to give a reckoning of my Faith and Doctrine, as ever I was to go unto any place in the world: and I doubt not, but that God which hath made me worthy to preach to two most excellent Princes, so he will able me to witness the same to the third, either to her comfort or discomfort eternally. When the Purseuant had delivered his Letters, he departed, affirming that he was not commanded to tarry for him: whereby it appeared, they would not have him appear, but rather to have fled out of the Realm: they knew his constancy would deface them in Popery, and confirm the godly in the truth. When he came through Smithfield, he said merrily, Smithfield bad long groaned for him: after he had been before the Council, he was sent to the Tower, and from thence he was transported to Oxford, with Cramer Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and Ridley Bishop of London, there to dispute, as before is said: Of the order of the disputations, and bow they were condemned, thou mayest see before, where they continued until this time in continual prayer, godly conference and writing. Latimer sometimes continued so long kneeling at prayer, that he was not able to arise without help: three things especially he prayed for in his Prayers: First, as God hath appointed him to preach his Word, so he would give him grace to stand to the same until his death: Secondly, that God would restore his Gospel unto England again once more: which once more he inculcated oftentimes into the ears of the LORD, as if he had spoken unto him face to face: Thirdly, he prayed for the preservation of Queen ELIZABETH, then but Lady ELIZABETH, whom with • ears he still named, desiring God to make he a comforter to this comfortless Realm, the Lord most graciously granted all these things which he requested.

The twentieth day of September, a Commission was sent from the Cardinal to the Bishops of Lincoln, Gloucester, and Bristow, to examine Doctor Ridley, and Master Latimer, upon the points they were condemned for at Oxford: and if they would not recant there opinions, to disgrade them, &c. The first point was whether the real presence of Christ was in the Sacrament: D. Ridley first appeared before them; when the Commission was read, he standing bare-headed, as soon as he heard the Cardinal named, and the Popes Holines: he put on his cap, the Bishop of Lincoln reprehended him for it, and told him if he would not of himself put off his cap another should do it for him: He answered, that it was not done for any contumacy that he bare unto their own persons, nor for any derogation of the Cardinal in that he was borne of the Blood Royal, & was endued with much le • rning & excellent virtues • ut in that he is Legate to the Pope, (and with that he put on his cap) whose usurped supremacy I utterly renounce, which I will not only denounce in words, but in gesture, be • auiour, and all my doings express the same: whereupon by the commandment of the Bishop of Lincoln his cap was taken off: he appeared twice, and thus he did at both times, their answers were both to one effect in substance.

First they made their protestation, that notwithstanding their answers, it should not be taken thereby that they would acknowledge any authority of the Pope, but that they answered as subjects to the king and Queen: to the first point they did confess that in the sacrament, by spirit and grace, is the very body and blood of Christ, because that every man receiving bodily the bread and wine in the Sacrament, spiritually receive the body and blood of Christ, and thereby is partaker of the merits of his passion, but they denied the natural body and blood of Christ to be really in the outward sacrament.

The second question was, whether after consecration of the sacrament of the Altar there did remain any substance of bread and wine: to that they answered, there was such a change in the bread and wine, as no man but God can make, being the bread had that dignity to exhibit Christ's body, yet the bread is still bread, and the wine still wine, for the change is not in the nature but in the dignity, because that which was common bread hath the dignity to exhibit Christ's body, for now it is an holy bread sanctified by God's word.

The third question was, whether the mass were a lively and propitiatory sacrifice for them alive, and for them that be dead: this article they denied to be true, because Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the whole world; neither can the Priests offer up Christ again for the sins of man; neither is there any propitiation for our sins, but his Cross only. And because neither for fear nor flattery they could be made to recant, at their second sitting they were condemned, disgraded, and delivered to the secular power.

Upon the North-side of the town of Oxford, in the ditch, over against Baliol College, the place of execution was appointed, Doctor Ridley came unto the stake in a fair black gown, such as he was wont to wear when he was Bishop, with a tippet of sables about his neck; M. Latimer came in a poor frize frock, in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had, in the other the calamity whereunto they were now descended: after Doctor Ridley had prayed, seeing the cheerfulness of M. Latimer he ran unto him, embraced him, and kissed him, saying, be of good heart brother, for God will either asswage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.

Then Doctor Smith began his Sermon upon 1. Co. 13. If I give my body to the fire to be burned, and have not charity, I shall gain nothing thereby: wherein he alleged that neither the holiness of the person, nor the manner of the death, but the goodness of the cause made a martyr; this he pr • ued by the example of Judas and many others, which then might be counted righteous because they desperately sundered their lives from their bodies (as he feared these men that stood before him would do) and still he cried unto the people to beware of them, for they were heretics & died out of the Church: at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again unto the Church, & save their lives and souls, which else were condemned. They would have answered him, but some ran to them & stopped their mouths with their hands, & would not suffer them to speak. Then Doctor Ridley said, Heavenly father, I give thee most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee, even unto death: I beseech thee be merciful to this Realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies. When the fire was kindled he cried, Into thy hands I commit my spirit, Lord receive my spirit, crying often, Lord, Lord receive my spirit: M. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side, O Father of heaven receive my soul. Latimer died quickly, but Ridley was long a 〈◊〉 by reason of the bad making of the fire, yet he remained constant to the end.

The death of Stephen Gardner.

IN November, the next month after the burning of Ridley and Latimer, in which month the Queen died: three years after, Stephen Gardner a man hated of God and good men, ended his wretched life. He was borne in Berry in Suffolk, and brought up in Oxford: his wit, capacity, and memory were excellent if they had been well applied: he was high-minded, flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiors; he was politick and pleasant, to his inferiors fierce; against his equals stout and envious if they anything withstood him in judgment: it was constantly reported that the nails of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the claws of a beast: his death happened so opportunely that England hath a great cause therefore to praise God, not so much for the great hurt it had done in times past, in perverting his Princes, in bringing in the six Articles, in murthering GOD'S Saints, and in defacing Christ's most true Religion, but especially for that he had thought to have murdered our noble and religious Queen Elizabeth; for he was the cause of all her danger: and if it be certain which we have heard that a Writ came down from certain of the Council to the Tower where the Lady Elizabeth was, for her execution: it is sure this vile wily Winchester was the only Dedalus and framer of that Ingine; but M. Brigs Lieutenant of the Tower certified the Queen of the matter, and there by prevented Ahithophel's bloody devices, as Bonner, Story, Thornton, Harpsfield, Downing, with others, were occupied in putting the branches to death; so Gardner bent his devices in assaying the root, in casting such a plot to build up his Popery, as he thought it should stand forever: whether he died with his tongue swollen out of his mouth, as Arundell Bishop of Canterbury did, or whether he stunke before he died, as Cardinal Wolsey did, who after he had used coniuration before, so after he had poisoned himself by the way; at his burial he was so heavy that they let him fall, and he gave such a savor that they could not abide him, with such a sudden tempest about him, that all the Torches went out, and could bear no light, or whether he died in despair, I refer all this unto their reports, of whom I heard it. A great doer about Winchester reported that the Bishop of Chichester coming unto Gardner, began to comfort him with God's promises, and with free Justification in the blood of Christ: he said, what, my Lord, will you open that gap now, then farewell altogether? to me and such other you may speak it, but open this window to the people, and then farewell altogether.

John Web Gentleman, George Roper, and George Park.

THese were condemned by the Bishop of Dover, and Harpsfield, for de • ying the real presence in the sacrament of the Altar, and were burned in one fire at Canterbury, abiding most patiently their torments, and counting themselves blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the Gospel.

William Wiseman and James Gore.

THis Wiseman died in Lollards Tower, being there for religion: the holy Catholic Church cast him out into the fields, and commanded that no man should bury him▪ according as their devout manner is to all that die in that sort, whom they account not worthy of burial, but to be cast to dogs and birds, yet good men buried him in the night.

James Gore being in the prison at Colchester for the truth of God's word, died much about this time.

JOHN PHILPOT.

HEe was Sir Peter Philpots son in Hampshire, brought up in new College in Oxford: going from Oxford into Italy, coming from Venice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his journey, who coming to Padua accused him of heresy. In King Edwards time he had diverse conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester: after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester, where he continued during King Edwards time, to no small profit of those parts: in Queen Mary's time he being one of the Conuocation, with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospel manfully against the adversary part, as is before recited, wherefore he was called to account before Gardner, and examined by him, and then he was removed to Bonner and other Commissioners, with whom he had diverse conflicts, as in his examinations hereafter following may appear, when he had lien a year and a half in the Marshalsey, being twice examined, but no point of Religion handled: then he was committed to the Bishop of London's Cole-house, where he found a married Priest of Essex named Thomas Whittle, This Minister greatly lamented his own infirmity, for that through imprisonment he was constrained by writing to yield to the Bishop of London, and was set at liberty, and after felt such an hell in his conscience that he could scarce refrain from destroying himself, and could not be at quiet until he having got the Bishops register to see his Bill, he tore it in pieces, and after he was as joyful a man as any could be: When Boner heard thereof be sent for him, and buffeted him, and plucked off a piece of his Beard, but now he is joyful under the cross.

He was thirteen or fourteen times in private and publicly examined, his answers that concern any point of Religion here follow.

The third examination.

The fourth Examination.

The fifth Examination.